Good bye 2011, hello 2012

It doesn't seem like it has been that long since I wrote something similar. It has been a great year, full of challenges, surprises, and excitement. I do want to take a look at my goals from last year that I carried over to this year. In my New Year's Eve post from last year I wrote:

Learn to swim Carrying this over to next year.
Improve my 5k time to 28:00 Carrying this over to next year, too. My PR now is 29:16.
Continue to learn new things Success! I learn new things often and I want to continue that.
Read more books I only read two books this year that I can remember. I started a few others, but have yet to finish them. I think once my knitting and crocheting demands wane (no more shop models or class models) I will be able to read more.
Declutter the house Carrying this over. I've made some progress, but so far I've been keeping new clutter from forming, not really getting rid of what's there. Once the shop closes I'll be able to devote time and effort to this.

Do I have anything to add to this list for next year? Not really. I'd like to maintain a level of fitness. I don't have to be in training all the time. I can take it easy for a while and run or bike at a lower intensity. I do want and need to clean our home. With a move looming, it would be best to declutter now. Also, I want to have a clean house. I don't want to be embarrassed when people come over. I want to read more. I love to read and get lost in stories. I would like to get over my fear of water. I see myself as a perfect person and when I realize I have imperfections, I want to overcome them.

The biggest goal I have for next year is to get through the rest of this deployment without going crazy and work really hard at reconnecting after he comes home. The changes we've both undergone are huge and we need to work hard to get to know each other again. We had issues after his first deployment and I don't want to go through that again. I hope the Navy will give us a less demanding tour next so that we can reconnect.

Here's the update:

I DID learn to swim this year! In fact, I learned to swim in the open water and competed in (and finished) two triathlons. What an accomplishment! I put thirty-nine years of fear to rest and actually enjoyed being in the water. Thank you, Coach John!

I DID improve my 5k time! I finished the Navarre Sunset Stampede in May in 27:49.

I DID learn new things. I started work in November at Fleet Feet Sports Monterey, and I have been learning a lot of new things about running, running shoes, apparel, and the like.

I DID read more books. I think. I read What I Wish I Knew When I Was Twenty by Tina Seelig. I am partway through Hot, Flat, And Crowded by Thomas Friedman, and I am partway through Inside of a Dog (the author's name escapes me at the moment).

I DID declutter the house. Bill and I have a 10x10 storage unit filled with items to sell or donate. Deciding to downsize into a 300 SF RV forced us to rethink what "stuff" we absolutely need to keep and what we can get rid of. I am looking forward to seeing the stuff in that storage unit disappear this year.

New goals for the year? I haven't really given them much thought. I still want to lose 10 pounds or so. I want to do at least three half marathons. I want to continue to learn and stretch myself intellectually. I want to be able to swim an Olympic distance triathlon (1.5k = 0.932 mi) in the open water. I want to be able to do one (add 40k/24.8mi bike and 10k/6.2mi run). I'd like to be injury-free.

I am looking forward to 2012. I think it is going to be a good year!

Brr

I know you've been dying to know how things are going, and I'm sorry I haven't blogged. The first night in the coach we discovered we had no hot water at the kitchen sink and a water leak near the shower. We took it in the next day, but the dealer couldn't replicate the leak. We did get hot water in the kitchen.  Now we hear a drip in the bathroom, but we can't identify it.

This morning we woke up FREEZING! We were told we had a full propane and a partial tank. I think we had an empty and a partial. It was 45 degrees inside, according to our thermometer. Outside got to the 20s. We cranked up the furnace but nothing happened. Of course we assume the worst. I get out to check the tanks and sure enough, both are empty. Thank god we had the fireplace installed. Yes, it seemed like a splurge, but it is a great space heater. At this moment, it is worth the price!

So Bill headed out to find propane. It is Christmas Eve and apparently no one is open. He went to the place just down the road to find it closed. He did a quick search and found four or five places -- all closed. I suggested he call the Marina RV Park. If they didn't have a filling station, maybe they'd know of a place. He sent me a text that said, "score!". I assume that means he found propane and we'll have heat shortly. Can't wait!

Lesson learned: do not trust the dealer when he says what he's given you.

