Running Injured (& Scared)

I have reached my half way point of my full marathon training. I typically feel like I can run and run and run and not feel overly winded and rarely sore.

Not anymore.

I bought new shoes in the fall, but I did not start really wearing them until I started training. I don't know if it is my shoes or what, but my body is a mess!

First, my right knee started giving me troubles. It would just give out, ache when going down hill (or downstairs in the house). It is now to wear it aches and bothers me just to walk.

Today, due to it being maybe 10 degrees out, I cross trained inside. Cross training is hardly easier than running. If I had a treadmill, that would be easier. I did a 30 minute high intensity interval training Hasfit workout followed by a 25 minute T25 gamma extreme circuit.(you can watch the whole thing on this link!). My knee did not like some of the moves in the Hasfit, something I have done numerous times, so I did not do those exercises. By the time I was ready for the T25, I was stiff and sore all over. I did the T25 as best as I could, but my back was not happy now.

After getting showered up and running a quick errand (and making a real quick batch of cookies to take to the kids), I went up to school to eat lunch with the kids. Asher needed a napkin or something at one point, so I went to stand up and could hardly move. What happened?! This happened a few more times during lunch. By the time I went to walk to the car, I was limping on my knee and my back was killing me.

Back at home, I have swallowed my share of Motrin and am going to chill for a while. I had plans to go to the running store and buy another set of shoes. I'm thinking it is my brooks that are causing my knee pain. By babying my knee, the compensation is leading to back pain. I am just a mess.

So, my marathon training is on hold. Boo. So much for big lofty goals.

Long Runs Getting Longer

I am now finishing up week 8 of my full marathon training schedule. Wow, it is brutal! I think I would be fine if the weather would just cooperate with me.

Last weekend, I actually ran my long run on Sunday. The kids were home on Friday and I worked most of the week, so I did not get my long run in during the week. I somehow convinced Chris to ride his bike behind me for what was to be a 14 mile run. I decided to run Zorinsky, running around the lakes twice. I had a feeling it may be more like 15 miles when I was finished, but whatever, right?!

Chris' Mom came by at 8:30 and we were off. We arrived at Zorinsky to overcast skies, cold air and a nice cold breeze. It was freezing.  I started running, soon finding out that there were many patches of ice and even more patches of black ice, the kind you don't know is there until you nearly fall on your ass. Fun stuff I tell you.

It was so nice to have Chris there to take my clothes as I stripped down (only taking off one layer but wearing my clothes, hat and scarf the entire time). Chris froze on his bike. We ran by the car at 7.5 miles and Chris stopped to get his winter coat and a second pair of gloves. He was froze. My face was but the rest of me was okay for the most part. My right knee had been bothering me, and this run was no exception. by mile 14, I stopped briefly to celebrate. When I started back up, my knee gave out. I nearly bit it...but limped until I finished at 15.1 miles. Gees! I had never been so glad to finish!

Today, I was to officially run 15 miles. I went back out to Zorinsky. When I charged my ipod, it erased my music libary (for the second time!! I may add). So, I had to run 15 miles without music! I was not happy! I hope I can fix this and fast because I need my music! Anyone, round one went well, but it was little icy. By round 2 the ice was melting, birds were chirping and my knee was holding up. I finished my run without limping. Success! Next week I am down to a half marathon. Funny, the half sounds so easy! It was be so nice to only do 13.1 miles. :) But I know the long runs after that are 17 miles, 18 miles working up to 20 miles. OMG! That is so far! Funny, I think that before I start but I somehow get my body to finish. It is only painful while I run...but then I am done!

I have learned a few things. I need to practice drinking while I run. Today I only drank at the halfway point as I passed the car. Also, when I am done, I need to take it easy at home. I went and ran errands today and my body did not like that. I felt sick. Not good. I could not wait to get home!

Gotta move forward. I have a big, lofty goal to achieve. At this point, I am not sure what I was thinking. I am also not sure how people do this more than once! :)

Playing at Mahoney

On Sunday afternoon, the kids and I met up with Courtney, McCartney and Ana at Mahoney so the kids could play and Courtney and I could catch up. It was good to see them all (and Alivia had been begging me for ages as she has some little bond with McCartney :) ).  The kids played and played and played (after some begging on my part to get Alivia to play). We decided that we needed to catch up more often as it was been far too long!

