Giveaway Winner and Humping

I spent the day at a volunteer training to work with the Dog TLC program at the Humane Society. Funny thing about that is my role will be to walk dogs. I don’t even walk my own dog (see “How I Break the Rules”), so it’s a tad ironic I’d be doing this. At least when my kids were babies I didn’t leave them in their cribs all day and go to the hospital to hold other people’s newborns. You have to draw the line somewhere.

My favorite part of the training? When the instructor said, “Don’t turn your back on a dog when they are jumping, they might mount you.”  I had images of a Chihuahua trying to get his way with me.

I did get to walk “Taz” a hound dog. He was much more well behaved than my three legged, one eyed dog, Lucky. And he did not lick his penis. Not even once.

The reason I am walking dogs is not because I want to. My daughter has a pet/animal infatuation and it is her dream to volunteer at the Humane Society. I honestly could care less, even though I do like dogs when they sleep and don’t ask anything of me. I am doing it for Emma. Remember? I do what she tells me to do.

Also today I did a two hour ride on my bike trainer. It was boring as hell. I set up a table beside the trainer with my iPad and phone. I watched Regis and Kelly, the View and a dumb Lifetime movie. Three of my worst favorite forms of cross training (worst favorite is my kid’s saying. I think it’s cute and makes me sound very educated):

Long training rides on bike trainers. I love them outside, however. Today was 30 degrees, too cold for my bones.

Water running. I will always say this is an amazing cross training, non impact option if you are injured or for variety. But it’s not my fave.

Long walks. I just get bored. I’d rather run.

Did I tell you I’m running a half marathon this weekend? Well, minus two miles. I don’t want to push it. I will do the last 11 miles of the Boulder Backroads Half Marathon as a bandit. I will wear a mask and black cape. I want to run alongside one of my trainees who is running her first half marathon as a training run/dress rehearsal for her first marathon on May 1.

Want to see the cutest picture in the entire world? Go HERE, to Adam’s blog.

The Twist running shirt giveaway winner is #4 - Kim from Just Another Mom on the Run. Congrats! Email me at shutuprun@gmail.com and I’ll let you know how to claim your prize.

What’s your worst favorite form of cross training?

What are your weekend plans? We are laying low. Sam has been sick along with the rest of 7th grade.

Do you volunteer anywhere?

SUAR

Eating for Two

No, not that kind of two. Two hours, you fools. Gotcha

Today’s workout: 1 hour spin, 1 hour yoga.

This makes me very hungry. I don’t talk about food much on this blog because I am just eating three squares a day with snacks thrown in and popcorn with parmesan cheese or cinnamon sugar pita chips at night (if you haven't tried the Stacy’s Cinnamon Chips you are seriously missing out on one of the joys of life).

Stacy’s: if you are reading this because I am sure you are please send me a case or two. I have already done a review (see above).

Here’s the scoop. It is hard to get enough calories when you are working out a bazillion hours a week cross training like a maniac to train for a marathon because you can’t run much. And, then when you do run, you poop so much you lose 20 pounds.

Okay, a bazillion hours of working out is an exaggeration, it’s more like 8 to 10 hours, which I don’t think is very extreme. I mean for marathon training with mostly running, you would probably be putting in those hours. But, if you figure that is probably in the neighborhood of up to 6,000 or so calories burned, there’s a lot of make up eating to be done. This is where it gets fun.

It is 12:30 p.m. Today I have had:

• 2 cups of coffee with healthy splashes (i.e., tablespoons) of half and half. Can’t drink it any other way
• 1 English muffin with generous scoop of almond butter and jelly
• 1 banana
• 1 Grande extra fat Chai
• 1 “kitchen sink” salad. I am on a “kitchen sink” extravaganza. Usually it involves eggs where I scramble up two or three eggs with anything in the refrigerator: leftover pinto or black beans, spinach, avocado, cheddar cheese, tomato and pair it with a tortilla.  Today was a salad with lettuces (I love how in Costa Rica they call it “lettuces,” kind of like how in Europe they call it “getting your hairs cut”), spinach, carrots, avocado, blue cheese, craisins, black bean burger all tossed with a healthy does of Annie’s Goddess Dressing. Superb I tell ya.
• 3 Snickerdoodles. I have been on a baking roll these past two weeks. My daughter told me she needed some snacks while they did their standardized testing last week (called CSAPs in Colorado) and wanted cookies. I do whatever she tells me, so I promptly baked some CSAP Butterfinger cookies. When those ran out I made some CSAP Snickerdoodles. Let me share:

