New carpets installed!

Well, after two years of hating our carpets, we finally decided to bite the bullet and get them replaced. It was a LOT of work to get ready but they really look great. The best thing is that the guest room is now my workout room. We decided to not put the bed back in there for now so it's great. My Pilate's machine is set-up and ready to go as well as my free weights, yoga stuff and anything I may feel like doing! No more excuses. Now I just have to get my butt in there!
I really lucked out this afternoon cause my two clients ended up cancelling! I was sooooo happy cause I was sooooooo tired! I wasn't sure how I was going to give them a great massage. Also, my early client tomorrow had to cancel too. She broke her leg in three places! And she calls that an excuse. Oh by the way, she didn't break her leg doing any crazy trail run or anything like that, she was walking a dog!!!!! I'm just saying! Walking a dog is worse for you than running??? Can we make that leap! I think so! Anyway, hopefully tomorrow will remain slow at the spa and I'll get another day of rest. (from the spa, not from house duties)

Tomorrow I'm starting my additional cross-training workouts. I'm going to the gym at 6:45 AM for an abs class and then a 7:00 spin class and then I'll meet my friend Anne for a run at 9:00! Sounds like a perfect day! Anne will be moving back to CA in about 3 weeks. I miss her already. She's a great friend and we just get along soooo well. I already plan on going to San Diego in June to run the marathon with her.

Well, looks like I should get back to work. The house is still in shambles, but so much better than this morning. At least the furniture is back in place and the beds are made. Now we just have to go through the clothes and shoes and junk to weed them out. We have way too much junk and I don't want to just stuff it in the closet. It's a great way to clean house for sure! We'll have to have a garage sale when we're done! NOT!

Gotta Run!

OBX Marathon

I survived the OBX Marathon but it was a tough one. I never felt good out there and I guess that's because I didn't taper for the marathon as it was intended as a training run. It's a catch 22 cause I want to use the races for training runs to build up to the 100 but also want to be able to run a respectable time for the races. I'm not sure if I'll do the Derby 50K in a couple of weeks. It was not fun to feel so tired throughout the entire race. The marathon was a great event though and the support was awesome. Anne came down and met me at the halfway point and ran with me for a few miles. She actually left me at about mile 22 or so and I chased her from there. I wasn't much fun as I usually am in a training run, so I don't blame her for taking off. I just wish I could have kept up and felt better. Frank and I have also concluded that our age is a factor and it's very humbling. Factor that in with running ultras and you have a real case of slow times. I do think that running some shorted races and speedwork will help but we are older for sure and much slower. Perhaps it will be time to shorten our distance running after Umstead.
Anne texted me today to tell me that they sold their house in PInehurst and will be moving back to San Diego. I am so sad as she is a good friend and I am goin to miss her a lot. She is so much fun to be with and to do things with. I hope to get to visit her this summer and run the San Diego Marathoj with her. It'll be her first marathon and she better not beat me.

Halloween Hustle

 
Here's Anne and I after the Halloween Hustle 10K. Let's just say my "hair" took a beating! It was fun and good to do a "short" run. Next week, the marathon! Yikes, that's another 20 miles!

Recovery going well

I managed to get a 4 mile run in this morning and felt much better than anticipated. I ran a slow 4 and plan on a slow 8 in the morning. Today is my second day of gluten free eating although I'm not all that sure that everything I have had is gluten free but at least I haven't had any wheat which I know I"m allergic to. I'm hoping it will help to lesson my running induced diarrhea. (sorry to be so graphic) I'm also hoping that it will reduce my itchy irritated skin. I look like a leper and I've read that that can be a sign of allergies to wheat and gluten. Fun!
I had my yearly mammogram this morning so I'm good to go for another year. Yay! Always good to have those things behind you.
Franks' birthday is Friday so I'm trying to figure out something to do. My brain is working overtime.
Okay, better get ready for work. Only 2 clients today so that is great. Looks like it's going to be a slow week although I did have 3 yesterday. So far none on Thursday so I'm asking for the day off and maybe we'll go to the beach or golfing or something. Today is a perfect day weather wise but alas, it will not last. A cold front will be here in the morning so golf may not be an open. (It's supposed to rain as well)
Gotta Run!

Sorting it all out

I've been recovering from the New River 50K for the past couple of days and have been trying to figure out why I bonked so badly. I guess it all boils down to being under trained, not eating enough, not drinking anything except water and no electrolytes. Add that to my intestinal issues and it's a road to disaster. I felt great up to about 15 miles and then felt like I was being pulled backwards or running in to a headwind. It took me awhile to realize that it was me slowing down and not everyone else speeding up. (I'm a slow learner) I thought wow! they must be feeling good and are picking it up! Wrong, I had slowed to a crawl and soon would be literally crawling (okay, almost crawling) Anyway, by 20 miles I knew that the last 11 miles would be very hard. I was having a hard time staying on the trail. I kept veering off and leaning to the left. I felt like a car when it's needs to be aligned. Nothing I could do could keep me standing or running straight. I hooked up with MTCer Vicky Fogelman and we dragged each other in. With 1.7 mile to go, the sweeps decided to sweep us in. One of the guys, finally had to literally run next to me and lean into my side so I wouldn't topple over! It was very embarrassing. So far, no photos have surfaced although I could still be blackmailed!
I know it's important to eat and drink but perhaps I felt it wasn't really that important. I was running and feeling great and was running for hours without having to stop to walk. That was great. I felt like my training must be paying off. And then boom! It was over. Oh well, I ran about 15 really good miles so that is what I'll take away from the experience. They are all training runs so it doesn't really matter, I suppose as long as I learn something from all my "training" runs.
One thing I've noticed also is that the runners that seem to be having the best time, have the best time! Think about it! That is the premise of Born to Run and something we should all aspire to. Smile!!!!! Even when it hurts, be HAPPY!

Grampa's birthday bash!

 
Here's a new pic of Frank and Miss Ella. She's quite the little person now.

Waiting for U2

 
Here we are at the U2 Concert waiting for U2 to begin.