get ready...get set...

GO!!! ok, maybe it's not go time yet, but soon! In 2 days I leave for So Cal, or Disneyland to be exact! Mom, brother and I are heading down there this week for the Disneyland Half Marathon. This is my first ever while they both are going for their Coast to Coast medals since they completed the Disney Princess Half Marathon in March of this year over in Disney World.

So you might be thinking, but Holly, what about your leg? You know, when you strained a muscle a few months ago? Well, I'll tell you. I made a decision...I'm going to see how I feel when I get there and decide then if I'll compete or not. To tell you the truth, my mind keeps saying "no! you can't!", but my heart and spirit are so wanted to push through and go for it! I know that if I don't at least try I'll always wonder and kick myself. I will just have to make a wise decision that if I feel that I can't continue or something happens then I have to stop. But I have to try....for me personally I need to do this.

I've been trying to take it easy, but as some of you know my company recently moved and I've been way over doing it. I'm feeling a little sore but doing the best I can with rest and keeping my leg up.

I'll keep you posted with everything. I've been pretty hush-hush with my decision as I wasn't sure how many scoldings I was gonna get.

I'm super excited about just the adventure part of it. And if I don't finish then it's not the end of the world. At least I tried and there's always next year. Yes, I will more than likely cry but not starting would feel worse to me.

Thanks to everyone for all your encouragement and prayers and thoughts over these past few months. I really appreciate it! More to come later!

RUN STRONG!!!! (that's what you say to someone that is about to start a race) :-)

I'm back in the saddle again ...

Well, actually I'm back in my running shoes again! After 4 weeks of taking it easy and not pushing myself after my leg injury, I went for a walk/light jog this morning and boy have I missed it!  Little confession to make though.  I was talking to Canada (my friend, not the country) the other night and realized that the reason I hadn't gotten back out there was because I was actually scared to.  Scared that I would reinjure myself and really feel like it was over.  But this morning at 4:45 I told myself to get out of bed, get my walking clothes and shoes on and get outside!  Glad I listened ... and even though its still warm out at that time of day, it felt so good to be moving around.  I only went 1.66 miles as I don't want to overdo it and kept an average pace of just above 15 minutes per mile.  The route I took is slightly different from the norm as the one I was doing before had a crazy hill at the beginning, so I went a different way out of my apartment complex to get to the main road.  It still has a hill, but not as steep.  And as I expected I teared up as I began running cause I had missed it so much!

Can't wait to do it again!

Songs I miss singing almost everyday...

cause they are from my childhood. But if you hear me hummin or beltin out one of these tunes in the near future, it's cause, well, these songs are pure awesomeness! hahaha...

• Who are the people in your neighborhood? - Sesame Street

• Care Bears Theme Song (serious! "care a lot! We care a lot! *clap clap*" ... song rawks!)

• Won't you be my neighbor? - Mr Rogers

• What's the name of that song - Sesame Street

• 3, 2, 1 Contact theme song

• This old man ... you know, he played one...he played knick knack..lalala

• Smile never frown ... yeah that's actually a song I made up and it's sort of a joke between my mom and I. It's sort of like Finding Nemo's "Just keep swimming" song

• I like to eat apples and bananas ... family favorite!

There's tons more, but this gives you an idea of just how weird I am :-)

Now tell me, what songs do you remember from your childhood?

rewind...erase...do over

You know that scene in GardenState when Natalie Portman's character says something stupid to Zach Braff's character and she's all "oh man! Why did I just say that?! I'm sorry that was dumb of me." and then she proceeds to tell him how she likes to make up for that dumb moment by doing something original...like make a weird noise or whatever? .... I so totally do that! And I find that I'll be thinking of a situation, conversation, reply, online post or whatever that happened recent or not and I'll just blurt out a random sigh or blarg or mur or something like that. It's true! hahaha...and now I must do something original that no one has ever done before because I've now posted a secret about me that no one ever knew about :D

oh and these original moments never happen in the presences of others ... and least not yet

Learning to walk is tough!

