Monday Monday

I am going to be much better about updating. I didn't realize that people still cared, made me feel good!

I had a good weekend. I was social and met some new people (which I hate doing) on Friday, and I also finished almost all of my Christmas shopping (just need to get my stepsister a gift and its all planned out).

As for running. Marc tried to get me to run on Saturday morning. I said I'd rather run in the evening and he patiently waited until about 5 o'clock for me. We drove to the drill hall to find out that although it closes at 6, they had closed up shop early. So we drove home and Marc graciously let me run first downstairs (he was being super nice on Saturday despite my bitchiness). I had a great run. I didn't get very fatigued, but I did get a little overheated, despite the 30 degree air I had blowing in the basement windows. I felt pretty good and ran about 3 miles, which is about my best at this point. I know I suck, but I just keep trying and I know it will be better with time! I do have faith in my self.

Sunday we woke up and ate breakfast and then went to the drill hall at about 11. I was pooped from the run the night before, and still sore from the machines I did on Thursday. My hips have really been hurting. I had a sucky run, chock full of side stitches and heavy breathing. I ran about 2.5 miles, but it wasn't pretty. I think that I am not a good morning runner. My body isn't all stretched out yet and my mind is still a little tired. I also think that since it had only been 15 hours since my last run and I was really sore from my weight lifting that I didn't perform my best. Every 24 hours is way better for me!

I'm going to run tonight despite my nasty cramps. Sometimes they go away with exercise, sometimes they are worse. We'll see tonight!

I'm also getting pretty excited about Christmas. Our tree is all decorated, the presents are pretty much filling the entire living room (not for us, for our 20 family members we have to purchase for, 4 of which are mine!) so the house is pretty messy. I used to hate the holidays but now I love them. Its great having Marc to share them with!

Kick it Up a Notch...BAM!

I need to really kick it up a notch. I just finished my two classes for grad school and got A's in both so I'm pretty stoked. Now I have some free time until the 2nd week of January and I'm going to use that free time to run like hell. I ran last night and it was ok. I was getting into a rhythm but was having some side pain so I was dissastisfied. Had to cut the run a little short b/c I got some hardcore stomach issues that continued well into the night. Guess that Sam Adams Winter Brew kicked my ass, I had 1/4 of a cup of it and then had my standard Coors light, but woo, something got to me!

Marc and I are trying to think of a name for our running team. Any suggestions? We're huge fans of Family Guy and South Park and I feel that we might use some of those jokes in there!

Going to run again tonight for sure, not so sure about tomorrow as I have some shopping plans during the day and a bonfire at night.

One Week Gone Already!?

I can't believe it has been a week since I last posted! I can't remember if I ran last Friday, but I remember that my first run of this week was yesterday and it was pretty good. I was doing really well. Had some side pain but was going strong. Only had to stop because I had to use the potty so badly. Came back and did like 5 more minutes, but after my break my knees started hurting so I had to quit. It was only 30 minutes, but it was one of my best runs. I'm just a sucky runner!!

OOOh, we went to North Carolina to see my parents this weekend. On the way there we picked up HITCHIKIERS!! Oh my god, that is not like us at all. These sort of punk looking people (i guess punk is misleading-they listen to punk music, maybe goth is closer) came up to us in a well lit area at a gas station and said they needed a ride to Richmond, which was about 40 minutes away. After talking to them for a little while we realized that they were most likely harmless, so we agreed to drive them down there and drop them off at a McDonalds. I was terrified, but it wasn't that bad and they were telling us about their adventures. 1. I didn't know people hitchiked, 2. I didn't know anyone picked up hitchikers (besides us) and 3. No, we will never do it again. These people were perfectly nice but there is no chance in hell that we will ever do that again. On a funny note, they left their sign in our car, and I wanted to keep it for proof. We had to hide it though b/c I knew my parents would have a shitfit if they found us. So yes it was silly, but it all worked out. Sometimes you just go with your gut. And both of our guts said it was ok, but we were very cautious. I drove and Marc kept his eye on them the whole time and I swear I wasn't watching the road and just the review mirror!

Ok, that's enough. I have class tonight. We're getting our exams today but he said they would be take home essays, so here's hoping it goes ok!!

