Infection = no running :(

3 weeks back, June 25 to be exact, while many of you fellow bloggers were enjoying the Rock n' Roll Seattle race I was moving into my new place.

My roommate Adam and I have too much furniture combined, so the better part of the afternoon was spent trying to make it all 'work' in our living room- i.e. moving, and re locating furniture around. In the process of moving the book case (the easy sliding across the carpet way), I accidently slid the shelf right onto my right big toe. Although it hurt, it was nothing major and just left a slight scratch.

Fast forward to yesterday, July 11- a whole 3 weeks later: was playing in our kickball game (which we won by the way) and the combination of kicking the ball with my right toe + potentially tying my shoes too tight aggravated my "cut."

I noticed that it was painful to the touch and was starting to swell, but again, I didn't think much of it. A few hours later the pain escalated and it was starting to become difficult to walk. I went to our first aid station, put some triple anti-biotic on it, bandaged it up, then left for home.

I attempted to try to do my p90x legs and back, but was unable at this point to put ANY weight on my right toe--- which obviously you need for balance. After 2 hours Adam came home and since he is a physical therapist I was picking his brain. He told me to ice it down and elevate.

Did that for awhile, put some neosporin on, then went to bed....

Woke up this morning and it was even worse and I was in so much pain it was hard to stay still in the shower.

Adam said there was some serious infection going on, especially since the top of the foot was swelling and flushed and it would be best to go to a quick clinic.

I did just that and found out that neomycin, one of the ingredients in triple antibiotic cream as well as neosporin has a tendency to exacerbate infections in some people--- really!?!? That would explain why it was so much worse when I woke up.

I told the doctor I have a half marathon this weekend that I plan on running- pain or no pain- but would prefer to be the no pain and if there is anything I can do to speed up the healing. Was given some trimethoprim (oral antibiotic) and bacitracin (topical antibiotic) and told no running until race day- ugh. 

How does something that started out as a silly cut, suddenly blister, swell up your foot, and cause you so much pain you can't walk normal?!?!

I guess for now I may do some yoga or upper body workouts and hope for the best by sunday :(

Weekend Debauchery

This past weekend was filled with good times with old friends, and some new ones. Aside from walking all over downtown, there was zero exercise involved- no worries I will be making up for it these next few days. In the meantime- here was
9 Great / random / hilarious things about my weekend:

1. It doesn't matter how long you've been apart, or sometimes how often you keep in touch- good friends you can just pick up where you left off...

2. You can make a cake to look like just about anything..... (keep in mind this is for a bachelorette party)

There was a pump that oozed out white icing

3. Drinking while in the pool all day, leads to silliness and getting sick

A bunch of rum, pineapple juice, amaretto and maybe something else

For the record, I'm pretty sure we all had a photo like this.

I left out the photos of me "losing my cool" over the pool fence- ironically enough, earlier in the day we were discussing when the last time we vomited from alcohol.... mine was back when I lived in Louisville- streak is broken :(


4. I never go out, but was shocked when in a 1 hour time frame I saw 3 people I actually know... I felt popular! 

Ran into Jerry (one of my old roommates) on the strip- he occasionally will take his guitar downtown and play on the street

Literally right when I walk into the Big Bang (dueling piano bar) I see Josh- co-worker and on my kickball team

In the bathroom I ran into one of the lead singers of Kopecky Family Band, Kelsey. I saw her play at Bonnaroo and was able to talk with her for a bit about her next show in Nashville. She actually recognized me in the bathroom and we chatted some more- going to their show on June 28th now- woo!

5. If you go out in a large group- expect to lose people as the night and the alcohol sets in...

Beginning of evening before dinner

at our 2nd bar- The Big Bang

The group dwindled after our last bar, Coyote Ugly- few people got sick, others ventured off. 

6. I still got game (when it comes to opposite sex) When I go out, IF I get hit on, its always by someone really OLD, or super short (don't understand why its always that pattern). I saw a guy at the bar who I thought was attractive, non-chalantly spit some game, and he was in- as an added bonus---- he was British!!! ( i have a big thing for accents) He ended up tagging along with us for the rest of the night and walked me home... and when yes when I say walk home, I really do mean JUST that. 

Messing around with Beth's veil

He asked for a photo opp in front of the guitar pic as a souvenir from his trip to Nashville (just traveling through on a tour of the US)

7. At the bar I was reaching for something and apparently my boob came in eye view of this bigger girl sitting down. She asked if they were real- ummm seriously?!?! I laughed and told her yes, asking why. She said its rare to find big boobs on a white skinny girl. Wow 2 compliments- skinny and big boobs! I assured her that my strapless bra is giving an optical illusion because I only wear a B, sometimes a C depending on who makes it. Further proof this lady knew nothing about what she was talking about.

