Back At It & CrossFit Day #49

Posted on January 23, 2014 by tootallfritz

I’ve been on a little hiatus since the Dopey Challenge. I needed a break. The plan all along was to get thru the Huff 50K & Dopey and then take some time off and really not do “much” for the remainder of the month of January. And I was looking forward to it. What I didn’t realize was how much my body would NEED that break. I started getting a bit of a clue when I had a ~~pretty severe~~ Plantar Fasciitis flare up on the first day of the Dopey Challenge. Yep, during the 5K. Initially it took me off guard because it basically came out of nowhere but it didn’t take me long to realize that it was text book PF. I was fine while running but when I stopped ~~OMGosh~~ things got ugly fast. And when I sat down, the getting up and getting moving was super painful. It felt like I was walking on spikes. Not ideal but at least something I could self diagnose. Also something I was familiar enough with that I could be pretty certain that completing the Dopey Challenge ~~most likely~~ wouldn’t do much additional long term damage.

Source: Mayo Clinic

Then I got a head cold/sore throat combo that was a bit of a nuisance. Brought that new friend home with me from Disney. It took a week and a half to clear up (thanks to some electro acupuncture by Dr. Alexis). I felt good for two days. Then the stomach flu hit. Yep, the stomach flu. SO.MUCH.FUN. Okay, it sucked but my body was tired and why not get it ALL out of the way while I was in rest mode anyhow, right? Right!

Now I’m feeling AMAZING except for the heel pain that Dr. A is slowly but surely kicking to the curb. I ran 4 miles on the treadmill last night at 8:22 pace. Then I hit CrossFit this morning! I’m so happy to be back to being active. I still don’t plan on doing anything big this month but I’m moving and that makes me happy. Smile

CrossFit Day 49 (and if you are really counting, CrossFit Day 48 was on January 2, 2014 but the WOD has been lost in the windy tunnel of the TTF brain. Ooops!).

WOD – Jack. Hello Jack. So nice to meet you. Thank you for kicking my butt on the first day back to CrossFit in 21 days. Thanks for reminding me WHY I CrossFit in the first place. Thanks for reminding me that I am weak and I want to be strong. Thank you for starting me off on my quest to be a strong runner in 2014.

20 minutes – AMRAP:

10 Push Press – Empty bar, the girlie version, #33 lbs
10 Kettlebell Swings
10 Box Jumps – 18” box – I did alternate in a couple step-ups a few times when I needed to catch my breath but 99% were box jumps.

I did 11 rounds. I was very focused on trying to get at least 10 rounds completed because at the half way mark I was into my 6th round so I didn’t want to lose ground. I was super happy to be able to complete the 11th round, even managed a few extra push presses even though time was basically up. I really tried to stay focused and wanted to keep pushing because it is a new year and I think it’s important to focus on new goals and try to improve. Plus, what’s the point of getting up early for a 5am class if I’m not going to push it? I don’t want to waste my time or anyone else’s. I want to get better. I want to get stronger. I want to run far and FAST when the opportunity arises and I really think the key to staying healthy is strength and cross training. For these reasons, I dedicate 2014 as my year of strength. I want be be strong physically and mentally. I want to be a better person. I want to handle LIFE better. I want to be strong inside and out.

** On a Quest to Be Strong ** Amanda – TooTallFritz **

Cruel Jokes….

Posted on February 26, 2013 by tootallfritz

So maybe the joke’s on me but there are a few things that just aren’t quite right. I was just starting to nail this training plan and as soon as I started to gain a little confidence, life started throwing some curve balls …. Initially kiddos were sick & needed doc visits, dogs need(ed) vet visits for random reasons, other people got sick, cars (all 3) breakdown, evening obligations. So a few scheduled days off turn into a week of no running. No big deal, right? Wrong. Things still aren’t straightened out and “normal” appears to be far off.

One of the few saving graces has been the treadmill. It has given me the freedom to squeeze in miles when they would otherwise be lost. Like at 4am on SAT before a roadtrip. I didn’t make all of the planned 18 miles before our departure but I managed 14. Better than nothing.

Today, I even hit the gym at lunch to try to squeeze in a few miles. I took my iPad in order to link up to Netflix since that seems to be the only way I can tolerate the dreadmill. Newsflash, the iPad wouldn’t link up in the middle of our high-rise office building. Not funny.

Fortunately, the dreadmills in our gym have TVs attached so I was able to hang on for a whole 3 miles. And when I say, “hang on” I seriously mean “hang on”. They rearranged the gym since my last visit. The floor of that office suite for some ~~stupid~~ reason isn’t level. There is a carpeted ramp up to the main section where the cardio machines reside. The floor of the main section is also slanted to some degree which was barely noticeable …… until today. The new location of the treadmills must be on a slope. I began running at 1% incline, which should have been imperceptible; however, I felt like I was going to fall off the back. I was running slow and it wasn’t the feeling of “oh crap, this thing is going to throw me off” but it was a feeling like I was going UP a hill and going to fall backward. So I backed it down to 0.5% and then 0.0% and just “hung on” for 30 minutes (3.25 miles). Not funny.

