HEY! Where did March go?

Here we are, yet again, the day after Weight Watchers. Once again I have managed to put on weight! Ok, it was a whole .2 pounds, but that is still a weight increase! The sad thing is, I had an amazing workout before going for my weigh in! Oh well, there is always next week.

Tonight I am excited because I am headed to the movies, yes, in the middle of the week! I will be watching My Run tonight. Looks like it will be very interesting!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L2yMamDGZOs

Here is to the last day of March! Oh! And happy birthday to my dad!

Just to tired

For weeks now I have been tired. I go to bed early, wake up at a reasonable time and I am tired. I go to bed early and sleep in, I am tired! I have just been every tired for a while (I think part if it is I am still trying to recover from finals week [yes, two+ weeks ago]). Yesterday I took a rest day, I was to tired to really do anything. I brought all my stuff in again today hoping to actually do something with it. Even though I am so tired I get up and hit the gymlet. I had planned to do anywhere between 3.5 – 4 miles, if I didn’t make it that high, not a big deal, at least I made it down there and did something. I got on the treadmill, started off with a couple of minutes of trying to get organized (probably going at a speedy 2.0). Then I actually started, making the last few adjustments I spent a minute at 3.5. Then I started on a 4 run, 1 walk set up. After a few rounds of that I messed with my speed in during the run. Before I really knew it I was finishing 4 miles! I am still tired, but I am more of a refreshed tired now.

“You're So Vain” - Carly Simon

Ok, not really, self conscious, absolutely, vain, not so much! But I will get to that shortly!

Friday I got off work early and I had every intention to take my new outfit out for a bike ride but I had two problems… 1) It is a little (very) windy out and 2) I couldn’t get into my garage where my bike has been hanging out (literally) of late. So I played with the puppies and shared my lunch with them and waited for my sister to come home so we could go to the movies. She finally made it home (my boys went up to Denver with my parents) and off we went. We saw Sucker Punch talk about a waste of money! The previews made it look a lot better than it actually was. After the movie had to go to a Red Box and rent a good movie to make me feel better. Case 39 awesome movie!!!! But I love psycho thrillers!

Saturday morning I got up (more willing than usual) and headed off to Garden of the Gods to me up with the BRC FIT team. I love hills, I love hills, I love hills! (I figure if I keep telling myself that I will eventually believe it!). In all actuality it was a good run, I was sucking wind coming up some of the steeper hills, but it was still enjoyable. Afterwards I was a great little sister and fur kid mom and stopped and picked up breakfast, I got my sister lox and bagels and the puppies got doggy bagels. After getting cleaned up off we went. “You’re so vain” I wear sunscreen (100 spf) when I go out because of the stupid lupus crap. But it is still affecting my face and part of it is looking all cratered and then I get the rash and well, I can’t stand it. I try to cover it with makeup but it is obvious that I have painted my face on and yuck! My sister came up with a brilliant idea of going to one of the stores that have makeup counters and seeing what they can do to help. We ended up in Macy’s (I love their tights) at the Shiseido counter. The nice lady used face cleaner (no burning), and then moisturize and blah, blah, blah. Next thing I know, my face is no longer bright red, the craters (which aren’t really cratered into my skin, it just looks like it) are gone and WOW! (I am not really big about posting pictures of me online, but here I am! I have not felt that good in a very long time! When I washed it off that night I did not need a chisel to get it off! The face wash (again, no burning) made it come right off!

Sunday, when I got up IT HAD SNOWED! And it was icy so there went my plans for Sunday morning, so I rolled over told the puppies to shut up and go back to sleep and tried to get more sleep. They listen as well as my two legged children do! So we continued my Criminal Minds marathon! Finally My sister and I were up and moving, we started our grocery shopping, stopped and got lunch, visited Lynne from On the Other End of the Leash to pick up my winnings! For the record my puppies were trying to figure out the point of an empty cookie jar! My boys fought over who got the t-shirt only to find out it didn’t fit either one of them!!!! When I lose more weight it will actually fit me! SUCKERS! After getting home Sammie’s beauty shop opened and I did my hair and then my little assistant helped me do my sister’s hair (coloring).