I know this sounds like the last week has been nothing but hell. That is not true. It has been great. Monica and Dave arrived with Elinor Wednesday night and we've been having a great time with them. I got my first paycheck for work. My first payday in more than three years. I feel pretty good about it! I'm still really enjoying my job. I don't see it as a career, but it is a fun place to work. I am meeting people and I am earning a little money. Yet, I still have some free time and flexibility. In other good news, the property management company we hired in Pensacola found a tenant for our house. They signed a two-year lease! What a huge worry off our minds.

I probably won't blog much over the next few weeks as we deal with multiple house guests and the process of getting everything out of the house and either into storage or sold. I wish you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Moving = ugh

We brought the coach home Friday and parked it across the street. We've been loading it. What an ordeal. We thought we had pared down our possessions considerably, but it appears that we have the potential to keep paring down. I think everything will fit and we'll be OK, it is just that getting there is a pain!

Our new neighbors saw us Friday and invited us over Saturday night. We thought it was for after dinner drinks. But it was for dinner! Madeleine made a fantastic dinner and we had such a good time getting to know them. They are pretty neat people. It is too bad that we won't be neighbors for long.

I'd better get back to moving! We're planning on taking the coach to our spot tomorrow and living out of it. We'll let Monica and Dave have the house, spartan as it will be.

Improvement

I ran Friday before going back to the Physical Therapist. Bill ran with me. I think that was the first time we've run together since the half marathon. It was nice to run with him again.

His ankle started to hurt a little on the run. My knee didn't bother me until around mile 2.2. Even then, it was very slight. We ran 2.77 miles in 28:11 for an average pace of 10:10.

I saw the PT that afternoon. He was happy to hear my progress. He mentioned that strengthening my glutes will help, so we did a bunch of exercises for that. He was amazed that I could do them all. I guess I'm not hurt enough to need physical therapy. That's a good thing.

Less pain

I saw the doctor on Monday and she wasn't sure what was going on with the knee. She referred me to a physical therapist. I was able to get the authorization from insurance immediately and then set the appointment for Wednesday. I was thrilled that the process was so quick.

I went for a run on Tuesday and to my great surprise, my knee did not bother me as much nor until close to the end. The Garmin batteries were dead so I used a combination of my watch and my iPhone. I took the dogs on the first lap and then went solo on the second lap. Each lap was around 1.33 miles. I think my time was around 25:30, so that gives me a 2.66 mile run in 25:30 at an average pace of 9:35, which is pretty quick.

I was surprised that my knee didn't hurt on the second lap. I fully expected to have to stop early and walk the rest of the way. It did twinge some, but nothing like it had been. I was really happy with that.

So I went to the physical therapist yesterday. He seemed very nice and knowledgeable. He asked me to walk and said that I have an interesting walk. My knees bend either in or out (I forget which) and so my legs do not form a straight line. He doesn't think that is the problem, but it was just something he noticed.

He took a look at my knees (which I am always cautious about) and said that he doesn't think the problem is in the knee itself. The location of pain is off to the outside of the knee, and he thinks it is either a strain of the peroneus muscle or a tendinitis of some sort. He is surprised that it doesn't hurt at any other time except when running. So he worked the muscle (painfully, I might add) for ten or fifteen minutes and then iced it.

My job is to run on it and see if the pain is still there sometime between then and Friday afternoon, when I have my next appointment. If the pain goes away or lessens, he is going to think that was the problem. He'll look at my running gait to see if that created the problem and show me how to fix it if it should recur. If it still hurts, then he'll explore other options. I hope it is as easy a fix as he seems to think!

Still here

I ran with Ty and Mina this morning. The first 1.5 miles were great! Like I could run forever! Then my knee announced its presence. The pain was excruciating. I had to stop and walk. Twice in the last mile. Not fun at all. I wish I knew what was going on.

We ran 2.64 miles in 29:04 for an average pace of 11:00.

At work I learned about bra fitting and shoe inserts. We watched some videos on how to fit the Superfeet insoles. Robin let me try them and I noticed a difference. They're not bunk ... they seem to have an effect. I'm going to try and break them in slowly and see how I do. Maybe they'll help the knee. I'm getting desperate. I think I am going to pass on the Jungle Bell Run this Saturday. If I do go, I'm walking with the dogs and not running. Bummer.

