Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow!

6 February 2012.

Here we are at Monday again. Sadly I am the queen of excuses today! 10 mile run over the weekend? Yea…. Thursday after I finished my wonderful outing at Garden of the Gods it started to snow and continued to snow.  My boys had a snow day on Friday, instead of going to the gym I used my kiddos being home to my full advantage! We have lots of painting and scraping to do. Saturday we continued painting and scraping. Oh!! I did make it to my favorite running store and picked up a couple of things on sale!

Sunday I was excited to head out for my long run; it was cold, which was fine, I was bundled up! Apparently the trail did not want me out there.  There was WAY to much snow to be running in.

Today I was determined to hit the trail. Once again, I was bundled up. I found a part of the trial that was not buried in snow. I parked… I started walking to the trail (had to cross a small bridge) my lower back was already grouchy.  Ok, I will walk/run it off as usual, not a big deal.  ½ mile in, my back was still cranky.  A mile in I still couldn’t stretch my back out. Nothing I was doing was working so I decided to turn around and call it good for the day. Tomorrow I have spinning and I might try to get some treadmill time and see if my back plays nicer there.  The really weird thing is I got back to my car and BOTH my feet acted as if they had Charlie horses! I don’t know.  We shall see how tomorrow goes.  OH! When I got home I did get an ab session in.  I put in the ab ripper X, took it easy because of my back, but we shall see how that goes!    

~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"~

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!)

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!

5th Time

Last night I went in for the fifth time to pick up my race bib for the St. Patrick’s Day 5k. I am not saying I have done five 5K (I have done a heck of a lot more than that). This particular race holds a very near and dear spot for me. This was my very first 5K. My pace has stayed pretty much the same the entire time (ok, one year I was down to 32 minutes and then next I was up to 38 minutes). This year I will be happy if I stay under 40! This is a training run; I just recently got back into running after a hand full of month hiatus.

	2007
1	17 Mar 07	St. Patrick’s 5K	0:36:45
	2008
11	15 Mar 08	St. Patrick’s 5K	0:36:46
	2009
22	14 Mar 09	St. Patrick’s 5K	0:32:38
	2010
37	12 Mar 10	St. Patrick’s 5K	0:38:21
	2011
44	12 Mar 11	St. Patrick’s 5K	???

This will also be my 44^th race since starting! (I told you I have done a few more 5Ks than just these five!!!). I might be somewhere around the same weight as I was when I started, but I am a completely different shape. Not to mention in most instances my health is a million times better!

Yesterday I got about an hour of cross training in. I did a warm-up and cool down on the elliptical machine with a good lower body weight session in between. This morning my hips are letting me know they got a good workout yesterday! J My obliques are talking to me too. It feels great! I have arranged with my sister to pick me up after my run this afternoon but I am not 100% sure I will be able to run outside today. Talk about windy! I think I heard on the news this morning we are having gusts of over 50 mph. Driving around this morning my poor little car couldn’t stay where I wanted it to. And then walking about side I had to hold onto everything for dear life! Not that it is a huge deal if I don’t make it, I think I could suffer through a Sunday morning run!

Next week will be on the entertaining side because it is finals week. I took the picture with my cell phone of a rendered image of my final project. I am taking a 3D animation class (gotta love getting a degree in visual communications!!!!). I need to finish my Farris wheel from hell (as far as I am concerned all Farris wheels are from hell, I hate the damn things!). And I have a few more things to finish up and then I am done with this quarter! YAY!!! This weekend into next week gets bumpy.

Here is to my 5^th running of the St Patrick’s Day 5K and keep my insanity during finals week!

OH! And Bicycle Village is having their HUGE sale this weekend in Colorado Springs!