Saturday, February 28, 2009

cleared for...

a seven mile run...i'm very excited...

Friday, February 27, 2009

stress

it's not something that i am happy about but it seems at times to be unavoidable...i have stress...99% of my stress is self imposed and about school...am i doing enough to be getting the grades that i want to get...am i learning everything that i should be learning...am i _ever_ going to get better at general chemistry...but the strange thing about stress is that i really truly notice how bad it had been when i have a day (or a few) where i don't feel any...

i am happy to say that yesterday was one of those days...it just happened to be near 85 degrees and sunny...just an amazing day...

my class on thursdays is a 5 hour chem lab...and i was there almost the whole time yesterday but never once in a bad mood...part of that had to do with the fact that my grade on my lab #2 report, quiz, post lab and pre-lab for lab #3 were returned and i did so much better on these...guess it is tough to know what the first lab is like...and how it is going to be graded...we then did acid base titration...lots of fun...but a bit tedious...i enjoyed the lab though and am getting to know my bench mates a bit too...nice girls

after lab i went over to the gym to get a pool workout in...and had to walk by a rather offensive and graphic anti-abortion exhibit...i really don't like when people use religion as an excuse not to think...i could go on and on...but i won't...the only good thing about walking by that was i got to see cindy!...yeah...haven't seen her in a long time...and she told me about her 48 minute marathon PR...yes ladies and gents....a 48 minute pr....NICE WORK!...that is so awesome...and even better was how excited she is about it....yeah for personal achievement...and for setting new goals...rock on cindy...

had a great swim in the pool...outdoors feels like a resort...and the chlorine doesn't sting my face like at lost creek...did a 2500 on my own with out a workout...just doing this and that...had a pull buoy and a kick board but nothing else...it was very enjoyable

home for a bit...and then to my surprise j came home...and worked from home (mostly on the studio) for the rest of the afternoon! it was like a weekend to have him home...it made me smile that he also got to enjoy some of the beautiful day..

after a trip to the grocery store...i cooked two lasagnas one for us for friday and one for logan...poor guy still in recovery mode from his bike wreck last weekend...food=healing in my book...dropped it over at his house...then back home to cook dinner for us...we grilled out...

PT and then to bed with me...it was so nice not to have the pressure of things due friday...or a test looming...one next friday but i think i can get that one down over the weekend...so hopefully i can try at least for a few days to keep this lack of stress feeling going...it's really nice!

Thursday, February 26, 2009

it is a beautiful day and...

i smell like pool...in case you were wondering

Wednesday, February 25, 2009

smooth

i know i've been bad updating daily...but really i'm getting here to get my thoughts down when ever i have a spare moment...which i'm sorry to say is not that often...

but i wanted to just comment that i'm feelin' smooth this week...like there is not a whole lot going on outside of what i need to be doing...so there seems to be less chaos...and a bit of room to breathe...but don't go throwing something in the spokes here...or it all just goes nuts...

i'm taking advantage of the smooth while i can...getting in a lot of workouts...actually doing all of my PT...getting a lot of studying done...and actually occasionally cleaning something...j might disagree but hey...i'm trying :D

so now i have to study up on the common ions i promptly forgot when i walked out of my CH304 final last semester...that i need to know for my lab quiz tomorrow...so be back soon i hope

Monday, February 23, 2009

weekend

saturday i slept in...like all the way until 7....it was great...got up and had coffee with j...while both of us worked...me home work...he was grading...it was the first time in a long time that we both had coffee that was fresh...one of us usually has to reheat...it was really nice...then j was off to the gym and home depot to buy paint etc for the studio space...i hopped on the trainer for a 2 hour ride...while studying medical terminology and cell structure...

chrissie had given me a workout to do...it made the time go by quickly...and i got a lot of studying done...then off the bike...more studying while j started painting the studio ceiling...not an easy task...

we made pizza and watched a movie...we were supposed to go to a friends house later but didn't make it out of the house...

sunday up to meet ETG at barton springs...she was aqua jogging her long run and i wanted to get in a swim before the springs closes for cleaning for a few weeks...it was great...as always...except for that diving duck at the end...it was really cool to see it under the water but also a little scary not knowing where it is going to pop out of the water...i was almost done by then so i was out :P

did a short run from barton springs to the lamar bridge loop...something around 3.75-4 miles...nothing crazy...it was a good run...and a nice day for it...i over dressed...but that is typical getting out of the water not knowing exactly what temperature it is...left knee still a little sore...but a lot of that is from all the PT work...

home to do some more studying....j had moved on to wall painting...then i got to help poor coach logan change into fresh bandages...he wrecked on his bike the day before and dislocated his shoulder, has a really good gash on the knee and a bit of road rash here and there...the shoulder makes it tough for him to do the bandages on his own...poor logan...heal quick man!
met up with ETG there and we tried to find the last of the Title 9 sale...but no luck...

home to study some more while j made yummy indian food for dinner...we watched friday night lights (old ones from netflix)...

feel a little less stressed out...which is nice...oh and i got an a on my o-chem test...a good way to top off a really nice weekend..

