The Heart of a Runner

As much as my own relationship with running has its ups and downs, my heart swells a bit every time I see a runner on the road.  I see a kindred spirit and feel a connection.  I remember why running and I have such high highs.

If I’m driving, I see the runner for all of 10 seconds maybe.  I don’t know if she runs every day or if this is his first post-injury run in months, maybe it’s the first time he’s felt confident enough to run outside, maybe she’s doing her last long run before her first marathon.

What they do before and after running, who they are in their everyday life is anyone’s guess, but for the time they give to themselves out on the road, they all share a few things in common:

dedication | resolution | determination | guts | persistence | heart

Especially if it’s a cold winter morning, or a hot summer afternoon (I don’t know how or why those people do it), especially if it’s raining; if I’ve skipped my run or if I’m looking forward to a good one later, I love the heart of a runner.

Rigo’s First Hike

Work out five times a week WIN! With one day and probably a yoga class to spare, I got in five workouts this week!

On Monday, I got off on the right foot with a pre-work run, swam on Wednesday afternoon, ran AND did a hot yoga class on Friday (yes, a two-a-day) and this morning, took Rigo for his first hike!

I was up way too early, but it was 70 degrees and I’m pretty sure I heard some angels singing – it’s really been heating up around here lately, so it was glorious – so I made the most of it and headed out to a trail I have been meaning to get to since I moved to North Scottsdale.

Lost Dog Wash is a multi-use trail system that’s part of the McDowell Mountains. The trailhead is pretty close to me, but five minutes into the hike and you can completely forget that you’re anywhere near civilization! It’s all mountains and saguaros.  There were a handful of other hikers and trail runners and some mountain bikers, but it was mostly quiet.

I took a trail that led to overlook Frank Lloyd Wright’s Taliesin West and some pretty views of the city. Rigo did not quite understand the concept of stopping to enjoy the view after the hard work and was ready to keep going! It was an out-and-back trail, so back we went for just over four miles total. I’m glad I finally made it out there and really glad it’s a dog-friendly trail that’s so close!

Five Little Minutes

My sister’s bridal shower last fall

My mom is celebrating Mother’s Day on an Alaskan cruise, so my MD was really just like any other Sunday. After some learning this morning, I took Rigo over to play at my parents’ house (and water their plants), then got to a much-needed (five days a week FAIL) hot yoga class  this afternoon.I guess it kinda wiped me out, so I took a little nap and woke up with a half-hour til the Desperate Housewives finale. Instead of wasting it, I got busy with all the stuff I’ve been putting off or would have put off and I was amazed that it only took five minutes to do each of the following:

• Throw together this zucchini lasagna dish (healthy, ready-to-go leftovers for the week FTW)
• Empty the dishwasher AND take out the trash
• Give Rigo a bath because he got into something sticky at G-ma’s
• Switch the laundry and change the sheets on my bed

By that point, the house was starting to smell delicious and I still had 10 minutes til my show!

Sometimes the little things seem like the hardest things to cross off the list because they’re so easy to put off, but I’m glad I’m starting my week at least a little ahead of the game!

What’s the best thing you’ve done with five minutes lately? Have you watched DH through its eight seasons? What did you think of the finale?! (It’s still on here, gotta go give it my full attention!)

A Busy (Healthy!) May

Oh hey. Guess who hasn’t been working out? Me! I’m not actually excited about that and I’m not sure why it required an exclamation point.

I was totally all, I got my mojo on, but then life got in the way. I went to Las Vegas, which was awesome, and I have not one bit of guilt for the delicious food I ate, alcohol I drank or time spent by the pool, at the tables and on the massage table.

I got back on Sunday and on Monday, things got busy. My company is ramping up for our big national conference in early June and some responsibilities in my personal life are shifting too.

Each day in May is planned just about morning to night and, while the days themselves are not CRA-zy, the sum of the parts is intimidating to me.

So, how did I celebrate on May Day? Cookies for breakfast, Cheetos (with a sammie) for lunch, attempting to get back to the gym, but forgetting pants and DQ after dinner (it was delicious). Eek.

I know it’s totally mental at this point and that I’m tougher than this, but I am slipping a bit. It doesn’t help that I emptied my fridge out before Vegas and haven’t had the time to restock with good stuff.

