Bad Luck & Being MIA...

Hello, Bloggie Friends. I know I haven't been around much the past few weeks...but I can explain.

Around this time last year I was pretty new to blogging and didn't have many followers yet...but some of you may remember me posting about getting into a car accident on the way to my birthday party last year. I posted about it in my other blog too. Well I'll be damned if we didn't get into ANOTHER wreck on the way to my birthday party AGAIN this year. True story. Of all the luck...

Randy and I were on our way to the bar/restaurant where the party was to be held and had just exited the highway and turned left on a street downtown. Another vehicle was exiting the interstate and did not slow down or even LOOK to yield and came barreling across all lanes of traffic going 40 - 50 mph and just SLAMMED into us. Luckily, no one was seriously injured. Unfortunately, my car is totalled and we definitely got pretty banged up. I have bruises on my legs from where my shins hit the dash board and on my chest from the seat belt. It also messed up my lower back and my neck. Randy's back and neck are pretty sore as well.

The frustrating thing about my neck injury is that I've had ongoing neck problems since I was 15. Two discs in my neck are herniated and I've been through all kinds of pain management, physical therapy, chiropractic, and steroid treatment. I've had three cortisone injections in my neck and I've had pretty much everything shy of surgery. In addition to the already-messed-up neck, add a wreck in January 2008 that totalled my car, the previously mentioned wreck on the way to my birthday party in February 2009, and the current wreck in March 2010. I went to the doctor last Monday and will be seeing him again tomorrow. I've also gone to my chiropractor multiple times as well. I'm going to be treated for quite awhile for the re-injured neck...which sucks, but in the grand scheme of things, it could have been a lot worse.

On the down side, my half marathon is 6 weeks away and I haven't ran in over a week and a half. In fact, I'm still having a bit of trouble even walking. I'm on pain killers, muscle relaxers, anti-inflammatories, and a steroid pack. But this is probably going to be a slow recovery involving many trips to the chiro and PT.

And to top it all off, it's taken me over a week to even post about it because I've basically lost all internet access at work. :( Those of you that know me well know that I don't care to be on the computer much while I'm at home since A) I'm on a computer all day at work, and 2) I'm so busy at home with the kids and trying to keep up with my training regimen, etc... So...unfortunately, my blog time will now be limited. Boo. I'm bummed because I was already struggling to keep up with everyone...and this only makes it worse.

Anyway, I'll try to get on and follow everyone when I can. I hope everyone is doing well! And if you haven't already, feel free to track me down on FB - at least I can access FB from my phone! :)

February Totals

February was not too shabby, especially in comparison to January, which got off to a slow start due to my detox and all. The only disappointment is that I still haven't gotten back into swimming and biking yet, which I REALLY need to do if I plan on doing any triathlons this spring (and I DO). I've been really focused on training for the OKC Half Marathon though - in fact, I've REALLY stayed on track with my schedule this year - I've been out there in the freezing cold, snow, sleet, wind...you name it! And I'm quite proud of myself, to be perfectly honest. I'm still pretty new to running and this is the first year I've ever braved the cold. Purchased my first pair of running tights and fleece lined gloves just this season - and oh have I been putting them to use! And I've found that I actually LIKE running in the cold. I think I'm going to be dreading the heat this summer when I'm deep into training for Chicago.

Anyway, now I'm just rambling and getting waaaay off track...which I often tend to do. ;) So, without further delay, here are my February and Year-To-Date totals:

February Totals:
Running: 10 days, 46.15 miles
P90X: 6 days
Weights/Toning: 4 days
Misc Cardio (cardio that is not running, swimming, or biking, such as walking, elliptical, Just Dance, or any of the P90X cardio workouts): 9 days
Total Days of Cardio: 15 (some days had a combo or running and another form of cardio)
Total Days of Working Out: 18

Year-To-Date Totals:
Running: 15 days, 60.95 miles
P90X: 9 days
Yoga: 1 day (I really need to get back into yoga.....)
Weights/Strength Training: 8 days
Misc Cardio: 11 days
Total Days of Cardio: 22
Total Days of Work Outs: 27

Looking forward to what March will bring! Happy training, everyone! :)

My Amazing Birthday Weekend, Including A 10 Miler!

My birthday weekend was nothing short of FABULOUS, people! Oh, and the fun is not even over yet - in our house, you get more than just one day to celebrate your creation. You get more than even a weekend. Let me tell it to you like THIS - my bday was Saturday and the celebration won't be over until this coming Sunday. Werd. That's how we roll.

