January 29th, 2013 – 7.32 Mile Run

The continued prayer is, “Lord keep me focused. Keep my mind stayed on You. Help me to bring You praise. I know You believe in me. Please help me in my unbelief. Amen.”

I got a note from Coach Dion. He said to log more miles because I would be running distance this year and whether I PR’d or not, I needed to FINISH.

As it often happens, Coach was right. I’ve been focusing on hills and speed lately, which tend to be shorter runs but this 10-Miler I have coming up is flat…… AND IT’S TEN MILES!!!! And sprinting up hills isn’t going to make it any shorter!

All the hills and speed drills in the world won’t help if I can’t actually cover the distance!

So getting in some focused distance was the goal tonight.

It was great. It was after dark, which is a bummer, but Daylight Savings starts on March 10th, so evening runs are going to be much brighter soon. Can’t wait!!!

This was the first longer run I’d run alone in quite a while. I’d do little 3 mile sprints on my own but I’d been saving my longer runs for Race Pace meetings.

I gotta say, I really enjoyed this time. When I’m running with others, I tend to be more focused on just finishing without bonking. In so doing, I discovered that I actually push harder when I’m by myself.

That’s odd. Most people push harder when they run with others.

After much cogitation, I realized that when I run alone, I am constantly doing internal diagnostics and daring myself to push harder. I think it’s because I know that if I push too hard and have to stop, I can… And for as long as I want. But I tend to take it easier when I’m running with a group. I would be devastated if I was on a team run, or running with Andree and I had to stop.

This is probably why I’m always alone when I hurt myself. When I strained my calf, I was alone. The time I bruised my Achilles tendon, I was alone. When I messed up my shoulder? You guessed it! Alone.

I’m not quite sure what to do about this, other than to be sure to mix up my workouts with team and solo runs. But it’s good to get a better idea of how my runner-self ticks.


ANYWAY….. I felt great afterward. Tight, but great. I had to get in a good session of stretches, I replaced my protein and sodium as soon as I got home and I got a really good night’s sleep.

This is a pic of me feeling good the next day. Wow! I gotta lotta Michael Jackson and running stuff at the office! Ah, well….. It makes my day.

See ya on the next run!

January 22nd thru 27th - 8 Miles Total

The continued prayer is, “Lord keep me focused. Keep my mind stayed on You. Help me to bring You praise. I know You believe in me. Please help me in my unbelief. Amen.”

These were short little runs. As promised, they were hill runs. Well, the first two were. The last one was just a fluke. I walked Jordan to a friend’s house and sprinted back home.

Lately, I have been having some shoulder impingement issues. I have been waiting patiently for it to go away but it has stayed with me for much longer than I’d like.

I’m fairly certain I should see a doctor about it but why go see a doctor when there’s FaceBook?


I put the question out there, pondering whether or not my salt intake could be part of the problem. I *love* these things!!

I could eat ‘em everyday. It’s probably the most undignified thing I do. Popping and spitting is one of my favorite past times and I’ll admit it without shame….. Largely because I am rarely caught at it. I never eat them in public and only my husband & children know of my secret shame. Well …. them and now you.

Anyway, one of my FaceBook buddies suggested that grains might be the culprit. Not that grains caused the problem, I know where and how I hurt myself, but that they may exacerbate the problem. Hmmm….

This is a potential problem and more than a little unfair, in my opinion. I already eat like a geriatric patient with congestive heart failure.

I tend to stick to a Heart Healthy diet, full of lean meats, veggies and whole grains. And I almost never overeat. Not that I don’t splurge from time to time. Chickens line up from miles around for the privilege of giving their lives to be my fried chicken!! I am better than average at baked goods and I recently procured a FANTASTIC recipe for truffles. Other than those few slip ups from time to time, I eat pretty cleanly.

I even started drinking red wine for the health benefits. Really, I did! I ended up liking it quite a bit but still, the original intention was for medicinal reasons. This is me being medicinal.

I didn’t want to believe that alleviating grains… All grains, could be the fix to this problem. But the suggestion came from a respected source, so I forwent (yes, that is the past tense of forgo) my usual breakfast of whole wheat toast with Earth Balance spread, Strawberry Simply Fruit jam and a mug of Green Tea and replaced it with boiled eggs and fresh orange wedges, further pigeon-holing myself amongst the blue hairs and red hat ladies.