My itty bitties in comparison to Jaclyn's double Ds

8. On sunday after coming back to my place I decided I would try to nap at the pool. I had my awesome roommate Adam rub lotion on my back and he made the comment that I must really be doing a lot of pull ups because my back is looking more toned. I laughed and told him I haven't done a single one since he last  made fun of me and that I just naturally have a bony back, but kudos to at least looking toned ;)

9. I was so exhausted after pool time on Saturday, that my friend Abby offered me something similar to aderol- silly me took it. Now I was never hyper or 'super alert' but what did happen is that when I got back to the hotel at 4am, despite being exhausted I couldn't sleep. I laid there till the other girls woke at 8:30, then started cleaning the room. I didn't manage to sleep until 10:30pm sunday night- translates into 38 hours I was up, but yet didn't feel like I had not slept- crazy. 

Fitness Friday

One of my favorite cartoons pertaining to exercise...

So most people generally slack in the fitness activity during winter due to it getting darker earlier, colder, S.A.D, etc etc.

I am quite the opposite- I tend to let my fitness slack in the summer because its HUMID and HOT here in Tennessee, and there are so many different events going on that my time gets monopolized. After seeing my pathetic 25 miles ran in June on Daily Mile, and not to mention WAY behind on my 1000 miles to run in 2011, I decided July would be different.

So far this week I've ran 13 miles- which I'd like to point out is 1/2 of what I ran for all of last month- woo! This puts me at a grand total of 320 miles run this year - way behind my initial goal of thinking I'd already be at 600, 100 miles a month- goes to show folks take it easy so you don't get injured!

I got my BF% checked at the beginning of the month, and my plan is to get it re-checked at the end of the month just to see what 30 days worth of focus can accomplish. I don't expect any huge decreases, but I'm secretly hoping to go from 18% BF to 16% (fingers crossed) I also started the month around 161-162lbs, and broke into 158lbs. Ultimately I would like to be a comfortable 155 (for heaviest days), and closer to 150 on my light days. Regardless of my weight or body fat %, at 5'10 I am comfortable with my measurements from a health stand point, I just want to be lighter and leaner to become a stronger and faster runner.

For accountability purposes, I realized that what will motivate me is to record what I've done for the week on 'fitness friday'
Monday- 10k race
Tuesday- 3.1 mile run +  Core Synergistics
Wednesday- Cardio X
Thursday- 3.7 mile run + p90 shoulders & arms + ab ripper x
Friday- yoga x

Plan for weekend:
Saturday- rest day (due to bachelorette party and busy with them all day / night)
Sunday- Legs and back + ab ripper x

Hope everyone enjoys the weekend!! 

Jab.Cross.Hook.Uppercut- wait what?!?!

Yesterday was Cardio X day for p90x. Even though I started p90x last week, I decided to do the 'lean' option so technically I'm starting over and yesterday was day 2.
Cardio X is basically a combo of different moves from the other workouts to get your heart pumping. First several minutes were yoga, wasn't a big fan. I've yet to do Kenpo X therefore half the moves I was ridiculously bad at.

My roommate decided since I was EXTRA bad at the "Jab,cross, hook, uppercut" move that he would video tape it. I tried to find a short you tube clip so you could see what it is SUPPOSED to look like, but most of it was instructional martial arts stuff with punching bags- rest assured what you'll see below is not proper technique.
My plan is to post my embarrassment so I will be motivated to get better, and in a few weeks time I'll post a better video (with more clarity, stupid phone) to show my improvement.

Despite trying to repeat to myself over & over again "jab, cross, hook, uppercut" I still couldn't get it. Adam had to intervene and tell me to hit his hands. Basically if I tell myself 'hit hit cross under' then I remember what to do.

Great thing about being a runner is you don't have to be excellent at hand eye coordination- I think this proves my point.

"Best Friend"

After realizing how June was a workout wash of a measely 25 miles ran, I decided that July would be a much different story. Part of me got this crazy idea that it would be a grand idea to double up my cardio the day after a miserable 10k race and do a 5k hilly run to work on landing midfoot, followed by core synergistics from p90x.

