running like the wind or the wind blowing me forward

I am trying my best to get my resistance training in everyday. Even on weekends I work, which can be the most difficult. And I can say I am doing a pretty fantastic job with it. After a Saturday work day I planned a run for Sunday. I knew there was rain in the forecast, so I wanted to be sure to get a run in before hand. Although I told myself I should run in the rain, because I can't be totally sure what the weather will be like at the Ultra. So I better toughen up! lol

I went out the rail trail, although I really wanted to get out the trails, but without my trail shoes yet I decided to wait until I can be well equipped. My pearl izumi's which I do love, have zero traction. So I didn't want to risk it. I am being a little soft. But I want to get over one injury before intentionally putting myself in harms way.

It was crazy windy out. I also knew that from the weather this morning and chose to go out right when it was the windiest.

Now this is exciting news.......I RAN 2.37 miles WITH NO KNEE PAIN! This is the most it has been in like.... FOREVER! :) I know to hardcore runners this is a ridiculously low amount of miles, but to me I feel hopeful and able to conquer my knee issue. I totally needed this boost. I think more than I actually knew. I stopped at that amount of miles because I got to my landmark, and about 30 seconds before that I felt a twinge. And I really wanted to end on a good note. MISSION ACCOMPLISHED!! BOOM :)

a week in a day

This was my off week from work, besides working Saturday (which I am just covering for a co-worker). My off weeks usually mean a better workout and gym attendance. Which in this case it was. :)

Monday : Hello two a days. haha  for once in my life, it was nice and because I didn't get a run on Sunday because the rail trail bathroom was closed and I didn't change at the clinic before my commute home and because I wasn't going to be the women changing in her car, and I had to pee. And I wasn't going to be the women peeing in the woods. Okay back to what I was saying:
Gym workout in the am - Treadmill walking at an incline 0.5%-3.5% for 60 mins (completely boring) Plus we are getting more people up to the gym in the morning, I'm sure it will decrease back down, but it does me I'm not the selfish person on the second to last treadmill anymore. I moved over so now I'm on the first treadmill next to the Jacobs ladder (which p.s. I've done, its so terrible and it will never happen again in my life, but there are a few "meat-heads" that come up and use it and it freaks me out when they are on it because I'm always stressing " what should I do if they fall off?" "Do I help?" "would they want me to help?" Of brother, anyway I am now on the first treadmill so I'm staring at my reflection because the treadmill overlooks the turf where a local arena football team practices, but not at 5:00 am so the lights are off and I stare, at myself....for 60 mins. Then Monday evening I ran on the rail trail. See two a days. :) lol. Resistance training and foam rolling.

Tuesday: Strength and core and always a lil bit of cardio ( because I kinda can't resist) Gym in the am :

• 5 min treadmill wake up ( I need this to get my barrings) 
• crunches on the yoga ball. 100 total. 50 forward and 25 each side.
• 100 squats
• 3 x 12 180 lbs leg presses x 2
• 3 x 12 60 lbs donkey kicks x 2
• elliptical 35 mins. 20 minutes forward at a 5 % resistance and 15 mins backwards at a 3% resistance.
• Stretching with resistance band and foam rolling

Wednesday : off Rest I still did resistance, but no foam rolling.

Thursday Strength and core at the gym:

• 5 min treadmill wake up ( I need this to get my barrings) 
• crunches on the yoga ball. 100 total. 50 forward and 25 each side.
• 100 squats
• 3 x 12 180 lbs leg presses x 2
• 3 x 12 60 lbs donkey kicks x 2
• elliptical 40 mins. 20 minutes forward at a 5 % resistance and 20 mins backwards at a 3% resistance.
• Stretching with resistance band and foam rolling

Friday Cardioish:

• Treadmill 30 mins on incline (varied) 
• Leg press 3 x 12 180 lbs x 2
• 3 x 12 60 lbs donkey kicks x 1
• elliptical 20 mins, 10 mins forward at 5% and 10 mins backwards at 3%

The vivofit has been removed for the week. I was getting a little obsessed with it, so I needed a break. Next week will be a week on at work, so it's always a struggle. I have a hard time getting gym in and getting P ready. But she is on Spring Break so it might make things easier. (fingers crossed) 

Have a safe and RUNable weekend!!  

urgent care calls

As an LVT at a 7 day small animal exclusive practice I work weekends. I have an usual (but totally awesome schedule) where I work Tues,Weds,Thurs,Sat,Sun and then I'm off for 8 days until the following Tues. Awesome right!? I get a lot of mommy time with my daughter which is great. I am available to go on field trips and volunteer in her Pre-school class.

