Let the weekend begin!!!!!!

3 March 2012

Whether you are employed or not there is something to be said about the weekend.  It just occurred to me that I wake up earlier on the weekends then I do during the week, and quite frankly I LOVE IT!!!!!

This morning was the weekly BRC FIT group run, I was supposed to do a mile more than last week (which was 2.???). I did a 3 miler during the week, but it was on the elliptical so I decided I would do between 3 and 4 miles.  I was going to listen to my back and my knee (which I have hit, yet again!!!!). It was cold out, but I knew that before I left the house… I had running rights under my pants, I had a two running bras on (one is almost ready for retirement), a running bra shirt, a long sleeve shirt , a t-shirt, a sweat shirt, a jacket, gloves and a the kitty hat that a friend gave me for Christmas (my running hats are in my car which is STILL in the shop).  I successfully completed three miles without any knee or back pain, my shins/calves were a little off for the first mile, once they warmed up I felt much better!

On my way home I made a stop at my third favorite store… Home Depot.  I am doing a lot of home improvements right now and I needed to pick something up! Once I got home (before I even took my shower it was time to start doing stuff!  I managed to get a screw in behind my nail! I know, yay for me! I now have a Meeper band aid protecting my finger.  I have most of that little project done now, but there is still so much to do! The fur kids hate me doing weird things to the house, they are just going to have to deal with it!

Tomorrow I might hit the pool for some quiet time, or I might paint another wall.  Who knows! It’s the weekend so everything is fair game!!!!

Oh! I have picked up a few books lately they include The Grace to Race by Sister Madonna Buder (she is SUCH an inspiration) and Trizophrenia by Jef Mallett (looks funny).  I am looking forward to reading both of them!

~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"~

5 Days left

Ok, really it is 4 working days and an hour and a half left before unemployment time and this week is already starting off rough.  I kept waking up last night in pain which has continued on into today, throw into the mix kiddo issues and you have a wonderful day!

Last Monday I decided to be funny and wear my hair in different styles every day until my last day. I figure my last day won’t really be a full day so I might as well have some fun.  I have come to be known for my happy go lucky personality and my crazy fashion sense. Today I am walking around with BRIGHT red hair in French braid pigtails! Part of me is looking forward to some much needed time off, but I would much prefer it to be on my terms instead of unemployment terms. 

All I can say is time to sit back a moment and figure out where I want my life to go from here!

~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!

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!)

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!

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

another step in the right direction

Here we are approaching the end of the 30 day challenge, all I can say is I completed one of the four items! I am not to upset about it for the simple fact I am back up ad moving! I have put in more miles in the past month than I have in a while and I am feeling great! I am training with the Boulder Running Company Women’s FIT Team, I am enjoying my second week in.

Week 2	Miles Scheduled	Miles Completed	Comments
Monday	3 – 3.5	3.5
Tuesday	3 – 3.5	3.5
Wednesday	45 – 60 min cross
Thursday	4
Friday	45 – 60 min cross
Saturday	5 – 6		St. Patrick’s 5K
Sunday	Rest

The one challenge I have been able to stick to is the tall Starbucks. I have not gone back for seconds, I have not tried the ‘just one won’t hurt’. I get my one tall (and not on all days either) and call it good!

As far as the water goes some days I am really good, others, not so much. I do drink water every day, I just need to keep working on that one. Writing down everything I eat, I really need to work on that. I also need to work on my night time meals. During the day I am great! At night, yea, no! 30 day shred? I really sucked at that one.

Before my run I wasn’t feeling right. I have been fighting a headache for a few days now and then I got paperwork in the mail to re-evaluate child support, again! I get to go through this almost every year. I wasn’t sure what I was going to do until I got downstairs. I was torn between the treadmill (you can get a really good workout on that sucker!) or a nice easy relaxed run on the treadmill. Either way, I knew I was going to get a session in because I always feel better afterwards! Once I got down stairs I decided I would go ahead and get on the treadmill. I decided I would push my endurance a smidge. I ran 3 minutes at a 12 min mile and then walked 1 minute for the first mile. I was feeling pretty good. Second mile I did 1 minute at my 12 min pace, then a minute at a 10 min pace and then a minute at the 12 min pace and then walked a minute. Third mile was 4 minutes running and 1 minute walking. The last half mile was running! I know I can go longer between walk breaks, but I want to work back up to it. I do not want to get sidelined because of another damn injury or a flare up. I was very happy that I went down and got my run in.

Yesterday I did my run in my new Brooks Infiniti Capri and one of my new Brooks shirts. I have to say, I love my Nike, but the way the Brooks shirts feel… J The pants were comfortable too. OH! And my new running bra! I got that one at my favorite running store (Colorado Running Company), love it! It is comfortable and I don’t knock myself out when I am running in it! That was the second run I did in it (I washed it between wears) and that thing is comfortable!

Here is to another step in the right direction!

Two shoes… a left shoe and a right shoe!