Having good options to grab for snacks as well as easily reheatable lunches and dinners is the best way for me to mindlessly eat well (because it’s so easy to mindlessly eat like crap). It’s as simple as that! I know I’ll feel better if I’m not crashing from sugar and caffeine highs and my early mornings and late nights won’t hit me so hard.

Part of my May planning was pre-scheduled workouts on 29 of the 31 days. Granted, I only skipped the first two days (and that’s important to remember that you can always bring it back on track…one bad day does not equal total ruin), so it’s still possible to fit them all in, but in those two days I’ve realized I need to adopt a something is better than nothing workout mentality - just for the month – then I can get back to my live to sweat mentality.

Instead of a hard and fast training plan, I’m taking on Caitlin’s workout guide she came up with during her pregnancy. (NO, I’m totes not pregnant, I’m going to leave that up to EVERYONE else in the blog world and a lot of women in my real life.)

My goal is to work out five days a week whenever it fits in, doing at least one run, one swim and one yoga class each week. You know, to keep me sane. I finally got back in the pool last night and it felt great!

Anyway, I had a roommate in college and ALL she EVER talked about was how BUSY she was and how TIRED she was and you know what? It was obnoxious. I’m excited about everything I’m busy with, and I’m not complaining!

How do you stay healthy and active when you’re busy or stressed?

Pat’s Run 2012

Last year, after cheerleading me through my first Pat’s Run, my mom said she wanted to do it this year and last weekend, she kept her promise to herself.

Pat’s Run is a crazy big race in Tempe to honor the Arizona State and Cardinals football player, Pat Tillman, who gave up his NFL contract after 9/11 to join the Army Rangers with his brother and was killed by friendly fire, which was then covered up. That’s the short story, but seriously, read Where Men Win Glory.

His football number was 42, so it’s a 4.2 mile race (and the kiddos have their own .42 mile race), it’s in the spring, it’s reasonably priced and it’s just a good time.

It is a little crazy with the 28,000 participants and I had to wake up at 4:30 to get to the lightrail at 5:30 to avoid a crazy traffic situation and spring weather is actually hit or miss in Arizona and both years I’ve done it, it was HOT, but I’d say it’s worth it.

I signed up to run with my mom and we were in the first of the joggers’ corrals, which took about 40 minutes to start…many people were finishing as we were just starting! Fortunately, ASU recently covered the starting parking lot with solar panels, so at least we were shaded while we were waiting, but eventually, we snaked our way up to the start line and we were off.

My mom had been training with the Couch to 5K, so she was ready for race day and I followed her lead (despite her telling me to go ahead) for alternating running and walking. She was really good about walking for a bit and I probably would have kept walking, but then she’d pick up the pace and we were off jogging again.  Her mental grit was awesome!

We ran the first mile, intervaled the second and third, then decided to run the last 1.2 miles, although we ended up walking into the stadium because it was really congested. My mom even got bumped by some guy with a jogging stroller who decided the narrow pathway and slower pace didn’t apply to him…really, dude?!

Oh, and yeah, the end of the race takes you into Sun Devil Stadium and you cross the end zone and run onto the field, finishing at the 42-yard line. When you’re outside heading in, it just seems like such a party, you REALLY want to get in there. There were volunteers and spectators cheering us on, there were ASU players giving our free high-fives (FREE!) as we went across the finish line. The energy (patriotism + local love + fun + football) at Pat’s Run is amazing!

Way to steal the pic, MJ! (My mom's next to me in the blue hat!)

We finished in 56:23, a 13:23 pace, and were promptly rushed out of the Stadium party (can’t very well have 28,000 people just standing around in there), got some refreshments and walked around the festival for a while before heading back to the lightrail.

Then we treated ourselves with Starbucks, mani/pedis and The Habit. The Habit is a fantastic burger (and veggie burger and chicken sandwich) place that was within walking distance of both of my apartments in California and FINALLY has opened a location in Arizona, just a mile from my parents house. Yum.

Unfortunately, the race high that came with the finish has been met with crickets, race season is over (unless, you’re a crazypants and are doing a mud run in May that doesn’t even start until 9, eek), but I think my mom’s and my motivation for our next races will survive the summer heat and we’ll be ready to fill our race calendars for next fall and winter!

[Obviously, I still haven't figured out the "carry the camera and/or phone during a race" thing, so no pics, but when the race posts theirs, I hope to grab some good ones!]

