Must Be Doing Something Right

Guess what lovies?!  It's my wedding anniversary to the Mr. Man.  THREE WHOLE YEARS! Amazing someone would want to put up with me that long, let alone share a bed and smell my toots at night, am I right?! So happy anniversary to us, we celebrated this weekend and will continue to do so throughout the week.  Because we are party-ers like that, you know.

But before we started out celebration, I took my furry beth frand on a long run.  I am officially going to start following a training plan again, and get my balls back.  So, you will start seeing my long run posts again.  This was going to be my pre-long run, or the PRLRBJGHBB (the pre-long run before julia gets her balls back). By "balls back" I mean the courage to attempt another marathon, since my ego took a major hit in October.

So anyway, tangent, we went to run before we started our anniversary fun.  I decided to go to the old trail since it's better for runs over four miles.  I was met with the most frustrating deluge of traffic due to road construction and it put my about 20 minutes behind schedule.  Those 20 minutes really messed me up.  First of all, I became irrationally angry with traffic.  Second, I knew this would throw off my hydrating schedule since I gulped water before I left.  Third, ARDESJDNG EFFING TRAFFIC!!!

I had a REALLY hard time getting him out the water

Whatever, we got there.  I was determined to have a positive run.  I told myself in the car, I wanted to just destroy this.  I wanted to be exhausted.  However, that 20 minute difference put is at the hottest point of the day and I kinda started to feel bad keeping G out in the heat that long.  We did 5:1, which turned out pretty well.  I was able to keep my stamina up a lot longer, I didn't feel the normal fatigue that I do in my back mileage.  We stopped frequently to allow for Goliath to cool off in the stream and drink up. I hate to admit but one of the stops was for me, due to those 20 minutes I had to pee like 1 mile into the run.  I was able to ignore until mile 5, I HAD to go.  So I became one with nature, and peed in the woods. This in turn Judge me, I dare you. 

As a reward for the run, I let Goliath play in the fountain.  My reward, however, was watching some amateur LARPers go into battle. I would go into great depth of this hilarity that ensued, but trust me when I tell you these guys were amateurs.  There is a group of people who LARP at a local park, in full costume and they have well developed characters and weaponry.  But these kids, on this day kinda showed up to a park in jeans with things that didn't even resemble weapons.  One kid even had a bouncy ball. You must click that if you don't know what I am saying. Come on, dudes.  Like go big or go home right?  If you're gonna LARP do it correctly, am I right?  Maybe they were practicing? To be fair, one guy did have a tail on and another girl kept saying she was a fairy. My favorite part was when they finally were going to start battle, they all stood in pairs in a swampy field until some rogue knight bellowed FIIIIGGGGHHHHTTT. Then.......nothing happened.  They all just continued to stand there, kinda just looking at each other.  Until finally Mr. Rogue Knight, came yelling out from behind a tree and smacked some kid upside the head with his bouncy ball.  DANGEROUS! 

IF YOU HAD TO CREATE A LARP CHARACTER,WHAT WOULD YOU BE?
WHAT WAS YOUR FAVORITE WEEKEND ADVENTURE?

Menu W/E 6/19

Week of June 13 through June 19

	BREAKFAST	LUNCH	DINNER	SNACKS
MONDAY	Coffee with brown sugar, Vanilla 0% greek yogurt, blueberries	Chipotle Chicken, jalapenos, salsa over butter crunch lettuce	Maple glazed pork, salad with ranch dressing	2 granolas
TUESDAY	SICK
WEDNESDAY	SICK
THURSDAY: On the Up and Up, no planning	Coffee, Oatmeal	Grilled chicken salad from BWW, no cheese or croutons	BBQ Flatbread Pizza, 1 Liter of long island ice tea, poutin fries	2% Pineapple Greek yogurt
FRIDAY: On the mend	Coffee, Almond and Flax seed granola bar	Plain tortilla chips	Leafy green salad with breaded chicken, tomato and ranch dressing	rainbow chip cookies
SATURDAY	Go Lean! Crunch, blue berries, 2% milk, coffee	Giant salad with spinach, baby lettuce, tomato, italian blend cheese, and banana peppers	6 inch sub called the Super Hero, salt and vinegar chips	Apple, sun chips, life saver gummies
SUNDAY	Spinach Omelet, coffee	Chicken, broccoli, rice noodles, onions, green peppers, stir fry with shitake mushroom sauce giant salad	Brisket, with pickles BBQ sauce on white bread, baked beans, french friends, slaw, giant brownie

