Just an Average SKIRT

We left the raging heat of Delhi this afternoon and boarded a B52 bomber type plane which took us to beautiful Dsala.  I knew we were close when I peaked out the window to see the hugemungous peaks of the Himalayan mountains.  In that moment I felt a certain peace that I had not yet felt and this peace has only deepened since our arrival.

We landed in the green valley, jumped into three vans and headed up, up, up, up, up and up into the mountains.  Literally into the clouds.  The roads are treacherous and the views breathtaking.  We screamed up the broken path with music blasting as we somehow avoided cars, cows, people and deathly ledges.  Every turn revealed yet another beautiful view.

We took over our hotel, literally we are the only guests staying there.  Our host, Tsering welcomed us like old friends and proceeded to take us on a tour of the town.  We visited the Dalai Lama’s temple and he joined us for dinner at a delicious restaurant named Ashoka.

We have tomorrow off so we’re going to venture to some neighboring towns and hope to catch a yoga class.  Teaching starts Monday.

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Monday I had my tempo run - 6 miles with 1 mile easy then 5 miles at 9:30-9:35 pace.  After the first couple steps I thought, ‘oh no, there will not be any 9:30 pace today’.  I took the first mile very easy then the ole’ girl kicked it in and held pace (give or take a little) for the rest of the run. Recovered well thanks to an ice bath and my trusty compression socks.

Today is a cross training day.  I just finished up an hour of yoga in my office between clients.  Now I really relate to how relaxing it can be in here, how lucky am I?  I have an office that doubles as a yoga studio, napping station and self care castle.  My job is very hard but man, it’s definitely not stressful.

Last minute preparations for India are well on their way…..just a few more things…time is closing in.

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So that may seem like a long run but as I reminded myself yesterday - it’s still 121.6 miles short of what my comrades will be traveling today at Ironman Wisconsin.

The run went very well - felt strong although I started to lose my pace around mile 12.  As I almost always eat too much during my racing and training I decided to cut it back but I think that I was about one gel shy of keeping pace.  It was chilly, overcast and a bit rainy but I’ll take that any day over high heat and no wind.

Whatever has been going on with my left foot seems to be getting better.  It’s certainly sore today but at least I’m walking, the last few long runs have put me out of commission for a few days.  I’m getting there….hopefully I’ll pop back quickly and be able to get my 20 mile run in Wednesday.

Today is going to be spent packing for India and tracking my crazy friends at IMOO - so far everyone is doing great.  Long day ahead for them.

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As I’m washing down yet another one of these delicious lovelies, I thought it only right to make everyone else fat!

Ingredients:
4 eggs
1 ½ cups vegetable oil
1 ½ cups sugar
14 ounces pumpkin pie filling
3 cups flour
1 tablespoon cinnamon
2 teaspoons baking soda
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon salt (optional)
2 cups dark chocolate chunks

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Mix together the eggs, vegetable oil, sugar and pumpkin pie filling. In a separate bowl, combine the flour, cinnamon, baking soda and baking powder. Add the flour mixture to wet ingredients. Add chocolate chips. Spray muffin tin with cooking spray. Spoon the batter into the muffin tin bake for 15 minutes.

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On the elliptical this morning - that’s where my track workouts have been taking place for the last two weeks.  It’s ok though, I think I’ll be good for my 10 mile tempo run on Thursday.  Besides my left foot (in a bucket of ice as I write this), I’m feeling so good.  This run, rehab, run, rehab training schedule is unexpected but as long as I still get to hit the pavement for my long runs I’m good to go with it.

As I’m sure it did with everyone the long weekend flew by.  Got a ton of stuff done around the house and BJ finished the deck.  Holy cow, what hard work that was.  In looking back on some ‘before’ photos of our house, these two of our dining room are the most dramatic I think.  I guess we have done a ton to this little palace since buying it 3.5 years

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Ran the fastest 17 miles I’ve ever run on Saturday - besides fatigue I didn’t really have anything to complain about which is why I’m surprised that since Saturday my left ankle/plantar fascitis disaster area is inflamed and sore.  Thursday’s run was flawless, Friday I felt great, got a massage and then felt fabulous throughout my run on Saturday.  Shortly after stopping, my foot was very sore.  Oh well, I’ve been resting for the last two days and hopefully will run tomorrow.  If not, I’ll be on the elliptical.  I guess this foot issue (thanks to those POS sneakers) is just with me and I’m hoping I can continue to train through it to the marathon.