Saturday, February 21, 2009

mental health

i took a day off from intense homework and workouts...i had class in the morning then PT/ART session in the afternoon...(i'm sore from the PT this morning!)...then spent time at whole foods...shopping for my weekly groceries...not in a hurry...not on a saturday when it's crazy busy...just me and some other folks...before work was over for the day...

when i got home...j was home...he was able to escape early (by a whole hour) from work...he cleaned up some of the construction mess that was in the studio...and i cleaned the house...plaster dust is insane...let me tell you!...after some time together each with our own laptop...me reading food blogs...j doing work on the magazine...we made some really tasty stir-fry and watched a movie...

sometimes giving ourselves permission to just relax for an afternoon is so much better than struggling to get some work done that you don't want to be doing...you can have a few minutes to recover from a hard week, a hard workout or just a hard conversation...i think that recovery is just as important as getting things done...it's like the relaxation pose at the end of a yoga class...you are giving yourself time to integrate your yoga practice into your body...and for me those afternoons off are the integration pose for what had been happening in your life...

today we get back to work...

Thursday, February 19, 2009

give me consistency...please?!

ok shoot me...i'm really not all that spontaneous...i work well with a schedule...but these days nothing seems to be routine...and i miss it...i have a workout schedule and i have a school schedule but neither of them are feeling consistent...with school there are night tests so that makes me miss workouts=messed up schedule...with workouts there are "not a lot of running" prescriptions=messed up schedule...throw in PT appointments after classes...and taking care of household stuff...i keep thinking about spring break...and well it's not for several more weeks...maybe if we just add one more day to the week?

i guess part of me feeling weird is that i am prioritizing school first...not that i didn't do that before...but i am giving myself a little more room in the rearrange the workout part of my life...with IM training i scheduled my school around my workouts...this semester it's the other way around...and i am having a really hard time with that i guess...feels totally weird and bizarre...and well...i need to be spending more time doing school than i did last semester since i am in more classes...this leaves little time for well anything...

ok enough bitching...i'll have another glass of wine...do my PT...and go to bed...hopefully barton springs in the morning...and a run and...

Tuesday, February 17, 2009

breathe

after what seems like going full speed ahead for the last month i finally get a day off...not from sports or from homework...but from classes...and rushing around...my discussion section for Bio was canceled this morning and i finally get a moment to breathe...

don't get me wrong...i am very grateful for all of the things that i am able to enjoy everyday...and i love keeping myself busy and moving...but sometimes everyone just needs a moment to rest...and this morning i am taking full advantage of my time...

i started a new workout schedule this week...after a meeting with coach chrissie last friday she helped me get my head around not going to run workouts and giving myself some time to mentally break from the pattern...so i'm upping my yoga to 2-3 days a week, running 3-4 days but nothing over 4 maybe 5 miles...two swims...and a barton springs...and a spin and a long ride...and if i'm feeling up to it a trainer ride at home...so hopefully with this i can gain some fitness, keep healing and get a little faster doing the short runs...

i'm on day two...and it's looking good so far...i woke up sunday morning with some pretty bad knee pain and i could not figure out what the deal was...i had taken a few days off from my routine...hadn't been able to get an appointment for PT or ART last week...and spun pretty hard on the trainer saturday but nothing that was pushing big gears...so i'm a little concerned...but here is the weird part...i did yoga sunday and monday mornings and ran 3.14 miles in the afternoon and did not have any pain on the run or at yoga...it's when i am not doing stuff that it is hurting...weird

i have a PT and ART appointment today so i'm hoping to get some relief and hoping to see if progress is being made here...

so other than that i'm home doing laundry, homework and studying for my o-chem test on thursday night...and i can't even tell you how happy i am about it...no seriously...

