Internet Again and Vacation update

OK, OK so I know it has been a long time since my last post. Yesterday I finally managed to get my Internet hooked up at my new place. You know it is hard to move one day and the next pack up and leave for Tahoe, return and continue to unpack. But I did. It was a great vacation with lots of hiking and hanging out by the lake. Did I mention I ran just about everyday I was there which was a bonus for me as I originally wasn't planning on running as much as I did.

Eagle Falls Trail Hike

Quinn enjoying some lake time

Unfortunately we didn't have our permits, the first day we forgot and the second day there weren't any available. I know major Fail!!!

My little nephew Quinn is a great hiker and I have to say he did better than some of the adults we saw on the trails. It was great to spend some quality time with my sister and Quinn. Upon returning we had everyone over to my place for b-day celebration and we found ourselves enjoying the nice sun and the pool.

Pushing the rock, did you see it move?

Look how big those trees are

Eagle Lake

Sunset on the West Shore

Boat ride, drinks for the adults.

I did manage to unpack, well sort of. Let me just say that the kitchen is done, my room is done, the dinning room is done, the living room is done and the spare bedroom are all livable. I know I still have some work to do with the stuff in the garage and I plan on getting that taken care of shortly. But I am really enjoying the new place and Traildog is having a blast. Lots more to post about!

Vacation!!!!!

Right now I am enjoying some much needed R&R up in Tahoe. My sister and her son/my nephew Quinn invited me along. We left yesterday (Friday) and so far it is just what I needed. Before leaving though I watched both my nephews Lil Man and Q. Lil Man couldn't wait to come over and called me bright and early, luckily I was up and ready for him. Ready meaning I was working on putting the dart board on the wall because like he told me Thursday night, "It is my favorite" and I would not want to disappoint him.

Up went the dart board and a game followed. I have forgotten how much fun darts are and how many different games there are to play. Q came over not long after and the boys enjoyed running around the house playing hide and seek, playing in the toy room, and playing out in the back yard. I couldn't keep up with them.

Lil Man

Q

While they were running around getting tired I was busy trying to find my clothes and essentials that I had packed up the day before during my big move. I ended up throwing a bag together and who knows if I have everything I needed. I did pack the running shoes and some running clothes, so I am safe there.

Running and playing

Playing outside!

We arrived in Tahoe about mid day yesterday to a gorgeous house. The inside is five star all the way, except there is no coffee pot, there is commercial size grange and refrigerator and the details are immaculate. My sister sure does know someone, that is for sure.

The plan for our trip is to do some hiking, I will probably do some running as there is a nice hill right outside, we will spend time at the lake and relax. Maybe a sunset cruise on the lake for happy hour. I really don't know nor does it matter. I am just enjoying being away for a little bit and enjoying some quality with my nephew Q and sister. Tahoe Vacation!!!!!

Moving Day

Today is the a big day. MOVING DAY!!!!! I have been packing after work all weak, I actually didn't have much to pack as I never really fully unpacked when I moved in here back in mid October. It was a matter of I can't pack that becuase I still need it, like my toothbrush, coffee maker, things like that. Traildog has been a little stressed as he is seeing boxes coming and going, things being rearranged so he has been "eyeballing" me all week.

Traildog concerned I will leave him behind, don't worry my friend, I could never leave you behind

It has been stressful but I know that this is the right decision. Now I have been toying with this idea since late July and once I worked out the kinks I was at piece with the move. I seem to have also caused myself some stress as I leave for Tahoe tomorrow and return on Tuesday. It is a good thing I am on vacation or else this move probably would have been more stressful.

The good news is I will be closer to my family and work, the bad news is I can't run out my door up the street and arrive at the parkway. But I am OK with that, as I will find new routines and new routes to cover when I start training again. I mean I have big goals next year! One of them being a 100 miler (WS  would be awesome!!!)

Excited and nervous at the same time, but I am hoping once I am settled in my new place my drive for running will return as I think I am in a funk, and this is not a good place to be. And yes this time once I am settled there will be a house warming party!

Things at work are very busy with the crazy school year starting it feels like Christmas in the store. Utter chaos, but a controlled chaos on my end. I do what I can to drive product out, but it is crazy! The past six days have just destroyed me mentally and physically and on top of that packing and moving. I really need that vacation.

