Whirlwind Weekend

One of these weekends I will actually sit around and do nothing!  This weekend was definitely NOT one of those weekends!  It all really started on Friday night!

Friday I picked my kiddos up at school and brought them over to Grandma’s.  Ran downtown for packet pick-up came zooming home picked up my sister ran a few errands and came home.  Watched a movie with the puppies, to off to sleep.  Saturday morning started at 6:00 am YUCK!  My sister was complaining the whole time because she was heading out the door at 6:30 on a Saturday morning in work clothes! She is used to me making her get up early on Saturdays but work clothes???  I was a good sister I got her breakfast at Starbucks!  We got down to Garden of the Gods with plenty of time to spare.  We parked, took the bus to the start area and waited.  Finally the race started and off I went. (Race report to follow).  1:09:24 later I crossed the finish line, FYI that is faster than my 14:00 pace goal! We got back to the bus to return to the parking lot and I was stressing looking at the time every three seconds.  We finally made it to the parking lot, I RAN to my car (I need to pull some stuff out of my trunk) by the time my sister got to my car I was climbing in the front seat.  We went flying to the interstate and flew even faster down that.  We arrived at the North gate of the Air Force Academy with 5 minutes before the service is supposed to start, tell them where we are going and were told we need to use the South Gate, are you serious?? My boys were receiving their First Holy Communion and the service starts in less than 5 minutes and you want to me to go flying back down the interstate? Luckily the nice gate guard stopped traffic so I could pull a serious U-turn. Back up on the interstate going at least 80 (Bugs can fly!) get to the south gate, told them where I was going, told them where I was going and finally got to get on base.  I put my car on cruise control to ensure I don’t get pulled over for speeding.  We finally made it to the church, I dropped my sister off near the front while I went to park.  I still had my race attire on! I got right outside the front door, pulled on my dress pants over my running skirt (good thing I wear baggy stuff!) put my jacket on over my cute purple running shirt and walked VERY quickly into the church, believe it or not, the priest had just made it to the front!  My boys were looking very handsome, one was saving seat for me in his row while my other was sitting next to Grandma. (In my defense, I was signed up for this race months before we knew when this event was going to happen, plus this race is part of a series AND if the times were different I would have skipped the race or done it as just a 5K, but I had faith I would make it!)  I went up with my older son to get his First Communion and my dad went with my younger son.  It was a very nice event.  Afterwards there was a reception for the kids. I felt very blessed because not only did my boys get stuck with have me and my dad there, they also had my sister and my mom, my best friend from high school, and two more close friends of the family.  We all sat around for a while talking and just having a really good time!

We realized we were the last ones there so we decided it was time to head out.  The second I got out of the church my pants came off! Hey, my skirt was bunching up under the pants and it was very uncomfortable! Everyone went their own direction.  I had to go home and take a nap, the day had already been way to eventful and I was downright popped!

Sunday I had planned on sleeping in and then going for a bike ride prior to heading over to my mom’s house.  Yea, that didn’t happen.  I woke up feeling even worse than before, I still vote it is allergies (I know it is not sinuses), Jose was wonderful, he dealt with the puppies from about 6:30 on.  We started making hard boiled eggs and had an issue with that, but I won’t get into that.  The Cuervo decided to put on a presentation for me (threw a downright temper tantrum [there is very much a difference between a melt down and a tantrum, this was a tantrum]) for mother’s day we got my sister a Nerf Super Soaker.  After loading up all water guns we have in the house and shooting all four boys everyone was back to human and my sister and I was happy.  Poor Freddie wasn’t to impressed with getting shot, he actually hid behind me and then jumped into my arms so I could protect him (mind you he is about 60 pounds).  We finally made it to my mom’s and celebrated mother’s day and Freddie was a very well behave young man, Charlie stayed home on this trip.  We made it home after 6:00 and all I wanted to do was go to bed! Sadly it was so hot I couldn’t get to sleep until late. We have finished another weekend and it is time to start another work week!

~If you hear that someone is speaking ill of you, instead of trying to defend yourself you should say: "He obviously does not know me very well, since there are so many other faults he could have mentioned"~

Colorado Half Marathon (VERY LONG REPORT!!!!!)

So my race training run was a complete success! I went in with a plan and a goal, I stuck with my plan and met my goal! 