Video Viernes: Introduction

This is one of my new brilliant blog ideas, if you hate it...I don't really care.  Sorry about the quality, we are really  lowbudg on the equipment and editing.  One of these days, I will figure out how to use my software...just not right now.  To be honest, it took me two hours to figure out how to covert my files from imovieprojects...I am so smart, future doctor of America folks.

and yes, I know tons of people do Video Viernes.

Gotta Keep Your Chin Up

Alright, so I have prolonged this post long enough.

Want to know why I did do the triathlon on Sunday?  Ok I will tell you.

WHY I DIDN'T RACE MY FIRST TRIATHLON ON SUNDAY, JUNE 12TH

1. I gave myself less than a month to train.  I know I most likely would have been fine, and would have finished but I am really sick of half-assing my races.  I also really hate, MEGALOATHE when people hear about running a marathon or a half marathon, and sign up a month before and think they can be ready.  It cheapens the months and months of training everyone else did.  I have too much respect for my triathlete counterparts to do that.  I am not naive to think that this would have been easy.  Training for a triathlon is hard work, it takes months of dedication and conditioning.  For me to just to show up, after a few weeks of mediocre training would have been an insult to those valiant souls who spent countless hours sweating on a bike, on the trail and in a pool/lake. 
2. I could not find a bike.  Silly excuse, but it turned out to be a pretty big obstacle for me.  I have never had a bicycle of my own since I was like seven years old.  At the age of seven, I fell of my brother's bicycle and left it on the sidewalk in front of my home to get a band aid.  Ten minutes later it was stolen.  I never had a bike since, I borrowed people's to get from here to there.  When, I lived in Honduras in 2005, I rode a bike for the first time in years but since my stay there I hadn't really been on a bike.  Being as busy as I am, I had a very small window of opportunity to track down a decent bike to ride during the race.  I found myself the Thursday before, frantically asking people and visiting bike shops for rentals.  Frankly, the bike shops were pretty snobby to me seeing as I had no idea what size I needed, I hadn't been on a bike since 2005 and I was asking to rent a 3k bike.  The rental would have been nearly $100 and honestly, my clumsy behind does not need to responsible for three thousand dollars of bicycle. 
3. I was scared.  Usually fear is something that I can handle, I get a little nervous about every race-not so much anymore-but there's always a twinge.  This though, this was something new.  This was something I knew NOTHING about.  I didn't even know how it would work. I have only seen pictures of triathlons.  I had so many strange questions, and doubts. It was overwhelming for me to show up completely under trained and not knowing what to expect.
4. I had no Open Water swimming experience.  NONE.  I had heard sooo many stories about people having anxiety attacks  in OW, and I could just feel that happening to me with all my already built up anxiety.
5. I am a chicken.

So that is why I bloggged and blogged about my pending triathlon, and why it did not happen.  Feel free to berate me, I think I deserve it.



Disappointment Dog



Why is it that EVERY TIME I go to type the word "triathlon" I always type "triathlong"?! Annoying, but probably something subliminal.

This Just In...

We are legit now...

www.theboskyblog.com

...too legit to quit.

Your readers will not be effected, but please

update any and all blog rolls, links, etc.

Peace, Love and Rawhides

As Fast as A Rambler Goes

So I have been MISERABLY sick. I will spare you all the gory details, but basically a water main broke in our area which caused low pressure in the water main.  Our water company issued a boil advisory to surrounding areas-but we didn't get the memo.  Like literally, they sent out a memo...we didn't get it.  My house sits on old farm land, so due to low pressure whatever is in the soil can seep into our water. So I have been working out twice a day, and then drinking contaminated water. 

AWESOME!!

