Eventually got around to getting out my homework, which is reading Stephen King’s “The Shining”. HOLY CRAP IT IS SCARY! I’ve never read Stephen King and I also don’t watch scary movies due to some serious nightmares. But, I have to read it for a paper.. so I am. My husband left me all day by myself- (I don’t blame him- I’m not good company when I’m reading!!) so I’ve been home alone, reading this crazy book, and I’m starting to go stir crazy! All work and no play, makes Annie a dull girl!

We’re watching the Stanley Kubrick version of the movie in class tomorrow (which I’m happy we’re not watching the awful 4 hour version with the guy from Wings).. but I’m also scared. At least it will be daylight when I leave the theater (Yes, we have class at themovie theater.. be jealous)….. Jack scares me.

Finally the husband is home, and I can stop being *as* scared. Do you like my migraine scared look? It’s pretty frightening, really! (although the starbucks help distract from that!)

remember, I’ve had a migraine all day!!

However, I did get in an awesome run with C on Sunday on our beloved bike trail through Columbus. Only did 4 miles, but we made it a progressive run with pretty decent splits. Lungs + Cold = PAIN! The coughing fits are quite awful. Luckily, it was just under 60 on Sunday (although ridiculously windy) and I didn’t have too much of a problem. Also got to try out my new non-running running leggings! I’m a cheapo and refuse to spend 25 dollars on leggings to sweat in, although I bet by the end of winter I will give in and purchase them. These leggings were 6.99, super thick and super warm. LUFF THEM.

Question: What causes clicking in the knees? My left knee is going bonkers! Clicking all the time and causing some serious pain, especially when I’m doing lunges with Jillian. Speaking of which, I just finished Level 1 and feel awesome! Even though I did have a delicious egg nog latte (thank you, Husband) sitting in my belly…. Despite my awful eating habits (egg nog lattes, Taco Bell, countless cheese cubes, etc), I’m starting to see some muscle definition, especially in my arms! HALLELUJAH! I was feeling like that old school teacher with bat wings flying all over!

I see a little something starting!!!

What did you do this weekend?

Did two solid minutes of jump rope outside with my trusty Kinvaras, and let me tell you guys– I SUCK AT JUMP ROPING! This will be a fun challenge. Followed that up with level 1 of Jillian’s 30 day Shred. I can already see some changes in my arms which is awesome, but I’ve REALLY got to lay off the Taco Bell if I want to see real results..

All you healthy folks out there, I need quick, easy, and delicious snacks/meals— but on a budget. I’m terribly lazy when it comes to food and whatever is easier/cheaper/fastest is what I end up with. For instance, would you like to know what I’ve consumed thus far this week?

Monday: Breakfast- Coffee. Lunch- Beef Ramen Noodles. Dinner- Half a baguette with some Boursin cheese (I was at work). Lots of wine.

Tuesday: Breakfast- Coffee. Cinnamon raisin bagel w/ peanut butter. Lunch: Cinnamon Poptarts. Dinner (I went out to eat with my Sister and Mother at my place of work, The Wine Bistro..and keep in mind, we shared everything!)- Cheese fondue with Naan, Mediterranean Popcorn (Oils, red pepper, Parmesan cheese, oregano etc), Harvest Flatbread (Cranberry sauce, mozzarella & Parmesan cheese, caramelized onions, chicken, brie, almonds, and the flatbread itself), French Onion soup (The best in town!), and for dessert, port soaked cherries over three bean vanilla ice cream. Oh, and WINE!

Today(Wednesday): Breakfast- Coffee. Lunch- Taco Bell..( Diet Pepsi[grosssssss totally a Coke lady], chicken&rice burrito, caramel apple empanada) Dinner- who knows….

So, yes, I have AWFUL eating habits. It’s hard being so busy with work and school to get a good meal in that is nutritious, delicious, AND cheap. So, healthy eaters, leave me a few recipes to help me out!!!

I look a little scary, but I swear- it’s just excitement!

My ticket to fame

Who knew jump ropes were so complicated? Since I’m a newbie, and really am just doing it for a bit of cross training,  I’ve gone with the old fashioned school jump rope. Plastic beads, yellow and white. It should be here on Thursday Can’t wait to start jump roping. Maybe I’ll get a speed rope for Christmas and start working on my Olympic times… HA!