I'll start off with Friday (aka Birthday Eve). Started the morning off with a little Starbucks with a good friend of mine, followed by a sweet card & gift from my old (and FAVORITE!!) boss. And I'll be damned if she didn't get me a bottle of BITCH wine! Srsly, that's what it's called. Oh yeah, and it sure was dressed in a kimono. Srsly, I couldn't make this up.


Friday evening Randy and I had plans to attend a celebration for our friends' anniversary at O'Dowds. We got there early so we could have dinner first and then hung out and spent the evening with friends. I had a few drinks, but not so many that I wasn't able to get up at 8am the following morning for my bday 10 miler. ;)

I took my time getting up and around the next morning, so I didn't actually head out for the run until around 9am. It was 26 degrees out, 18 with the wind chill. I got going on my first 3 mile loop and just wasn't feeling it. My poor little leg muscles were just frozen and tight. I felt like I couldn't warm up and get loose and every step just HURT. I stopped at my house after the first 3 miles - I had intended to pop in for a quick stretch...but I threw my ear warmers on the table, threw off my headphones & gloves and stomped up to my room for the Biofreeze. At this point, I was hurting....and not sure if I would be able to finish the last 7 miles. But I took a few minutes to clear my head. I stretched really well, lathered up in Biofreeze, took a Gu, drank some vitamin water, took a puff from my inhaler...and set out for the last 7 miles...and suddenly I was a brand new woman. All I really needed was a good stretch. The last 7 miles were cake. You might even say BIRTHDAY cake. ;)

I went for a new route since I didn't want to run same boring old route 3 times. I picked a really good one too - lots of rolling hills to challenge me - and I was able to tackle them ALL! I felt GREAT during the last 7 miles. In fact, I had planned to walk a bit around mile 7, and possibly stop to stretch a bit...but that wasn't necessary. I just downed my Gu and kept on going.

During my run, I had plenty of time to reflect over the past decade of my life. I started thinking "Hmmm...what did I do the morning of my 21st birthday?? Oh yeah...I was in Vegas and spent the day hungover and dry heaving in every hotel & casino on the strip, LOL." If you would have told me on my 21st birthday that I would be spending the morning of my 31st birthday running 10 miles, I would have laughed in your face!

I finished the 10 miles strong and felt GREAT! I am so ready to take on this next half marathon! I ran my 10 miles with my pace being 10 seconds faster than my goal race pace! And let me tell you, nothing makes a girl feel better about getting older than tackling a 10 mile run on her birthday! :)

I went home and stretched after my run and enjoyed an amazing brunch made by my wonderful husbie - eggs, bacon, sausage, biscuits, and CHOCOLATE MILK!! :) I then took an ice bath, and was pleasantly surprised to find I was barely sore the next day!

We had a wedding to go to Saturday afternoon. But before we left, my family presented me with my bday presents - tickets to see Chelsea Handler at Starlight in May from the hubs (HELLO!!!!!! EEEEEIEIIIIEIEIEEEAAAYYY <---stole this from The Running Dork), and Born to Run from my girls! What amazing gifts - I could not ask for more!!!

As I mentioned, we had a wedding to attend on Saturday, but Rylie and I did bake a cake together Saturday night (Better Than Sex Cake, which I told Rylie is called Better Than Christmas Cake - Ha!). Oh, and we will be celebrating this weekend with a night on the town with friends Friday night followed by a small gathering at our house on Saturday. This has been one of the BEST birthdays ever!!!

Thanks to everyone for all the birthday wishes!!! I'm so ready for another amazing year! :)

Saturday, February 27, 2010: 10 mile run!!!

Training Updates

Just some updates on my latest workouts. I've got some more exciting (well, to me anyway...) stuff coming up, so stay tuned! :)

Wednesday, February 24, 2010: 4 mile run (This was supposed to only be a 3 mile run...but it felt so great, I went ahead and tacked on an extra mile for good measure. It was 23 degrees out, and only 16 with the wind chill...but it was sunny and pretty out and didn't feel that bad. It's crazy, but I've found myself actually enjoying running in the cold. Well, as long as it's not sub zero. ;) And - funny - I ran this 4 mile easy run faster than my 4 mile race a couple weeks ago. The funny part is that the race was on a completely flat course and my neighborhood run was all over some hills AND with a quarter mile of snow and ice covered sidewalk that I had to HIKE over, and I still finished MINUTES faster than I finished the race. LOL...good stuff. But like I said, on this particular day, I just had a GOOD run.)

Thursday, February 25, 2010: Warm up on elliptical, P90X Kenpo

Friday, February 26, 2010: Cardio X (P90X)

I'll save my birthday 10 miler for a separate post all to itself - because it was THAT.AWESOME. that it deserves a post all its own! ;) And then I'll follow up with my February totals. :)