They Did It! / Week 36

Before I get into how my attempt to build mileage this week unfolded poorly, I have to do a wee-bit of kid bragging....

It was definitely a weekend of milestones for the boys in the Jill household. Ryan's goal for this season in cross country was to hopefully run under 20 minutes for the 5K, or as least close. We had no idea if he could reach this goal; leading into the pre-season this summer, he was running around a 24 minute 5K. He's run only one meet this year (his first meet left him with a asthma attack at mile 2 as he ran through a dust storm kicked up by runners around him and out had to bail on the race), and that was a 22:14, so he was hoping by the end of the season, he'd at least get close to 20, or at least 21.

Well come Friday night, he's now officially a sub-20 minute 5Ker: 19:42!!!!! SWEEEEEEET!

This PR was run on what's considered a "fast" course so next week he may not make that mark, but honestly, he has far surpassed my wildest expectations - I am so excited for him. I'm sure as he matures and grows and develops muscle strength and increases his cardiovascular, he's going to surpass even more goals in the years to come.

The other twin, Brendan, does not run. Which is ok - he's into the whole mountain climbing 14er thing, rock climbing, kayaking, driving me crazy with all his outdoor gear wants, and on occasion, he gets a wild idea to ride his bike massive amount of miles. Like all at once. Like he hasn't ridden his bike in 3 weeks but goes out and rides the bike trail from our house to the downtown REI and back, which is about 43 miles round-trip. He obviously doesn't believe in, nor understand the concept of, building miles. Oh to be young!

Today Brendan rode 62 miles in a the Good Sam Bike Jam bike ride in Lafayette (a suburb north of Denver) where he got to enjoy views of the Boulder Flatiron mountains, amongst a vast array of topography. Pretty, huh?

62 MILES!!! He'd been telling me for the past few weeks he was going to do the 62 miler and not one of the shorter distance options I preferred he do; after all, he confessed, "Anything less is just not even worth it." Oh how he touches my heart! Who knew endurance was a trait inherited to your children :)! Temps this morning were in the mid 40's when we woke, but were hovering in the high 80's when he finished, so I was a bit concerned if he'd make it. He had some bike issues around mile 45 when his derailer (?? I have no clue - I don't bike) broke and he had to have his dad bring him his bike so he could finish. But finish he did, with a big smile on his face.


Brendan and his friend, riding the entire 62 together

I will never underestimate the bravery of my "little" guys! I have been a mother to these guys for 15 years but when I try to think about my life before kids, I can barely remember it. And not because it wasn't a good life, because it was surely very good. I know I was happy and busy and living well. But life after kids shines for me, sparkles so brightly that my past life is dim only by contrast. I think it is so cool how people we know as well as our own children can still surprise us! My boys may never have the ability to land track scholarships or ride in the Tour de Whatever... but what they do have is determination and when it comes down to it, I think determination has greater impact than giftedness - it's what makes us all shine!!

My weekend didn't exactly end as victorious as my boys. Mileage-wise, it was ok, but everything else was lacking. Monday and Tuesday brought about 4 miles each day on the treadmill, Monday bringing a tiny bit of tempo. All body parts felt good, which is really the main goal these days. Wednesday is Swim with Jill day, as you may recall from the past two weeks....however when Wednesday rolled around, I didn't want to swim. I don't know why, just the thought of being wet and the entire process of the pool had me send Tara an email simply stating, "I don't feel like swimming." Neither did she. So we did an hour on the elliptical trainer together and then stretched for a bit. Thursday, my legs were dead, as pathetic as that is. 8.25 miles running and 5.5 miles on the ET and I have dead legs. I try not to get down about this but sometimes when I think about the numbers too much, I can't help but not. Nevertheless, I did go to the gym and did an excellent weight workout and ran a mile to shake out the legs. Friday, I did absolutely nothing. Saturday, 5.12 miles on the trails at the state park. So far, the heel and the knee are doing well.

Sunday - not so much. Today, I met my neighbor, Jim, who is doing the Denver Marathon in 4 weeks. He wanted to run some of the course and a change of scenery was screaming at me so early this morning we headed over to City Park, where miles 5-9 of the marathon are run. Jim wanted to run a mile more than me (11 for me) so he started further in the park, a mile behind me, and was going to chase me down. Oh dear god - this was giving me anxiety. Usually, Jim and I have pretty consistent paces but not lately, obviously. So I cut a half mile off so I'd have a 1.5 mile lead on him and felt pretty good about this tactic.

In true A.D.D. form, about mile 2 when I entered Cheeseman Park, with a goreous view of downtown and the front range Rockie Mountains,

I had a panic attack and couldn't remember putting my car key in my shorts pocket. What we had done earlier was park one car (mine) at the finish of our run and his car at the start - that way we could run as much of the marathon course as possible (wasn't that important to me, I was merely along for the ride, and to get away from the state park or my treadmill). I really didn't relish running the 11 to my car and then having to run 11 back to Jim so at mile 2 I check my shorts - no key. Check my water bottle holder - no key. Grrr. I was clocking a good pace here and my body felt really great. So here I waited for Jim to "catch me" for about 20 minutes (does it count if I got caught by waiting for him to catch me? Surely not!!). Got his car keys, ran back to his car way faster than I should have and yep, there sitting on the front seat was my car key. I grabbed my key and set off running again, only now I couldn't follow the marathon route because I'd have about 16 miles. I took off in the most direct route back to my car and suddenly, my heel started yelling at me. So I shifted my foot strike to hit more in the mid-foot to take pressure off the heel and wham...now my knee hurts. ARHHHHHHH.

I made it back to my car, but it wasn't pretty. If fact, it was pretty awful and almost at a walking pace. I think I just got out of the great rhythm I had gotten into before the key incident panic attack and just was all out of sorts. Everything was now labored and I found myself looking at my watch c.o.n.s.t.a.n.t.l.y - a place I hate getting into because when it's a battle between me and the watch, I generally lose.

My heel's been acting up on me during the day lately if I sit too long at work or home and then get up to move around but thankfully had been behaving while I was running. Today it let me know loud and clear that whatever is going on with it is absolutely no better now than it has been before I took the time off and it's not going anywhere any time soon. Greaaaaat! No further progress on the insurance, other than I learned my doctor has yet again dropped the ball on this and when I called on Wed to inquire if she had written the letter, as promised to do "right away", two weeks later she still had not. My patience is definitely being tested....but I'm going to take a little lesson from my boys this weekend and not give up hope. One day at a time, I will eventually get there and I will shine again. I know I will.

Week 36:

Running totals: 21.24

Total for 2010: 1218.21
Swimming: big fat ZERO
Weights: 1 (ARGH)
HCC: 2
Pounds down: Afraid to look. It's a bye week :)

Gratitude:
-My kiddos :)
-House MD Season premier tomorrow - yay!
-My ironing for the week is done.
-4 day work week (off work Friday. No idea why, never question why the schools give you a day off, just happily accept it)
-Zyrtec. While I'm NOT grateful my allergies are sky-high right now, I am grateful I can be drugged up and feel about 40% normal

Personal Growth Goals for the Week:
- Swim twice
- Wt train 3 times
- HCC 3 times
- In bed by 10p.m.
- Do not eat 500 cute, little, pre- packaged Halloween candy; though 1 package may not be harmful, 500 is.
- Listen to the heel and do not start a run if heel is being pesty.
- Ice heel and knee REGULARLY!