Thursday, January 9, 2014

Today’s 4 Things

1. After my miserable 15 miler on Sunday I was totally burned out with snow-running. I begrudgingly hit the treadmill for intervals on Tuesday, then got out for 9.5 miles yesterday thinking the snow situation would be better. It was not. It is rare that I find nothing redeeming about a long run, but I hated it and I had PTSD from Sunday.

  • The hard, unforgiving snow.
  • The cold.
  • The tire ruts that twist my ankles.
  • The 45 million ounces of snot I rocketed out of my nose.
  • The yellow snow (that’s lemonade, right? Okay to eat?).
  • Wah, wah! FWP for sure.

Going to California in March for the LA Marathon is sounding better and better.

This:                                      

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Versus This:

2. After said grotesque snow-run my feet hurt so I went for a pedicure.

Before (that is paint on my big toe from 1.5 months ago):

IMAG2552

After (not great, but better):

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When I get pedicures I spend a lot of time apologizing for the state of my feet, like it is crime to have missing toenails, callouses, bunions and freaky longish finger toes. Arrest me!

My favorite things about this pedicure? I wore skinny jeans which meant the nail lady could not massage my legs because I could not pull the pants up over my calves. She therefore asked me to change into a skirt they had in the backroom (thrift –store style). Nice. I looked hot.

The other great thing was right as nail lady was admiring where I had recently lost my big toenail, she started to file my second toe and the nail came off. Right in her hand. Nice. I’m pretty sure she made a necklace out of it.

3. I should not be surprised that I get emails advertising products such as this (given the nature of my blog). This is actually rather interesting - if you want to get me a birthday present (only 44 days). Do you believe we are all carrying around 5-20 pounds of fecal matter? I’m highly disturbed. This product must work because the model looks so damn happy. As if she is shitting out 5-20 pounds of something.

image

Or, there is always the t-shirt option:

sp-tshirt-keepcalm-womens-2[1]

4. One of my new favorite things is watching Emma and Heidi out on the golf course in the late afternoons. It just warms my heart. My two favorite girls.

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I just have to ask again – 5-20 pounds???? That is like pooping a 3 year old.

 

What’s worse – running outside in unpleasant conditions or the treadmill? I will do anything to avoid the treadmill, but I draw the line when it’s icy (or dark outside, I don’t run in the dark alone).

What’s your next race? How did you choose it (location, weather, course, cost?) LA is my next race. I chose it because I got a free entry and I’ve never been there before. The weather doesn’t hurt either.

SUAR

62 comments:

  1. "Medical and wellness experts" ...yeah, right! You know, I started to adopt your philosophy "shut up and run" and who knew, it works! You rock my world! :)

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  2. I'm also training for L.A. Love reading about your runs-- won't complain about my 65 degree long runs anymore:)

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  3. I'm not a fan of "weather" - rain, snow, ice, wind, etc. I will run outside in pretty cold temps, or in the dark, or in a light drizzle if it starts when I'm out there. But if it's bad from the get-go, then I'd rather hit the treadmill. I'm a wimp.

    I'm planning on running the Sour Grapes Half Marathon in June here in MN. It's a very small trail race the weekend before a very, very large marathon here. The amount of people for that kind of gives me some logistics anxiety, so I chose a smaller race that my family will enjoy too.

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  4. My next race is this Sunday. My first half-marathon and its a trail race. I can't wait. :) Chose it because of price and location. Its the So-Cal Xterra Boney Mountain trail race.

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  5. Ha ha I laughed out loud at this post...you must have been mortified when your nail came off! I would love to have a pedicure actually...just the thought of someone paying attention to my poor feet has made me well up. I may have to book myself in:)

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  6. Treadmill runs are way worse. Sooo boring! I did a treadmill run last Tuesday (first in years, due to the really cold weather here in Ohio). Now my plantar fasciitis has come back for a visit...not good!!!! My next race is Boston so my fingers are crossed for a speedy recovery. I chose Boston because it is sure to be an amazing event this year and I will be 50 (in 44 days!!) so I am celebrating aging-up!

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  7. Hahaha--I swear every kid who comes to see me with abdominal pain has about 20# of poop in their bellies--or as we in the medical field refer to it as FOS (full of s..). In the true spirit of irony, the product used to gently eliminate all that poop is named "GoLytely".

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    1. Haha! GoLytely is ironic considering there would be nothing "lite" about 20#!

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    2. Nope...if they get admitted for a clean out with an NG tube, it becomes a code brown...

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  8. Hahah, Charlotte of The Great Fitness Experiment did a whole post on squatting while crapping. It's actually a pretty good read!

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  9. Treadmill for sure! I am a fair weather runner. Cold Dark November evenings are what convinced me to buy a treadmill! Also, those products are hilarious!

