Working hard on a Monday

It's Monday and I went to work. Blah. I decided I wanted to stay in bed instead of cycling. That was probably bad of me, but oh well.

Regina and I went to the self storage place and rented a unit. Then we brought a few things to the coach and started getting it ready for this weekend. Regina thought it was hook-up and go. She didn't realize everything that would have to go into getting it ready. The batteries are hooked up and working. We brought some sheets home to wash them.

From there we went to the bank. I was able to make a pretty hefty deposit, which is always awesome! I also found out that if I want to, I can exchange money there before my trip. There is a $10 fee and I have to give them notice. But it might be worth it. Then again, maybe it would be more cost effective to take money out of our account using our ATM card once I get there.

Then we went to Walmart and bought a ton of the huge Ziploc bags and headed to the shop. It took a while to get the online shop up and running, but we got a good start today. Now that we have a system, tomorrow should be better. The shop is at http://www.artfire.com/users/YarnsideGathering. I'm pretty happy with it so far. We'll see what happens.

I got a call from my DailyMile friend Chris G. He has been after me to go to the McGuire's runs on Tuesday nights. I told him that I had to work Tuesday nights. He told me to call in sick! He didn't realize that it was my business. So he called tonight to see if I'd go tomorrow. I told him no, but at dinner Regina and I discussed it and I called him after dinner to say that I would run it. I have an easy 35 minute run on the schedule tomorrow, so I think that would be perfect! I'm excited about it.

We'll go to the shop early tomorrow and make a really good dent in things. I am afraid it will take a while. Longer than I originally thought. But it is great having Regina there to help.

Tonight we made okonomiyaki! YUM!!

This is Regina's

Here I am trying to fill Bill's shoes at the griddle

And here is mine

It didn't turn out as planned, as the plug came out as I started to cook mine and I didn't realize it. The crepe didn't set too well, but it was still delicious!

A full day

There was a lot on today's agenda. I cut my run a little short so that we could do everything. Regina went to church while I was running. I got home and was able to shower before she got back. I taught her how to back the Honda into the garage. She did pretty well. She was able to practice twice more today, and she's getting the hang of it slowly. She is a little close to one side, but I know that will come in time.

After she got the car in, we turned around and went back out and went to the Renaissance Faire. We met Cookie Amy and Stephanie (the spinning instructor) there. It wasn't that thrilling a faire, but it was fun anyway. We walked around the booths and saw some neat things. Then we came home and she backed the car in the garage again.

I went in and changed clothes and relaxed for a few minutes. Then we headed out to Cherryl's baby shower. She was pretty surprised to see us there. There weren't too many people, maybe around eight or so. The food was great and everything was really cute. We got some homemade soaps and a pea plant as favors. I think Cherryl really liked the pink socks. She asked if I made them and was not surprised when I said yes. It was fun hanging out and catching up with her and Karl and the other ladies.

Then we headed to Marie's for the spouse club meeting. There were not many folks there. It was also a nice visit. Phil said that they are going to be in town for another year, so if there is anything I need that I should let him know. He is a good person and I appreciate the fact that he is eager to help me should I need it.

Then we came home, she backed the car in the garage again, and now we're trying to figure out dinner. I just want to go to bed!

End of an era

Yesterday was the last day of Yarnside Gathering as we know it. No buyer came forward and so we closed. The lease is officially up the first week of April, so I have some time to move everything out and clean up.

The spinning classes this week have been a hit! The place has been jamming and I heard nothing but compliments from the students. I am really glad that Stephanie decided to come down and do these classes. I think it was super positive for the shop and people will always remember that.

I had mixed emotions all day. Part of me is very sad. I had a great experience, I feel like I was a success, and I think that I have made a difference in people's lives (even if it was in a very small way). Another part of me is glad. I was getting tired of working so hard for so long. I'll be glad to get my Saturdays back. I can join McGuire's Tuesday night running group. I can go to festivals and run 5ks and enjoy the post-race parties. I'll have time to clean the house (that's not really exciting; it's necessary). Another part of me is nervous and excited about the future. What is coming next? Will I be working? full time? part-time? for myself? for others? in engineering? in yarn? where? I'm looking forward to finding out!

After closing up Regina and I went to the Melting Pot to celebrate. Bill took me there on the first Saturday we were open. I thought it was fitting to go there to close out the era.

Last LSD before Seaside

I had to cut this run short (it was supposed to be 1:40). I had several obligations for today and if I did the whole run I would have been late. I tried hard to keep this slow and consistent. It felt slow and easy and I'm happy with it (if you don't take the HR into consideration).

Splits: 11:17, 11:22, 11:19, 11:24, 11:21, 11:20, 9:42 (11:24 pace). Avg HR = 215

I did 6.85 miles in 1:17:46 for an average pace of 11:21. This was the most consistent run yet, pacewise. I'm really happy with that!

I tried Injinji toe socks and I did not like them at all. They might be OK for a short run, but my toes hurt after the run. I tried some Zensah compression sleeves on my calfs after the run and they felt soooooo good! I took them off to shower, of course, but put them back on to wear as we walked around the Renaissance Faire. They feel good!

Fun spin

I rode my bike today. Just a nice, easy thirty minute ride to prep myself for tomorrow's long run. I did 6.9 miles in 32:21 for an average speed of 12.8mph. Fun ride, but I should have planned this route better. Downhill with wind is nice. Uphill into the wind not so much. The weather was great again, making this an excellent way to start the day.

Steady run

Today was the first "Steady Run" of my training program. The plan was to do 20 minutes easy and 20 minutes "steady", which is somewhere between easy and hard.

This was difficult! I felt like my pace was all over the place. My average pace for the first 20 minutes was 11:09 and I went 1.8 miles with an average HR of 182. My average pace for the second 20 minutes was 9:52 and I went 2.03 miles with an average HR of 201. It was a good run.

It rained last night, so it was quite humid. On the run one side of the street looked like this:

The other side looked like this:

And straight ahead I saw this:

Interesting.

The shop is kickin'

Stephanie from LunaBudKnits is in the shop teaching spinning this week. The place is jammin'! She taught fifteen students the drop spindle yesterday and six the wheel today. Tomorrow there will be seven in the wheel class and then on Saturday there are three students in the advanced wheel class. The parking lot is full and the cash register is ringing. She gives me a cut of the proceeds from the sales of her fiber and I will give her 60% of the class fees. It is good for both of us.

Stephanie came to town for the Greater Gulf Coast Arts Festival to sell her yarn. Well, she really came to visit with family at a condo her parents own here and decided to sell her stuff at the festival. She came to the shop the night we did the pot luck dinner with Kate Jacobs and we talked about doing spinning classes. Here we are.

It has been really good for the shop. It has been bittersweet in that this is the end of an era. I'm glad I'm going out on my terms.

Having Regina around has been great. She has been helping in the shop and at the house. The cats are warming up to her. I just need to keep her from falling for the puppy-dog-eyes and untraining the dogs!

Intervals = fun!

Yes,  I know that was how I titled my last intervals post, but they really are fun! I had a great time. My workout was two miles easy, 5x 30 secs hard followed by two minutes easy, and then a one mile cool down. Here's how it broke down:


Lap    time     dist    pace     avg HR
1       22:31   2.00   11:16   189
2       0:30     326'   8:11     188
3       2:00    0.19    10:44   178
4       0:32     336'   8:18     178
5       2:00    0.18    10:53   183
6       0:30    326'    8:11     181
7       2:00    0.17    11:36   165
8       0:30    342'    7:47     169
9       2:03    0.19    11:00   177
10     0:30    330'     8:19    179
11     2:01    0.18     11:16  177
12     12:53  1.16     11:05  163

Did you see that?! A 7:47 pace! Granted, it was only for 30 seconds, but I don't think I've ever had an interval that fast. I must be improving!