Short Run, Long Walk

I was bored yesterday so I ran about 20 minutes but was losing motivation, so I walked for another 80 minutes. I figured, I'm just watching tv, so why not? I'll tell you why not. My right knee is killing me. The back of my knee hurts so badly. I was walking at a pretty good incline (5%) and I think that might have had something to do with it. OY!
No running today b/c of class, and then tomorrow morning I'll probably run since I've got a weekend away at my parents!!

I'm Slow But I'm Back!

I came home early from work since there is NOTHING for me to do. So I'm working from home, which means checking my work email periodically since no one gave me any work before they left for two weeks. So I took this time to go on my run early so I could just veg out tonight since I want to watch the Colts game and probably need to take a nap so I can stay up for it!

Ok, the point. I went on a run. It started out pretty good. I was going really slowly, but I was steady and felt good. Then I started having some phlem issues and kept choking. But I pushed through. I finally choked enough to throw up (I'm so lucky I have such an easy gag reflex) so after that I walked for about 2 minutes before starting up my slow jog. Let's just say it didn't go well, but it went. I couldn't be happier! I'm just happy that I went out there and I'm not as "soft" as I thought I would be after almost two weeks of no exercise.

Most likely I will not run tomorrow as I have class, but I may walk on the treadmill a little bit while I watch tv. In fact, that's what I think I am going to do right now!

Oh When Can I Run Again?

Hopefully, the answer is Monday. I haven't done a bit of exercise since I got sick and I'm looking forward to trying again. My cough is still going, and I feel a little discomfort in my lungs (I have walking-pnemonia) but I am convinced that exercising tomorrow is in my future. I am going to go to the drill hall too, because that will help me to not give up, as I often do on our treadmill here at home. Its so easy to just go "I'm tired" when I'm at home, and just jump off the machine. At the drill hall I have to drive home, so its more of a deterrent.

Wish me luck, I need it. I'm sure this will be a light jog more than anything, but I look forward to getting back in the saddle. I've gained a little weight, which I am not happy about, so I'd like to get moving again since the holidays are coming and thereby big dinners!!

What a Great Perspective on Life

http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story?page=fleming/051102


Marc sent me this article. Its amazing what a strong person Gary Brackett is despite all of the sadness and loss he has had in such a short time. It really makes you think about how you deal with your own losses and the issues that we all have to overcome in our lives.

Still Sick

I tried to run last week but it didn't work. I haven't done a darn thing since last Monday...and I feel like a lazy piggie. I'm hoping that by this weekend I'll be back "on the road". I'd like to be active but the cough and walking pnemonia just aren't letting me. A little frustrated but I'm not going to push it!

Lazy Bones Reed

Since I've been sick I have been a lazy bones. I tried to work out on Wednesday after work (when I didn't feel as bad as I do now) and I almost died. But it didn't seem to be from my cold. I keep getting these side stitches as on Wednesday I also had pain right in the center under my ribcage. It was so strange I decided not to push it. I think its time for me to run on a treadmill in front of a doctor or something or get some professional advice. This is getting ridiculous!

I want to be well again. I feel like hell but I keep trying to push through it. Even put on some mascara today ( I never wear makeup) so I might help myself look "alive". I feel mostly dead. I'm going to go home from work in awhile and work from home...I'm just waiting for a meeting this morning and then I'm out!

Hope everyone has a good weekend. I probably will take it easy all weekend because of the sickness, but we'll see. I have a trip to Ikea planned for Saturday, since they are having a 15% off everything sale for their 20th Anniversary. Yipee!!

Good News...Bad News...Running News

The good news is that I got my scores back for my grad school class test I had last week. I got an 88% on the test I thought I failed (I seriously didn't think I got any of them right) and 100% on the test I studied like a madwoman for (because I thought I had failed the other one) Yipee!!

Bad news. Woke up with a sore throat in the middle of the night and its been bugging me all day. I gave my friend Bill a ride for like 3 minutes on Monday and he said he had a sore throat and now I'm having the same problem. I choose to blame him, though its probably not his fault, but I tend not to believe that I just get sore throats out of nowhere. The weather is also nasty here so it looks like cold season has begun!

Running News-I've been doing a little research and I'm a little ashamed of myself. People just run so much faster and longer than I do, and seemingly have been trying for the same amount of time. I will cut myself some slack though because although I tried to be active, I wasn't horribly active all summer and have recently gotten back into working out consistently. Its become a habit now. I will keep trying, but I'm so sick of things not being easy. Sometimes I just want that easy button.