I couldn’t give up my Green Tea in my Michael Jackson mug. Who could? He rocks and therefore Green Tea rocks.

It may have been a fluke but the pain was noticeably diminished that day.

Then I wondered if it was a grains issue or a gluten issue. So I had Rice Krispies for dinner that night. I looked at the Nutritional information on the box and it has whole grains but didn’t list gluten, so I went for it.

The pain was back that night.

I’m still not convinced that giving up all grains is the solution but I am trying all manner of devices. Consistently getting a good night’s rest is something I’m trying to work into my program too. This is me before bed.

Good night. Zzzzzz………

Now, on to the Run

January 22nd – 3.27 Mile Run (Hilly. 60 sec @ 9:30 min/mi and 30 sec walk breaks)
January 24th – 3.03 Mile Run (Hilly. 60 sec @ 10:00 min/mi and 30 sec walk breaks)
January 27th – 1.70 Mile Run (Flat. First half, stroll w/Jordan. Last Half 9:45 min/mi Sprint)


These were short but peppered with speed drills on hills (except the last one. I was nursing a fever). I got a note from Coach Dion. He said to keep up the hill work and work speed in once a week. When Coach says move your ass, you don’t ask questions. You just move your ass.

December 3rd thru January 21st, 63.17 Miles Total

The continued prayer is, “Lord keep me focused. Keep my mind stayed on You. Help me to bring You praise. I know You believe in me. Please help me in my unbelief. Amen.”

It has been quite a while since I’ve made an entry and that is bad bad bad. I have been plenty busy and while my running schedule has taken a serious beating, I have been running fairly regularly.

At the moment, I have two races scheduled and I am also seriously considering the Pacific Half in March. I’ve done that one every year since I’ve known about it and while I have never PR’d on it, it remains one of my favorites.

I know there are many people out there who love to run trails and don’t bother lacing up for less than a 1000 ft climb, but I am not one of those people. I hate hills. Hate ‘em like pebbles in my running shoes. Another thing I really loathe is the New Year’s Resolution.

With that said, I have decided that 2013 is going to the Year of the Hills!! I hate the idea of course but I do believe that hill work is speed work in disguise.

Regular readers know that I am no fan of speed work. Focusing on speed robs me of the joy of running but becoming a stronger runner is ideal and, as far as I’m concerned, always the goal.

This brings me back to the Pacific Half Marathon and why I’ve never PR’d on it. It’s hilly. Very hilly. Almost all of it. Sure, there are hillier Halfs but for me, the Pacific Half is where I beat my body down every year.

Normally, I would register without a second thought and just do my best on it but this year, I have a 10-miler scheduled three weeks before. Do I think I can fully recover from a 10-miler in three weeks? Of course…. As long as I don’t injure myself.

But that’s exactly what happened between the RAD 10k and the Marla Runyan Half last year. I clocked one of my worst Halfs ever because I ran it injured and I may not have gotten injured if I had taken it easier during the two week period between those races. That had never happened to me before and I don’t care to repeat the experience.



There are many other first-time experiences since my last entry that I would *love* to repeat like:

Learning to shoot a high powered rifle.

Attending a Quincenera.

Finding funny, slightly passive aggressive signs posted in my neighborhood.

Finally cleaning out my workout bag.

Finally getting to see the suit MJ was laid to rest in < sniff! >

Doing a race with my super hot brother-in-law.

Getting completely hammered at a Masquerade Ball with some hot runner chicks.

Taking the fam to the aquarium in Long Beach.

And channeling Forest Gump, the most beloved Ultra Marathoner of all time, outside The Bubba Gump Shrimp, Co.