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  10. I usually would say that the treadmill is worse but today was a really cold cold cold run and that line about "warming up once you are out" is BS. I've been on the treadmill for the last week since Alaska and Iowa switched temperatures but I felt sorry for my dog so decided to put my big girl pants on today. It has been hours and I still haven't warmed up. I had so many clothes on that between my husband and I, we had an entire load of running clothes!

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  11. Treadmill is WAYYYY worse!! I ran only 4 miles (going against club rules of a 30 minute limit - eek!) yesterday in a hot, stinky, gym with steamed up windows and just did my best to try to get my mind to wander about something…anything other than the fact that I was bored out of my skull! Music doesn't help. At all. I am thinking of trying a book on iPod….

    But today it was 15 and I did 5 miles at a local park. It was cold, but beautiful and quiet and FRESH! And I ran without any music or book or distraction, just me and my thoughts. And it was wonderful.

    I will only choose a treadmill as an absolute last resort.

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  12. I have seen this product before. I guess it is supposed to be like squatting over a hole in the floor. :-/
    My next run is a Sweetheart 5k with the husband. We had to have a team name. We are the Red Hots (like the candy, not necessarily our looks or our love life).
    I'm more excited about my 8k in March that is doubled with a 200meter kilt run for the Guinness Book of World Records. Our kilts came in the mail today! WoooHooo! Not sure if I can post a pic here. I look like a Jew hiding in a Catholic school but WoooHoo!

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  13. One of my toenails was ready to come off when I got a pedicure recently. The lady offered to glue it back on! I think she was nervous about the fact that a toenail was about to come off.

    I've been on the treadmill lately b/c it's too icy outside. The cold doesn't bother me, but ice does. I have to do speedwork or a hill workout on the treadmill to make the time go by faster. I managed 10 miles the other day. My other indoor option is the indoor track at my gym,...but 10 laps is 1 mile! THAT gets boring!

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  14. Oh, I'm dying about the pedicure - so funny that the toenail came off in her hands!! And, I'm so happy to know that I'm not the only one who has nail polish on from months back!!!
    I pick the treadmill always - I hate cold and snow!!

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  15. Ha ha, I've only gotten pedicures twice but both times I apologized profusely. And I wouldn't let the woman file my callouses. She was really disturbed.

    My street looks like yours, but I almost always run outside--I have to get fresh air, not sweaty treadmill air. I only run on the mill if it's super icy.

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  16. Q#1: I would rather run on legos than run on a treadmill. Maybe that's a little too over the top... but close to my loathing of treadmills.
    Q#2: My next race is the Lake Effect 1/2 in Liverpool NY. I chose it because it is a nice reward to validate all the running in the cold and snow this time of year. Besides, there is street cred that comes with races running during this kind of weather! :)

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  17. Q#1: I would rather run on legos than run on a treadmill. Maybe that's a little too over the top... but close to my loathing of treadmills.
    Q#2: My next race is the Lake Effect 1/2 in Liverpool NY. I chose it because it is a nice reward to validate all the running in the cold and snow this time of year. Besides, there is street cred that comes with races running during this kind of weather! :)

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    1. OMG!!!! Yes I would have to say this is how I feel about running on a treadmill lol! However, lots of treadmill running in my future this summer as I train for a hilly marathon in November (I live where there is ZERO inclines on any of my runs outside) so I better get over it!

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  18. #1: Can NOT stand to run on the treadmill.

    #2: The only race I'm signed up for right now is the Honolulu Marathon next December. They had a special for locals - $1/mile, I could not pass it up. Currently $55 early entry until January 19th. Come run with the Honolulu Runners - Loco Running Club!

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  19. With the amount of snow we have I prefer the treadmill, but then again I am little strange and actually kind of enjoy treadmill running. I know I know.....

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  20. I will do anything to avoid the treadmill. But I caved on Monday when black ice covered the roads (and I shouldn't have even driven to the gym). It's been a rough few weeks in NH like many other places. Cold, icy and windy. A gross combination. Next race is a 10 miler in Amherst, MA. A humbling 10 miler race. I choose it because its the first race in the NE Grand Prix race series for the New England running clubs. I wish I was going somewhere sunny and warm! And I could use a pedicure- my winter feet are awful!

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  21. It's not too soon to start planning all your meals at the fantastic delis in LA. My four favorites are Greenblatt's on Sunset (since 1926), Nate 'n Al in Beverly Hills (since 1945), Canter's on Fairfax (since 1931), and Langer's on MacArthur Park (since 1947).

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    1. Thank you! Looking forward to eating some good food while I'm there.

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  22. I'll be running the OC Marathon (as you know) and now that I'm back in marathon training mode that means I am also back in blog stalking mode! So HELLO SUAR! :) I can't imagine running in those temps - yikes!