The weather was gorgeous again this morning. I could really get used to this.

Totals for the day are 4.38 miles in 48:00 for an average pace of 10:58 and an average HR of 179.

I saw this on the run today and it struck me as odd. What an interesting combo.

A nice run

Aren't they all? No, not always, but this one was a nice run. I was supposed to go 35 minutes easy. It felt easy, but it was faster than Coach thinks "easy" should be. Oh well. I did 3.42 miles in 36:42 for an average pace of 10:43. It was really a few seconds less, but when I was trying to reset the Garmin I accidentally started it again. The feet feel good and that's a good thing. I rolled the leg before I started. Splits: 10:47, 10:40, 10:38, 4:37 (a 10:52 pace). Avg HR = 177.

Clothes shopping

I went looking for new jeans today. The "new" jeans I got a few months ago are already too big. I tried on the next size down and they fit in the waist and the leg, but had an odd bunching in the crotch. I tried on two different brands and they both did the same thing. So maybe I have a little longer to go before they fit right.

I also looked for a swimsuit and found two at another store. One is a cute tankini that will be awesome for lounging in a hot tub or by the pool. I also got a one-piece with significant coverage for when I start swimming lessons.

Following that I went to Running Wild. There was a camera crew in there from the local news station. I tried to loiter in the back of the shop so I didn't get roped into being the customer in the footage. I was wearing a pair of shorts that is two sizes too big and I looked pretty shlubby.

When the camera crew left, Paul (the owner) came over to me and asked if I needed help. I told him I wanted to look at socks but that was where the camera was. I told him that I didn't want to get caught on film looking like I did until I had bought new shorts. I told him I had lost 20 pounds since running and I don't have any clothes that fit. He said that I should have gotten on camera to tell everyone that!

We talked about compression socks and whether they would help me and my plantar fasciitis. I told him about my long run yesterday and he asked, "How long, six?" His eyes almost popped out of his head when I said fourteen. He said he was going to call Mark and yell at him. Why? I have no idea, unless it is because I shouldn't be running too far with PF. He emphasized the importance of the TP Therapy kit and rolling at the very least the solius every day, twice a day, and before running. I told him that I'd like to attend his TP class but it is on Thursday when I work. He jokingly told me to quit and was surprised when I said I was! I explained why I was closing. I won't make it this or next Thursday, but maybe the one after that.

I saw Leah right after that and she worked on my lower legs a lot. She said she's using even more pressure this week than last time. but when she got to my feet, she had to dial back quite a bit. They are just too sensitive. Leah's goal is to get me to the point of a true deep tissue massage, which is what I need as an athlete.

So tonight I need to get ready for Regina to arrive. There are bathrooms to clean, a bedroom to get ready, and some bills to get in the system. I also need to get all the paperwork together for our financial advisor.

Nice ride

I took the bike out today to flush the legs from yesterday's run. I rode 7.08 miles in 31:03. That's about 13.7 mph. I'm looking forward to increasing my speed on the bike in a few months as I move forward in my multisport training.

The weather was beautiful. It is in the upper 50s with just a little breeze and a few clouds. We've had great weather the past few days and I think it is supposed to last a while longer. This is my kind of weather!

The last 24 hours ...

... have been quite busy!

Saturday at the shop was good. A lady had contacted me earlier in the week about the shop. She is opening one in north Alabama and wanted to know if she could come in and check out the place. I said yes and that if I wasn't busy I'd be happy to talk to her about my experiences. She and her husband came by at the right time and I talked to them for a while.

As it turns out, her husband is a former structural engineer who used to work for ... wait for it ... Carlan Consulting Group! He was there about 7 or 8 years before me, but it was kind of funny to talk about it. I don't remember my time there very well (some things I'd like to block out permanently) but I mentioned Charles Baxley and this guy laughed. He hadn't thought about him in ages. It was a "small world" moment. They seemed like nice people and I enjoyed spending time with them. I'm glad I had the opportunity to do so.

The rest of the day was good and then people started showing up for the Pajama Party. It was a good crowd. There were around 15 people or so. I offered all attendees 20% off and that spurred some sales. I also sold some of the furnishings. I ordered too much pizza and there was a ton of food. I bought three bottles of wine, figuring we'd polish off at least two. Nope. Just one went dry. Michelle brought me a bottle of homemade Orange Chocolate Port. Yum. No one wanted to drink it so I brought it home. It is young, so I will let it age. I got home a little after 11 and started getting ready for bed. Good thing I was already in my pajamas!

After the run this morning I came home and iced my feet. Then I went to bed. I didn't sleep, but just laying there was nice. I think it elevated my feet somewhat and that may have helped heal them. I also wore my splints. Bill called and it was great to talk to him, even if we did talk about such exciting topics as our taxes and paying off the loan on the shop.

I got up and took a shower and vacuumed the house. I've also been doing laundry. Cookie Amy called and she and her mom came over to look at our grill. It has some bug nests in it that I will clean out and they offered me some advice on how to clean the grates really well which I'll have to try. They are going to get back to me on whether they want it. In the meanwhile, it still needs to be cleaned.

I watched some TV with dinner, keeping my feet up. They feel a lot better now than when I got home today. I decided not to go to Publix. Partly because I wanted to rest the feet and partly because I don't know what I need. I may add that to the list for tomorrow or I may hold out until Regina gets here. There's plenty of food in the freezer and pantry. I'm not going to starve.

That's the last day or so in a nutshell. I'm tired and want to go back to bed.

Loooonnnng run today

Today was the "Key Session" in my training plan. Coach wanted me to do - and I quote - "14 miles EASY". I know the word easy is for the pace, but I don't like seeing 14 miles and easy in the same sentence. I wasn't sure I had it in me to do this run. I've been worrying about it all week. Not seriously worrying; more like psyching myself up for it.

The weather was beautiful! It was sunny and 55 degrees at the start and sunny and 66 when I finished. I wore my new running skirt from Skirt Sports. I think it looks good on me, and it was super comfortable! I didn't get any chafing or riding up. I really like this skirt. Better than my shorts (which chafe my inner thighs on longer runs).

Cookie Amy came with me this morning. She mentioned last night that she'd like to know where the park was so she could run there, so she followed me there this morning. We started together but she didn't want me to run with her so I went at my pace. I started a little faster than I would have liked and I tried to slow it down.

I did feel the difference in pace today. I could tell when I slowed down and I checked the Garmin and sure enough I was going at a 12:00-ish pace. I could feel when I sped up to a 10:00-ish pace. I am starting to get a feel for my running now and that is really cool.

I had been winning the battle with plantar fasciitis lately, but I lost today's round. My feet did not feel as bad as they have in the past, like after the Disney Half, but I feel quite a bit of pain. I iced them when I got home and I plan to rest them as much as possible today. I have a busy day of chores ahead of me, but I'm going to try to rest them. I'm glad Leah is coming tomorrow to work her magic.

Splits: 10:21, 10:38, 10:53, 11:08, 11:06, 11:18, 11:14, 11:25, 11:29, 11:29, 11:40, 11:40, 11:38, 11:48. Avg HR = 169.

