June is a great time for running -- June Dingo thread.... - Page 3

[1jooj]

Penelope, show the toe. I went back and forth, and honestly, very few people noticed, and anyone who thought it was truly gross didn't say so or didn't matter. 

I think I already told everyone here that it's hot. And not like you didn't figure. I want to swim this evening, and will also Skype with my parents and sister.

I could use a homework packet for my kids. I have them doing workbooks. At least that's something.

Move-in date is June 15. We may have to travel to Morocco over that date to sort out paperwork and see the ILs. Dh will try to figure out his plan for time off when he sees his boss tomorrow. I will go tomorrow to see a club, I hope, and maybe arrange for a membership for the family, so we can stay relatively active despite the heat. Explored what will be my regular grocery store (so much fresh fish! Walkable/bikeable!) and tried to get a grip on the neighborhood. Still feeling very limbo-y.

Sorry to be so all over the place and nowhere...just fighting with myself over the melancholy today. Knew it would come and here it comes...

[sparkletruck]

Jaygee - do you have thick dark curtains? I just added our dark layer when I too found myself waking early and remembering that this always happens. The night I put the second layer of curtain on I slept in to the regular time again Also, do you use white noise when you sleep? I also get awoken by the chirping birds on the tree right outside my window. Good luck with the wet run

Mel38 - bleh, about dh. That happens here too. Sometimes I think small irritations build up and then when you have a tiff like that it happens to force a conversation that then clears the air for awhile. Its like a reboot.

MelW - aw shucks! I hope it works out in some way that is nourishing for you on your day

Plady - how did i miss that it was you bday too? Happy 29th!!!!

Bec - yay for finally getting to the gardening project. Bet that feels good

RR: Unless I motivate tonight after the next 10 hours with the kids I will be doing nothing today, which Im bummed about. I asked two babysitters if they could come this morning for a little while and they couldnt, and I dont want to take the older kids to childcare at the gym; I just dont have it in me (the guilt, plus I - like jo - hate that feeling of someone waiting for me and feeling rushed AND guilty). Sigh

NRR: I have considered my thyroid too, but I have no other symptoms of that. Dh thinks it's possible that the hair loss is from being so sick. He did some reading that said that "major illness" can cause it to happens a month or more after the illness is resolved (due to the growth cycle of hair). If that were the case I'd be thrilled because then it will grow back when the next growth cycle starts. Fingers crossed. In any case, I will get blood tests related to this Thursday plus other stuff Ive been wondering about (D3 levels, cholesterol, iron ), etc. I'm also getting a pap which I havent had in more than 10 years.

[bec]

I'm glad to hear that I'm not the only one that doesn't get regular paps (last one was a few years ago when I had a hernia repaired, and my PCP tricked me into going to gyne first!  I hope you get some good, easy to solve answers!

Mel38 - Ugh on the DH!  I have been there, too.  Getting mad over stupid sh*$, and then not being able to move back to being fine again. I've

MelW - Can you take a rain check on your childfree weekend?  It sucks to have a sick toddler.  Maybe it could be postponed to next weekend?  I've done birthday do-overs and they are great!

Before:

After:

[Nickarolaberry]

Bec, that is just gorgeous! What a lot of hard work but that is amazing for your lucky kids.

Sparkle,  I hope you get the answers you need on your hair. I can certainly empathize with weird hormonal symptoms!

ND, congrats on a great marathon!

I think I may do Marine Corps with my brother. I'm signed up for Disney too, which is two months later...hmmm. I don't know. We'll see.

No running for me today. Yesterday afternoon I played some basketball with some of my students and then when I went out for a run last evening, I got a wicked neck cramp that is still stiff today. That needs to ease out before I run again, it's way too uncomfortable.

Starting to have a bit of panic about the upcoming move, logistics, etc. Deep. Breaths.

