Tag: work

#TinkRuns2024, challenges

The Marathon Vision

2chicksandapen

Month seven.

A deep breath after month six. 

The month started with a physical therapy appointment for knees, but one can consider that progress. Hoping the 10k is smooth this month or at least I’ll be there for the boom on the 4th of July.

I see the lucky 777 come up on the slot machine in my mind. Boy am I lucky to be where I am today. Happy. Healthy. Hopeful. I sure do hope this is the turning point month as I head into heavy training. Stay tuned!

I’m beginning the heavy lifting phase of my running training. The Marathon. 26.2 grueling miles. My race. My pace. My story. How I get there is up to me. How prepared I am rests on my shoulders. How I handle adversity is on me. That’s a big deal when you think about it.

Each month you will get a glimpse into not only my training but my mindset. Both of which are equally important parts of my preparation. I’ll be trying out clothes, fueling options, technology and gear. I’ll be thinking about contingency plans. One being the bathroom dilemma. This one sort of freaks me out and untiI I experience the full 26.2 it will be somewhat of a mystery.

Curveball alert! I broke my wrist. Yes that’s right. I do all my own stunts. Laughing as I type this. Seriously, a scaphoid fracture takes my forearm, wrist and thumb out of commission via a cast. We will now classify this as orthopedic visit one for the month.

It looks like Dr. and PT appointments now take up part of my valued training time. For a visual running in a cast is like moving with an extra 5 pounds of disproportionate weight you don’t know what to do with.

The 10k race is here. Day four of the month. A cast, physical therapy and a race oh my. I had no choice but to run in a cast. My fingers looked like little sausages by the end. No joke! I survived the course despite the extreme heat advisory issued just before they cut off the race. This was by far the hottest day in event history, and I had a cast as an accessory.  The race was actually shut down not too long after I finished. The sign had just switched to high alert at mile 5 and went to black while I was leaving. Such a close call for finishing.

As we enter the second half of training I opted for one photo from each of the first six months to post below. A glimpse of how far I’ve come and a little celebration of me and my progress. It’s been a journey so far. I also have an uphill battle in front of me.

Big race recap this month. A local event that attracts 50,000 runners and a lottery entry. The peachtree 10k. A little train ride downtown for this big race. I ran this race over 20 years ago in the mid 1990’s just to experience the hype. I ran it a couple times before the pandemic, consecutive years with my daughter. I see many friends each year as well. This year I even met up with a friend from Hawaii and her daughter. This race experience is one of my bigger races as far as people volume goes.

I was somewhat reluctant to sign up for this particular race, but when I did I had a goal in mind. See if I can beat my past best race time. Not a have to, but more like a little test of age, mindset, and overall circumstances. How did I fare? I survived that’s all. This was probably my slowest time for this race ever. The combination of the heat advisory, the cast and and and just all my body woes took their toll from mile 4-6. I did finish. That’s the main point. I never quit.

Takeaways: I showed up after a rough injury patch in prior weeks. I’m still going. These running lessons, sacrifices and challenges can be great life lessons to apply elsewhere. Life isn’t easy. One just has to attack each day with positivity and a will to get out of the hole one is in.

As I finish off this post for July it’s ending differently than what I would have planned. MRI results are in. I’ve been waiting restlessly for answers. Well, not good news. A patella fracture on left knee. That one I didn’t see coming but does explain the pain. A torn meniscus on the right knee, this I was expecting. So more rehab for this girl. Walking is not restricted but running is! My body can still move. I just need to modify movements for my situation. Below I am strength training though the weight is light.

If I follow instructions I can still have hope to run in late September. The training will be rough to cram in for the marathon but I will hopefully cross that finish line in November. Stay tuned for updates.

More walking miles than running in my future! And boy is it hard to see my training buddies pounding the pavement while I am sidelined.

perspective

Let it Go

2chicksandapen

Recently I heard a comment about growth. I wasn’t thinking the growth was really my growth, rather the growth of another. Boy was I wrong.