But I'm getting there!  Been taking really careful full steps lately and this morning when I woke up I was walking regular with just a small limp ... or maybe it's just my smooth swagger :o)  Whatever it is, this is a huge confidence boost for me.  I'm taking it slow still and have noticed that after walking for a few minutes my leg starts to feel sore, as if it's been walking for miles and miles nonstop.  I'm going to be taking it easy again this weekend but will get up and walk around the apartment to keep the blood pumpin.  In a few days I should be getting some compression socks (or something like them).  I believe it's a brace type band that goes around my calf to help when I start walking/running again.  Was told that even the uber runners where these during races.  So, mine will be on probably everyday from now through (hopefully) race day.  Don't care of any of youse guys say, I'm gonna look stylin and you're all just jealous you don't have a pair! lol

Thanks again to everyone for all the encouragement, thoughts and prayers, even to Mr. "callin me gimpy" ... yeah, you know who you are.  I actually found myself feeling discouraged this week and work has been crazy and tiring as I didn't realize how much I'm on my feet though I have a desk job.  But I'm sure it's helped with the progess.  That and the fact that I have to use my left leg to step on the clutch in my truck.  I am just continually seeing people around me walking normally and some running and it makes me sad that I can't join in yet. 

It's amazing the simple basic things we take for granted until they are taken away. 

Never thought I'd be bored relaxing...

Well, that's what happens when you are forced to sit in a recliner all day for 4 days straight and try not to walk as much as possible. I'm glad I took those 4 days to recuperate cause I'm starting to see improvements with my leg. Oh and I found out that it's the gastrocnemius muscle that I sprained in the back of my calf.

On Thursday, after waking up from an adventure at the ER that I discuss in my previous entry, I tried to move around and get to a place that was comfy. And that place turned out to be my recliner. I tilted it back as far as I could, stacked 3 pillows under my leg and alternated ice and heat under my calf (mostly ice cause the heat seemed to cause slight pain) and watched endless amounts of tv and movies.

Oh and I followed that regime all the way through Sunday. Now you may be thinking, "you lucky dog, you!" but you, my friend, would be oh so wrong. When you are unable to walk without hobbling and the use of crutches, you suddenly become aware of how often you get up from a chair to go, let's say for instance, pee! Such an ordeal! No joke! It takes so much time and effort to get yourself standing, hobble to the bathroom and then make your way back to the chair and reconfigure yourself back into a comfy position. Even though I'm not able to run right now I'm sure I sweated the calories with just having to get in and out of my chair.

Thankfully I have some very wonderful and entertaining friends who attempted to keep my spirits up with mid-day calls and late night babbling (thanks Trish and Jeff...you 2 are aweshum!)

So the improvements I mentioned earlier...well, on Thursday and Friday I couldn't even have my left (the injured one) foot flat on the floor while standing. And don't get me started on the automatic tendency to stretch my legs! ouch! One night I woke up thinking I had a charlie horse in my muscle and freaking that I was unable to work it out, but I think I was stretching my leg in my sleep and pulled it too far. eep! So finally late Saturday and all day Sunday I attempted to put my foot flat on the floor while standing... and I could do it! Leg wasn't straight though and there was a slight twinge of pain but it's definitely better than before.

So I'm still working on getting it healed and see my PCP in 2 weeks for a follow up. Will know more then if I can participate in the half marathon. I'm still trying to remain calm with that and tell myself it's ok if I can't (thanks again Trish for your encouragement on that issue). Oh one other thing, sitting in ones apartment for 4 days straight and depressed with the fact that your goal might not happen makes one want sugar in a bad way! But I was very good and didn't have any! Even if I can't run the half I'm still planning on going to Disneyland to support my mom and brother and after the race my mom will get her pretzel with cheese and I will still have my victory (for staying off sugar) churro!