[MelW]

Nic, would you run it along side your brother, or just both enter? Either way- could be fun...

bec, your swingset and yard look great! My kids would be so jealous!

sparkle, I hope you get answers about the hairloss, too. And that you can figure out a way to squeeze a workout in today.

jo, I can't imagine not feeling "limbo-y" (love that!) when you're waiting to move and get routines started, etc. It must be such a challenge to get into a groove when you can't settle in a more permanent way into a home.

mel, I can related to the DH tiffs, too.

Weekend with toddler is going okay so far. We did some gardening and a short bike ride to the store this morning, and if the weather stays warm I'll take her to the river in the Ergo. I'm planning to swim, sick kid or not!!! She can wade in some pools while I get wet, and I'll take the judgment about letting a sick kid go swimming if I have to (it's a pretty remote swimming hole, so the likelihood of anyone being there is low, too).

Right now it's naptime and I got one job application submitted, and lots of work done on two others. The thing I hate most about my current job is that my contract ends in February, so I'm always kind of on the lookout for something else. And this week I had three opportunities come up:

A permanent teaching position in the BSN program teaching public health (one of my specialty areas!) and ethics (not my specialty...)

A permanent infant/child/youth community health job, which I would love- but about a 50 min commute each way

My absolute dream job doing health-related outreach work with "at-risk" pregnant women and families with young children in the community- BUT it's half-time and the pay is bad. Like less than half of my usual hourly wage. I'm applying anyways, since I could use the networking opportunity (and secretly want to convince them that there must be a way that they can apply for funding for to hire a nurse). I was ridiculously excited when I found the job posting, since I've been talking about the need for work like this in the area for a while, and basically all of my qualifications and experience lead to this kind of work, but I really can't afford the pay cut.

RR: My sister recommended the Nike Training Club phone app, and I tried my first workout from it today. There are a couple of 15 min workouts focused on one area, so I tried the abs one and liked it. I can usually fit in 15 mins with kids around, so could see slipping these in to days that I can't get away.

[tjsmama]

bec~Nice work! My kid would LOVE that!

melw~Ooh, I can see your dilemma. Any chance you could combine the dream job with one of the other jobs, or find another part-time-ish job that would work in combination with it? I know a lot of the teachers on our faculty do double duty with an outside job.

penelope~I had that exact dilemma last summer, and I just went with it. I did not paint my toenails, because I thought it might be kind of weird. Honestly, nobody noticed unless I pointed it out to them. Then again, it was my 4th toe, so not as visible as some of the others.

Speaking of toes, I think I'm going to attempt to paint mine for the wedding I'm going to tonight. I'm planning on wearing sandals and my bruised toenail (from almost a year ago!) has grown out enough that it just looks like I have dirt under the toenail. So, I think I should consider covering it up.

I slept in nicely this morning, then dragged myself out the door for a run. I really didn't want to, but I got 4.5 miles in, and it's gorgeous out, so it was worth it. My legs are tired, though, so I cut off the extra side trip I was going to take to make it 5+. Between racing on Monday and still being a little sore from Thursday's trail run....ow. Besides, I've got a 30+ mile ride in the mountains tomorrow, so I should probably save something for that!

And now, I need to shower and attempt to beautify myself for the wedding. It could be interesting, I haven't done it for awhile!

[bec]

Gaye - I found these great nail pens at CVS for 75% off!  It's quick and easy and dries in nothing flat.  I am now sporting sparkly pink finger nails as a result!  WOOT!

[Nickarolaberry]

MelW, we would both enter via charity I think.

Dh is on his way back from his week at triathalon camp in Spain. He was with two really 'famous' (?) triathalon pros, Dave Scott and some other guy. He had spotty email all week and seemed to have a great, if exhausting time. I am SO looking forward to seeing him but I bet he is going to be wiped out for a few days.

Neck is still stiff and I'm trying to decide if I should get up early and do a long run tomorrow or bag it and wait for the evening if at all. Hmm.

[bec]

Wait, Nic.  He gets to go to Spain, but you have to jump through hoops to get the trip you dream of? 

Oh, and I would bag the run and wait till you feel better.  Maybe a trip to a chiro?