I realized when I am hurting I get more emotional about the whole lupus/RA thing. Saturday afternoon I had to take a nap. I did 5 miles during the group run, felt great; had to make an emergency trip to my eye place because my boys managed to royally screw up my glass; went to my second favorite running store to pick up a few things (picked up more than I had planned); got lunch… normal Saturday activities. We were going to make a few more stops but my body made it very clear I needed to stop. So we went home, I laid down to take a nap and the boys watched CSI, New York. I started hurting while I was sleeping. After about an hour and a half I got up, not feeling great, and headed out to finish up our stops. Sunday morning I had to wear my knee brace. I was so tired and I didn’t feel right. I realized as I was poking around Walmart when I am not feeling right the more emotional I get about my diagnosis. I try not to, but I can’t help it. My sister and I went and saw Beastly while my boys hung out with my parents. It was a great movie, but I almost fell asleep a few times! Oops. Got home and again had to take a nap. We have a cold front moving in and I am thinking that is what is hitting me so hard.

As I said, I did the group run on Saturday, I did a whopping 5 miles! Ooooooo! I took it a lot easier than I needed, but part of me is glad I did. I really enjoyed it (I didn’t have my knee band, so I was a little worried if I had pushed it to hard I would be hurting really bad!). I did my one mile loop, then on to my three mile ‘P’ and then my one mile loop. I have to say, it must have been dogs off leash day. There were so many dogs running all over the place it wasn’t even funny! Some of them earned their off leash privilege, others… not only should they have been on leash their owners should have too!

A reminder to bike riders there are those of us who are cyclists who do not appreciate the fact that you give us a bad name. We behave so cars do not bully us off the street. If you are on a two lane street that has a bike lane GET IN THE BIKE LANE AND DO NOT RIDE TWO ABREAST! I was trying to pass a group of bikers and they were just la-te-da where ever they wanted on the street (with a bike lane). My sister said VERY loudly out the window ‘bike lane!’. Shortly thereafter we had to pass a cyclist (on a very curvy road). I had seen him, before we started wiggling. He changed lanes in front of me, not a big deal I was paying attention. My sister was about to make a comment then I explained he needed to turn and that was probably the only semi straight way he was going to get before the turn (and I was right!).

Two shoes… one left, one right. I know, odd title, that is until I tell you about my run today. As I said I went into my second favorite running store this weekend and had to pick up a few things. My boys royally messed up my glasses (I had them sitting in front of my TV and they knocked them down without paying attention, my glasses fell into a laundry bag and my boys stepped on the bag!). Once my nice vision place fixed them my sister and I decided we needed to go get a better case (one that my sunglasses actually fits into, as well). We went to Boulder Running Company and picked up a Sherpani glasses case (by the way both my normal glasses and my sun glasses can fit in at the same time!!!!!!!). I wondered around a little and found some t-shirts on clearance and a pair of running tights (with pink on them!!) so I picked up a little more than I had planned. Being the amazing kids that they are my boys packed my running bag for me last night. Running bottom – check! Running socks – check! Running booby holder – check! Running shirt – check! Running shoes –Left – check! Right – check! We’re good!

I get down stairs, I get changed, I grab my shoes and off I go to the gymlet (a little yuck to run outside). I put one shoe and as I put the other shoe on I realize they are not a pair! I have two shoes, one left shoe and one right shoe! So yes, I did my 3.5 miles in mismatched shoes!

Friday

I really should know better than to plan on run either after work or after class on school nights. It just never works out. By the time I got to my trail yesterday I had less than an hour to do my run, get my food and get to class. So, I cheated! I stopped by my favorite running store. What else was I supposed to do? J I picked up a new running bra, a running top thing (once I hit my goal weight I will be able to go out running with just the top and not the top with a shirt on over it!), two new pairs of running socks and another Sweaty Band! They carry SkirtSports running skirts, which is fine (SkirtSports has a good verity but they don’t stay where they need to, on me at least) so I asked the manager to please carry Running Skirts. He explained why he doesn’t carry them (and I understand his reasoning) but then I let him know why I prefer them over SkirtSports (they have a drawstring in the capris). He said ok! I was so happy! I then went to Wooglin’s and grabbed my dinner. I love their Veg Head Chili! I got school, set up my computer and by that time class was about to start!

Wednesday I had a pretty good scare. I was getting stuff organized for the next day when I heard about the shooting at the Frankfurt Airport. Mind you, someone I care very deeply for is military and is currently stationed in Germany. When I got to work Thursday morning I sent off a one-liner making sure it wasn’t him (he is Army and most of the reports were saying airmen, so I was pretty sure it wasn’t him, but I still had to check). It took about two hours for him to read my email (gotta love read receipts) but I got an answer back immediately. I have to say this guy makes most guys look like girls when it comes to written communications; getting an email from him once every three or so months is his way of being talkative. He will sort of talk face-to-face. But emails, texts, stuff like that, only if he has to! The beginning of last year when all hell was breaking loose on the kid front (the whole ER thing) I had to send him a very personal question and he had no issue writing back and giving me the information that Jose was much appreciative for! He will be there for you, but he would rather not do it via email! Much to my surprise, I got another email from him today! Letting me know where his next duty station is, ok, I admit I really wish it would have been here, it would be nice to see him again, but NO! He will be on the other side of the country. Oh, well.

Tomorrow is another group run. Once again, I am going to try to get a run in this evening (I have a lot on my mind I really need to clear out) but I will be at the group run tomorrow, so at least I will have that! This is the end of Week 9 at school so I have two weeks left of the quarter and then I will be in a classroom on Mondays only! I have an online class I get to deal with, yay, but I am getting there.

Here is to another Friday!