As a beer enthusiast (read: enthusiastic beer drinker) and avid eater, frequent exercise is essential.
This air-cast is really cramping my lifestyle. I can't afford to buy bigger pants, so I guess I shouldn't drink so much beer while I'm a gimp.
It's a sad story.
Saturday, January 22, 2011
Saturday, January 1, 2011
#42 La Fin Du Monde
HAPPY NEW YEAR!
It seems ominous that I spent my New Year's Eve drinking a beer with name that translates to "the end of the world". But I did it, and it was wonderful! Thanks to the many people who recommended that I try this beer. I liked everything about it.
I poured it into a glass, and it was very pretty-looking. It was a teeny bit darker than my favorite beers, but it was still almost orange and a tad hazy. Hazy beers make me happy (and usually a little hazy in my brain). It bubbled tiny champagne bubbles that were fun to watch. Especially after my second bottle. It tasted great and it was high in alcohol content! How could you go wrong! So I drank all four bottles to bring in the New Year!
Being with my family and old neighbors for New Year's Eve was fun. We have a tradition of drinking too much, while playing overly complicated games with elaborate scoring systems. I think I did pretty well, if I remember correctly. Tied for 1st in Pictionary. 2nd place in the Wii bowling tournament. 3rd place in the weird card game we played. I managed to get 2nd overall.
Second place meant I got the glory of knowing I was second best... without having to wear the ridiculous, light-up, chartreuse "Winner's Hat". Score. La Fin Du Monde and me? We make a great team.
Thanks to all who recommended it. I still have a long list of recommendations to catch up with. I'll definitely get there though!
Also, special thanks to Sam P who walked with me to the liquor store and helped me carry the beer to my car. I'm glad to have friends who will help me procure alcohol, even when my hands are busy crutching around.
It seems ominous that I spent my New Year's Eve drinking a beer with name that translates to "the end of the world". But I did it, and it was wonderful! Thanks to the many people who recommended that I try this beer. I liked everything about it.
I poured it into a glass, and it was very pretty-looking. It was a teeny bit darker than my favorite beers, but it was still almost orange and a tad hazy. Hazy beers make me happy (and usually a little hazy in my brain). It bubbled tiny champagne bubbles that were fun to watch. Especially after my second bottle. It tasted great and it was high in alcohol content! How could you go wrong! So I drank all four bottles to bring in the New Year!
Being with my family and old neighbors for New Year's Eve was fun. We have a tradition of drinking too much, while playing overly complicated games with elaborate scoring systems. I think I did pretty well, if I remember correctly. Tied for 1st in Pictionary. 2nd place in the Wii bowling tournament. 3rd place in the weird card game we played. I managed to get 2nd overall.
Second place meant I got the glory of knowing I was second best... without having to wear the ridiculous, light-up, chartreuse "Winner's Hat". Score. La Fin Du Monde and me? We make a great team.
Thanks to all who recommended it. I still have a long list of recommendations to catch up with. I'll definitely get there though!
Also, special thanks to Sam P who walked with me to the liquor store and helped me carry the beer to my car. I'm glad to have friends who will help me procure alcohol, even when my hands are busy crutching around.
Tuesday, December 21, 2010
Stress Fracture
My tibia is not a cloud. It is, in fact, a rigid matrix of osseous-stuff that doesn't like to run so much. Apparently.
My friend Sharon, who is studying to be a physical therapist, recommended before my race that I should imagine that my Left Calf was a cloud. I tried doing this around Mile 6 in Florida, and it didn't exactly work.
My strategy for pain-during-long-runs is: Ignore It. Don't turn it into a fluffy cloud or a pink pony. Just pretend it's not there, and it will go away.
I used to think the whole "runner's high" thing was probably a myth. The euphoric haze from running never hit me, and I've always been jealous of people who claimed to experience it. As it turns out, I've probably been experiencing runner's highs all along. Evidence? After my CT half marathon, my shoe was covered in blood. One of my toes was sliced open and it had bled through my sock and shoe. Nasty. But did I feel it? No. Did I feel that cut the next day? Yes! Man, it was a nasty cut! During the run, though, no pain. As it turns out, my runner's high is more like Ibuprofen than Crack. Which is ok with me. I like Ibuprofen a lot.
So, at Mile 6, my Left Calf hurt, and I was like, "are you a fluffy cloud?" and it was like "no, I'm your Left Calf, and I can cuttabitch." And I was like, MUTE Button! And then I didn't hear from my calf again.
