back in action

Hello! To my non-existant readers and random people who stumble across this way. I got an email because someone was trying to request for my blog name I suppose and I figured I had been wanting to start writing again or journaling, or "blog" if you will and this was a good excuse to see what was going on.

I have been quite busy since I last wrote in 2010! When I last wrote I had just run the Knoxvile marathon on March 28, 2010 and met Nathan the night before the marathon in Knoxville, TN. Who now about 2 years later has been my husband since October 1, 2011. Crazy how much can happen in a short period of time. Well, of course between traveling to see him, running more marathons and working a ton (and traveling for work)... I haven't been able to find time to write. So I am sorry I have neglected you blogger.

In 2010 I ran 9 marathons in 9 states, though 10 in 10 states were within a 365 day period since I ran one in early 2011 in Mississippi when I was moving out to Knoxville. Yes, you read that correctly, Mrs. California lover who never wanted to leave and lived in Virginia for 3 years now lives in Tennessee. Strange because I was trying purposely not to meet guys on the east coast so I wouldn't ever get stuck here and God had me meet Nathan quite randomly via couchsurfing.org and now I live in this city. Let me tell you, that marathon was rough. It wasn't as hilly as the locals make it out to me (maybe my presception of hills is skewed since I ran Mt. Lemmon, Blue Ridge Mountains, Ridge Runner in West Virginia, etc. and all those were hillier than Knoxville). Anyway, it rained freezing cold rain and of course Knoxville has no gutters and I was wadding in water up to my mid-calf region for part of the time. That wasn't super fun! I ran with a guy named Jack for the last 5 miles who was on a relay team so that was neat since I'm Jill... you get it I hope? Needless to say my muscles got all cramped up though I was still cheery natured and cheering people on who ran also. (All the spectators had wussed out and left the slower people to fend for themselves. I thanked all the volunteers and people who actually were there to provide support in the rain.) I ran into Neyland stadium and across the 50 yard line and it was 'eh' not that great, not a big deal. That was state 10 for me. I didn't ever want to come back to Knoxville and of course God has a sense of humor and I've lived here for a year and 4 months now... hoping and praying one day that I will get to move home.

Fast forward to 2012. Wow. I went to my 10 year high school reunion last year so that tells you how old I am. Gosh. I finished state 26 last month and have state 27 this coming Sunday. I've got a bunch on the calendar this year and am definitely looking forward to finishing my 50 states in 2014 or so (after this year I will have 16 I believe). Maybe 2015, depends on kids and what not.

Okay, well I'm back though I was never really gone... just busy! Hope you all are doing well. I'll try to write about my more recent marathons I haven't had a chance to write about when I get a chance.

- run for life.

blisters galore

So I went to REI yesterday with a friend after stopping by Maggie Moo's to get a free "tax day, tax relief" slice of their "ice cream pizza." Sadly it was kind of lame and gross. There was only one flavor to choose from despite the advertisements stating there would be 3. I guess I'm not a big white chocolate fan.

I bought the Vibram Classics... and last night I ran my regular 2 miles in my 'barefoot shoes' while catching up with Linds (good times by the way). Today I needed to go to the bank and get cash for my friend to fix my car. I decided it would be a good plan to run there in my new Vibram shoes and walk back and run the last mile (2.5 miles there and then I walked 1.5 miles and ran the last mile). When I got up the hill toward the bank, I knew my feet were tender. When I got to the bank I peeked at my heels and I had blisters surrounding the entire Achilles on my left foot and a few blisters on my right. Frustrating to say the least! I was wearing a size 37 shoe instead of 38 like the blue Vibrams I have. I wonder if the blisters are because the Classics are designed differently than the Sprints or if it's because they're too small? I think it's because they're designed differently... the rubber on the heel hurts like nobody's business! Those blisters I have are wicked. Now I have blisters on my toes and heels... who wants to guess where I'm going to get them next?

I'm probably too stubborn. I want this barefoot shoe thing to work. I can tell I am running more on my mid-foot/ball of my foot which is good and the reason I got them in the first place... but I don't like these blisters I'm getting. I could definitely do without.

Of course, all of this preparation is for my 50-miler in the Mojave Desert (Nevada) that I signed up for on June 26. I have 4 marathons between now and then which I am treating like long runs for the 50-miler. I'm a little scared... but excited all the same. People are right on the money when they say runners are crazy...

- run for life

barefoot?