I had to take some time to think about the growth opportunity. We were at a crossroads of sorts. Her learning to fly. Me letting her fly solo throwing caution to the wind. Whether near or far as a mom you always have a eerie sense of worry for your kid. It never really goes away. My mom is in her eighties and she still feels the worry of her kids.

Nonetheless,  adjusting my comfort zone to let another sink or swim on their own was as much about my growth as hers. As you have a child become an adult, you can only hope they remember every life lesson you gave them. Direct or indirect lessons of all kinds. The life experiences along the way. The life lessons that should influence solid decision making. That is just so easy to say. The reality is always much different.

Despite what you teach along the way, it is ultimately on them to find their moral compass. To make good choices. To surround themselves with a tribe that is good company. Sometimes this doesn’t happen on day one. Sometimes there are mistakes or bumps along the way as they spread their wings.

All you can do is guide, cheer and support from a distance. The passenger seat. You don’t get to choose their spouse. You don’t get to choose if they have kids. You don’t get to choose where they live. Your life and role in their life shifts. This is as much about your growth as theirs.

Girls may grow through this phase of life at different speeds than boys. No two kids are the same despite the same upbringing. I should know this myself just by looking at myself and my siblings as adults. So many differences yet same household growing up. Each of us took different paths. Each totally different lifestyles. None of which are wrong. Just different.

I’ve been at peace for a while on what I can control. What I can teach in the final days. What could be on the horizon. Once that peace is engrained in my mind, I am able to focus on what’s next for me.

This is my growth opportunity. New hobbies. Time to travel. Goals to achieve. Time to prep for my next adventure stage of life. Things will be different. There will quieter times. There may even be gaps in excitement. This is where I again need to refocus on what’s important for me now. How do I grow?

Cleansing my mind.

Letting go.

Closing my eyes to see what I desire.

The day dreaming.

The growth.

The opportunities.

My time has arrived. 

Her time of need is in the shadows.

Off to college she goes. Off to master life as an empty nester for me. Each flying solo in their way. Why did it take me to today to realize this? 

Off we go.

New chapters loading.

Out with the old.

In with the new.

#TinkRuns2024, celebrations, challenges, fitness and nutrition

I Run 2024 – February

2chicksandapen

Month 2 is complete and I’m still reaching for new milestones. I can’t even explain how excited I am about how far I’ve come in such a short time. First in-person race completed. The Hot Chocolate 5k on 2/4/24. This seems like a lifetime ago to me and why I am so glad to have this blog to reflect on. Rain and wind in the forecast but warmer than it’s been lately. I guess it wouldn’t be exciting without battling the elements. Just one week after my virtual 5k. I originally signed up for the cool swag bag and to run with friends well before I set a running goal for 2024, but it definitely puts miles in the log book and gives me another 5k time to catalog. Great start to the month and I’m content running a 5k currently as a race day event while I still focus on my 1 mile time and just improve my running overall. Longer distance races can come in time, when I feel I’m ready and my body is prepared. 20 gym pals teamed up for this run which made it so much fun! Too many pictures to post here but so many memories. Lots of celebrating at the end and maybe some great hot chocolate.

My 5k time was 37:37 on 2/4/24. I almost forgot how slow the start of a race is with all the people and the weaving you have to do to get around the swarm of people at the start area. Definitely wasn’t a straight line to mile 1. Bloody lady after a face plant before mile one was sad. An ambulance, fire truck and police car dodging runners at a cross street. Me being one of them was new for a race day. Just a day in the city on race day I suppose. So much fun with a group of friends and a repeat from 2020 for a handful of the same people. Chocolate at the end to celebrate. Can’t complain about that. Definitely cold before and after but hot during the actual race. Cute purple skirt for a little flair, a little glitter on the face to sparkle, and a great play list to go go go. Great Sunday run-day was had by all. Ready for the next one.