After my run I sat in an ice bath for 30 minutes, napped and then we headed down to the big city for the Rockies game.  My sister had sweet seats just behind the dug out - we were so close, I think row 4.  I had greasy food on my mind and did not disappoint with a slice of pepperoni pizza, french fries and 2 bud lights.  It all tasty as deliciously trashy as it sounds.  So good!

This weekend has been filled with house projects as I get ready to head over to a little place called India - 11 days and counting.

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Yo yeah, heading to India two weeks from today - getting very excited as I’m sure this will be an experience like no other.   Heading out now for a 6 mile tempo run, had to hit the elliptical on Tuesday - foot sore from Saturday’s 15 mile run.  Things are looking up and I’m looking forward to the 26.2 on 10/25.

Time is flying by like a cheesy little sports car and I’m just trying to maintain balance and boundaries along the way.  Got a little backed up on the blogging this week but I’m back even just for lame posts like this one.

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…The Asics Cumulus 11 shoes are NOT FOR ME!  I wore my old Asics yesterday that have hundreds of miles on them, did my 6 mile tempo run with absolutely NO PAIN!  YES I AM SCREAMING!!!!   WTF Asics?  What did you do to my perfect running shoe and why haven’t you called me back yet?

Here’s the upside, I don’t have to wonder what the issue is, I don’t have to think that I have some terrible foot issue or defect in my body, there is no question here at all, the newest version of the Cumulus is now confirmed to be my arch nemesis.   They blow and I don’t!

So my run went well yesterday - it was a 2 miles warm up with 3 miles at my short tempo pace (9:15) and then a mile cool down.  POC.  Ready for my long run tomorrow - 15 miles in my old shoes.

Loving the new Garmin 305 although I hate that I fell into the dark hole of technology.  However I still sleep well at night knowing that I just use it for the pace and not the heartrate, or elevation, or downloadable abilities or really any of the reasons why someone would use a GPS for the workouts…so basically I just paid $150 to know how fast I’m running.  What a sucka!

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Woke up Wednesday thinking…’ahhhhhhh my only committment is at 5pm over at Skirt Sports…all I have to do today is swim and work, I’ve got plenty of time’.  Well after sleeping in until almost 8am, cleaning the house, getting a very much needed adjustment and running a few errands I found myself at 11am with no shower, no workout and only about 5 hours left to work before heading out.  This work thing, it really gets in the way.  I love my job at BCMT, I mean I’m blessed to have the responsibility, freedom and flexibility that I have but when it all boils down, the job must get done and I need to make time for it.

I ended up working through the afternoon, stretching for a 1/2 hour and then jumping in the shower then headed over to Skirt for packet stuffing.  The Skirt Chaser 5k is this weekend - are you running?  Finished up the evening with a romantic dinner with my girl - Bacaro, YUM!

This morning I’m up ’sort of’ bright and early for my tempo run, 6 miles in my old sneakers cuz the new sneakers are like torture in laces.  Waiting for Asics to call me back…

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Another weekend flew by…a great one nonetheless, just busy.  Friday morning we tried salad for breakfast leading into my long run of 13 miles.  It was a very good thing, felt light but not much to hold the water in, many pit stops.  I guess that’s a plus for the morning bagel.

I saw clients Saturday and Sunday but managed to fit in 40 miles with the Tiara Ditcher and rode next to BJ for his 18 mile run.  Looking forward to next weekend, hopefully more downtime but I have a feeling that’s not going to happen.

Ran 5.5 miles today at the track: 4×100 strides then 2x (6×400) at 10:10 pace.  I’m in a major battle with my new sneakers: Asics Cumulus 11…been running in the 10’s for over a year with no problem.  Moved to the 11’s and have nothing but issues.  Excruciating foot pain - I received this pair straight from Asics so I have a call into them to see if there are any 10s hanging around.  If not, I’ll be on the quest for yet another new pair of sneakers.  We’ll see if Asics will do the right thing…

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