Thoughts about food.

Today I was eating a saltine. After a long, hot, outdoor run (and yes, I enjoyed it) and the salt and the texture tasted so good.

I was so present in the moment of eating that saltine.

I think I had an epiphany.

As long as I am eating and enjoying every level of the food, then it is ok. Using all five senses to enjoy it and really feeling and tasting it.

I think if I do this and the moment I stop using every sense to enjoy the food to stop eating.

This may in fact be the trick to finding the, "I can eat anything I want and as much of it as I want and still look great" phenomenon that those rare aliens speak about.

I don't know, but man those saltines tasted good. And I am content. Ahhh.

MIA.

I wrote about this on my other blog, but this blog warrants a blurb as well.

I have been busy living life. Taking classes at the new gym, logging a few miles and just enjoying the warm sunshine.

I have been checked out from technology.

It has been nice.

I think I will be back to blogging, but I can't make any promises.

Sorry, just trying to keep it real.

When is your next marathon?

I get asked this question quite often. And rightfully so. The goal was twelve in twelve months. And clearly, that is not going to happen.

First it started with the weird foot injury. Then it was too little recovery time. And then it was just no longer fun.

Running was (and hopefully will be again) my me time. Where I could escape and be with my thoughts. No tugging little fingers, nagging housework, nagging real work, etc. And suddenly, the very thing that was what I did to escape the demands of life became a demand itself.

It was always there. Three miles wasn't enough. Five. Not enough. NOTHING WAS EVER ENOUGH.

All of a sudden I was that post pardum gal again that could not handle life. To top it off, I was lonely.

A little background on that. We move every three to five years. READ: we don't have a lot of friends in close proximity. Both Ralph and I work from home. READ: we don't have office interactions. Until three months ago, Gia went to a babysitter. READ: we interacted with one person other than the Three T's in person on a daily basis. I was training at forty to sixty miles a week. READ: by myself.

That is a pretty lonely existence. Like SERIOUSLY lonely. So in early April taking the above into consideration, Ralph and I decided to join a gym.

Now this is not any gym, because I HATE THOSE. This is really more of a spa that has amazing Les Mill's classes and random large pieces of equipment scattered through out. If you are in the Sacramento area, check it out http://www.trufitness.com .

I will tell you more on that later.

But, for now this is what we are doing. Taking classes. (you can't pay me to get on a piece of equipment) I have not yet made any "friends", I think that that will come. But for now just having a very high level conversation is enough. And I actually think that I am in better shape now. Which just proves how comfortable I had become with long distances.

For now, I don't know when my next marathon is. But I am still committed to living a very healthy, active life.

I am looking into a 5k. Now that sounds like fun.

Realizations that oddly come from running.

I am big boned. And by that I don't mean that I am overweight and attribute it to my big bones. I truly am big boned. At my thinnest I weigh about 145 pounds. And that for me is very, very skinny. And also my goal weight.

Example- my wedding ring is a size 8.5. On days when I have had too much salt, it is snug.

Ralph has frequently (as in three times) questioned by jewelers if I am a very large gal.

I feel like I look pretty darn good in exercise clothes. I love gladiator sandals. And just today I realized why....because they cover the widest part of my foot.

It is amazing how when I wear those absolutely precious sandals that have a single strap up the middle of my foot how incredibly large my entire silhouette appears.

And then it hit me....it is because of my gigantically, abnormal wide foot is amplified.

So today I am taking a boat load of cute sandals to Goodwill (let me know if you wear a size nine and are in need of a ridiculous amount of summer sandals). I am sticking with ballet flats and sandals that have some sort of food hiding involved.

Crazy how being athletic leads to other epiphanies in life.

Just wearing gladiators makes me feel thinner. Even if it is in my own mind, it does.

And I am ok with that.

Little slips, to the slippery slope.

The fitness thing I pretty much have down. I love a good sweat. That really great feeling you get after ridiculous amounts of activity. It is the diet that I struggle with. I am such a weird person. I love, love, love, fruits and veggies. So much so that I have toyed with becoming a vegan....not just a vegetarian, but full on vegan.

On the flip side, I am from Texas and an occasional rare steak is a great treat (Laura, I am confident that you may have just thrown up a little just now....my apologies.)

