Weeks 50,51/Gratitude/random junk

No, not my tree (mine is below). Abbey standing by the tree in the Tucson hotel. It was gorgeous!

This is MY tree - left to the devices of a 14-year old male! At least we have lights (yes, those are pink lights at the top), I was starting to wonder if Santa would come down the chimney to a blank tree. I'm pretty sure he's going to stop and ponder this little contraption as it is for awhile.

Week 50 (Tucson):

Week's running totals: 38.2

2009 running totals:1774.19

Weight/core training: 1 (light due to taper)

Week 51: (post-Tucson recovery week)

Week's running totals: 6

2009 Running totals: 1780.19

Weight/core: 1/2. Did a bunch of core and arm stuff, Saturday

Cycling: 20 minutes, Saturday

Swimming: 1 miles, Saturday

Gratitude (I'll do 10 since I have two weeks of mileage):

- Tucson marathon PR

- I am done with marathons for the year!

- My son put up the Christmas lights this year - and it shows (above)

- Diet Coke

- A clean house (the main level anyway)

- 55 degrees and sunny days in December

- A working washing machine and dryer (I've done 4 loads of laundry today)

- My weight has not increased in all this post-marathon sugar madness. Huh?

- Two weeks off from school

- iPods

I always take a mandatory week off from running after a marathon. I really should take two weeks but I struggle mentally just to take one so this is a compromise. Within myself. I've learned through the years and through my course work that you just recover so much better and less chance of injury the more you let your body rebuild itself from the abuse you just gave it. Each body reacts differently, of course, but we put our bodies through some pretty serious physical abuse and they just need time to rebuild their strength. Usually I am chomping at the bit, post marathon week, to land back out there ... but not so much this week; that race just did a huge number on me. Yesterday was my first day back: an easy 6 over at the state park in my backyard. It was certainly at a snail's pace (9:23) but I couldn't pushed it even if I wanted to. My legs are not fully recovered yet and a bit achy.

Saturday was my first official day back to exercise, though not running. I went to the gym and did 20 minutes on the exercise bike, 10 minutes of much-needed stretching (I wish I would be dedicated enough to do that daily), 15 minutes of core work, and 1 mile swimming laps. That was a long workout, but I did those things as a way to loosen up the really tight muscles in preps to get ready to run again. Felt very good!

One thing that was an "issue" in Tucson is that I thought I tied my right shoe too tight; by mile 2, it was really bothering me and by mile 10 the top of my right foot hurt so bad I seriously considered stopping and re-tieing the dang thing. But who wants to stop and waste time for that nonsense!! I decided it was a good determent to the winds; you know, have some other ailment to fixate on. Two problems are better than one! But anyway, when I went to put my running shoes on yesterday, yikes!!! the top of my foot really hurts! I had to move the tongue waaaaaay over to the right side of my foot because to have my shoe "normal" hurt too much. I don't think it's a matter of my shoe being too tight in the race anymore, I think it's something with the tongue because the spot isn't where the knot was but rather off to the side slightly. I swear I just read someone's blog where the tongue of their shoe was really bothering them. I thought at the time: hum, never had that happen before. Yep, that jinked it right there. Not sure what to do about that other than keep moving the tongue over until that spot isn't so tender....or find a piece of small foam I can insert in my sock. Or maybe a couple bandaids.

The UPS man just rang my doorbell. Ah...love him!

Here's an A.D.D moment for all my fellow self-diagnosed A.D.D. members: yesterday I was multitasking 6 things at once (you'd be proud, Meg) and while in a hurry to get out the door and run, I somehow managed to land my cell phone in the laundry and washed it. I had it in my hand as I was heading out the door when I last minute decided to throw some laundry in while I was gone. Phone went in right along with the towels! It's sparkly clean right now. Also dead. Imagine. I have learned 3 things this morning dealing with cell phone companies: 1) they're a total rip-off 2) never ever ever buy insurance cuz the deductible ($100) isn't worth it, and 3) when you wash your cell phone, just expect to spend a great deal of time trying to get the issue resolved and plan to explain to 6 different people what the "problem" is before you actually get to the right person. Always plan to repeat your phone # to multiple people, despite also entering it manually into the phone. Also memorize your 6 digit security code # cuz you'll need to repeat that countless times also. I just bought a different phone on ebay - I pray to all the heaven above that isn't not a phone someone swiped and I'm screwed. Merry Christmas to me.

So I was off to the gym today to do some weight training but had to deal with the cell phone issue instead so going to have to blow it off (eeks!!). Unless I can manage to squeeze it in tonight. I'm going to spend the rest of the day organizing presents and seeing who is deficient in quantity and rush out to get someone, whichever that child is, one last gift. HATE last minute shopping!

One last random comment, but running related non-the-less: I was approached by a friend if I would be interested in being a teammate on their Hood To Coast relay team. Not sure if any are familiar with this relay but it's almost 200 miles starting from Mt. Hood and running to the Oregon coast. I think 1500 teams; the most popular running relay team out there. I would LOVE to do it, have wanted to for years. So I'm thrilled! But the considerations are: cost, it's 2 weeks before I do the CO Outward Bound relay here (you're dog tired for these things as you sleep very little in a 35 hour period, if at all), and I start back to school that week and would have to take 2 days off work (followed by a day two weeks later for CO relay). ugh. I hate these sort of decisions. The sleep thing concerns me as I may not recover very well going into the CO relay. But wow...what a total honor to be able to do this. I'm mulling over the pros and cons. Any insights or thoughts are greatly appreciated.

Okay, long enough blog.... signing off. Will close with a pic of my friend, Matt, and I at the start of Tucson. Matt had some bad stomach problems and DNF, dropped out a mile 20. I felt sooo incredibly bad for him. He was trying to get to Boston and run a sub 3-hour. :( It's in ya' Matt - please don't give up!!!