White Water Rafting

Last night I was gliding down the river in a float boat and attempted to jump over a boulder but came crashing down hard on my knee.  Of course all of this happened right in my living room while playing the X-Box sensor motion detector game called Kinect.  I’ve played it nearly every night, in addition to my half-marathon training.  I was pouring sweat while tackling my newest unlocked Adventure and trying to beat the clock.  I figured since I jumped high enough to grab the tokens in the clouds, certainly I could stop running into the blocks, and just jump over them.  Well, I was wrong.  After a fun-filled hour of plugging imaginary leaks and serving make-believe dodge balls, my body was tired and my bum knee gave out on me.  On my fall down to the floor, my flailing arms managed to score more tokens and win me a silver medal to progress to the next round.  I hobbled into bed, in pain, but ironically excited that I beat the time clock.  I slept in a knee brace, but this morning it still hurt pretty bad.   Nyah couldn’t figure out why I was moving so slowly when it was obvious that she had to potty.  I considered calling off work, but I knew with all the trial preparation, that was not an option.  Most of my co-workers got a little laugh when I explained my river rafting injury.  I had to laugh at myself.  Then, when I told my Lawyer Lady that I took an 800 mg Ibuprofen to help numb the pain, she said, “oh good, I hope you brought more, I’ll check and make sure you’re not asleep at your desk.”  I’ve worked at law firms long enough to know that my little limp would not stop the trial process.   Hopefully, I’ll heal up in a couple days, and get back to training, and of course my next Kinect Adventures!
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Turkey Trotter

My half marathon training schedule indicated that I should complete one mile on Thanksgiving Day.  I really did not feel like it.  I’ve been working with major overtime at work, preparing for trial.  That’s why I’ve been kind of MIA on the blog scene (sorry!)  One night I was at work until midnight preparing trial exhibits.  Additionally, I have been preparing my apartments, because I have 2 new tenants moving in soon.  My raggedy old “investment” building will not sell, and it looks like I might have to keep it.  But, anyway, since I had already missed three days of training; “it’s a holiday” was not a good enough excuse not to train on Thursday.  I got my best work out buddy Nyah, and we started walking.  I realized that I needed an actual destination because the treadmill and the park trail just seemed too mundane.  I walked down the street to my Shopping Cousin’s house.  Her family was happy to see us.  I was a little worried about Nyah being in their house because my cousin is a neat freak and Nyah is always shedding her black hair.  She didn’t seem to mind, or at least she pretended not to.  She probably ran the swiffer sweeper across the hardwood floors as soon as we left.

Then me and Nyah were off to my parent’s house.  I took a different route and saw houses and side streets I didn’t really know existed.  I almost got lost which is totally ridiculous since my mom’s house is only a mile away from my house.  When I found my way, my mom and my little sister were just getting home from Thanksgiving church service.  I stayed and talked for a while, and then my mom brought me back home.  Later that afternoon, I packed up my homemade double layer pumpkin cheesecake and headed to the first family meal.  The food was delicious especially the beef brisket that my mother made.  Then it was time to go to dinner with my Dad’s family.  I was too full to eat again but I definitely packed a plate to go.

My Big little sister likes to shop as much as I do.  We have been researching Black Friday sales for about two weeks.  We had our lists and stores mapped out days in advance.  Wal-Mart is trying to cut back on the chaos of people rushing in the doors and nearly trampling each other at 4 AM, so they decided to start sales at 10 PM on Thanksgiving, after being open all day on the actual holiday.  Of course it was still chaos, but there was a little order, they have lines for each special item.  I saw small catfight over $1.98 Bath towels, while I got my 600 thread count sheets for $19.  I was however very disappointed that they only had 11 Xbox 360 with Kinect in the store.  My Nintendo Wii, died a while ago so it was time to upgrade.  Luckily, my Gym Cousin was at another Wal-Mart and was able to snag me one for the low price of $199 plus a $50 gift card.  We had so much fun it’s like a holiday for shopaholics.  I came home still excited (at 2AM) and set up my new X-box & Kinect.  I dogged balls and water rafted in my living room until 4 AM.  It’s 10 times better than the Wii, your body is the controller.  You can jump, squat, swing and push, and the camera picks up your every move.  Thank goodness Friday was an off day on the training schedule, because I was exhausted.

Today, Saturday, I was supposed to go to group training, but I stayed up all night playing Dance Central 2 on the Kinect again.  I was too tired to go, but I promised myself I would still get in my mileage.  Even though the weather called for a 50 percent chance of rain I got dressed and Nyah and I went to forest Park.  I was only able to get in two miles before the down pour, but I was okay with that since I danced in front of the TV for hours for two nights in a row.  Do you have a Kinect?  What games do you play?

Butts N Guts

I am proud to say that since my half marathon training started on Friday, I have not missed a single day of training.  On Friday, I went to the gym and did a quick, but hilly mile on the treadmill and showered before heading to church to see my little sister praise dance in honor of the church’s 53rd anniversary.  Saturday morning I went to my first group training session in Forest Park.  Because the group is much smaller than last year, there was only one other walker.  Last year there were at least 15 of us walkers.  Even though my ultimate goal is to do a light jog during the race, I’m not quite ready to run with the “real” runners.