Happy Valentine's Day 2014

Happy Valentine's Day from our 3 Valentines. :)

The kids were lucky to have Valentine's Day Friday and the following Monday off of school. It was wonderful! Thursday night into Friday, all 3 kiddos had sleepovers. Alivia had Lizzie, Asher had Cameron and Addison had Halle. It was crazy, but fun (for them. :) ). Good thing we stopped at 3 kids! Gees!

They had opened their Valentines on Thursday so they could wear their new clothes to school for the Valentine's party. But, they each got chocolates on Valentine's Day. The day was kinda busy with friends in the morning, we ran to a far away Target so I could buy my Valentine's Day present (a pleather chair and ottoman for the bedroom...Love it!), and then lunch with Jill and Asher's little girlfriends twins Maggie and Mackenzie. Asher bought the girls (and his friend Lydia at school) a rose filled with Hershey kisses. It was super cute. He wanted to do it, and we can't stop him because I want him to always be sweet.

In the afternoon, I had my 2 friends from work come to our house with their little girls. I have worked with Siobhan for almost 5 years, and I worked with Lauren for a good 2 years before she left (she is so smart!). It was fun to get together with our kids, and all the kids had fun together, too.

For dinner, we had pizza, what else?! :) Chris liked the gift I gave me and I gave him a Spider Stocking hat (one I found too cool to not buy him). Gotta love Valentine's Day! :)

New Job or Stay Put

I have become more and more frustrated with my on call position at the med center. I increased my hours last summer, but my boss told me she could not officially increase my hours because the unit was fully staffed. When fall came, I started working 4-5 shifts every 2 weeks. I again asked to increase my status in November, and I was told again the hours were not available. In the meantime, my manager hired 2 new nurses for nights (when the hours were not available). Right after I asked to increase my status in November, my manager increased the status to the 2 new hires (giving one part time and one full time!!). I was beyond mad. Then, about 3 weeks ago, my manager emailed me and said she was cutting my hours because she gave them away to the 2 new hires. WHAT??!! I have been there almost 5 years and they have been there 4 months! I am/was beyond mad. So, I threw out my resume.

Within a week, I had interviewed with 2 pharma companies and 3-4 RN positions. In the end, it has come down to these two options/offers.

1. Stay with the med center working 3 nights every other week. Work on call at Boystown Peds in Omaha to fill in on my week off.
Pros: Flexible, predictable hours, one foot out of psych.
Cons: Still at the med center, complicated with 2 jobs to keep up with.

2. Part time, 2 nights a week with a local float pool.
Pros: Great pay!!
Cons: In psych, unpredictable work hours (limited flexibility but I am self scheduled), in order to take a vacation I have to make up the hours missed, unpredictable work environment.

I have until Monday to decide. Ugh. I used to be good at decisions. What happened to me? I like the flexibility I have now where I can take a month off if I want, but it would be nice to be paid more since I do not have any benefits (neither job offers paid vacation or anything).

We will see what Monday brings I guess.

January 2014 in Review

Brrr! Is it spring yet? January was so cold, and February has not been much better. The kids had their first "snow" day, aka, it was too cold to go to school day, with wind chills in the negative 20-30's. Brrr! Asher started basketball at the YMCA and he lost his 2 front teeth, Addison continued with piano and now Alivia wants to play (we will see about 6pm piano lessons though). Asher had her first sick days of school, getting sick after lunch on his shoe while I was at my first colonoscopy. That was fun stuff for both of us, I'm tell you. Asher was awarded Student of the Month (yeah!), Addison celebrated her Half Birthday (now 7 1/2 years old!), and I was lucky enough to eat lunch with the kids at school.Since it was too cold to do anything, I worked a lot of hours to keep my busy (and warm). Chris and I finished out the cold month staying warm at date night for our 10th Catholic Wedding Anniversary. We kept it simple going to Zios Pizza and doing a little shopping while the kids hung back at home with my parents. Oh, and I kept up with my training for the Lincoln Marathon through all of these crazy cold temperatures. How many days until spring?

Happy February and Valentine's Day!

Click here for January 2014 Pictures