Full Steam Ahead

You know that healthy choices are a lifestyle, not just a passing phase, when the day after an awesome triathlon you’re at the gym.

Don’t get me wrong, I rested on Sunday, I ate In-N-Out and my mother’s customary post-race chocolate chip cookies (and even milk, which I have been really good at swearing off recently), but on Monday, I wanted to go to the gym. If my body said no, I would have listened, but it said, maybe just sweat a little.

I was tired after the race, but felt good and it wasn’t until Monday mid-day that my knee started to feel a little tweaked, so I decided against the yoga class I had my eye on and went for a swim instead.

A leisurely swim in the outdoor pool in my cute bikini (but still goggles and cap) – I got a sweet (not) runner’s tan sunburn on Sunday, so I figured I could raise my heart rate a little, while getting some evening-out sun, then I got out and read my new library book in the last of the afternoon warmth. It was pretty delightful.

Marquee was, in my mind, the end of race season, but it’s really not. I’m doing Pat’s Run on Saturday and a six-mile obstacle/mud run on one of my favorite holidays, Cinco de Mayo! Then I’m done. Well, maybe. I’ve still got my eye on a non-traditional triathlon in June, but that’s dependent on a few different things lining up.

I thought I’d have to focus on not losing steam for these tail end events because in the past I’ve gotten a little off track after a big race, but I really think it’s a lifestyle now.  After swimming on Monday, I got in a morning run on Tuesday and started using my hot yoga Groupon yesterday (what a great class!).

Ask me again in September when it’s been over 100 every day for three months and I might have a different answer about how physically active I am and want to be, but for now, my steam is going nowhere.

Marquee (Sprint) Triathlon

I completed my second tri this weekend! I had a lot of “if…then” scenarios in my head, and on Saturday when I picked up my packet and dropped off my bike, I had to make my decision and I dropped from the olympic distance to the sprint and it was a fantastic choice for me!

I had lost some sleep in the week leading up to the race with nerves and whatnot and I actually woke up on Sunday morning not sure if I wanted to do it, but 100% sure that I was going to do it and that I was going to race it and rock it.

The sprint waves didn’t start until 9am, so I had a leisurely morning to pack, drive down to Tempe Town Lake and set up my area, this time at least having a little better idea what the hell I was doing (note: all my clothes were waiting for me right-side out).

Before I knew it, I was wetsuited up and jumping in the lake. As much as I hate the suit, for warmth and buoyancy during the mid-lake tread start, I was sooo glad to be wearing it.

When the buzzer buzzed, off I went, no panic, just swimming and focusing on one, two, three, breathe. Besides crashing straight into two very large and very stationary men from the earlier waves, it was fine. Better than that, actually, it was great!

Swim – 750 meters – 15:46 (4th in my age group and pretty much my bragging point for the whole race)!

The wetsuit strippers were pretty fantastic, but I wasn’t feeling great when I got out of the water, so I took my time transitioning (3:55).

After I caught my breath, I felt I was doing well on the bike (for me), but it was frustrating because I knew with the same amount of effort on a legit road bike I’d be cruising even faster. I clocked mostly sub-4 miles on the fairly flat course, which was my goal and I felt good about it.

Bike – 12.3 miles – 51:42

T2 was just a bike drop, exchanging my helmet for my hat, exiting on the complete opposite side of transition, and I was off (1:26).

When I started the run, I felt like I wasn’t moving at all because I was used to the bike speed, but my Garmin said I was going at a 7-pace, aka way too fast! I slowed to about 9:30 and did mile two and three (the beginning of which had back-to-back steep hills!) about 10. I cranked it up to a sprint finish, wondering if I should have the power to do so and at the same time thinking my legs were going to give out!

Run – 5K – 30:30

My mom caught me at the finish line and asked how I felt while I was grabbing animal crackers and oranges and my response was, “like I just ran a triathlon!” And I did, but it was a great feeling!

The high dropped a little when I checked the results and didn’t do as well as I felt I had (in case you’re not sitting there with a calculator, it was 1:43:22 total for 9th place out of 18 in my division), but I quickly decided to not let a (non-PR) number determine my worth because what mattered is that I felt great and I was happy with how I had done.

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That Time I Won a Wetsuit

Go ahead and ask me what the most ridiculous piece of clothing I own is.

Oh, thanks for asking, it’s this…

I was going to rent a wetsuit for my upcoming tri and then swear off any events that would require one because swimming in the warm September water was so much better, but then the universe gave me this one.

