The Half Marathon, Again

This last weekend I ran the same half Marathon I did two years ago.  I pretty much had the same experience as last time, except for the following three things:

1.  I told Emily about it but she couldn't come down because of prior commitments.

2.  It got pretty hot, which apparently really does me in. 

3.  And this time I took a picture.

You get bussed to the starting line where they have a tarp you can put your stuff on for when you get back but no one watches it...  so I left most of my stuff (ie my electronics) in the car. This picture was taken after I had recovered somewhat, ate some food, talked to a Ford mechanical engineer from Michigan whose brother convinced him to run the race while visting Las Vegas instead of gambling the whole time,  ate some more free food, started getting on the bus, went back to get my bag off the tarp, got on the bus, went back to get the stuff Id left at the table, and finally got bussed back to my car.

I was a little disappointed that I got the same time as last time but Melissa pointed out that I hadn't been training specifically for this long distance so it was actually a pretty good showing... Jared also said it was nice to be consistant without too much effort :)  I actually ran almost the whole time this time (going back up the hill doesn't count) and the following picture proves it.

Apparently when I get tired I kick my other foot as I run which results in bloods soaking into my sock on one side and a raw red place on the other.

You can see the offending bloods on the other shoe. I didn't realize it was so bad until I got home and started taking off my shoes and socks. I think I need to work on my form :)

Oh yes, and thanks to Melissa for having me over to play in her pool all afternoon (I was tired so mostly I watched Mitchell jump in and out, in and out, in and out) and then feeding me delicious pizza and breadsticks.  I didn't really realize how long I had been there until I called Emily on my way back home that evening.  She was surprised at how long they let me stay but thats the mark of a good friend... doesn't tell you that you've overstayed your welcome. 

That night I was in bed by 9:30pm not having accomplished all I had planned for a Saturday.  But I've got another medal.  Thats why I do the long distances, just finishing gets you a medal.  The reaction of the Relief Society ladies when I tell them of my exploits as a "good news minute" helps too :)

Spring for Hope 5k

I had the pictures all loaded ready for text to be added for this post last week in June... but then the Las Chonchas fire started and the subsequent evacuation of Los Alamos. I spent the whole week listening to the local radio station over the internet and surfing for more information. Being just a teeny tiny bit of a drama queen, I couldn't focus on anything else until I drove there for my planned 4th of July vacation.

Being as that may, instead of blogging about the fire and my week in New Mexico I decided to get this out. It was now or never, ie wait any long and it would be too late.

So here are my cute relations strutting their stuff! They are showing off for the photographer. See how fast we can go?
And here's me. That's a smile not a grimace.
I enjoyed the 5k although I probably would have done better if I had slept and didn't feel like throwing up. It was a really nice course and I'd never done just a 5k, it was always after swimming and biking in a sprint triathlon. I'd like to participate in at least one more so I could pace it better. I admit it was a little disappointing not to get a medal even though I know that's only for the long races.... next time I'll bring my own. Perhaps the ones left over from the Family Reunion.

Back to the "fast" walkers. I think they enjoyed it.
I know they liked the ice cream and chocolate milk at the end. Thank you to Melissa and Kara for putting together such a nice run. Emily even won a free ice cream in the after race raffle!

PS. Funny story: As soon as I crossed the finish line I started to tell the story of my run. "So I was running... and then I ran some more... " It's a family tradition. My relations hadn't finished yet (I had to wait 20 more minutes) so I cornered the first person I recognized. Poor Wendy.

The Best Laid Schemes

I had a plan this week to prepare for the triathlon on Saturday.

Swim Monday morning. Mandy was possibly staying at the Mel hotel (everyone welcome!) Monday night and I knew I wouldn't be doing any preparing that night... other than eating ice cream. I also knew it was more likely I would get up to swim than run. Running is my least favorite. Ick. That's why I had to buy an ipod... to distract from the fact I'm running.

Then run Tuesday (if I didn't get up I could run that evening), swim Wed, run Thurs, rest Friday, race Sat.

The plan was going fine (I even ran (in the loosest sense of the word) Tues morning AND evening)... until Wed.

It was cloudy that morning and I saw flashes of lighting in the distance but figured since the pool is indoors I was safe.

The dumb thing was closed. Apparently their pump had given out.

I drove back home. I looked at my running shoes left in the front room from my run the night before. I looked outside. The rain had started to fall.

I looked at the treadmill in the clubhouse across the street. It was being used.

I went upstairs and got back into bed.

Of course, the thunder and rain kept me up until I finally got up and went to work.

I think the exercising gods are conspiring against me.