I am the head LVT (LVT by the way is Licensed Veterinary Technician. An LVT is the person right under the Doctors. I went to school, graduated and took both my state and national boards to become licensed. Hard, yes. Worth it, definitely.) and I run the surgical area. This is exactly where I wanted to be when I graduated from tech school almost 8 years ago. And I've held this position for 5 years now. Which is unheard of. Urgent care is just an added bonus. It gets me out of surgery and in exam rooms with owners. As much as I love surgery, it can be so stressful, the constant balance of patients and anesthesia that a break from that is much needed, mentally. I see a lot of things on urgent care. A lot of crazy things and a lot of sad things.

There are things that will never cease to amaze me about people, and that is people that can hurt animals or children. I mean talk about an uneven fight. What can be completely wrong with people to do those kind of things?

Last week I ran into a patient under those circumstances and its hard. I can get through my job, I can get the patient the care and medical attention they need. But The second I had a moment to sit down and think I started to cry. It affected the Doctor on the case and everyone else who was involved. Just terrible. I won't get into details because well, it's not needed and it's being investigated.

But I still love the level of care we provide 7 days a week. And I can't wait to see what this weekend brings!

new shoes, new shoes, red white and blue shoes

I have such a hankering for new shoes. More specifically trail shoes I am dying to get my feet into :) I have been doing some internet research just to get an idea of what people are looking at and loving in the trail running world. It is hard to decipher through. It's slightly overwhelming because there are a lot of brands I haven't heard of but, that might just be because I'm out of my comfort zone with all this new stuff.

I am really looking forward to going to runners performance and trying on the brands they recommend. I think it is beyond amazing that they let you buy shoes and try them for 10 days and return, no reason necessary, and get another pair. When I first started I returned 4 pairs. No lies. I asked the person helping me if it was excessive and he politely told me "no there was one person who returned her shoes over 5 times." I know he was just trying to make me feel better. Mission accomplished :)

I am waiting for the trails to not be knee deep in snow. I'm not sure I'll get a good feel if I'm trekking through snow. I am really hoping in about 2 weeks I'll be trying out some shoes. :) Can't wait!

*Any trail shoe suggestions?

horsing around

So after my disappointing run Monday, I was bummed and I'll admit it. There is something so fantastically frustrating and amazing about running. I feel like I run into those two emotions as I am running. I was never a runner. This only began a few years ago but I truly wish it was part of my past. I rode horses my whole entire life until I was 26 (I got thrown from my last horse at a show and hyper-extended ALL the ligaments in my left knee **my knee with the ITBS** and I've never rode another horse again. The rehab was long and then I got married and pregnant and once you get to a certain age the fear of hurting yourself takes over the joy, which totally happened to me). Literally from 2 years old to 26. It was who I was, and I didn't mind that. Riding can be strenuous and hard to do. Yes you can ride a horse and be overweight, no question. But Most people are knee deep in manure, cleaning stall, washing horses, cleaning and hauling tack besides riding probably 5-7 days a weeks. Which is a fierce workout in it's self.

Riding is a lot like running and I've compared them before in the past. Riding/showing is an individual sport. Riders, much like runners will go out for a ride after a long tiring day when most people just go home and put their feet up. You get what you put into it. If you don't ride or train your horse, you will probably not do your best. Same with training and conditioning. You are out there in the ring by yourself, kinda like a trail or road race. (I'm speaking from experience I'm usually alone in the middle of the herd). People, especially women, can be mean in this sport. You are out for yourself and yourself only. You want the best equipment and the best tack. Much like shoes, socks, and clothes.

Now there are differences in running and riding.  Since I've ran a few dozen road races I notice people are different in the sense they are usually pretty cheerful even at 7*F at 7:30 am.  People waiting in line to use the bathroom before a show are not friendly. I usually kept to myself, and who knows maybe everyone else was doing the same and it came off bitchy. Or they were just bitchy.  You keep to yourself between classes. Unlike runners who are drawn to each other. We cheer other runners on, even if you don't know them from Adam. Showing you usually don't do that. It's only the people you know getting your support.