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  23. Oh my gosh I'm dying at the squatty potty!! DYING! I wonder how many pounds of fecal matter I have inside. No, actually I don't. I don't care at all. LOL

    I think you should be proud of those feet--they carry you far! I read once that people w/ long middle toes (longer than the big toe) are natural runners. It seems to fit!

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  24. And all this time I thought I was carrying around a petrified fetus. I had no idea it was 20 pounds of poop! Squatty Potty, here I come!

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  25. I'm actually jealous of you all and all of your snow! We don't get snow in Sydney, which bums me out. My next official race is Ironman Australia in May, but I'm sure that I'll find something to do between now and then. I think I'm going to pick up a 70.3 in March for a test run.

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  26. I live in the Pacific NW where the seasons are: raining really hard, raining hard, raining and pretending not to rain. So I run in the rain all the time. I have just learned how to dress appropriately and head out.

    I have a Shamrock run in March but wait listed for a 25k next month (fingers crossed)

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  27. Maybe some ill people are carrying around that much poop. I don't think any active people are. I know for a fact I was clean as a whistle for my colonoscopy, and out of a mild curiosity I was weighing myself before, during and after. What with all the fluid drinking there was essentially no difference.
    The treadmill is ALWAYS worse. Over the last little while I've run in bitterly cold weather on snow and ice and it's better than the 'mill.
    Next race I'm signed up for is the Calgary Marathon. Looking forward to first stand alone marathon! May email and pick your brains about suggested books.

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  28. I hate the treadmill but I do choose it when it's cold and dark. I don't mind the cold by itself, though.
    My next race is the Yeti Chase in Morrison Jan 26. Are you running that one?

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  29. I would gladly send you some heat from Perth, Australia where we are expecting 44 degrees CELSIUS on Saturday and 41 on Sunday. My two long run days :-) I believe that is about 111 and 105F respectively. I plan to start at about 4am before it gets too bad, but the minimum is expected to be 28C / 82F. Yowza!!!

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  30. I'm okay with the treadmill at shorter distances. Last Saturday I ran out in the snow and ice and it was nerve wracking....I just don't want to slip and hurt myself. I need to be fully entertained when I'm on the treadmill.

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  31. I have been running inside and outside this week. The Creek path is fairly clear now.
    I have a Squatty Potty. I got used to using the kid's Elmo stool when they were potty training. 8 years later, I decided to own up to my stool usage (haha, see what I did there?) and got the adult version.

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  32. I've been wondering what your next race was and what you are training for (selfishly hoping you'd want to go for a trail run together soon!). LA Marathon sounds like heaven after this garbage we've been running on. I know understand why old people flock to warmer weather when the retire...as one of the recent geriatrics generations, I WANT SUMMER NOW! :)

    Hope we can get together soon. And to answer your question on one of my blog posts...no, won't go to Boston again (never say never) - too pricey, but it was a great benchmark to hit (especially since I didn't really train for it :)).

    xo

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  33. I am one of those crazy people that love treadmill running. Don't get me wrong, I would pick running outside over running on the treadmill. But when weather conditions suck, or it's dark, or I am home alone with my kids I will happily use the treadmill. I do speedwork and incline workouts on my treadmill and those go really fast, but even the long runs are fine. I just put on my tunes and zone out. I am training for a half marathon now, mostly on the treadmill (I live in Wisconsin). I see it as a means of building mental endurance, if you can run on a treadmill for 2+ hours, you can run a marathon, lol.

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  34. Have fun in LA! I ran it last year and had a blast. My next marathon is Mountains to Beach in Ojai, CA. The finish line is three blocks from my house, which I like since since I almost pooped crossing the finish line in LA. Being close to home is good. :)

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  35. I have the squatty potty on my list too. I just went to my first (of three) colon hydrotherapy session and found out about this product.

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  36. I have a toe question...do you ever get blisters on your long second toe when you run high mileage? If so - any tips on how to stop that from happening? It's like my toes gets pissed off at me for running more than 10 miles and decides to turn into a big white, scaly stump!

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    1. No, I don't get blisters, but I also wear a running shoe that is a full size larger than my regular shoe size, mostly because of those damn long toes.

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    2. I do get those blisters on long runs. Try Body Glide just on the end of the offending toe. I'm already in women's 11 running shoes....

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  37. I feel exactly the same way. I thought Mon was supposed to warm up...big fat NOPE. My running partner and I bagged our early morning speed workout, opting to run at 3:30pm that day while her husband watched all the kids (5 total). Wasn't much better, ice-wise, but we got it in, at least. Training hard for NoLa Half in 3 weeks....then Boston. Doing ROTG? Prob not, since it's the week after LA. Maybe I'll meet you at one of the many front range races this spring/summer. I'll be pacing Co Mar again (4 hr grp), too.