This all started Tuesday.  I hadn't been symptomatic until after a 4 mile run with Scooter.  Honestly, I didn't feel so hot during the run but whatever.  Scott trains and races with a 5 on, 1 off technique.  Where you run 5 minutes, walk 1 minute.  I am not sure I love this, but I do it anyway because that's the price you pay for a running buddy right?  And honestly, how is it any different than the multiple potty stops I make for G-Skrilla? Running 5, walking 1 is supposed to be good for muscle confusion, endurance and injury prevention.  It's just not good for me mentally.  The second I stop my stride, I'm mentally broke.  Walking feels so good, but running feels so...ouch.  It works for Scootz though because he's ran like 856 marathons this way.

I am pleased to announce I made it through that entire run sans complaining!  Someone ring a bell, make me a cake and buy me a beer.  The less I complain, the more I sweat though.  I am really gonna have to start bringing towels for my car because it's pretty gross to get back into your sedan for work and sit down in a soggy seat.  ICK!

Since that run, I have been in the most agonizing stomach pain you can imagine. Probably because I am some water parasite that's eating my insides and insecticide poisoning.  Posting may get kinda lame since I am avoiding most foods and working out.

WHAT DO YOU DO WHEN YOU ARE FEELING UNDER THE WEATHER?

HOW MUCH TIME DO YOU TAKE OFF FROM WORKING OUT WHEN YOU ARE SICK?

Race Recap: KCHS Dog-N-Jog

  

I don't want to disappoint you guys, but I DID NOT compete in the triathlon on Sunday.  I will make a whole post regarding that, but my reasons are pretty solid and I am not sad at all.  I will race a triathlon, it just wasn't my time.

Sunday, however, turned out to be race day for me anyway.  G-Bonez and I ran the KC Humane Society's 2 Mile Competitive Dog-n-Jog, my favorite race of the year!!  Just like last year, we registered for the 2 mile race.

 

It was the perfect day for a race, I was out a little late the night before and drank so I was worried about over sleeping and being dehydrated.  I woke up on time, drank coffee with G and we drove down there.  I had been pumping Goliath up for a few days, so when we finally loaded up in the car he was bouncing off the doors.  He howled the whole way there.



When we arrived, we found our KCREGAP friend's booth.  Then we meandered through different booths, learning about dog camps and foods.   Before long it was race time,  we lined up toward the back because I had no real intention of pushing too hard.  I mentally rehearsed telling myself to slow down, and told myself it was OK to run slower.  This is for Goliath, not you.

famcy dog treats, Goliath hated them, he spit it out

The race start is a total cluster, but is amazing.  I am such a dog person that just being around other crazy dog lovers and dogs elates me beyond bound.  At the start a beagle sprawled out and decided she just wasn't up for a race, and another dog-a chocolate lab-took two trots and decided it was appropriate to drop a deuce in the midst of runners.  Hilarious how embarrassed some people get with their dogs, hello? They are dogs they do funny things.

fun dog obstacle course!

Anyway about the race, it's four laps around the Plaza.  Goliath and I took the first lap slow, 4:35-a nice steady pace for us.  I felt great though, and Goliath wanted to run faster.  He kept pulling, he wanted to see who was next.  He wanted to show off.  We ended up running the first mile right around 8 minutes.  The second mile, we really turned it on.  Goliath wasn't trotting like normal, he was in a full gallop.  The pace was a lot faster than I'd like, but I just kept saying push, push, push-and then the race was over.

We finished in 14:29, and placed 6th overall. Chyea chyea chyea!

That's a true test of fitness: See how long you can keep a husky at a gallop.

There was a Sheridan's booth, which is frozen custard.  We stopped by before, and Goliath knew what it was.  He jumped up on the table and licked up leftovers.  He loves frozen custard, partly because it's what we get after dog park trips and partly because who the hell doesn't?!  They gave us a doggie cone, which he proceeded to swallow in one gulp.  Like mother like son, right?  His mini-counterpart Ellie, however, delicately licked her's and savored the custard.



One cone, one bite

We got sooo much swag, granted it's all freebie stuff, I am excited about it.  Favorite thing evarrr is the collapse-able water dish fo rthe dog park! Sweet that thing is $20 at target! Win!

Now, that I've updated about MY weekend...

HOW WAS YOUR WEEKEND?