Unfortunately, the recent travels, additional stress load and my lack of motivation to control my food intake has resulted in a few extra #s. That’s a few extra on top of those I had already gained from being injured this summer. It seems that if I’m not running, or even if I am running and just eat whatever I want, I gain weight. Shocker, huh? Yep. But it’s still not funny. So if you were thinking of a moonshine and chocolate “diet” and don’t expect to gain weight, I hate to break it to you but you won’t be laughing either. So not funny.

Oh yeah, and I haven’t been drinking much of this lately.

Not smart. Not funny.

So I’ve pretty much moved my plan for the Lansing Marathon to “finish it” mode. I need to worry not so much about the training and focus on losing those 8 lbs which I am currently carrying. For me to lose weight, I need to hit double workouts and keep the ~~crap~~ bad stuff out of my mouth. Easier said that done. My legs will be trashed. My attitude will be ~~bitchy~~ poor. But I will show up to the startline at 162 or 163 lbs. Not funny but it’s a fact. I refuse to carry an extra 7 or 8 lbs thru 26.2 miles. Don’t worry, I’m not giving up my training, just revising it to add in a few extra things.

On a positive note, in terms of “Run”way Fashion, I scored a few deals from Saucony this week. They are having a super secret sale HERE. I purchased the Ignite Shimmel tank ($22) and am IN LOVE. I went back and got a different color in my size today. It has a shelf bra, thin material, hugs the body but isn’t tight and also has a small zip pocket in the back.

They also have arm warmers for $10 (hyper lime) or $22 (black compression). This is one of brand of arm warmers that never chafes my underarm flab. I usually buy them off the Last Chance section and pay around $15 for them. Thin. Like second skin. No chafing.

And in other marathon news, I’m in a total panic about my shoes. Saucony changed things up in the toe box with the Guide 6’s and the new version isn’t working for me when I go long. They are light weight and super cute but that doesn’t matter ~~when you don’t have toenails~~ if they don’t feel perfect. I like them for shorter runs but not anything over a 10K. So I’ve tried a couple Brooks Running shoes. The Ravenna 3’s and Adrenaline 13s felt good initially and on short runs but are making my pinky toe sore/blistered with longer miles. Apparently I have a weird foot cuz I’ve heard nothing but great things on all of these shoes. 😦

Guide 6 Ravenna 3 Adrenaline 13

So back to basics. I had six pair of the Guide 5s and never blinked an eye. So I found a pair of 5s on clearance at Road Runner Sports. These babies will be here soon. I expect this to be my spring marathon shoe. Crossing fingers!!

None of this is funny but it’s certainly not the end of the world. I will keep pushing. I will finish the Lansing Marathon. However, I’ll definitely be missing a few toenails on my right foot before I even hit the start. 🙂

** When Life Gives You Lemons, Make Lemonade ** Amanda – TooTallFritz **

Changing of the Mindset….

Posted on February 11, 2013 by tootallfritz

Last year at this time, I couldn’t run 5 miles on the treadmill. Seriously. I couldn’t. I would go down to the gym in my building and “think” that I was going to pound out some good miles at lunch and it never happened. If I were on the treadmill, I was running intervals or just wasting time. It was torture to be on that thing. Pure torture.

Things have changed a lot over the last year. As I “may” have mentioned, our personal schedules are beyond complex, work is insane, the kids are very active between school, extracurriculars & homework. Sleep is a luxury at times. More is being crammed into our lives each and every day, whether we like it or not. So I made the decision to purchase a treadmill last fall. At that time, the reason I did so was to be able to get my speed sessions in while at home. I can’t go to the track to run during daylight hours, hitting the gym at lunch is a luxury that would require me to pull myself away from my desk, and running fast in the dark on my country roads is just not safe. So, welcome home treadmill!

I can’t say that it was love at first run. We’ve had some snags. Initially the machine (which was new) was lazy and really didn’t want to work, at all. I must have gotten a “lemon” and it needed a lot of work, repair visits, and new parts to get up to speed. However, after a few repair visits, we are now running strong. Crossing my fingers that it continues.

In fact, last week, my non-treadmill-loving-self logged 39 run miles.

Out of those 39 run miles, 26 were on the treadmill. Yes, 26 treadmill miles. Is that a world record? Okay, probably not but it certainly is in my world.

MON – 4.75 treadmill miles of speed work, FRI – 5.05 treadmill miles of tempo, SAT – 16 treadmill miles of training. TTF record for sure!