Ramble ramble ramble ... yep, rats me right now...sigh. It was good to be back at work though my desk is covered and it's hard to not stay at my desk as I print a lot and the printer is in the other room. *we-oh we-oh we-oh" <-- that's my pity party violin...it's needs some tuning. ahahahahaha

mur

Everything was fine and dandy yesterday, even though Mrs Boss and I worked till 11:30 last night. But at about 11 is when the sadness and pain hit. As you know I've been training for a half marathon, well last night may have cost me that race ... and the delish churro at the end of it. Long story short I ran 2 steps in our building hallway at work and heard and then really felt a "POP". I had been reading about calf muscle strains recently cause my left calf had been in slight pain/soreness for about a day or two. I kept looking for the signs if I had a Grade 4 tear which would mean blood would start filling my toes. So far no discoloration. My boss went with me to the Emergency Room....which I rarely, if never go....for myself that is.

At the ER we of course waited and waited, but we are very entertainable and she did her best to keep things light and funny. Finally I saw the doc and after some minor tests of strength and pressure he determined that I tore/strained my g-whatchamacallit-muscle and I'm to rest and not use that leg for at least 2 weeks. He gave me a pair of crutches and now I'm hobblin around my apartment. Thankfully I don't have a lot of furniture and it's a pretty big place.

So I can't train for 2 weeks minimum...could be more but I gotta remember to take it slow and not overdo. Boss even said that at work I'm to sit in my chair and that's it...make the rest of the office get stuff for me. To some this sounds wonderful, but for independent-I like to do things on my own-doesn't rely on anyone-me, this is gonna be rough.

So there ya have it. This is why at almost 2 a.m. this morning I wrote status of "is very sad". But honestly I'm more than sad...I'm "in the depths of despair" :-(

Oh and don't get me started on how I drive my stick-shift truck with an injured left leg .... ugh!

$5 for a churro?! You're outta your mind!

Okay....I've made a decision.  To help strengthen me for the half marathon I've decided to not eat any sweets (candy, cookies, cake, ice cream *gulp*, all things sugary and delicious) until the race is over.  I started this on Monday the 12th of July (yesterday) and so far it's been tough.  I have a huge sweet tooth with ice cream being my weakness, and our office has bowls of candy everywhere. 

BUT!!! I also have made a decision that right after I'm done with the race ... okay and proabably after I take a shower or two to get all the sweat and dirt off and maybe take a short nap I'm going straight into Disneyland and I"m getting myself a churro!  and maybe an ice cream treat from The Gibson Girl Ice Cream Parlor on Main Street ... but definitely a churro!  As my friend Jeff said, "It's fried dough!"  and then I reply with "covered in cinnamon and sugar!" YUM!

Oh and just to prepare you, I may be a little irritable for a few days or weeks with going through sugar detox.   This decision will not only help me nutritionally and physically, but I do believe it will also help me mentally during the race.  After every mile I pass I'll think "yay! only so many more miles till a churro!!!"  It's  the little things that get me going and I'm probably being very silly about this whole thing, but oh well!

Let's all go to the lobby...

... cause lately these movies have stunk!  Is it just me or have romatic comedies always been so predictable and not very good?  Perhaps I've just reached a point in my life where they don't get me teary-eyed and saying "OMG that was the best ever!".  I find that these style of movies do not hold my attention very long and start rolling my eyes in the middle of them.  And don't get me started on Nikolas "yes a main character is going to die in my movie" Sparks.  GAH! Why are his movies all Romeo and Juliet based?  2 people find each other, drama drama drama, they fall in love, everything seems to be going super great and then ... PLOP...dead.  geesh!

(500) Days of Summer, Away We Go, any movie based on a Jane Austen book ... these are the types (to name a few) of movies I wanna watch in the romatical department.  Or just give me the action/adventure, shoot em up, running around the world trying to save it type! yeah! Iron Man, Star Trek, Hellboy, Gladiator, Bourne trilogy...you get the idea.

So, yeah, that's my view on these very important matters.  Of course there are plenty of other genres that I love watching, but this particular one is fresh in my mind as I watched a romantic comedy last night and was bored.