Maybe I’ll work my way up to 10k or 4 miler on race day, but for month two we are sticking with the 5k and hoping to build up to that half marathon I signed up for in November 2024 with a few friends. This month I will also be faced with a new challenge. Training for the DEKA Fit competition in Knoxville, TN in early March. This is a unique competition with 10 fitness segments with running built into it. A 5k will be completed in conjunction with the 10 fitness segments. Luckily I will have a partner to divvy out the work with but this will be another test of my running and overall conditioning. More to follow on this next month. Lots of interval training this month with a few longer runs built in.

My 1 mile pace was 9:57 on 2/6/24 on the air runner. Hard to believe but no outside elements I suppose.

I ran in just one state. 

I ran 19 days in a row. This seems so crazy to me because never would I ever have expected to be this consistent when I started.

I ran over 40 miles this month. A goal I scribbled on my calendar that seems like a stretch was now a reality. I did it!

I’m at a year-to-date total of 76 miles.

I did my first longer run (4.5 miles) in a vest with water. That was new and took some getting used to. The sloshing of water was definitely a new distraction.

I ran intervals with friends a few times a week and really enjoyed settling into a rhythm. I feel like my breathing and pacing is improving. Run at an easy pace. Run for longer, slower. Simple concept. Harder to apply when you live the fastest girl in town lifestyle. Walk without dropping my heart rate too much in between intervals. I felt like I could endure for a while. I didn’t test my theory for maxing out, but maybe I will in the coming months. This seems like a good approach for me when tackling large mile runs and most likely my game plan for my big races. Continuing to work on my strength in cross training as well. Added a few sprints at the end some days too. I can definitely feel a change in my endurance now that I’ve been running more. Shoulders are thinning out a bit from the running, but I’ll never have the runner physique. 

I also focused my training on 500-meter segments to better prepare for my competition next month as well as improve my run times by focusing on interval training in a 500-meter distance chunk. Then fatiguing myself with weight bearing exercises and continuing with the run/work scenario. Slightly different form of intervals that were noted above with a run/walk scheme. Just a little training shift this month I suppose. Still progress no matter which way you look at it. Every step is forward no matter which way you look at it. Unless I’m doing backwards lunges which I loathe.

This is my birth month. 52 wise/wise ass years behind me. I was aiming to hit 52 miles by my birthday this year as a mini-milestone. I was already pleasantly surprised I went over 30 miles last month which meant I was over half way to 52. I ended up with 67.75 miles by my birthday. I actually hit 52 miles on 2/12/24 and I was over the moon excited. I was definitely pumped and felt so much accomplishment just to get here, let alone achieve the goal early. So much encouragement along the way. My fit friends texting or getting together to run. My pal who gives me motivation notes to view for each mile I complete. The list goes on. I am truly one lucky girl just having the ability to run. I know some pals who would love to run but can’t for one reason or another. For that reason, I’m motivated to move because I can.

Self-discipline is something worth writing about. Not everyone has it engrained in their soul. I can’t do this subject justice exclusively in this post, but many work at it. Some need more of a checklist to stay on track. I’m definitely self-motivated. I work and rework my plan and offer myself rewards for efforts. I celebrate milestones and I try hard not to compare myself to others. My journey is unique to me. Keeping the focus on what I can control keeps me disciplined. I can always help others. I can show others how I stay on track. What I can’t do is the work for others. That’s the difference. A self-disciplined person can work hard solo. To improve themselves. No strings attached. No comparison needed. They can make the finish line without something or someone pushing them over the line.

Another footnote for this month is I’m officially signed up for my first full marathon in Savannah, GA in November 2024. 6 friends participating along side me and a few more thinking about it. Different paces but a common goal of completing the marathon. Not too far away and the same month I have a half marathon so hopefully my body can withstand both. I guess my half marathon is now my training run for the marathon. Here we are month two into my running project and I’m signed up for my first marathon. What’s next? Here’s to making memories and achieving milestones. One step at a time.