HAVE YOU EVER BACKED OUT OF A RACE? WHY?

Is Forever Enough?

Since, I have taken a few days off from the blogging world you will be getting a lot of rapid fire posts about my weekend excursions.  Well actually, I do a lot of the stuff required to blog like live a life and take a butt load of pictures, I just haven't posted anything, but that counts for absolutely nothing.  It's like going to class, but not showing up on test day.

Less the never,  Friday night is the weirdest night of the week for me.  I have things scheduled every night except Friday, but I typically work later that day.  Maybe I am total LOSER, but I did absolutely nothing on Friday but run.  I took Goliath out for a 4 miler, and the humidity really took it out of both of us.  Goliath usually motivates me to run a lot faster, but not Friday.  Maybe he just wasn't into it, but I could tell he was sluggish-just like me. 

I love being covered in sweat, knowing I just had a killer work out.  We celebrated with pizza, and as far as I am concerned the only way to eat pizza is with tons of full fat ranch dressing and banana peppers.



Anyway, I may be a total LOSER but I was also in bed by like 9pm.  Last week was such a whirlwind, and by Friday I was so exhausted.  Saturday morning was a fresh boost though, I woke up wicked early, made a yummerfiic breakfast and drug Logan and Goliath to the local farmers market.  We went to the Merriam, KS one as opposed to the one I've blogged about before in KCMO.  Merriam is a lot smaller, only like 15-20 vendors.  I can always spot the farmers I want to buy from instantly,  I always go to the oldest guy or gal there.  They must be in overalls or be wearing some sort of plaid.  The signage must be hand written on cardboard.  That is my criteria.  So hippie chick with the feathers in your hair who started organic farming last year because you love the earth, good for you-but you're not getting my money.  Joe is, and that's the name of the guy I bought from on Saturday.  He sold me GIANT bushels of spinach, butter crunch lettuce and radishes for $3.  I also bough 3 squash and a quart of blue berries.  I spent less than $15, which is bomb.



This picture makes it look like it's a lot bigger than it is...



After we got produce rich, we took Goliath on a walk.  Goliath very rarely gets to go out with us both, it's a sad reality, but it's true. When we both walk with him, he gets SO excited.  He randomly jumps in the air, and does this spin twist move.  It's amazing.   I love how happy we can make him with something so simple, and in turn how happy he makes me with his silliness. 

So then I proceeded to take a 2.5 hour nap, why? Because I could.  My house was a mess, I had homework to do, I needed to work out-but gosh darnit, I was tired.  Mainly because I skipped my morning coffee, but also because I feel like I never stop. The fact that  I never nap should be evidence enough. 

For dinner that night, we met our two besties Blake and Danee at Houlihan's because I am a total sucker for contests and free food.  Say what you will about chains and the ilk, but I LOVE this place.  I get free fries every time I go because of foursquare, I always have something else for free and their food is delicious.  It may be an upscale Applebee's, but guess what I don't have a problem with Applebee's either. So deal with it, naysayer.  Any placer where I can get a liter of long island ice team for $6 gets a hug and kiss from me.  I ended up eating pizza for the second night in a row, and ha! They drizzled ranch dressing on there for me without my asking-win!



heaven.

BBQ Chicken Flatbread, I give it a B+  because it was a normal human portion size, and I need Hulk sized plates.

Blog Changes!

I have made some slight changes to blog thus far, and will be making a bunch in the weeks to come!  So essentially The Bosky Blog will be under construction for a while, but posts will still be regular.  Since most of you read through a reader it doesn't really matter, but want to keep everyone up to date.

So far...
-The following pages are up and running: 
          "What I Ate Today":  A weekly view at what I eat, and how
                                             I  fuel during training 
          "How I Sweat Today": A monthly view at my training
-I have also added the following pages:
          "The Finish Line": This page is dedicated to you guys, most
                                        of my audience are also race runners.  The
                                        Bosky Blog would love to feature your
                                        finish line photo.  Please visit that page for
                                        more information about how to do so.

Soon to come...
-I will be updating he "Races" page with more statistics and of course pictures!
-The Bosky Blog will have sponsors! WOAH!
-Due to the aforementioned, there will be a few giveaways.
-The whole TBB layout will be updated
-There's more, but I'm keeping it a secret...eeep!