Sunday, February 15, 2009

slow down....please...

i have been saying this for the past few weeks now....i feel like everything is moving so fast...and there is little time to enjoy it all...i've been so busy lately and thursday i just wanted everything to stop so i could take a few deep breaths and get caught back up...guess that is what spring break is for...because it's not happening now...

school was good thursday and friday...j's folks arrived friday afternoon for the weekend...the weather was great and i am glad they got to enjoy a bit of sun and warm weather...cook salmon on the grill, roasted fingerling potatoes, saffron rice, salad and vanilla ice cream or soy with berries for dessert...

saturday was studies...whole foods...lunch at blue dahlia...more studies...and pasta with fresh seafood sauce...and salad...also yummy...and finally to bed early...

today is going to be some marathon watching...more studies...and more studies...lots of exams etc this weekend...and lab report to write...joy...but really looking forward to watching friends run...should be great

and if you want please slow things down a bit...i won't mind

Wednesday, February 11, 2009

catch up

ok so i have been studying like crazy for the cellular and molecular nutrition test that i had today and have done really nothing other than that in my free time...so here i am...post test...i felt really good about 95% of the test...there were about 5 questions that were not solid in my book...it is the type of question that could have two answers and you have to pick the "best" one...well it's a multiple choice test...in my book answers are not up to interpretation....but that is the way he is i guess...so that was good...glad it's done...

workouts have been another story...re-arranging things again since i am not so run focused these days...6 weeks of not pushing it...i think i'll count where i am as week two so 4 weeks to go...not bad really...

so monday was yoga...i was going to run in the pm but it was wilke repeat day and the first day j was home in a week so...i opted to skip and hang with husband....tuesday was a swim in the morning and a spin at night...today was core in the morning and an evening 3 miler from home...in 25 minutes...today was stressful...and i am glad i can take it out on my run and not on the people i love (ok well most of the time) :) not sure what the plan is for the rest of the week...j's folks are in town for the weekend...but i do know that i am swimming at barton spring friday morning and can't wait!...

Monday, February 9, 2009

sunday run

did a quick (for me) four miles on the trail...i had a blast...wanted to run more but didn't...i'm trying to quit my sports before they hurt not quit because i hurt...it's hard but i am starting to get the hang of it...

anyway happy to get out with the group and just be there to see everyone...even if i needed to cross the bridge and they kept going...it's all good...i'm out there doing what i can do at the moment...and hopefully that will include more biking and swimming when i have a minute this week to think about my workout schedule...

i don't have much time at least the first few days due to my first exam on wednesday...always rough to have the first exam of the semester...but also nice to get it going...so the rest of my sunday was spent stuck in my nutrition books...

made a yummy sunday supper for me...a Cornish hen, cauliflower puree and wilted spinach...it was fantastic

Sunday, February 8, 2009

oh my!

since i can't run long i decided that i would see how it was to bike long...this was my first "long" ride in about a month so i was not going to push it too much...i really just wanted to see how my hip would react to a couple hours on the bike...

T3 was doing the ride out the Kyle...i know i'm crazy but i really like this ride...maybe because we did a lot of it training for arizona...but there is something about hitting that smooth road near kyle after all that chip-seal through buda...ahh...it's a great feeling...

so i started out about 8.30 with a few other ladies...and as soon as we were out of the parking lot it was all about the wind...the thing about the wind here is it doesn't seem to let up...it just seems to get stronger and then try and blow you of the road...it's great...

so the averages on the bike were not super on the way out...but on the way back i was SO fast...that my friends is the really fun part...anyway i decided to turn at the 15 mile mark so i would get 30 in for the day...i was pushing it with my legs against the wind and was not sure i would be feeling as good as i was at 15 when i got to 20...and really i was not in the mood for pain on top of the wind...so i turned and cruised back in...just under two hours...good ride...

literally the rest of the day was spent with my nose buried in a book of some sort...first medical terminology, then cellular and molecular nutrition, then chem lab manual, then o-chem...really...i know i'm so exciting

gave my self permission to watch a movie at 7.30 (pride and prejudice) and go to bed early so i could get up and do it all again...but with a run...a short run in the morning

Saturday, February 7, 2009

some thoughts

i took two days off this week....in a row...i have not done that since IM...and really it was hard to do...my body keeps telling me to rest but 9 times out of 10 i (and most other triathletes/runners) don't want to listen to that message...i'm good at listening to my body about injury but not about rest...

i needed it...i took wednesday and thursday completely off...save for an appointment with the PT...and doing the exercises and stretches that he wants me to do...i have decided that i need to take better care this way and will now be getting once a month good massages at performance...do my exercises...do my really long stretching thing and get my body back to normal and hopefully build up a little resistance to injury...an ounce of prevention blah blah right?

so my last three days have been spent doing lots of school work...trying to get my head around all of these classes and trying to prioritise...for now cellular and molecular nutrition as well as ochem are on the top of the list...but none of my other classes is really that far behind...so far nothing i can't handle but i know in eventually i am going to get a nice dose of stress and i hope i can recognize that before it comes...

