DISASTER

blargh. My ankle is broken. fail. and it's my right, so I can't even drive. And there are no crutches in this damn city, so I am hopping around my house until tomorrow. Boo. No school, nothing. Not sure how long I will be out of commission, hopefully not long. I just need to be told if I have to stay off it, or if I will be able to work and walk on it.

Here's what happened: Jake and I were out for a run with the dog. It's fall, so everything is wet and there are wet leaves all over the ground. I guess I hit a rock or something and my foot rolled right under me. I didn't fall, but I think that may have made it worse since I then put all of my weight onto the end of my fibula. I am sure I heard a pop, but it may have just been my foot hitting the ground. Then I stopped and had to sit right away. It hurt soooo bad. Pretty soon I knew I had to get up and try to get over by the car before it hurt too bad to get up. My whole foot and a little bit of my lower leg hurt. I got home and then iced and elevated it, but even ice hurt, and Jake said that I was making too many pain faces and I needed to go to the doctor.

So we went to the doctor and I waited until 5 for the doctor to finally come it. She said that it was probably a sprain since I had a moderate amount of swelling, but sent me for an xray too. Once I got the xray, I had one of the providers look at it, and they saw a hairline fracture on the bottom of my fibula. So it's badly sprained and probably broken. The doc who treated me today didn't see the fracture so she said to stay off it tonight and to call my doctor tomorrow and they will see the xray and the radiologist's report. Hopefully I get good news tomorrow!

so....

shortly after that post (well the weekend of the 23rd), I took 4 days off since I worked nights and it effed up my sleep shedule. This week, I am back on the 5 times a week thing.

Today: ran 2 (!!!) laps around Padden in less than 51:00. I thought I was a 10:00 mile person, but apparently I am getting faster. Yay.

Yesterday: swam for 30 mins at the Y.

Day before: did weights at the Y (quick 1/2 hour session since I was in a rush)

Tuesday: ran more than one lap, but less than 2 around Padden. Prob about 1.75 (got most of the way around and then turned around so I wouldn't be tempted to get back in the car).

The dog has been okay when he sees other dogs. Sometimes he goes crazy and makes loud snort noises that I am sure scare the crap out of the other people with dogs. Oh well. At least I can control him with the leash and gentle leader.

ahh

I guess I am one of those people who works out 5 or 6 days a week. I like it :)

Today I drove the gym and did a fast, hilly mile on the TM, and then went upstairs for a core strength class, and then headed back down stairs and did three sets of 5 different arm workouts. It was definitely a good day.

Yesterday, took the doggie for an easy run downtown. We hit the South Bay Trail for about half an hour.

Wednesday I rested since I had to watch kids in the morning and then work in the evening.

Tuesday I ran to the gym and then did some arms and core and ran home.

Monday I took the dog for a short run on the trails near our house.

Sunday, Jake and I took the dog to Padden for a run. It was really nice to run w 2 buddies :)

So that's 5 days this week. I bet I will work out tomorrow too, and there is a 5k on Sunday morning that I want to do. It's a fundraiser for DVSAS. woot. I did the 10k version last year, but I want to try to make it a fast 5k this year. Hmmm. Huzzah.

class!!

Last night I went to a spinning/boot camp class at the Y. It is pretty much my dream for the Y to have boot camp classes, and this is a pretty good combo of cardio (spin) and core/strength stuff. We were on the bikes for about 45 mins and then did boot camp style jumping/lunging/whatever lines, THEN we did some upper body and then abs stuff. It was so hard. I was shaking so hard doing the upper body stuff. I find when I go to the gym that I don't know what to do with weights and stuff, so these will be good tools to bring with me to the gym next time I go. I will also try to make more of the classes.

Today the plan is to run the dog 5 miles at Lake Padden. Hope I can do 2 laps :)

Jake and I also ran on Sunday. The Interurban Trail is great for a nice, easy, just go run.

3 this week and a relay

I think I ran 3 times this week: Tuesday, Wednesday, and Saturday. Saturday we did a relay around Lake Padden. We each ran about 2.6 miles. Well Tyler did it twice under about 34 minutes total. What a jerk.

I did it in about 25 minutes. First mile was pretty fast. I should have taken off a bit slower, but it's cool. I still want to do 2 laps, but not when I run ass the first lap. I need to go slower for sure if I am going to run two laps. Hopefully I can run tomorrow too. I really need to take the doggie with me tomorrow.

Padden w the dog

Ran Padden with the dog and a friend today. It was great. I like running with other people. Which is odd because I tried it before with some people I had just met, but this is waay better.