But the meat thing is not really my problem. Nor is the junk thing. I love McDonald's. This we know, but I really can limit it and only indulge on occasion.

My problem is cheese.

I eliminated all dairy for this simple fact. Giving myself the exception of really special occasions (Pebble Beach Food and Wine Festival, Paris, etc).

But after Pebble Beach, I have been on the slippery cheese slope.

I feel like an adulterer.

Extreme and dramatic? Check. This is who I am at my very core.

But I do. I purchased a hunk of Gorgonzola today and felt a rush of blood due to the excitement of doing something wrong.

I used cream to make whip cream for strawberries today.

Oh, I am sliding. I have to get back on the program. Dairy makes such a HUGE difference in the way I feel and in the way my body holds on to fat that I don't want to eat it. But I do.

Cheese. You are so wrong, but you feel so right.

Say, spin-what!!?!

I have done spinning three days in a row. I am in pretty darn good shape and it is seriously kicking and bruising my butt. Seriously.

I have to say that I think this diversion from running is actually putting me in better shape. I think that I had just settled into a routine that was keeping me at a plateau. But this spinning thing. Criminy. It is hard core.

Sweat.

Huffing.

Puffing.

I think, I hope that I am burning mad crazy calories.

Now, if I could only get my bottom to stop bruising.

I should have written sooner.

But I have not. I have been participating in my three a days, but not in the normal way. I am doing things that I truly enjoy. Which includes running, but is not the sole form of exercise. Furthermore, I have not run a marathon in over thirty days and I feel GREAT. I am not sure what this means, but I just want to be honest with the blogging world. I am WAY off my goal of twelve in twelve. Like working for a start up, there is a trajectory and we must deal with that or we will drive ourselves crazy.

Hubs and I are embarking on some yoga work and I am really excited about that. I am also excited at the thought of doing things WITH someone versus alone. Running is a haven...without a doubt, but as much running as I have done alone can become bothersome.

So here I am, running, but maybe not as cool as it started out to be.

Yikes.

Three a day.

I am over long runs. I am over training for marathons. In opposition of complaint, I am going to try something new. Three a days. Pretty much three small work outs that add up. Anyone tried this?

Here is my eight week plan:

Week 1-2: 20 minutes/day, 3x day, 7 days/week
Week 3-4: 30 minutes/ day, 3x day, 7 days/week
Week 5-6: 45 minutes/day, 3x day, 7 days/week
Week 7-8: 60 minutes/day, 3x day, 7 days/week

The way I envision this working is an eight week program that starts again at week one. Doing two running work outs (one before anyone in my house is awake, one during lunch) the third work out being strength, speed, family. I think this will break up my frustration and get me excited.

I know weeks five through eight seem a little brutal, but it is not that different than incorporating fifteen to twenty three miles into ones schedule. I think.

Also, I need to tell you about eliminating cow's milk from my diet. Three weeks...two inches off my waist (w jumping rope and sprints) and two inches off my hips (mind you, this is not my trouble spot....mine is waist and upper back).

So, here we go in an effort to add variety.

Has anyone does this? Does it work for endurance and I would certainly think that it works for speed, etc.

Excited. And really, what more can one ask for than a little excitement?

Go away crud.

I've had it for a month now. A solid, full on, not even a measly February, but a real entire month. The crud. Not sure if every other part of the country has it but everyone in California does.

You know, the crud in your nose that slithers its way into your chest. Hacking, uncomfortable crud. It really started bothering me during the Napa marathon. Hacking from mile two on. I have been fine dealing with it, but I just want it to go away.

Despite the fact that I run far enough to warrant a few snot rockets and hacks the southern girl that resides in my heart just does not think it is right.

So crud, please go away. You are making me do things that would highly upset my grandmother. And you make it hard to breath.

Jump rope.

After my last marathon, I have been doing some evaluating of my goal. I have not determined what the outcome of this evaluation will be but I am certainly spicing up my activity routine.

Daylight Savings Time has given such a boost and lift to both the entertainment for our family and our health. I have made a pledge to spend several nights each week outside from around 5 until the sun goes down. This can include eating outside, taking a walk, (when it warms up) heading over to the pool, just something that gets us moving, engaging and having fun.