That is 14.00 miles in 2:37:30 for an average pace of 11:15. Go me!

Another great ride

The weather was absolutely gorgeous again this morning, although there was still some fog. I took the road bike out for my thirty-minute-easy-to-flush-the-legs ride. It felt great! I would have liked to go a little farther before turning around, but there was a big thick fog bank ahead and I didn't want to take the chance. I turned around and came back in the clear. I made up the last few minutes by riding around the neighborhood. It was quiet and peaceful and it was a good way to end the ride. It may have slowed my average time a little, but it increased my enjoyment. Fair trade.

I rode 7.18 miles in 30:01 for an average speed of 14.35 mph, or 4:11 min/mi.

This was a good start to what is going to be a looooooooooooong (but fun, I hope) day.

Beautiful morning

The weather was gorgeous! I ran in shorts! It was a little foggy at first, but I watched it burn off. It was supposed to be an easy 35 minute run. Easy to my coach means an 11:30 pace, no faster. I try to look at the Garmin only for time. Time is more important than mileage. So I set out at what felt easy to me and held that pace. It was a comfortable run.

I did 3.33 miles in 35:01, for an average pace of 10:31. Splits: 10:31, 10:44, 10:27, 3:19 (=10:10 pace). Avg HR = 176.

It was a fun run!

Harrrumph day 2

Another crummy day. Well, this one did start to get better mid-afternoon, so it is possible I am on the way out of the funk.

Today was trash pickup day. They usually come around 8 or so, and I don't feel too bad if I forget to put the stuff out the night before. I took all the trash and recycling out around 7. They had already come and gone. Well, that sucks, but it isn't the end of the world.

I tried to sync my phone with iTunes, but it isn't working. Half the time iTunes won't see the phone. Today iTunes kept crashing. So I decided to uninstall it and then reinstall it. I'm trying to sync now, but it is hanging on the back up part. It usually takes about 45 minutes to get through this. Sometimes I just want to throw it out the window.

I went to legal today to get the yellow ink thing resolved. Nope. Everything is legally signed. Period. End of story. The only way to fix it is to redo it. They can email the files to the legal office in AFG and Bill can redo them and then get them to me, or we just leave it the way it is. The good news is that I did get the notarized affidavit that I need to sign all the paperwork for our financial advisor.

As I left the building I saw that the rescue swimmers were launching flares out above the water. My heart sank. I knew Tawny would be freaking out. Sure enough. She was hyperventilating and had shredded the seat cover. I thank my lucky stars (and I'm sure she does, too, as I would have killed her if she had) she didn't shred the actual seat.

The cover is made of cordura, an extremely durable material. It is the same stuff as the "toughchew" dog beds. It is supposed to be able to withstand this kind of treatment. When I got to the shop I ordered a new cover.

Angela came by and I am so glad she did. I really needed a friend at that moment. We talked for a while, a few customers came in, and then she left. I had a beginning crochet student in the afternoon and then was supposed to have a beginning knitter later. The beginning crocheter did pretty well. The beginning knitter called and said that she wasn't coming. She found another shop closer to her house and would take lessons from them. I wanted to wish her luck with that, as I know the other shop and I know she doesn't offer lessons. But that's OK. She'll figure that out on her own. I am not going to bad mouth the other shop, no matter how true it is.

Sock Amy called and asked if I wanted to go to dinner after work. And then she asked if it would be OK if she dropped by to hang out and knit. Yes to both! Liz came in because she just found out her hairdresser was pregnant and having a boy. Then Dottie called with a question and decided to come down and hang out and knit. It was really nice to have this impromptu knitting circle. That definitely helped me get out of my funk. Then dinner with Amy was nice. We went to Jordan Valley for Greek food. That was delicious!

I got to talk to Bill today! The bluetooth adapter is installed both at home and work, and seems to be working, so he should be able to hear me at home while using the handsfree device. In fact, he complained that I made too much noise while eating strawberries! Seeing him and talking to him lifts my spirits.

I know tomorrow will be a better day. It has to be!

Harrrumph.

That's what I feel about this day. The run was great and then it went downhill. It's only 5:30, so who knows how much farther downhill this day can go.

I went to the Escambia County Tax Collector this morning to replace the decal on the RV's license plate that someone had so kindly scraped off. I used the drive thru lane, which was actually quite convenient. The lady was friendly and I got through quickly. It only set me back $40.35. Yup, for a little one inch square sticker. I didn't even get any additional time on the registration. We get the pleasure of renewing that in August.

Things got better at the shop. My Wednesday ladies came in and they are a fun bunch. Lynn finished her socks and Dottie swatched for her sweater. But then a woman came in with her son (who would rather be anywhere else but here) looking for some yarn to make something in Harry Potter colors (Gryffendor I think) so he wouldn't look like a "muggle" when they went to Universal Studios next week. I asked what colors they were, since I am not a HP fanatic, and after she said bronze and blue she said in a low voice to her son, "Pfft. She's obviously a muggle."

I thought about the colors and realized that I probably didn't have what she needed and told her. She said, "Well, what am I going to do? I don't have time to order anything online!" So you buy your yarn online and then expect the local shop to help you in a pinch? Pfft to you! Nothing I had would work. She found something and got it, even though she "shouldn't be buying yarn". Uh, tell me again why you came in?

I'm not really sure why that experience really rubbed me the wrong way but I've been stewing over it all day. Things got really quiet after she left and I've been tempted to close for the past three hours. I did get some other first-time customers in so I'm glad I didn't.

Then I took a thirty-second bathroom break. When I got out I heard the computer make the you-have-a-skype-text sound. It was Bill. He had just called. By the time I could type "hi!" he logged out and I missed the chance to say hello. That would have made the day better. Missing it made the day worse.

I hope I'll get in a better mood this evening. I have the appointment at legal tomorrow and if I am not over this slump I will start my day off all wrong.

Tempo run

My first tempo run! The plan was 20 minutes easy warmup, 20 minutes moderate to hard, and 10 minutes easy cooldown. Overall it was 4.92 miles in 50:01 for an average pace of 10:10. It breaks down like this:

Lap 1: 1.81mi, 11:03 pace, avg HR 177.
Lap 2: 2.16mi, 9:16 pace, avg HR 175.
Lap 3: 0.94mi, 10:36 pace, avg HR 169.

This was tough, but I liked it. I got nauseous for a few seconds when I slowed down after the hard part but it didn't last long. I guess it meant I was trying hard! I counted my cadence twice during the hard part and it was 85, which is really cool. I know it is supposed to get to 90 and it will. It will take a little time. It was 80 during the cooldown.

I'm really happy that I held the 9:16 pace for 20 minutes. That is what I am going to have to do if I want a sub-28 5k.

Overall, it was a great run.

Monday's ride

I forgot to post this ride. Monday I took the road bike out and did 7.45 miles in 31+ minutes. I really enjoyed the ride! I was on the way home, about a mile out, and the chain fell of while shifting. That was a bummer but I was able to stop. I took a look at the situation and briefly thought over my options. I flipped the bike over, put the chain back on the gears, spun the pedals to confirm it was working again, flipped it back over, clipped in and continued home. Piece o' cake. I was happy I figured it out!

Busy two days

There's been plenty to post about, but I haven't had the chance! Here we go ...