One of these days, I want to do 2 laps around Padden. I think it didn't once last summer, but I need to keep doing it and running more.

2 firsts

Nighttime and a group run.

Okay, this wasn't the first nighttime run, but it was the first nighttime run with a headlamp. And first nighttime run that started truly at night--after 10p.

Also, ran with Jake and Tyler. That was great. Group runs are pretty sweet. I never thought I would like running in a group, but I love running with the dog, so I suppose running with people isn't much of a stretch. Hopefully we will be able to do this more. Glad Jake is running now.

The headlamp was fun :) Running at night though did mean that we mostly stayed on the sidewalks so no roots would jump out and scare us.

Weather: cool-ish/perfect. Clothes: capris and blue s/s. We did about 4 miles from Puget St to Fraser St to Woburn then back down the trails by the car dealerships to Lincoln St, then over to Moore St to the trail by the baseball fields back over by the Sportsplex to Puget St, then home.

Glad running and I are back on.

Nighttime

Ran at night for the first time. It was great. Mostly nice because of the company--the hubs and the doggie. We need to do that more often. Kept a nice easy pace, and could have kept going longer if it wasn't so dark out.

All around good run.

Running and biking

Ran w the doggie yesterday. It was a good run. He is finally growing to be pretty well-mannered. It wasn't the fastest run, but I did run the whole time and it felt pretty good.

We have also been going for more bike rides, but I think those have been making my back sore. My guess is that it's from my seat being too high, so I need to lower it and not lean forward so far. I hope that's the problem.

Stairs and Jake!!

Jakey started running, and I am super excited. Granted, I wasn't sure how I would like running with someone, be they a person or a dog, but it turned out great. Sometimes the dog isn't the best running buddy, but it may be that I don't feel like I am good running buddy for the dog....

We didn't have much time before we had to work on dinner, so we decided to just hit the stadium and do a few laps and some stairs. I did the stairs 5 times and we ran about a mile and a quarter around the track. It was really nice to run with him, so I am excited for future "family" runs. :)

GRAD SCHOOL

Halfway through my first quarter of grad school. Woo.

Have worked out 5 times in the as two weeks. Not bad. Have been riding my bike, going to the gym, and getting a few runs in.

Today I am taking the dog out for a run after I buy new running shoes. Yay. Finally. I got blisters on my last run, and I only did about 4 miles, so definitely need shoes now.

And I LOVE the Y. Wish I could bring the Seattle Y to Bellingham....that would be really nice.

RAIN

Today I was a good dog owner and took Murph out for a long run. Unfortunately it was raining and he probably thought I was punishing him :( I think he had a good time once we got home, but he really was trying to run fast since it was so rainy. I felt bad that I couldn't go any faster to get him out of the rain sooner.

Unfortunately I wanted to do 2 laps around the lake, but with the dog and the rain, I didn't want to keep him out longer than necessary so we went back home. I may go again this afternoon, but I have a LOT of reading to do to get ready for school.

Yesterday, I went to the gym after work. It was GREAT. I wish I worked earlier so I could do that every day. I rowed a 6k and in 29 minutes, not my best. But still pretty good, so it's okay. I could tell I am getting stronger, even if my time was slower. I am finding the balance between endurance and strength and I can tell that both are improving.

Run to the gym

Yesterday I ran the mile or so to the gym and then did a few weights/crunches circuits. Then I ran back home. I was pretty sore today, but it felt really good. That was a good workout.

I had a rough morning today, but I will get the dog out for a walk and then a run in soon. I just need to get off the couch first :)

weights and long walk

I went to the gym yesterday with the plan to do weights and then come home and run the dog. The first part happened, but the second didn't because of family stuff that is going on. So I did take the dog out later for about an hour long walk.

Today I will run the dog for sure. Can't wait to get my legs out there.

BIKE! 2

woo hoo. rode my bike to work today :) love it!! love the weather.

ran w the dog too and played ball with him today. huzzah. hopefully tomorrow I will get to work out too. I am super busy tomorrow.

BIKE!!

Riding the bike to work is great. I even rode this evening!!! Which means I rode home in the dark. I took Cornwall Ave to downtown and then came up to Lakeway so it was well-lit the whole way and I had a bike lane most of the way too. It was the best thing ever. Even in the dark. I can't wait to ride my bike tomorrow :)

YOGA

I used to HATE yoga. Really hate it. The breathing and the sitting ("advanced standing" as Jake calls it). I have been really tight and sore lately, so I really have needed to do something else. I swam yesterday, but that didn't seem to do it. So decided to try yoga again this morning. And it was great. Really hard, but really good :) I will probably go back next week, and feel so energized for the day. No coffee today even--and no headaches so that's good.