I’ll keep you posted on the hill running and let you know what I decide about the Pacific Half.
And now, On to the Run

December 3rd, 2012 – 3.16 Mile Run
December 4th, 2012 – 2.76 Mile Run
December 9th, 2012 – 6.26 Mile Run – Race Pace Jingle Bell Rock n Run 10k
December 11th, 2012 – 2.18 Mile Run
December 17th, 2012 – 3.82 Mile Run
December 23rd 2012 – 3.18 Mile Run – Reindeer Run 5k w/Uncle Ryan
December 28th, 2012 – 3.49 Mile Run
December 29th, 2012 – 4.02 Mile Run
December 31st, 2012 – 1.40 Mile Walk
December 31st, 2012 –7.42 Mile Run
January 1st, 2013 – 7.42 Mile Run – New Year’s Run w/Race Pace
January 12th, 2013 – 3.54 Mile Run
January 13th, 2013 – 5.06 Mile Run – w/Lisa from Race Pace
January 17th, 2013 – 1.11 Mile Run
January 20th, 2013 – 5.33 Mile Run – W/Race Pace
January 21st, 2013 –3.02 Mile Run

November 13th thru December 2nd, 2012 – 36.34 Miles Total

The continued prayer is, “Lord keep me focused. Keep my mind stayed on You. Help me to bring You praise. I know You believe in me. Please help me in my unbelief. Amen.”

You may recall that the last time I posted, I’d had a TERRIBLE time with Race Pace, the running club I joined with my friend, Lisa. That's Lisa in the pink!

The following week, I met with her to run the same route. This time I knew the hills were coming and while I knew they were a foeman worthy of my steel, I was ready to take ‘em on. The whole time I was running the hill, the mantra “I will NOT be your bitch! I will NOT be your bitch!” was blaring through my mind. I thought I had it!!

Then “I Want You Back” by The Jackson 5 came across my iPod and I *knew* I had it!!! Not only did I know that the top of the hill was near, that song always gets me pumped! So I did a body check and my body said “GO GET IT GIRL!” so I shifted into high gear and sprinted for the top!

It felt GREAT!!!

The run back down was all joy.

This just goes to show how running really is a mental thing. The first time I ran that hill, I let it beat me before I started. I’ve done that in races before too. I’ll get a look at the course map and see the hills and I just let it take me down. I always think, “I need to conserve. Hills are coming”.

But the thing about hills is that they want you to run ‘em and the thing about your body is that it *wants* to run ‘em too!!! It really does!

The following week, I met with Race Pace again and we ran a different route. It was crazy hilly too. It was about a 6.5 mile route and the hills started at about the 4.75 mile mark. If this sounds cruel and usual, I assure you, it is! It was a hill near my office and one I’d run many times before, but never after having already run 4.5 miles!! So again, I let this get into my head.

I thought, “Take it easy. Keep it comfortable… Cuz when you get to that hill it’s going to wring you out like an old dish rag!” And it did.

Lisa took it like a champ! And Mike, who was assigned to bringing up the rear, was really cool about keeping us in his line of vision. He greeted the hill like an old friend. Neither of them were lightning-fast when it came to the hill but they ran it like they were in charge. I gotta learn the knack of that. I tend to get really insecure when I don’t know a route.

I finished strong and in decent time, but I was convinced that I could do it better. I couldn’t wait to run that one again! Just so I could show myself that I had it in me!!!

I knew the next weekend was going to be my chance to make it up to myself. But….

For months, I’ve been struggling with shoulder impingement issues. I’ve been trying to ignore it in the hopes that it would just go away. I’d been taking it easy and just trying to stretch it and maintain my range of motion. Then one night, I decided to do some strength training. One session of treadmill sprint intervals and curls was enough to send me to the doctor’s office.

He confirmed that it was indeed Shoulder Impingement and told me that I’d likely have to see a specialist for a Cortisone shot and another one for a few rounds of Physical Therapy. Damn.

The only times I’ve willingly gone to the doctor (other than annual check-ups) are when I was passing a kidney stone, in labor, and when I seriously thought I was having a heart attack. Turned out the diet pills I had been (stupidly) taking were raising my heart rate to a dangerous level.

So when I woke up early on Sunday morning to meet Race Pace and conquer this hill, I was distressed, but not surprised, to find that I couldn’t move my shoulder without sever pain. I’d had trouble sleeping because the pain was so intense and stabilizing your shoulder while you’re running is very awkward indeed.

