on the verge

You know that day (or few hours) right before you get really sick, that time when you can still function ok, but you know you're in for it? That is how I've felt for the last three weeks. Actually, I started feeling this way around Dec 28. Some days I feel like I'm coming down with a flu-like stomach bug with an upset tummy and low grade nausea; other days, I get the scratchy sore throat thing. Always I'm tired and a little achy with a wicked headache. I'd kinda rather just get full on sick so that I can eventually get better, rather than this almost there but not quite crap. Web MD was not helpful, as I might have influenza, cocaine withdrawl, leukemia, sleep apnea, anemia, hay fever, dehydration, bipolar disorder, chronic fatigue disorder, or PMS. Pretty much, I could have anything. Probably I just have a cold. So maybe I'll get sick, and maybe I'll get better. I guess only time will tell on this one.

18 weeks

Normally when a woman posts on a blog with a title "XX weeks," she follows that up with a picture of her growing belly. I am hoping that over the next 18 weeks mine shrinks. But that's beside the point. I figured out that as of today, I am officially 18 weeks away from the 70.3 I am planning to attempt. Which also means, then, that I am 16 weeks away from my goal race for the spring, the Green Bay Marathon.

I was flipping out about this earlier this weekend, thinking that there was no way I'd be back to race condition in 16 weeks. I know I can always just run the marathon, but frankly, marathons are brutal, and I don't want to put my body through one if I don't think I can get close to a BQ. But then I realized that my year anniversary with the club is coming up this week. And though I've been set back by injury, I'm about in the same place mileage- and speed-wise as I was last year at this time. I think that I'll be able to get back to where I was in May (well, minus the stress fracture). The marathon is really my main focus, but I should probably do something about that tri also.

So what am I doing to stay on track? I have a spiffy new training plan that includes 2-3 rides (for now on my new trainer - fun fun), 2 swims, and 1 weights workout a week, plus the 4-5 runs. The runs and weights are givens - no compromise on those. I will make sure to get at least 1 long ride and 1 long swim in each week. I will listen to my body on the rest.

board to death

Not really, but I have been elected to 2 professional boards of directors and the boards of both organizations I'm in for fun - the orchestra and the running club - for this year. I'm trying to figure out how to fit these responsibilities into my schedule. I was really honored to be asked to run for the running team board, and when I was asked to run for the orchestra board, I decided that as a 13 year member it was time to give back in that capacity. But now I'm balancing 4 boards worth of meetings and emails and fundraising and workshops. I'm going to have to be better at time management.

I almost do

Yesterday I had to moderate a panel for an education event focused on the Common Core State Standards. I was very nervous, which isn't surprising because I've said before how I'm nervous about 60% of my waking hours. I've never moderated a panel before, and while I know the new MN ELA Standards well, I don't know them inside and out. I was also worried about what to do when that one person decides that this is their personal soapbox and dominates the entire time.

It turned out ok. Afterwards, someone came up to me and said that my moderating reminded them of Phil Donahue. Then she said that I was too young to know Phil Donahue (I'm not, but it's nice of her to think that), but that in fact that's a compliment. I was surprised by the compliment, because at one point I was leaning over the panel table with my butt facing the audience to speak into the microphone since we didn't have enough for me to have my own. After announcing, "Um, yeah, this is awkward," and taking the mic from the stand to turn and face the audience, things improved. At any rate, I'll take the kind compliment. Of course, this was a room full of middle aged reading teachers, so even if I had sworn at the panel, they probably would have had something nice to say to me.

tYoS act #2: Ragnar Florida Keys

                                                                    *** this is what happens when my hair meets Florida humidity

I have some pretty amazing opportunities. I like to think that I make these happen, but some of it is just dumb luck. Like choosing to join the running club. Which leads to The Year of Stupid Act #2: Ragnar Florida Keys edition.

I think most of my dear reader friends know about Ragnar, having run one or knowing someone who has. It is probably something that should be done while 21, when no sleep is just an average night during finals and being stuck in a van with other smelly people on long road trips was just an average Saturday home from a tennis meet. But here I am, at 36, choosing to run a 197 mile relay over 28 hours in 8000% humidity halfway across the country. And loved every damn minute of it.

My sister and I flew into Miami on Thursday, and after getting to the hotel went on a shakeout run with a couple running buds. We knew we'd feel better having a chance to get the lead out and try to acclimate to the oppressive heat and humidity. It was a tough run, but I was glad to have it done. We grabbed some drinks pre-dinner, ate out (all 24 of us!) at a greek restaurant, and headed back for out last sleep for a while.

We had a 1 pm start time, and it was so hot that the Ragnar people were sending texts all morning and afternoon warning of the heat index. We were nervous (me especially, this being my first Ragnar), but were really ready to get the party started.

 

I love the palm trees in this pic behind the Ragnar start line.