I am so excited about everything that will be coming, but as always things could be better.  So if you have any suggestions or anything you'd like to see on TBB, including topics you'd like discussed please comment or send me an email.

Love you guys!

Yes, and there ain't no stoppin'

Saturday was the ever so famous Hospital Hill Half Marathon.  Yes, the one of infamy.  Oh you haven't heard of it?  Well it sucks and I love it, and as long as I can crawl I will be registered.

I need to recap this race for you, and I want to do it the best way possible.  The only way I can think of is to break it down mile by mile for you. So, as I sit here nakey at my desk since I just got home from the gym and refuse to shower, I will do just that.

Mile -1:  Gun time for this race is at 7:30, so I planned to get there at 6 am.  Learning from my mistakes from last year and at the KC Marathon, I knew to avoid the popular bottleneck highway exit and I knew to avoid trying to park in their lot.  I parked exactly where I did for the KC Marathon, walked a mile to the KC REGAP booth.  Everything was going according to plan.  I was nervous and excited.  I LOVE this race.  Only draw back: it was 85 degrees at 7am and you could cut the humidity with a knife.

Mile 1:  Gun time was really weird, they narrowed the corrals too much and all the runners couldn't fit next to their pace groups.  So I just kinda said "whatever" and mooshed in, even though I run better with a pace group and I so longed for a PR.  Less the never, I started.  The first half mile is a gradual incline, followed immediately by a nice downhill. At the end of the mile, was our first aid station sponsored by my good friends at KC Running Company.9:29

Mile 2:  This is the mile that starts the namesake of the road race.  You split up McGee and begin a climb that goes one for blocks.  There's a very steep blatant in your face hill at 2.2 and then once you get to the top, you don't recover because it's a gradual incline over the next mile.  I then realized I needed to pee and was feeling really crummy due to the heat-I srsly thought about taking the 5k turn off. 10:07

Mile 3:  Our next aid station was right around mile 3.3, and I had to use the porties and bad.  I jumped in and out. Finally, race organizers that understand the importance of porties and frequency.  I burst open my portie door and felt like a new woman, I gulped some hotorade and made up for some lost time...in a big way. 10:21.

Mile 4: A breeze.  I rocked out some Shakira, flattest mile of the course. 9:16

Mile 5:  The 10k turn around was right before the mile marker, and I slightly envied them because it was only getting hotter.  There's a monster mountain in this mile, you veer a little to the right and go up a hill that takes you right to Nelson Atkins Museum.  It was AMAZING that they put an aid station smack dab in the middle of this baby.  I walk through the stations, so it was nice to walk through sprinklers. 9:58

Mile 6:  Around this time I settled in with the 2:15 pace group, and knew I wasn't going to PR.  I GU'ed the first time, soaked up the sprinkler stations and anxiously awaited the 10k check in.  Until I saw a girl my age receiving CPR.  Seriously? AAAHHH.  She was bagged and everything, and it freaked me out.  She looked to be in better shape than me too, but just laid there limp. I really hope she's ok, so far I haven't heard anything. I stopped and walked for about two minutes after that.  11:23

Mile 7: Pretty quick mile, but started to experience GI upset.  Toddler sized hill up the back end.  10:45

Mile 8:  One of my favorite miles, it runs down Meyer Blvd, the street I grew up on.  I ran by my grade school and the house I lived in.  This mile always has a lot of spectators too, which is always nice.  Middle of the mile was a wonderful aid station double sprinklers that made me feel like a rockstar, and porties-thank god.  A longer wait at this one, but I was over caring about time.  I ambitiously jumped into a free john and made the HORRID mistake of looking into the well. WHY OF WHY DID I DO THIS?!?! Instant vom.  I meagerly exited, washed out my mouth with water and pushed on. 10:19

Mile 9:  Someone gave me some ice during this mile.  It rocked. 9:54

Mile 10:  Finally, mental relief.  For some reason at mile 10, I always go Ha, you only have a 5k left.  That unfortunately is still quite a bit of mileage.  After an aid station where I selfishly grabbed one too many hotorades, I started feeling that hot burpy feeling.  Ya know when you drink too fast while running?  Vomit count: 2.  12:35

