starting 2007 right

Friday I was bad and let the stress from not knowing the status of my job keep me from doing my workout. I kind of broke down and the only thing I did was have a massage - but I had no motivation to do much of anything else. I felt/feel bad about how sporadic I have been on my work outs lately. I should not let this other stuff get in the way esp since I have no control over it and I do have control over if I do my work outs.

I sort of made up for the missed work out by skiing on Saturday and Sunday - well more specifically I worked/coached for a ski race both days which involves being on the hill by 7am, caring gear, setting up girls and guys courses, maintaining both, resetting for second run, maintaining, then pulling everything down - no real breaks and you eat a lunch on the go. Saturday was giant slalom, it was super cold and the fog never really cleared, the courses held up fairly well considering the snow was so soft (not ideal for racing). I don't think I ate enough - I had a bad headache all day (like if I don't eat after a run). We got home around 5:30 or so and even though I had wanted to go for a swim to make up for Friday and to loosen up after shivering all day I fell asleep on the coach around 7p and was in bed by 9pm.
Sunday was slalom - always more work involved - the snow was so soft we had to put wood shims/wedges on all the gates just to try and keep them in the snow. I covered the last 20 gates or so of the hill - so if a gate came loose I ran up or down to it wrenched/screwed it back in and tried to make it stay that way. The girls courses held up ok - only the first 40 girls or so really even hit the gates hard enough to make them come loose. But the guys really beat up a course - the gates just did not stay tight no matter how many wedges I put in or how much I wrenched them in. So I would say Sunday was equal to climbing stairs from 9 am to 4pm in ski boots. I was actually surprised at how easy it was - I was able to run up the hill with out breathing to hard (I guess that is why I got to cover so many gates). Though by 2pm or so I was tired and had already taken my two gels, a bar and my lunch - but no headache :). I think the new Accelerade gels - helped keep me from getting a headache - not to thick, taste good and have protein. The good thing was all that running up and down kept me way warmer even though the temps were lower. But the bad thing was by the end of the day my feet and calves killed (from using my boot to bang in the wedges and ski boots are not really meant for running up and down hills all day). I was completely exhausted. I trided to stay up for New Years but fell asleep around 9pm - Kyle woke me up at 12 to say happy new year and we were both back asleep :)
Today I woke up not being able to walk because my calves hurt so I stayed in bed till 9 or so. I thought about swimming today instead of the planned 4-5 mile run but it bothered me so much to miss my work out on Friday, so even though it hurt to walk I went out and did a 4.4 mile run. I ran 2.2 miles down hill to my dads house and then 2.2 miles back up hill to get home. My calves did ok on the run down hill, but the bone spur on my heel was already raw and kind of hurt, my legs just felt heavy. The run back was very hard - it is a gradual long hill back and my calves and hamstrings just plain hurt but I kept going and kept my pace up as much as I could. My total time was 32.16.53 - 1st half was 14.16 and the 2nd was 18.00.53. Afterwards I stretched and had a smoothie. Even though I am tired and very sore I'm very happy I actually made it out and did my run :) In the future I'm not so sure about doing a run the day after skiing for 2 days straight.

trying my best to stay optimitic

I had a hard time sleeping last night but I had a good work out this morning which always makes me feel better. I got to the gym around 5:40a and did 15 min on the stair mill before my Pilates lesson. Pilates went pretty well - I really like that I am figuring out the different movements and can tell I'm getting stronger :) My traps and neck were super tight - which would explain the head ache I have had for the last day of so. After my lesson I did another 30 min on the stair mill. I took it a bit slower because I forgot to eat anything after pilates so I was a bit low on energy. But I stayed strong and finished the 30 min feeling good. I stretched out for about 20 min or so. Then I ate some breakfast :) Now I am at work and trying desperately not to think about not having a job in 9 days and trying to see that this will all be resolved when people get back from vacation.

no more excuses

Yesterday I had Pilate's at 7a and had planned on running 4 miles before but my car had a flat front tire and by the time I actually got to the gym it was almost 7. My lesson went well - my hamstrings were a little tight but generally I'm progressing well. I can defiantly feel a difference in the stability of my core :) So after Pilate's I had to head back and deal with my car before I went in to work - which of course took way longer than expected - pretty much an all day event. So the day was stressful for many reasons and I just never got myself to go out running in the pouring rain.
Today I did much better. Before I went to bed last night I got some good reassurance about my job and it started snowing big huge flakes - both of which put me in a way better mind set. This morning when I woke up at about 5a everything was covered in an inch or two including the roads.
I got up and checked the Bellevue road cameras to see what it looked like on the roads to the club and they looked manageable so I got my self out the door. I made it a couple minutes before the 6a spin class. I felt really good - it was a endurance focused class with 30 min or so of consistent high cadence (90s) then about 30 min of gradual increased seated climbing/increased resistance. I really tried to keep my upper body quite and keep my core active and stable. I felt bad about missing my run yesterday and I felt pretty good so I ran 2 miles after the spin class. It was cold, very wet and I know I'm not supposed to do that but I felt like I needed it.

recap

After the power outage fiasco last weekend, getting ready for the holiday and an issue at work I just have not been on top of posting my workouts. Now that I have a moment to go over what I have done since the last post. Thursday I had Pilate's in the morning - as usual it went really well. She had me do a new hanging pull up thing which was really difficult. I'm starting to get the inverted sit up things pretty good as well :) Afterwards I went for an easy 5 mile or 50 minute run down on west lake sammamish pkwy. I felt good - I really tried to keep my pace up and keep it "easy". The great thing is that my foot has not been bothering me. I was a bit low on energy but I think that was mostly due to eating to many Christmas cookies the night before. lol
Friday I took off as a rest day - though it is was mostly full of stress from work. oh well. Saturday I was going to ski or ride but instead I finished holiday shopping :( and of course it was pouring rain and Kyle would not take his bike out of the garage in that weather. lol
Today I talked Kyle into getting up early - well earlier than he would have liked 8:30am and go for a 4 mile run with me. We just went down to sammamish trail and did 2 out and then back. I felt ok though my mouth of filmy the entire time which made it hard to breath. Other wise it was good - since the miles were marked I could check our pace :) 1 - 9 min, 2 - 8:25, 3 - 9, 4 - 8:16 :) for a total time of 34:41 min. We finished right before it started raining and raining and raining..

all mixed up

This whole power outage thing is starting to wear on me and my power is not even out - but half the gym is closed and I can't seem to get a couple of days of work outs straight. Yesterday I did have Pilate's even though the front desk people said they were not doing them due to the power outage. It was good but the room was cold and kind of dark. I was supposed to swim but since my normal pool is closed I was going to swim with Kyle at his other gym - he wound up working till after 9 (pool closed at 10). I could have gone and swam at Helen Madison with Col at 8 but in the effort to spend some time with Kyle I choose him and his pool. So in the end I did not get my swim in :(
Today I just mixed up my work outs - I did 45 min of stairs and then stretched when I was supposed to run 5 miles and do arms. I figure tomorrow I have Pilates and afterwards I can do my run esp since I'm taking the day off from work to deal with Holiday stuff and go to the Nutcracker with Kyle and Joan.
I can't wait for things to go back to normal...