Red Rock, the tri event company, and Durapulse, a local multisport training company, put on an open water swim clinic this weekend at Saguaro Lake in Mesa, open to any athletes competing in next week’s tri, but limited to 100 registrations.  Then, out of those registrations they picked a winner for a free wetsuit and it was me!

Lucky me..last week I also won a book from The Chick Lit Bee!

So, they gave me the suit and helped me figure it out and then at the clinic I learned a few things about swimming in a wetsuit and swimming in crowded open water.  Mostly, though, I learned that I’m not good at either of them.

Don’t get me wrong, as I cut the last corner of the first practice lap, panicking for shore or at least waist-deep water, I gave myself a pep talk about being a good swimmer and even a good open water swimmer, but not a great crowded open water wetsuit swimmer and that’s okay.

I commiserated with a few other women, each having her own unique panic issue – mine was the neck constriction of the suit affecting my breathing + being kicked - listened to the rest of the instruction, but kept my swimming to parallel to the shore, ate my pancake breakfast and went home.  And had a pity party for a few hours before I took that damn wetsuit to the gym, put it on (with the help of two very nice foreign girls) and swam the distance in the pool.  Hated it, looked ridiculous, but did it!

LoziLu Mud Run

Things got a little dirty last Saturday. I ran the LoziLu Women’s Mud Run in Peoria!

Not only was it my first mud run, it was the inaugural event for the company! They kind of knocked it out of the park! I didn’t want to do a “mud” run that just involved running around and then jumping in muddy water, so I was really happy that the course map looked like this:

Plenty of fun and tough obstacles to distract from the fact that I was running around in the desert! It was on a motocross track, so the hills were pretty intense and it was a toasty morning. My ultimate mud run goals include a Super Spartan and a Tough Mudder, so this three-mile run was a nice kick in the pants that completing those races will require some more training!

We were going for a model pose...I think I just look mad.

Finding it was a bit of an adventure in itself, but we arrived only one wave late. I went with a girls meetup group I’ve been a part of for about a year now – like online dating, but for girlfriends! – but most of the attendees went in the first wave, so my friend Rachel and I completed the course just the two of us before meeting up with the others at the finishers’ festival.

Having driven 60 minutes to get there (okay, okay, it probably should have only taken 30), it was nice that there was stuff to do afterward – vendors with giveaways, beer and wine for finishers, watching the other racers – instead of just clean off (they had a “LL Spa,” which was really a bunch of sprinklers, but it got the job done) and leave.

I came away with just a bruised forearm, a little sunburn and a sore bum from the over/under section of the course, but I had a lot of fun!

My Mini-Spring Break

2006 - Senior Year

My college roommate, Amy, is currently on her two-week spring break from the school she works at in LA and she took her middle weekend to come visit me! And I took the opportunity to pretend for two-and-a-half days that I was on spring break as well!

The only plan for the weekend was an alumni event at a Diamondbacks/Dodgers spring training game at Camelback Ranch Stadium in Glendale. She’s a Dodgers fan and I’m a DBacks girl, so it worked out well, especially since the DBacks won!

The alumni event was a nice idea (I went to a small, private college in California and it’s nice that they do events here sometimes as many students are from Arizona or land here after graduation), but it was a lot of older alumni and their families and it was held in an open-air suite and the lack of sun and the wind that was coming through there made it really chilly, so we spent some time on the deck before finding seats in the sun behind home plate to enjoy the rest of the game.

Spring training brings in a lot of visitors, but I think it’s something I tend to take for granted and miss out on, so I’m glad I got to at least one game this season!

On Monday, I had to work in the morning, but I left at about lunch time and took Amy to Old Town Scottsdale for some wedding dress trying on fun with my newly engaged guest!

When I have visitors, I suddenly think of twenty places we HAVE to go to eat, so it felt like we were eating all weekend long, but we were eating well!  We hit Postino for bruschetta, La Grande Orange for wine from their grocery enjoyed at the picnic benches outside with my St. Patrick’s Day Run friend back in town with her boyfriend for the wedding, Local Bistro for some fantastic risotto and Salty Senorita for mid-day margaritas and Mexican food on their sunny patio.

It was a pretty grand mini-spring break and I have another three-day weekend coming right up to enjoy the spring weather in Arizona!