Monday morning I got a new tire for the Honda and then took it in for new brakes. When I had the flat the guy at Vannoy's said I'd need new brakes within a month. Pensacola Honda said I had 50% left on the brakes, but the brake fluid and the steering fluid should be replaced. Odd but OK.

After the courtesy driver dropped me back at the house, I went for my bike ride. I will record that in a separate post (which I should have done). It was really nice to get out there. I took the road bike out and I felt like I was flying!

Following that the dogs and I loaded into the truck and went to pick up the coach. They had repaired the roof and replaced most of the screws under the trim and resealed the roof. The repair guy said that there were other sections that had probably suffered some water damage and if we were going to trade it in, now would be a good time. They had a 30 foot cover there that they were willing to sell me at their cost. They had ordered it for someone who didn't buy it. It is still in the original packaging. I'll price out the cover and see if the additional two feet will make a difference.

I drove it back to the storage lot and I backed that baby in place in one shot. WOO HOO!! I was really proud of myself! I suppose the more I drive it and back it up the better I get it. I did a happy dance right there in the middle of the field.

After unhooking and going home I attacked the dining room table and the kitchen table and cleaned the clutter and organized what was left. I feel like I made good progress. Then I got changed and went to meet Jen at Running Wild so she could get new shoes. Then we went for sushi.

That was only Monday! Here's what happened today!

The dogs slept in, which threw off my whole morning! We got up at 6:30. Then I went for my run. The weather was gorgeous. I was a little chilly in my capris and a long sleeve tech tee, but I think I would have been a little warm if I had added the jacket.

Following the run I got everything together for work. I dropped by Gulf Power and the bank and then went to the shop. There was a package for Bill in the mailbox. He called on the phone while I was sweeping because he wanted to Skype for a while. I got on the computer and called him back. I was happy no customers came in during the call, as it was nice to talk to him somewhat uninterrupted. He asked me to open the package. It was for me!

He wanted to get his Valentine some running gear! He got me a pink compression mock turtleneck! I didn't realize it was a compression shirt until I tried it on. It definitely felt like a second skin. I thought I was going to go up a size or two (for my modesty), but I think it fits like it is supposed to. I did some research since I haven't used compression gear. It is designed to keep the muscles warm, helping to keep fatigue at bay. It supports the muscles and increases circulation. It helps keep you warm without bulk, and is designed to move freely. I am looking forward to trying it out. I am happy the weather has gotten a little warmer, but now I want another cool morning so I can try it out! I will bring it to NZ. I am sure that I will use it, whether for running or on our hike. The research has led me to the conclusion that I will use my $35 reward at Running Wild for some compression socks. I read that they are awesome for long flights. The shirt Bill got me is a pale pink, which I thought was odd, given that Bill knows I'm not a pink fan. He said he wanted to get his Valentine this in a Valentine's color, even though he knows I don't care much for pink. What a sweetie!

We talked about the upcoming orders and his discussions with the detailer. I think that was the real reason that he wanted to talk this morning, although him saying he wanted to see my lovely face before he went to bed and then seeing me open the package and try on the shirt were great reasons too. There has been some solidification of the jell-o that is the next set of orders. I am not saying anything here, as I would like these to become reality. I can say that I'm excited about the idea, even though I am trying to keep from getting my hopes up. If the detailer offered him to go back to a job that he held six years ago (an O-3 billet for a senior O-4 (and who we hope will become an O-5)), I doubt he wants to give Bill what he really wants. I'd say I won't believe it until the orders come through, but even then they can change. But I will allow myself to get more excited once that piece of paper comes through!

Today was a slow day until later in the afternoon. I had a really freaky event. A man came in the shop. He was somewhat disheveled. He launched into a diatribe about knitting and crocheting being hyperactive and that yarnside was like fireside and the fireside chats were good, but he wouldn't want to have one with Obama. He told me that he was in the Confederate Army - a four star General in the Confederate Army - and that he would never sit down with him. I asked him how this related to knitting or crocheting. So he told me that when I sat down with a glass of Cabernet, a big juicy steak with a baked potato on the side, and some broccoli or asparagus with hollandaise sauce, I would understand. Then he went to leave and I was relieved that he moved toward the door. Then he turned around and told me that he had been molested, though he meant me no disrespect, but that he had sex with older men, never younger. And by older he meant in their 80s and 90s. Again, he meant me no disrespect.

I really didn't know what to do. It was obvious to me at that point that he was homeless and mentally ill. I felt badly for him because he probably had no idea what he was doing or saying, and he really needed help. I was very uncomfortable and thought about pushing the panic button more than once, but I wasn't threatened, just uncomfortable. Then he left and I had to shake it off. I waited a minute and looked outside and he had walked past Wings. Funny thing, at the time I had been chatting with Bill on Skype! I had forgotten to ask him something for Michelle and so I had just caught him before he went to bed. It is almost too bad that we weren't in a call, but then again, I am sure he would have been more than worried if he had been listening in on that.

A minute or two after the guy left a regular customer came in and I felt better. I wasn't alone in the shop after that. I had a class and then the Tuesday night ladies came in. I didn't mention this to anyone (I don't see the need). I am glad that I was at the register at the time and would have been able to summon help quickly if I had needed to.

The Tuesday night group was fun as usual. Cookie Amy brought red velvet whoopie pies which were tasty, but not on the overly sweet side. I enjoyed them. We talked about the upcoming pajama party and I mentioned that I wanted to get Bella Luna pizza instead of Papa Johns. Maybe I will see if I can swing it so that someone from that end of town can pick up the order and bring it so we'll have it right at the start of the party. That means I'll have to guess how much to order and if we have leftovers, oh well!

I talked to my friend Jenn today. She is still thinking about which Half Marathon we are going to run together. I know we're thinking Disneyworld's Wine and Dine Half in October, but with the developments today, maybe the Disneyland Half would be better. It was super to talk to her. I miss her a lot and I hope we'll have the chance to be near each other in the future.

Today was Tawny's assigned birthday! She is now seven years old! Happy birthday, Tawny!

Tuesday Three

This was a beautiful morning for a run. I had a nice and easy 3 mile/35 minute run on the schedule. I ran 3.25 miles in 35:01. That's an average pace of 10:46. It was a little chilly, but really nice. Average HR was through the roof at 202. I don't know why.

My day in a diatribe

It wasn't that awesome, other than the run. It was quite a good day, but nothing for the record books. I missed the opportunity to talk to Bill. He sent me an email as I was on the way home from the run, but I wasn't able to read it until I got back. By the time I had turned Skype on, he had already gone to bed. Bummer.

When I finished the run, I stretched a whole bunch. On a scale of 1 to 10, with 1 being no pain and 10 being excruciating, my foot pain at the end of this run was about a 3. It has diminished throughout the day to a 2. WOO HOO!! That is awesome! I am hoping that the TP Therapy massage in a little bit and the splints tonight will make them feel like new tomorrow morning. Yippee! I *may* have begun to win the battle over Plantar Fasciitis!

After stretching, I went to get my reward.

Yup, that's a Bella Luna personal pizza with spinach and mushrooms. I had half for lunch and half for dinner. It was yummy! Bella Luna bills itself as New York Style pizza. Having grown up on that, I was skeptical. I have to say though that the pizza was quite tasty! I probably could have downed the whole thing in one sitting. Sure, having just run 12+ miles, it probably wouldn't have had too bad an effect on the diet, but I didn't. I split it over two meals. Woo boy, it was good! I may have a new favorite pizza place. It is a good thing that both of them are too far away to go to on a regular basis!

