Subject: TNT and life...

...Oh wait, when training with TNT, TNT IS life.

I can't say this has been the easiest month and a half of my life! I feel like I never get time to "just sit" anymore. I am always up early to go to the pool, or rushing to get to work, or heading out for a brick on a Wednesday night (which I then rush through to get home, showered, and fed in time to watch LOST)... It has been so crazy acclimating myself to this lifestyle. I can't imagine if I had started from scratch!

I have also loved every second of it. I am meeting people, participants and coaches, by the handfuls that are inspiring, have amazing stories, and are willing to give their all to help us succeed. It is amazing!

As far as preparing for the tri itself (oh yeah, there's actually a race attached to all this madness), I feel much better about getting thrown in Tampa Bay. I have a wetsuit and have tried it on (hellooooo seals are so sexy) and am now most confident that I will not drown... and I actually enjoy swimming. It's a good feeling. The biking, ehhh... I have my doubts. Hopefully my saddle will not do to me what my spin bike saddle has done to me (oowwwwww), but other than that, I have no positive or negative feelings about the bike. I'm glad it's a fairly short distance, so we can get through the b.s. and get to running! :)

Needless to say, the running portion is my forte, and I am very happy with what all this other training has done for it! I'm running faster than I have in a few years, and I am feeling even stronger than I did going into Hartford.

I have entered the lotteries for 2 fall marathons: NYC and Nike Women's. I doubt I will get into either, so I am looking for backup plans!

Depending on how it holds up, I'm also planning on going ahead with the knee surgery after the fall running season is over.

So, everything is good. Job is good. Eric is good. TNT is good. LIFE IS GOOD!

Subject: 38 days and counting...

It's been 38 days since I last ran. And it has completely sucked. I've been to the orthopedic surgeon once and the physical therapist twice, and I have a boatload of exercises to do 3 or 4 times a day. Nothing measures up to breaking a good sweat or running a quick 2 down the Trout Brook.

I have been a moody bitch (bless Eric's heart for dealing with me) and so "woe-is-me," which is generally an attitude that I hate. I'm a "do-er," but unfortunately there is nothing I can do except rest... which is another thing that I'm very bad at. I've been icing and heating and popping anti-inflammatories like there's no tomorrow. I stretch at every chance I get (i.e. my lunch break at work), and roll the shit out of my legs with the stick every night.

The good part is that I'm not in constant pain anymore, the bad part is that my muscles have atrophied like crazy. I don't even recognize my lower half anymore. I have been on the mat every night doing a crapload of crunches and my arms, so at least something isn't going to waste.

I spend every second of every day very frustrated and annoyed and sad. I want this to be over, I want to run again more than anything in the world.

This all being said, I am pretty sure I'm going to run Manchester in a week. I can't be sidelined for this one, I would be depressed all day about missing it.

Oy. Sorry for the Debby Downer post!

Subject: Injury...

So the marathon was great, but the following 2 1/2 weeks have been extremely trying.

Like I said, I had a great run in Hartford. The marathon was great and I met some amazing and inspiring people along the way. I enjoyed it and only hit a few low points- mile 15, where I started to feel lightheaded and sick, and mile 22 or so where Tamara, who I was running with, and I both started to feel tired. After we took the final turn into the city, it was a piece of cake. I felt great. Tired, but great!

Two days later, everything had gone away except for a sharp pain in my left knee. I ignored it for a few days and planned on going running with the Fleet Feet group per usual on Wednesday. But the thought of putting weight on it for any amount of time made me not go.

Long story short, I went to the doctor last Monday, and she scheduled an appointment with an orthopedic surgeon in Hartford for this past Monday. They did some poking, prodding, and x-rays... looks to be a pretty good bone bruise, as well as a muscular issue where my quad is unbalanced and therefore pulling my kneecap off-center (it was a great x-ray). The remedy? 6 weeks rest and physical therapy twice a week, as well as a massive brace 24/7. Rest, ice, conpression, and elevation when I'm not "up."

I've been off of my knee for 2 1/2 weeks, and it has been awful!! It is so hard to stay away from something you love. I will never complain about a long run ever again.

That being said, I didn't have any pain today at work (wearing the massive brace) so I decided to go to the Fleet Feet run tonight. I went, and ran about 2 miles. My knee is sore (as well as the rest of my legs as a result of the new shoes that I bought tonight) but my spirits are much lighter. I'm sure Eric appreciates the run as much as I do, if not more.

So, I'm recovering... it's rough.

Subject: Last weekend and the weekend to come

Hola mis amigos... although I doubt anyone reads this anymore. Maybe I just blog for myself... anyway...