Until 2 minutes after the race was over. Then all of a sudden I couldn't walk. Well, I could, but it really hurt. And it hurt like that for a few days. But the pain slowly subsided. Now it only hurts when I go up or down stairs, sit down, stand up, or when the dumb chihuahua-thing locates the spot that hurts and tries to dig through my skin and muscle with her ridiculous, spiky little feet. (I love you, LuLu)
So I'm cured! Right? No. Since I'm married to that doctor guy, he made me get an appointment to see a doctor, get an MRI, the whole bit. Of course the MRI showed a stress fracture...
Which I got to see! So cool! It was like looking at my leg from the inside out!
...Anyway, orthopedic surgeon says, "Foot in boot, crutches, lots of weeks, no- you can't run, bye!"
So... I guess that's it for the running this season. More time for beer?
My friend Sharon, who is studying to be a physical therapist, recommended before my race that I should imagine that my Left Calf was a cloud. I tried doing this around Mile 6 in Florida, and it didn't exactly work.
My strategy for pain-during-long-runs is: Ignore It. Don't turn it into a fluffy cloud or a pink pony. Just pretend it's not there, and it will go away.
I used to think the whole "runner's high" thing was probably a myth. The euphoric haze from running never hit me, and I've always been jealous of people who claimed to experience it. As it turns out, I've probably been experiencing runner's highs all along. Evidence? After my CT half marathon, my shoe was covered in blood. One of my toes was sliced open and it had bled through my sock and shoe. Nasty. But did I feel it? No. Did I feel that cut the next day? Yes! Man, it was a nasty cut! During the run, though, no pain. As it turns out, my runner's high is more like Ibuprofen than Crack. Which is ok with me. I like Ibuprofen a lot.
So, at Mile 6, my Left Calf hurt, and I was like, "are you a fluffy cloud?" and it was like "no, I'm your Left Calf, and I can cuttabitch." And I was like, MUTE Button! And then I didn't hear from my calf again.
Until 2 minutes after the race was over. Then all of a sudden I couldn't walk. Well, I could, but it really hurt. And it hurt like that for a few days. But the pain slowly subsided. Now it only hurts when I go up or down stairs, sit down, stand up, or when the dumb chihuahua-thing locates the spot that hurts and tries to dig through my skin and muscle with her ridiculous, spiky little feet. (I love you, LuLu)
So I'm cured! Right? No. Since I'm married to that doctor guy, he made me get an appointment to see a doctor, get an MRI, the whole bit. Of course the MRI showed a stress fracture...
Which I got to see! So cool! It was like looking at my leg from the inside out!
...Anyway, orthopedic surgeon says, "Foot in boot, crutches, lots of weeks, no- you can't run, bye!"
So... I guess that's it for the running this season. More time for beer?
Tuesday, December 14, 2010
Success! Maybe?
My fifth half is complete!!! On Sunday morning I ran the "Halfathon" from Madeira Beach, FL to Largo, FL in 2 hours 10 minutes and 58 seconds! That put me at exactly 10-minute miles for the entire 13.1-mile race. Goal Reached! Success! Except...
Here's the catch: official race times have my chip-time the same as gun-time, even though it took me about 10 seconds to cross the start line at the beginning of the race. So, my official time was 2:11:09... averaging a 10:01-minute mile. DOH!
Oh well, I'll call it a win anyway. It was my fastest time by about 7 minutes, and it felt really good! I enjoyed the whole thing, and never felt too tired. I even talked to a couple of fellow racers along the way. I'm actually really surprised I was able to run 10-minute miles and hold conversations. I even ran so fast by the finish line that Vick didn't see me! It took us 6 minutes to find each other at the end because he was still staring down the final stretch wondering where I was. I was stumbling around at the finish trying to decide which I wanted to do first- look for Vick or eat. (Surprisingly, I chose to look for Vick... followed by an intense gorging)
Unfortunately, Left Calf was really unhappy with the whole ordeal. About 2 minutes after I stopped running, it froze up. It feels like thousands of ice picks if I move it wrong. MRI tomorrow night.
Back to happier things! I got to spend two and a half days with Vick! It was so great to be with him, especially since he hadn't had a single day off in two weeks. It was like a mini vacation together. We got pretty lucky about how everything went, too. Between the layovers, the two hotel rooms, the rental car, and the race, I figured something would have to go terribly wrong. But the worst thing that happened was a 2-hour delay getting home. No big deal! We were still at home by 10pm on Sunday.