Good news, I got all my miles (plus some) in last week. And my lower body didn’t start feeling the hills until I got out of bed yesterday, my hips were NOT happy!!!! (bit in a good way). Spring break for my monkeys is over and it is back to the grind stone. I have one more week until I return to school.

Here is to another wonderful week! J

Finals week caught up!

Yesterday after work I drove up to the Y to get a nice swim in. I get to the parking lot and it is packed! Spring Break, duh! I refuse to fight with kids in order to swim my laps. So I went home, changed and walked to my Weight Watchers meeting. I stopped by the gas station next door and got a bottle of water and then went for my weigh in. I am sad to report that finals week finally caught up with a 2 pound gain. But it happens and it is time to move on! After the meeting I walked home, well had to run some sections because I needed to be somewhere before 7 pm and the meeting ended at 6:30. Luckily I was able to text my sister and by the time I ran up to the house I was jumping in my car and taking off, everyone was where they needed to be buckled and ready to go. I pulled into the parking lot of Bicycle Village at 6:55!!!!! Talk about timing J

Colorado Springs Bicycle Village had their huge tent sale a few weeks ago and of course I went, I needed a few things (and wanted other things). The two things I needed were shoes and a helmet (see, they are needs). I went into the store a few days prior to the sale so I would know exactly what I wanted in the way of shoes. I have big wide feet; I know that, I understand that, I accept that. So I picked out a men’s pair of shoes, found the perfect size, I was good to go! The day of the sale they didn’t have my perfect size so I got the next size down, they fit, but after an 11 mile ride I knew I really wanted the next size up (they weren’t hurting, but I knew after about 70 miles my feet would not be happy). So Monday morning I called them up and told them what I wanted and mention my bike rack (Saris Bones 3-Bike) lost one of its feet. I was told the shoes have been ordered and to bring the rack in. So I really wanted to get in yesterday (I received the call telling me the shoes were in). I got my shoes, they moved my clips from the smaller pair to the larger pair, and they gave me a new foot for my bike rack (my back window will greatly appreciate that one!). A little back ground on Bicycle Village. I have been shopping there since 2007. They have a maintenance class but I was up able to make it prior to my first triathlon, so they told me to come on in and gave me a one-on-one lesson on how to change my tire and the basics. I take my bike in every year for her check up. A few years back shortly after her annual checkup I was out for a ride and my crank broke! I brought her in and just had to pay to parts, they did not charge labor because she had just been in. I have never had a bad experience with them. I have been up to the Bicycle Village in Aurora and Boulder, they are ok.

My new bike skirt from Skirt Sports will arrive today and I am so excited to take it out of a spin this weekend. It occurred to me that I own a ton of skirts from verity of companies. So, I figure over the next few weeks I will post my opinion of them, the good the bad and the possibly ugly!

	Schedule	Actual
Sunday	Rest	10 mile easy bike ride
Monday	3.5 miles	3.5
Tuesday	3-4 miles	.7 + Weights
Wednesday	45-60 minute cross training	4 + 2.14
Thursday	4 miles	Rest
Friday	45-60 minute cross training
Saturday	5 (HILLS!)

Another two bite the dust

My grades for last quarter were finally posted and YAY! I passed my 3D modeling class (and my professional writing class). The funny thing is my GPA is a LOT higher now than it was in high school and I freak out at the end of every class and realisticallyI have only almost failed one class (it might have something to do with Cuervo being hospitalized and then shortly thereafter me getting hospitalized [different kind of hospital] in the same quarter and this prof was a dick and would not permit me to turn in the work I missed while I was in the hospital). I have two projects in the 3D modeling class I need to resubmit once they are fixed and they will bring my grade up even more, YAY! Next quarter Public Speaking and Ethics, YUCK!

This is recovery week, so yesterday I decided to recover! We ran a few errands before going, plopped our butts in front of the TV and ate dinner and then off to bed. There was no run group, there was no swimming. I didn’t feel like it so I didn’t do it! Today on the other hand (still recovery week) I got a good 4 mile run in during lunch. Tonight is Weight Watchers night so I am contemplating playing in the pool for a little while before heading to the weigh in.

Here is to another quarter down!