Running can be social or non-social. I prefer non-social. I like my time. I like sometimes not talking. With a 4.5 year old she wants the whole world explained to her all day long. Which is fine, it's my job/joy to explain things and make them fun for her. I do a lot of talking at work. I orchestrate a surgical area and have to always tell people what I or the patient needs next.  It can be exhausting.

So I guess in a way after selling my last horse at 27 (even though I stopped riding I still owned Ranger) and 8 months pregnant (me not the horse) I have transitioned into a similar sport. Huh?! kinda makes me smile when I think about it :) Frustrating though, because I can't blame the 1200 lbs horse under me anymore. It's just me and the rode or trail or treadmill now. And one day running will love me as much as I love it. (damn it)!

monday rundays

So I made it out to the rail trial yesterday in the afternoon, around 3:30 pm. Which was totally weird because I only get out to the rail trail on the weekends, plus I am an early morning runner. So the 3:30 felt very random :) I ran a solid 1.75 miles without knee pain and usually its a gradual pain and I assess as I go, yesterday's was different, it was quick and abrupt.  I got very "hobbily" once the pain began. And I'm pretty sure the runner i passed near the end of my run saw it.

I finished after 3.1 miles total. Not my greatest attempt at running. I always immediately start doubting myself and my running skills, or lack there of. I'm getting to the point where running with this knee pain is making things so much more worse. Not like having knee pain isn't the worst, but the self doubting is really a bummer.

I am trying to be positive today and just tell myself that I am on the right track and to keep doing my resistance training and foam rolling. But I am not totally sure if I'm suppose to use the foam roller if I don't run. Do I use it when I just workout, run or not?

I really need to look into that. I am seeing a difference in the pain level when I roll. Much better, I guess, good not great :) lol

when spring turns back to winter

Michigan can't get it's act together. We were in the 40-50*F for a little bit. Now we are back to freezing at night and 20-30*F during the days. It's a total bummer. I need it to warm to a seasonable warmth for a few reasons. Well the obvious being, cold weather sucks. period. I'd like to stop having to warm my car up before I go anywhere. And the main reason being health! I have a good feeling once it gets warm ALL this sickness plaguing everyone including my 4.5 year old will be gone.

Last week I found myself with a sore throat so sore i could barely swallow. I wanted to do nothing which I kinda did. I worked yes. But only worked out twice! That's like an all time low for me. I found myself wondering which is better, more sleep when you are sick?, or getting myself out of bed and get myself moving? I chose to sleep. It seemed to have been the right choice. My sore throat was gone by Friday and having a full weekend to work, I was grateful.

So this morning I was at the gym nice and early, not to too eager work out, but there none the less. I walked on the treadmill for 60 mins at a pace of 3.5 mph and at an incline of 1%-3%. Whoa hard right?! LOL Unfortunately will being sick all weak I didn't have much of an appetite and that stayed with me through the weekend. So lack of energy is what I blame this morning on.

This afternoon, however, I am going on a run because the hubs will be home early do to a student conference we need to go to for P. (what you conference about for a 4.5 year old, I haven't the faintest idea) Should be a good outing. I am looking forward to it. :) And also getting back into the swing, minus sickness!

food for thought or thoughts of food

I love food. I had (and still working through) a dysfunctional relationship with food. And I'm beginning to think about food as nutrition and not as something to fill a void. My problems with food started after my parents got divorced and I was left home alone a lot while my mom was dating again. I would fill my time and stomach with eating pretty much whatever I could fine. I'd have 2 dinners on some nights. Gross I know. But at 13 I didn't think anything of it. I made pasta from a box, cookies, fruit snacks, cereals, bread ext.

The whole time I was growing up, I never felt good. I know that's a bold statement but it's dramatically true. I was always suffering from headaches. I'd tell my mom how I thought something might be seriously wrong with me because none of my friends felt like this. None of my classmates complained of headaches 4 days a week. I felt lost and kind of alone especially since I would bring my symptoms up to my mom who would brush them off.

I don't remember a time I felt awesome, until I became pregnant with P. At age 26, I finally felt great, no headaches, yes morning sickness for the first 6 months, but totally manageable. Vomit and move on, LOL. Unlike my headaches that stuck with me for days. After I had P the headache symptoms returned. I felt frustrated and confused.

