The Itch

I've been itching lately. Yes from bug bites, but that's not what I'm really referring to.  I am lost. I don't know what to do with myself now that I've finished my masters program. With that off my plate, so to are my internship hours, homework readings, papers, exams, and classes.  In addition, I've now completed two half marathons. I've decided to wait awhile before doing another one.  The training schedule was difficult to manage with my teaching schedule at the gym and it did a number on my body.  But with that decision, I no longer have something I'm training for physically to keep my mind and body working towards.  

I'm in need of a goal other than GET A GROWN UP JOB / STOP RETAIL WORK.  That is consuming my mind and it's driving me crazy. By focusing on how much I do not want to be working at the mall evenings and weekends, I get more and more upset that I'm not using my masters degree, which then makes me feel like a snob.  

So I'm itching. Itching for a challenge, a goal.  The other day I mentioned that I was feeling like I would have to sign up for a half marathon again and it was suggested that maybe I should just focus on my writing instead. Much better option for my hips and joints I must agree. So here I am again. Dusting off the old blog. Thankful it always lets me just come back when I feel like it, no questions asked.    

Carbs Carbs Carbs!

Tomorrow is the big day! I'm excited/nervous and will spend the entire day preparing/overthinking every single detail in typical Rachel fashion.  I just had my breakfast and will head out for a little run to calm some nerves and stretch out my body.  Then it's time to pack up and head north to Columbus! (After eating some carbs of course).  I'm really looking forward to the race expo and seeing where the course is. 

The past few days I have been carb loading like a good little runner.  I was so excited for this part of training (may have slightly influenced my decision to run in the first place...). I mean, hello, I'm not only allowed, but supposed to eat carbs? Sign me up! However, now I'm realizing the downfalls of carb loading.  Technically you want to stay away from heavy and rich foods so that automatically means no creamy sauces, butter, frosting...all the good things that come with the really yummy carbs!  I didn't completely follow this, but I tried to weed out that extra stuff yesterday afternoon and I'm really really going to try and behave today. I do not want to hit a wall while running nor have an upset stomach.  As I was walking down the hall at my internship yesterday, I realized how sluggish and fat I felt.  A couple days of shoving carbs in my mouth has taken it's toll.  I was out of breath from running an errand, how in the world am I going to run 13.1 miles?! Also my pants are tighter and I read it is typical to gain 4 pounds while carb loading (duh).  I was so full all day, but in my effort to follow the carb rules, I still ate a gigantic carboliscious dinner.  Sarah was such a great friend and agreed to come along and help me out.  After devouring a giant plate of pumpkin pie pancakes (words cannot explain...) I rolled myself home for a good night's sleep.  It was a tough job eating 80% of my diet as carbs, but a girls got to do what a girl's got to do! Hopefully this will all pay off on Sunday and I have enough glycogen stored to get me to the finish line on my own two feet.  

5 Days

It's 5:19 and I'm getting ready to head out the door for work.  At this time in 5 Days I will be getting ready to head out the door of my hotel room to walk to the start line of the Half. 5 Days?! That's it?!

I realized when I logged in to update that I haven't blogged since my 10 mile run, and sadly that was the last time I ran until yesterday.  I started to freak out about that as people were all the sudden giving me all this advice on what I should be doing and the I really need to run a few more times this week.  I had made the comment that yesterday was my last run before the big show and apparently that worries the running community.  I do realize this is not proper training, but I had to give up on having a proper training schedule long ago.  Sometimes plates are just to full to be proper, you just have to dig in with what you can and make do and that's what I have done with my limited time and energy.  I realize now that training for a half is quite difficult when your job is teaching fitness classes.  It's just a lot on my schedule and on me physically.

But there is no point in analyzing my training now. That is all behind me on the trail.  This week is all about looking ahead! I need to focus on what I'm eating, how much water I'm drinking, getting plenty of sleep (Fail already) and taking it easy. I really like this part of training :)

I have my outfit already picked out, but there are a few more items I need to purchase such as this ever popular body glide I hear of.

