I can breathe!

I ran today at the reservoir and actually had a great run. I could breathe! It was pretty warm out (about 60) when I headed out the door so I knew I wouldn't have an attack from the cold so I was optomistic. When I got to the reservoir I discovered that the restrooms were closed for the winter! What! It's January 9, 60 degrees and they're closed for the winter. It'll be interesting to see how long "winter" is here. Hopefully only a month at the most. Also, they did a control burn of the trail around the lake. I was a little concerned that the smoke and embers would effect my breathing but all was fine! Yay! I ran out to Nick's Creek (my tried and true 12 mile out and back route) and I felt pretty good. My legs were a little tired from the 50K on Saturday but all things considered I was pleased with my efforts! I ran 1:15 in each direction so was able to maintain my pace.
I had planned on swimming this afternoon but discovered I had forgotten to bring my pool toys to the pool so I ended up doing pool running for about 30 miinutes. It just felt good to move my legs with the resistance of the water. I can't go underwater without my goggles so I didn't even attempt to swim laps today. I'll get a mile in tomorrow. I enjoy swimming so much that I'm going to get a waterproof case for my IPOD. I think that it would be so wonderful to be able to listen to my music while I glide through the water. I was reading about what a great cross-training workout it is so I'm pleased that I decided to give it a try.

Tomorrow I start work with a personal trainer at the club. Frank got me a workout package for Christmas and I'm very excited about getting some help with my workouts and learning how to use some of the equipment at the club.

It looks like I'm ready to mail in my package to NC so I can get my license to do massage. It could take a couple of months to actually get a license so I don't want to delay another day. I am really looking forward to finding a job and doing massages again! I hope I meet all of their criteria. I am concerned that they might require me to have some additional classes seeings how it's been 8 years since I graduated. Apparently once you're licensed you have to take additional training in order to renew your license but hopefully they'll let me slide for my first license. I have taken several classes since graduation, but even those were a few years ago and would not be current enough. We'll see! This state sure makes it tough to get a job!

Back in Training

After 2 days of recovering from my 50K I went to the club to run. I ran 6 miles at a nice easy pace. No problems with my asthma at all so that was great. I was going to take a spinning class after my run and then swim (my own little triathlon) but my quads were still a little sore so I decided to go right to the pool. I swam for 45 minutes and then did a little pool running so it was a good workout. I thought I was doing pretty good to be working out for over 2 hours and then I saw "my hero" who is the 70+ year old who rides her bike to the club (I'm not sure how far but still, she rides there with clipless pedals no less) heading to the pool to do some laps. I had noticed her bike parked out front when I go the club at 7:30 and she was working out on the stairclimber which is one of the toughest machines there. I don't know what else she did before going to the pool but I imagine she took a class or two. When I was in the pool there was a water aerobics class going on with some elder women (probably in their 70s) and I was thinking that will be me someday but I do hope that I'm a little more active and will still be doing laps so when I saw "my hero" I felt assured that I will be still doing laps and running circles around most others my age! I'm sure I'll get to meet her one day and learn more about what she does. Until then, I'll just admire her from afar!

Home at last!

We are finally home from a very hectic weekend. We are almost recovered from the race and the announcement of the new baby arriving early! We decided to drive home and let Colleen and Steve go home with Ella to settle in without a lot of commotion. I'm sure that it will be stressful with everything going on and we felt that it would be best for them to not have to worry about us. Next week I'm going to Cleveland so it'll be a couple of weeks before I get back up to see Ella. It'll be fun living so close so we'll be able to visit her a little more often than we get to see Ada.
Enjoy the photos. It looks like little Ella is laughing in the photo with Aunt Erin. She sure looks like a happy baby!

Quite a day!