So I reluctantly texted Lisa and let her know not to worry about me but not to look for me because I wouldn’t be there. It was 6am and for the next hour and a half, I was fuming over those lucky bastards who were being bested by that hill run! Damn! I wanted to be out there too!!

But the day was too awesome and too drizzly. I just had to get out there, even for a little while. So after spending the day with my family and hanging out with a good friend, I took a fist full of Ibuprofen, laced up and headed for the hills.

There is a pretty substantial hill about a mile from my front door. It runs up into one of those posh, Mercedes-driving neighborhoods. I really like it. The sidewalks are smooth and wide and always well lit. So I cranked up some Eminem and hit the road.

It was wet and crispy but none of that mattered. The hardest part was keeping my shoulder stable but even that couldn’t rob me of the joy I felt to be out in the rain, conquering that hill. It was great.

And even though I was mad at Race Pace for being awesome and making me feel less than awesome, I couldn’t help noticing that even though I wasn’t tearing up that hill like a wild thing, I was running it. Running it without stopping!!! I had *never* done that before! And I owe it all to Race Pace.

So rain or shine, Shoulder Impingement or not, I will be out there next weekend running the hills with Race Pace. Thanks, guys! I *love* you!!!

On To The Run

November 13th, 2012 – 3.06 Miles - Treadmill
November 18th, 2012 – 7.06 Miles – w/Lisa, Race Pace Route, Hilly
November 20th, 2012 – 3.25 Miles – Treadmill
November 23rd , 2012 – 4.09 Miles – Outside, Windy, Kids met me on the driveway. Awesome!
November 25th, 2012 – 6.49 Miles – Race Pace, Hilly
November 29th, 2012 – 3.25 Miles – Treadmill
November 30th, 2012 – 2.75 Miles – Treadmill
December 1st, 2012 – 3.73 Miles – Outside. Rainy, SO Nice
December 2nd, 2012 – 2.75 Miles – Outside. Rainy. Hilly. SOOO Awesome!


By the way, I joined another cyber-running group called “I Would Run 500 Miles” and at the time, I was really behind so I was pretty sure I couldn’t commit to 500 miles for 2012 but I might be able to do 400. However, on around November 28th, I realized I had hit and passed 400 miles and if I ran at least 2.5 miles every day for the rest of the year, I could hit 500 miles! So that’s the new plan.

I’ll keep you posted!!!

Veteran’s Day Weekend – 12.91 Miles Total

The continued prayer is, “Lord keep me focused. Keep my mind stayed on You. Help me to bring You praise. I know You believe in me. Please help me in my unbelief. Amen.”

Much love and many thanks to all who serve now and forever! I have the uppermost respect, not only for those in the Military but also for those who protect our safety and freedom. Some of my favorite people have served this Country with dedication and pride. I love ‘em. Love ‘em all.

My brother is a Marine. I love Marines!!! Semper Fi!! My pretty cousin Tammi was regular Army and she’s still in the Reserves. I’m so proud of them, I could burst!!

I celebrated by running 5.27 miles on Saturday morning with my running partner, Andree. Then on Sunday morning, I ran 4.14 miles with a running club called Race Pace.

Saturday’s run was perfect. It was as bitingly cold as it gets in Southern California in November, so I wore long sleeves and running gloves. By the end, I was sweaty and a little overheated. But the day was brilliant and the company was great. Andree and I hadn’t run together in about 3 weeks. I’ve had two races and one hair appointment. Just regular life getting in the way. So I was thrilled to get this run in.

We went at a pretty decent pace. It was the first time in quite a while that I felt like my old self. I wasn’t working through any injuries and I hadn’t run since Thursday so I wasn’t fatigued either. Toward the end, I went to pass three ladies who were walking on the sidewalk. I said “Excuse me ladies” and they moved over. As I was passing, one of them tripped me, of course, and I almost ate it completely. I threw out my leg to keep myself upright and I felt that little twinge in my left knee that made me wonder if I might have been better off if I had just let myself go down.

But I didn’t and I kept running. After that, I took it a little easier and Andree finished about 2 minutes ahead of me. Damn.

While we were stretching and talking, the ladies passed us and I asked them if they were OK. I didn’t want to completely kill my pace, so after I almost brained myself on the sidewalk, I didn’t say another word to them. I just kept on running. Another runner would understand, but normal people might have thought it was rude and I was always taught to respect my elders.