And with that, I'm off to teach a class, but I think I'm just going to instruct and not do today. Gotta take it easy, I mean if I follow one part of training perfectly it will be resting and carb loading.  Now THAT I'm good at!

10 miles

Today I ran 10 miles.  This is the longest run I have EVER ran to date and it is the last long run before I attempt 13.1 for the half marathon on October 21. Today was consumed by this run. I didn't intend for the entire day to be dedicated to it, but I guess my body decided otherwise.

Preparation:

• I slept in after going to see my BFF from high school get married at Miami University. I figured I could sleep in as late as I wanted so my body could run better (it made sense in my mind).
• Fiddled with playlist to avoid actually getting ready. I figured I would run better if my musical selections were optimal.
• Took my Advocare O2 Gold. Let settle for 1 hour for optimal oxygen flow.
• Ate oatmeal and 1/2 of a banana. This is what runners eat for breakfast...I think I read that somewhere so it seemed like a good idea.
• Finally put on my running outfit. So glad I bought my overly expensive lululemon capris. Felt really good and it was so cold out I couldn't fathom putting on shorts.

The Run:

• Long. Coooold. Alone for the most part on a bike trail with pretty changing leaves. 
• Love passing fellow runners or bikers who smile and waive.
• Hands went numb at end.
• Arm band is too tight and cut my skin. What can I say? I'm too buff! But seriously, how can this be? I might have to purchase a new band so it doesn't happen anymore.
• The good news was that my average mile pace was a lot quicker than I expected.  The first half of the run was much faster (due to a downhill beginning) and thus the end was a lot slower (what goes up must come down...also works in the reverse in running).  Also, while the hill wasn't uphill both ways...it was against the wind on the way up. Just saying.
• I think I can do the half in less than 2.5 hours...fingers crossed. Because I really REALLY don't want to have to run any longer than that haha.

Recover:

• I walked .5 miles to cool down, more like freeze down. I walked through the square where there was a Porsche Rally. Everyone was bundled up in winter coats and scarves and carrying starbucks. I got a lot of "bitch is crazy" looks as I walked by in my short sleeve shirt and capris. I agreed with them. This bitch was crazy. (I also wanted to knock them down, steal their Starbucks and run away...I almost did, but then realized I couldn't run anymore so I didn't bother...)
• My legs were already hurting and I was dragging my body around the apartment.
• Immediately took a long hot shower and made hot chocolate (Thanks for the idea, Mary!)
• Felt really weak and probably dehydrated. Couldn't figure out what to eat besides the rest of my banana and fun sized milky way because it was in reach and didn't require preparation, so I took a nap. 
• Woke up and made protein pumpkin pancakes after debating about how much energy they would require to make (totally considered ordering a pizza so I wouldn't have to get up). They were just ok (should have ordered pizza). Again, I really thing brunch is better when someone makes it for you instead...Also, it's not really brunch at 5pm...
• Icing knees at this moment...and then bed.

PUMPED

I've been a bit remiss in my blogging duties. What can I say, I've just been a little busy (ok ok and a lot lazy).  This past weekend I attended LesMills Body Pump Training. It was a two day training in Lima, Ohio that included A LOT of weight lifting and studying how to effectively teach a BODYPUMP class.  I learned a lot about technique, but mostly I learned how much I can push myself.