PS. I just looked back at some of my posts and I can't believe this is my 4th year of doing triathlons (I've only done 5.33 triathlons (counting this coming one), 1 half marathon, and a couple official bike rides during these 4 years, but that is quite different than what I was doing in the years before). Who'd have thunk I'd ever actually do this type of thing? Truth be told, I only do it for the medal everyone gets for participating... but still, me? The crocheting couch potato? And even more surprising, one surgery later I'm still sticking with it! Again.. who'd a thunk?

Why I needed a new Suit

Think the old one was a little stretched out?

No wonder the poor thing couldn't keep up.But look! I got a Speedo endurance type so this should last twice as long.

Like maybe 4 years? I shore paid for 4 years.

A word to the wise, never buy a new swimsuit AND new running shoes at the same time. It totally blows your recreational budget for the month... and ur already over so why not spend 70 dollars at Joann's while ur in the area.

And never, never stop at Walmart on your way home.

Budget? What budget?

The Great Swimming Attempt

I have been irationally worried about getting in the pool again. It had to do with circles.

I didn't want to end up swimming in them.

I finally got up the courage to go to the pool Saturday after Melissa bailed on riding our bikes early in the morning.

I can only get up early to excersize for the following 3 reasons:
1. I'm racing
2. I can tell someone I did it right afterwards and they will be impressed.
3. I am accountable to someone else who is also getting up early.

So after sleeping in and an RS activity, it was too hot to go biking and I was tired of running all weekend. So I decided to jump in... so to speak.

It actually wasn't too bad. I didn't swim in circles although my arm was sad after just a few laps. Every time I turned and pushed against the wall my swimsuit struggled to catch back up with my body and sometimes one of the straps lost the battle, but I'm pretty sure nobody saw anything.

I might have discovered I need a new swimsuit.

But the real fun part was trying to get out. I've always prided myself on being able to hoist myself out of the pool without the use of a ladder. Ladders are for wusses.

Unfortunately, hoisting yourself out of the pool requires the use of an elbow and the pushing of both arms. My poor skin. It sure didn't like the feeling of being smooshed between the plate and the top of the deck. And my wimpy arm wasn't much help in the hoisting department.

The worse part was as I struggled for purchase on the deck, a friendly LARGE lady and family (who were hoping I was leaving and they could use my lane) offered to help. Help from large ladies is for wusses! I struggled some more, finally getting up by scraping both elbows and a knee. I showed the lady my scar.

"I had surgery!"

"You shore did." She had already lost interest and was eyeing my lane.

I grabbed my stuff and left. What a wuss.

Photographic evidence (to show Melissa I was using her birthday present of a towel dress over my swimsuit):

The Half Marathon Runner

Emily is miffed at me cuz I didn't tell her until last night that I was running a 1/2 marathon this morning.

I'm at work right now and have been here late all week. I didn't want anyone to feel obligated to come since I wouldn't be much fun with all the work I need to do. And watching long runs are pretty boring.

So yes, I ran 13.2 miles this morning after all of 7 weeks of training. I wasn't getting out swimming or biking (too much effort apparently), I needed a goal for my exercising, and this was a pretty low-key race so I chose it. Melissa, her mother, and her sister all did it last year and told me it was really nice.

They also told me there was the big hill, but it wasn't that bad and the area was beautiful.

I chose to ignore the "big hill" part of that sentence and focus on the "wasn't that bad".

Every hill we went up (it was an out and back) I thought to myself that maybe this is the hill they were talking about.... then the road went DOWN into the valley and I knew the truth of the BIG hill.

I bet it was more than 12% grade.

Yes, I walked back up it. When the going gets tough, the Melanie slows down. This is why I can recover quickly after my events... I don't actually ever push myself.

My original time goal was 2:30 but after trying a "long run" (just over 7 miles) one Saturday my goal changed to "I hope I can finish", although I was hoping for under 3 hrs. I did it in about 2:43! Pretty proud of myself.

Now I am dead tired (I never sleep when I'm nervous/excited) and pretty sore (I need new running shoes but didn't want to get them right before the race), but I have a medal and that's all I care about right now.

Go me!

PS. They only had 3 porta pottys there at the beginning for ALL the runners. I didn't want to wait in line for 30 minutes since the race started in 20 minutes so I figured I'd go out on the course (this race included a full marathon, 50 miles, and 100 miles so they had porta pottys out there for them) but unfortunately everyone else had that idea too. I kept telling myself I'd stop at the next one since there was always a line... even at the end. Boy was I ever glad to get home I can tell you!
PPS. It started out SO COLD and then got hot and windy. For the last couple miles I could barely hear my book on tape. Dumb changing weather.
PPPS. I don't have any pictures, but I'll post something once the race puts some up.

Swimming Woes

I have such great commenter's! It makes me feel loved.

But I think I can stump you on this one.

Tuesday night my swimming cap broke. My lovely yellow one I got from Pumpkinman last year. I guess a year is probably a good run for a swimming cap, but I'll miss it.

See how sad it is? Have I mentioned that yellow is my favorite color? FAVORITE EVER?