After lunch I cleaned up the backyard and then took the dogs to Publix. Well, I should say that I took them for a truck ride. In addition to the three free beer tear-off tags on my Double Bridge Run race number, there was a $5 off coupon to Publix, good until today. So I went grocery shopping and saved $5. I had considered putting it off until tomorrow, but no, I earned that money!

More information will follow, but here's a teaser. You know the old saying that when a door closes, a window opens? Well, if you consider the door closing to be the end of Yarnside Gathering as we know it, I think I know what that window that opens is. I'm not going to tell you just yet, as I want things to fall into place, but I see an opportunity and I am going to seize it.

Tomorrow will be a busy errand day. The Honda gets a new tire and brakes tomorrow, the coach gets picked up and put back in storage, and I'm going to Running Wild and to sushi. OK, the sushi isn't technically an "errand". I also have a thirty minute cycling session on tap. I am looking forward to taking the road bike out!

Speaking of road bikes, the 2011 Battleship Ride was today. I looked at the flyer briefly while I was at Bikes Plus yesterday. It was an out and back to the USS Alabama. The battleship. The one in Mobile Bay. The one that is almost an hour drive from here! I checked facebook a little while ago and what did I see? Coach Mark and Coach John did the 104 mile ride. Coach Mark did a transition run afterwards. What's that you say? Well, my understanding (which is quite limited) is that a "brick" is a run immediately after a bike ride (as in during a triathlon or duathlon). A "transition run" is one done five minutes or more following a bike ride. I guess if you have time to cool down a bit, it is a transition run rather than a brick. Personally, I don't think I'd be able to walk two steps from my bike following a 104 mile ride, nevermind do an actual run. But I am not an Ironman like Coach Mark. I think he has signed up for three so far this year. I am in awe.

Today was a good day. Tomorrow will be a good day. I'm focusing as much on the positives as I can, so that I don't break down into a blubbering mess, thinking about my current life situation. The logical side of me sees no sense in lamenting about how horrible my situation is. That is not going to make it better. My attitude leads me, so why not make it a positive one?! That will make the next six months go by faster. Well, I wouldn't be upset if time stopped in March, as long as it stopped while I was with Bill! Every day I get one day closer to him being home again! Yes, I am counting the days until I see him again. I know those two weeks of R&R will fly by, but I plan to enjoy every second. Then I'll start the countdown until he comes home. It's kind of hard when you don't know the actual date, but I can make something up. I just need to count.

Beautiful 12

Today was supposed to be a 12-mile/2:20 run. I decided to run along Johnson Beach in Perdido Key. What a fantastic place to run. First, the weather was AWESOME! It was 57 degrees and sunny. There was a slight breeze. I ran through Gulf Islands National Park. I didn't realize there was an entry fee until later. Ooops.

Here was the view. Note, I ran against traffic. The photo would turn out better if I took it behind me rather than in front of me, so it looks like I was running with traffic, but I was not.

The picture doesn't do the scenery justice. It was just overwhelmingly beautiful. The road goes for around 2.5 miles on a barrier island that is maybe 500 feet wide. The sound is on one side (to the right in the photo) and the Gulf is on the other. There are dune crossovers every so often and people would park their cars off the side of the road and go enjoy the pristine beach.

The water was a beautiful emerald green and the sky was differing shades of blue. I really wanted to stop and breathe it all in; sit in the sand and just become one with nature. I pressed on because I wanted to complete my run.

I saw several people along the way. Everyone was very friendly. It felt nice to hear all the encouragement. One lady was riding her bike and then I saw her on roller blades. She said she would have run, but she forgot her jog bra.

I did 12.1 miles in 2:14:45 for an average pace of 11:08.

I ran the road from the parking lot to the end and back and then I ran out of the park to the condos and back (almost 6 miles). On the way in I saw that there was a day-use fee. I asked the kind gentleman about it (no one was at the guard shack when I went through and the guard arms were up, so I figured it was OK to pass. On my second pass through I paid him the fee. He kept insisting that it was OK, but I wanted to make sure I paid. It is worth it to me if it will help keep that area pristine.

What's in your glass?

I'm enjoying a nice beverage this evening. Remember when I went blueberry picking this summer? Hal and Michelle made wine and I am enjoying a glass now. I had a great laugh over the label.

Today was a good day. Karen knit her first sock and did a great job on it! I think she really got the concept of the anatomy of the sock and how the pieces fit together and how they are formed. I felt really good about that.

This morning's bike ride was great. I took the road bike to the bike shop near the shop so I could get the tire changed. Could I have changed it myself? Maybe. It was a rear tire, so I know there would be hours of aggravation trying to get it back on around the derailleur just right. Instead, the kind gentleman there had it changed in 5 minutes at a cost of $15.04. Worth it! Now I am really looking forward to my next ride!

My sweetie sent me flowers today! What a funny story. I was chatting with him on Skype when I saw a car pull in. I figured it was a customer. Nope. It was the floral delivery guy!

How awesome! Bill said that he hoped we'd be online when the flowers were delivered. They are absolutely beautiful and I hope I remember to lock them in the spare bathroom when I'm not around to keep Abby from dining on them.

Speaking of Abby, here's a photo I took the other day of the kitties just being cute

For equal time, here's one of the dogs.

I love my little furballs!

In other news, MY FEET DO NOT HURT!!! Yes, that is correct! I have gone three days now without feeling ANY pain in my feet whatsoever! I am so happy about this, I can't even begin to tell you. Tomorrow will be a big test though, as I have a 12-miler on the schedule. I like running in Navy Point Park, but I want a change. I think I am going to run at Johnson Beach in Perdido. Apparently the road out and back is a 4 mile run. I know I'll do it three times, but I'll be right there on the Gulf so the scenery will be awesome. It will be a new run and I think I'll enjoy it.

My tentative plan is to get pizza for lunch after the run. There is a new place called Bella Luna out there that I have heard nothing about but good reviews. I called and supposedly they don't put any peppers in the sauce. I realize the pizza will negate the run, but such is life.

Archaeologist Jen came to the shop today. It was great to see her. She's been pretty busy lately and hasn't been by. She ran and biked today! I'm thrilled to see it! Apparently the shoes she has aren't doing her any favors and are probably the cause of her shin splints. She asked me if I would be interested in going to Running Wild and then sushi sometime soon. Yes!! I have a $35 reward at RW that is going to expire soon, so I certainly need to go. I had considered going Monday afternoon so I suggested Monday night. It's the best night for me, and Jen is single and I didn't want her to suffer through the evening alone.


Overall it was a good day today. I am happy with it. I know tomorrow will be good too, as will Monday.Things are looking up!

Back in the saddle

The frost was on the car window and there were sheets of ice on the puddles, but I had a nice ride! I wanted to take the road bike out but the back tire was flat, so I took the comfort bike. It was really nice to get out and get some fresh (cold) air.

I rode 6.23 miles in 33:47. I was supposed to do a nice and easy 30 minutes. I didn't get run off the road, so it was definitely a nice ride.

Blah

My heart wasn't in the run this morning. I was supposed to do 35:00 at an easy pace. The "real feel" outside was 28, so I decided to stay in. I got on the treadmill and started. I just wanted to stop. My feet felt like lead. I gave up before reaching my goal. I did 2.26 miles in 25:01 for an average pace of 11:04. My average HR was 155 and average cadence was 77. I'd like to go crawl back under the covers now and spend the day there.