They were sweet and apologetic and asked me if I was OK. I told them I was but you never know about those kinds of things until the next day. So I finished my post-workout stretch and went home.

On Sunday, I was up bright and early again to meet Race Pace for the first time! Lisa discovered them and wanted me to join with her. I was excited about this and more than a little terrified.

A running club puts me in a whole other league of runner. As long as I’m out there doing my thing on my own, all I have to do is keep up with myself. Even with a running partner, it’s not so bad. Andree is slightly better than me so she pushes me, but a team is likely to kick my ass and make me feel like a loser. But I went for it anyway…

And that’s exactly what happened. I got my ass kicked and left there feeling like a COMPLETE loser! It was supposed to be a 6 mile run. The leader asked me what my average pace was and I told her I that I ran a 12-minute mile and was proud of it! She said she would be cool with that and would loop us as the run went on.

So we started out at about a 10:30 mile pace and I didn’t do my normal 4 minutes on, 1 minute off pace because I was with a team and didn’t know the course. This ran well for about 2 miles. Then we started to climb a hill. That’s when the whole thing just went to crap!

I have ZERO tolerance for hills. I know some people love them, but I hate them. I hate ‘em like pineapples on pizza.

The rest of the run was pure unmitigated torture. It was a 200 ft climb for a mile and a half. My pace slowed to 11:49 min/mi. The rest of the team hit a turn, at which point, Lisa and I completely loss site of them and ended up near our cars.

Chris was expecting friends over at about 9am, who were visiting from out of town and wanted to meet me if they could. I saw an opportunity to make that appointment, and consequently stop this torture, so I hopped in my car and headed home with only 4.19 miles on my Runkeeper.

Lisa stayed to see if she could find out what happened to the team. It really was strange. We never felt like they got that far ahead of us but at the 4 mile mark, they seemed to just vanish.

Turned out they ran the loop again and cut through a neighborhood and we just missed them.

When I got home Chris asked me how it went. I said, “I didn’t like it. It was cold. It was miserable. It was hilly. It was too early. The pace was too fast and I because I was with a group, I didn’t get to do my normal 4 and 1 intervals. I hated every minute of it and in the end the team ran off and left us! What’s the point of driving all the way out to Moorpark to run by myself?! I could run by myself at home! I left there feeling like a GIANT Loser!!! I *HATED* it!”

He said, “Sorry, Babe. So you’re not going to go back?”

I said, “Wait! What?! Haven’t you been listening?! Of *COURSE* I’m going to back!!”

Again, another runner would understand, but like most normal people, Chris didn’t get it.

Yes, I hated it. Yes, I was miserable. Yes, I left there feeling like a GIANT loser. But none of those are reasons to quit. I’d quit if they were racists, bullies or democrats maybe (kidding), but if “It’s just too hard!” was a reason to quit, I never would have started running in the first place.

Here’s how I see it: Typically when I’m running more than 4 miles, I run 4 minutes on and 1 minute off, usually at a 12+ minute pace, on a flat surface. However, this time I ran a rather hilly 4.19 miles and even though it thoroughly SUCKED, I ended up with an 11:49 min pace. That’s improvement on the first day! Not to mention that the first 2 miles were at around a 10:30 min pace, which is something I *never* do!

I don’t expect to keep up with the elite runners in this group, but it could have been worse… And this lady is no quitter!!

Oh! One more run: November 8th, 2012 – 3.50 Mile Run
Lisa and I ran the track at the college. It was the first run since the Dirty Girl Mud Run. Running with Lisa is always cool.

November 3rd, 2012 – Dirty Girl Mud Run (5k)

The continued prayer is, “Lord keep me focused. Keep my mind stayed on You. Help me to bring You praise. I know You believe in me. Please help me in my unbelief. Amen.”

This was the one of the greatest days of my life!!! This was the Ventura County Dirty Girl Mud Run. It's just for women and it's in support of breast cancer research. It was a BLAST!!!!

Hear this now: I will NEVER do another organized race by myself AGAIN!!!