I decided to try those "barefoot" shoes by Vibram. Last night I ran in them for the first time and got a huge blister on my right great toe (or big toe for us non-medical people). I've gotta say, they look pretty silly. I saw a man running the Knoxville marathon in them and I had just ordered them from REI... mostly because they have their 100% satisfaction guarantee and I was sure I'd return them. The people who reviewed them at REI said they took some getting used to and someone said they run normally 5-6 miles a day in regular shoes and they were only able to run 1/4 mile the first day in them. Yeah right, I would never put shoes on and just run a quarter of a mile. Pfft.

I figured I'd still take it easy. I ran 2 miles in them. It took me 20:15 at a super easy pace. I kept thinking my knees were hurting and perhaps I was getting shin splints... I could feel the ground every step and I could feel my blister starting to form but I'm stubborn (I get it from my dad) and since I had decided to do an easy 2, I was going to finish my easy 2. (Don't get me wrong, I'm not in super great shape or anything but I'm on my 'I'm going to get back into racing shape kick that should last awhile since school is over... last night was my first night of it. ha ha!)

Today I had off so you'd think I would have run in the morning but instead I did a bunch of errands I can't do on the weekends like go to the bank, post office, get my passport picture taken (it was pretty bad but whatever, it wasn't TERRIBLE like my last one, ha ha). I even cleaned Lazarus for the first time at the car wash! I only went there to get the bottom of my car clean from all the nasty snow, sand and salt from this past winter (I still think snow is only good for visiting when you want to snowboard or ski). Also, they have free vacuum use when you go, so I needed to get that kitty litter out of the bottom of my car from the STP (gas additive that spilled all over the bottom of my car when the guys changed my oil).

Anyway, back to running. I taught a fitness conditioning class that turned out to be more like a personal training session since there was only 1 person. It was too hot to run during the day so I waited until it was dark and went out at 8:30 and began my second 2 mile jaunt in my barefoot shoes. It wasn't too bad. I went out easy trying to just get used to the shoes so I finished in 19:56 and then ran up and down the hill (the street I live on is a decent sized hill) 2x. I could still feel everything. I feel like my knees are a little more tender today than they were yesterday. I can't decide if I like them or not. My feet feel very light when I'm wearing them, like I'm really not wearing any shoes or wearing spikes/racing shoes. However, I feel the blister growing on my toe (in the same place as the first day).

I don't know if I like them because they're light or if I don't. I feel like I'm going to get shin splints! Maybe it's psychological. I am glad I'm running in the dark because the shoes kind of weird me out when I look at my feet. They look like water shoes with toes... I'm vehemently against toe socks because my toes like to be friends! (Okay, I think they look weird and feel weird.)

I'll keep trying them out for awhile, but I'm leaning toward just using them as a training tool to force myself to run properly rather than actually replacing my current Supernovas. I am going to ask my PT his opinion on them too. I think I need a professional opinion of them! Either way, it feels good to be running again. I just don't want to sideline myself because I ran in silly looking shoes...

- run for life

starting over

Again, here we go with the re-start. It's already a year later from when I last thought I was re-starting. I sometimes frustrate myself and get fed up with myself. Unfortunately, I can't go back in time and tell myself to do things sooner or not to travel so much so I could stay on top of work, homework and running all at the same time. I told myself or promised myself rather that I'd get in shape once school was over. Here we are less than 3 weeks from finishing my master's degree. It's almost time to make good on that promise.

I started running again last week. I hadn't run since the Disney World marathon weekend really. I was doing p90x for awhile since it was so cold and raining out. I moved again and currently live in a family's basement so the gym is further away... so I don't go to the gym except when I have to teach. So much for getting use out of my free membership right? I have 75 more days here so I think I can get in pretty decent shape in 75 days. I'm going to rock the p90x in the morning and run at night after work. I should be able to get on a good roll once school is over. I need to get back to my final paper for my eating disorders class now though. I'm writing about cognitive behavioral therapy. It's pretty interesting and it's my last assignment for the class so I need to get moving!

-run for life

tingling?

My neck has been hurting a lot lately.  I thought perhaps it was from traveling, but I fly a lot and it doesn't normally hurt as much as it has been.

When I was running today, I could not deny that my palms felt tingly and numb.  I hope that it's nothing serious and that I can just be consistent with exercises and stretching and it will go away.  God please help me get through all of this and keep running for Your glory.  

- run for life.