Have I ever mentioned what my least favorite color is?

This cap I got from Kokopelli might give you a clue.

And do you know the worst part about it is? Now the 5 people I see at the swimming pool (of which zero actually care) will think I purposely got this color of cap to match my swimming suit.

You are probably asking yourself how this plethora of pink happened to one so steeped in yellow (yes, I made that sentence up all by myself). Think Lands End sale three years ago where I might have bought a bunch of swimming suits dirt cheap for friends. This was one of the ones nobody wanted.

You can't just give a never been used LANDS END swimming suit to DI. Hello, those are good quality swimsuits! They last FOREVER (2 years). Just like you can't let a "free" cap you got from a triathlon go to waste.

My mother has been trying for years to put my in red and pinks cuz as a redhead she can't wear them. Her prayers are answered.

I miss my yellow cap.

3 things I learned at the Swimming Pool Last Night

1. A Speedo is not appropriate swimwear for a guy at a public pool.

2. A Speedo is NEVER appropriate swimwear for an older man at a public pool.

3. A Speedo is NEVER EVER appropriate swimwear for a heavyset man at a public pool.

The only appropriate time for a speedo is at a swim meet or the Olympics. And even then its questionable cuz they have those cool jammers (long leggings) that make you go way fast.

A final question: Why oh why do the speedo wearers pick the lanes on either side of ME?!?!?

What I have Learned from Exercising...... by MSH

1. Do not eat a ciabatta and fries from Jack-in-the-Box and expect to be able to go running 15 minutes later. Your tummy will rebel.

2. If you ever show up to a Ward activity decked out in your AWESOME biking outfit, you will be forever branded as an exercise freak, regardless of ur actual physic. Of course, it helps if you also show up to RS and YW activities in that same outfit to reinforce the idea; if you ask everyone you meet in the ward to do a triathlon with you; happen to run into people from the ward at the pool; and mention in every conversation how much you have/plan too exercise that day/week.

3. Birds, especially Cockatiels cannot stay on your shoulder while running on a treadmill. They don't even like trying.

4. If you wait an hour to shower after swimming and then have some ice cream... You will feel a chill and need a blanket while eating the ice cream.


5. Stretching before and after is so important. Even if you think it is not necessary because you are not a serious exerciser. If you are not a serious exerciser you HAVE TO! Otherwise your knees will rebel and you will have to go buy new running shoes.

6. The person in the lane next to you will be faster, regardless of gender, size, or age.

7. People with Mohawks exercise too, using the following procedure: use a machine for 1 minute, walk around for 10 minutes, repeat 3 times using different machines each cycle, leave wiping your sweating brow with the towel on your shoulder.

8. If you run until you feel like you are going to throw up, ever after when you walk into the exercise room and take a deep breath of all those smells, you will remember that feeling. Its not pleasant and may hinder any future exercising in that room.

9. The swimming pool parking lot is a GREAT place to practice your trumpet every week. Just remember to bring your chair and stand.

10. No matter how much faster you get on the treadmill, how many times you swim each week, how far you ride on your bike, Melissa* will ALWAYS be better.

*for the rest of you, insert either "Sarah" or "SOMEONE" for "Melissa"

3-2-1 Contact! It's the Answer!

Side Note: I just happened to search on Google for a Little Bo Peep costume ideas a couple weeks ago. Guess what comes up on the Yahoo banner above my email account? "Sexy little Bo Peep Costumes". I saw these costumes while searching but clicked on the little girl/big girl ones for ideas. (and they are around 45 dollars... I wonder if they've noticed the economy lately?) Who wears those types of costumes anyways? Nobody I know.

I went swimming Friday night with my NEW CONTACTS and it was so exciting! OK... not really. I don't know what I was expecting, cuz I just swam like normal ('cept I forgot my puffer so I had to just do drills). I could now see the lifeguards watching me in awe (I'm sure it was awe... it had to be awe. I just know that was an awe smile...I know cuz my middle name is smart) and the older man in the other lane making sure he beat me every lap. I was doing drills and he had on hand flippers... not much of a contest. I think this is the same man that spoke to me a couple of weeks ago about how I push him to swim faster, but I don't know cuz I couldn't see. He said hi this time so I'm assuming he's the same person. Then I got out... and went home to watch Numbers. Sigh... pretty normal.

BUT THEN... Saturday morning I was determined to ride my bike and wear SUNGLASSES! I wear sunglasses in the car that fit over my glasses, but those type portray old lady rather than slick biker. I even got up early and was going to go to the dollar store to pick out some new ones when I saw some left at my house many many moons ago! Way cool slick biker kind like Jared would wear. Boy... did those glasses help me go faster! 34 miles in 2.5 hrs (not counting the hour rest/bathroom break at Melissa's house of course... kinda was hoping for an offer to hop into the spa, but I didn't take my swimsuit so we'll let it pass this time without saying anything). I was pretty tired afterwards, but was way pleased of myself. It was those contacts. If I had only known earlier...