On my way to work (it's  40 min commute one way) I hear a health coach on the radio. They read a listeners question about constant headaches/migraines. I turned my radio up. The health coaches suggestion was to keep a food diary and find the food triggering the headaches. I started logging my food that night.

I quickly realized that everything I ate was giving me headaches!

The same factor in all my food choices were artificial dyes. They are literally in EVERYTHING! Everything I was eating and everything most American's are eating to be honest. They were in my favorite foods and my favorite drinks. The foods I would reach for when I wasn't feeling well (comfort foods) were making me even more sick. It was a relief to finally have a reason, but terrifying to figure out how to move forward.

My food allergies consist of:

• eggs -- these actually are a food I've been allergic to since I was a toddler
• shellfish -- like most people 
• artificial dyes/preservatives 
• wheat-- sensitivity, not full blown allergy but definitely heading that way. 

See food allergies are just like any other allergies, they become worse the more they get into a person system. And I'm starting to see the beginnings with wheat. I will get frustrated and eat a sandwich because it sounds good and I want to be a normal person and I feel the headaches creep in and also the intestinal issues rage for a few days as well.

I am starting to eat to fuel. Being a runner I need to appreciate my body and what it does for me each day.

I find myself really watching what P eats too.(when she's not with us but with other family members that don't eat as clean as we do) I would never want her to feel the way I felt growing up, always stricken with headaches feeling like crap. We eat very well in our home. It's obviously for the better, but at first it was different and took time to get use to. I fall "off the wagon" every now and then or eat something while out to dinner I wouldn't realize would have artificial flavoring and I manage the headaches and know they are going to be short lived. Thank goodness for that!  

This will be an on going thing. But it's made me think about each and every piece of food that goes into my mouth and my families. :) Totally worth it!

now that I've been off I want the road

I got 2 rail trail runs in Saturday and Sunday, it was totally amazing. It was one of those awesome things you don't realize or appreciate when it as happening. Which is completely my life.  I have a tendency to not really pay attention to things while they are happening but noticing them when they are memories. My two runs were great because I felt like a runner again. And no I'm not one of those people that talks badly about the treadmill. It's there and it helps when you can't get outside for whatever reason.

I work out at 5:00 am which doesn't allow me to run outside, I wouldn't feel safe.

I do love the outside. I love running outside and feeling like I am accomplishing something. And since I have been running at a slower rate (It's recommended for ultra running, to go slower, which was like music to my ears). I feel less stressed about running outside. It feels more natural to me at the speed I'm going which is 13.20 miles/hr yeah that's right speed racers. People are literally running 2 + times faster than me, but I don't care :) haha

I feel like I found my "stride" with my ultra training and I am appreciating it immensely!

when you can feel it

I only began running after my time at the gym was getting boring. I was finding excuses to not go, basically because I had no goals in my future. I had a girlfriend tell me about a 5k her hospital was hosting. "You should run in it." I literally laughed..out loud...at her.

But once I stopped and thought about it, I thought, why not?

I began working out after I was 2 years post baby and still had some nagging baby weight. Which happens when you don't try to lose it. I was never a gym rat before P, so I wasn't planning on becoming one after her. But I needed help and some time by myself, It's hard, parenting is hard. So after my girlfriend mentioned the 5k which was 12 weeks away, I made it a goal.

At first, I literally walked for 4.5 mins and ran for 0.5 mins. I had NO endurance, NO stamina, and NO love for what I was trying to accomplish. I didn't get it (yet). I was conditioning to complete a 5k and that was it. The morning of the 5k was a cool September morning. (I know realize those are the best) There was a DJ and a TON of runners. This thing was huge! That part was not mentioned to me before hand, and I'm kinda glad the information was with held.

I struggled to say the least. I had failed to condition and or run outside before the race. I struggled to breath and not hyperventilate. I struggled to stay focus. I struggled so much I remember just wanting to see the end, the finish line, to just be done with this terrible thing I have done to myself. This running, who does this and thinks its fun?! Who pays money for this?! (Oh wait I did). Who finds this enjoyable?! Good heavens where is the finish line.... The picture of me from the race looks like I was at about mile 20 of a marathon. I was at mile 2.

