Monday, September 29, 2008

It was a GREAT weekend. And once again, OUCH

I seriously should live in a bubble I'm so accident prone!

The weekend was GREAT - I had a great run on Saturday - 4.69 miles at an average 11:12 minute/mile. For some - that's a BAD day - for me and my healing and returning process - FABulous. I'm happy. I've been averaging a 13-minute-mile this year so I feel like I could get back to my 10-minute mile sometime soon!!

Then the weekend of crazy girls - do you know they post safety rules at the waterslide? We didn't heed. My feet slipped and I CRASHED on my tailbone. Ouch. I'm hurting . . . again. BUT running doesn't involve sitting so it's all good, right?

Another snake shot for you:
It's ALIVE!

Drinks with umbrellas - that's what makes the world go round!!
Yeeehaw!

Saturday, September 27, 2008

Sangria, slides, sun and .... Snakes??

Okay so we have arrived for another girls weekend at Wildhorse Pass and the drinks have begun. It was meant to be a weekend of silliness and water slides but I have been introduced to something... Does anyone else remember snakes from their childhood? I never have - but Natasha who brought them was very excited - then Frances got all excited ... Diane and I have never seen them. So we went to the balcony and lit it up and .... Well .... It looked like the balcony was pooping! The two most familiar were yelling SNAKE! And Diane and I said POOP!! So for your enjoyment...



Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry

Saturday, September 20, 2008

Oh, running world - you disappoint me!

One of the things I love about the world of fitness is the people. I love when you pick a regular time to: run the canal, walk the dogs, hike a mountain, etc. and you start to notice familiar faces and it becomes a community. I LOVE hitting the canal or the trail on Thanksgiving mornings - people are usually SO warm. These are the people who had other choices - and chose to enjoy movement and sunshine and fitness. Lots of smiles - lots of greetings. I love it.

There are moments when I DON'T love runners. Often on Expo + race packet pickup day. People can be crabby - and rude. But I attribute that to pre-race jitters because the same group of people can be so FUN the next morning when we start the race! (wierd)

I DON'T love runners when that same group of 4 executive men run in the mornings and refuse to break up from their line of 4 and pratically push me into the canal after my partner and I form a single line to make room. (arg!)

And well, this morning - NOT a fan of the Phoenix running/biking/walking community.

Today our Team in Training group did 20 miles in preparation for the Nike Women's Marathon. This is the hardest day of their whole experience: they have been fundraising in their "off hours" for a long time, they have spent countless hours on the hot, dusty canals and this is the longest distance many of them have ever run or walked before. The mentors and the coaches - it's OUR JOB to be out there supporting them, cheering them on and making sure they have everything they need. The most important need: hydration.

We set up all our water and sport drink stations along the route and put LOTS of signs of support for Team in Training on each station - there was NO mistaking who the supplies belonged to. And yet, runner after runner after walker after biker had no problem walking up and helping themselves. I didn't want to be rude, but I went ahead and wrote a sign for the front the water jug at my station that read: "We are running 20 miles today to fight cancer. Please save the drinks for our team." You HAD to read it while using the spiget to pour a drink - so it wasn't missed.

I then went out for a mere 3 mile run with a friend and came back to find my 5 gallon jug of sports drink almost GONE. And they took the race GU (like liquid nutrition - you buy them at the store for several $$ each) - and threw the wrappers away in the bag with the clean cups. I guess I can happy they didn't throw them on the ground. So I went to the store and bought more (my $) sports drink, ice and supplies. And they continued to take it - while their eyes visibly read the sign. This happened all along our route, all day. I went to the store and spent $$ 3 times today to refill our supplies. It's FREAKING ridiculous.

I followed the last runner/walkers as they completed each station and would bring the supplies to the next station so we could combine remaining fluids and keep them hydrated to the end. It was about 100 degrees today - MUCH better than it has been throughout training. But still - HOT!

Maybe it's just a misconception? Perhaps people just assume that the charity is this big entity with loads of $ buying these supplies and should share with everyone. I mean, isn't charity about sharing? But the signs were pretty clear - people were out there for 20 miles counting on these supplies. I'm so disappointed in people.

Maybe I should have been more aggressive with them - but they read the message - they knew what they were doing and I don't want to "represent" the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society as a total bitch. We are a charity dedicated to helping people.

Seriously? I AM so writing our local Fitness publication AND Runner's World and seeing if they will post it in their "Letters to the Editor" sections. I'm curious what the public thinks when they are just helping themselves. So much for community.


Before the vultures swooped on my station

*******

Now back to me: I did run a total of about 5 miles today - my initial three and then in between stations. My lower back hurts. Ugh. I tried the lean forward technique my chiropractor wanted me to. We shall see. The first 3 were GREAT. I could just be tired. I started loading up supplies at 4:30 am - and left the park at 12:30 pm. 8 hours. I didn't do 20 miles today - but I sure feel like I worked a long, sweaty, dirty day. We'll see how I feel tomorrow!

Thursday, September 18, 2008

Yup, Anna agrees!

She does the creepy eye thing when she sleeps!
Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry

I think someone is ready for bed!

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Wednesday, September 17, 2008

Lunch today anyone? Cocktails tonight?

Just in case I have any local readers hankering for a FABulous lunch or dinner at the California Pizza Kitchen Tempe Marketplace today, please print and take this flyer with you and 20% of your bill will go to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. I didn't think to post it here sooner, so sorry!

I will be there myself tonight around 6:45 - 7.

Are you concerned about my diet? I have pre-scoped the menu and plan to go with the Grilled Vegetable Salad -"Grilled asparagus, Japanese eggplant, zucchini, green onions and roasted corn, served warm over a bed of chilled Romaine lettuce, fresh avocado and sun-dried tomatoes in a Dijon balsamic vinaigrette. Tossed upon request. Also available with grilled rosemary chicken breast, sautéed salmon or grilled shrimp."