Saturday morning we got all packed and loaded everyone in the car (yes, this included the puppies). I drive a bug! The suitcases and my running bag all went in the trunk (surprising spacious) the boys and the computers went into the back seat (I had homework I had to finish so the computers had to come) the puppies were told to go in the back seat too (Charlie can fit between my boys and Freddie sits wherever).  My sister got in the from seat and put her crap bag down by her feet.  Had had two stops before dropping the boys off at the doggy hotel, Walgreen, Cuervo needed more meds and the bank (we were running so late that had we dropped the boys off first the bank probably would have been closed and my sister doesn’t use an ATM card).  Freddie loves riding up front and if my sister is there he is even happier (he props himself on her chest). He is also a huge fan of the “roof window”.  Charlie had no problem sitting in back while we were at Walgreens then he felt it was necessary to come upfront for rest of the trip.   My poor sister was being squished the entire time (we also had to stop and get gas).  Luckily from the gas station to the bank is a fairly straight shot but it was very entertaining.  My bug is a standard and Charlie was sitting on the stick for part of the time.  When I told him if he doesn’t move I might change gears using one of this body parts he climbed even further onto my sister! The bank was interesting (my sister’s wallet was in her crap bag at her feet!).  We had a two second drive to the doggy hotel when we finished at the bank.  Finally the boys were unloaded! They were excited to be there (as always) we didn’t even get any good bye kisses.  Finally it was time to hit the road!

We made it to Fort Collins with no issues, got to the host hotel, again with no issues, parked and went in.  The expo is improving each and every time.  I got my bag to put all my stuff in, grabbed some of the goodies (the goodie bags were not pre-packed), picked up my bib and then got my shirt.  I made sure I stopped by the Country Financial table to say thank you! And we joked about not doing the marathon, the whole week and a half notice thing…  Of course I had to stop by the official merchandise area, picked up body glide (couldn’t remember if I had packed it so we figured better safe than sorry [I had packed it]), gloves, a long sleeve shirt, a sweatshirt, compression socks (first pair, man do I love them), another pair of toe socks, and I want to say something else, but I don’t remember! Checked out the other booths (very small, but in a good way).  Found a booth with a shirt that said “Pain is only a state of mind” so I had to get it.  After that we headed out.  Found the hotel with minimal issues (I couldn’t remember the name of it for a while).  Then headed to dinner, but first had to find the parking area for the morning.  Found it, off to Olive Garden.  I ordered the eggplant parm.  The nice waiter brought me extra pasta (hey, there wasn’t very much pasta!!!). After that we stopped by King Soopers (Kroger) to get my breakfast and other misc stuff.  Then back to the hotel.  I laid out my stuff and realized I forgot my knee band.  My wonderful sister delaired we would zoom up the street and pick up new ones.  She knew if I did not have them I would need them.  And last weekend my knee buckled a few times.  So we flew to Sports Authority and picked up new knee bands (Shannon you are a very wise woman!!!!).  Got back, took a bath watched TV and went to sleep (had a wakeup call, my sister’s phone set and the alarm clock set).

3:45 came EARLY! I hit snooze! J Next BEEP! BEEP! I got up.  I got dressed heated up the water for the oatmeal, said goodbye to everyone and headed out the door with my sister making sure I had everything. I get half way to the parking garage and realize I did not put on my RoadID, crap.  Get even closer and I don’t have my gum, fine, I will just go to a gas station and get more,  I finally fine one that is opened and pull in to park and realize I don’t have my purse. The only thing I have with me in my driver’s license.  DAMN! I remember that I usually keep gum in my car, somewhere!  So I go to the parking garage, I am still about 10 minutes early for the half marathon busses. I get comfy on the bench and wait.  The busses finally start to load and up we go.  I try to get a little more sleep, but the gal next to me keeps messing with her iPod and the light from it keeps waking me up.  We get up to the waiting area, first thing is first, POTTY!  I start eating my bagel and meet this local gal, Becky, who is running her first half and we stand around and chat.  Start time is getting closer so I get back in line for the potty.  I find a comfy area to start stretching and find Becky again and we continue chatting, the emotions are flying with this poor gal.  She can’t believe she is really doing this and we all know how it is!  I let her know it is an amazing course, there is really only one hill we have 5 hours to complete it in and so on and so forth (not downplaying the magnitude of what she is about to do but putting her nerves at ease a little).  We get to the start and all of a sudden people are running! WHAT? No BEEEEEEP!? No nothing! I step off to the side because all my electronics weren’t ready! I am finally ready to go and off I go.  I had planned the first two hours I was going to run two songs and walk one.  The third hour walk one, run one and anything after three hours I will listen to the same two songs over and over and over and over until I do finish (my goal was 3 hours!).  Mile one, was wonderful, my lower back was a little sore at first but then came around.  Mile two… Hey, there’s Ted’s! Woo-hoo!  Ok, there is that damn hill, hmm, according to the music I will be running part of it.  Up the hill, no issue! Thank you Judy! You are a wonderful woman I will never grumble around training runs in Garden of the Gods again! Hey! I am halfway done.  Oh! Look more marathoners are passing me.  Yay! There is the first female! WOW! I am at the bridge already, and I am running across it!  5K left, alright! Hey, I might just make my 3 hour goal!  Everything is still feeling fine, ok, I have still having issues with hydration.  One mile left! Yay! I am around the corner and there is the finish line! I will run, ooo, not feeling so well, I will walk until the stop sign.  HERE I COME! I AM DONE WITH TIME TO SPARE!!!!! Faster, so close to the finish line, even faster. Come on Sammie, you can sprint the last little bit… I’M DONE!!!!!