We'll try to keep this up. And I need to keep using the gym, so woot.

Yesterday, I biked to the gym and then swam for about half an hour and then biked home. That left me feeling really good all day at work too. I am so glad I am back into a routine.

We also took the dog to the baseball fields the last two days and got him running around full speed and he LOVED it. He even came back when called...we felt pretty good about it since we were in a mostly fenced area, so we knew he would be pretty safe and we could guard the doors. Yay....doggy freedom and play and now we have a tired dog for us to leave at home while we are working :)

Gym

Went to the gym Saturday. Did weights and the erg. Probably going again today too. Also have ballet tonight :). Saturday after I got done at the gym, came home and took the dog out for an hour or so long walk. Great day.

I was even sore yesterday from the gym, which is a good sign. Unfortunately, I haven't been sore like that for a long time. Love it.

DOG

We have a dog now...woo hoo. I think I am in love. And he is my new running buddy. We jogged/ran today (he did the jogging--kind of a trot) and I did the running. Guess he will help me with my speed :)

We went to Padden today. Perfect cool weather.

New love: hiking

Went on a few hikes this week, and defintiely want to go on more. Hiking has also insprired me to want to start trail running....pretty much run-hiking :)

I am probably going to get running shoes today (FINALLY!), and then will go for a nice run from Fairhaven to Downtown. Woot.

Huzzah!

And we get a dog tomorrow, so I will have a running buddy then too :)

slow...but I finished

did two 2k's on the erg today. both were REALLY slow compared to my times 6 weeks ago. but I finished, so that's all that matters. I can't be too hard on myself since I haven't done that for 6 weeks. got to ramp it up though, for sure.

s l o w rain

Ran in the rain today....started off fast, and then felt pretty gross partway through. Refocused for the second half and felt better....still felt pretty slow and out of shape, but it will come back.

Today ran up Lakeway, down Woburn to Fraser and then back up Puget St. Got dumped on by the rain, so felt a little cold, it wasn't too bad. I should have worn my buff on my ears and to keep water from running down my face. Oh well....

I am just glad I got my lazy butt outside.....tomorrow I run with a new group. Hopefully I can keep up with them :) I still feel like I am fighting this cold, but feel like maybe getting totally back to my normal routine could help kick it rather than just wallowing in it.

I also need to get my butt back in gear so I can get new shoes.....still haven't gone to the running store to get new shoes!

back to the gym...woot...umm, ish

Went to the gym yesterday morning after work...didn't go so well. Hadn't worked out in about a month, and only had pants with me, so I broke out in hives on my legs from the heat. And my bra was chafing like crazy. Ugh. So new rule: no full pants at the gym ever. I really need new shoes too. My feet hurt really bad on the TM, and I ended up walking the last 10 mins, and only working out for 30. Laaaaame.

I worked last night, and had a staff meeting at 7a. Work ended at 6a, so what did I do with that hour? Went for a run in the neighborhood by the hospital, of course. If I had tried to go the gym, I would have gotten 15 minutes MAX to workout, but running around by the hospital meant that I had about half an hour, which is definitely enough time for a good run. I am thinking that it was so easy, I should do it on my breaks too, and then just "dry shower" with baby powder before I go back to work....hmmm. We'll see when I get back on evenings next week. Back to the run this AM, I strapped on my blinky bike lights and hit the road. It was COLD, but it was GREAT! I need to run outside again every day for sure. Which would be good since we are trying to get a dog right now :)

So, the run was cold, but otherwise, felt good. A little slow, but good. I also felt pretty safe out there with my lights even though it was pretty dark, so I am thinking that I should definitely ride my bike to work, even for night shifts. Hmmm...that may start tonight :)

Also weird about the run is that my feet felt fine on the sidewalks, so maybe I just needed to get off the TM...still need new shoes, but it seems a little less urgent now. Phew.

Adding to how awesome today was: I am feeling very confident about my grad school application in spite of my GRE scores. I just hope all my recommendations get in soon....I am getting close to panic mode, but not quite there yet :)

And this is dumb, but for the first time EVER I got everything on my shopping list the first time at the grocery store today. We also went to Costco this week, so we really shouldn't need anything else for at least two weeks. Woo hoo!

So dog, school, work, shopping, and workout all led to a really good day! yay!

BACK home, and on abx again....