Tuesday ranting and raving

Yesterday I was not feeling very well, I was tired and just not there. Before I went down to the gymlet I knew I would not really be running. I got on the elliptical machine and I was fighting a mile and a half into it (I got to 1.7 before getting off), so I decided I would try getting on the treadmill for my last 1.8 miles knowing I might not get my 3.5 in. I started off at a nice easy (slow) 3.5 pace. After a 10^th of a mile I upped it to 3.6 and I kept upping it every 10^th of a mile until I was done. At about 4.5 I was jog/walking, the last 10^th I was supposed to be at 5.3 but I decided to up it to 6.0 to finish it off. I felt pretty good. I was still tired, but I was a little more invigorated. I got back to my desk only to deal with another blood sugar crash! As soon as I hit the locker room I started eating my apple sauce to try to prevent it from happening again. After work I had to take Charlie to the vet (nothing major, he just needed to visit a tech) got home, my sister made dinner and I was pretty much in bed right then and there. I was out cold well before 10 pm. This morning my alarm went off and my fur boys let me sleep a little more but then they decided just because I wasn’t getting out of bed yet doesn’t mean I can just lay there and do nothing. For the next 20 minutes I got squished, licked and stepped on every which way! Charlie was getting ready to lay down next to me when all of a sudden Freddie was walking under him and taking his place! When Charlie finally got to lay down next to me Freddie sat on him!

Yesterday I was screwing around on the Trek website and designed my dream tri bike. Eventually I would like one, I know how expensive they are, but it is always fun going to the Project One area and coming up with MY bike! Speaking of bikes… My century is about two months away. Did I mention at the bike sale I got a new seat too? Sorry, I think today is a SQUIRREL day! I finally got her out for a ride on Sunday and felt great! This weekend I plan on doing two loops on the Air Force Academy’s main road (pretty flat). By the end of next month I will be hitting the road near the outlets (a lot more hills)

Today will probably be a two session day. I got a good upper body workout in during lunch. BRC is having a group fun after work that I will try to make. I feel really good right now and if I am still feeling good around 4 pm, then I will do it, if not, I won’t! If I am not up to running I might hit the pool!

I have been ragging on Skirts Sports more than I should over the past few months. I have to say, I do like their running skirts (I would LOVE them if they would just put drawstrings in). Now, Skirt Sports isn’t just running skirts. Nicole DeBoom, Skirt Sports founder, is a triathlete and I have to say this give her company an serious edge when it comes to some of their products. During the expo of my first half ironman a running store had a booth set up and low and behold a Skirt Sports bike skirt was in their sale bin, so I got it! I know ‘you shouldn’t try anything new on race day’ well, my toosh was about to put on 56 miles and any extra padding I could get would be greatly appreciated! LOVED IT! Yes, my toosh was still a little sore at the end, but what do you expect? I am excited to be picking out a new outfit now that I am getting back on the bike (hey, a girl can always use motivation!). So, in the near future I will be getting the Short Sleeve Jersey (hopefully it runs a little lose, I don’t like tight stuff up top) and the Cruiser Bike Girl (a little longer than Breezer Bike Girl, which, to me, is always nice).

Here is to a beautiful day in Colorado!

Happy Birthday Carin

Today Carin would have been seven years old. I got her while I was stationed in Germany within a week or so of getting back from Iraq. I remember I was watching TV and there was some memorial thing going on and I just broke into tears and here is this little puppy trying her damndest to climb up on the couch. She finally made it up and started off sitting at the opposite end, before long she had inched her way into my lap and started licking the tears away. During the same time I found out that one of my buddies died while he was in Iraq (I left early due to an injury), thank God there was an information leak. I found out before I was sitting in an auditorium full of complete strangers. When I got the news Carin wiggled her way next to me and made it very clear she was there for me. Over the short years I had her in my life she was my friend, my companion and my child. August last year she lost her battle with kidney disease. I know she held on for as long as she could. But the last 24 hours must have been a nightmare for her. We ended up in the puppy ER on Sunday, there was no question that it was almost time. I refused to leave her there so they could “run tests”. We brought her home that night and made sure there was no question in her. She was permitted to eat whatever she pleased (she had been on a low protein diet for well over a year), she got chocolate and raisins and I am sure I would have given her my most expensive running shoes had she have asked! The next morning I call out vet and I kept her in my arms until after her last breath.

