On the Job Training!

After orientation today's on the job training, I'm ready for clients. My schedule will be Tuesday and Wednesday from 2:00 to 6:00. Sounds like a great deal and I'm sure it will take a few weeks/months to build up a clientele but I'm looking forward to getting started.

I've been feeling a little flu-like ever since going to the orientation where there were a few participants coughing and hacking all over the place. I think I picked something up and I just hope I can shake it. I've been pretty achy and tired all day but do seem to feel better at night so it may even be allergy related. Anyway, my training (running that is) is in the toilet so hopefully I'll feel better tomorrow and can get back on track. I'm hoping to run the Shirt Run on Saturday although it will not be pretty, I do need some mileage. There's a lot of races coming up and if I had any chance of finishing them with any semblance of pride, I need to work on my base.
I've been doing some searching for upcoming races so I can determine a goal race and what races I'll do along the way in preparation. So far this is what I've come up with: The 15 mile Shirt Run this weekend. the Turkey Trot 1/2 marathon in two weeks, and then the Derby 50K the following weekend. In December it looks like we'll do the Reindeer 5K in Southern Pines, and then the Frosty 50K in January. We're signed up to do the Uhwarrie 20 miles in February and then the Unstead Trail Marathon in March. There are a few options in April that we're considering so I know we'll do something but am not sure what yet. There's a 1/2 marathon in Cleveland on Ada's birthday weekend so that's a thought. Also in April is the 24 hour Ultra Run in VA that sounds like a lot of fun or the Bull Run Run. So many races, so little time. In May there's the Cleveland Marathon that I have my eye on and that may be my goal race and try to break 4 1/2 hours. It would be great to try to qualify for Boston but it's been awhile since I've run a road race and I think it will take some specific training to ever do that again, but this is a start. So it looks like a pretty busy spring whatever we decide to do. I'm not signing up and paying for any until I'm positive that I'm going to do it. Tate called tonight and he's been really getting into running so I'm hoping that he may want to run the half marathon in April and then maybe the half or the whole marathon in May! Wouldn't that be cool. If we go out there in December and then not again until May that is a little longer than I'd like it to be so we'll have to work on that and maybe go out in March for a quick trip.

I am very excited as I have at least 3 women who have commited to coming to the reservoir to start a walking program. I'm hoping that they can find buddies in the group for additional workouts and also to go to the upcoming 5K's. I've been trying to do this for awhile and I think it's now finally coming to fruition albeit slow. I'm hoping that most of them will gradual become interested in running and join the club but one step at a time. It'll be fun to see where this goes. It would be great if I could somehow turn it into a profitable business. It seems that so many people I meet are really looking for a champion or someone to help them get started in an exercise routine.

Time to get some rest. Hopefully I'll feel up to running at the club tomorrow. I'm really having a tough time getting back into a consistant training program again. I am pretty much injury free so I have no excuses so I better get serious!

First Health officially!

I'm now officially employed at First Health with an id badge and all! I just completed a gruelling 2 day orientation that was, well, gruelling! Basically it consisted of sitting in theater like seats from 8:00 to 4:30 as streams of various departments came in to train us on the ins and outs of the hospital. Most of it did not apply to me as I'll be in the Fitness Center at the Spa and most of the employees at the orientation were nurses or worked somewhere in the medical arena. I must say however, that I am very impressed that the hospital is a really large corporation, albeit not for profit. I'm not sure when I'll actually have my first massage client but I will find out my schedule on Thursday and get the on the job training and an official job description. I pick up my scrubs tomorrow! At least I'll know what I'll be wearing to work every day.

We were in VA over the weekend and Frank did the 3rd race in the Virginia LU Series completing them all in the required time. He ran the 50 mile Mt Massochist and I must say it's named appropriately. I ran about 10 miles of the course, some with him and then a little more with Jean. That was really fun but very challenging and I think that the section I ran was some of the easier trails. It was crazy to think anyone would want to run 50 miles in those mountains! It was a long weekend but I'm glad that Frank's quest for his series jacket is done. Now he can wear it with pride. Now we're trying to determine what our future events will consist of. Frank was able to successfully get us entered in the Uhwarrie 20 mile trail run in Feb so he redeemed himself after his failed attempt at Umstead! It fill in about 30 minutes so he did good! I haven't heard who else got in that we know but I guess we'll find out this weekend at the Shirt Run.

Well, it looks like the presidental election is over for 2008. I had to stop watching it as it really doesn't look good for McCain. I had held out hope that when it came down to it, that many Obama supporters would not be able to pull the lever for Obama but it looks like I was wrong. I am very saddened to think what our future may hold. It seems so unfair that media bias and hidden truths were accepted and encouraged in order to assure a win for a liberal, leftist candidate. Perhaps he would have won anyway but we'll never know and it really seems unlikely. I do not understand how so many are so fooled by this sleezy guy. Hopefully our country can survive 4 years of liberal, leftist control. At least it's over and we can concentrate on more important things, like 2012! Just kidding. I'm electioned out and am looking forward to other issues to focus on although at this point, I'm not sure what that may be. Perhaps working on my own new presidency of the Striders Running Club although I'm getting a little discouraged with the lack of cooperation from the current officers. I've been trying to schedule a meeting to start to transition to 2009 but it's been impossible to get everyone together. (it's only 3 people including me!) I'm starting to have second thoughts about my volunteering to take it over. Anyway, I'll be able to really focus on that and hopefully move the club forward.