Then it happened. I saw the finish line and as a started running towards it I caught a gimps of my daughter who was 3 years old at the time CHEERING me on!!! It was the most amazing feeling I'd ever felt. And I started to tear up. I was showing my daughter what I was capable of. And yeah I could be more conditioned, I could be faster, I could be a lot of thing. But what I was, was showing my daughter when we have a goal, you complete it.

And I was hooked.

I have given running the respect it deserves since that day. I am in awe of this sport and the people that involve themselves in it. When I think about my ultra all I think about is the feeling I will get when I see P at the finish line. And I can not wait for that moment. It will truly be, the ultra of my ultra. :)

over again

So like I've mentioned I am going to do the phase one resistance band training for 1 more month. I'm not sure I was completely committed. So as of Sunday I was starting it over. I am seeing some progress. I was able to run on the rail trail which was awesome. I ran on the grass to give my knee a break from the hard black top. I love running outside. I really was concentrating on my sore and breathing. I always find myself beginning to hyperventilate when I run outside. So it made me really focus.

It takes me a good 15-20 mins to do the resistance band training now that I am holding it for 2 seconds on each count. I am less than 6 months away from the 50km Ultra. I am excited but doubting myself a bit, and doubting my knee.

This is how I start my resistance, with my bad knee. 

**Please excuse the basketball hoop, my husband brings that in every year during march madness so him and P can play basketball. ** Adorable :) But the second basketballs over it back outside! lol :)

the last 72 hours

It's been a busy weekend, but productive. Friday I was at the gym but FINALLY got to the rail trail Saturday & Sunday whoot whoot!! Saturday it was windy and blustery, but Sunday was beautiful. I even did a couple mile walk today after dropping P off at preschool ( the school has a trail right off it's parking lot). :)
We have even been able to go outside and enjoy the fresh air, which I believe has helped P get over her yucky URI. Preschool has kicked this little girl immune system like none other. So spring please hurry up! We are patiently waiting :)

Friday, check out that sunshine!! I am reading Ultra Marathon Man by Dean Karnazes, amazing!

Saturdays run. It was 3.25 miles with minimal knee pain. I tried to stay off the black top as much and run on the grass to get my knee on a softer path. 

Sunday, gorgeous! 

I hope everyone had a fabulous weekend!! :)

Can you really have too much

Of workout clothes...I think not! haha :) I love my workout clothes. This last Christmas I pretty much got TJ Maxx gift cards and spend them exclusively on workout clothes. Especially when you are a cold weather runner, you need to bundle up enough not to freeze, but not enough to get heat stroke. Fine Line.

Plus pretty much all the outerwear I bought I wear on a daily bases. So basically if I'm not in comfy workout clothes I'm in scrubs. How ridiculous is that? Both feel like you are sporty pj's all day! I like the fitted sweatshirt ( I don't think they are sweatshirts, because they are way thinner, but not sure what else to call them) that have the high turtle neck thing happening with the holes so you can breath through your mouth outside. I love those on bitter days! But I will say I am trying my best to not be a mouth breather when I run. I have a tendency to do it outside more than on the treadmill. I'm sure its because I'm more regulated on the treadmill than I am outside. When I read Eat & Run Scott mentioned that someone once told him your nose is for breathing and mouth is for eating.

When I first started working out, it was about 2 years after I had my daughter and I was still holding on to some baby weight. I also needed to get some "me time." and working out was the best of both worlds (and still is). I started by just wearing sweatpants and t-shirts. I gradually moved to workout pants and t-shirts. Now it's pretty much capris and tank tops/short sleeve shirts. I have shorts but, (un)fortunately I have very muscular thighs and shorts get all caught up in them when I run. So I wear them around the house and outside in the summer.

I am pretty band loyal as you know to my Pearl Izumi shoes. But I am also pretty loyal to Danskin Now. Great brand! I have have some clothes for over 2 years, no problems. They look and feel brand new. I just keep adding to my collection. I have everything from a fuzzy fleece to bike shorts by Danskin. And they are affordable which usually means cheap, but they really have held up! I'm totally amazed which is why i am brand loyal. I get mine from Walmart. I've seen them at other store but they are actually more expensive elsewhere. Love 'em! :)

This is just a portion, I have two outfits in the washer, in major need of de-stinking and this doesn't include any outerwear! :) LOL and if someone asked tomorrow "do you need more workout clothes?" the answer will forever be yes!