"Hey, Mom; plese don't forget my toys!" Don't worry they are all packed

For now I am ready for what the next chapter in my life has to offer and to see where the road takes me on this awesome journey. One day at a time, one minute at a time. To persevere and seize the day!

Rest

This past week I finally took it a bit easier. I think my lack of motivation had been my bodies way of telling me to take a break. I ran three times this past week for a total of 22 miles. Two of those runs were on the treadmill as it is still really hot here, like 105 each day hot. I also woke up early and took Traildog out for a 8 mile run, but that run really was a suffer run. A suffered both mentally and physically. I just haven't been feeling myself when I run. My body hurts and aches and I need a break.

I have been training strong since December of 2011. I am coming off a very  tough race which "cracked" me. Yes, I had a good race with some challengees at TRT 50 miles but it took a lot out of me and I am still trying to rebuild. So a rest week was in order.

What have I been doing with my rest week, Lil Man came over and we went swimming. We praticipated in his version of the Olympics events. Let me see.....there was diving, "Meme, the smallest splash wins!" Needless to say he won! There was synchronized swimming, he did fantastic all on his own while his mom and I looked on. He did twirls and flung his hands this way and that way and the entire time he had a huge smile on his face just like how they do it on tv. Then we raced  from one end of the pool to the other. Instead of a stop watch Lil Man counted, let me just say he was pretty consistent with his counting until we were almost to the other side then he would speed up so we would miss the qualifying time. 1.....2......3......4.....5...6..7..8.9.10

It was fun spending time with him and just enjoying being in the moment. I also finally made a decision to move. I am not happy where I am at, I love the location but I don't love the "apartment feel." I don't like hearing my neighbors and I am sure they don't like hearing me at 3:00am, I don't like walking outside and smelling smoke, I don't like the fact that Traildog doesn't have a bigger yard, and I really don't like being so far away from my family. Yes 20-30 minutes isn't that far, but it is far enough that a casual comment like "Let's go see Meme, just because" turns into do we have time?

Right now I am once again packing up my place, there really isn't much to pack because I never really unpacked. I am also thinking that once I get settled a really good purge will be in order. Most of my things have been in storage for at least 5-6 years now. And when I put them in storage it was done very frantically, so there really is no rime or reason behind it.

I am looking forward to being closer, having a yard for Traildog, and having a shorter commute. I don't like spending time in my car as I see it as wasted time when I could be doing something else more productive; like running! Right now Traildog is a little stressed out seeing the boxes and things getting packed up. He is probably thinking "I hope mommy doesn't forget me" as he is spending a great deal of his time next to me. Poor guy, but in the long run we will both be happier, it is just a matter of actually moving everything.

A Different Workout

I have noticed a trend, and I finally said enough is enough. I have been talking myself out of running because it has been getting pretty warm out here in California. I mean I don't have a race that I am signed up for so I think that has something to do with my lack of motivation. Now don't get me wrong I am still averaging around 30+ miles a week so I am not completely dropping all my workouts, just the ones where I think it is way to hot. With my work schedule it is difficult to run as I go into work at 3:30am and I think running at 1am might not be too safe.

With my recent lack of motivation I decided this morning as a matter of fact to make my way to the gym and run on treadmill. I brought a change of clothes and after work I hit the gym. Now it has been so long that I had lost my little gym card so I had to buy a new one ($5). I can't remember the last time I went to the gym to run. Once there I quickly went to work as I needed to get home to Traildog. I found a treadmill and started it up. Well, not exactly I think I starred at it like it was going to start itself and as I tried to read the words they appeared to be in a different language even though they weren't. There were so many options, all I wanted to do was run, track my miles, track my pace. That is it.

Traildog, hanging with his new buddy Bullseye!

So somehow I ended setting my hour long workout for intervals and since I was already started I didn't' stop it to change the settings. I am not sure how accurate treadmills are but this treadmill said I was holding a 8:40 per mile pace. Now I can't remember the last time I ran that fast, maybe I couldn't remember because I also haven't been wearing my Garmin. Anyways, when the "hills" came up I held a 8:49 per mile pace and each set consisted of two minutes for a total of 60 minutes.