I finished off my project, and am so happy with my swingset!!!  I had a rest day, other than hauling the last of the mulch around. 

tomorrow, my tri class is having a practice triathlon.  It's going to be a 600 yard snake swim at the high school pool, a 20 mile bike and a 3 mile run.  I'm excited, a little nervous, and looking forward to it!

[tjsmama]

Originally Posted by bec 

Wait, Nic.  He gets to go to Spain, but you have to jump through hoops to get the trip you dream of? 

bec~I ended up doing the 10 minute self-pedicure, since that was all I had time for by the time I finished blow-drying my hair and all that good stuff. It looks surprisingly good, except that the polish I chose is not dark enough to totally cover up the toenail bruise, even with two coats. And that toenail is all lumpy and stuff from being abused. But, for a 10 minute pedicure, not bad!

The wedding was surprisingly fun! I didn't really know what to expect and wasn't necessarily looking forward to it, since I knew all of two people there, the bride and one of the bridesmaids. The bride was the babysitter that I hired three years ago to watch DS so I could go to my 6 am track workouts. And now she's in nursing school with me, but started a semester after. She looked absolutely stunning. I forced myself to talk to some people, and I ended up making some new friends! I met a really cool girl (and her fiancee) who is a triathlete and we hung out most of the evening. We're already facebook, twitter, and dailymile friends! I also, um...got hit on fairly strongly by one of the groomsmen. And danced with. It was so much fun. I really, really needed the ego boost!

And now, to bed, since it's going to be waaaaaay too early in the morning when I need to get up for my ride!

[1jooj]

Gaye, I'm glad you went. Sounded like the right kind of evening at the right time.

I'm at the pool with the kids for our daily swim. Did an hour of cardio this AM, followed by a little strength work. Felt awesome to finally get a full-length workout in. Am also going to start using the stairs more often instead of the stupid lift. Need to get back to a somewhat normal life. Good news: kids now have their places fully reserved at the school, and all funds have been wired for our housing. We should be able to do a villa walk-through this week. Also going today with the relo agent to look at a family health club. I may or may not get closer to having my visa anytime soon, but then dh will just have to drive me to Oman for a new passport stamp. Ohm. 

BTW, we stumbled (almost literally) upon the Hindu temple yesterday. Can't wait to go back for a visit. Dh wants to, too. It smelled like heaven. 

[JayGee]

Gaye ~ sounds like a really fun night!  I had a feeling someone would be hitting on you  !  I totally get hives even thinking about attending an event like that without knowing more than a couple of people there.  Good for you!

bec ~ your swingset looks awesome!!!

MelW ~ good luck with the job search!  All three of those jobs sound interesting.

Nic ~  Spain?  Really?

jo ~ Sounds like you're getting really close to being "home" there.

Yesterday was insane and somewhat frustrating.  I ran 5.4 in the morning before anyone else got up.  We took all three kids to the O'Fallon Grand Prix kids' bike race (which was held as part of the State Cycling Championship for adult cyclists).  DS and DD1 took first in their agegroups and DD2, with her lovely purple cheek and eye, did great in her first race ever.  All three got medals and then had a blast playing on the bouncy slide, climbing wall, and in the water spray the fire truck was misting.  DS and I watched the Pro racers and checked out the bike demo tents too.  DH was crabby because "bike races aren't really my element".  Whatev....  Then, I took DD to a birthday party at a reptile place where she got to hold a giant python, a skink, and a chameleon.  Finally, we headed to the town pool which was a total disappointment.  First, it cost us $22 for our family to get in.  It was SO crowded that people were constantly running into you and there was no room to do anything at all.  And the diving board was closed, which was the whole reason we went to that pool.  Finally, the water was filthy!  Both DH and I saw band-aids, hair and other assorted yuck in the murky water.  I am so bummed that we don't really have a local pool to go to that is acceptable.  I miss the IU pool.

Today, no workout (got up too late), church this morning and then membership class at church this afternoon.  I need a day off!

[kerc]

Originally Posted by JayGee  I am so bummed that we don't really have a local pool to go to that is acceptable.  I miss the IU pool.