The races that I've done alone pale in comparison to the ones I’ve done with friends. Usually, I’m at the Start Line all by myself and generally speaking, that’s fine. Runners are awesome and I don’t usually have any trouble striking up a conversation if I’m feeling envious of their team shirts and tutus.

I was invited to participate in this race by my good friend Shea. We’ve been friends for years and why we don’t hang out more often is absolutely beyond me. She is so cool!

She was doing the race with some of the girls in her dojo. Most of them are upper level Tae Kwon Do students and some of them are 3rd degree Masters. It was a highly accomplished group. Shea, herself, is black belt.

Their team is called the Muddy Dragons and they are all Tough Mudders. Yikes!

The course was all trail and all muddy!!!

We got down in it and it was amazing!!

It was unlike any experience I’ve ever had. Not because of the mud run, I’ve done several of those. I’m no stranger to having muddy sand lodged in my girlie bits.

The part that knocked me off my feet was the shower Tent!

The shower at the end was insane! It was like the last days of Caligula in there!

Naked ladies packed into a dark tent, rubbing their bodies with water running. I will never get those images out of my head!!

I am very comfortable with my body and generally have no problem with nakedness. One of the main reasons I love my house is because the master suite has large mirrors in it. Watching me walk toward myself after a shower… I’m not gonna lie, it’s one of my favorite things. It’s like warm, melted chocolate flowing over hills and valleys. Mmmmm Mmmm….

Ahem….

My point is, I am *far* from prudish and even I was on edge!! Boobs were just EVERYWHERE and there wasn’t a single attempt at modesty!!! And it wasn't like they were doing their business, packing up and leaving. They were taking their time and sticking around to chat.... COMPLETELY NAKED!!! It was CRAZY!!

I can think of a few people who would have spent the $65 just to be in the shower tent! I felt dirtier after the shower than I did at any point during the race.


All of it was great. Really. It sounds like I was appalled. Not at all. Just stunned. It was a lot to take all at once because basically, you just turn a corner and BAM!!! A room full of naked women!!

All different shapes and sizes and all beautiful. It really was a great race.

This is the cool T-shirt and necklace that all registrants got. I will wear it with immense pride.

And here we are at the end. This was a best group of girls! They were so inclusive and wonderful and I can’t wait until we can get together again! GO DRAGONS!!

October 30th, 2012 – 3.50 Mile Run

The continued prayer is, “Lord keep me focused. Keep my mind stayed on You. Help me to bring You praise. I know You believe in me. Please help me in my unbelief. Amen.”

Happy Halloween!!!! I’m not a particularly big fan of Halloween but any excuse to dress up like Michael Jackson is alright with me.

Last night was the first run I’d done since the Half on the 21st. It was great and I am *so* glad that I let myself take a full week off so that my calf could heal completely. It was the first time in quite awhile that I ran without any pain or even discomfort.

I got an e-mail with a free week pass to 24 hour Fitness. Normally you would never catch me in a gym. I am a BIG fan of open air exercise. Not only because it’s free but because you are less likely to catch a bug from the cologne-soaked, herpes infected college coed running sprints on the machine next to you.

Really, dude? I’m 40 years old! Go try making eyes at the Lycra-covered hottie on the elliptical machine with the bouncy boobs, sweating to Justin Beiber!! She’s more your speed and your cologne is seriously causing my brain to hemorrhage. Seriously, who wears cologne to the gym?!

Anyway, creepy college kids and obvious STD and Staph infestation aside, the gym has equipment that is *WAY* cooler than mine!!! My treadmill is at least 3 years older than the kid trying to catch my attention and while it will allow me to set a mph pace, it doesn’t allow me to set, say a 12min/mi pace for a quarter of a mile, then a 10:50min/mi pace for the next 2.5 miles, then a 9:30min pace for a three quarters of a mile then a 13min/mi warm down.

Also, their treadmill seemed to be much easier on my joints. I felt like I could run for hours on that thing! Certainly, it wouldn’t do to train on such nice equipment exclusively. A 13.1 mile road race after training exclusively on treadmills as soft ad puffy clouds, with “The Big Bang Theory” playing overhead, would be a rude awakening indeed. But I’d highly recommend it for people who want to comfortably work on speed.