I start coughing and gagging, uh-oh! No, no, no.  There are no trash cans, there are people everywhere, can’t do this. NO! coughing more, no, no, no.  I managed to leave the finish area with dignity intact, but still no trash can, oh look! A cute dog.  Went over squatted down and said hi (with permission of course).  Feeling better, ok, I am fine now.  Grab by bag from the bag drop, found my sister and my kids got hugs from my kids (they are very kind little guys). Finally found my car and re went back to the hotel.  My left foot was hurting in a weird way, left hip flexor was sore, second toe on right foot will probably fall off. Other than that I feel good. I took a nice LONG shower (that hotel had some amazing water pressure!) check out time was noon we turned our keys in at 11:57 (ish) and hit the road.  We made great time coming home.  Picked up the boys (there were happy to see us), my sister and Cuervo cheated, they went to the store next door while Jose and I brought the boys home.  Grabbed the truck, picked up my sister and Cuervo and did our weekly grocery shopping.  Finally we made it home and I crashed!  I am sure I was asleep before 9!  I slept well having my boys on either side of me (yes, I share my bed with my fur kids). 

The weather was perfect, cool, but not cold.  Mostly cloudy (I had 100 spf on, but I still reacted to the sun that was out), all in all I am very proud of the run! Good training run!

I have to say, none of this would have been possible if it weren't for my sister.  Shannon, you are the most amazing person!

So tired!

Yes, I am still seriously fighting with fatigue, I think it is mostly related to the fact my body is fighting like hell to prevent me from getting the dull blown version of what my boys had.  This weekend I was feeling worse than I had been this entire time so I decided I would have a stay in bed day on Saturday.  Jose had other plans in mind!  He took his shower got decent enough to come into my room and asked me to re-tape his finger. HOLY CRAP! How long has it been like this? ‘I don’t know’ When did you notice the tape was tight? ‘This morning.’ His finger had more than doubled!  I grumbled as I got out of bed and got dressed.  He grabbed a bag of frozen fruit out of the freeze (we don’t have ice packs) and back to Urgent Care we went.  A lot of the same staff as there that had been there on Thursday night, funny thing, they remembered us! The nurse say his finger ‘Oh my God!’ I wonder if she was ever taught she is supposed to keep the patient calm, maybe she wasn’t worried about us because we were having to much fun watching Achmed the Dead Terrorist on my sister’s phone.  The doc came in looked at his finger, relooked the xray, camed back in and explained that sometimes for whatever reason the swelling will go nuts up to 5 days after the injury.  We did the right thing by coming back in because it was slightly whitish, but he should be fine in a few weeks.  EXCUSE ME?  It will take a while to heal.  I keep a very close eye on his finger when I tape it up to make sure the swelling isn’t getting worse. 

Sunday I tried to sleep in but Charlie just HAD to go pee and when he was done (Jose let him out) he just had to come back to bed and get loved on.  Every time I would drift off he would whine until I started scratching him again!

Today I made it down for another walk/run.  More hills, less flats today, so more walking less running.  Felt good though.  Tomorrow I am shooting for more time running, less time walking. 

OH! To make my runs even better my new running capris made it in.  I am SO excited!!!! Thank you Running Skirts!