28 Days Later

Is one of my favorite movies and also about how long it's been since I've blogged. I've thought about ending this little blog because I just haven't had time to post and I feel guilty to have let down the 4 people that regularly follow it ;) But I will be keeping it because it's fun to have a record of past thoughts and endeavors. So I'll just be posting when I have time or something exciting enough to tell the world.

So here's what I've been up to:

1. Training for the Malibu Marathon November 11. I've managed to complete a few long runs including 18, 20 & 22 milers. I feel nervous but pretty prepared. I have a few goals but my main objective is to finish happy under 5 hours. If that could be closer to 4:30, that would be cool.

2. Family trip to Lake Havasu. So much fun and pretty relaxing. 3 solid days boating and open water swimming while staying in a house right on the water. So great.

3. Halloween Festivities. It's the first year Little Man really understands it and it has been so much fun. Since October 21st we've had a party or some Halloween oriented event. Now I'm getting really excited for Christmas.

4. Preschool update: I'm still there, it's annoying and I'm getting frustrated. We're giving it until the end of the semester and at that point we'll decide whether we stay at this school, find another, or postpone until Little Man is a little older.

And here are some crappy photos from the past month :)

Slow Feet, Quick Feet, Well Feet, Sick Feet

Exercise: rest and healing

So I'm down and out due to my big toe. It's crazy how something as insignificant as a toe can completely derail plans. It's just an ingrown toenail but I wasn't smart and continued to run on it hoping it would just go away on it's own. No such luck. It got super infected and ridiculously painful. Nice.

So now, no running or heavy workouts for me for 10 days or until the infection is gone. Luckily I can still use the elliptical or I might lose my mind. I have surgery to completely stop ingrown toenails, because I'm prone to them, scheduled for mid November. This is immediately following the marathon, but if the toe doesn't heal I have to move the surgery up and it has about a 4 week healing time. It depresses me just thinking about it.

The good news is I LOVE my doctor! I have an HMO so was just randomly assigned a specialist but he couldn't be a better fit. He explained to me that surgery was imminent but respected my wishes to hold off until post marathon. Then he asked how many marathons I had run and how many more I planned to run. I told him I was hoping to move onto ultras and he asked if I had any interest in running Badwater!?!? I have never had a casual conversation with someone that randomly brought up Badwater. It's on my bucket list so I found it so cool.

It ends up he's an ultra hiker, often logging 30+ mile days. He's hiked Whitney Portal where Badwater ends and he's done many hikes along the PCT which I found extra interesting because I'm currently reading Wild by Cheryl Strayed (and loving it.) He even stopped in the middle of the appointment to give me camping and hiking tips which eased the pain of having my toe poked :) He stopped cutting into my toe to google this:

Source

He was great at distracting from my pain. 

The lame news, besides my toe sucking, is I may have to drop from the full Malibu Marathon to the half or drop out all together depending on my dang toe. I hope to maintain my fitness with the elliptical but am not looking forward to being stuck inside indefinitely. I'm sure I'm being a tad dramatic but that's how I roll. 

Hope you all are having a rad weekend!

Tying Knots

Exercise: hoping to get in a midday nap elliptical and weight session

While I was in Vegas I had a 16 mile run on the schedule but abandoned it to do more important things like swimming, eating at buffets, drinking margaritas and watching two of my favorite people tie the knot. I did run 10 miles and probably walked a few miles but it's not the same. Music man will be out of town next weekend and throughout the following week so I plan to do my long run of 17 miles Friday or Saturday. I'm wondering if I should try to do another longish run tomorrow; like 12? Or is that mileage too much too close?

By the way, I found a discount for the Malibu Marathon and decided to go for it. It's November 11th so I know I have enough time to train, it's just getting the long runs in that is difficult. Training for the Bulldog built up my base so I just need to expand on that. We don't have any other big trips, events or awesome Vegas weddings planned for the near future so I should be able to remain consistent up until the race.

And speaking of awesome Vegas weddings; here are a few photos from the night. I have some other faves to post when I get a chance

Have an awesome week!

Aww Nuts

Exercise:  An easy 4 miler with the Little Man

This week has been a little nuts in our house. Music Man has a ridiculous deadline he's trying to meet and has been a little stressed, Little Man continues to wake up at all hours of the night, and I'm just trying to hold it all together. I feel like once Music Man finishes his project everything else might fall into place. But we also have a ton of events to attend and host this week so we're just busy, busy, busy.

Actually, all of August has been nuts with trips, visitors, events, lack of sleep and general exhaustion. I'm hoping September will flow a little more smoothly. I doubt it with school starting and Music Man possibly traveling again, but a girl can hope ;)

There are a few races I had in my sights for September but I'm not sure if that's realistic. I know I could complete the PacificCoast Triathlon but I'm not sure I'd enjoy it with how tired I've been. And having fun is a non negotiable requirement. I'm thinking a late fall or early marathon might be a good idea so I need to do some research and find one that won't be too huge or a logistical nightmare. Anyone know of a good one? Malibu? Long Beach? Maybe Long Beach is too soon... Santa Clarita? I need a gooooooaaaaaalllllll!!!!!