Three Things Thursday

1. Y'all, it's hard to figure out what to blog about when I'm not running.

I LOVE my job so far, and everyone here. I really, really didn't like my last job. I'm at the end of my fourth week here, and it's so great being trusted to handle the responsibility I was hired for. The work I'm doing is certainly nothing earth-shaking, but it's engaging and really fun. AND THE PEOPLE ARE SO GREAT. Also, fun fact, it's a restaurant marketing company, so they keep us really well fed. Which really makes the not running extra trecherous....

But after spending a year+ having allthetime, I totally feel like now, I have NONE of the time. It's befuddling to me how I ever trained for marathons AND worked full time.

I recognize that I'm just making excuses and being whiny, because in reality, I'm working great hours, I get to take the kids to school, and my commute is half of what it used to be. I just can't seem to get it together. Yet. I'm sure I will. I'm just adjusting still, I guess.


2. Would you like to see my kids instead?

First day of school!

ignore the dining room that is currently in remodel phase...

Me: Take a quick picture I can send to grandma.

#2: Like this!

Um. Okay, then.


3. Cross Country season is in full swing, and there are so many numbers and statistics and man I love it! For the first time in years, #1's girls' varsity team was not ranked in our division, and the coach was very sad about that. To be fair, they lost the three strongest runners when they insisted on graduating and going off to college or some nonsense.

But the new team is working hard, and they're doing pretty well - they're all better than they were at the start of last year, so hopefully that trajectory continues.

I was SUPER excited to hear that they were going to be bussed to the races this year, so we didn't have to go so so so early, and STAY all day.

I was SUPER excited to hear that, until this news was followed up with instructions to have them at the school by 5:45am on race days. That is less appealing to me.

Anyway.

Our school hosts the third largest invite in the country - this year was the 34th year, and it's AN ORDEAL. The kids head over on Friday before lunch, then work to set up the course and act as course monitors, leaving after the last race around 11pm. The next day, they race while parents are course monitor, from 2-10. AND THEN we get to break down the entire course, and transport everything back to the moving trucks. It's a pretty special time.

I don't even get to watch her race!

The highlight of the evening was when the company that supplied the timing chips advised a group of 50 kids at 11pm that all FIFTEEN THOUSAND chips needed to be sorted into numerical order. That was really fun.

The next morning, a friend alerted me to this cool shot in the local paper.

Which was followed by 20 minutes of me driving all over Irvine looking for a copy, only to be thwarted by Late Sunday edition I could find being different from the home delivery edition he was showing me. It's all cool, though, because I totally snagged some killer coupons, so it paid for itself, because last night I used it to buy 10 yogurts for $3. #ExtremeCouponing

Three Thing Thursday

1. Hi!

2. It's been awhile, eh? This is what I've generally been up to, starting from most recent backwards:

look! Sunny, in SoCal.

Collecting eyeball lasers from #1 at track events

spring has sprung on the trails

Coaster Run at Knotts! Another great Renegade Race Series event.

#2 is training, too!

Beautiful beachy weddings

ZION!

And, #1 won the 1600 and 3200 in her first pre-season track event. This qualified her for Indoor State Champs, which was a FREAKING DEBACLE. 

3. And now we're all caught up!

I've finally started coming out of the running funk, and have a couple races on my calendar, so I thought I'd dust this sucker off and get back at it.

What have you been up to?

Three Things Thursday

1. My house looks ilke a craft store exploded in it. So much glitter. So many scissors. Did you KNOW there are a billion types of glue???? I had no idea.

2. I guess I'm practically famous. Or I have pretty famous internet friends.

If I'd know it was emailing out to the Road Runner Sports mailing list, I would have done something to that mess of hair on my head.....

3. I'm featured on the San Francisco Marathon blog today! I know you're dying to figure out how I fit in event planning, working full time, training, kids, a husband, and eating everything, right? Check it out HERE.

BONUS 4. Have you entered the Team Gab Virtual Race yet?? Click here to enter!