I miss swimming at the IU pool and I only did it one weekend a summer for about 10 years....I  feel your pain. I mean we have the great lake and all (it's Superior .... little local joke), but I miss swimming outside in a pool.

[bec]

So, our tri group had our practice triathlon today!!  There were several different workout options.  I did the 600 yard swim/20mile bike/3 mile run.  DH did the 300 yard swim/9.5 mile bike/2 mile run.  I wasn't timing precisely, but I did the swim in around 13ish minutes, the bike in 1:08, and the run in about 34ish (my Garmin button got pushed accidentally) minutes.  I'm really, really happy with how it went!  I ran the entire 3 miles, and felt like my pacing on the bike was good (I've been having a problem pushing too hard on the bike in order to keep up with the road bikes, and totally burning out my legs for the run).  If it goes this well next weekend, I'll be thrilled.  DH did really well too!

[Mel38]

Jo, one step closer to your real home, and school getting squared away - this is good news! I hope the passport thing goes well. Will you still have to remarry your DH? Kind of a pain to have to jump through hoops, but it makes a great story!

Bec, that sounds awesome! Great times, and what a confidence builder for your tri next weekend.

JG, bummer about that pool situation. It would be so nice to have a nice, clean public pool at a reasonable price. We have the beach here, but ... it's less than refreshing already, and it's just June. I get kind of jealous of the folks with community pools right around this time of year. Every year.

Nick, yeah, Marine Corps is so popular, I would love to run it someday just for the thrill of running through DC and the support there. What a great experience it would be to run it with your brother.

Mel, Good luck with those job applications! They each seem to have their own advantages/disadvantages. I hope that the right one comes through for you.

So here's another good reason to run... it seems to make these petty arguments with spouses magically disappear. Who knew?

I did manage to make it to the beach yesterday afternoon, coordinate with DH and another family who was meeting us down there - all in time to get to the 5k, get signed up and still have a chance to chat with some folks before starting. A friend went with me, and had some knee problems mid-way through, but she had already told me early on that I didn't need to stay with her, and so I didn't feel too bad pulling away around a mile into it. It's an out and back course, just 1.5 miles down the beach and then back, and the second half was hard work for me. I did not have my Garmin, so just going on feeling, I though I was keeping a fairly good pace. I really ran hard (for me) for the last mile or so and was breathing pretty dang hard. No HRM either, but I bet it was pretty high toward the end, higher than I like to ever train, for sure. I could see the clock ticking toward 30 minutes as I approached the finish, and if I could have sprinted any harder, I would have made it under 30. I suppose I came in at around 30:02 or so. I ran this same race 2 years ago at 29:45, so I was a tiny bit disappointed at first, but that feeling faded. I worked hard and feel fine about this time.

After walking around and waiting for my friend, I suddenly noticed that my (bad) knee had sprouted a bump! Almost as big as a marble, on the front inside, close to where the patellar tendon hooks up to the bone there. I naturally have a bump on the other side of the patellar tendon, but not on this side, ever! It was hard, barely tender at all, and didn't effect my gait nor feel swollen in any way! It was scary though, I was like holy cow, what is that thing on my knee?! I iced it last night and took ibu, and today it is gone.

Any ideas? Could some swelling in the joint push some cartilage outward?

[sparkletruck]

RR: bike interval/c25k brick for total of 75 minutes. My right leg is really not doing well. This is the leg with the bad knee, but my knee is actually doing ok because Ive been babying it but my hamstring, and now my achilles on that leg are quite sore, sore enough that I think I should be RICE-ing them and maybe taking more than a day or two off, but Ive gotten to the point in my exercise regime that I am getting quite fit, and feeling really good, and if not for this leg I would be kicking somebodies a** somewhere I dont wanna take days off Ive been taking Ibu. before exercise (200 mgs) which gets me through nicely, but again, not being very nice to my body. Is there ANY way I can keep exercising AND rehab. these strains? I know I know. I'm seeing the A.R.T. guy Tuesday, and I may make an appt. with the PT hottie who helped so much last year. He is the only one who has ever helped, although not consistently, so I may just start seeing him for regular "check-ups" b/c I'm close to my deductable, and ya know, he's HOT.