I also looked into the Napa to Sonoma Half Marathon, as I thought that would be a lot of fun to do. It would, but it is sold out. The thing isn't until next July, but it is sold out now. Bummer.

Lots going on

I have been really busy lately, as I'm sure you've guessed from my lack of posting. Saturday morning we did the Bargain Fair at the housing community center. We brought everything we had at the house to sell, minus the large furniture, and hoped for the best. There was a big turnout and we sold about 2/3 of what we brought. I figured the dishes and the baker's rack would be the first things to go. I was wrong. They didn't sell. We were able to sell our old TV and a lot of the smaller furniture we had brought. We also sold our big screen TV that morning through the posting on craigslist.

Downsizing has been pretty hard work. I'm still concerned since we still have a ton of stuff. I'm hoping we won't have to rent another storage unit until we sell it all. We've come down on the price quite a bit, but it is the holiday season and perhaps it isn't the right time. We'll see what happens.

Saturday night we went to the Naval Postgraduate School Foundation's Grand Winter Ball. This is a black tie event. I had a really great time. I was able to eat dinner, and it was delicious. The champagne and wine was flowing and we got to sit at a table with all students. I had a lot of fun talking to people. I think we made a good looking couple!

Sunday we got up early and headed up to Gilroy to pick up our new home! The washer/dryer had been installed. We learned and practiced hooking up the coach. It is way easier than a bumper tow! It also was easier to pull. We aren't that much longer than we were when pulling the previous coach, but the weight distribution makes a difference. We did reasonable well on the mileage pulling it here, too. Right now it is parked in a spot for storing. We looked at the spots that were offered to us permanently and decided which we want (assuming it is still available). The lady who runs the park will be back from leave next week and so we'll find out then which space will be ours and when we can move into it. I gave our notice to housing this afternoon. I hope we will have a good bit of overlap in case there is a problem with the coach we can move back into the house while it is fixed.

I have been enjoying my time on the job. I've been learning a lot about feet, the foot bones, running shoes, inserts, and how this shop runs. Robin and Walt (the owners) are super sweet people and I have really been having fun. I'm glad that I took the chance and asked about the job. Granted, I'm not making a whole lot of money, but this isn't about the money. It was about having something to do, being around people and helping them, and being in an environment I enjoy.

I finished knitting Regina's sweater. I washed and blocked it and put on the buttons. I think it turned out great. It is in the mail, on the way to her. I hope she likes it (and that it fits)!

I started knitting some Christmas socks from the yarn I got in Portland. I hope I'll be able to finish them in time to wear them at Christmas!

Sprinting, walking, sprinting, running, ow

So I wanted to test the Brooks Adrenaline today. The great folks at Fleet Feet Sports Monterey (my new employers) fitted me for shoes. New shoes are a perk of the job. They are supposed to be for work and not for running, but I feel it is important to know how they feel while running. I won't run in them often.

So Tawny, Rava, and I sprinted over to Mina's. We ran 0.47 miles in 3:26, which is a 7:17 pace. That is INCREDIBLE!

Then we walked with Mina who pushed Tyson in the stroller. I let the dogs sniff whatever they wanted, so it took a while to walk. I'm not upset. They will be tired today, and perhaps the stimulation from the walk will keep them from being too bored this afternoon. We walked 1.69 miles in 44:42 for an average pace of 26:26.

Then the dogs and I sprinted home. We took the same route, and I wanted to beat our time. We did ... sort of. We made it in 3:29, but the Garmin registered 0.37 miles. We took the same route!! So our average pace was 9:28, according to the Garmin. Still, not bad.

Then I dropped the dogs in the house and took off for my own run. I got about two minutes in when I felt that weird pain in my left knee. The same pain from Wednesday. I know it isn't the shoes, or I would not have felt it both days in both shoes. I will have to keep watching that. I modified my route to do a short loop rather than a long one as I had originally planned. Then I modified it even further, thinking it would get me home faster. It didn't. I think it took the same distance, but the change of scenery was nice. I ran 1.19 miles in 11:47 for an average pace of 9:55. I'm happy with that.

Overall, the runs today were great and I like the way the shoes feel when I run. There is plenty of room in the toe box and they are comfortable.

Well, I have to go. Can't be late for work!