Resolution of sorts

I went to Legal today and complained about my yellow ink. Of course, LTJG (now LT) Doofus wasn't there. He works for a different department, but he is at school this week. I have an appointment next week when I am supposed to see him and get this yellow straightened out. Everyone was surprised because he's so "anal" and "careful" and blah blah.

The  kind gentleman who has 50 years of civil service took care of me and got me the paperwork I needed. He executed the affidavit of the POA and sent me on his way. He also gave me his email address and would like me to let him know that everything went well or if there was a problem. I went to the shop, signed everything, made copies, and put it in the mail. Two minutes later the mailman came by and picked it up. We'll see what happens from here.

I thought I was done with the POA stuff. Nah. Hello! The pain you feel in your rump is Karma kicking your a$$! I got home and found a thick envelope in the mail from our financial advisor. No, not cash, it is paperwork I have to fill out because he is switching from First Clearing to Capital Guardian. I think he used a whole box of "sign here" post-its on our paperwork. Guess I'd better get another notarized copy of the affidavit for the POA and a fresh (blue or black ink) pen. *sigh*

The good news is, I got to the shop early and was able to catch up on a lot of financial stuff I've let lapse. I have paid all the bills on time, I just haven't put them in the computer in a timely basis. I also tallied up all the deposits we've had over the past two weeks and I have to say that I like our bottom line a lot. I'm breathing a little easier now.

The email came out last night from Wellslee's, the shop in Mobile, that she will be closing the storefront and going to online sales only. She had told me about that in confidence a few weeks ago. When I was in there during her Super Bowl Sale, she was doing a brisk business. She sent me an email this morning asking me to call her. I called and she offered to let me list my yarn on her website. That is really kind of her! I'm not sure how it would work and whether she'd want a cut of the sales, but it was really neat of her to offer. It makes her shop look better with more inventory, and it offers me a place to sell that may have cheaper fees. Maybe I can list in both places. It is definitely something to think about.

I had several classes today. I got Karen going knitting in the round and now she's ready for her sock class on Saturday. Joann is a new crocheter, and has taken to it quickly. She wanted to take the Advanced Beginner Class. She was so happy to hear that I would still give lessons and help after I close the shop. She doesn't feel like she has an alternative, and she is right. The "other" shop doesn't teach at all and looks down her nose at crocheters. The shop in Fort Walton Beach and the one in Fairhope are a little snooty and don't take to crocheters much. I'd recommend Joann Fabrics, but I know the crocheting teacher (and the knitting teacher) there and I would rather she run for the hills than sit down with her. This is the hard part. The best part of having a shop is teaching others. I don't care for selling yarn. I like to help people find the right yarn for their project, but my enjoyment comes from working with people, not just being in retail. That's why the online store at this point will only be for liquidation and not be a continuing venture.

I got the chance to talk with Bill today about upcoming orders. The offers on the table range from the blah to the awesome, but I'm not thinking about them too much, as I'm sure the options will change several times between now and when he comes home. We talked about it, we agree on the order of preference, so we'll see what becomes of that.

Speaking of coming home, we're in the homestretch. We just passed the eleven month mark and are now on the downhill slide. Only six or so months to go. I can't believe I've been living alone for eleven months. I'm afraid I am going to forget how to live with him. I've taken considerable effort to not sleep in the middle of the bed. I stay on my side of the sofa. I use my towel rack. I am truly afraid of getting too comfortable without him. I'm probably going to be uncomfortable with him in the bed as I've become accustomed to it being empty.

The R&R trip next month will be wonderful! We'll have the chance to reacquaint ourselves without the distractions of the dogs, bills, or cleaning house. Yes, it is going to be that much harder to leave again, but at least we'll know it won't be that long. Maybe we should try that when he comes back. A few days in a hotel without any distractions. Then we can transition home. And then PCS.

I never thought I'd make it through six months without him (back in 2001). Now I'm faced with a year and a half deployment. I also thought I'd never run farther than the bathroom, and here I am, training for my second half marathon. We don't know what we are capable of until we are tested and I plan to pass this test with flying colors. I am keeping myself busy and "taking care of number one", something that has been on the back burner for years. I take life one day at a time. I set goals and I do my best to achieve them. Some days I want to scream and carry on. Other days pass so quickly I hardly notice.

I appreciate this opportunity to get to know myself and I am going to make the most of it.

High and low

Those were the points of my day. Thankfully there were more highs than lows.

I had been thinking about signing up for the Crescent City Classic, a 10k from the French Quarter to City Park in New Orleans. I remember hearing about this race when we lived in NOLA, but always thinking it was too far to run. (Those were my 5k days when my knees gave me trouble.) My friend Chris had mentioned it on more than one occasion. When my friend Liz mentioned it the other day I thought: I  should do this.

Liz is the Director of the Humane Society of Pensacola. She is a great human being. She said that my fitness journey inspired her to start getting into shape. She started the Couch to 5k right after the new year, but decided to switch to speedwalking instead. She did the Double Bridge Run 5k at about a 14 to 15 minute pace, which is pretty darn good for only doing this for five weeks or so!

Anyway, so I called and booked a room. She and Monie, the Volunteer Coordinator, are going to join me. I then promptly registered. I have my confirmation, so I AM IN!! I'm really excited about it. It should be a fun weekend. We'll go out Friday and come back Sunday.

This morning before work I went to AT&T and got a phone and transferred the work number to it. It will take a few days for the transition to be complete. I opened the account (no contract term) under the business name. The salesperson called it in to the analyst department who ran a credit check and came back saying we needed to provide a $750 deposit. WHAT?!?!?! I don't think so!

I was about to leave when she said she could waive the deposit if I personally guaranteed it by providing my SSN. I did that, but I am bothered by the fact that the business could not do it on its own. The salesperson said that the analyst said based on Experian's report of the company, we would require a deposit. I guess I need to call Experian to find out what. I suppose it could be that the majority of the bills are in Yarnside's name and the loan from the bank is in 8 Paw's name and the credit is going to YG. Anyway, I got the phone and spent some time relearning the "dumb" phone and how to type using the 1 through 9 keys. The QWERTY has really spoiled me.

The shop was busy today, not with sales, but with people. It was fun. The Mystery Sock group is going to continue to meet on Wednesdays this month, regardless. It is like a new knitting circle. Dottie joined the Cookie A sock club as did I and, as we found out today, so did Michelle. So we said we should meet when the shipments come in and work on the socks together. I have met some great people through this job.

So with all this going on you wonder what the low point is? Well, I need to use the POA I got from my husband for something to do with the business. I have been trying to get a hold of the legal officer to ask a question for the past two days but I haven't received a call back. Today I decided that I didn't need to wait any longer and I would just make the copy and submit the paperwork. I can't make a copy of the POA. Why? Because LTJG DOOFUS signed the POA in yellow ink, which does NOT copy. So the copy looks like no witnesses signed it.

Tomorrow morning I have to go to NLSO and see if he is still around and can sign it in real ink. Knowing my luck he has transferred and I have an invalid POA and the only way to fix it is to have Bill execute another one there and mail it to me. I can just see the headline now: "Bail Denied for Irate Wife Dragged to Brig Screaming 'I Hate You NLSO!'"

I suppose I should stop being cynical and accept that there is a chance it won't be that bad. The silver lining is that it will get me out of the house early and might get me to the shop early, giving me an opportunity to balance the books and pay the sales tax on time (assuming of course that I'm not dragged to the brig). Tomorrow is jam packed with lessons with people who want to learn as much as they can before I close. The new tire for the Honda will just have to wait until Monday I suppose.