I was in Van 1, and our 6 team members had the longer legs of the team. My sister was dumb (IMO) and chose Runner #3 with runs of 2.7, 8.5, and 9.8 miles. Those that have run a Ragnar know that a 9.8 mile 3rd leg is killer. She had no shade, and most of it was over two bridges - gorgeous, but no escape from the sun. My legs were 3.5, 7.1, and 3.9. With me still in recovery, I didn't want to overdo it and end up re-injured.

My first leg was around 3 pm. It was 80+ with a heat index of 95. Really gross. It was only 3.5 miles, but it was along a fairly busy street in Miami with lots of cars pulling in and out of driveways. Between the sun, the heat from the passing traffic, and the fear I'd be hit by one of these Floridians not really paying attention to the random runners along 40th, it was not my best. Going into Ragnar, my goal pace had been around 8:00, but with the heat I adjusted to 8:30s. I hit that goal, which felt good. Didn't overdo it, as I knew I still had 2 runs to get in. Here I am getting the slap bracelet for my first run from my teammate Brian.

 

My next leg was around 1:30 am on Saturday morning, a 7.1 miler. It was still really humid, but at least the sun was down. I had a pretty good run, speeding up every two miles so that by the end I was at my original goal race pace. And I had 13 roadkill!

Roadkills, in Ragnar at least, refer to the people you pass while running. I had 27, my teammate Brian had 44(!) on his own. He did have a 12 mile leg but it's more because he's one of the fastest guys I know. We had 144 total as a team. Pretty awesome for the awful heat and humidity.

Anyway, I finished that leg feeling jazzed and sore. I couldn't believe I'd have to run another leg. After leg 2 was done for everyone in the van, we drove to a major exchange to take a quick shower and try to grab some Zs. I was last back into the van, so I had the choice of sleeping on the gym floor or the floor of the van. If you'd seen the port-a-potties we'd had to use along the way, you'd never have slept on the floor of that van, in all that was tracked in. I didn't really want to sleep on the gym floor, so I moved the suitcases around from the trunk of the van and "slept" back there. I was so cramped and it was so stuffy from no circulation that I didn't sleep a wink. But I hadn't really planned on it anyway, so that was ok.

By this point in the race, we'd been awake for most of the last 24 hours, and had almost all finished our runs of between 18-30 miles with warm ups and cool downs. We were pretty punchy.

My leg 3 started around 1 pm, a lot later than originally planned, but most of us were a lot slower than originally planned. It was crazy hot and humid, but my third leg was pretty solid. 4 miles at 8:30 pace along the coast. Gorgeous. Finishing in Key West was incredible.

Ragnar has been on my list of things to do for a long time. I wish I could have done it this August, but I'm just thankful I got to do it at all, and in such an amazing place. I don't think I'd ever do this Ragnar again - the heat was wicked and one of my teammates had to run a 7 mile bridge in full sun and 95% humidity. He said it was the most dangerous thing he's ever done, and he's finished multiple Ironmans. But it was definitely a chance of a lifetime, and I'll cherish the memories.

By the way, something has changed with Blogger photo uploads and I can't figure out how to insert the pics normally. I can't drag them and center them. It's all very annoying. Anyway, the pics are all here at least.

2013: the year of stupid. Act #1: New Year's Ice Dive

Sure started 2013 off with a bang with a jump into Lake Minnetonka. Waking up to -5 temps made me really, really, really want to climb back into bed. Actually, I had spent the night on the couch at the house of friends after a crew from the run club celebrated NYE there, knowing that if I drove home at 3 am after the party, I'd never have the nerve to make it out to Lake Minnetonka 4 hours later on my own. So, I stayed and had no excuse not to go. It's pretty hard to believe that it's been less than a year since I met these crazies. We left the house around 8:15 and carpooled out to the Lake.







I was terrified. As the following pics indicate. See me in the pink robe? Yeah, terrified.

The worst part is actually the wait. We spent about an hour waiting for our whole crew to arrive (22 jumpers!) and then another half hour in line to head out. Once we were death marched out to the platform, I was in a real tizzy. I was sure I would be the one person whose heart stops and has to be rescued from the water. Then all of a sudden, it was my turn. My friend Angie and I step up and the announcer says, "Oh, two guppies. Who talked you into this?" We pointed at Coach Ron. I look a little angry at this point. But actually, once we stepped up to the hole, I was calm and ready.

And then he counted down and we were in!

  

You have to jump in and go under the rope (to make sure you get the full experience of going all the way under). The water was take-your-breath-away cold, but it wasn't until I came out of the water and my wet head hit the -5 air that I thought I was going to die. Thank god for the firemen with the poles. When I came up out of the water, my brain was so frozen I could not think of what to do to get out of there. I could not have figured out how to swim at that point to (literally) save my life.

Before the jump, I said this was a one-and-done kind of thing. I'm still pretty sure that'll be the case, but I kinda easily succumb to peer pressure. It might seem like a good idea in another 365 days. But even if I never do it again, I have bragging rights for the rest of my life!