Butterfinger Cookies (also called Peanut Butter Toffee Cookies):

1/2 cup shortening
3/4 cup creamy peanut butter
1-1/4 cups packed light brown sugar
3 tablespoons milk
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
1 egg
1-1/2 cups all-purpose flour
3/4 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
1-1/3 cups (8 oz. package) Heath “Bits ‘O Brickle” Toffee Bits, divided

Heat oven to 375°.

Beat shortening, peanut butter, brown sugar, milk and vanilla in large bowl until well blended. Add egg; beat just until blended. Combine flour, baking soda and salt; gradually beat into peanut butter mixture. Stir in 1 cup of bits; reserve remainder for topping.

Drop by heaping teaspoons or by using a 1-inch cookie scoop about 2 inches apart onto ungreased or parchment-lined cookie sheet; press the top of each cookie down slightly with a fork and top each with reserved bits.

Bake 7 to 8 minutes or until set. Do not over bake. Cool for two minutes and remove to wire rack. Cool completely. Makes about 3 dozen cookies.

Seriously, incredible cookies and the shortening is so gross and lardish that these things stay soft forever.

Short-Cut Snickerdoodles (to make really fast in a pinch when you have yellow cake mix on hand and are out of Cream of Tarter, because we all forget to stock up on that weird ingredient that we only use for one thing):

1 box yellow cake mix
1/3 cup oil
2 eggs
2 tsp. vanilla

Mix and roll into balls and into sugar and cinnamon mixture. Bake at 375° for 10 minutes.

Told you they were easy. And super good. Really they are.

Go make some cookies now. My daughter wants you to.

Foods I can’t live without and are staples in our house:

Avocados
Bananas
Amy’s Goddess Dressing
Stacy’s Pita Chips
Whole wheat tortillas
Oatmeal (w/brown sugar)
Half and Half
Morningside Black Bean Burgers
Clif Bars
Fresh spinach
Eggs
Cheese, any kind
Beans, any kind (but favorites are cannelini, kidney and pinto)
Salsa

I thought my running clinic went well last night. Before I went I told Ken I was a little nervous. He very supportively said, “Do you think you will crap yourself in front of the group? Or just have bad gas?” That made me feel a lot better.

If I do one again I would tweak some things, but I had a good turn out and discussion. Thanks again for your input.

Don’t forget my Twist running shirt giveaway HERE.

Do you eat a ton more when you are training? What’s your go-to recovery lunch or dinner?

Any foods you can’t live without?

 

SUAR

Suck It, Wall

Here’s how my taper is going (yes, Jamoosh, those are all microbrews):

In my quest to run a flawless marathon during which I meet me time goal, do not mess my pants. and feel energized and pain free the entire time, I have been doing some reading. Mentally preparing you could call it.

Last week, I referenced an article by Michael Bane called, “Breaking through the wall” (Men’s Fitness, 1999). There was discussion of pre-race brain training. Now it’s time to look at how to avoid the wall (i.e., an apparently insurmountable physiological barrier which stops you in your tracks), and if you can’t do that, then what to do when you hit it and hit it hard. We are assuming when your face slams up against that invisible vertical concrete slab, you will not consider quitting. It is simply not an option (unless you are injured, paralyzed, get your period or your legs fall off).

The following is from the same above-referenced article:

Five ways to avoid the Wall (but, there are no guarantees): 

1. Train realistically. Athletes have a remarkable talent for self-deception. The best way to know how you'll respond in a situation is to practice that situation first. If you're training for a marathon, at least one of your training runs needs to be 26 miles. If you're training for a race that takes place at night, some of your training needs to be at night.
2.  Cross train. The more you move toward harder endurance events such as a marathon, the more overall balance seems to pay off. I like to trade off sports (for example, biking and running) to keep my interest up and injuries down. The added plus is that my overall higher level of fitness helps carry me through longer events.
3.  Avoid judgments. Fine athletes talk themselves into quitting because they were running below par. You need to set these judgments aside on race day.
4. Prepare mentally. Forget happy talk; you're going to hurt. But you know that already. In my mental rehearsals, I try to be as realistic as possible and acknowledge that it's going to be painful. I also remind myself that, despite it all, I've crossed a lot of finish lines.
5. Plan flexibly. Remember, long athletic events tend to be chaos systems. You can't foresee everything nature is going to throw at you. Mental flexibility is your greatest tool for getting past the Wall.