Spark Your Heart 5k

On July 4, 2010 I finished my first 5k! Well, techinically that's not true.  I once walked a 5k with friends back in 1999 or was it 2000? .. anyways, it wasn't timed and I was just having fun walking the route with my friends Jody and Rebecca.  So for me, this was the completion of my first timed and official (for me) 5k! YAY ME! hahaha

Here's the scoop:  I went to visit my mom in Bend, Oregon for the 4th of July weekend and had a blast! Mother-daughter time is always fun!  We went and saw Toy Story 3 on Saturday the 3rd (if you haven't seen it yet, GO!) and walked the route for the 5k that was happening the next day.  It's a very beautiful trail as it takes you around a river that quite a few people were drifting down on tubes, rafts, canoes, just about anything and everything!  Afterwards we had a light supper of salads at Red Robin and went back home to get some rest and be prepared to wake up at 6 a.m. for the race.

On the 4th, just after 7 a.m. we arrived at the scene and there were quite a few people already present.  For the timed people there were 394 that competed that day, but there were some that didn't want to be timed so the number overall is greater.  It was slightly chilly that morning as there was a breeze, but I figured once I got running it was gonna get pretty warm.  Finally at about 5 till 8 they had us line up at the starting line.  And then **BBBBRRRRRAAAAAAMMMMMMM** (that's the sound of the air horn they used to tell us to go).  I was not ready for what was gonna happen next. 

Okay, let me back up a bit.  When I go out for my scheduled runs/walks at home I start out at a nice pace.  Not too slow, but at a good brisk walk to get me going and then I start running.  On this particular morning for this race there was no easing into it.  Everyone just darted off and I was swept away with the crowd trying to figure out what exactly was going on!  I was seriously surprised, but I guess it helped get me going.  At one point I got discouraged because we had stupidly placed ourselves near the very front of the start line which meant that TONS of people passed us.  I ran for about a mile or so without slowing but realized that I needed to slow down.  So I did.  Told mom to just keep going and not to wait up for me.  We all have our own personal best we want to beat and I knew she had hers.

I continued at a steady pace and made my way around the river.  At one point I could see the finish line and people were already crossing it.  Another moment of feeling discouraged.  I had to give myself a pep talk that I need to concentrate on myself and the people that were finishing have obviously been in races many times before and I had only been training for about 3 weeks.  As I kept going there were people monitoring the trail and on occasion one would say "you're doing great!" or "you can do it!".  Seriously, those help soooo much!  The encouragement on the route and everything really keeps me positive. 

OH! I have to stop and just say that running makes me way too emotional.  Even know recapping what happened I'm starting to get teary eyed.  sigh.  So throughout the race I would find myself taking gulps meaning I was about to cry and had to tell myself to stop.  That's all I need, to burst into tears as I'm running down the road.  Silly Holly.  And just to let you in on a little secret, the same thing happens even during my daily routes. 

So finally I was getting closer and closer to the finish.  They made us run right past the finish line and go around the stage/park area which sucked cause I kept thinking "it's right there! let me pass!".  But I kept going and decided I was going to run the rest of the way and run across that finish line.  Mom had already crossed and thankfully met me at one point to give me some water.  They didn't have any water stops throughout the whole thing....not very nice of them.  And then, all of a sudden, I DID IT!!! I FINISHED!!! (and here come the tears! seriously, right now I'm tearing up...GAH! lol)

I came in at 42:48, 343 out of 394 and 20 out of 24 in my age catagory.  Not bad for my first time!  Mom finished at 40:27 so I wasn't too far behind.  This is me and Mom after the race was over...I would've removed my visor, but I had "visor hair" and it's not pretty!  And yes, we matched! lol

After everything was over, the two of us went to breakfast with a few of my mom's friends who were also in the 5k.  Fran (who won 1st place in her age catagory!) and Susanne and their husbands.  The guys met us at the Original Pancake House (super yummy-ness!) since they didn't run the race...I guess in our little group it was Ladies Day at the races! hahaha

Now onto the next and greatest challenge for me...the Half Marathon.  YIKES!