Keep moving!

I'm now among the employed!

Well,as they say, be careful what you ask for cause you might get it. Well, I asked for and got a job. I haven't had a job since 1999 when I left AT&T so it will be a little weird. I interviewed for the job for a massage therapist at the spa in our health club exactly one month ago to the day and today they called and officially offered me the job. Looks like I've passed all the references and experience requirements. Tomorrow I go for a drug test and finish up the paperwork and then get to order my uniform, yes I'm going to wear scrubs. How attractive is that??? And to make it even better, they're beige. Pretty flashy huh?! It'll be good though and I'm really looking forward to it. I'm only scheduled to work two days a week from 2 to 6 but from what everyone has told me, I'll get all the work I want. I think it will be a good place to work and hopefully it'll get me to work out more consistantly as I'll be there already. I know a lot of people at the club so it will be really fun to be "one of them". I don't think I've ever been "one of them". Maybe I'll be able to trade for personal training!

I've been doing well with my running and have been throwing in "speedwork" so hopefully that will pay off. I still don't have my goal race picked out yet but am working on it. So many races so little time. I think about a road marathon and then I think, why would I want to do that? For now I'll just continue rebuilding my base and getting my running to a more consistant level. I am running in a 5 mile race on Saturday so it will be a good gauge as to my true fitness level. It's supposed to rain though so it may put a damper on it. (get it?) I'm hoping to break 50 but don't really see that happening but it would be a sign that I'm making good progress.

I'm supposed to go biking with a women I met at the club in a spinning class. It's supposed to rain though so I don't think it will happen. I think the thing I like best about this area is how everyone seems to know everyone and everyone is pretty friendly although some groups are clicky for sure. I'm hoping to establish a womens biking group for the more mature biker. The women at the club mentioned she would like that as well since we're not able to keep up with the speedsters anymore. I won't start that until next spring however. I take over as president of the running club in January and that will be a big job as I want to make a lot of changes to how it's being run currently. (who do I sound like?) Anyway, there is unnecessary spending and my campaign was to lower taxes. Just kidding. I do have lots of plans for the club though and I think it'll be successful. Working at the club will enable me to bring in more beginner or wannabe runners just because I'll have an opportunity to meet more of them and talk it up!

Off to bed. Got a busy day tomorrow. I'm going to try to blog daily although with my current track record it may be a little to ambitious. Stay tuned!

Catching Up

I've been lax again with posting on my blog. I guess I've been busy but am not really sure with what. I have to figure out how to schedule my appointments in a more productive manner.

I did get the job at First Health FirstSpa and I'm very excited. I'll only be working two days a week and only about 4 hours each day. Not a bad gig! I'm sure I'll have to work additional hours in the future but for now, this is more than enough. I get free membership to the club and also can work out in-between clients if I have a gap! Plus, I figure that once I'm at the club it'll be easier to stay and workout. It's always hard for me to get back over there in the evening on my own but now I'll be there! No excuses now! Okay, I'm sure I can always find an excuse but it'll be harder to skip an extra workout.

My rolfing sessions are going great. I think it will really help get my body back into great condition. My posture is already better and I feel taller and am breathing better. It's great and I think everyone should do it. Unfortunately it's pretty pricy and tough to justify unless there's a real issue that needs to be fixed.

The girls are coming down this weekend to celebrate Frank's and Erin's birthday so that will be fun. Can' wait to see Ella and how much she has changed over the last month. Pictures to follow!

Tate and his girls

Picasa Web Albums - Julie - New Album 10/8/08 2:47 PM
Here's a recent photo of Tate and Adalyn and Zella. Can't wait to get back to Ohio and see them again. Zella is really getting big apparently much bigger than Ada was at 2 months.

Back by popular demand

It's been a little while since my last post so I need to catch up.
First, the good news/bad news. My stress test came back fine so that is good news however, I still don't know why I get out of breath walking up stairs and why my chest burns when I expend too much energy without a proper warm-up. I'm going to work on improving my endurance (if that's possible) by following the Maffetone principle which is running aerobic for substantial period of time. I've been working on it for the past few weeks and have already seen an improvement so hopefully that will be the answer.

I'm still waiting to hear about the job at the health club. I'm not sure if no news is good news, bad news or just no news. Hopefully I'll know before the week is out. If I don't get the job there, I will probably pursue renting space at the salon where I get my hair cut. I think it would be a great space and with the clientele that goes there I think I'd get more than enough business. I still would prefer to work at the health club and let them get the clients and supply the supplies. Call me lazy! Actually the best benefit would be that if I didn't have a client during my scheduled work time, I could leave the spa and go home or work out. How perfect is that!!!!!

Running is still not totally pain free. I'm still only running every other day and ended up only running the half marathon race instead of the marathon distance at a race we went to over the weekend. Frank ran the 40 miler so I had a few hours to wait around for him. Fortunately it was a beautiful day to just hangout in the sun. We both won our age groups so that was fun.

It's frustrating to not be back to pre-Umstead condition. I've done about everything I can do so now will just concentrate on not overdoing it as well strengthening it. I can't believe that this has been going on for so long but hopefully it will be a thing of the past in the not to distant future.

Gotta Run!

Heart Rate Training

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