Happy birthday to my little girl. You will also be in my heart!

Tie Dye!

I have to say I am a very unique free spirited person (don’t ask how I was able to spend as much time as I did in the military). My favorite time of day is when I get to read all the blogs I follow, ok, sometimes I only have time to scan over them. But I really do try to read all of them. When I need a good laugh I head over to SUAR more often than not, actually I think most of the blogs I follow laugh more often than not. Well, right now she has a giveaway going on and it is a tie dye running shirt. Hello! Did you hear me? TIE DYE! I mean there is not better color than that (well, plaid is a pretty close second). Swing by and check it out!!!!

On your left!

Now that finals week is done and over with (no idea what I got in the class yet) I had the chance to relax and enjoy my weekend. Friday night I was so tired I feel asleep around 6, woke up at 9 (all four boys were being too loud) and got back to sleep about two hours later. Saturday morning my alarm went off WAY to early. I was tempted to say ‘I will do the run later,’ but I got up, got dressed and off I went. I did five miles at a 3 minute run, 1 minute walk; I have not graduated from that at this point. It was an enjoyable run even though I was nowhere near 100%, I just made sure I enjoyed it. After the run I zoomed home picked almost everyone up (Charlie had to stay home) and we went to the vet so Freddie could have his incision inspected (it has been two weeks since he lost his manhood). We got there, the tech came out (the rooms were all full), said he looked good and we were outta there! Got home, I took a shower while everyone else kind of did whatever. About an hour later we were out the door again (no, it doesn’t take me an hour to shower) and on our way to Denver to see my friend. We had to stop at Starbucks on the way up and the cashier was impressed with how well my boys take ‘no.’ Even though my boys are very testing at times I have to say I really think my parents, sister and I have done well raising those two. We made it up to Denver and I was so excited to see my friend, I haven’t seen him in over six years! He has the cutest little boy. We met up at Casa Bonita (it is a Denver attrition that even South Park makes fun of!!!!). It is a Mexican place, I refuse to say it is a Mexican restaurant because what they serve is NOT food! About two hours later my friend had to leave to pick up his sister, it was wonderful seeing him again. On the way home we stopped by the outlets and Cuervo got a new pair of Converse (he LOVES those shoes) and I got more running socks.

Sunday, I had planned on hitting the Air Force Academy for a nice ride, well, it was backwards day, as usual! The boys were meeting Papa and we were running far enough behind that I did not have time to get my bike rack on my car in time. So I dropped them off and went back home. No, I did not climb back in bed, though it was tempting. I got my rack put on, it seems to have lost a shoe since the last time I used it, so I need to go to my bike shop to see if they sell them separately. Hopped on my bike so I could get it into one of the lower gears before I was stuck on the bike, threw her on to the back of my car (ok, not threw, placed). I drove down to the cement section of my favorite trail to run and unloaded. Mind you, I have not been on my bike for more than a year, here I am with new shoes getting ready to go out for a nice “easy” ride and I was nervous! I walked my bike across the street, positioned myself behind bus stop bench and held on for dear life as I clipped into my bike. I slowly headed down the little hill to the trail and I could not get the smile off my face! It felt amazing to be back on the bike. Somewhere around mile four I reached down to grab my water bottle, again scared I was going to kill myself, after getting my drink I put my bottle back in its rack only for it to jump out, I knew I was about to turn around and head back so I just kept going. I got to my turn around point and headed back north. As I approached the bottle jump off area I slowed down so I could, hopefully, find my water bottle (hey, I just got them last weekend). I found it and again I was a little worried I was about to kill myself, but that is ok cause the road was right there and my sister would have no problem getting me to. I stopped grabbed my bottle, got back on my bike and off I went. YAY! No issues getting moving unclipped and re-clipped! By the time I got back to my car I felt so invigorated it wasn’t even funny. I didn’t realize how much I missed the “On your left” (which yes, I had to say a few times). I put in a nice 10 miles, my legs felt great and it was just wonderful! The only issue I had was after I got back in my car, I headed to the gas station (I wanted something to eat) my blood sugar CRASHED! I have not had a crash like this in some time. I know I didn’t push myself really hard during the ride so I wasn’t sure what was going on. I was stumbling around the gas station trying to sip on orange juice, struggling to stand up straight. I got back to my car and finished my juice and tried to chew on the banana bread I had purchased. Once I started feeling better I headed home (no, I was not going to drive until I KNEW I was headed in the right direction). I texted my sister to let her know what was going on, she asked if I needed help and I told her no. When I got home she helped me get my bike off my car (I could not lift it) and back to where it lives. It took me about an hour to fully recover. The strange thing is, I started fighting a blood sugar crash again this morning. Luckily I have all sort of stuff packed in my lunch bag so I grabbed a piece of cheese and gobbled that up in a hurry. I had my oatmeal in front of me but I could not eat it (don’t ask why). Anyway, I pulled out of that one rather rapidly and I am fine now, but this is weird.