On another note, we’ve had some absolutely BEAUTIFUL weather here in good ole Ohio, but unfortunately I’m drowning in homework and haven’t had a chance to enjoy it. Hopefully this afternoon I’ll sneak in a run since I didn’t really do my shred yesterday… only got through 8 minutes before my Beefy Ramen Noodle lunch wanted to come back up. Note to self: never eat Ramen Noodles. Ever.

Also, I’m seriously in love with @Saucony Kinvaras. I wear them to school and feel awesome.

On another note.. with my renewed love for Jillian’s 30 day shred I’ve been thinking a lot about jump-roping. In her 2 minutes of cardio in her circuit training, she has us “pretend” to jump rope for every other 30 seconds. I’ve been dying to get my high school calves back (they were killer awesome- I didn’t even need a pair of heels to show them off) and the jump-roping sparked my memory of doing a plyometrics program in 8th/9th grade to increase my awesomeness on the basketball court. BUT… I honestly didn’t think too much about it, until a fellow runner posted this link: http://prsfitlive.com/2011/11/06/3-unconventional-ways-to-dominate-your-running-form/

Number 1? JUMP ROPE! So excited. I think I’ll start adding jump-roping to my cross training schedule. I’ve been wanting to work on my form more anyway, ESPECIALLY my posture. I know I hunch over as it is, not to mention after I’ve run 10 miles and have got a heck of a lot more to go. (I get tired, Ok?!)

Now, what color jump rope should I get?????

Been trying to take it easy to give my body ample recovery and rest, but now I’m just being lazy. So, the plan for the next 6-10 weeks is to do the 30 day Shred 3 times a week (Preferably M, W, F) and run twice a week. One slow run, one intense speed work run. (Most likely F and Sun)

Marathon #2 will have a whole new focus- no longer about “just getting the miles”. It will certainly still be difficult and much more time consuming, but hopefully I can get some new muscle and speed strength this winter. Speaking of winter, I’ve got to figure out some clothes for running outside. I cannot bear the cold.. but I always get so hot once I’m a mile or two in. Guess I’ll just have to run with sweatshirts tied around my waist. How’s that for speed work! Also need to acclimate my breathing otherwise I’ll be on the treadmill all winter. YUCK!

So, the next 6-10 weeks:

M: Shred

W: Shred

F: Shred, Speed Run

Sun: Longish, slow run

I may end up adding more runs here and there, but the goal is to stay injury free while maintaining some sort of fitness level without burning out. And honestly, I cannot WAIT to begin training for M#2!

Columbus Marathon Race Report

So, I’ve been wanting to write a race report for my very first marathon. After all, I’ll never be able to say it’s my first time again! I didn’t sleep well the night before and woke up exhausted, but excited. Picked up Candice and headed down to the race. Everything went smoothly as far as getting into our corral, being there for the start (despite the ridiculous amount of traffic!!). We set off at our race pace (10:52) and held it a good long while. We even opted to back off a couple miles to save some strength for those last 6 miles.

The first half went really well. We found a woman named Kristen (spelling??) who tagged along with us. She was only doing the half and liked our pace. We told her about DM; we’ll see if she joins! Had some weird twinge in my inner left ankle at this point, but overall felt O.K. Although, I almost stepped on a DEAD SQUIRREL at mile 5. Totally freaked me out because my kinvaras would have been GROSS. . . anywho, we were really excited to see our first supporters at mile 9 and then almost every 2 miles after that. Our families are INCREDIBLE.

Mile 12 is where it started going downhill for me, ironic since I was struggling with the uphill on High Street. Once we passed the Half Mary point, it got REAL lonely. Spectators were rare and the music wasn’t great. Campus SUCKED. And of course, I’m hitting the longest, hardest wall I’ve ever had. I’m thinking to myself “Are my knee caps broken? They feel broken. I’m sure they’re broken. Should I stop? No, Candice would kill me. No she wouldn’t, she’d understand. Maybe they’re not broken, just cracked.” This was my inner monologue for miles 14-16. By this point, tears are streaming down my face. It felt like bone on bone in my knees. I couldn’t catch my breath and I think I was putting more effort into trying to stop crying than I was to keep moving my legs.