Obviously, I have a personal connection that was the catalyst for my fundraising for pediatric cancer research. But, if you have some time, check out this article: Little patients, losing patience: pediatric cancer drug development. I promise that it's not a clinical type of read, but it certainly puts, in normal people words, the reasons that pediatric cancer research is struggling.

Starting with, "Cancer in kids is not profitable".

Three Things Thursday

1. I went to the chiropractor on Tuesday, and had my neck adjusted. I thought I was GOING TO DIE, it hurt so much. But then, a few hours later, the hurt cleared up, and then it wasn't so bad. Yesterday, it was a little stiff - I can't look left or right very well, and no looking up at all, but at least I'm not in pain. Went back last night for some more adjusting and massaging, and was even able to sleep in bed last night.

Improving, but still no running. I'm having some doubts about Eugene being all magic and unicorns....

source

2. Have you signed up for the Team Gab Virtual Race yet?? Link HERE. Giveaways provided by Nuun, Aspaeris, PRO Compression, Allied Medal Hangers, and Team Sparkle - and, of course, you're helping a GREAT cause.

Not interested in running, biking, swimming, or general sweatiness, I'll still happily take your donation HERE :).

In addition to these great prizes, this year all participants (both in real life and virtually) will receive MEDALS. I know, that's exciting, right??

So, listen, I am NOT a crafty person. I don't even really like pinterest. But The H dutifully followed me around multiple craft stores last weekend while I wandered aimlessly hoping to find what I needed (made exponentially harder when you don't understand the context of the item and where to find it in the store), and then proceeded to buy all of this item I could find in the Irvine/Tustin area. Sorry if you're looking for this thing, I have them all on my dining room table.

But I think the medals will be the cutest ever, and I'm so excited to share them.

Source

3. Something I can share RIGHT NOW? These amazing bibs, designed by Deidre at Oh Well Whatever.

Download link HERE. Cutest EVER, right?

Three Things Thursday

1. I ran this morning, AGAIN. And, I don't know that I've given it enough of an opportunity, but I certainly don't like it any better than I did the first time. I don't like how cold it is (shut up, I KNOW 42* isn't THAT cold), I don't like that it's dark, I don't like that I'm exhausted all day, I don't like that I'm hungry all day. I just don't like it.

I tried during my run to think of anything positive that was coming out of this experiment. And I just can't think of anything. I don't know.

I guess it's nice that I don't have to run after work, BUT I don't mind running in the evening.

I guess if I practiced this more, I would get the timing down better, and stop needing to cut the morning runs short of my intended mileage. BUT, I never cut out early on an after-work run. So I'm cheating myself in my mileage.

I don't know. I guess I'll keep trying for another week, and try to keep an open mind. But overall? It's just not my cup of tea.

2. Have you entered the Team Gab Virtual Race yet?? Great prizes up for grabs, and so far, not a ton of entries, so your odds are GOOD. Click HERE to enter!

3. Dude, did you see this story about Pistorious??? CRAZY. Obviously, with the media, you only get the story that they want you to get, but he certainly seemed like a nice enough guy. Huh.

BONUS!

Have you seen Rose's new tumblr?? HILARIOUS. She's the funniest person alive.

credit: Positively Radishing. HA.

Three Things Thursday

1. Treadmill Musings
I have rediscovered how much I LOVE FRIENDS. Not, like, the people that are my friends (the people are great, too, but that's just not what I meant), the SHOW. It's hysterical, and it makes time on the treadmill fly by. I also LOVE Jeff Lewis. I want to be his bff.

Things I do NOT like: RHONJ (any of the other franchises are fine), anything Guy Fieri, Paula Deen (her voice makes me cringe, even watching the captions, I can hear it), or Rachael Ray.

I sometimes count kills in the gym - the number of people who come and go while I'm running. Last night's count was 7. BAM.