This week is a recovery week. I have 3.5 miles on the books for today, might just walk the whole thing, I will see how I am feeling!

	Schedule	Actual
Sunday	Rest	10 mile easy bike ride
Monday	3.5 miles
Tuesday	3-4 miles
Wednesday	45-60 minute cross training
Thursday	4 miles
Friday	45-60 minute cross training
Saturday	Garden of the Gods

Finals week is OVER!!!!!!!!!!

As I type this I am practically having to wear a seatbelt to keep me in my chair. I am done with this quarter!!!!! I got kicked out of school last night at around 11:15 because it was closing but I hadn’t burned my DVD yet so I had to go back during my lunch hour today. After the mean computer telling it me it would take almost an hour to burn it to the disk it was done rather quickly, I checked it on another computer, I turned it in and I was gone! I am so excited because I have no school for the next two weeks, the boys have no school for the next week and I get to focus on training (and work) and not worry about anything else!

To add to my excitement an old friend of mine is in state! His mother lives about an hour away and I get to see him for the first time in more than five years. He and I have a very special bond that I don’t think will ever be broken. Shortly after we got to Iraq I had been up for more than 48 hours. He was working on some radios (after turning the generator off) and I was sitting next to him in case he needed help, the radios belonged to the section I worked in. I am dozing in and out, he knew what he is doing, if he needed anything he would let me know. The next thing I know he is screaming (in a blood curdling way) I wake up he is being electrocuted! Luckily there were wires all around me and they were all rubber coated. I was yelling at another buddy of ours to shut the damn generator off (my NCO had decided to turn it back on), he came running back with an ax (the generator did get shut off eventually)! I got a wire around his arm and just started pulling as hard as I could (hey, all those years for life guard training paid off). Thank God the MEDEVAC unit was just across the path and they heard the commotion. I got my friend disconnected before they made it over but they were able to treat him right then and there. Amazingly he had sustained minimal injuries. (To this day I can’t be around people when they are working with electricity). Every now and then he reminds me that if it weren’t for me he wouldn’t be here. When I left Iraq (on crutches) he was kind enough to drive me to the passenger area. He is the closest thing I have to a brother and I am even more excited because I get to meet his son! Not to mention he will get to see how big my boys are these days.

I am debating on whether or not I am going to try to get a run in this afternoon or not. Right about now I think I am going to go home, let my boys pick out a movie and I am going to go to sleep! I did not get home last night until close to midnight (that isn’t saying what time I finally got to sleep) and then getting up this morning at 6 something, blech!

Tomorrow morning is a 5 mile group run Sunday I might end up doing a brick or getting more sleep! Next week, I should be able to get back on track and I am so looking forward to that!

Here is to the end of finals week!!!!!

HELP! The tri bug is after me!!!!

I don’t know why, but the race bug has been chewing on me all day. Last year I did not participate in a single triathlon, which is very unlike me. This year I have 4 on the books. The first one for the season is Tri for the Cure (Sprint distance – 500m swim, 12 mile bike, 5k run) and I found out last week that the Weight Watchers leader will be doing that tri too, this will be her very first tri (so excited for her!). Then I have a weekend of races, Rattlesnake Crazy Back to Back – I will do an Olympic (1500m swim, 40k bike, 10k run) on Saturday and a sprint on Sunday. My last one the Harvest Moon Long Course, which will be my second half ironman (1.2 mile swim, 56 mile bike, 13.1 mile run).