Afterward my calves and quads were tight and on fire. No matter the stretching or pounding with my fists, nothing seemed to alleviate the pain or loosen up the muscles. Defeated I was getting ready for bed and out of the corner of my eye I see an old friend....

I couldn't help but think he was secretly chanting "USE ME!!!", so naturally I obliged.

Guess it shows how IN-ACTIVE my June was since I didn't need him, but so thankful to have him in my life as he gives me the tough love I need to feel refreshed the next day! How did I ever survive without him???
Cue Queen's "You're my best friend" music...

Do you have a 'workout survival' tool that you can't go without??

I'm awesome

After a debate on facebook involving a fellow blogger and her sister not getting medals for their half marathon (which I completely empathize bc I too did not get a medal for my 4th of July race yesterday), someone pointed out that most people don't do much with medals anyway. 


A great 'suggestion' was made at how if they had an Allied medal display to showcase their medals, they would be more excited by each medal earned since it can now be shown off vs. just sitting in a drawer hidden.


I decided to finally break down and get my own medal display since I have 17+ medals earned to date. When I have a few options to choose from, I  have a hard time making decisions, so this is where I need YOUR advice on a design to choose from. 


I'm all about the custom create your own design and was thinking along the lines of this.....      
 


Before you go and think I'm extremely cocky, I would like to explain that I'm a HUGE Barney Stinson fan and I actually do incorporate the word 'awesome' into my daily vocabulary. I like the track shoe attached because track was my passion in high school. So if you like this design, please let me know. Otherwise, I'm open to suggestions since my brother got all the creative genes in the offspring, leaving me with very little. 

If you have a medal display, what does yours say?

First Official (and worst) 10k - race report

7/4/11

1st 10k

Temp- 90s and humid

Since September, my race focus has consistently been on half marathons. Generally, my 10k time during my half marathon ranges anywhere from 50-54 minutes, so I thought it would be neat to actually run a 10k race to see what I can do. I run for the Party is a Nashville based event group that raises money for cancer awareness by putting on local races. I was a little hesitant to sign up for this race because back in November when I ran the Huntsville 1/2, Becca ran the 1/2 marathon back here in Nashville sponsored by 'I run for the party' and was annoyed at how disorganized the event was and no finishers medal. 

Since I haven't ran a race since West Virginia over Memorial Weekend, I decided to bite the bullet and see if I have a better experience than her. 

'Supposedly' there was no race day pick up on their website (apparently you could do it, they just didn't tell you). I think its asking a lot on a holiday weekend to only have a 3 hour window on Sunday, day before race to pick up your bib from 1pm-4pm downtown outside Country Music Hall of Fame. So it wouldn't ruin my entire day, I went to the pool around 11am and hung out till 3, giving me 1 hour to get downtown and have everything taken care of. Since I waited till the last minute, there was no line and I was back home by 3:45 (20 min drive each way, but its no secret I like to drive fast.... B loves when its my turn to do the road trips hehe)

Bib and shirt pick up

I knew this was the closest I was going to get, so figure I'd capture it now. 

Ugh for cotton tee- race bib had a map of course on it.

Race start was @ 8am, and lucky for me one of my best friends used to live in apartments about 2 blocks from the Hall of Fame (race start) so I knew of some side street free parking that no one ever uses- thus I was able to leave my house at 7:20 without worry on where to park. 

This is the best I could do to wear Red, White, and Blue (I'm a great rhymer) 

As I'm walking down to the start area I begin to get nervous since there is zero organization. First off there are only 7 port-o-potties and a LONG line to use them- great because I have to pee, however I won't get done in time for race to start. 2nd was despite the inflatable arch that said "START" on it, no one knew which way the course was going, so therefore not a single person was lined up. 

I did a few stretches and just stood around waiting to be directed where to go. One cool distraction was that quite a number of people were dressed in spirit for the holiday- I felt like a creeper if I asked for photos, so instead I just people watched. 

Finally a lady with a mega phone told us which direction the race was going and for everyone to start heading that way. Again I want to re-iterate that the race was an 8am start, however we didn't start till around 8:10am since there were some Nashville troops in Afghanistan running at the same time we were  and they called in and were going to do the race count down to start. I do think it's awesome how far we've come in technology to have the ability to do this, however the temps were rising and there was also a storm abrewing, so everyone was getting antsy as we waited.