I keep waiting for the new season of Top Chef to be aired at a time that's convenient for me to be running, but so far it has eluded me. Rude, Bravo. RUDE. {wait, I'm a liar - looks like Sunday at 8am I'll be doing my long run on the treadmill, thanks Bravo!}


2. Holiday's are SNEAKY
Did you realize Thanksgiving is ONE WEEK AWAY? Why is it so soon?? I don't know if I'm prepared for this! That also means that Christmas is... soon-ish. This ocurred to me yesterday when I saw someone with a Christmas tree up. A Christmas tree. It's not even Thanksgiving, you guys, why are you rushing?!


3. Sad face
Normally, a kid presenting with a low grade fever (99.x) and being kind of sleepy just gets some extra rest, and doesn't really concern me. I almost PANICKED last night because Gab has a low fever (really, really low, like, I'm probably being crazy, because 99.1 is NOT much of a fever). NORMALLY, a fever won't really concern me unless they're high, or something else is afoot. But Gabby is a Special Snowflake, and with the port in her chest (ew), she needs to go straight to the hospital for admission for 48 hours, do not pass go, certainly do not collect $200. Annnnnd, now it's a little higher (99.9 is high in my world), so I'm panicky again.

Oh, leukemia. I am not a fan.

Three Things Thursday

1. HOLY CRAP YOU GUYS IT'S NOVEMBER ALREADY. How did that even happen!??!
I'm closing out October with 129 miles, my third highest ever. And then yesterday, I wore my San Francisco Marathon race shirt and medal, called it a costume, and ate cupcakes for lunch, and called it "carb loading".  Best decision ever.



2. Halloween
#2 dressed up as some weirdo commercial version of Alice in Wonderland, that I didn't like, but she was super in love with, and then we got 25% off because the sales person thought the package was missing gloves, so I caved. Ugh.


Gabby was Merida from Brave. She was also the cutest thing EVER IN THE UNIVERSE.

This is how Brave people stand. Did you know?

Kid #1 was too good to dress up for me, and I have no pictures. I promise she exists.

3. NYCM and The Drama.
So the marathon is giong on as planned this weekend, despite the damage caused by Sandy. Since I'm not running, I'm pretty neutral on this decision - I've got zero invested, so it makes no difference to me either way.

On one hand - I don't think it's the worst thing ever that they are moving right along with the prep and holding the race. NYCM brings in a buttload of money for the city. Money is always needed for disaster recovery. Second, NYC'ers seem to perpetuate this sentiment that they're super tough and the show must go on (seem to, this is my opinion, not based on fact, etcetcetc). Third, they have a financial obligation to the runners. It would be irresponsible to divert those funds or use them in any way other than holding this race. Finally, I'm not there. I don't know what the actual FOR REAL, not on tv or print, situation is. If NYRR and the Mayor feel like the city can handle the race, the course is clear enough, they have the manpower to make it happen, then that's their call to make - because I'm NOT THERE.

On the other hand - I think it should just be canceled this year. It's just a race. It's not the end of the world. Even if the course is clear enough to run, and they have enough volunteers without interrupting actual city business, I don't know - based on what news I've read - that the infrastructure is there to properly handle the influx of people this race brings in. The city relies so heavily on public transit, and it's just not functioning. That shouldn't be overlooked.

Honestly, if I were running, I'd defer. As Skinny Runner said in her recaps, NYCM is an experience, and this is just not the experience that I'd want. If I had tickets/hotel and it was non-refundable, I'd probably go, and volunteer somewhere. I wouldn't be running. Not because I'm a super-compassionate person, but because I'd run for that experience, and running for me is super mental, and I just wouldn't be able to enjoy it. If I don't enjoy it, I won't bother. But I wouldn't really call people who choose to run selfish or anything. Whatevs.

Also, I grew up on the gulf coast, I'm not a stranger to watching hurricane coverage. This was no Katrina. People comparing this to Katrina are being overly dramatic and honestly, it minimizes that event. Cut that out.

Apparently I felt more strongly about this than I realized. Anyway.