The last time I toed the line for the Rattlesnake I was doing the Olympic Distance and my sister was doing to the Sprint Distance. Well, things didn’t quite work out! At the time I did not have a wet suite, no big deal, but that day it was so cold. I was grateful when I got I the water! I completed my swim and froze my way to my bike, I was not going to quit! It had been raining the majority of the morning, shoot, for the better part of the day before! Because it was so cold my sister only had one kid with her to cheer me on and my other kid was at the hotel with my parents. On the bike I could have sworn it was haling at times, but I kept going. At that point I was not learned how to use bike shoes so I was in my running shoes and they were soaked! I kept going. As I headed towards the turnaround point people who had just passed me were coming back the other way, I knew I was not that close to the turn around, they started shouting ‘race is cancelled, turn around’. After a few people said that, I turned around right into the wind. I was a country block away from transition area between cars and I hydroplaned, ON MY BIKE! Luckily the cars were paying VERY close attention and man was I grateful not to be clipped to my bike. I finally made it back to the transition area and there were people everywhere. For those of you who are not triathletes or have never been to a triathlon – non racers are not permitted into the transition area. That day everyone was permitted in to help collect stuff before it got washed away. I was so ecstatic to find out that my sister had loaded my stuff into the truck, had it turned on with the heater going full blast. Turns out she was one of the ones out there trying to save everyone’s stuff. The lightening had started so they had no choice but to cancel the race. The race director was very apologetic about not being able to return money but he did offer everyone some goodies. My sister ended up not doing the sprint the next day because it was still way to cold. It took me a few hours to warm back up. Anyway, hopefully the weather will behave a little better this year for the race weekend!

I am really excited about my tri schedule this year. I have done Tri for the Cure and there is this stupid hill that I thought I would not make it up the first time I did it, once you get up it there is an amazing view. The second time I got up it with little to no troubles and when I made it to the top I slowed down so I could enjoy the views! Harvest Moon is in the same location as the Rattlesnake Tri, I know the area pretty well. The course looks relatively flat and it will be nice to have another half ironman under my belt. All this excitement doesn’t start until August and will be over in September. As I look at my races all I can see is CDA next year. As each day ticks down the more focused I seem to get and I still have well over a year to go!

This Sunday, assuming the weather is good I plan on taking Baby out for her first ride in over a year. I have new shoes that I need to make sure are up to par so I will spend some time riding around the Air Force Academy, an out and back along the main road is 11 miles – good starting point!

Here is to the tri bug!

Finals week is almost over!

As I keep posting and whining about, this is finals week, oh and parent/teacher conferences! I will be the first to admit my eating since about Friday has been anything but good. I made it to the gym yesterday (not the gymlet, the real live actual gym) and managed to get a VERY enjoyable 4 mile run in before the conferences. Then it was off to Jose’s conference and even though he has a low GPA it is a lot higher than it was last quarter and things are seriously going in the right direction, finally! Then it was off to Weight Watchers, I wasn’t expecting much but I was hoping for no more than a tiny gain. I got on the scale and TA DA! A 1.2 pound loss which meant I got my 5 pound sticker!!!!! J Since I have returned to Weight Watchers I have lost more than 5 pounds. I still have quite a ways to go, but I am very proud of my 5 pounds, it is a very big deal! Right after Weight Watchers was Cuervo’s meeting. Poor little guy had to do a PowerPoint presentation and he was so nervous. I stopped him a few times to remind him to breath! I made sure I took off my tech writing hat and putting on my mommy hat (otherwise I would have tried to proof read his presentation and he would NOT want that!). His grades did slip in a few areas, but this quarter he has had to deal with some stressful situations but all in all he got good grades, more importantly he is learning to deal with issues that are out of his control.

Tonight is my final presentation. Hopefully the computer will stop crashing long enough for me to finish the last few things for it. The damn thing is driving me nuts! This weekend I have a few things to finish up and then I am done for two weeks. I realize there is a light at the end of this tunnel, but I have a hard time seeing it at times.