Got home from vacation, and had some bronchitis kind of stuff going on. Apparently the sinus infection didn't go away, so back on antibiotics...augmentin this time. ugh. I have missed the last two days of work....this is so annoying. I am totally ready to go back to work.

Hopefully I will also get to the gym this week too. And we might get a dog after all.....hmmm...

SICK AGAIN!!

Uuuuuggggghhhhh....I got a sinus infection last weekend and am on a heavy course of abx, so I don't want to mess up my body any more and expose myself to ickies at the gym while I am sick, so I haven't really worked out this week. I still have 5 more days of abx, but I think I will get back to it soon here. Maybe it will be light-ish in the am on Saturday after work so I can go run outside. Unsure.

Just don't want to screw myself any worse than I am already.

ick.

TM and row

So ran on the TM for half an hour yesterday. Wanted to do 40, but the gym was kind of crowded so I figured I would be a good person and follow the rules. After the run I hopped onto the erg for a quick 2k....erging after running is never a quick 2k, though. And my time was pretty slow....9:28, which is back where I started timewise--but I did run pretty hard and fast prior, so I am not too worried about it.

This weekend I am planning to row and spend some time with kids at a pool party on Sunday.

I also have to get new shoes since I got a blister on my run yesterday. Blisters on a treadmill even! Ridiculous. Time for new shoes.

ugh cold...

I think Jake got me sick...ugh. He was sick all last week. Boo. I am on nights this weekend, so I am just sleeping all day and lounging. No workout today :(. I did run 3 miles yesterday on the TM, so I suppose I "deserve" a day off. But I had such a good routine going. I hate that I get sick right when I get a routine.

Hopefully tomorrow I will workout. Otherwise, definitely Monday. Stupid cold. Sore throat, headache, tired, sore/achy joints. Ugh.

Run, run, as fast as you can

Ran outside and to the park today. Haven't done that run in a looooong time. It was great. I think I was going pretty fast, and got 3/4 up the stairs, which is way farther than I have gotten up them before. Those darn things are tough!! So started on Puget St, and then down to the short trail at Fraser St. From there went to Woburn and Iowa St. Hit the stairs, then through the park to the bridge, then went around the lower gorge trail along the water, and then back past the cemetery and home via Lakeway. It was probably about 4 miles. I feel like I was going faster than usual, and was finally able to run all of it, except the little part on and after the stairs.

At first when I got outside, I was very cold, so had to get moving to get warm. I knew once I got warm, I would have been too hot with more clothes on.

So...tomorrow the plan is to either ride my bike to run errands, or hit up the Y and do some swimming. My arms are still pretty sore from rowing on water (weird how erging doesn't make me sore)...so swimming makes me feel like I am working out and resting at the same time, if that makes any sense.

Today was the Super Bowl. I am glad I ran today so I feel less guilty about what I did eat at the party. I also ate lunch before we went to the party, so I wouldn't load up on party food. I waited until the end of the first quarter to hit the food/beer stash. I tried to eat a lot of veggies and real food, but by the end, I had loaded up on chips and dip. I don't really think that I ate too terribly, so that's good.

Water!!

Did the long drive down to Whidbey Island to row on the water today, and it was great. They had me on stroke in the adult novice quad, which was fine....but I felt like some of the people behind me were rushing me a bit, but it was okay. I was just happy to get on the water. Maybe next time I will take a day trip out to somewhere, maybe Port Townsend, from the island. It was a beautiful drive, and the weather today was perfect, so it may actually be worth the 160 miles round trip....we'll think it over this week. If I do go back, I will probably hit up some of the trails down there for a good run after the rowing workout. I also hope that next week I get into a smaller boat with better people, so we can get a good workout in, but for recreation purposes, that was pretty good.

I probably won't work out anymore today. Tomorrow I think I am going to get up early-ish and get a run in before Super Bowl Festivities :)

Ran to gym!!

Ran to the Y, which is about a mile each way--woo hoo! running outside :)

Also, pulled a 2k in 9:09. woot. finally speeding up a bit. Hopefully I can get my endurance up to maintain this kind of speed. Again the middle 1000 or so meters were my slowest. My splits always end up like a huge wave...I need to get more consistent too. Again, an issue of endurance.
My splits were (approx. I didn't have my phone on me to take notes) 2:09, 2:15, 2:21, and finally 2:06....why are the middle sections always so slow? ugh.