I will go with the addition of the rosemary chicken breast and request it without the dressing. Perhaps a side of balsamic vinegar . . .  AND I will stick with iced tea. (I really should opt out of the avocado - but I'm only one woman - if you cut me, do I not bleed??)

SEE, pre-planning prior to sitting in front of a menu with a grumbling tummy helps. Let's see how I do.

(Let me know if the link to the flyer doesn't work - I've never tried to post a blog with attachment via email before. I know how to do image with blog from phone, but haven't attempted this yet.)

Monday, September 15, 2008

Hello, Old Friends!

So I'm upright again, losing a few pounds and am ready to recapture my world. Thanks for your comments and support - I have NOT completely fallen off the cookie wagon, although after the cake slip I also managed to drink a few days worth of calories Saturday night. But heck at my age, when I can do it up like a rock star once in a while, it's worth the effort! (It just takes a chunk out of a productive Sunday . . . )

Now that I've missed out on the Nike Marathon, I'm pondering what's next. I'm thinking of aiming a little smaller and going back to half marathons and working on actually creating WIND when I run. Get a little faster. Soooooo, The PF Changs Rock and Roll Marathon is right around the corner and I've decided "what the heck" I can do the half again. I think I've run the Rock and Roll half marathon 3 times? And the last time, I said "never again". Only this year I don't want to be in charge, I don't want to have to deal with picking up, driving, road closures, parking, getting on the shuttle, finding my car and getting out again later. Too many people. I want to be dropped off at the start line and scooped up like all those fabulous runners with fabulous mates get to do!

But alas, what did I do instead? I somehow volunteered to be the coordinator to put together a team to REPRESENT my fine city. What's wrong with me?? And yes, I've already come up with a few fun designs just in case we want to make team shirts!

So if I want to get this larger-than-the-last-time-I-ran booty across the finish line in any kind of decent time, I'd better get cozy with these old friends again. Hello canal - hello 5 am!

Friday, September 12, 2008

SO not on the cookie diet!

Today was mission impossible for my diet efforts. First, there was a going away lunch to attend at Buco di Beppo for a co-worker. I managed to pass through the family style order for everyone else and got a small spinach and tomato salad. I kept myself busy with that and the ice tea and passed the breads and pastas without partaking... Then there was the giant chocolate sheet cake for her when we got back to the office. I brought down my diet coke and stood around socially while everyone talked about how GREAT the cake was. Still good - the perfect picture of willpower.



Then I went back to my desk and got the email. The last straw. Another co-worker brought in cake. Not just cake: THE CAKE. Its some vodka infused Baileys cake - its moist and so so SO yummy. I caved.



*sigh* now I am full and guilty. Did I mention it was yummy? And why is it when you eat something naughty no matter how full you are, you want MORE. I wish I still smoked. (not really)

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Wednesday, September 10, 2008

It was a BIG Weekend


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Originally uploaded by aimswa
In fact, I'm still going. And I'm tired. But I am PROUD. It was all good. First - the Charity Chicks Golf & GLOW Tournament happened on Saturday. I think it came together FABulously, my volunteers all showed up and were wonderful and it was a great event for everyone.

The next day I loaned out the Charity Chick poker tables and supplies for an event my mentee was hosting - a Poker Tournament. It's crazy to admit this, but even though I've hosted many a charity poker tournament . . . . I don't know how to play!! So I got a quick lesson and played. I managed to make it to a table merge, but it was NOT through my mad skills! And poker face - HA! Does anyone think I could pull THAT off? I THINK the boys appreciated my Elvis glasses or at least they humored me.

And there were other events taking place throughout our happy state over the weekend - as a result thousands of dollars were raised to help fight cancer this weekend. Wouldn't it be GREAT if someday "cancer" was only mentioned in the history and science books??

I've loaded some pictures from the golf tournament, but need to get the other images from my friend Marina before I can post a full synopsis on the event!

It is now 11:30, I have to get up and start the day all over again in the morning . . . where does the time GO???

(P.S. I *DID* break the diet with a few beers at all the events - BUT managed to drop another 3 pounds - so YEA me! 20 more to go . . . )

Monday, September 1, 2008

The dogs ate my homework . . .

THIS is what I came home from my pool party last night to find. Anna must have got up on the coffee table, pulled down "Are You There Vodka, It's Me Chelsea" and together they went to TOWN. Seriously, the whole family needs to go to AA.



And then in guilt, they tried to tuck it under the hope chest so maybe I wouldn't notice? Little you-know-whats . . . The good news: I finished the book earlier that day. The bad news: it wasn't mine. I guess I will be buying a new one to return to my gracious lender, Jo Anna. Sheeeesh.

Speaking of eating - I am on day 14 of the "cookie diet" and am quite proud of myself. I DO have willpower after all! Couple big moments - I had a PIZZA lunch to attend at work - and managed to attend, have some lettuce, socialize and avoid the pizza (if you know me and pizza - that is HUGE). My friend Diane came by to drop off some Charity Chicks supplies and I offered her a beer and was "okay" with my water. I DID have to not attend an intimate pasta and wine party at my friend Nancy's. That just would have been impossible. But then again I did attend a BBQ/pool party yesterday and managed to avoid the chips/salsa bowl - ate my healthy kabob - and had a nice cup of coffee while they dove into HOMEMADE carrot cake (drool). As of last Tuesday, I was down 3 pounds. I sure hope it's another 3 this week. But whatever. At least I'm winning my own battles.

This week I can start working out again they say. WHEW! I am not one to sit around patiently . . . more to come.