Six things to do when you hit the Wall

1. Say, “shit, shit, shit.” (I added that one)
2. Keep going. "Program" yourself before the event that you're going to press on regardless, even if you're barely moving.
3. "Table" your thoughts. The easiest way to quiet those negative thoughts is to set them aside. Sometimes I actually visualize a locker-like box, where I stuff all my negative thoughts away until I have the time and energy to deal with them.
4. Get out of your head. Don't dwell on how amazingly awful you feel. Focusing on a really attractive woman running nearby can be a great distraction. I've done it, and it works. Hormones are wonderful things.
5. Try bribery. Depending on just how bad you're feeling, a judicious dose of deferred compensation can help. I've gotten myself out of some grim times with the promise of a pint of Ben & Jerry's Phish Food if l cross the finish line. (The bribes can get pretty big: At one point, I had to buy myself a motorcycle.)
6. Open negotiations. Give yourself permission to quit if you'll only go another 10 feet ... another quarter mile ... even around the next corner. I have climbed entire mountains by cutting interim deals: "Another 200 vertical feet, then I'll sit down and reevaluate ..." After that 200 feet, it's, "Hey, I don't feel so bad ... maybe I'll go another 45 minutes and then I'll quit." Keep repeating this until you're so close to finishing that you can say, "What the heck? Let's wrap this puppy up."

I think it’s all great advice, especially the one about “getting out of your head.” I distract myself with attractive women as well.

The one point I take issue with is, “If you're training for a marathon, at least one of your training runs needs to be 26 miles.” This is a personal choice, but for me, running 26 miles is too hard on my body to do twice in one training cycle. My long runs (10+ miles) this training season were 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 11, 16, 18. 5, 18. 5, 13.

Thoughts?

I Cross Train, Therefore I Am

Running tip: Cross training makes a difference. It helps prevent over-use injuries, gives you greater running fitness, and helps minimize running burnout. So, find something you like to do – cycling, skiing, swimming – and make it part of your routine. Just because you’re not running doesn’t mean you’re not training hard for your upcoming race.

Today I got on my bike. It’s 55* in my fair city. Here’s me getting ready to go. This is the stance I always take right before getting on my bike:


And this one, too:


Some of you may not know this about me (and may not care), but I was a cyclist long before I was a runner. I started cycling in college, then got into more distance riding in my twenties. I did a century ride while living in Richmond, VA. After moving to CO, I did the famous Ride the Rockies tour which covered 410 miles over six days, and took us over several major mountains. That ride was a trip because every night after riding 60-80 miles you would rinse off in group showers (not unlike jail) with lots of other naked people. You may think that because people are able to ride 60-80 miles a day they are in shape and have rock hard bodies. Such was not the case in the group showers. Lots of this (only, in color):

That ride was also crazy because every night you would pitch a tent in a high school football field with thousands of other people. Literally, tents were no more than three feet apart. Nothing like the great outdoors. Actual photo in Pagosa Springs. Look closely and you can see Ken in the middle holding two water bottles by our tent (the tent of love) :

Being inside your tent you have the illusion that you are in your own space, and that no one else can hear you. A head's up: Just because people can’t see you doesn’t mean they can’t hear you (got that those of you having loud sex and doing other things that should not be done in a tent city?). Try sleeping in that shit then getting up at 4am and riding all day. But, we did finish (Fred, Ken & I):

When I got pregnant and had kids, I stopped pretty much anything that resembled exercise. It’s hard to work out with a child hanging on your tit all the time. Plus, my motivation fell to the wayside as I was absorbed in the world of diapers, sleepless nights and little people with big demands (who I love very much). Between my two kids, I did one measly triathlon. That’s it. I really didn’t start working out again until I started running in 2008. I know. Lame.