Three Things Thursday: Awesome/Not Awesome

1a. I've been super exhausted lately. Last night, I think I went to bed and was passed out by 10pm. Awesome.

1b. Until I woke up, sweating and heart racing, at 3am, because I'd been dreaming about running from zombies. Not just, like, jogging through the woods from zombies. Like, with my entire family - all my kids, my parents, my brother and sisters, all of us. IN A SMART CAR. I don't even know. It was stressful. Today, still exhausted. I feel like I stressed out, all night. Not Awesome.

2a. Disneyland Half Marathon is this weekend, and with that, comes Becka and A!!!! I love when they visit, and so does Gabby - she's been counting down the days until they get here. Awesome.

2b. wtf.

Not awesome.

3a. I got 400's back on my schedule this week. I LOVE 400's. Awesome.

3b. That's what I thought Sunday when I saw that on my schedule. Turns out, I like them a lot less when I haven't been doing ANY speedwork. They're fast. And hard. It was not awesome.

Three Glorious Things Thursday

1. Tonight's scheduled run?? 14x400. Wheeee!

2. These are delicious. You need to try them. No, really.

3. SO MUCH HAIR!!

But really. What do I do with it?!

Three things Thursday

1. It occurred to me that I haven't gone into a race with a goal since Long Beach in October.

2. So now I'm appropriately nervous.

3. But at least my outfit will work.

Three Things Thursday

Tuesday: Random hill program, level 6, 6 miles, 1:05:12, 10:52 pace.

1. For anyone in SoCal interested in running their Team Gab Virtual Race with... non-virtual people, I will be hosting a fun run at Mason Regional Park in Irvine on Saturday, Jan. 28th. Run start at 12 pm noon (redundant, I know). There's a mile loop that we can run, and fluids and GU will be provided (water, Gatorade or Powerade (whichever is on sale, because I'm thrifty that way), and GU gels and chomps - if you want anything else, please bring your own). Snacks and drinks provided afterwards. I don't have any fancy medals, or shirts, but there is a playground, if you'd like to bring your kids, and I'll be busy NOT running, so I can eyeball your kidlets - mine will be there (at least some of them). I'm a full-service volunteer.

THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT. IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO JOIN US, please email me at hmgiraffy@gmail.com, so I can get a head count. I would hate to not bring enough cupcakes to feed you all.

Note to Houston runners and Junie B, this is not a sanctioned event, just friends, running together. Please don't freak out and get me evicted from the park. Thanks.


2. I met up with some of my favorite SoCal blogger friends last night for Happy Hour. $3 margaritas the size of my face, and we emptied the place out. Good times.

3. I'm starting to plan my travel for my 2012 Runcations (Seattle, SanFran, Wine & Dine...) and our Make a Wish trip (July 12-18!) and realized this is complicated. I don't know how Becka has done it. She's a travel beast. I'm overwhelmed, and I'm doing a fraction of what she does.

Three Things Thursday

I ran 5 miles, slow and steady, Tuesday night. Nothing exciting to report. Not the best run. Not the worst. 5 miles more than 0, though, so there's that...

UNO

Let's discuss gym etiquette. All of my gym time is done in the tiny fitness center in my apartment complex. There are three treadmills, a stationary bike, 2 ellipticals. All in a row - treadmills nearest to the door. Tuesday, while I was running, I was on the first treadmill - right next to the door. I left the door open, because, hello, that room gets to be a JILLION degrees if it's closed, and the AC's aren't running, and since it was cold out, it makes sense to leave it open. Right?

Apparently not, if you're the dude who wants to play on the elliptical (not exercise, PLAY), while talking LOUDLY on your phone. Because consistently, that dude comes in and shuts the door.

Sadly for him, I was feeling extra pissy Tuesday night, during a semi-crappy run, and opened the door back up. I mean, who DOES that? Rude.

He was NOT a fan of me. But the other woman on the next treadmill over, she sure was.

Solidarity.