Mile 11:  I resigned to walking a lot during this mile.  You know that feeling where you know you've pushed something just about as far as it could go?  Yeah, I was passed that point.  There's a long incline in this hill.  I call it the MANEATER.  It's kinda sad to watch people attempt to run this and at some point everyone of my skill level walks it.  It was the same last year.  Its at this point in the race where you are with the people you will finish with.  Everyone is doing that passing dance, when you push to run and pass someone and then have to walk, so the person you passed can pass you now because they pushed to run.  13:44

Mile 12:  Glory.  Starting this mile was slow,because I was walking.  I got momentum though.  Toward the end of this mile my high school cheer squad was on the course, I freaked out. STA!  CLASS OF 06!  I zoomed by cheering, and got a little misty.  11:55

Mile 13: Heaven.  After seeing the squad, there wasn't stopping me.  I said "FUDGE YOU HOSPITAL HILL" I am finishing strong.  There's this hill that's an ABSOLUTE joke during mile 13, you've read about it.  Unlike last year, I knew it was coming.  I am please to announce I ran the entire thing.  Once you get to the top of that thing the race is finished, it's the best down hill finish a runner could dream of.  Half a mile, entirely down hill.  9:34

Mile 13.1:  At this point, you can see the finish and it's down hill.  I was sprinting and as I was getting closer I saw the light.  My legs were bricks, I was running so heavy.  My form was awful, but I pushed so hard. I always want to cry at a finish line, that's what people do when they are proud.  I can never cry.  Not even tears of joy.  1:05

It felt like 94 degrees at the finish, but there were ice cold towels and some B.A. medals.

At the end of the day, I was about 20 minutes over my goal time-but that's what everyone says to expect from Hospital Hill.  I am very very satisfied with myself.  This was my first half marathon alone in over a year, and my first road race where I didn't have any spectators along the course.  These of course are not excuses, but more reasons for me to be happy.

I really really really love this race.  It's so miserable.  I can't wait until 2012.

Yes, the party's rockin'

Have I ever mentioned that carb loading is the reason I got into running? No, I haven't.  Well it really isn't, but I pretend because it's my favorite time of race season.  When I am not trying to cut weight, I will bulk up the carbs steadily three days before a race.  BUT since I let myself climb on the scale, I scaled back the days allotted for carbing out pac man style. 

I started loading Thursday night when I found myself eating pretzels with mustard in bed. It was all down hill from there, which is something I wish I could say about Hospital Hill.  I think carb-loading is a delicate practice, especially if you are prone to GI issues that comes with runner.  It can be really beneficial and give you the necessary energy to get your through the most grueling course of your life.  OR it can give you an excuse to binge on anything bad for you and result in the worst runners gut of your life.  OR both, but hopefully not at the same time.  Unfortunately, in my case it's usually the latter. 

 I know that you guys are very aware that I struggle with balance, especially when it comes to food.  Trying to find balance in something that is named "loading" seems completely contrary to the point though.  However, you do have to approach this with caution and reasonableness.  It's not a warrant to eat every carbalicious thing out there.  It's not a warrant to park at the pasta buffet with a fork. 

But park at a buffet is essentially what I did.  Friday night, I met the lovely Megan B. and her friend Lori at Sweet Tomatoes for our pre-race dinner routine.  Next to the finish line, the our pre-race dinners rank as my second favorite part of a race weekend.  I love reminiscing about past races and describing the treachery we put ourselves through for mere bragging rights.  I also love being able to eat with people who fully understand a runners appetite.  A guilt-judgey-free meal.  It's amazing.  Sadly, this pre-race dinner was kinda a let down-not because of conversation, but because of food.  Sweet Tomatoes just didn't live up to expectations.  I had some salad, and tried various pastas-none of which were good.  I ended up eating a whole loaf of foccacia bread and some frozen yogurt.

 

Earlier that day I had picked up our packets for the race, and we went over the course map.  We talked about all the hills they would experience since Megan and Lori were running the 10k course.  We talked about the heat, the crowds, the road kill on the course.  All the while, I kept glancing at my left wrist.