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  38. I'm one of those lucky girls who lives in california and so I have been running outside. But we get winter colds here like the rest and so I had to take a few days off to let the feverish, pounding sinuses part of the cold pass. I loved your bit about the pedicure. I always feel like I have to apologize too. And I ask them NOT to shave or scrub off the calluses - they protect me feet for gods sake!

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  39. I am a fair-weather runner - meaning if it's not decent out, I'll run on the treadmill. I actually do MOST of my running on the 'mill because I also have 4 kids - one of which is still at home most of the time - and I don't like to run in the dark alone (which I would have to do if I want to get it done before my husband leaves for work). All of my long runs are outside on the weekend, though, unless the weather is pretty bad (ice, lightning, that kinda thing).

    My next unofficially planned event is the Hershey Half Marathon in Hershey, PA in the fall (Oct). I'm hoping for chocolate. Maybe the medal will be made out of it! Of course, then I would have to eat the proof that I did it. Hmmm. I also know you get two tickets to the park as part of your race packet so I'm really looking forward to that. Another plus was that my college roommate is planning to run it with me - and I haven't seen her since we graduated (20 years ago this spring)!! I'm toying with the idea of running a Shamrock Shuffle in March (around St. Patty's Day), but I don't think I'll be ready for 13.1. I will probably at least do the 5K. And the keg stands. JK. Maybe.

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  40. omg I got that email to. WtH. Seriously. I like to try new products but really?

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  41. I ran my first half in Anchorage in 2007. Marriage, 2 boys 15 months apart, cancer, and chemo later, I am finally running again. I have decided on the Savannah Rock N Roll Half on Nov. 8 and am so excited I am able to run again.

    I didn't think I was going to run another half, but now have to be able to say I did it AFTER cancer. Besides, I now have a new car and need a new 13.1 sticker.

    One of my running partners shared one of your posts and I am now a follower. I know you will inspire me to get out that and run. We yell at each other when going up a hill, "Run, Stupid B*&%$!" and then laugh at each other.

    To answer your question, I chose the Savannah half for a few reasons: 1) Have never been there and it is on my Bucket List, 2) It is far enough away so I can build up my stamina and enjoy the run, and 3) I love music so it should be fun.

    Thank you for sharing your love of running and helping me laugh along with you. Keep it up!

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    1. What an inspiration you are!! Savannah is on my BL too. Enjoy training and feeling better.

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  42. I have never ran in the snow before and I am sure it would be much tougher! My next race is the Mercer Island Half in the beginning of March! I need to get back into running ASAP. I've just been spinning like crazy for cross training. I refuse to run on the dreadmill.

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  43. I'll run in the rain or 100 degree heat, but never had the opportunity to let snow test me. Sounds terrible, though.

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  44. I actually found the secret to making treadmill running tolerable: load your tablet with some good-ass show that everyone is talking about. And then ONLY permit yourself to watch while you are on the treadmill. I can honestly say that there were times I ran indoors even when an outdoor run was possible because I couldn't wait to see the next episode of Homeland and Downton Abby.

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  45. I dread the treadmill and only use it as a last resort. Music always helps and bit but I am grateful to live in the PNW where the weather is rarely so bad that you cannot get out and run. Found this pic on Twitter and thought of you instantly! Hope it makes you smile!!!
    https://twitter.com/AllergyKidsDoc/status/422023561562181633/photo/1/large

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  46. Arrowhead 135. I chose it because aparently I love to torture myself. Unlike yourself I LOVE to run in the snow.

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    1. Don't get me wrong. I love to run in the snow. I do not like to run in the ice.

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  47. Hahaha! I can't believe THAT add! I envy your low temps...down here is solo damn hot! And I hate the treadmill. But I really need to catch on my training.
    I'm planning IM70.3 Miami this year. I just started with my swimming. I never though it would be so hard!!!

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  48. I can't stand running when it's icy outside. Despise the mill but gotta do what you gotta do. I've been rehabbing an Achilles injury so I was stuck on the mill for 3 weeks while getting back into running. Oh well...beats not running at all.
    Next race is the full and 5K next weekend in Baton Rouge. I won't be able to "race" it but I will still plod along, as my injury took me out of commission for about a month.
    5-20 lbs???? Really????

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  49. My toenails are so bad that I have stopped getting pedicures..and I don't feel like I would get my money's worth since I don't have all 10 toe nails

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  51. Treadmill is worse than any weather....I will not behave like a hamster. My next race is a 10k trail race in Feb. I am hoping for mid to high 20° s its part of a trail series and training for my first half marathon in April (the last trail race of the winter series)

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