Sad

Samantha's fight ended. Praying for the family to heal.

"Chi, Chi, Chi, Cha, Cha, Cha"

This past week, 2 really good, decent, little jogs with Terri that were both over 4 miles & 1 long treadmill walk. I guess since I know I get an X ray Apr 2nd, I'm backing off a bit. I pray I haven't set the tibia crack back. Form focusing is getting a little easier, the lean is crazy. Yes, just like the book says, the more I lean the more I speed up. It seems the only pain I have right now is the bursa tissue/hip issue but that may be coming from the bike. Who knows...both Carla & Terri seem to be having hip/upper ham string issues, too. 

I've kept 3 "dates" with Coach Troy this week. Sure, I know there were a least 2 different days that I should've taken the bike out but I didn't. I wish I lived closer to work so I could allow for changes in work out plans.

Joe's running injury free so far...thank God. We'll soon find out if we have a marathon in our future. (along with Paul S., too).  I think it would be cool if all three of us got in this year.

Heard from a very old friend via Facebook this week. Sharon & I first met in 3rd grade when we both showed up wearing the same outfit. She lives in Franklin & we'll soon see each other for the first time in years.

And....please again......pray for little Sam.

Perspective...

Friday morning, I got up for a 30 min slow spin on the bike in front of the news. What's up with all the shooting of relatives, killing babies, etc...lately? What has our world come to that anyone in their right mind would want to hurt a child or an animal?!

My right calf was a tinsy bit tight later in the afternoon on Friday but nothing hurt, absolutely nothing... We got up, ate as light as we could at Dotson's, (bacon omelette/toast for me) went to the soccer fields, & ran in between Joey's & Jessica's games. We had 2 hours to kill so I jog/walked 3.62 with Joe, handed off my garmin to him, & he finished with just over 6 miles. Obviously, I held him back on his pace but that's ok. (He's doing the CMM 1/2 again) I critiqued his form. ha! Is it weird that I'm watching how people walk & run these days? Gesh!

Got a text on my way home regarding Samantha Abbott. I swear it really puts things into perspective when you hear of parents dealing with REALLY sick kids. Makes you truly appreciate the ones on the soccer fields. Please dear God, hear Dwyne's prayers...

Feeling it!

Even though Leslie ripped my soul out yet again in spin class this morning (as usual), I decided to go ahead & meet Terri for my 2nd run of the week. I was shooting for a slow 3.5 but we ended up with 4.28 slow. (Still it was over the 4 mile mark FINALLY!)
At the 3.8 mark I felt that old feeling, the urge to keep running...knowing full well, we were close to the gym. I knew I was going to stop but I could have easily done 5-6 today. It was gorgeous outside & my legs felt great! We'll see in a day or two how they feel. Can it be that I'm finally healed?! I can't wait to get that X-ray on Good Friday to see what's going on with the terrible tibia. (Apr 7th, the NYC lottery results will be in...)

The new High School track is now rubberized. We were stopped at the gate but after batting some eye lashes they let us in to run on the football field. :-)

Next week starts my new "spin at home" project. I will be spending lots of time with Coach Troy early in the mornings if I don't take the bike out in the evenings. His interval-spinerval dvd is awesome!

Ironic

I'm going to put a 2 carat ring on ebay that my ex husband gave me for Valentine's day in 1998. Wouldn't that be ironic if I used that money for our honeymoon and/or wedding? ha! I can't wait to get rid of the last thing I have of Gary Smith. ;-P

I had to size my ring down to a 4.5 & it's still a little loose. Hopefully, that looseness will be my "swelling allowed" room. Umm....

Changes

Yeah...I'm slacking on this blog thing but who cares...

Running Changes:
I’m reading “ChiRunning” in order to change my bad posture, poor running form, injury proned body, etc… I will not stop talking about it so if you’re already tired of hearing about it, sorry. ;-P
So far I’ve learned a lot & I’m not even half way through the book.
Leaning forward from RELAXED ankles is huge!
Finding the correct “lean” form will be challenging. (1-2 inches)
No more slumping for me. For years I’ve looked like a tired, slumped over old woman in race photos & it’s been embarrassing. I had learned to avoid cameras quite well before the damned tibia stress fracture. In the future I’ll not be so embarrassed. Relaxing while running is VERY important in ChiRunning. The arm swing, neck lengthening, pelvic twist, keeping the “bowl” centered (your center of gravitiy slightly ahead of your foot strike)…all so VERY important. I recommend that all runners read this book because I sure wish I had like 5-6 yrs ago. It’s about letting gravity help your legs move effortlessly behind you. NO more running with the brakes on for me!

Spinning Changes:
After Mar 18th, I’m letting the “Wreck Center” membership expire. Yes, I’m calling it the “wreck center” these days. The bikes are falling apart big time. The city of Manchester/Rec Center are too stubborn to do preventative maintenance on the bikes. An hour a week in there with a screw driver & wrench would go along way, but they don’t care. I hear the temp in the pool has been lowered, the heater in the therapy pool is always broken. The weight/treadmill/elliptical room is always filled to capacity on Monday nights STILL, & I could go on & on… The whole reason I started going there was to spin & use the pool occasionally. Well, the pool hours suck & I’m not paying for swim classes. I’m making good use of the trainer at home with spinervals. Yes, I’ll miss the class atmosphere but without Kim C. teaching 2 of the 3 classes that I was taking a week, it’s just not the same. Plus too, the time change & warmer temps are coming, God willing...

Relationship Changes:
Well, contrary to popular belief, I don’t always attract stalkers, swingers, egotistical maniacs, or just plain dumb guys who are scared of their own shadow. Ha! Nearly a year & a half ago on Halloween, I met Joe.
(Thanks Jill M.) He proposed, gave me the perfect ring, & now we’re waiting for someone to tell us what to do next. KIDDING! I have no idea when we’ll get married. It could be next week, next month, or next year. At this point in life, I try very hard not to sweat the small stuff. I’ve tossed around a few ideas in my head, though. Getting married at a finish line of a marathon has always been in the back of my brain even before I met Joe but most of the less than stellar males that I’ve dated in the past would never run a marathon. Go figure?! WIMPS!
I had wanted to be proposed to at the end of a marathon but I guess I should’ve spoken up on that one before now. Ha!

Whatever we do, will be fine. It’s going to be memorable either way. Life is Good, can’t complain much, & so many other changes ahead for 2010.

Favorite Couple Changes:
Hannah & Jeff are moving back to TN! Can't wait to have our fun friends back, who like ALL the stuff we do. I've missed her!

Nephew: Austin Jay-Love this boy!
Number 32, 3rd from left, will turn 15 on March 15th.