Tonight I will try them out running on the treadmill.

One more contact story... Sunday at church nobody noticed the contacts 'till the very end when one of the YM that came in after YW to try and mooch cookies said "Sister Helm, where are ur glasses?". I had to tell him and all the other woman around that he was the first (and only) to notice! I'm hoping that's not a bad thing. (ie... she looks different but lets not say anything cuz maybe its just a bad day...)

Swimming

Last night I went swimming with Melissa in preparation for the Kokapelli triathlon (in 2 weeks... AHHHH!) and I beat her! Ya for me!!

OK, so she had an coughing attack and was having a hard time finding her breathe, but I still beat her. Apparently the poor soul had trouble the rest of the evening and into the night. I told her she needs an inhaler like me but she just might have to borrow mine before the race. I was all excited to show Emily my inhaler when I was visiting her, but she said she had never had one! I thought all the sporty people in my family had had to puff before games and meets. Asthma runs in the family... we got it from our mother who puffs steroids and gets allergy shots... or so I thought.

Maybe I just need to exercise more.

The sad part about that very first sentence is that last year I did use to beat her. Now she's gotten better and I've gotten fatter. I should never have let her borrow that CD I bought that teaches you how to swim!

Hopefully we will be able to practice open water swimming this weekend out at Lake Mead. It might be hard to schedule around the football game, morning bike ride, PE review class, doing a deep clean of the house before the parents come next week to help me buy a new car, clearing out my 'garden' (dead plants), looking into finance for said new car as well as getting Suzy ready to sell to Jared, and preparing a YW lesson.

Believe me when I tell you open water swimming is VERY different than in a pool. Waves keep trying to get into your mouth and you can't see 2 inches into the dirty water. Learning to sight is even more tiring than the actual swimming! Mm.. maybe I'll skip it and just run into the boats along the way. Last year at Kokapelli I got stuck up against the rope holding the buoy in the water. It was actually kinda funny cuz the guy in the canoe there heard me say 'I'm stuck' (because we all keep a running commentary of our lives, its just that most people keep it inside their heads) and got a little nervous for me. I just pushed it out of the way (it was one of those blow up kind, not the real ones that are too scary to get next too... who knows what is under there and where it goes.... shivers.. scary) and went on with the other splashing bodies. Those Ethiopian ladies... it can get a little rough.

PS.. Mauvia, I haven't forgotten u tagged me.. I'm still thinking of what quirks I have. I've only thought of 2. Everything I do is perfectly normal! :-)

Email from the race Directors

Today I got an email from the Kokapelli triathlon people telling us that Sept 1st is the last day to sign up for the "Elite Wave" which will go 5 minutes before the other waves. Does that make anyone else nervous for me? Apparently this triathlon has become much bigger than 2 years ago when I watched Melissa run in it (Emily was there but she spent most of her time in the hospital with Sarah... a totally different story). We were rained out last year so I only got to do the swim and Melissa had been on her bike for all of 10 minutes when they turned her around. This is why I am doing it again... discount this year for those who were rained out. Anyway... I brought up last year because Melissa told me that was the first year they seperated us by number. I'm also starting to get VERY nervous cuz I am so not where I was last year. I'm not too keen on getting back on my bike since the whole heat exaustion episode (another story) so I swam Saturday afternoon. Then... Saturday night I had a craving for Wendys. I told myself I couldn't go since I had gone to Jack-in-the-Box for lunch (I limit myself to going out to eat once a week... if I increase that goal, I'll eat out 20 times a week. If I decrease that goal I'll eat out 20 times a week... so I think I'll stick with once a week. 'Course, when family comes into town that gets thrown out the window). Then I decided I could go but first I'd have to run. So 10:30pm I got on the treadmill in our little community center. By 11:30 I shore didn't feel like eating anything, much less Wendys so I went to bed. You might want to try this sometime to stop cravings. It seems to work for me.

One more story. I've been having a harder and harder time getting out of bed in the morning (staying up until midnight reading books might have something to do with it, but I think I need to do a few more tests to make sure). This morning I rolled out of bed pretty late (still got to work by 8! 'course, I'm supposed to be here at 7:30) so I just pulled on my clothes and went. When I went to the bathroom later in the day, I looked at myself in the mirror. My shirt was so wrinkled it looked like it had been sitting in a hamper (which it hadn't!! It was hung in my closet!).There was nothing I could do at that point, so I just let it ride. And I wonder why they haven't taken me out to meet clients.

PS.. yes, I compete under the Athena label. You think I'm gonna run with those tall etheopian looking ladies driving suburu's with kayaks strapped to the top? Not in this age bracket.