Denouement

Way cold! (low 30s)  Spandex, double long sleeve, running gloves weather.  What is the right amount of clothes for walking isn't right for running.

 Walked 1 mile, stretched, ran 4.1 (7:59 ave pace, no gps, used course tool to figure out ex post facto), walked back to car. 6.14 miles total.

Later AM:  7.5 miles biking with Marion and her daughter's bike, which I swear has it's back breaks half on, it seemed so much slower then when I borrowed Sasha's bike.

PM: Walked 1.75, then stretching, the ab workout, then my son ben made a choc cake and insisted on full fat, but the recipe called for crisco, so it was kind of good but not as good as a cake with butter in it, but I ate it anyway.  I am not dietarily virtuous. 

Walked 1.1, then ran 5 miles (8:07 ave pace), then walked 1 back to the car. 7.1 total.  

Went to airport, then walked 1.1, ran 4 @ 8:12 pace (I found my gps watch!) and then walked another mile. 6.1

Midday in Orange County, walked 4.25 with my sister. 

Took a red eye in from OC and then straight to work, then when I got home I invited my kids to come to the park with me when I exercise.  Mickie ended up coming with me.  Walked .81, ran 3 (8:48 pace), felt fat and winded, then walked .25 home

10.25ish total, with Marion on the bike.  Poor thing, she was freezing.  I was cold by the end, but nothing compared to biking in the low 30's.

Walked 3 (38:44), then ran 5 (44:04, ave pace 8:49) (planned on running 4 but couldn't remember how many I had done, so did another just to make sure), then we walked to finish up.  As always it was fun, but the weather made neither of us willing to stand around and chat.  The hot shower was so wonderful this morning.

Work is crazy, but I am crazier :D 

Walked 5.65, stretched, then ran 4 miles.  12:48 ave pace for walking, 7:59 ave pace for running.  

AM: 7.75 total distance

3.6ish walking with Marion, who is wonderful!

Running 4 miles, 8:15 ave pace.  Worked in the wee hours then exercised at 9am, but the sun was behind the clouds.  At least it wasn't dark.  So glad it was light so the impatient minivan lady could see us, get irritated at us, and flip us off.  I thought it was pretty funny, but Marion didn't.  

Ben has his flag football championships this evening, so I'll get in more walking this evening, along with abs (I do abs Tu, Th, Sat for those of you who are DYING to know :D). 

PM:  Ben had two games, I walked 7.25 miles, stretched and did abs before/during/between games.  Geeky but clairvoyant - I thought I wouldn't be able to do a lot of training Friday, and boy was I right.

First 15 mile day in a long time.  Sure, most of it was walking, but that makes it even harder. 

Marion is tired and I am tired.  Like a loyal friend she hasn't posted because I haven't posted.  

So no exercise today.

Paul woke me up just after midnight this morning.  He had pain in his shoulder, radiating up his neck and down his side, in his ribs.  I moan and groan about waking up, but once I am awake I am up feeding him medicine (pepto in case it's acid reflux, asprin in case its a heart attack).  Then we go into his office and look up heart attack symptoms.  Most likely its a panic attack, though his last one was years ago, but just maybe it was a heart attack.  Great! The symptoms for the two overlap greatly.  I call Marion and ask her to bring a teenager up to our house, but she opts to camp in my guest bedroom, and I drive Paul to the ER.  We go in sheepishly, maybe its a panic attack, maybe its a heart attack.

About two hours later Paul gets diagnosed with pulmonary embolism.  Not crazy big blood clots, but small blood clots on the outside of both lungs.  So Paul gets admitted to the hospital.  I go home and sleep from 4:30-6:30, then wake up and get ready for work. While it is rather callous to go into work when my husband is in the hospital, remember I have a major tax deadline next Thursday and I am responsible and under the gun.  I drop off goodies, books and Paul's laptop to him before heading into work late.  

Marion takes care of me again this evening, picking up food at Bajio's and we all meet in Paul's shared hospital room for dinner (me, my three kids, Marion, David, and sick-boy).  David and our home teacher gave Paul a blessing.  Marion brought Paul carrot cake from Dalton's, and indulgent source of all things dessert.  

So they are observing Paul, perhaps they'll release Paul tomorrow, but most likely not.  I am tired.  Still have to get the kids to bed.  Have hours of tax return work to do tomorrow.  Calgon blah blah blah blah. 

Started walking, stretching, then met MacK and ran 6 (8:19 ave, perfect pace), then walked a bit more, 8.00 miles total.  

