Letting Go Of My Army Ten Miler Goal

Posted on September 3, 2011 by Coco

If you asked me in August I would have stated an aggressive goal for the Army Ten Miler on October 9. I was doing 7-8 mile long runs at a 9-ish pace in the heat while chatting with a friend. I figured that would translate to an 8:30 or better pace for a fall race.

Well, one thing has led to another, and I think I am letting go of my Army Ten Miler goal–at least for now.

On the physical front, my toe is fine. My ITB is better today than it was last week thanks to the sports massage I had on Tuesday, but relieving that tension revealed even tighter knots in my piriformis–another recurring injury. I was in such pain on Wednesday that I squeezed in a deep tissue massage that evening.  The massage therapist spent the full 30 minutes trying to release the tension in different regions of my butt and it still felt tight when she was done! (Insert your own tight-ass comment here–I can take it!) After some pigeon posing that night and the Rodney Yee “Twists” program the next morning, I finally felt better, but my lower back is still tight and my ITB is still nagging.

All of these issues threw a wrench in my running program. I ran 4.5 miles on Tuesday, swapped my planned run Thursday for Rodney Yee, and ran 6 miles today. I do plan to run 8 miles on Monday (Labor Day) but I don’t think I’ll be able to do another long run next weekend, because work is also going to interfere with my training.

This week I head out on a 10-day, 3-city business trip–yuck! I can’t monopolize the hotel gym treadmill for too long, so my maximum distance probably will be 6 miles, and even that will be a test of mental fortitude.  Towards the end of my trip I do have one morning in Chicago where I hope to be able to go for a long run along Lake Michigan, but that may be the only day I can do an outdoor run.  By the time I get home, there will only be three weekends left to the Army Ten Miler!

If all goes well, I will use those three weekends to run 8 miles, 10 miles, and then 8 miles.

In addition to the difficulty of squeezing in long runs, I know that business trips take a physical toll. I don’t eat as well, I don’t drink as much water, I drink more wine at receptions, I don’t sleep as well, and this trip will involve three long flights (and one shorter one).

Adding it all up, I think it will be better if I let go of any specific goals for the Army Ten Miler and just do the best I can with my training, and see where I am come race day. (Crossing the finish line smiling was enough of a challenge last year!) I’m really OK with this, and already setting my sights on a goal for the Hot Chocolate 15K in December.

That will be worth pushing myself for!

What’s the longest business trip you’ve been on?

Will you come help me pack?

Posted in Fitness | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

Chili For Irene

Posted on September 2, 2011 by Coco

The approach of hurricane Irene forced me to brave the grocery store before I had done my menu planning for the week. I decided to get the fixings for one of my go-to stormy weather dinners: chili. Chili is especially good for hurricane weather because it can be fixed in one pot on our gas stove.

I am all about easy meals, and my family loves the flavor of this Six Gun Chili Mixin’s spice kit. 

(You can see on the package that the apostrophe is theirs, but why?)

I browned 1 lb. lean ground beef and 1.3 lb. lean ground turkey, drained what little fat there was, and added the first water/spice mixture.  After that was throughly heated, I added one large can of crushed tomatoes and one large can of petite diced tomatoes. After letting that simmer for a while, I added one can of red kidney beans (drained and rinsed). Then I sprinkled on the second hot spice mixture, adding an extra dash so my son wouldn’t complain about it being too wimpy.

Since our electricity was still on, I decided to make corn bread muffins.  I love the taste of the Jiffy corn bread mix–more expensive brands just don’t have the same authentic corn meal texture and flavor.

 

As usual, my husband and son loved their dinner–and went back for seconds!

Do you have a go-to meal that you fix when there are storms brewing?

Do you put beans in your chili?

Posted in Food | Tagged , , , , , , | 6 Comments

Wordless Wednesday (The Rüdesheim Edition)

Posted on August 31, 2011 by Coco

(Dont drink too much Riesling and drive your car into the Rhine!)

Posted in Life | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

Don’t Judge Me

Posted on August 30, 2011 by Coco

I’ve read several “Don’t Judge Me” posts around the blogosphere recently, and they got me thinking. Here’s mine.

Don’t judge me based on my size.

Don’t judge me based on what I do or do not eat, or how much, or how little.

Don’t judge me based on how much I exercise, or when, or why.

Don’t judge me based on what my husband says.

Don’t judge me based on what my kids do or don’t do, or the schools they do or don’t go to.

If you have to judge me. judge me by my actions and my words, but don’t assume that you know why I made the choices that I did or the road that I’ve traveled to get to where I am.

Don’t judge me.

Posted in Life, Venting | Tagged , , | 4 Comments

Celebrating My Blogoversary

Posted on August 29, 2011 by Coco

It’s hard to believe that I published my first blog posts one year ago today, on August 29, 2010. I had no idea what I was doing, and I really had no idea what I was getting into or how much fun it would be!

Looking back, I am struck by how my life has come full circle.

My first post was about kicking-off my training program for the 2010 Army Ten Miler, and here I am gearing up for that race again.

I thought I’d be further along with my training program this year, but my recent ITB flare-up and toenail incident have held me back until now.

I also published a faith-related post, which was more of a vent about people dragging Jesus into their political views. That certainly hasn’t changed!

What has changed?

  • The WordPress data tell me that I’ve published over 290 posts and grown my readership considerably (thank you!) over the past year.
  • The style and content reflect how much I’ve learned about blogging from Katy Widrick (but don’t blame her for my corny clipart!).
  • Most importantly, I’ve discovered the wonderful fitblog/fitblogger community and gotten to know so many amazing bloggers that inspire and entertain.

So, thank you for reading, thank you for commenting, and thank you for Tweeting and Stumbling.Here’s to another year!

Posted in Life | Tagged , | 12 Comments