Grand Prix of Running 5K on St Patrick’s Day Race Report

Thursday afternoon I went zooming downtown between work and school to pick up my stuff for Saturday’s 5K. Since I was downtown I just had to stop at Wooglins (I ordered my usual and ended up with meat in my chili, I was very upset!). I went into Runner’s Roost to get my stuff and I was in and out of there within two minutes (good thing too; the parking meter only had three minutes on it!). Sadly the packet included a shirt, a bib and a few ads. In the past they have done a lot better, but no big deal.

Saturday morning wake up was at 7:00 with an 8:00 departure (race started at 10:00). I put on my Brooks tights and my Running Skirt green plaid running skirt. Then it was time for a shirt, for whatever reason I will not wear (or even try on) a race shirt until after I have completed the race. Cuervo was so excited when he found my green running shirt so I put on. I had to wear normal running socks since I had an actual pair of tights on (my sister took the time and energy to find me a pair of green tights, I was going to wear them!). Amazingly we were out the door by 8!!! We stopped and got breakfast on the way downtown and we got there with plenty of time (we get there early for a reason!). Pulled into the parking garage, found a perfect spot that I backed into, when we left all I had to do was pull forward and head down the ramp, no worries about crazy drivers coming whipping around the corner.

We slowly wondered down to the park and the boys played on the playground for a while. Hit the porta potty a time or two and at about 9:45 I headed towards the start line. A little after 10 we were sort of off and running, then we stopped again! I finally started the start mats (first time they have had those) and off I went. I told myself three minutes running, one minute walking. My nifty Forerunner made sure I knew when I was time to start running and when it was time to walk. I was not shooting for any particular time (besides under 40:00) so when I crossed the finish line at 37 and some change I was happy. I wasn’t tired, I hadn’t needed my inhaler (that I did not have with me), nothing was hurting, I felt really good!

Sex Place	Sex Field	Age Group Place	Age Group Field	Clock time	Chip time	Pace
919	1240	172	225	38:50.99	37:10.66	11:58

I was slow, but I am happy! (for my race review go to Sammie’s Race Guide

Ranting

I realize today’s rant is going to make me sound like I am out of my ever loving mind, but for the record it is finals week and my brain is fried!

A near and dear friend found out that her nephew has lymphoblastic lymphoma and has been put on a bone marrow list. My friend asked her friends if they would be willing to see if they are a match. Now, I am an organ donor. I am of the firm belief that when I am dead and gone I am not going to need my organs (not to mention I want to be cremated) and if someone else can put a few more miles on them, go for it! I realize donating bone marrow can be VERY painful, I understand that and I accept that. So I told my blood type (I’m pretty sure they need that) and told her I would be more than happy to see if I am a match. Then I went to my good ol’ friend Google. In the past I have not been able to donate blood (for reason other than lupus/RA) looks like I might be able to know, who knows! I found out that I cannot be on the bone marrow donor registry either. But I did find out that I still might be able to donate my organs.

As a volunteer donor, you will be asked a series of health history questions to determine whether or not you are suitable to be a marrow or blood stem cell donor. These guidelines were established to protect the health of both the volunteer donor and the transplant recipient.

Please read over the following Eligibility Guidelines and consult with the Bone Marrow Donor Program to determine if you are suitable to donate. The Bone Marrow Donor Program may be reached at 206-292-1897, 1-800-366-2831 ext. 1897, or bonemarrow@psbc.org.

AGE: All donors must be between the ages of 18-60 and in good health.