One of the coolest parts of this race was that I was randomly assigned number 726. That's my birthday! I wonder how often that happens. And we stayed in hotel room 515 in Tampa, which is Vick's birthday! What a serendipitous weekend!
I'd do it again in a heart beat. Don't tell Left Calf.
Here's the catch: official race times have my chip-time the same as gun-time, even though it took me about 10 seconds to cross the start line at the beginning of the race. So, my official time was 2:11:09... averaging a 10:01-minute mile. DOH!
Oh well, I'll call it a win anyway. It was my fastest time by about 7 minutes, and it felt really good! I enjoyed the whole thing, and never felt too tired. I even talked to a couple of fellow racers along the way. I'm actually really surprised I was able to run 10-minute miles and hold conversations. I even ran so fast by the finish line that Vick didn't see me! It took us 6 minutes to find each other at the end because he was still staring down the final stretch wondering where I was. I was stumbling around at the finish trying to decide which I wanted to do first- look for Vick or eat. (Surprisingly, I chose to look for Vick... followed by an intense gorging)
Unfortunately, Left Calf was really unhappy with the whole ordeal. About 2 minutes after I stopped running, it froze up. It feels like thousands of ice picks if I move it wrong. MRI tomorrow night.
Back to happier things! I got to spend two and a half days with Vick! It was so great to be with him, especially since he hadn't had a single day off in two weeks. It was like a mini vacation together. We got pretty lucky about how everything went, too. Between the layovers, the two hotel rooms, the rental car, and the race, I figured something would have to go terribly wrong. But the worst thing that happened was a 2-hour delay getting home. No big deal! We were still at home by 10pm on Sunday.
One of the coolest parts of this race was that I was randomly assigned number 726. That's my birthday! I wonder how often that happens. And we stayed in hotel room 515 in Tampa, which is Vick's birthday! What a serendipitous weekend!
I'd do it again in a heart beat. Don't tell Left Calf.
Thursday, December 9, 2010
Carb Loading
I have to say, I'm really excited for this weekend!
Firstly, it's my first race that requires real "traveling". Sure, we had to drive a few hours to get to the ones in Connecticut and New Hampshire. And, yes, Vick and I stayed overnight in Maine for the last race. But I'm going on a plane tomorrow! My Florida race requires four planes (2 layovers in Atl), a rental car, two hotel rooms, and a dog-sitter (Mom).
Also, this MAY be my first race with 10-minute miles. Maybe. I've been training at 10-minute/miles or less on the treadmill, but I don't know what real life will do. With my hurt calf, who knows what will happen. I'll still be excited to finish no matter what.
Tomorrow we leave in the afternoon. So, clearly, today was a good day to begin Carb Loading :)
Some amazing people at work, Sam C and Sarah F, suggested that we go out for a celebratory beer (after some crazy weeks at work). It was Sam C's birthday! YAY Sam C! Yay Beer! Shira CL, Sam P, Jen A, and Julie K joined us as well.
Pita Chips, French Fries, and Beer were some excellent pre-race carb-loading. But I think the best part was spending some excellent, stress-less, quality time with a group of amazing ladies from work! You're all great! Thanks for the love and support at work and the well wishes on my race! See you on Monday.
Firstly, it's my first race that requires real "traveling". Sure, we had to drive a few hours to get to the ones in Connecticut and New Hampshire. And, yes, Vick and I stayed overnight in Maine for the last race. But I'm going on a plane tomorrow! My Florida race requires four planes (2 layovers in Atl), a rental car, two hotel rooms, and a dog-sitter (Mom).
Also, this MAY be my first race with 10-minute miles. Maybe. I've been training at 10-minute/miles or less on the treadmill, but I don't know what real life will do. With my hurt calf, who knows what will happen. I'll still be excited to finish no matter what.
Tomorrow we leave in the afternoon. So, clearly, today was a good day to begin Carb Loading :)
Some amazing people at work, Sam C and Sarah F, suggested that we go out for a celebratory beer (after some crazy weeks at work). It was Sam C's birthday! YAY Sam C! Yay Beer! Shira CL, Sam P, Jen A, and Julie K joined us as well.
Pita Chips, French Fries, and Beer were some excellent pre-race carb-loading. But I think the best part was spending some excellent, stress-less, quality time with a group of amazing ladies from work! You're all great! Thanks for the love and support at work and the well wishes on my race! See you on Monday.