Amazingly, we had only dropped our average pace to about a 10:57 at the point. We’d still be on target for a sub 4:50 finish. Miles 18-20 also sucked arse for me, tears still streaming down my face. Saw my dad at 19 (Santa + Jerry Garcia at the corner of Kinnear and North Star.. anyone else see him??) and Candice kept telling me, “Jenny J. is at 20. She’s at mile 20!” I kept thinking that once Jenny joined us, I’d send her off with Candice and I’d walk/run what I needed to. But of course, this didn’t happen. Candice wouldn’t leave me behind and honestly, seeing Jenny’s fresh face and her super energizer bunny attitude gave me new hope. Still in tons of pain, I knew I only had 6.2 left and I could do it.

But then, poor Candice, my hero of the marathon, started getting some serious cramps in her inner quads (is that even a thing? well, at least you know where I mean). She stopped to stretch and have Jenny massage the knot out a bit (at this point it was only in one leg). After a couple minutes, Candice pushed on. We passed our families again at mile 22 – - QUICK SIDE NOTE — did any other racers see the hot dog cart?? That was my step dad’s cart. HA! — after this brief moment of joy, poor Candice had to stop again, and this is when the cramping started to hit both legs. We sent speedy Jenny back to the cart to get some chips and a hot dog to replenish some of Candice’s salt. She pushed on.

We round the corner of 1st and Grandview and Candice’s legs give out. She’s screaming profanity. The horror of the pain aside, it was actually really hilarious. And don’t worry, Candice agrees (The screaming profanity part). A nice old man came off the sidewalk and told Candice to lay down on the ground and started applying pressure to her cramps/knots. After at least 10 minutes of this, SHE PUSHED ON. Seriously, MY HERO. Such incredible mental strength and determination!

We ran/walked the next 2 miles, but by 24 I could.not.stop. anymore because my stomach was rocked. Had to keep running otherwise things were going to get ugly. Peter A. and Ace were with me so we kept going and Jenny stuck with Candice. We also grabbed Melodie P. at this point. They helped me get to the 26 mile and let me go to have a strong finish. I picked up my legs and did an all out sprint the last .2! Always gotta save some juice for that last bit! And Candice wasn’t far behind me, either!!

So there you have it folks! My race report… of my very first full marathon. And I guess I should add, during miles 20-22 I said I wouldn’t run another marathon.. but by 24 I had already changed my mind. So, it was a great experience. Difficult and trying, but I’m excited to conquer it again!

The pavement quietly echoes footsteps, yet there is no one to be seen. Everything is caught in a dusky twilight. The streets are empty, the sidewalks grey to match the sky and the cold, harsh winds rustle the few leaves in the trees. The bus schedules are outdated and water stained. The buildings are aged with broken bricks, climbing vines, and weathered doors. A faded yellow “Bed and Breakfast” sign leans against the wall where it once hung. The air is lonely, but strangely welcoming to a wandering soul. This is Wicklow.
Ireland is known for her grey skies and green, rolling hills, but in Wicklow there is something else to be known. Despite being conquered by Vikings, the ruins of this little  monastic town speak volumes of solace and meditation. The quiet life of a Sunday is a striking contrast to the bustle of Dublin. The streets are home to few cars and even less walkers. The Grand Hotel sits on the corner of the main drag, Dublin Road. Its parking lot houses a few vehicles, but little traffic. The lobby and bar is filled with only the local regular and weary bartender. The understood quiet, the understated simplicity of the town haunts her passer-bys.
There are scarcely any store fronts along the road and even less road signs or direction as to where to go. With incorrect information on the Bus Eireann signs, for an out-of-towner, figuring your way out or around the town may seem dismal. Waiting at the bus stop could take several cold, windy and rain beaten hours. Trying to catch a ride could take days. There may be better luck in walking into someone’s house and asking for help!
Despite the lack of direction, strolling along the bare sidewalks will eventually bring an understanding to the fresh air. The grey skies and grey sidewalks and grey streets empty themselves into the grey rocks leading into the grey Irish sea. The cold air beating against your face will seem to fade as the overwhelming smell of vanilla and saltwater meet your nose. The grey is interrupted by the mustard yellow wildflowers and soft moss clinging to the large rocks. A rusted and worn sign, warning IT IS DANGEROUS TO WALK ON ROCKS stands high above the mesmerizing grey-blue swirls.
The waves crash one after another, bubbling with anticipation to get higher and higher. They sing a song of hidden glory as the dotted rocky shore softens along the curve of the peninsula. The light house in the distance sheds hope with each turning light-beam. The shore spreads its arms out to welcome the water, foaming at the mouth to devour those who dare enter its bitter-cold pathway. The town can be seen at a distance from its skirt of silver splendor. The grey sits below a crown of green, Ireland’s green. There are no brilliant cliffs here. There are simply green pastures with halos of grey tresses.
    A belt of houses and buildings follows the curve but does not venture too high. The little houses and small establishments are quiet and beg the question of whether they are ghosts from the past or remain active. The gentle stillness can either evoke interest or scare away strangers. Walking away from the harsh winds and strong scent of vanilla, following the grey wall separating nature from civilization (though of what sort it is hard to say) will lead you back into the waistband of the town. Leaving behind the toothless bite of the shore, it is difficult not to embrace the understated beauty that is Wicklow.