And for those who want to know why, it’s because I can and I have the will to tackle the challenge. I’ve never set my mind to running thus running 2024 was a good goal for me to take on. Time will tell how I fared. How my overall fitness was impacted. I have hope that I can endure the grueling 26.2 miles and earn my medal. Maybe I’ll make it two marathons to hit 52 miles for my year of 52. 

Since I’ve now signed up for a few races my medal rack seems a little crowded. Retail therapy to the rescue. I now have a 2024 race bib display and medal rack mounted and waiting for each and every bib and medal I earn this year. It’s gonna be a great year of running. It’s gonna be fun to flip back throught the medals and bibs at year end to reflect on my accomplishments. I can feel the success in my soul/sole already. I’m doodling on the back of each bib with my race time and splits to see how I improve in time. A fun data point to look back on in the years ahead.

The end of February also marks the start of the CrossFit Open. An annual event that I partake in. Year 8 for me. Some years are better than others but I put my best foot forward each time. 3 weeks of testing my strength in the CrossFit world while balancing running and training for the DEKA Fit competition. Never a dull moment over here. Moving. Training. Writing. That’s my agenda for the immediate future. And for curious minds, I work full time. This means I train at 6am, nights, lunch breaks, weekends and whenever my schedule allows. The balance is also part of the challenge this year.

Balancing strength training, work, family, paddle sports and running isn’t for the weak at heart. That’s for sure. Almost forgot to mention I’m eating clean to make sure my body is fueled to endure the demands I’m putting on my body. On top of that I’m making sure to take time to get a massage and pedicure at regular intervals to keep everything in sync. I’m also not forgetting to spend time stretching. A very important step to continuing to build those miles. Busy life.

Stay tuned for what’s lurking at the end of the first quarter.

adventure, fitness and nutrition

A Day of Twos

2chicksandapen

Two shirts. Two pairs of socks. Two pairs of pants. Two pairs of gloves. Two jackets. The two layers were definitely needed to endure 22 degree temperature with wind while outside. A little pre-planning was the key to enduring the elements while being active.

A little adventurous spirit made the trek seem possible. A 10 Mile or so bike ride one way from Montana to Idaho on the new Yellowstone Short Line Trail. An ambitious goal per the bike shop owner, but one I shrugged off. I was looking forward to the experience. I wanted to say I did it. I may never have the chance again, so why not go for it.

The entrance sign has its warnings of bears and other wildlife. It also had fresh snow from the night before. Maybe an inch or so but depending on the tree cover the consistency varied which added to the variety within the outing. The first two miles or so the snow had tracks from boots, dog paws and maybe some birds and kids. It wasn’t well traveled but it was used at various times during the snowfall. This made the path somewhat bumpy on the front end. You can zoom Into the picture below to relate to the consistency.

When there was a break in the trees there was black ice where the snow melted. This made for a little glide time and concentration to avoid a spill or wipe out. Moving into mile 3-4 the trail was fresh. As in nobody had traversed it recreationally. This was one of the highlights for me. Uncharted exploration in the wide open.

The views along the pathway were nothing less than breathtaking. They looked like pictures from a travel magazine. The rushing river on the side of the path was so soothing on the ride. Time didn’t stand still but it seemed like a timeless journey. Hard to explain but when you take in so much nature you are not really looking at a clock you are just immersed in the experience.

Three bridges I traveled over. They hadn’t even been installed that long. I felt pride to experience such a new rail trail. As I moved along the snow became crunchy. It had an outer layer of ice from the cold temps as the elevation rose slightly. The snow got deeper. The pedaling got harder. The wind became stronger. Mile 5-6 was the longest in my mind. Mile 6-7 was a lot of self talk about forging ahead.

The signs of others on the trail were evident. Mostly cross trail vs. the straight line I was riding. Deer prints in the snow. Some variety of birds or other critters. Always across the path never along the path. So interesting to have your mind wander as you ride and think what animal may be watching you in the distance.