Before the start they explain that its a repeat loop course for 10k folks, so its important to go to the left of the timing mats on first loop so our time doesn't get marked. I guess I should have looked at the course map beforehand so I wouldn't be disappointed that I have to see the finish line when I'm only 1/2 way done during the race :(

Finally we get the troops, do the count down, and we're off! To be honest I have ZERO game plan on how to run this thing. Secretly I was hoping I could break 50 minutes, but considering I haven't really ran competitively in over a month, or at all for that matter, I knew that was a pipe dream. Right from the start we are going uphill, so I'm working on just pacing myself.

We make our first left and my confidence starts to drop as I see the leaders making their way up the long bridge from hell that kicked my butt during the Women's 1/2 last fall. Luckily what goes up, must come down, so I was able to make up some time and hit my first mile at 7:50. Right away I know that's too fast, especially with the heat, hills to come, and the fact that I have to pee and there are ZERO port-o-potties on the course (yes that's right, Zero).

Around 1.5 miles we're going around Titans stadium and I realize that we're going to be running part of the same course from the Rudolph 5k, which means L-O-N-G uphills. That's the one thing I hate about Nashville races- they always make you hit the hardest and longest hills downtown to make it challenging- do they ever think- "its hot out, its the 4th of July, lets give them some flat parts to run on"... apparently not.

About 1/2 way up the hill is the first of several dozen times I ended up walking during this race. I'm not proud I gave up so early, but at the same time, I didn't have any expectations so that saves a little of my disappointment. 3/4 up the hill and there was a large cheer section in view so I picked it up and started going faster in anticipation that once reaching the top we would be going down 2nd avenue which is a very long relaxing downhill. WRONG AGAIN- darn. We manage to go up another hill, slight downhill, uphill, then down the infamous Broadway (which is a great downhill, but for lack of better terminology its a bitch to run up), then turn right and run toward finish for the 5kers.

1 loop done, 1/2 way finished, and yet I'm dog tired. I managed to run with another girl around my age for all of 2 minutes and we were getting worried because the sky was getting darker and we could hear thunder. I don't mind running in the rain at all, infact when its this hot I welcome it, however I had my phone on my arm since my shorts don't have pockets and the last thing I need is for it to get ruined. Luckily the rain did hold out the whole race (yay for something positive!)

Approaching bridge hill 2nd time around and I decided to walk and tried to capture the sky, but for whatever reason it doesn't show up as dark in the photo

In the process of getting my phone out to take this photo, I hit my Garmin and it messes up and won't tell me the time- this is probably the 2nd or 3rd time its happened in a race- the weird part is, that it still is working and at the end of the race it will show my final time, but at the same token, it won't display it to me anymore during the race- frustrating. 

Now I have ZERO motivation because I can't see how fast, or at this rate how slow, I'm going. After mile 4 it pretty much was a run for 1 min, walk for 1 min the whole way. I had to pick out spots to run to to keep me going and occupy my mind away from the fact that my bladder feels as though its going to explode and that my body is overheating (I get REALLY warm when running + I'm sun burnt so today was extra hot for me) 

Luckily there were several people doing the run / walk combo so I was glad to see I wasn't the only one struggling. I told myself that once I hit Broadway, I had about 400m left and I would just let my legs carry me downhill and kick it in once I hit the straight away. 

And thats the most successful part of the race I had, considering I did just that. During the whole race I didn't want to go too fast down the hills because I was wearing my Newtons, a race first for me, and when I go super fast my heels come down hard... something I would surely pay for later if  I did this the whole race. With not much left to go, I threw caution to the wind and just went as fast as my body allowed. 

I saw the race clock nearing the 1 hour mark so I tried to break it considering I knew I was a few seconds actually behind the clock. 

Looking back on my results, I narrowly missed it... 

Final time 1:00:16

Am I disappointed??? Severely- I generally run 7 miles in that amount of time, and thats when I have to run a total of 13.1 miles!!! 

Will I run this distance again??? Maybe in the fall when it isn't so hot out or as many hills. 

I would like to add that there was NOT a medal. Instead there was an opportunity to take your photo with a milk mustache and then they printed it out and put it in a photo badge that went around your neck. I thought it was lame so I didn't bother getting one and ended up just grabbing a few oranges, chocolate milk, and walked to the nearest port o potty to finally relieve the pressure off my bladder!

Total Time 1:00:16

Mile 1- 7:50

Mile 2-9:14

Mile 3 -9:43

Mile 4- 10:30- can you tell this is when the heavy walking began for the rest of the race?

Mile 5- 11:23

Mile 6- 10:34

Mile .2- 6:07

Place 15/39 in my  age group- If I would have broke 50- would have got 2nd. Something to work on for the future.