What’s the difference between now and last year? It’s a changing of the mindset ~~and good tv shows streaming on Netflix~~. Apparently last year, I had more free time (Aby wasn’t playing volleyball and hubby wasn’t working EVERY Saturday). Now, if I’m going to run, and watch my kiddos, I have to hit the treadmill. If I want to go to Aby’s VB game, and run afterwards, I have to hit the treadmill. If I want be safe from dark & icy conditions, and still run, I have to hit the treadmill. All of sudden, you know what? I love that damn treadmill.

Source:

I know that treadmill miles are not ideal but the mill is letting me get in my miles, feel as if I’m going to be somewhat prepared to run a marathon on April 21st and still live my life. So not ideal, but I’ll take it. And once again, if there is a will, there is a way. I know that I did not have this same will last year at this time but it doesn’t matter cuz I have it now. So if you need me, I’ll be on the treadmill dreaming of being able to take it back outside sometime soon.

** Happy Running – Regardless Of How YOU Fit It In ** Amanda – TooTallFritz **

Snow, Snow & More Snow….

Posted on February 4, 2013 by tootallfritz

We knew going into the weekend that there was a possibility of snow and I think we were all ramping up mentally to get our miles in regardless of the weather. For me, I ended up with another split run with 9 miles inside on the treadmill and 9 miles outside in the snow. Due to the family’s current schedule, this will probably be how the majority of my long runs will occur as I train for the Lansing Marathon. It’s different but not necessarily bad. My main complaint not that I have any REAL reason to complain is that it takes so much more time. Normally while marathon training, I would be on the trail by 4:30 or 5 am and even a 20 miler would be over before Mick and Aby most people even have breakfast. Now it seems like it sucks up the majority of the day b/c I’m not just knocking the miles out but also doing other things during and between the indoor/outdoor sessions. Its okay, just different.

Treadmill “Run”Way Fashion – Tough Chik Toughie Half Zip which is super light and my new favorite shirt for bumming around the house. It didn’t even make it on the treadmill cuz I didn’t want to get it “dirty”. I actually ran in the Blood, Sweat, Sparkle shirt I picked up on sale from Team Sparkle. I didn’t love this tank. It was a “little” short on me and it didn’t fully cover my bra, plus was just too narrow up top for me. I think it’s going to Aby’s closet. Then the BIG thing, I tried the Redemption Shorts from Skirt Sports. I have been wanting at least one pair of shorts, particularly now that I’m running on the treadmill more. I don’t always feel like wearing compression shorts and I don’t necessarily want to overdress wear a skirt in my dining room “gym” so when I saw that Skirt Sports dropped a line of shorts, I jumped on board to try them out.

First, that’s obviously not my bum (below). I wasn’t that cute and shapely before children and well, things haven’t “improved” since. But I did like how the shorts fit on me (size medium – I wear an 8-10 in pants) and I was even satisfied with how they looked. When I initially got them, I ran around the dining room & kitchen (yes, we make laps thru the house on a frequent basis) and I was like “NO way”. I didn’t think they would work out. They rode up between my thighs. They were shorts, they “felt” like shorts and well, I don’t like shorts. However, I gave them a run on the treadmill. A decent run, 9 miles. And I didn’t hate them.

Once I warmed up, they stayed in place pretty well. I did still have to use the Mission Athletecare Anti-Chafe but overall, they were okay. I really liked how the spankies didn’t move. I didn’t have to adjust them. I just felt good with the way they “sat”. I did have to adjust the legs of the shorts a few times due the chub rub issue but overall, it was minimal and I didn’t have any real chafing. A little redness on the chub but not the normal “burn” that I remember from shorts. So I now own 2 pair of shorts, the multicolored ones I wore above, and the blue pair that the Skirts Sports model is so fabulously showing off. Not sure you’ll see me wearing them on the trail but maybe once I get used to them a bit. If you are a skirt wearer and hesitant to give them a try, my advice would be to try them. One pair. They aren’t cheap at $50 but I do think they are a good quality and the material is light and airy and won’t result in your having a wad of material squished up above the chub. I’m not sure you will love them but I also don’t think you will hate them. I personally won’t convert FROM the skirt but I like my options and these are super cute, which adds bonus points in my world.

The 9 miles on the treadmill in my Redemption Shorts were accompanied by the documentary, “My Run”. I ran for an hour and twenty five minutes at 6.4 mph (9:22) pace. It was a long time on the treadmill but the movie was a difference maker. If you have to run on the dreadmill and have the option of plugging into a Netflix ready device, it will change the game for you. I promise. The dreadmill and I are not friends. We are however, slowly learning to tolerate one another.

I was very anxious to take the last 9 miles outside, even though by the time I got out there it was blowing and snowing pretty good. The actual temp was 18 and the “feels like” temp was 5. It was cold. I struggled thru the snow. I struggled with the cold. My feet hurt. I was slower than slow. I contemplated going back home to the dreadmill. But I really loved the views.