Some bigger paw prints that I couldn’t identify. I’m not a trained tracker but I also know I was going to keep moving and not stop for that that photo just in case. There were many scratches or gouges in the trees. Different heights and different depths as you cruised by. These are signs of the presence of bears. I have had an abundant awareness of bears on this particular trip to last me a lifetime. Cool and unnerving in a way but as long as I did my thing and kept moving I felt okay.

Mile marker 7. 2 more miles to the continental divide. So close yet so far. As you can see the sky in picture one is blue and clear the sky is grey cloudy at mile 7. No breaks in the trees meant the wind was minimal but the chill was in the frigid air. This was the turnaround point. My cycling partner’s feet were colder than mine. Knowing the number of miles back. The temperature. The environment. The decision was made. The practical decision. The right decision. However, it was also hard to not hit the point you wanted to achieve. A life lesson of sorts. Aim high but be okay with progress vs perfection. Also listen to your body. It’s a powerful machine if used wisely.

The cruise back seemed quicker. It always does. A little downhill rest, but also the workout in the harder area with the snow, ice and existing tracks took a little more work to navigate. A few more stops to rest the bottom of my body as it’s been enduring some bumps and long riding. Yes this was required for my sanity the following day!

Then the break in the trees. The wind hit. Cold. Cold. Cold. The toes feeling it the most. More breaks to bend and flex the toes to keep them warm since they felt the brunt of the wind. Thankful for my neck gaiter, layers and glasses to block my wind. The excursion ended at my condo, in front of the fireplace to warm the toes and take a restroom break before heading back to the bike shop a mile away.

The fireplace seemed to be dimly lit but it was full of warmth. I sat there to warm up but to also reflect on what I had just completed. A monumental ride in extreme conditions. I did it. I am able to tell you all about it. I have great photos to remind me of my epic ride.

This rail trail is great for biking, running, walking and I hear even cross country skiing in another couple weeks. When traveling look for rail trails. Normally pretty flat and full of character. Great way to experience a little history. I give two thumbs up since this is a post of twos today for the Yellowstone Shortline Trail. Also you can make a donation to keep this trail pristine. The link is on photo one, if you feel the need to give.

perspective, Uncategorized

Today vs. Yesterday

2chicksandapen

Today I reflected on yesterday, or basically how times have changed in comparison to when I grew up. The comparison is drastic to say the least. Then I opted to compare being a child born in early 90’s to a child born in the mid 2000’s. Again, a crazy comparison but not as drastic or maybe it is.

Here are my notes:

Child A – born in 1970’s

Child B – born in 1990’s

Child C – born in 2000’s

Phone expectations:

A-Phone privacy is a luxury. Having a second phone line at home is high society. And I can’t forget the good old pay phone.

B-Cell phone as a pre-teen if you are lucky. Not a smart phone just a phone. Texting was at a premium.

C-iPad as preschooler, wifi access, texting, internet and most likely a cell phone for emergencies in late elementary school.

Vehicle expectations:

A-Work to earn money to buy second-hand car. Pay for gas with personal earnings. A job, a paper route, babysitting, whatever was available.

B-Help with a car purchase. May have a job to pay for gas and things but also needs help.

C-Needs new car. Specific type of car. Expects gas for free.

Pay expectations:

A-Minimum wage was low. $5.00 / hour might have been a good job.

B-$9.00 / hour might be good. Looking for easy money jobs. High tips. High commission. More money, less work.

C-$12.00 – $20.00 / hour demands. Work ethic decreased dramatically. Expects high pay for little effort. 

The list could go on and on. I’m sure many have variations of this list but it was one I jotted down while reflecting. A little humor post to out here: a Time Machine of sorts. Fast forward 10-20 years and I hate to see what this list looks like.

Were there other factors that may impact these changes? Dual income families vs. single income families?

The internet?

So many questions in my mind.