Jaygee - what a day! I was *done* after the bike race! No way would I have made that reptile party! What a bummer about the pool. No wonder its gross if its the only one (but still!). There has got to be something else dont you think!?

Gaye - go gaye, get you game on

Jo - I imagine you will have good and not so good days for awhile, but the house and school situation will definitely start making for more good days. Have a good time at the temple :om

Bec - yay for the tri!! That sounds so fun

Mel38 - no real idea. Dh says something related to your bursa perhaps? Maybe some of the liquid went where it doesnt usually and pooched out...

Geo - we're in the other half too - "hmm, should we remodel or buy a new house?" - although not the other other half Hope the 12 was comfortable

Summer camps start tomorrow

[Geofizz]

Anyone have a hard time regulating their temperature after a long run?  I had lots of troubles in the winter, and I figured it was largely a result of spending so much time outdoors in cold temps.  Today I finished the 12 miles at 74F.  I also weighed myself before and after, and replaced the 6 pounds of fluid that went missing in those two hours with water + EmergenC.  (& eggs & sausage & toast & potatoes & coffee w/cream).  Yet, all day today, I've been sitting under a blanket if the a/c is on, and I've been wearing slippers on the hardwood floors.  Otherwise, I feel fine.  Not even sleepy like I often am after upping the miles.

RR:  Run up the river in shade to the rose garden for the 12 miles, walked the garden while eating our snacks, then ran back.  The first 11.5 miles felt really good.  The last half mile was uphill and was HARD.  Roses are in full bloom right now, and evidently roses love rainy springs and a shocking arrival of summer.  I can't think of a better place to end up in for a run.  I've already stumped one local bird expert (10 year old daughter of a friend):  Along the river, I spotted a gray bird bigger than a cardinal but smaller than a pigeon with a bright red heart-shaped mark on the back on its head.

[tjsmama]

Finally back home after a long and challenging ride this morning. We rode up in the mountains, a long slow climb of about 16 miles. Which was much harder than I expected it to be. Whether that was because I was probably a teensy bit dehydrated from the wedding , or my legs were tired from tearing up the dance floor , or it was actually hard, I have no idea. It was really beautiful, though. Most of it was the same route as the downhill half-marathon that I did last summer (and that real did the year before). I knew it was DOWNHILL before, but didn't realize quite how much until I rode UP it on my bike! Lisa~they paved the forest access road from Loveland and it's a paved bike path now! Nice and smooth. We hiked a couple of snowfields covering the path, but at a certain point, when you're walking your bike more than riding it, it's time to give up and make the turn to head back downhill. So we did. Fun!

Our team captain and his wife generously bought us all Starbucks at the end (we were parked in a Starbucks parking lot), and then a few of us decided to go to BeauJo's (local pizza place, YUM) to refuel. Our team captain and his wife joined us and were nice enough to buy us poor students lunch, too. They are seriously the nicest people ever.

Not a bad way to spend a Sunday! And now, I think I may take in a nap before possibly getting a chance to meet up with grnmtnmama!

[Mel38]

Originally Posted by Geofizz 
Along the river, I spotted a gray bird bigger than a cardinal but smaller than a pigeon with a bright red heart-shaped mark on the back on its head.

A Flicker? Or some other woodpecker relative...

Sparkle, swimming? That's what everyone seems to recommend for rehab-friendly workouts. Good idea with PT, also, if you're going to hit that deductible anyway.

[Mel38]

Originally Posted by Geofizz 
Along the river, I spotted a gray bird bigger than a cardinal but smaller than a pigeon with a bright red heart-shaped mark on the back on its head.

A Flicker? Or some other woodpecker relative...

Sparkle, swimming? That's what everyone seems to recommend for rehab-friendly workouts. Good idea with PT, also, if you're going to hit that deductible anyway.

Gaye, I can't even imagine biking a hill that big! And seeing snow, too. Very *cool*