Got home, changed clothes, ate a granola bar and drank some water, then hit the elliptical.  5 minutes warm up, then stretching, then 31 minutes: 3,3,4,4,5,6,7,8,5,6,7,8,9,6,7,8,9,10,5,6,7,8,9,6,7,8,4,4,4,3,3.  Couldn't have eyes open at end because of stinging sweat.  36 min on elliptical, my most so far.  I don't really aspire to mega elliptical workouts.  They are just a nice way to get some theshold/vo2 work in and for a change of pace.  

No news on Paul yet this morning. 

Thanks Smooth!  Paul got released today, though he's going to be having some lab work first thing next week, since he isn't yet where they want his blood to be.  He's feeling better. 

Walked .72, then ran 5 with MacK (8:13 ave pace), then we walked a bit more.  We saw TylerS on canal road.  Not as cold today, sweet.  

Marion and I met this morning, she biked and I walked, ran.  I was in such a good mood when we met that I just started jogging, and she said, "What are you doing?"  At least she remembered I needed a walking warm up.  Walked 3, ran 6, walked 1, 10.08 total, running ave pace 8:33.

It is amazing how much ground we covered (metaphorically) talking as we walked.  At the end we came up with a plan for the next several months and we pinky swore.  The plan is to break the rest of the year in three segments -- from now til November 6th, from Nov 6th - Thanksgiving, and from Thanksgiving to Christmas.  I need to lose 2 lbs during each of those segments, and I plan on doing it by going back to counting my calories, and exercise enough to cover reasonable eating and the necessary caloric deficit.  That should bring me down to 130 by New Years.  My weight does fluctuate, so I'll count 136 as my starting weight, since I did hit 135.6 a couple of times last week, 134.6 once, but I have been 137.0 the last two days.  Anyone else care to pinky swear?

We don't have to be 100% dietarily virtuous.  With eating, 98% virtuosity is acceptable.

Pre run:

100 cal Granola bar

Post run:

400 cal 1 1/2 c. oatmeal with scant 1/4 c. dried blueberries, 1 tbsp packed brown sugar, 1 c milk 

Ran 4 @ 7:58, 6 walking

tracking calories at www.mypyramidtracker.gov 

Met Marion at O dark thirty

Walking, then running, then walking.  Was supposed to run 4 but she tricked me and got me talking about taxes and, well, we ran 5.14 before I realized we went beyond 4.

Rumbi for lunch baby! 

Sweet low weight.  I rewarded myself with extra brown sugar in my oatmeal.

Walked 4, ran 4 (8:06 ave pace for run).

I have been experiencing some light feeling/pain in SI for about a week, it's getting to be pretty persistent, but a level 1, so low level.  Ham is also not going away, can feel it when running, just the right side feels different from the left.  I plan on going into the rheumatologist's to ask questions:

1.  If my Ilium is twisted and not right, can we work the bone gently back into correct position (he's already forbidden chiro work)?

2.  Can I get a-stym (scraping)?  My PT thinks this might help, but a-stym causes inflammation, so perhaps not a good idea with AS?

3.  Should I be tracking my inflammation level with blood tests at this time?  I am afraid of getting on embrel too fast, of causing a major flare up by getting on it too slow, and my SI is starting to niggle so if I have an empirical way to determine where I am compared to where I was in June, I'd feel better about making a decision. 

PM:  36 min treadmill, 6 min (2,3,3,3,4,4) then stretching, then 30 min (can't remember warm up but after 4 min it was 6,6,6,8,8,8,8,4,4,8,8,6,6,6,6,8,8,4,4,8,8,8,4,4,4,4.  On the last 3 min stint of level 8, I decided to see how long I could hold speeds above 50 (never dip in 40's) last time I tried I got to 40 seconds.  This time I did the whole 3 minutes w/o failure.  If I could do a back flip I would. If I could do the splits I would.  I can touch my toes, so I guess I'll do that, though it doesn't sound nearly as cool.  

Making mini pizzas on Rhodes rolls tonight.  A serving of two is 500 cals (w/ reduced fat pepperonis, 1/2 c. cheese, red peppers, sauce).  I burned 605 cals (approx ;D ) on elliptical so I could have 3 but I'll save room for dessert.  I have a pinky swear to uphold. 

10.1 miles total, 6 miles of running (8:04 ave pace) with Josse and MacK, just like old times.  It was great.  Josse wrote that we ran and chatted through SF, I would add that Michelle cackled.   

I would have walked more, but I am sealing our asphalt driveway (putting on a thin layer of tar) and that is going to be hours of work.  Paul can't help because any strenuous activity could make a clot move.  So at least one of my trusty neighborhood boys will be coming over to help.

First 30 mile week since mid February, or 8 months.  Wow.