Why yes, I did snap a picture of our race stuff in the bathroom stall!

My half marathon PR is 2:04, over a year ago.  It's reasonable to shave four minutes in a year, but I knew that lay ahead of me at Hospital Hill.  I knew it is hands down the most difficult course in the KC-area, yes-it is worse than the W&R.  A little knot in my stomach formed, but I wanted to go for it anyway. 

DO YOU PRACTICE CARB LOADING?
HOW DO YOU APPROACH IT?

DO YOU SEE THE BENFITS?

Yes, It's on and poppin'

As you can tell, I take weekends off from the blogging world.  Mainly so I have enough time to have semi-interesting things to write about it-but also because I am usually busy enough to not find time to introduce my fingers to a keyboard.

This weekend happened to be one of the busiest of my life, and in retrospect I don't know how I was able to cram it all in and manage to stay afloat.  The first weekend of June is always a busy one for me, but 2011 took to whole new levels.  My weekend started on Thursday, lucky me right?    Thursday I worked a half day at real work, and then drove to the Kansas City Beach Volleyball club for the second half of work-which yes I actually got paid to do.  We had a "Beach Bash" sand volleyball tournament with work, and myself and team mates played for almost four hours-in the hot hot hot sun. 

Volleyball is my true first love.  You really never forget it.  I played throughout high school and for the club team at KU.  I love the sport.  I really love it.  I have been playing in an indoor league for the past few months, which I failed to blog about because I was on hiatus, but if you play it right and you play it well, it's an excellent work out.  Volleyball works muscles in my arms and back that usually goes unnoticed. The jumping and quick sprints is excellent for different muscle development in my legs that endurance training doesn't provide.  A few months ago, after not playing for several years I played a pretty competitive indoor game and the next day my calves bricked so hard I could barely walk.  Soreness I no longer really get the pleasure of feeling with my lactate threshold.

I prefer indoor though, and I will show you why:

I really hate when I forget sunscreen.

This was really the last thing I needed before the hardest half marathon of my season.  Oh and the sand is a drag too.  My team ended up in third. 

WHAT'S YOUR FAVORITE SPORT TO PLAY?



W/E Menu 06.05.11

Week of May 30 through June 5

	BREAKFAST	LUNCH	DINNER	SNACKS
MONDAY	Bacado Omelet, hash browns, english muffin with butter, coffee	2 slices of BBQ Chicken Pizza,	Grilled chicken, leafy green sald wtih ranch dressing	Honey greek yogurt, pepper jack string cheese
TUESDAY	Coffee with brown sugar, 0% greek yogurt with lemon	Grilled chicken with grilled squash tossed in  a roasted tomato dressing	Cherry glazed pork chops, brown rice, romaine salad with ranch dressing	Apple with peanut butter
WEDNESDAY	Coffee with brown sugar, 2% greek yogurt with cherries, 2 clementines	Grilled chicken with grilled squash, plain 2 clementines	Shrimp Arrabiata over GF penne	Edamame, grapes, Apple with peanut butter
THURSDAY	Coffee with brown sugar, oatmeal with blueberries	Grilled chicken, romaine salad with roasted tomato dressing, 2 clementines	Protein Plus Power Bar, Fruit snacks, three nacho chips
FRIDAY-carb loading	Pumpkin Muffin, coffee with brown sugar	Grilled chicken, clementines, pretzels, gatorade	Salad bar, various pastas, bread sticks, vanilla frozen yogurt and cherry cobbler	pretzels
SATURDAY race day, 13.1 miles	Gu Chomps, Power bar Protein bites, banana	salad, chicken, gold fish, oatmeal cream pie, banana	2 beers, sweet potato fries, greek yogurt	I ate ALL day after ther ace
SUNDAY	Pineapple greek yogurt, 2%, coffee with brown sugar, peanut butter crackers	grilled chicken in buffalo sauce, dorritos, grapes, pepper jack string cheese	12 ounce steak, green beans, romaine salad with ranch dressing, edamame, pineapple fluff dessert	too much candy, string cheese