Tuesday, December 7, 2010
Ouch = Ice + Ibuprofen
I didn't post much in the month of November. In part, this was due to how busy I was. A lot of my busy-ness had to do with preparing for my half marathon, though. Training could have provided me with miles and miles of blog material. I could have posted about my new found love for the terrible music they play at Body Pump class at 5:45am on Mondays. Or about how I'm glad I don't pay for cable tv because, while running on the treadmills, I get to watch enough "16 and Pregnant" on MTV to last a lifetime. Or, and most excitingly, how nice it is to be running faster than that buff guy on the machine next to me :)
But I haven't posted about any of things because, inevitably, if I started to write about how my running is going, I would have to mention my Left Calf. I feared that if I mentioned Left Calf in my blog, that would make Left Calf's issues "real". I believed that if I ignored Left Calf, then all would be fine, and I would run this Sunday without any problems.
Being married to a doctor can be difficult. He wants me to be all "medically responsible" and stuff. So, I made a deal with Hubby that I would see a doctor and have the dumb leg looked at after the half marathon in Florida. Knowing that my schedule at work fills up quickly, I decided to call yesterday to make an appointment for next week. Worst idea ever.
The doctor's office made me come in TODAY to get it looked at. Blood tests and radiology... blargh.
Anyway, as of right now, I'm allowed to run on Sunday. (Thank goodness my doctor is a runner and understood that I was going to run the half regardless of her advice.) But I had to promise to stay off my leg as much as possible for 3 weeks after the half marathon. UGH.
Knowing that I'm not supposed to be running makes it hurt more. There was a reason I was pretending there was nothing wrong! Now it's official. Left Calf is a stupid limb of pain. I'm considering disowning it.
5 days! I'm glad I get to run on Sunday, and hopefully I remember how to ignore Left Calf again.
But I haven't posted about any of things because, inevitably, if I started to write about how my running is going, I would have to mention my Left Calf. I feared that if I mentioned Left Calf in my blog, that would make Left Calf's issues "real". I believed that if I ignored Left Calf, then all would be fine, and I would run this Sunday without any problems.
Being married to a doctor can be difficult. He wants me to be all "medically responsible" and stuff. So, I made a deal with Hubby that I would see a doctor and have the dumb leg looked at after the half marathon in Florida. Knowing that my schedule at work fills up quickly, I decided to call yesterday to make an appointment for next week. Worst idea ever.
The doctor's office made me come in TODAY to get it looked at. Blood tests and radiology... blargh.
Anyway, as of right now, I'm allowed to run on Sunday. (Thank goodness my doctor is a runner and understood that I was going to run the half regardless of her advice.) But I had to promise to stay off my leg as much as possible for 3 weeks after the half marathon. UGH.
Knowing that I'm not supposed to be running makes it hurt more. There was a reason I was pretending there was nothing wrong! Now it's official. Left Calf is a stupid limb of pain. I'm considering disowning it.
5 days! I'm glad I get to run on Sunday, and hopefully I remember how to ignore Left Calf again.
Friday, December 3, 2010
#30 Sam Adams Chocolate Bock
I haven't felt like posting much recently. Tonight's not really an exception, so it will probably be a short one. My brain has pretty much stopped thinking in full sentences. It's full of snippets of information, thoughts, and feelings, but nothing coherent.
Work was busy last week. Vick is studying for big tests.
BUT! It's Christmas time! I love Christmas time! I love Christmas songs. YAY YAY YAY!
To go along with sweet, sweet Christmas spirit, let me introduce you to Sam Adams Chocolate Bock.
I've had sweet beer before, and it made me want to vomit. This wasn't quite so vomitously sweet. Its a dark beer with a strong chocolate flavor. Very yummy. Though, if I had a do-over, I wouldn't have paired it with my chicken dinner. It would have gone better with dessert. Mmm dessert.
Half Marathon is less than 9 days away.
tgif.
Work was busy last week. Vick is studying for big tests.
BUT! It's Christmas time! I love Christmas time! I love Christmas songs. YAY YAY YAY!
To go along with sweet, sweet Christmas spirit, let me introduce you to Sam Adams Chocolate Bock.
I've had sweet beer before, and it made me want to vomit. This wasn't quite so vomitously sweet. Its a dark beer with a strong chocolate flavor. Very yummy. Though, if I had a do-over, I wouldn't have paired it with my chicken dinner. It would have gone better with dessert. Mmm dessert.
Half Marathon is less than 9 days away.
tgif.
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