Sunday was RRI's 10k/5k race in Sturbridge. I took Eric, Tony, and Matt Girosky. Sherri and her Mom met us there, as well as my Mom and Bill, and Dad and Rick. Yes, my Dad managed to co-exist with Bill yesterday, and it was pleasant. Not so concerned for my future wedding anymore! Anyway, the race was great. Sherri had hip issues, but managed to do a decent 5k. Matt, who is training for a marathon, pulled off a nice 5k as well. Tony had a good run and finished in the same time I would have. Eric meant to have a nice first 5k, but somehow missed the finish line and ended up going around the loop a second time and completing his first 10k... and first road race... 10 minutes before me!! I was proud of him! I felt great during the run and added a new PR to my resume :) about which I was stoked. Tony, Eric, and I also somehow managed to pull off 3rd place in our respective age divisions, which was equally as cool. All in all, it was a good day!

This is kind of a crazy week for me. I don't have anything planned, but trying to keep my sanity at work has been very time- and brain-consuming for me. I don't do change well. Within that, I don't do criticism well, especially the kind they call "constructive criticism." I am trying to get used to the idea of having a "head teacher" who is constantly on top of everything (which is usually MY job... maybe I hated being "right" less than I thought I did... anyway...), including correcting things that I feel competent at completing. It is frustrating and I am constantly reminding myself that it's a learning process and it will take months before I feel proficient at their "rules" like I did at Trinity. I also miss the TC4 girls... it's hard to be part of a completely different society!

It's also a crazy week because I am 4 days away from running the Hartford Marathon and there is lots to do! I am running my last run before Saturday on Wednesday with the Fleet Feet people per usual. I'm hoping to draw some last-minute encouragement and praise from them, which is usually the case. Plus, many of them are running on Saturday as well, whether it be the half or the full. the comraderie of a group run has been really great, and something that I have really enjoyed.

Friday is the expo, and I wish I still had my TC4 hours because it ends at 7 and I don't get off work until 5! Luckily, I am very close to the Civic Center (XL, whatever) so I won't lose much time in travel. I love race expos :) You can expect me there until 7 exactly! I also have to find time to renew my license, which is great when the AAA place down the street closes at 5:30 and I get home around 5:20. I always liked a good challenge.

Thanks for listening to the rambling. I'm a tad jittery. Hopefully it will calm down before Saturday morning!

Au revoir, a bientot!

Subject: T-minus 2 weeks...

I had a great 5k this morning... a 50-something guy sprinted with me at the end and totally beat me, then said "You paced me the whole race, thank you" so that was pretty fun. I felt really great the whole run and I'm hoping for the same luck next weekend in Sturbridge! I know if I ran the 5k I would have a shot in my age group, but the 10k will give me a longer run before the marathon.

Yesterday was the ALS Walk in New Britain. Mom, Lorna, Cheryl, Sherri, Faye, Munchie, Lisa, Maggie, Eric and I walked. It was soaking wet but a good time overall. I don't think anyone appreciated being up so early to come to CT, but I appreciated it a lot. We went out to Effie's afterwards (who, by the way, serves breakfast until 3 pm!) and had fabulous food. I enjoyed the day.

I'm looking forward to next weekend, but I can't believe Hartford is so close...

Cheers!

Subject: It might be fall...

The weather is finally showing some promise... I'm looking forward to fall!

It's been awhile since I posted last... there are some new developments in life around here! I quit at Trinity (we all knew it was coming) and started at Mount Olive in the north end. It is very different, but most things are welcomed changes. I have to untrain myself... I learned some bad habits along the way! I enjoy it so far, and I am learning a lot!

Running is going well. I did the 100 on 100 with a great team this year- Sherri, Dave, Amy, Beth, and I ran all over Vermont in the course of a day. It was a fun experience, and the team had a good time overall. Long day though! It was tough to walk the next few days :) but we all survived! I ran a 10k this morning with Sherri and Dave in Wallingford and it was an interesting experience! Sherri had hip issues and Dave had muscle issues, and I had... no issues actually- I had a good run! I thought it was a PR, but upon researching the topic, I discovered that I was 3 seconds off of my last PR!!! Damn. But oh well... great run nonetheless. Hartford is 3 weeks away... let's hope it goes well!

On that note... I suspect the next time I hit the Blog will be after Hartford!!

Subject: Quick update.

Trying to hit the blog once a month or so.

Mom is doing well, her last day of work is next Friday. She's been at her job for 16 years. They're having a surrise party for her and Eric and I are going. She's planning on continuing volunteer work at RRI after her retirement, which I am sure they appreciate because she was important at her job!

Eric and I have a long weekend coming up next weekend, too... heading to Maine I think. We're gonna stay in York (we think) and hit up Portland and stuff like that. It'll be a good weekend... we definitely need the getaway!!

Running is going well... marathon training is going well... fundraising went through the roof! I raised $1,000 EASILY.... without sending e-mails or anything. I barely had to mention it and people were very generous. I really appreciated it... I hate asking for charity, but I want to raise money for the ALSA because it's obviously a cause close to my heart. It's given me something to work toward... I can't wait to see how much I can raise for this damn disease.

The running part is going well. I've been picking up mileage... and also picking up extra off days!! Resting is so much more important than people realize. Gotta let the legs relax for a bit!

On that note... E and I are watching The Bourne Identity again... one of my faves :)

Take care.