My SI felt much better yesterday, so I got in my second ab workout.  I am glad to be repeating 30 mpw, hopefully my body will get used to it. 

Update: worked 6 hours sealing my asphalt drive, felt so tired by the end I wanted to just lay down on it and give up.  Result from this or running 6 miles, is SI was back to persistent low level niggling for the evening.  So no abs.  So this was a 2 ab workout week.  Kind of sad about that.   

Walked 1, stretched, ran 4 @ 8 min pace.  At SLC training on alternative minimum tax, not dry at all :)

Hooked up (ok that doesn't sound right), MET the resident south valley amazon goddess and we went a-biking, a-walking, a-running.  She approved my impulse purchase of dishes.  It is so hard to spend money.  I went to Ikea yesterday and stress-bought a set of 18 basic white dishes, a pot set, and a couple of kitchen gadgets I have never had, including a steamer basket (I know--how lame, I've only been married for 13.5 years and have never been able to properly steam vegetables).  Anyway, Marion approves, and Paul approves, so I decided to unwrap the goods and actually keep what I bought.

We did 2.5ish, then 5 running, then a bit more, about 7.98 total.  

I had to change to street clothes at Marion's home and weighed myself at her home (I like her scale).  While I was in the bathroom, she made me hot chocolate (how sweet) and offered me lots of food (do you want a string cheese?  it'll give you protein.  How about some sweet potatoes).  I accepted an apple and went on my way.

Volunteered in JJ's kindie class, man it's a zoo, and I think it will take some practice trying to herd the cats.  Then grocery shopping, didn't buy any bad things to eat even though I was way hungry.  Will go to Mickie's class soon to do a craft project.  We are turning acorns into little pumpkins.  Today we get them orange, then Thursday I go back and we put green stems and the jack o lantern faces on.  They are so cute.

Will do a modest elliptical workout this afternoon (meaning not trying to kill myself). 

PM 30 min mediumish elliptical workout and ab workout (abs take me about 30 minutes) 

Walked 1.75, stretched, ran 6 miles with MacK (8:12 ave) then walked 2.25 to make 10 miles total.  

Second day of strange foot pain.  On right foot, on top toward toes 2 & 3, pain lasts for about 5-10 seconds, radiates then dissipates.  It happens every 5 or 10 min, so not continuous, which makes me think it might be neurological. 

AM: Decided to do ab workout in the morning first (this is all after kids go off to school).  Definitely, Maybe (the movie) was on so I did my abs while watching the movie.  Marion comes over and witnesses the sloth and indolence --a romantic comedy in the morning--what's with me?  I then walk on the treadmill 1.72 and chat with Marion til she has to motor.  Then I called some clients, then went outside.  Walked 3, then ran 4 (7:37 ave pace, uphill mile in there), was kind of pressed for time, then walked 1.3, so I got my 10 miles in for today.

Love the weight, but it comes on the heels of two days of stomach issues, I have been counting calories, but haven't been able to keep my calories as low as I'd like because of stomach upset (my stomach hurts--I should eat some more food, I know the logic isn't quite there), so good weight but assisted by some evacuation. 

AM: Out for 7.5, ran 5 of them, 8:18 ave pace

PM: 36 min of elliptical.  Kicked my butt.

So sad my weight is up because I am really wanting to make peanut butter chocolate chip cookies.  

Oops!  Was supposed to run 6 and accidentally ran 7 miles, 8:11 pace ave, the good news is it felt like 6 miles and our fastest miles were at the end.  It must have been MacK's sparkling personality that kept me going.  

13.12 total, about 2:19 total.  My first 1/2 marathon in a row since AS issues.  Foot still hurts, but will pulse in and out, and hurts when I just sit at the computer, or watch a movie, just as much as when I run.  Yesterday it only hurt maybe 5 times the whole day, but today its more active.  Lower back hurt last night. I used my at home elec stimulator on my back and my foot last night.

PM: ab workout.  Rotating, did 4x2.5 min plank on swiss ball, 3x1.5min each side side plank on ball, 2x5 pike exercise Marion showed me on the ball, with risk of head trauma, but all is well and 3x55 crunches on ball.  Took me about 40 minutes (more than one Dallas Divas and Daughters show).  

Felt very hungry after this and went to Village Inn and had their fruit and grain pancakes with sugar free syrup and a side of egg whites.  