Never Gonna Run Away

Two-a-days is really starting to kick my butt, and it's only been a week.  What I'm told, it should get easier.  Yesterday, I did an easy run with Scootz for 3 miles in the morning and in the evening I swam 400 meters and then lifted.  None of which I can truly say I enjoyed, and by the time I came home to cool down and roll out my muscles I looked like this:

Why is that I am capable of running for hours, HOURS at a time-yet a simply, easy 3 miles can totally spank me?  At least I was able to sleep until 6am AND we had the pleasure of jaunting on my favorite trail, since lame-o replacement trail is closed for a week.  I didn't even know it was like National Runners Day, no one sent me a greeting card.  I am totally marking that for next year.  I digress, I was sweating more after that 3 miles than I was after the monster hill repeats from Tuesday. 

I have such a hate-hate relationship with the gym.  It is right across the street from my home, I can SEE it from my driveway.  There is no reason for me to not go, but it's ALWAYS packed until 10PM.  I really need to get as much swimming as possible in before the tri-but I am really embarrassed about my skill level, so much so the only stroke I'm confident about is breast.  When was the last time you saw someone swim open water breast stroke? Right.  I want to practice but I feel REALLY awkward that the sauna and steam rooms both have open glass doors that face the pool.  Last night, as I was finishing a lap I rested at the wall and faced the sauna only to see it was packed with people just watching the people swimming.  Insecure 8th grade Julia came out and imagined them laughing at me, and I didn't do my last 100 meters.



Pre-work out Green Foods!

When I dried off, I went to go lift-which I hate enough as is-but at peak hours, people are standing around waiting for cardio machines and watching the same free weights room.  I was doing dumb bell flys on a balance ball and this lady was standing directly behind me and watching me in the mirror.  I wish I was making this up, I followed her eyes follow me.  I thought maybe if I oogled back, she'd get weirded out and move along-but no.  So this is why I hate the gym.   It is not a problem for me to hop on a cardio machine, or do a class-but I have to be off on my own, I suddenly feel like I'm in a bubble.  I know I'm not alone in this, I know it's pretty common to feel this way.  I know it's probably one of the number one reasons people are discouraged by fitness facilities. 

I keep telling myself if I stick with it, and be more confident in my own skin I will be encouraging people to watch me work out-but in the mean time, I want to lift in complete darkness at 3am in a costume.

In otherrrrrrrr news, Miss Swell Mary cuts alls mai hurrs last night! How sad is my life that the only time I have to get my hair done is at 9:45 at night?  Anyway, I am SO excited.  It's like this huge burden has been lifted off my shoulders.  Do you know how much of a hassle it was to wash and blow dry my hair and then straighten it so it looks semi-decent TWICE A DAY?  Pass.  I am so happy to have manageable hair!  Yay!  Thanks Mary!!



WHAT GYM DO YOU BELONG TO?

DO YOU LIKE? LOVE IT? LOVE TO HATE IT?

They Don't Love You Like I Love You

I suggest you turn your volume down to watch this video....but Goliath is an epic Rock Band Contestant.

"Maps" by G-Bonez 

Dos What I Pleases

^^^THAT SUCKS! Especially when I was really looking forward to super duper long run with G-Bonez.  I refuse to run him on city streets and sidewalks, so I had to take him home and do my work out all by me onsie. 

I got a killer hill work out it.  Totally kicked my glutes.  Of course my garmin pooped out too so I have no real data for you guys, but trust me when I say it was GOOD.  I ran 1.75 miles to this quarter mile hill, and did repeats at full speed.  So 2800, with 400x8 incline repeats and 2800.  I just made that up, but it sounds legit right?

This is my: ZOMG! It's hotttt face.

It was seriously balls hott yesterday, and I fought myself to not jump into the city pool that was on my route.  It felt really good to push that hard.  During a work out, do you ever feel like you literally can't do anymore-like you are on the brink of passing out and then the second you stop you immediate think I could of gone harder/faster/longer? Running is constant battle with dissatisfaction and desire to go harder/faster/longer, but last night I was smitten.  I did exactly what my body would physically allow for.

That was my last hill work out before Hospital Hill Marathon on Saturday! So excited!

HOW DO YOU KNOW YOU'VE PUSHED AS HARD AS YOU COULD?