Intervals = fun!

This was a great run! It started out awesome, even before I ran! As I was waiting to cross the street to get to my start point, a car stopped and the driver rolled down the window. "How much weight have you lost?" I said 20 pounds. He said, "I can tell! I remember when you started. Good for you!" I just had to smile. That just made my day!

Today's run was a two mile easy warm up, 4x 30 seconds hard followed by 2 minutes easy, and a one mile cool down.

Lap  dist   time     pace  Avg HR
1      2.01  22:52  10:53  170
2      302'   0:30   8:41    171
3      0.18   2:01   10:53  168
4      324'   0:30   8:11    171
5      0.18   2:00   11:00  168
6      323'   0:30   8:08    171
7      0.18   2:00   11:19  167
8      329'   0:30    8:05   170
9      0.19   2:08   11:18  167
10    1.04   11:43  11:16  166

I had negative splits on my intervals!! Woo hoo!!

When I got home, my neighbor Barbara asked what have I been doing to look so good. She also commented that I have lost a lot of weight. I told her it was all the running. I offered for her to join Tawny and me when we start the C25k in April.

So what is everyone talking about? It's hard to take a picture of yourself, but I think this may give you the idea.

Easy treadmill run

That's what it was supposed to be anyway. I set the treadmill to 5.1, which should give me an 11:30 pace. Somehow the treadmill and the footpod are not calibrated the same. I'm going to have to fix that. anyway, I did 3.2 miles in 35:19 according to the Garmin. My average HR was 170 and my average cadence was 78. The heartrate is a little higher than I think it should be. Maybe it was because I did the run first thing in the morning.

Super bowl Sunday = meh

Yes, it is the biggest day of the year for football fans and I'm blogging. Why? Because the game is on Fox and our antenna doesn't get that channel, but that's OK. I don't really care who wins. I am leaning towards the Packers because I think that Aaron Rodgers is a far better human being than Ben Roesthlisberger. Other than that, I don't care.

I went with my friend Teresa to Mobile today to see Cirque du Soleil's Dralion show. It was fantastic! We were blown away by the acrobatics and I can't believe that you can actually twist your body into some of those positions. And they made it look completely effortless! It was a great show. Except for the jerk who kept kicking my seat. She had the nerve to put her feet up on the back of my seat. I felt her toes on my shoulders! I turned around with a "WTF?" look on my face and I got the rolled eyes. I swear I wanted to punch her. Her rudeness almost spoiled the show for me but I tried really hard to concentrate on the show.

After the show we went down to Wellslee's to drop off some yarn. The place was slamming! There were probably 25 customers in the shop and people were buying. Susan was having some good sales. I was tempted by one skein of sock yarn, but I didn't fall for it. She also had a really pretty baby blanket on display and she said she'd send me the pattern. She also asked if it would be ok if she brought her Thursday night regulars to my shop on a Thursday night. I said absolutely! I would stay open late and invite my ladies to come in as well. I'm sure there will be some sales out of that. We'll see if anything comes of it.

It was very nice to spend the day with Teresa. She is a good person and has a lot of insight. She's also a small business owner who had to close her business for reasons beyond her control, so she can relate to what I'm going through. We had a nice conversation. She asked me to go to Mamma Mia at the Saenger next month. I'd love to go, but it depends on when it is.

When I got home everything appeared to be in order. Tawny let me go the whole day without incident! Almost. There was some puke on the floor. I didn't know for sure who did it other than it was one of the dogs. As I was getting food ready for them, Tawny threw up a little. I debated on not feeding her, but decided to give her a reglan pill with her dinner. That has settled her stomach.

This has happened a few times now and I'm not sure hoe concerned I need to be. She may have a nervous stomach because I've been gone a while or she may be sick. She goes a week or two in between episodes and it is far less violent than it has been in the past. I guess I'll just continue to monitor the situation.

Tomorrow should be a busy day. I have to take the coach in to see if they can fix the roof and then I need to take the Honda in for a second new tire. I also have a run to do in the morning. I am definitely going to do it in the morning because I have a massage scheduled for the afternoon and I don't want to run after that. I want to hang out around the house (probably cleaning it) and then have a bath and go to bed early. That's the ideal. We'll see what happens. Either way, I don't think that running after a massage is smart.

Share the road

I rode the bike today! It was nice. It was cold, but nice. It felt good to ride. I took the comfort bike because the road bike tires are low. That makes me a little mad, as I just had the bikes tuned up (ok, a few months ago) and I thought I got new tubes. I wonder if storing the bike on the wheels versus upside down or elevated on a stand makes any difference.

Anyway, I rode 6.14 miles in 33:45. It was a nice easy ride just to flush the legs from all the running. I went up Blue Angel to Mobile Highway and turned around at 15 minutes or so and came home. I was almost at my left turn when some jerk decided to see how close he could come to me. 1) there was no oncoming traffic (or any behind him for that matter), 2) there was a striped out center median, and 3) I was in the bike lane. There was NO reason for him to come that close. I swear his mirror was less than a foot from my elbow. Grrr.

Otherwise, it was a great ride!

A good end to a good week

The week at the shop has been good. Today was a good day, too. I didn't get a lot of customers, but I did make some good sales. I thought I was going to fall asleep at times today, mostly from waking up so early and running the race, but partly from boredom.

The dogs were amazing today. I left them at the shop around 6:20 or so when I left for the run. They were angels and waited patiently for me to return. I got back to the shop around 10. I took a shower and was able to open on time. I had considered not opening at all, but I changed my mind on that because of closing the shop at the end of the month. I had put a note on the door saying that I'd open around 1:00, because I didn't know when I'd be back.

I have been sneezing quite a bit today and I'm not sure why. I don't know if 1) there's something in the air, 2) being out in the cold today with a runny nose is carrying over, or 3) I'm getting sick. I hope it isn't #3. There are two illnesses going around. One is a 24 hour bug and the other has been taking people two and three weeks to get over. I'm talking healthy, in-shape people. I certainly don't want that!

Tomorrow I'm going to see the Cirque du Soleil show in Mobile with Teresa. It should be a lot of fun. After the show I have to stop at Wellslee's (the yarn shop in Mobile). It is about a mile from the venue and Susan is buying some of my stock. I thought it would be easy to do a drop-off, since I will be right there. She is having a Super Bowl Sunday sale so the shop will be open. It is perfect. I hope Teresa will indulge me. We should be able to get home in time for the Super Bowl or just after kickoff. I guess I should set the myth box to record it so I don't miss any commercials.

I think it will be a fun day tomorrow and I hope that my feet will still be pain free!

Double Bridge Run

Awesome, awesome, AWESOME!!!

I had a lot of fun running this! The scenery was beautiful and I felt like I was on top of the world! The weather was even tolerable once we got going.

The weather at the start was around 43 degrees. I wore my tights, a long sleeve tee, and my lighter weight running jacket. I also had a hat and gloves. I saw my coach at the start and that was a morale boost. I got into my corral and I selected the 10 minute corral to try and push myself rather than the 11 minute corral where I knew I'd be comfortable. I think that was a smart move. After colors and a beautiful rendition of the national anthem, we were off!



The run was fun! I enjoyed it. I can't explain, but I felt good as I was doing it. I kept telling myself to keep a steady pace, stand tall, be loose, and make it look easy. I reminded myself not to fly down the downhills and to take it easy.