I was super lucky to have another girl from Bella Forza decide to attend training as well.  Ashley is a member who has been attending Pump classes for years (way longer than me). Together we made it our mission to not take it easy. As the classes wore on over the course of training we noticed everyone else dropping down on the weight they put on their bar for each exercise.  Baffled I looked up thinking "Uh oh, am I doing something wrong by continuing at my normal weight?!" Just as I was about to take the weight off I would look over to check Ashley's bar. Yep, she was still loading it up. So I wasn't crazy (well that could be argued because everyone else probably thought we were BOTH crazy for lifting heavy).  I loved having that other person to check myself with, to push myself with, and to fatigue my muscles with.  I came to training to learn how to be the best instructor I could be and that was not going to happen lifting baby weights.  I must say it was awesome to look around the last time through the workout and see everyone, guys included, with one measly 5 pound weights on each side of their barbell for every exercise. Everyone except Ashley and I. We changed accordingly for each track as you should.  We did our squat track with 38 pounds while they did 10. We did our chest press with 20 and they did 10. See what I'm getting at here? WE KILLED IT! Oh and to top it off, our feedback was only to keep adding the next layer of teaching (that we hadn't even learned yet) while everyone else had to fix things.  She even told both of us our technique was strong and we were going to be technicians.  While I don't to sound like I'm tooting my own horn....TOOT TOOT!!!!

But patting my back aside, it was exhausting and let me tell ya this morning was a little painful as I tried to get my poor body out of bed. And what did I do today? A massage like a smart, prepared person? Nah, I taught a 6am BodyPump class like a crazy person and then took it to psychopath level as I did my 4 mile run for the week. It started raining as I left the house to meet Mary (who deserves all the credit for enticing me to stick to training and get off my very sore behind) it started raining. Normally I would use this as an excuse to turn back and forget the run. "God is telling me to rest", I would say. But no, after training I took it as a challenge "God is testing me to see if I'm committed to this Half". And off I ran (well hobbled).  Now the swollen ankle that has made another appearance in my life? I think it is telling me "keep those frozen veggies handy!"

Important Life Lessons

Things I've learned/rediscovered in the past week or so on my running down time:

S'mores are never ever ever the same if made over a gas stove or worse a microwave. I keep trying to perfect it, but it just does not even hold a candle to a fire with coals. Doesn't stop me from trying though...

Don't say guys don't pay attention to  you, because then the wrong ones will.

Creepers exist and that was NOT how I wanted to start out my morning.  I got my 15 minutes of fame as the 27 year old employee at Bella Forza.  Cincinnati Flasher

All the sudden I'm hearing of lots of different crimes in the area and I'm trying to be more aware and alert. Apparently the pepper spray on my desk is not protective while I'm out and about. Mom's do not appreciate said pepper spray staying in my apartment when I leave apartment. Nor do they believe a can of hairspray will do the trick.

Now that I self-diagnosed my ankle as ready to run, I'm not allowed to go out running alone when it isn't daylight out aka when it isn't hot and humid out. Now I don't want to run anymore...

Do not waste your money on a cheap cheap watch to see if you like wearing a watch. Your wrist will turn green and it will fall apart into multiple pieces in less than 24 hours.  Buy a nice watch tight wad!

HGTV is like crack. I only had a little bit over the weekend and I'm itching for more. Why can't cable companies sell by channel? I just need one! Well maybe two, Lifetime moves are great for crack lovers also.

Out of Commission

I've been lazy about blogging lately. Maybe it's because I haven't been able to run for a week and I just don't have anything fun to share in regards to training. My ankle is STILL swollen. I keep icing it, elevating, it and am popping ibuprofen like they are candy (it's ok Mom and Dad, I don't really mean that in an "I have a problem kind of way", just that I am consistent every 4 hours).

I haven't even tried to run on it because after just standing on it during the day (you know, like a normal leg) it aches and swells more.

Come on ankle, get with the program! We have work to do and for the first time in my life I actually decided that I WANTED to run and you do this to me? What about all the times in cross country that I didn't want to run and begged to not have to run and WISHED you would swell up and get me out of a race and you just stayed healthy and strong like the stubborn ankle you are? Guess I figured out where my stubborn bone in my body is located...sheesh.
 I'm mad. I'm sad. I'm confused that I'm mad and sad about not being able to run (seriously, who am I?). But mostly I'm upset that I can't let myself pig out on waffles and pancakes on Sundays now.