We made it back to Winston Salem again this year to run the Frosty 50K again this year. I was sure I was ready to do another PR after the great run in Texas last month however, I quickly learned that that would not be the case. It was cold and my asthma kicked in and running was practically impossible. What am I to do? The first half (15 1/2 miles) was spent in trying to determine if I should attempt the whole thing or not. I was not having fun and could not get into any kind of pace. I would run and then have to walk. No matter how slowly I tried to run, I just couldn't run for any extended period. I did manage to get to the halfway point at about 3:07 which wasn't too bad although I was almost last. I think there was one person behind me at that point. If that isn't disheartening. Oh well, it is what it is. Anyway, I decided to keep going even if it meant walking the rest of the way. I needed the time on my feet plus it would help with the mental training I needed to prepare for Umstead. I got through the 2nd half in about 3:20 which again I was surprised that it was that fast. I did manage to pass a couple of people so I finished 3 from last but the key word here is finish. I did finally finish. Frank had decided to drop and it was really hard to not drop as well but after a lengthy talk with myself I decided that I needed to keep going. I wasn't injured so had no real reason to quit other than cause it was tough and not fun and not just wasn't a good enough reason. Jean would be very proud of me!
When we checked home for our messages, we learned that Colleen had had her baby! We couldn't believe it. Little Ella decided it was time to be born so out she came a week early! Who would have thought that would happen. By the time we found out, it was too late to get home and then get up to Raleigh so we decided to go see them the next day. (which is now today!) We made it up to the hospital around noon today and found mom, dad and baby all settled in and getting to know each other. What a beautiful baby. Frank and I are so proud to have the two most beautiful granddaughters ever! Ella weighed in at 7.2 and 19 1/4". She is absolutely beautiful and so sweet. We all think she is smiling already! Too cute. Colleen and Steve were beaming and very happy although a little tired. How exciting for them. Pictures to follow soon!

More Goals for 2008

I've been thinking about what I want to do this year and decided I would like to have a mileage goal for 2008 so I'd have something to keep me motivated during any future slumps that may come up. I've never even tracked my mileage to know what I've done but would now like to keep a weekly or monthly goal. So, my goal for 2008 is to run a total of (drumroll please) 1800 miles. That's "only" about 35 per week or 150 per month so it should be achievable and hopefully even exceedable. I will add a section to the blog with my accumulated mileage throughout the year.

I'd also like to bike a century this year and once Umstead is behind me I'll be able to focus on that. So that's another goal. I'm really looking forward to seeing more of the area around here and the best way to do that is on the bike. You don't get to see much in the woods so it'll be a whole new venture!

My last goal for the year is to weigh at least 15 pounds less than I currenlty do. With all of the biking and running and newly added swimming, this should be a piece of cake. (probably shouldn't use a cake to describe anything having to do with losing weight?) I'm not sure how I'll accomplish that but I am determined so will figure it out. I will also add a section to show my weight loss! So far it's 0!

Like riding a bike?

I am so excited. I decided to try swimming today and was amazed that I remembered how to do it. It felt like I hadn't stopped and I was able to pickup where I left off! I'm not even sure when the last time I swam was but I think it was at least 10 years! I ended up doing laps for an hour. It was great after my spinning class. I focused on my upper body since my legs were already trashed from spinning. I had thought I'd go back to the club tonight for a yoga or body pump class but was pretty washed out after the pool! I don't want to overdo it before the 50K on Saturday so I opted to relax tonight. Frank went bowling with our neighbors. He even picked up Regina, one of our neighbors so they're a team! I'll be curious to see how he made out. I hope he has a good time!

A New Year! A New You!

It's a new year and I'm really excited. It's always a good feeling to get a fresh start! We ran with some of the MTC this morning at the reservoir and that was fun. Mark Long is one of the nicest guys you could meet. He hung back with Frank and I and we ended up doing a lot of walking and talking so it was fun to just relax out there. It was a beautiful day and I was over-dressed again. I still have a problem figuring out how to run in the mornings here. It's in the 40s when I leave so I dress for the 40s but it warms up so fast that I always get hot! I guess the knickers are the best idea, kind of a comprimise. It's supposed to get cold for the next few day and then warm up again for the weekend. I think I'll wear my capris (a better word then knickers) and a long sleeve shirt and hope for the best. We're running the Frosty 50K again this year. Last year it was in the 70s! I don't think it will be that warm this year, probably in the 50s! It'll be fun doing it this year cause we'll know so many of the runners. I just have to remember that this is a training run for Rocky which is a training run for Umstead! I do want to push myself though as I've been way to easy on myself lately! I need to toughen up.
Tomorrow I plan on running a very easy 10 to 12 miles at the reservoir and then rest until Saturday, from running that is. I do plan on spinning and swimming at the club!