The time on my Garmin at the finish was 1:33:31 and it registered 9.34 miles. That puts me at a 10:01 pace! I can't believe I maintained that the whole way! I did pick it up at the end. I knew we were close and I still had energy.

Splits: 9:52, 9:53, 10:01, 10:07, 10:17, 10:12, 10:12, 10:14, 9:42, 3:02 (=8:52 pace). Avg HR = 182. Max HR = 250.

I felt like I could have pushed myself a little faster, but I didn't because I didn't want to poop out too early.

My feet hurt a little during and after the run, but not anything like they have been! I think I may be on the mend and that is great! I am so thrilled about that. I stretched them right after and I have been doing some stretches periodically throughout the day. I will massage later and with the splints, I think they'll feel good tomorrow.

Chris and his wife Jackie were at the finish line for me. I called Chris from the top of the bridge (he wanted to get a picture of me so I could send it to Bill and since I was ahead of schedule, I thought I'd call. He didn't hear me say that I had taken off my hat, so he may not have gotten the shot. But he took some pictures afterward, so I'll share them when I get them. It was so cool that they were there. I wasn't cold at the end, but about five minutes later I was shivering. Jackie gave me the blanket she brought for me. She also had a sweatshirt and fig newtons, which were so tasty! They are a great post-run food. Then we walked around the post-run party and I got my celebratory beer. Following that they drove me back to the start to my truck. Their generosity is overwhelming. They live in Navarre, which is the opposite direction, but to come out to the race for me and drive me back, is just ... wow! They wouldn't let me take the blanket home to wash it, either!

I saw Liz after the race. She is the Director of the Humane Society. She was inspired by my running to start and she did the 5k race today. I am so happy (and flattered)! This was her first 5k ever! She has been soing speedwalking rather than running, and she completed it with an average pace somewhere around 14 minutes per mile. I know some beginners don't even run that fast. Way to go, Liz!

I also saw Carol (my 73 year old running mentor) at the finish. She did the 5k and I think she took third in her age group. Way to go, Carol!

My official stats for the race:
Net time: 1:33:27
Overall place: 1262/2754
Gender place: 429/1342
Division place: 67/109

I agree with the official time, as I started the Garmin as I approached the start line and I stopped it after I had crossed the finish. I think the four seconds is accurate. The official time with my distance gives me an average pace of ... wait for it ... 9:59!

A sub-10 pace! Can you imagine if I do that at the Seaside Half? That would give me a time of ~2:11, which is 17 minutes off my current PR. Holy Cow! You know what the crazy part is? I actually think I can do that! I think I could have maintained that pace for another four miles. I really do! The proof is in the pudding, as they say. I have four weeks and some great training ahead of me, so we'll see what happens.

For now, I am going to put my feet up and enjoy the feeling.

Running shoes

After the Disney half I went and got new running shoes. I got a pair of Asics Gel Kayano 17s. I really like them. They are comfortable and fit well. I really like them. Did I mention that I really like them? I've been thinking about getting an second pair and rotating the two.

Guess what. I just checked my stats and I have 47 miles on them. Already! I have only had them for two and a half weeks! I took almost two weeks off from running in January and still ran 69 miles! I can honestly say that I never ever in a million years thought I would ever hear myself say that!

You are supposed to trade in your sneakers every 350 to 500 miles. I guess I have a few months left on them. At this rate I'll be changing them in about four months. Whoa. This post is making me dizzy!

Feet

Yesterday I got some night splints for my feet. I tried them last night. I didn't sleep too well, but my feet felt so much better this morning! The splints put the feet in what is a comfortable position when standing, but not that comfortable when lying down. They were a little bulky, so it was somewhat awkward. But I think there were appreciable positive results, so I'm going to continue to use them for a few more nights and then reanalyze.

Yesterday and today have been great days for the shop! I have had many people telling me how sad they are to hear I'm closing. I am sad too, but I know it is for the best. I have gotten several calls from people wanting lessons and the spinning classes are filling quickly.

Tonight I came home and jumped on the treadmill. I don't like to run in the evening, but I really wanted to sleep in this morning and I let myself do that with the promise that I would still do today's run. After the run I had something to eat and then I poured a glass of wine and sat in the bath. Generally I don't drink wine right after a run. My head wants to split open then. Tonight, however, I wanted a little wine in my bath. I used the second half of the sample of bath salts Amy sent me and it was nice and relaxing. I did make one crucial mistake which kept it from being perfect. I ran the water and though the temp felt right on my hand, I wanted to test it on my feet. It was too hot so I cooled it down. I stepped in and my feet said it was still too hot, but the rest of my body thought it was tepid. I guess I shouldn't have used the feet as a gauge, especially since (duh) I had just iced them!!

Tomorrow night I go to the Hilton to pick up my race packet for Saturday. I'm super excited about the race. I know it is going to be cold, but that's OK I guess. I have some cold weather gear. I just think it is going to be really awesome. New this year are start corrals by pace. I think if I put myself in the corral faster than I think I am going to do, I'll be pushed trying to keep up and I won't have to continually check the Garmin to make sure I'm on track. The post-race party sounds fun, too, and I'm going to hang a sign on the shop that says I'll open a little late. I have a ride from the finish back to the start, so I'm good there, and I shouldn't be gone so long the dogs won't be able to handle it. I just hope my feet are up to the challenge.

Slow

I didn't sleep well last night so I decided not to run this morning. That may have been a good idea, as it was in the 30s with a vicious wind. I slept in instead. I did, however, get on the treadmill tonight.

Evening runs are rare for me. I'm usually just too tired to run when I get home. When I run in the morning I feel exhilarated and I'm ready to greet the day.

Today was another easy (>11:30 pace) 3 mile or 35 minute run. I set the treadmill to 5.1 and ran. It felt really slow. I concentrated on keeping my heartrate low. Final results were: 3.05 miles in 35:11 for an average pace of 11:31. Woo hoo! I finally got the pace where Coach wanted it! It felt so slow, it's no wonder why I can't get it without help. I think I'm running easy, but I'm doing a sub-11 pace. I'm not complaining, not a bit! I'm thrilled with that statement!

My average heartrate was 154. I didn't even feel like I was running that hard. I can't seem to get it to the 145 he wants. I sent him an email explaining about how six years ago I had my heart checked out because it was working too hard. Bill lent me his HRM and it recorded me at 180 to 200 and I wasn't cycling that fast. The doctor ran a bunch of tests and concluded that everything looked normal, so perhaps my heart just beat faster during exertion.

I had surgery for a deviated septum that was discovered around the same time and that helped me get more oxygen into my lungs and my heartrate slowed down quite a bit, but it was still higher than most.

My feet felt pretty good after the run. I rolled them this morning. I watched the dvds that came with the TPTherapy kit and realized that I was not using them entirely correctly. I may have been doing myself a slight disservice. So I rolled my legs properly this morning and will do so again tomorrow.

Slow 5k

Coach Mark told me that he wants my HR to be below 145 on my slow easy runs. I got it to 155 today. I did 3.16 miles in 35:10 for an average pace of 11:08. Splits were 10:47, 11:17, 11:19, 1:48. It was a good run. The weather was foggy, but warm enough for shorts. There will be a severe storm coming through this afternoon, but this morning was nice.

I think Coach Mark is fighting an uphill battle. My heartrate has always been high, even when my exertion level is relatively low.