Where's the Beach?

If you read my blog with any regularity, you know that I tend to write a lot about running, some about lifting, cycling/cross-training, as of late, a good deal about recovering from injuries, with a smattering of recipes and life along the way. Yesterday, I read a fun post from Jess at The Blonde Ponytail - 10 Non-Fitness Things About Me . After reading it, I thought it'd be a fun post to do for Fun for Friday . I always enjoy reading posts that give more insight to the blogger behind the blog. I think it's fun, it's personal. Perfect for the end of the week. 1. I love to read.  I typically read for an hour each night before bed. It helps me relax and fall asleep. I can go through 4-6 books in any given month. 2. I hoard hardback books.  So, to go with the reading thing, I feel like I must own the hardback. I think it goes back to working at Waldendbooks through college. And if I'm reading that many books and own them, you can imagine the issues with that on...

After 37 days of not being able to run because of my stress fracture , I finally set out for a run on Valentine's Day with Jason. Seems like the ideal gift for a runner right? The temperatures were in the low 70s, perfectly clear skies. I didn't even mind the gusting winds. I was just happy to be outside, running. It wasn't fast. It wasn't easy. But it felt amazing. We did 3 miles of walk/run intervals. Jason made sure to keep my speed and distance well in check. And the best part was that there was no pain at all. That hard part was holding myself back. Every ounce of me just wanted to take off at full speed like a child might. Sunday the temperatures were much colder, and there was actually ice in the forecast for Monday. So, I layered up and headed out for a solo walk/run. I ended up with 4 miles and didn't mind that my face was frozen. Funny how I was in shorts and a tank one day then layers and gloves the next. I will say that it was much harder th...

Happy Friday (the 13th)! Anyone else feel like this has been the longest week ever? I think part of it for me is that I am thisclose to being able to start attempting to run again. So close ... And oddly, even though every ounce of me wants to run, now I'm afraid to try. I can't wait to get out on the roads again, but now I'm fearful of another stress fracture. As much as I'm sick of the bike trainer and the full-body circuits I've been doing, they feel very safe to me now. This got me to thinking (uh oh right) ... Do you ever feel like you're completely bi-polar, or have dueling personalities? No? Just me then? I thought it'd be fun to share some of my idiosyncrasies, those weird things that I both like and dislike. I love to do home decor, redecorating projects, yet I'm really bad about always following through to the end. So things get started with great intention, but then I may not finish the fine details. Example, I refinished a chair ...

It's Tuesday, and I meant to post this yesterday. But Monday was a Monday all the way around down to having to walk back to work from home because my car battery died (again). At least it was sunny and warm and I didn't have to trudge the 9 blocks in "the boot." Upside right? Since I was officially out of the boot , I took full advantage of the spring-like temperatures we had over the weekend. Saturday started off with a girls only lunch with my sister, mom and niece. It was to celebrate our mom's birthday in January. We of course did a little bit of shopping after eating, and then when they left town, I decided to go for a much-needed walk. It was only 2 miles, and not anything close to running, but it did my mind and body good. Saturday night, Jason and I decided to have fun in the kitchen and made some veggie pot stickers and crispy tofu. Of course we dug in using chopsticks. That's a must right? Other than the giant mess we made in the kitchen, i...

Injury Update I decided to go see a podiatrist. Not because I didn't fully believe or trust my doctor, but I really wanted to get a full understanding from someone who only deals with feet and ankle injuries. I'm exactly 4 weeks out on this stress fracture and was (key word) in the boot for 3 weeks. The podiatrist said that a full break takes 8-12 weeks to heal and a stress fracture about half of that time. That means at 4 weeks, I'm totally on the mends. He gave me the OK to do non-impact workouts like cycling and even said to try the elliptical. I admitted I'd been doing the bike and he said that was perfectly fine as long as there had been no pain. Phew! Oh, and the biggest news was that I could ditch the boot! That in and of itself was like angels from heaven. I'm still not cleared to run, but at least there's an end in sight to the injury. He said to wait 2 more weeks then start going out for test runs. The biggest thing is that I have to realize that...

In all honesty, I wasn't planning a post today. I feel like I'm losing my momentum with blogging. A lot of it has to do with not being able to run right now. You'd think I'd turn back to blogging as an outlet. But, I feel like such a Debbie Downer that I don't really want to use this space for that. Runners all get injured. Been there, done that. No one wants to read about how down and out someone is. I mean, you've been there too as a runner. You get it, but guess what, you're not the only one who's been through it. But, after reading Katie at Moms Little Running Buddies post The Running Effect: How Has Running Changed You? I was inspired to write. Maybe not running means I can reflect on exactly why this injury has me so down. It's not just not being able to run and burn off some calories. Not at all. It's about not being able to do the one thing that brings me so much peace and joy and release. Running has changed me in many ways over the...

If you had asked me what my running and racing plans were for 2015 right after my full marathon at the end of December, I would have told you about races that I had planned. Funny thing is that I really don't love to race. It makes me a nervous mess, but I keep finding myself going back for more. I tend to want to race the same ones I have done previously as well. Perhaps it's because I've been there, done that and have the t-shirt to prove it. Last year, my first 2014 race was the River Trail 15K . So, it made sense that it'd be my first race for 2015 as well. The race is this Saturday, however. And I am still in a walking boot. Last year I ended up with an age group placement and a nifty cup. This year, well, I can use the cup at least right? The 15K was used as more of a training run for me for the Little Rock Half Marathon . I thought it would help me get into the racing mindset, plus I needed the miles of course. The Little Rock Half Marathon was my very f...