Met MacK, walked, stretched ran 5 (8:15 ave pace, felt winded and yucky), then walked some more, 7.68 total

PM: 31 minutes on elliptical, mediumish workout:  (while talking to Marion 2,2,3,3,5,5 uh oh have to hang up because level 7 is coming), 7,7,4,4,6,6,8,8,3,3,5,5,7,7,4,4,6,6,8,8,4,4,4,3,3 

Bad night of sleep!  Planned on waking up early for H1N1 shots for me and two kids, and had dreams about it.  I dreamt that I asked for the shot, they gave me grief about it, and I told them that I have an autoimmune disease (AS), and the nurse huffed off to tell the doctor, and the doctor marched right up to my face and gave me a shot right on the lip in a defiant manner.  The real reason I got one is because my husband Paul hasn't been doing so well since his pulmonary embolisms, so I don't want to bring any illness into the home.  His liver isn't functioning, and that makes his coumadin not work so they've upped that prescription twice, and he's on lovenox and has been for 19 days, which is a dangerous drug.  He's not feeling so hot and is nervous so I got the shot for him :)

Anyway, woke up at 4:30 am, packed up my two younger kids, not sure of the weather so packed a tent, three sleeping bags, a chair, food, coats, gloves, hats, food, and a change of clothes (I went in running clothes/tights, like a big moron).  We arrived at 5:15am.  I checked the three doors I knew of into the building and they said as of Monday night they had unexpectedly run out, but both the county website and telephone line had said there was a clinic that opened at 8am, so I didn't know what to do.  I couldn't see anyone waiting in a line so that made me more nervous.  I said a prayer, asking if I should stay until 8am to see what happened, and decided to motor over to McD's and get the kids breakfast and come back.  I parked and the kids started eating then I decided to walk around the building, and I found the line!  So we got in line by 5:45, about 30 people back (ballooned to about 100 ahead of us as the spouses and children arrived) but the line ended up extending around a couple of corners, so much larger behind us than ahead of us.  I snuggled the kids in their clothes and sleeping bags and started walking.  I walked up and down the block a gazillion times and logged 3 miles of walking, then they moved us inside and we waited in a hallway, and there I stretched, ate some breakfast, practiced spelling words with Mickie.  Then the shot was funny because they told me to prepare my left arm and I realized I had a skin tight undershirt that wouldn't move, so I took off my shirt in front of the crowd, so not only am I the lady who is wearing spandex in public, and who walks back and forth, and stretches in public, but I am also the lady who will disrobe to the sports bra in public as well.  I later realized my pepper spray was also showing at that moment, but at the time I was just glad I have been doing my ab workouts.

Later walked 1.6, then ran 4.4, then walked 3 more on the treadmill with Marion on the elliptical. 

Treadmill run.  Planned a 2 mile progressive tempo.  Wanted the first mile to be 7:15-7:20 and second mile to be 7:00.  

Walked 1 mile. Stretched.

Ran 2 @ 8:27

Mile 1 7:16

Mile 2 6:56

I dislike running on treadmills, but I am grateful to have it as an option since it enabled me to sleep in and not deal with my icy drive.  My PT also said to do any faster miles I feel compelled to do on the treadmill.

I DO like working out inside because it's like a pressure cooker, even though I am in the basement and Marion can attest to the low temperature I keep my home at, so I tend to get a good weigh in.  I have to be 134 or less next Friday for the party to earn my "let-loose" card, so I am on track, but I always have the last minute inside workout card I can play :) 

PM: Ab workout 

Met MacK.  Walked, stretched, ran 5 (8:15 pace) then walked some more.  Not too bad temp-wise, but the slight wind was no fun when walking.  8.14 miles total

PM: walked 3 miles when Marion came over.

AM:  Slept in!  Then met Marion for walking/running while she biked (w/o her geeky helmet, shame on her).  I have been having some, how shall I say, pipe blockage, and the run didn't make anything happen, so Marion suggested a "sprint" to the stop sign, so that portion of the run was .2 miles at 6:26 pace average (not a sprint), but that didn't help.  So I've gone with the alchemy. Total running 5.7, 8:37 ave pace.

PM: ab workout, so hard to do today, but I did it! 

Lots of house work.  Treating wood cabinets and wood stairs.  It is amazing all the nooks and crannies I don't clean and usually ignore.  Housework is fun, every once and awhile.   

Met MacK and did a walking warm up, stretching, then 8 miles into Payson and back to Salem, stopping at Smith's, then to Marion's house, where we peeked into her front window (there should be a forehead smudge to prove it), no one was there, so we moved along.  I meant to run 7 miles, but again ran an extra mile in error.  Sounds disingenuous but it is totally true!  I guess I'll have to pay attention to the watch a little better.  Ran 8 (8:11 pace) and total distance was 13.1.  So Luz, I got in my Halloween half, but not with the fanfare or fun of yours, I am sure.  But MacK was good company.

Anyone have any good ideas for Utah county Halloween activities for midday?