I found an old jump rope. My heart starts to pitter patter. Jump ropes instantly bring back memories of Ms. Koester and the Owens Elementary School carpeted (because that is so stinkin' weird) gym. And Jump Rope for Heart. If you are a child of the eighties (they may even do it today) you remember? The program to get us fit by jumping rope. But that wasn't the cool part. It was all of the tricks that you could do with the jump rope.

Not that I can do those.

But I have my memories.

And I have been jumping rope. For about thirty minutes a day (over the entire day...broken into three ten minute segments) and some sprinting and some hula hooping---which is awesome.

My spirit is renewed. I really feel like all this activity is field day. Gia loves it. Ralph loves it. I've lost two inches off my waist in three weeks. I love it.

It also makes running easier which translates for me to more enjoyable. Go grab a jump rope and start jumping.

Iron Yoga.

Typically, the week after a marathon I stretch, participate in yoga and all of the other things that I can not find time to do when I have to log miles.

Usually, these are just half ass work outs because I am so sore from the marathon. For some unknown reason I recovered super quick this go around and have been feeling amazing. So I decided to take yoga to the next level.

I have had this video for a while and I have to tell you I am in love with it. One, it is so stinking challenging and two the guy guides your breathing (which is the part I am horrible with and really the entire point of yoga) and it makes so much more sense and feels so good.

I am currently doing it with three pound weights, but I am looking at increasing it to five. Love it. Love it so much that I may add it to my routine.

Six, six, six.

Well, I did it. I have now completed six marathons in eight months. I finished pacing 12.9 minute miles (not bad for me....I know quite an embarrassment to most of the running community) but as always I am ok with that.

I went in to the Napa Valley Marathon thinking this would certainly be the last marathon for a while. That I was going to completely change my goal and present it to my blogging world today.

I am not completely against that.

But I am not completely for that.

I met two amazing people on this breathtaking trail and we had some great conversation about running, life, kids, work.

It is liberating to meet these people, asses the goals and ponder.

I am also thinking of posting a "missed connections" thing on CraigsList. One of those things where you are so exhausted post 26.2 and the thrill of seeing your supporters....you forget to exchange information.

But you feel a connection. You have shared something that you have shared with few others in the world. It is inspiring.

Three things that I am certain of after this run:

1. It was not my last marathon.
2. Physical challenges, lead to mental enlightenment and that is an inspiration.
3. Napa Valley Marathon has one of the best goodie bags on the planet. And it is breathtaking.

Nightmares.

Last night I awoke from sleeping three times about this Sunday's marathon.

In a cold sweat.

I am not sure why I am so nervous, but I am. I just don't really have a good feeling inside. Which bums me out.

I had a conversation with a friend of mine yesterday about all of my frustration with running. I am tired of feeling like five miles is not what I need to do. That I am never doing enough. That I am not getting faster because I do not have the mad athletic skills to keep running for twenty six point two miles going any faster than what I have done.

Plus, I still have ten extra pounds.

Nightmare.

Plus, I (we) really want to have another baby.

Nightmare.

I think that I may be making some adjustments to my overall goal after this marathon.

Nightmare.

That makes me feel like a failure.

Cold sweat.

I did it. Begrudgingly, but I did it.

I registered for the Napa Valley Marathon. It is this Sunday. I had decided that I was going to run a half and tell the world (or those of you that read) that I was going to do a half because I just thought that it would be best for both my spirit and my body. But guess what, the Napa Valley Marathon only has a 5k or the full 26.2. No half.

So, here I am running a marathon on Sunday.

Let's do the count off.....

1. San Francisco
2. Santa Rosa
3. Cowtown
4. Fresno
5. Redding

and soon to be
6. Napa Valley

Here we go. Dear God, please be on my side Sunday. I trust that you will make it happen because I know that I can not with out you.

Please, show me some love and inspiration because I am to cheap. My credit card has been charged and I have to go through with it.

Run. Run. Run.

My hair makes me not want to work out.