• AIDS/HIV: If you have, or are at risk for, HIV or AIDS, you cannot join the national Registry.
• ALLERGIES: Common allergies to animals, the environment, or medications, etc. are acceptable.
• ARTHRITIS: Mild to moderate osteoarthritis or degenerative arthritis are acceptable. All other forms of arthritis are not acceptable.
• ASTHMA: Serious asthma (poorly controlled, requiring hospitalization or oral steroids, etc.) is not acceptable.
• AUTOIMMUNE DISEASES: Donors with multiple sclerosis, systemic lupus, chronic fatigue syndrome, or fibromyalgia cannot join the national Registry.
• BACK PROBLEMS: Back problems (sprains, strains and aches) are common and may not interfere with blood stem cell donation. Serious back problems, particularly those requiring surgery, may be a cause for deferral. If you have significant back problems, consult with the Bone Marrow Donor Program.
• BLOOD PRESSURE: Elevated blood pressure (hypertension) is acceptable if well controlled by medication or diet and if there is no associated heart disease.
• CANCER: Cured localized skin cancer (only simple basal cell or squamous cell) is acceptable. Healed breast, bladder, or cervical cancer in situ is acceptable. All other forms of cancer, including melanoma, are unacceptable.
• DEPRESSION: Stable, well-controlled depression is acceptable.
• DIABETES: If your diabetes is well-controlled by oral medication or diet, you can join the national Registry. If you require insulin or have diabetes-related serious health issues such as kidney, heart, or eye disease, you cannot join the national Registry.
• EPILEPSY: More than one seizure in the past year is not acceptable. Epilepsy controlled with medication, when there have been no seizures in the past year, is acceptable.
• HEART DISEASE: Prior heart attack, history of angioplasty, bypass surgery, heart valve replacement surgery, or use of a pacemaker are not acceptable. Mitral valve prolapse that does not require medication or restrictions is acceptable. Irregular heartbeat not requiring medication is acceptable.
• HEPATITIS: Those diagnosed with, or at risk for, Hepatitis B or Hepatitis C cannot join the national Registry. Hepatitis vaccine is acceptable. All other hepatitis history must be evaluated.
• HIP REPLACEMENT: Donors who have had hip replacement surgery or have fractured their hip bone cannot join the national Registry.
• IMMUNIZATIONS: Immunizations are acceptable, except investigational vaccines. Some immunizations require a waiting period before joining the Registry.
• LYME DISEASE: Asymptomatic Lyme disease is acceptable if you have been successfully treated with antibiotics. Chronic Lyme disease is unacceptable.
• MALARIA: Malaria with no symptoms more than three years ago is acceptable. All other malaria history must be evaluated.
• OBESITY: Body Mass Index is used to evaluate weight. Donors may be deferred if obesity presents donation risk.
• ORGAN or TISSUE TRANSPLANT: Heart, lung, liver, kidney, dura mater, marrow, or blood stem cell recipients cannot join the national Registry. Recipients of bone, ligaments, tendons, skin, or corneas may be allowed to join, depending on the underlying reason for the transplant.
• PIERCING/TATTOO: Donors who have received a body piercing or tattoo are acceptable, if sterile, non-shared instruments were used. If the piercing/tattoo occurred in the last 12 months, you will be able to join the national Registry, but you will not be allowed to donate blood stem cells for 12 months from the date of the piercing/tattoo.
• PREGNANCY: Blood stem cells cannot be collected at any time during pregnancy. Women who are pregnant may join the national Registry, but are not allowed to donate blood stem cells until fully recovered from the delivery of the baby.
• SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED DISEASES: Any history of sexually transmitted disease must be evaluated.
• TRAVEL/RESIDENCE in MALARIAL RISK AREA or UK or EUROPE: Travel or residence in a malarial risk area or to the UK or Europe is acceptable.
• TUBERCULOSIS: Active pulmonary tuberculosis within the last two years is not acceptable.

Saturday’s race went well. I took it nice and easy (ran 3 minutes, walked 1). I forgot my inhaler, but had no issues. I wore my green plaid Running Skirt. (Actual report will come later)

	2007
17 Mar 07	St. Patrick’s 5K	0:36:45
	2008
15 Mar 08	St. Patrick’s 5K	0:36:46
	2009
14 Mar 09	St. Patrick’s 5K	0:32:38
	2010
13 Mar 10	St. Patrick’s 5K	0:38:21
	2011
12 Mar 11	St. Patrick’s 5K	0:37:11

Not getting training in like I should this week, but it is finals week and I am not trying to kill myself. Final project is due tomorrow and I am hoping to get back on a sort of schedule after that.

OH! And I did make it to the bike sale this past weekend. Got shoes, a helmet, two pairs of shorts (one tri and one regular), tri top, light and some other stuff!