Today's workout- Rest Day

Stretching at home with resistance band +/- foam rolling ( I'm not sure if I do the roller if I haven't worked out. I'll have to check into that.)

what's on your mind

When I am on the treadmill I kinda let my mind wander. But not enough to forget what I am doing, because my worst fear is falling off the treadmill. (I actually work with a Dr who was on vacation and she flew off the back of a treadmill into the free weights!!) I guess if you were on vacation you wouldn't necessarily see any of those people again :) so that's a plus.

So I always have my head phone in, but rarely listen to the music, if that makes sense. I sometimes use my headphone as a decoy for people not to talk to me. There is an older gentlemen I say good-morning to, but if he is lingering when I am done with my workout I leave me head phones in while I stretch and grab the paper towel and cleaner to clean off my machine.

I am be slightly antisocial....I think everyone is at a 5:00 am workout. Or at least I tell myself that :) LOL

I usually think about my day. If its a work day I think about my strategy for my surgery day. I usually think about work and any problems I have. Or anything I need to get done while there. I am the head of surgery which means I am a manager too, so I have a lot of paper work as well as a lot of surgeries on my docket when I am in the office.

I sometimes people watch too. In the mornings there aren't a ton of people up at the gym, but it's funny how you can started anticipating what people do and what time they arrive. This morning I switched up my day and actually watched the news. I was on the rowing machine and the guys in front of me on the elliptical had that and Sports Center on. So that was a nice change.

This mornings routine consisted of:

Rowing (moderate) 15 mins
Leg press 3 x 12 reps @ 180#
Donkey kicks 3x 10 @70 #
Leg curls 3 x 12 @ 80#
Leg extensions 3 x 12 @ 70#
Walked on 0.5%-5.0% incline for 20 mins
Ran 1 mile at 13.20 min pace. (I just wanted to get through one mile)

Post workout:

Bilateral quadriceps stretches hold for 10 seconds each leg
Bilateral IT band stretch hold for 15 seconds each leg
Bilateral calf stretch hold for 10 seconds each calf
Bilateral hip flexer stretch

Home Post workout:

Resistance band
foam rolling ITB
foam rolling quads
foam rolling hamstrings

I really hope my new found (re) focus will pay off because one things that entered my mind was "there is no way I can run the ultra in September." Which is 6 months away from tomorrow. My fingers are crossed so tightly!!

springtime feeling

I need spring in my life like yesterday! This winter has been harsh, not like Boston harsh, but a daunting Michigan harsh. Plus I am over my knee pain. I mean seriously. (rant to ensue) I mean come on! How can I run 3 miles no problem and not get past 1.5 today?!  Seriously I don't get the mechanics behind any of this crap.
So during/after my morning workout I was deflated. I was over it, kinda really rethinking this whole running thing in my life. Who needs it? Why bother? ext...  I watched people running a few treadmills down and I was jealous.( one person mind you was a kid who comes with her dad she might be 12..I was jealous of a 12 year old. Good Heavens!) Why can they run and I can't? I mean I do but its's painful.

Post pity party I got myself together and stopped blaming the world and looked at what I was doing. Was I doing my resistance training? yes. Was I doing completely appropriately by holding my stretch for 2 seconds? no. I was rushing. I wanted to get them done, and wasn't taking full care to do the exercises correctly.  I am to blame.
So when I got home. I reread the article and it stated to do the exercises after a run or three hours before. I wanted to make sure I wasn't suppose to wait three or do 1 hour before ( I had it backwards in my head). So I did the exercises, holding for 2 seconds, doing 3 sets of 10 in each position (4 total positions).
I then did the foam roller. I don't like the foam roller, which is why I can totally convince myself it doesn't work because it hurts! I did 3 sets of 10 rolls (?) on each leg along my ITB and I rolled my hamstrings and quads.

I am going to refocus my energy and stop blaming the world around me, or having a pity party. The blame is mine and mine alone. So I am going to finish the next 5 days of my resistance training and then start phase 1 again with the foam roller in to boot.