Here he is resting with his goose

I am glad that I hit the gym because if I had run outside I probably would have just run 4 miles and called it good and I also wouldn't have pushed myself. I think the weirdest sensation I felt was when my workout was complete and I stepped off the treadmill I still felt like I was on it. My legs were a little wobble.

I wonder what he is thinking?

I am not sure how often I will hit the gym as I prefer to run outside, but it was nice for a change and maybe it will help me get my motivation back. I know on days I can run outside I will, like my days off and also my weekends off, I can't imagine doing a long run on the treadmill.

A Different Look at the Damn Hill

This week was my first week back at work, after a nice week and a half long vacation. I enjoyed doing nothing, sleeping in (till 6), and not being on a timeframe or a routine. Back at work, I welcomed my morning routine but I didn’t welcome the stress that came to being back. It is always nice to get away, but even harder to go back.

This week my runs have been scattered, I haven’t had too much motivation to run especially since it has been really warm here and that always makes it hard to get any sort of run in, plus what am I training for? Nothing, I don’t have a race lined up. But I did manage to get a small 4 miler in the heat on Tuesday and then on Thursday I did 6 miles in the morning as it was my day off with little Toby. He enjoyed the distance and was pretty much content just sleeping the rest of the day away.  Friday I hit the parkway for a very warm 4 miler, but my body actually felt pretty good out there. Must be all the heat training I do; no air conditioner in my car as it went out back in June.

This morning I headed up to Cool with Anthony who is the RD for a new race in town, That Damn Run. If you haven’t signed up I suggest you do as this course is on trails that are hardly ever used plus the nice damn hill which we ran today in his free training runs he has been putting on!

We arrived in Cool and headed out with orange ribbon to mark the 7 (I think) mile course. We headed out on the paved road and then made a right turn onto a dirt fire road which would start our 3 mile descent. This descent is bit technically because there really isn’t a good line to follow and it is a bit technical with loose rocks that could easily roll ones ankle right, Trailmomma? But the fire road is wide enough that there won’t be any worries about not being able to pass. It is a real quad buster but I didn’t notice it while running down, but I am sure tomorrow my quads will be feeling it as I ran it twice!

After the descent it is level for a bit before the climb up begins. This climb kind of reminds me of Tahoe, with the constant switch backs and how at the beginning it is steep but as I kept climbing it levels out and is run able, which of course I ran. Then it get’s rather steep again, but it is run able. As I climbed, it was nice to look down and see where I had come from and the view was really gorgeous!

As the climb continued and arrived at the pavement I was surprised that the climbing wasn’t done. Now it had been a few months since the last time I have been on this course and I had forgotten that once I arrived at the pavement it continues to climb. But soon enough it rolls nicely.
This was only a small portion of the half marathon, but a really great damn hill to see. I think it is always easier on my mind if I see the toughest part of a course before the actual event.

Like I said the first time I went out I was helping mark and the second time I headed out I was just enjoying the trail with trailmomma. I always enjoy running with her, because she is always positive, always smiling and no matter what it automatically puts any one in a good positive mode or even able to temporarily forget about some nagging pain; like the one I was having. I had to walk some of the descent and she was nice enough to slow down until I was able to run again. It is weird how the pain comes and goes but when it comes, it comes in waves and is hard to manage/handle. I just keep telling myself when it happens “Just keep running; just keep running, running, running!”

We only walked a short bit of the descent and quickly got under way. We hit the climb and I transitioned into a power hike and enjoyed making my way up, knowing where I could run and where I needed to keep it mellow. The second time my legs felt stronger or more powerful as the first time they were loaded pretty quickly. We made our way to paved road and it is here that I finally gave in and asked if she had any Tylenol, which she did!!! Thank you Trailmomma.
We enjoyed run walking it in to where we parked. It was great to catch up and it was even greater that so many runners showed up, at least 25 I think!

All in all even with the pain it was a great day on the trails, well I should say that any day on the trails is a great day, and better yet any day running with friends is great. Can’t wait for the next training run, which I hear will be the entire half course!