Friday Funday: Clean Car, Clean Dog, Clean Sheets

03. October 2014 · 3 comments · Categories: labradoodle, running, Uncategorized · Tags: , , , , , , ,

Why wait for Sunday Funday when you have Friday off and it’s the perfect sunny, 68 degree crisp day?!

This morning the doodle got groomed.

Happy October!

Happy October!

Then we went for a walk in the park. On the way home I used the last of my Dunkin Donuts gift card that I got last October to get an iced caramel latte. I love my Duncan and my Dunkin!

Duncan and Dunkin

Duncan and Dunkin

With Duncan clean and fresh, I decided to change my sheets and make my bed which is a big deal for me. I hate fitted sheets. I’m usually sweating profusely by the time I complete the task. #crosstraining I got a new Duvet at Target for $30. I’m loving it!

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And then, since I was on a cleaning roll, I cleaned my car inside AND out! #winning

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This microfiber mitt is the bomb for getting all the dust off the dashboard!

Forest's first bath

Forest’s first bath

Yesterday I set out to the beach running path for a run. I really didn’t know whether I wanted to shoot for a long run or not. So I just set out to do one complete out and back to start, knowing that would be 4.5 miles. I felt great as far as endurance and speed go. My legs were turning over without issue. No heavy legs. Score! It was so good to finally feel like a 10 minute pace was closer to easy than hard. But interestingly I started to feel some knee pain just as I was completing the 4.5 loop so I stopped.

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I walked over to my car to stretch and assess when I bumped into Duncan’s boxer friend Chance and his momma.

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So I walked for an hour with them. My knee seemed ok. The walk was helping. Later on in the day Duncan and I went out to meet up with Chance and his mom again and also Athena and Zeus and their momma for a 2 mile pack walk.

Duncan and Chance

Duncan and Chance

Athena and Zeus: the Dogues and Duncan

Athena and Zeus: the Dogues and Duncan

This time though I felt some knee pain. I even felt myself walking with a bit of a limp. I have never had knee issues. Apparently webmd diagnosed me with just runners knee. I guess now that my left ankle and leg are feeling perfect my right side has decided it’s time to be the punk.

I’m not worried yet. I think it could possibly be connected to the stair master workout from Tuesday. I’m icing it and stretching and I’ll shoot for a long run this weekend.

The rest of my night was awesome. It included a homemade apple crisp, tiramisu, a delicious meal cooked by my sister-in-law and the perfect company. That.is.all 😉

I sure hope you have fun things happening this weekend. I’m actually excited about cheering on my boyfriend at his half marathon on Sunday. Now that I have had practice being a spectator. He is going to return the favor next weekend at my half marathon. #teamwork

So tell me about your weekend plans.
Anyone ever have knee pain?

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  3. Meh

Tuesday Ten

26. August 2014 · 2 comments · Categories: labradoodle, recreational fun, running, Uncategorized · Tags: , , , , , ,

Just 10 things I wanted to tell ya…

1. My wolf pack weekend in Atlantic city was so much fun! We celebrated Barbara’s birthday the exact way we celebrated Lisa’s birthday back in February. Dinner at Bobby Flay’s Steakhouse, some slot machine shenanigans (although this time I didn’t win $300) and a little dancing at the club. Oh, and you know, we drank lots of “coffee”.

WolfffffPACK!!!!

WolfffffPACK!!!! (Left to right: ME, Gina, Lisa and Barbara)

Gina's daughters helped bake these cookies for our trip. So adorable

Gina’s daughters helped bake these cookies for our trip. So adorable

adult beverages

Adult beverages

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Filet Mignon with some sort of poblano pepper i think

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Allow me to introduce you to these bourbon toffee profiteroles with vanilla bean ice cream. Holy deliciousness

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Finally got to wear these purple patent leather heels! (They look like they are too big but it’s just the way i took the photo.)

2. I ran again this morning for 3 miles. My ankle is still pain-free but I’ve been getting some tightness behind my knee and hamstring. I have had this before and I am certain it’s just the whole “it’s all connected thing”. So in addition to foam rolling my peroneals I will pay attention to that area too.photo 5

3. Duncan got groomed and smells delicious!

doodlefresh

4. I am on the hunt for a good backpack to use for traveling and hiking. Something that I can use as a carry on for my air travel and also road trips. I’ll take suggestions. Not looking to spend more than $100.

5. Frustrated with Garmin lately and especially GarminConnect, their online site where I upload my activities to. My activities aren’t syncing or uploading. Pretty sure it’s on their end. I always peek to see if others post similar complaints on Facebook and then I know I am not the only one experiencing the issues.

6. I can’t believe September is only 6 days away. Nuts!

7. I haven’t been hungry in the mornings, even on days that I run including today. I’m worried that my metabolism is going to be compromised from not eating until lunch time. I need to find something I can tolerate so early (that doesn’t rhyme with donut or cookie).

8. For all you dog lovers: Gina introduced me to this cool site called Packdog. I just set up a profile for the doodle. And sure enough discovered one of his “pawpals” Ned has a profile as well.

packdogss1 packdogss2 packdogss3

9. If you missed yesterday’s post I shared 10 tips for the best overnight relay relay experience

10. Hungry Runner Girl has a post up today about body issues. She asked how we deal with it. I replied that I try and focus on what I do love about my body. My favorite body part is my eyes.