Really stupid, right? But I seriously don't think I am the only one that feels this way. There are days when I just can not get out of the house for a run first thing or just don't want to face the cold. I have greasy hair. You can read more about that here if you feel so inclined.

I must wash daily. Much to the dismay of every stylist that I have ever encountered. Otherwise, I really look like I should be more of a bag lady. I have tried every powder, spray solution that I have heard of and nothing works. I just end up with greasy hair that has specs of white in it. Gross. I know.

So in an effort to save myself some embarrassment and self pity, I just wash my hair everyday. But then, if I work out that means I have to wash it twice a day. Which is even worse.

So I switched to this apple cider vinegar and baking soda method which has worked wonders. But it still did not eliminate needing to wash and STYLE twice daily.

Seriously, I am not the type of person that wants to spend hours daily primping. I have zero desire. But I want to run and I want to look cute.

Think, think, think.

I think I came up with a solution. At least one that works for me.

First, when exercising I do the first grade hair style of one pony with the sides up and one pony holding the bottom ( will post a picture once I take one). Then I go run. Sometimes I use a headband, a hat, whatever. It really doesn't matter.

When I come back before I hop in the shower I undo the bottom pony, get out a duck clip, pull the top hair into the duck clip and refasten the bottom pony.

In the shower I wash the top pony (duck clipped portion of my hair). When I get out, I take it all down, comb together and style as usual.

It is amazing how this takes five minutes and I look like I have just done the entire hair process. It works for me and makes me love running that much more. Because I feel more like a guy....like I can get in and out with little to no trouble.

I hope I am not the only one that worries about my physical fitness versus the presentableness (so not a word) of my hair. If so, oh well maybe I am that shallow.

Shakeweight.

Just an update on the Shake Weight. After the company charged my card THREE times and I fought with them endlessly. I never received it. I was able to get a refund after HOURS of time on the phone. Frustrating.

Is it not the most annoying thing in the world to try to go get something and in this modern world where we are supposed to click a button for something to arrive we can't do it. Then, to have it compounded by ridiculous hours of wading through a voice over trap to get to a person where they really have no authority or ability to help you.

I think that working in these capacities must be one of the worst jobs on the planet. No one is happy when they have to deal with you. No one. No one ever calls and says, "hey, my transaction was flawless, thanks." Maybe I will do that some day so that I can spread some good transaction karma. I always try to sit there on the phone and calm my boiling blood by repeating, "it is not this persons fault, it is not this persons fault" over and over. It rarely works. My blood still boils.

I did see the Shake Weight at Wal Mart the other day and I am now thinking of buying it there.

So, I have no review and I would not order from the Internet. If I get it at Wal Mart, I will let you know.

Just got back.

From twelve miles and I feel good. Sweaty and sticky and cold (I am in Houston where it is unseasonably cold) and I feel good. This is amazing, because I have been so anti running lately.

One of the things that I realized is making me anti running is that I have upper back fat and a pooch. I run a ridiculous amount and I still have this. ANNOYING.

That being said, I am making some major over hauls in my diet. One step at a time. I strongly believe that one food item, group, etc can cause major imbalances in ones system.

Ralph and I gave up sweets for lent, so that is a start. In addition, when I return from this work trip I will be eliminating dairy to see how this takes. I have soy yogurt and almond milk here with me now to start developing the taste on my pallet. I have also switched to stevia or sugar in the raw when I must sweeten something.

Looking for solutions. Day in and day out. Isn't that what we all do?

This gal that works at my grocery store cut out corn and lost 87 pounds. Seriously, EIGHTY SEVEN POUNDS. Is that possible? Yes, for her.

I figure I have ten. I think dairy and sweets should get me ten. If not I am seriously thinking of taking a knife or vacuum to my upper back.

Oh, and yes I do love being a mom. Despite the aftermath (three year aftermath to be precise).

Renewed spirit.

I just met a gal at a conference. I think my spirit is back. Right now all I want to do is go run. I am going to write this up and let you know.

RUN ALLISON RUN.

Still running away.

Napa is a few weeks away, and I have been pounding the pavement. I am at the point in this journey where the fun and excitement has worn off and the irritation of the process is here. But I am still pounding the pavement. Trying to find inspiration. Does anyone have some they can share with me? I am in Houston for work next week and hope

....see, I started writing this over a week ago and can't bring myself to finish it.  HELP ME!!!!!