Oh yeah, today I got on my bike. I got on my bike because I am supposed to cross train. I know this because my doctor and the FIRST ("Run Less Run Faster") book told me. I do not really like to cross train. I like to run. I only cross train so that I can run. And because I don’t want to get another stress fracture. These days I run 3x per week (about 30-35 miles total), do Bikram yoga 2x per week, and either swim, elliptical or bike one day. I don’t rest a lot. Maybe one day a week.

Here’s what I noticed on the bike:

• No stomach upset. Nary a fart.

• It’s much colder riding a bike than running.

• Lots of people in Colorado like to cycle. At one point I’m spinning along and I hear this sound approaching from behind (not from my behind). All of a sudden, they were on me like flies on shit. This peloton of dudes whooshing past me. Millions of them. They all had a comment: “Good morning” (it was actually afternoon) “On your left” (no shit) “How’s it going?” “Nice ass,” “Kiss my ass,” “Kiss his ass” (I made up these last three. Any fans of Christmas Vacation?)

• Miles go a lot faster when you ride vs. run (I’m genius)

• Running is harder than cycling (okay, triathletes and cyclists if you read this blog please don’t rape and pillage me and my children. I know cycling is tough when you go really fast and when you climb mountains and when you have a headwind and when you ride 100 miles, I’m just saying that I find running much more intense. IMHO).

I finally programmed my Garmin to sync with my cycling. That made it a tad more interesting. Overall, it was nice to be outside. I guess it was nice to do something other than run. And it was definitely nice to not have to take my panties in the shower with me to clean them up for a change.

Do you cross train? Do you like it? What do you do and what benefits have you seen?

Drinking: Starbucks Pike Place Blend

Dead Beaver

Praise the Lord, I was able to run for the first time in over nine weeks yesterday. I was on cloud nine. It felt amazing. There is just nothing like it. And believe me I have tried it all: cycling, ellipticaling, swimming, walking. Running's just my thing. This is what I have to say about cross training (with the help of the internet):

• It will never be running
• You should choose workouts that are closest to running in terms of muscles used and aerobic systems taxed. Good options include elliptical trainers, cross-country ski machines, stationary bikes, and water running
• It helps reduce injury by forcing you to run less and by balancing your weaker muscles with your stronger ones. It will also lessen the stress on your joints, which are often a sore spot for runners.
• It helps build different muscles than running does, hopefully making you a better runner
• You'll avoid getting bored with running. Bored with running, what? Are you high? Supposedly, running day after day will eventually burn out even the most hard-core runner. Cross-training gives runners a much-needed mental break from their sport, which is especially important for those training for long-distance events such as marathons.
  

For me I cross train so I can run. Bottom line. Running gives me a much needed mental break from cross training.

The only bad part about my run was I can only do 20 minutes right now. At the 20 minute mark (2.1 miles) I was just getting my groove on. I SO didn't want to stop. But this little voice inside my head was saying (don't look back you can never look back...what song is that?) "don't overdue it, you'll risk injury and then you'll be screwed," so I stopped and walked the rest of the way home. Walking sucks. I hate it.

I came home and made this Caramel Apple Pie from Cooking Light.

I love pie and this recipe was a winner. I also made Grandma Ball's homemade stuffing. It does not have any balls in it. Although one year I might add some just to see if anyone notices.

Today Ken and I ventured out for a bike ride. Ken thinks he's all cool in his snazzy new outfit.



Actually this outfit is extremely meaningful - the brother of one of Ken's friends died in a flying accident over the Everglades last year. He used to own a place called Saxy's Cafe in Aspen and was the father of three. He was only 37. Ken's friend had these jerseys and shorts made in his memory.

I am wearing the same old biking crap I've worn my whole life. My jersey has no sentimental meaning. Those shorts have more butt miles on them than my 2003 Explorer.

It was about 60 degrees, so no threat of repeating last weekend's fiasco.

We went for 20 miles, averaging 17.2 mph. My lady parts now hurt. Those areas are tender and get quite beat up on the bike. Am I the only one? I guess if I biked more things would toughen up.

Speaking of, I saw a dead baby beaver along the side of the road. Really, I did.

Drinking: Candy Cane Lane tea