so as a little study break yesterday i decided to go for a run...yes dr. and the PT said it was fine to run just not past the point of pain...so i took it very easy...i tried to really set myself up for success...and it seemed to work...i ran the loop around the capitol from home and had a nice run...it wicked hilly but it felt good to get my heart rate up and just to move...i spent just as long icing and stretching after the run as i did actually running...but it's all about recovery...

i have two yummy yet similar yet totally different fish dishes the last two night...thursday i slices some fennel, onion and orange...cooked that a bit in a pan...put a rock fish fillet on top and topped that with some orange zest and garlic breadcrumbs...tossed it in the oven and served it over brown rice...yum! and then last night was red cabbage and onion with cumin seeds then salmon on top with a cumin seed garlic coriander rub served with a baked sweet potato...also yum...

lots more homework and studies to do over the weekend...so going to go for a bike ride saturday morning...and we will see about sunday...thinking a short run or maybe a swim...it's all still up in the air...

Thursday, February 5, 2009

not my week

yeah guess that is the best way to put it...

woke up wednesday morning ready to get my core workout in and really had no voice...a very sore throat and a weird cough...exactly what j had a week a go...great!...

so i shot logan a text (so he wouldn't be worried that i was not there) and went back to bed...i think that my body was happy with the extra hour of rest...

school from 9-2...today all the way through...i stuffed my face with a sandwich in the 10 minutes between classes since i had a meeting during my usual break...it was a very informative meeting about the coordinated program that i want to apply to in the fall...

i was pretty beat when i got home so decided that today was going to be an off day...and really this week is an off week...if i feel like i am getting better i might get a workout in but i'm feeling pretty worn out...with the injury and the cold (or what ever i have)...some weeks everything just catches up with you...

so i stayed home...did a bunch of homework, read more ochem, started studying for my test next week...and made a dinner that j would have not been in to and watched a really bad movie...sometimes it is just the right thing...

Wednesday, February 4, 2009

back in the saddle

morning got up to go to swim at lost creek...had a good swim workout...i like when we don't have to a lot of fast stuff...i have a hard time with those kind of sets...but this was a pretty mellow swim workout...had a good pull set and actually got some breath control...a whole 5 strokes then a breath....great stuff...

j was already on the way to vancouver by the time i got home...so i did my thing and got ready for school...had bio discussion section...it's really kind of easy...and the TA is nice...so i didn't mind it much...did well on the quiz so that is good...

feeling a little like i am getting behind...i'm not...but i just have a lot of school work to do...my tests/projects are starting to be due next week and they go every week until the end of the semester...guess that is what happens with 4 classes and 2 labs...joy

had an appointment with dr. laurie today (the other dr in the performance office) sellers was out of town...and like i said earlier i really hurt sunday and wanted to get in to make sure we were still making progress in the right direction...she worked on me for quite awhile...really working my left hip...so it seems that my psoas is causing me the problem...and perhaps some tendinitis in my hips (they pop a lot but that is nothing new)...at one point she had one of the massage therapists in there...helping to move me in all directions to work that muscle...it hurt but felt relaxed and better when she was done...have a PT apt thursday...and scheduled a massage too...i really want to heal well

home to work on ochem and then off to discussion section for NTR326...it was very useless...my TA says "oh just memorize everything" and you will do ok on the test...uhm ok...wtf...

home for a second to finish up the ochem...then off to spin at the training center...got there in time to do some core...and had a good workout on the bike...did 98% of the workout and hopped off when i knew that my hip was getting tired...i have a feeling all that work we did at the dr today made me a little more tired than usual...but i had a great spin and was happy to be there...

a bit worried about my scratchy throat...but a good day

Monday, February 2, 2009

today

is a new day...

elizabeth (too sweet...) brought me a few tulips and hyacinth...they make me smile...thank you

and thank you to all of you who have had kind words for me...thanks guys :)

Sunday, February 1, 2009

i spoke too soon...

as usual...

after my run today...that was oh...about 5 miles...i realized that this injury is not fixed...and i need to give up on the goal of running the marathon...ended up walking it in...

and i was _very_ jealous of those people you see on the trail who really have no running form what-so-ever...running wicked slow...i was MAD at them cause they were RUNNING and i was not...

this is really hard for me to accept right now...i'll get over it tomorrow...but today is not a good day...

this is the first time that i have signed up for something and not completed it...it makes me feel like a complete failure...and this is hard for me to come to terms with...because as we all know failure is not in the vocabulary of a perfectionist...

so today is what it is...tomorrow is another day