I am going to concur ITBS damn it!

sickness and how it effects everything

It's be a whirlwind the last couple days. Thursday morning started with me waking up with a borderline migraine. It was awful and I always try to figure out what started me stressing enough to wake up in such pain. I think it was work related. So pretty much, no gym Thursday morning. I went to work and pushed through. I did find out a co-worker had the same thing happen the day before : headache with nausea. I too was nauseous. But after I got home I made my headache relief using my juicer and 30 mins later GONE! :)

• 1 celery
• bunch of kale
• celery
• lemon
• pineapple 

Friday I was woke up to my 4.5 year old with the stomach flu. No gym, mama bear in high gear.
Saturday and Sunday were both work days. And then this morning I woke up and thought for sure I got the stomach flu. It was so bizarre, I was sweating so bad and was nauseous. So I laid back down (no gym) and an hour later I was fine! So weird :(
Tomorrow is a new day and I can't wait to get back on track. I will say I did all my resistance training even during all this :) Hooray!  

presents in my mailbox

So I received my 4th ultra running book today in the mail. I don't honestly remember ordering this particular one but that doesn't mean it didn't happen. When I arrived on amazon I kinda got on a buying kick in regards to ultra books. The one that came today is eXtreme running. I'm thinking it is along the lines of desert runners which is right up my ally. I believe I have explained my obsession with the movie before. If not, I am obsessed with Desert Runners which I watch on Netflix as often as possible. (5 times to be exact). It's actually what peaked my interest in ultra running. Completely amazing, if you know anyone in your life who hasn't seen it. Highly recommend it.
So in my amazon buying utopia I have actually lost count of the books I should be getting. I know for sure one I ordered about 1 month ago isn't here yet because the FBA people contacted me to see if I would write a comment, and I said I would but hadn't received the book yet. Which to me is already a bad review.

(ps FBA is fulfilled by amazon, those are the people that have the books in the used section, which means they bought it for a quarter a their local library and are selling if for $3.99 lol or something of that nature. But I do love them because my husband and I have done FBA selling in the past).

So none the less very excited about my new book and the fact that the severe headache I have been nursing all day is finally gone so I can enjoy it! Hooray!! :)

snow bunnies

I have been a Michigander my entire life ( 32 yrs to be exact) and even as a January baby I didn't like winter or the snow. (Im not totally sure why I figure people born in certain seasons should enjoy them more but I do). So being in Michigan you get the highs and lows an every where in between. It was just one of the coldest February's on record. Which is weird because I am pretty sure they said that last year. :(
Anyway, my dislike for winter really rears it's ugly head especially when I have to drive in it. I don't mind mounds of snow but the ice and slippery roads send me in a tizzy. Especially driving around P, worried mama here!
But things have taken a turn. Do not read into this, I am not one of those people who seek joy in driving in Michigan winters or even skies/snow boards or does any activity outside. But I will say since I started running I want to get outside, no matter the weather.
I especially love a fresh powdery snow fall on the rail trail. The quietness that winter brings is one of my all time favorite things now. Because I total appreciate the calm, nature around me. I LOVE running in the snow. (ice not so much, because I'm bound to break something and I kinda just wanna be injury free) with that said I am caution when embarking outside. The trail has to be snow covered and minimal ice. :)
This afternoon we were able to take in the outside since it was actually above freezing and steady at a beautiful 27* and sunny :) I even did some sprints to get the old heart a pumping.

Check out our tracks! :)

Monday matters

My vivofit reported to me that I only got 5.5 hrs of sleep last night and I believe it! I got sucked into a new show last night and the premier episode was 2 hours long! I usually have will power and remind myself there is On Demand options or recording but I was in too deep. LOL :) But I am happy to report I got up at my usual time (4:45am) and arrived at the gym at usual time (5:05am). But the low energy level left me with only being able to walk on the treadmill. I did however walking at a 3.5 mph rate and at and incline ranging from 0.5%-5.0% the whole time for 60 minutes. Which I am glad. My legs were burning after. So I think I got the job done. I also got my strength training done right after to ensure I did not forget later when I'm cuddled up on the sofa. (which is always when I remember stuff).
After I picked P up from preschool we went for a treat at Tropical Smoothie. I got an island green smoothie which was spinach, kale, mango, pineapple, and banana. Yes,Yes,Yes,Yes and Yes! There was a new smoothie with avocado, that I almost got but it had coconut which made my decision pretty quickly, uh no thank you.
Tomorrow will be an off day/Rest day do to my work schedule and getting P to the sitters on time. Hope every ones week is off to a great start!