For a moment. I completed about 1.25 miles and came upon a shaded bench by a closed store front and popped a squat. I sat there and thought. I thought about the pain in my knee, my tight throat, the aches in my feet. I thought about how I felt like a failure that I needed to sit – and even more of one because I already allowed myself to walk up a very steep hill instead of pushing through it. I thought about how I don’t even make enough money to buy new running shoes, when I really need them. Failure. I sat there asking myself, “Why the hell do I do this to myself? Why do I push myself to run, to do things I clearly am not capable of? Things my body does not want to do and is asking me not to do.. Why am I torturing myself?” In those brief moments, I didn’t answer all my questions. A woman twice my age and carrying a lot more weight than me trotted on by, looking strong and I felt like a failure once again. But, for some reason, instead of getting up and turning towards home, I got up and continued on my route.

I didn’t think much else on the rest of my route, except for focusing on putting one foot in front of the other. I got home, posted my workout to DM and my good friend Jenny J. asked me what I took from this run.. and I had no answer. So I asked myself again, why do I do this? Why do I put myself through all this? Well, sometimes I don’t. Sometimes I can’t. I struggle daily with depression – with getting out of bed just to even pee, let alone going for a strenuous run. But on those days that I do, and feel like I’m making no progress, I wonder why I ever try again. But then, I remember – I’m a woman. I have body issues. I run because some days I like it- some days it feels so right, so good – but most days, I run because I want to fit into my jeans still. I have awful discipline when it comes to food – my depression leaves me hungry for days or has me constantly craving sugar. I can’t say no. But then I feel guilty afterward and make a mental note to add bleachers to my workout for tomorrow..

I’m a part of this website, DM or dailymile.com. It’s pretty awesome. Friends from all over encouraging each other on their daily workout.. but there is one downfall, for me anyway. I start comparing myself to everyone. I was even thinking on my run today while I was sitting that so many of my friends would have pushed through what I was feeling. And on top of pushing through it, in the time that I had been sitting there they would have completed another two miles. I can’t not compare myself. But I am not a speedy runner – no matter how badly I want to, no matter how badly I push through my own pain, my own workouts. Maybe someday I’ll get to a pace I’m finally happy with.. but for now, I’m not even tracking it. A lot of days I want to leave DM because I’m not an elite runner or under an 8min pace or easily turning out 10+ miles.

But you know what I am doing? I’m getting out of bed to run. Not every day, but some days. Hopefully most days. I run because I can. Some day, I want to be happy with my body – and I really should be. I’m not fat by any means, but I am my worst critic.

I may feel like a failure, but one thing I am NOT is a quitter. I will keep trying. I will keep working at it. It won’t be easy. It certainly won’t be pretty.. And maybe someday I’ll be able to buy new shoes so it will at least hurt a little less : )

On another note, I have stopped doing the Tracy Anderson Method. Specifically because my bum was getting too round. Literally. No money in the budget for new jeans.. so I have just been running and doing Ab Ripper X! Training for the full marathon begins… on the 13th! Holla!

Wine update: Recently had the Guggenheim Malbec from Argentina. Not a favorite- kind of a weak taste, not too complex.

I’ve had a better Malbec… but that’s what you get when you purchase based on label!

La la la. No one reads this blog, not sure why I keep telling the random interwebs my thoughts about wine that no one will drink. . .