I also found a rowing club on Whidbey Island that goes out twice a month, and they fall on my days off :) So I think I am getting my butt down there in the morning to get out on the water. I can't wait! I do have to leave by 6a to get there by 8a, but it may very well be worth it. They are going to put me in a quad, which would be perfect....it would be nice if I could compete, but I don't think I have the time to devote for training.

dreadmill and erg time

Pulled a 6k on the erg again today. Can't get past that darn 28:30.7 time. Whether I start fast and slow down, or start slow (like today!) and try to speed up, I just can't get any faster than 28:30. I am thinking that for a while I am going to do 500 sprints and try get that muscle reaction time faster so I can speed it up.

The first 1500 meters were terrible. My arms felt like they weighed a million pounds. I just could not get them to pull or get my hands to hold on. I really almost quit after the first 2k, but sucked it up and just kept going, which is why I usually choose the erg over the TM. I never keep going on the TM. I always keep going on the erg.

Heavy arms are probably why, unlike a few days ago, my splits were really bad today. I started out really slow (2:20ish) and then it sped up a little more, slowed way back down for the 3000s and then sped back up again for the finish. I have got to work on my consistency too--which means my endurance. So, endurance and fast-twitch muscles are my new project. I think that erging will help my running, and my running will help my rowing. I wish I could row on the water.

Yesterday, I ran on the TM for about half an hour. That was good. Boring, as the TM always is, but good. I wanted to do 45 mins, but it was just too unbearable. I can't wait to run outside again.

Tomorrow morning I am planning on swimming after work and then sleeping before I head into work in the afternoon.

6k!!

For all the rowers out there, I pulled a 6k today in 28:22...woo hoo! Can't wait to see my times go up. This is my new workout of choice at the gym (when I don't swim) because the TM is BORING, and I can't go more than 5 minutes on it without going crazy, even with the nice view out the windows...and weights and I have never really gotten along.

So that was good. After about the first 2k, I was totally in the zone, and could have just kept going forever. Until the last 2k, I felt really good, and that middle section is a blur (my 500m splits reflect that, the splits for 3000-3500 and 3500-4000 were identical, which is very odd) so I was cruising along at that point. The last 2k, I always try to sprint it out, but it is so hard. I am lucky if my 1500-1000 time is close to the 500-0 time.

This week, I worked out Monday after work, rode my bike Thurs and Fri, and worked out today. Sunday, if I do anything, I will swim.

Non-workout related: I bought a dress today, and am thinking I will June Cleaver it up and bake cupcakes/run errands in said dress tomorrow. I will also do laundry and study for the GRE, which is MONDAY at 12p....wish me luck!!

I am thinking about applying to a UW Masters in Public Health Program designed for working students that only has classroom sessions for 4 weeks in the summer and then 4 weekends over the course of the year. That could totally work for me......priority deadline is Feb 15th. I also may just do the Med Asst program at SVC for more hands on work. I either want something more hands-on or something that pulls together my interests of public policy, diversity/communities of color, and healthcare. Public Health is definitely the way to go for that....we'll see what happens. I haven't studied for the GRE that much, but how hard can it be???? It's just an SAT, but harder, right?

woot

Had to be in the office during the daytime yesterday and today, so I RODE MY BIKE. In January. It was great. Wish I could do it every day, but it's just too dark out when I get off work at 1030p....that will start to change soon.

I will probably head to the gym tomorrow too.

Sick

Ugh...still fighting this stupid cold. I have no energy lately, so I have been "saving" it all up to work, since I am on nights this weekend...maybe tomorrow it will all come back....

Swimming

Swam today..it was pretty good. Had to share a lane w a slow swimmer who wanted to circle swim....that was kind of annoying, but it was okay. Only swam for about half an hour, but it still felt really good.

Tomorrow I will probably hit one of the classes or just hit the erg again....I am probably going to start riding my bike to the gym since parking kind of sucks downtown and I live close enough that it's not ridiculous to ride my bike there. I just need to go earlier than 11:30 in order to get to work on time.

Gym, again

Since my work has a group discount at the Y, I figured I should join since I am not exactly running lately. There are a few reasons for this: my hip pain is back, and is in both hips now. Also, since I work nights, it is often too dark to go out and safely run on the trails, and the roads definitely exacerbate the pain. Hopefully I will get back into this and strengthen my legs so my hips stop hurting. I am going to start icing them more frequently, and probably will do more stretches.

This morning after work, I did my first workout at the Y. It was awesome. I was going to swim, but sometimes it is hard to stay focused in the pool, esp after I work the night before so I decided to do some cardio stuff. I ran on the TM for 10 mins and then hit the erg. I did a 2k in 9:22.8. It was amazing, and has to be some kind of record for me! I am debating going back this afternoon for a swim....we'll see.