10 things running has done for me.

One of my running, blogging buddies Allie did this and I thought that it was a great idea. I think it may bring some joy back to running for me, which right now I am lacking. Inspiration is desperately needed out there. So, here it goes.....

1. It gave me a way to shed those final baby pounds.
2. For a long while it was a great escape. It allowed me to be alone with my thoughts. The simple rhythm of pounding the pavement provided a sense of calm in a world of chaos.
3. It gave me something that my daughter can be proud of. Not that there are not other things, but for some reason my three year old thinks that the fact that I run is something that is pretty darn cool.
4. It forces me to move. Movement is necessary for life and with this ridiculous, lofty goal that I have taken on I am forced to move. Whether I want to or not, I have to move. Otherwise I will kill myself at my next marathon.
5. It taught me that there are so many definitions of the best. Even my worst marathon time is one of the best things I have ever done. Best for me is different than you. That is ok. We are all winners when we are out there running. For this competitive gal, that is a true life lesson.
6. It makes me a little more forgiving of the things that are left from having a baby. My body is capable of so much more than I was back then. It may never look the same, but I am stronger and more able than ever.
7. Running gives me a buzz. A nice, healthy, legal buzz.
8. It makes my skin look better. I have struggled with my skin my entire life, so this is a big deal.
9. It has let me see some paths and parts of the country that otherwise I would have never crossed. My love affair with SF is so deep and strong because of running. Who knew that Fresno is actually pretty and that Redding, CA is one seriously breathtaking place of God's country?
10. It reignites my spirit. It gives me self knowledge, inspiration, physical and emotional health.

I just need to remember each of these right now. I am in a really bad slump. I hope I come out of it.

The slosshy's.

When running long distances, you have to consume a certain amount of water and a certain amount of gu. One of the problems that I come across is that when I am on long distances that my pace amounts in a large amount of gu: Caffeine, sugar and electrolytes and water in my stomach. My last few long runs have left me feeling less than stellar. I have so much of this in my stomach that I feel like I am going to throw up.

Does this happen to anyone else? How can you fix it?

Probiotics.

Probiotics have been linked to the maintaining a long term health weight. This makes me happy. I think probiotics are amazing and I certainly feel healthier when I take them. If they can help me stay at a normal weight, then that is even better.

How many of you take probiotics? What brand? Pill form or liquid? What do you think that they do for you?

Loathing it.

Do you ever have days when pounding the pavement is the most horrific thing. Today I thought that I was going to have to stop every step of the way. I don't like that. I didn't really feel better afterwards. I did not really feel anything other than I wish I had stayed in my warm bed. That does not happen.

Maybe I should do some shorter, warmer runs before heading out for more training.

Does this ever happen to you?

Redding pics.

The marathon that makes me want to stop running.

The basics:

• slowest marathon EVER.
• three miles completely uphill. with no breaks.
• twenty mile an hour winds.
• forty six degrees
• steady, heavy rain.

More details to follow. Needless to say, this was not my favorite. However I do have another 26.2 knot in my belt. That makes me smile. But really, that is it.

a little perspective, and also in honor of MLK day:

“The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy.”
Martin Luther King Jr. (1929–1968) American civil rights leader Nobel Peace Prize winner

Redding.

Redding is Sunday. I am prepared. My foot feels good. My joints are flowing nicely. I feel like this is going to be a good course that I am really going to enjoy. My darling family is following me to the fantastic city of Redding, CA to carbo load and cheer for me. For that, I am forever grateful. I must say, that having a "real" time goal is really freaking me out.

Helpful tips?

The shake weight.

So this crazy looking thing that is toted on infomercials has caught my eye. I think that I am going to spend twenty of my hard earned dollars to see if this can really give me Michelle Obabama arms in just six minutes a day. It should be coming soon, so I will let you know. Has anyone used it? What do you think?

Running goals.

• Run eight more marathons.
• Get pregnant.
• Run my entire pregnancy.

Mobile blog test.

This is me sitting at my desk. Wanting to run. Working and seeing if I can mobile blog. Happy running!