The new training schedule distances vary according to your current level of ability.  I’m between a level I and the level II.  Level I required one mile and level II required two miles.  Me and the other walker completed a brisk 1.87 miles together.  It was fun to train with the team again and have the support of the staff and the coaches.  My Big little sister invited me to attend a boot camp-like class called Butts n Guts also on Saturday morning.  After group training, I cleaned out my car to keep myself busy before class, because I knew if I went home I would get back in bed.  I met my sister at the community center and we had our first Butts N Guts class with the ex-military man named Omega.  He worked us out!  I was especially tired since I had already walked nearly 2 miles before 8AM.  The class was an interesting interval mixed workout.  We did the stair step, jumping jacks, leg lifts, bicycles, and even ran a couple laps around the gym.  My sister and my niece and I went to Soulard Market after class to get some fresh veggies and new spices.  I was exhausted and slept well when I got home.

Monday was a beautiful day, 70 degrees in November.  Unfortunately though, we had 25 pleadings to be filed in court that day, so there was hardly time to breathe.  I wanted to walk outside so badly, that I walked a couple quick loops (about one mile) around Kiener Plaza downtown.   Only a few of the occupy protestors were still there since the police put them out. By the time I got back to my desk my attorneys were hunting me down.  It was risky for me to leave, but in hindsight I’m glad that I did since I stayed at work until 9:30 PM and would not have had time to go to the gym.

Today however, felt more like November typically feels, a cool 50 degrees.  It was dark and cold by the time I got off work, and I just wanted to go home.  I couldn’t find my Walk at Home DVD, so I turned on my new show “Ringer” with Sarah Michelle Gellar, and walked circles around the living room.  I fast forwarded through the commercials, but walked the entire time.  I guess I walked about 45 minutes.  I certainly wasn’t sweating, because you can only build up so much momentum and speed while avoiding the glass coffee table and fighting the dog that thinks it’s all a game.  But, I still felt good about being active.  I felt dizzy, but good.  Maybe I should invest in a treadmill? Duh! …Anyway, I’m so happy to have fitness as a priority again.

TNT Round 2

The Team in Training Kick-Off meeting was Thursday.  I was surprised, there were way less participants than last year.  Only about half as many runners showed up.  Some of the staff from last year were excited to see me back and greeted me with hugs.  I met a few nice ladies, who thought I was an expert because I knew what to wear for training, and actually finished a half marathon last year.  It’s a little weird to be the biggest person in the room and yet the fitness “expert.”  We got our training schedule, I think I forgot how intense the schedule really is.  5 days a week, with 2 rest or cross training days.  I signed away my first born child on the fundraising contracts and medical waivers.   At the end they had a raffle for a TNT Hat, TNT duffle bag, and a Bottle of Moscato Wine.  I casually, told the ladies at my table that Moscato was my favorite wine.  And what do you know? They called my ticket number!  I won the pretty blue bottle of wine.  This year they actually had a training shirt that fit, so I was super happy about that too.  Looks like things are getting off to a great start. 

Here is a Dropbox Link to my Half Marathon training schedule.  I’ve never used Dropbox for my blog, but we use it all the time to share documents at work.  Let me know if it works (or doesn’t work). Tip: You might have to set up a free dropbox account to get access to the training schedule.

Copy and Paste into your browser: http://dl.dropbox.com/u/49568332/ST_LOUIS_HALF_MARATHON%5B1%5D.pdf

Getting A Head Start

My first group training session with TNT for the Half Marathon is Saturday Nov. 12.  I decided to get a head start, so that I can keep up.  I want to do a light jog during the race, even though I’ll probably still train with the walkers team.  I saw the runners last year, I can’t keep up with them.  Maybe one day I will be able to keep up, but today ain’t that day! LOL. 

I dragged myself to the gym, since the temperature has dropped, and daylight savings time has reared it’s ugly head.  It’s totally dark outside by the time I leave work.  Anyway, since I’m not really accustomed to running or jogging anymore, I went back to basics.  I started with Week 1 of the Couch to 5K.  I haven’t heard that podcast in a while, and it was kind of exciting not to know which song was next.  For the first few runs, I thought, oh this is easy; I could’ve skipped a few training weeks.  But, for the last two interval runs, my body started fighting me.  Everything hurt, my knees, my ankles, my calves.  I can fairly easily walk a couple miles and hardly break a sweat.  But, I quickly remembered that running is nothing like walking.  In the end I finished all of the 60 second run intervals, no cheating.  Week 1,  Day 1, 1.67 Miles, done….For those of you who follow my blog regularly, you know that I was dating a guy I called my “Special Friend.”  Because of hurt from the past, I was scared to open up.  I faced my fears, and allowed myself to enjoy the experience, since he truly is a good man.  Soon after, he told me he felt that I was “too emotionally involved, too soon.”  And, I got hit with “we should be friends.”  But, here’s the weird part.  We still talk on the phone every day and text like actual “friends.”  I even inspired him to do a half marathon and he wants to train with me. Do I regret facing my relationship fears and opening myself up? Nope, not at all.  I think I would feel bad, if I never gave us a fair shot.  Do you think it’s possible to remain “just friends” with someone that you dated for a month? What are your thoughts?