I may have body issues but I love my eyes!

I may have body issues but I love my eyes!

So what’s your favorite body part??

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A braindump—your welcome

24. July 2014 · 3 comments · Categories: labradoodle, running, Uncategorized, vacation · Tags: , ,

First let me apologize that this post has limited pictures. It’s more of a brain dump for me.

It’s just before almost 4 pm and I’ll be on a plane in 4 hours headed to San Francisco I JUST finished packing and I’m headed out the door for doodle drop off in 15 minutes.

doodle

She said I don’t fit in the suitcase. Hrumph!

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one last selfie with the pup

I spent an hour last night just trying to resurrect my iPad. Apparently it was so uncharged it took being connected to the computer for almost a solid hour before it started charging. Crisis averted and i’ve downloaded the newest issue of Runner’s World for the plane.

So last night I left work after a VERY hectic day. The usual ad agency client requests. I was frazzled a bit during the day because after checking in with the San Francisco Marathon about how to move forward with switching from the full to the half I received a reply that said that I must get to the expo as soon as they open on Friday at noon as the events are sold out and there is truly limited availability. I’m assuming that it’s first come first served and if someone beats me to the punch I’ll be sh-t outta luck. And I know myself….I will refuse to run no race at all so I’d end up trying to attempt the full.

Anyway I walked to the bus stop and apparently stepped in some fresh gum which I didn’t know until I sat down on the bus and crossed my legs. Plus it was 85 degrees out so needless to say this gum was quite messy. I did the best I could to deal with the situation and laughed that my vacation has officially started off on the wrong foot a bit sticky…

Then I went straight to physical therapy and explained my new ailment. I got super high voltage electrotherapy…I spent 20 minutes watching my leg twitch uncontrollably. LOL! (I wanted to video tape this for you guys but i was too embarrassed to) And then my PT did some direct laser treatment on the calf and massaged it for a while. His theory is that this is actually sciatic nerve from back that is going down the back of the leg and causing calf issue. All I know is that i miss having two legs that feel strong. The 6 1/2 hour plane ride should be fun.

Meanwhile Lisa is going through her own injury stuff. She started to have some hip issues about a week ago and has been to her doc 3 times this week. Her issues are around the sacroiliac joint and she’s also prepared to make a game day decision. Yowsah! This is not exactly how we anticipated this trip to be. Let’s do a quick replay of how this trip came to fruition…

Lisa (the friend who changed my life by introducing me to running) has a sister Valerie. Valerie lives in San Francisco. Valerie started running (probably because she was inspired by her sister like I was) and started completing a half marathon a month….until she decided she wanted to run her first marathon….the San Francisco Marathon. Then Lisa said she wanted to go and run with her for support and then I said “wait! me too!”….And then Roger mentioned he’d be going to raise money for Cystic Fybrosis by running the full TWICE (yes 52.4 miles). And our friend Michelle said she was running the half too. Holy running peeps PARTY!!!

OK, so my braindump is complete. I’m off for an adventure. It’s just one adventure in a lifetime of adventures…It’s not a sprint….it’s a marathon I need to keep in mind that I want to be running for the rest of my life and I need not stress about one event or risk injury.

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Next time you hear from me I’ll be on the left coast!!!!

Anyone else have a race this weekend? Anyone traveling? 

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My Body Warned Me

21. July 2014 · 3 comments · Categories: injury, labradoodle, running · Tags: , , , ,

So I really wanted to title this post My Body Failed Me but I know that it gave me signs and I guess I just needed to hear them better.

I ran 5 miles today and with every step I felt that annoying pain up the outside of my calf and almost behind my knee and even mild pain on the outside of my foot where the tendonitis originated as I crossed the finish line of the NJ Marathon almost 3 months ago. (Seriously….I feel like a broken record and I must be boring y’all with this constant injury mumbo jumbo)

This photo brought to you by the color Turquoise and the dog breed Labradoodle

This photo brought to you by the color turquoise and the dog breed Labradoodle

Anyway, I still managed to enjoy the run despite the pain and just started to think about how I got here and how I plan to move forward in the healing process. First thing on the agenda when I return from San Francisco is finding a new primary care doc who specializes in sports medicine =) I’m thinking of adding acupuncture to the mix and perhaps another hiatus from running as well. In September I need to be 100% healthy because I’ve got lots of stuff planned for the fall Including Ragnar Napa and 3 half marathons. I pray that the 4 weeks of August are all I need to banish this tendonitis once and for all.

After the run Duncan and I picked up my friend Lisa for a 3 mile walk down by the beach. Poor Doodle had to ride in the back seat. Not his style. He prefers shot-gun. But he’s a gentleman and let Lisa ride up front =)

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apparently there was a sand castle building event the day before….

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Oh, and yesterday I officially kicked off my car shopping experience by test driving a couple of vehicles…

10537886_10204262090854125_8444971321129783332_nI’m leaning toward the Subaru Forester…

Do you have a car? What kind? Do you love it?

 

 

 

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