Hard to Rest…..

Posted on February 17, 2012 by tootallfritz

Yesterday might possibly have been the nicest day of the year, so far, but alas I had a rest day planned ~~because I felt like I needed it~~. I also wasn’t feeling my best but when I got off work and saw the sun shining and the mild temps, of course, I wanted to run. I debated running vs. not running the entire commute home. I knew my feet needed to rest. The Plantar Fasciitis is ~~hopefully~~ almost gone and I do not want to do ANYTHING to aggravate the situation so that was basically the deciding factor to continue as planned with a short cross training session on the bike trainer rather than going for a run.

I may have mentioned ~~a billion times~~ before that riding on the trainer is like running on the treadmill. It is harder because it is boring but the good thing about riding ~~in my dining room~~ on the trainer is that I can blast my iPod. So the times goes pretty quickly for these short workouts since I can listen to my favorite songs, very loudly. Another bonus is that I am getting acclimated to the warmer temps ~~for 13.1 Miami Beach in 16 days!!!!!~~ a bit before spring/summer arrives. I also enjoy not having to layer up for the outdoor temps. Yesterday I wore one of my favorite items of SWAG, the Sunburst Half Marathon shirt from 2011. This was one of the A4 shirts I received last year and I really like the brand, especially in the women specific sizing. It’s soft, cute and I could wear it every day.

So all in all, it was a short but sweet workout. I calculate my trainer miles at 15 mph. I figure I ride slower inside than out so this is a fair estimate. Yes, I would have rather been running but focusing on recovery and injury prevention is MORE important than logging a few extra miles and ending up with 8 months of injuries from ~~being stupid~~ not listening to my body. I want to be healthy this year so I can ~~walk without pain~~ be my best. I will listen to my body and rest when necessary, regardless of the weather, or an invitation to run with a friend or an extra time slot without the little man.

Rest is just as important as the mileage. I encourage you to also remember to rest when you need it.

What is your favorite thing to do on a rest day? Do you cross train or take the day completely off? Or do you leave it to your body to decide?

Happy Running! Amanda – TooTallFritz

MomZilla…..

Posted on January 10, 2012 by tootallfritz

You know how some days are just better than others? Well, yesterday wasn’t one of the “good” ones. I was emotionally ~~off my rocker~~ distressed. For over a week, we have had a screaming toddler.

Now our toddler ALWAYS screams, so what makes this so over the top? Well, he has been screaming non-stop for a week, plus won’t sleep unless pressed up against me. I move, he wakes up. He even screamed over the weekend when Grammie was in town and that is really bad because usually everything is all about “Grammie”. He even screamed when she was holding him. So as a loving and caring Mom, I tried to be rational. I tried to justify the screaming in that he might possibly be getting sick. Or he may be getting new teeth. Or maybe he is tired. Who ~~the hell~~ really knows but yesterday I reached my breaking point. And wow, did I break. I snapped in two, over and over again.

I was a MOMZILLA, or so I thought. However, that term has already been appropriated in the Urban Dictionary, look HERE if you want to know the real definition of Momzilla. So since I can’t use the word “momzilla”, let me just say that I was ~~a Crazy Ass Bitch~~ crabby and screaming at everyone. I had a lot of issues going on too….long day working/commuting.

Okay, that’s not my desk but you have seen my desk already:

Commuting was back to reality too with EVERYONE back to work after the holidays.

Then my friend is in town so I am particularly edgy.

All I want is chocolate, a good workout and some quiet-time. But I was out of chocolate frosting.

And the screaming toddler really got in the way of the good workout although I did give it an honest effort.

And then after, okay during, the ~~half assed~~ workout, I just couldn’t take it anymore. I ~~freaked out~~ screamed and probably would have quit, if that had been an option.

I am hoping this Amanda comes back soon. She is nice to people and enjoys spending time with her ~~screaming~~ children.

How do you deal with stressors, particularly when it’s that time of the month? “Normally”, I do better but apparently I’m not feeling very normal. Sigh…..

Stressed Out Mommy, Amanda – TooTallFritz

2012….The Mystery of What Will Be…..

Posted on January 1, 2012 by tootallfritz

This is the first day of 2012 and we are looking at a fresh start with a whole new year in front of us. What will you bring to Ms. TooTall and the family, 2012? This is the time in which many are making New Year’s Resolutions; however, I am not really a fan of a “resolution” per say . I think that many treat resolutions like rules with the “they are made to be broken” type attitude. So in absence of a New Year’s Resolution, each year I attempt to develop some sort of challenge for myself ~~and as many people as I can suck into the insane plan~~. As with all good plans/challenges, it needs to most importantly bring about a good story in the process! I really believe that over half of the endeavors in which I have ~~sucked my sister into~~ completed were for the sole sake of having a good story.

Thru the years, we have developed some REALLY good stories. Still one of my favorites was the 2005 Rim to Rim hike thru the Grand Canyon with (Me), Sara (my sis), Lisa E., Lisa’s Cousin Cindy & Lisa’s mom:

That adventure was my foray back to fitness. It was a long road ~~cuz I had 10+ years of excess eating/drinking to redirect~~ but I not only hauled my ~~ass~~ person from the North Rim, to Phantom Ranch on the Colorado River but then up the South Kaibab Trail for a finish on the South Rim. Good times. Good memories. And it was a heck of a workout! This adventure was a catalyst to my current state of fitness. More importantly, it gave me the confidence to also try other things that prior to that point, I would have NEVER though possible.

LOTS OF RUNNING

Me & Abby S. during the Inaugural 2008 Fort 4 Fitness Half Marathon:LOTS OF FAST RACINGLOTS OF TRIATHLON

I’m unzipping the black wetsuit in the middle.

MUD & OBSTACLES

CROSS TRAINING & SWEAT

LOTS OF NEW FRIENDS

So after so much fun ~~and sweat~~ it is hard to create a budget friendly challenge for the new year. Last year I challenged myself to run 1000 miles. I made it despite fighting injuries from March thru year-end. This year I wanted something new and fresh and along came….So the big adventure for Ms. TooTall for 2012 will be participating in a chicks only, 6 person, ultra relay team for the Madison to Chicago Ragnar Relay Series. 33 miles over the course of 2 days/nights in early June. This is gonna be ~~insane~~ fun and should provide us with a GREAT story!

I will also be running the 2012 Chicago Marathon and delving back into Triathlon after a long bike hiatus from Mr. Michael’s birth/toddler years. The goal is a 1000 running miles and 1000 bike miles. This will be TOUGH for me but I joined Team Tough Chik for 2012 so hopefully that will provide extra support that I need to make this happen! If you are interested in being on Team Tough Chik for 2012, click HERE. The deadline for joining the team has been extended until Jan 7. See a few of my fellow Tough Chiks below.