DOS

Thanks for all the well wishes for Gab. That's the thing with leukemia, and chemo, is it's kind of a roller coaster. Some days really, really suck, and some days, it's like there's nothing wrong. We seem to have figured out the right cocktail of meds/food/sleep to put a stop to the puking, so far, fingers crossed, knock on wood.

And she's feeling a bit better. Her hair is a little challenged, though :D

TRES

Christine at Oatmeal in my Bowl posted yesterday about words to inspire her in the New Year. I'm not really a big fan of resolutions - the way I see it, life is so fluid. Things change. I love the freedom of being flexible and not tied to something if circumstances change.

But I love her idea of 3 words to inspire her in 2012.

If I had to pick 3...

• Health
• Gratitude
• Generosity

Three Things Thursday

I ran 2 miles Wednesday night, and it was glorious. 2 mi, 21:51. 10:55 pace. Interesting....

My mom has been visiting, so instead of resting my Jerk Shin last weekend, I spent 4 days playing tourist and showing off all the glorious reasons I live in SoCal...

1. Hiking... We spent Friday afternoon hiking at Caspers Wilderness Park

2. The Beach!! Saturday afternoon was spent tide pooling in Laguna Beach...

Best of three attempts.....

3. And Sunday? Joshua Tree. I adore this place.

Three Things Thursday

1. Dates were published yesterday for Wine and Dine 2013!! Who else is in?!

2. Tonight is tempo night.... dun dun DUN. I will run tonight. Fast. WILL. Hopefully.

3. PSA: This is TOO MUCH STUFF to go through the self checkout! And if you require 4 people to figure out how to do it? You're not SMART enough to use self checkout. Please go to a regular line.

Thanks.

Three Things Thursday

1. Hill work: Tuesday, ran random hill program on the treadmill. I don't have any hills in the vicinity that would work for this, particularly in the dark. Bummer. 4 miles random hill program at level 7, @ 10:41 pace; 1 mile cool down. It was hard. HARD. But I didn't die, so I guess it was okay.

2. Gabby washed her hair last night. It's been over NINE MONTHS since she's needed her hair washed. I mean, her head gets cleaned, but hard to shampoo if there's no hair. But, last night. SHAMPOO!!!!!!

3. To expand on #2, Gabby washed her hair last night, on her own, and in doing so, shampooed my bathroom. It was bubbly. It was also super hard to discipline her. "My hair is getting long, I needed to wash it." How do you argue with that?

TTT, and Photo Vomit

1. It's obviously almost race time. I'm 86% sure my legs are going to crumble beneath me going up the stairs at some point in the next 48 hours.

2. In related news, I attempted a tempo run outside on Tuesday, since our weather was stellar (mid 60's and cloudy!). Man. Seemed tougher than necessary.
2b. I've FINALLY decided on my race day outfit. That might be the funnest part of racing.

3. #1 is fundraising for school (anyone down for some $15 cookie dough?). One of the "rewards" for meeting their sales quota? Skipping the long run in PE.

Really?

Gross. And annoying. Sigh.

Photo Vomit!
Fall = fall ensemble.

Indoor swing. Of course.

HOW does a giant bus run out of gas on my exit?! HOW.

My running trail is freaking beautiful. Don't be jealous.

No clue when or how. Also, I apologize. Pedicure needed, stat.

Sweaty, sweaty beast. My chest sweat literally ran into my arm pit sweat. Gross.

Remind you of anyone we know?

TTT

1. Thanks to TMB and Lesley for dropping by yesterday with their coachy opinions! You both had excellent points. I obviously understand that marathon training is a new ball game compared to half training; I know my mileage will have to be kicked up a notch (or 5...). I just need to find the balance that's going to work for my circumstances.

2. My calves are tight, and my legs feel.... Tired? What the heck, legs? You've done better in the past, stop whining!

3. XLMIC, who is coming down for Long Beach, offered to let me bunk in her hotel, walking distance to the finish line. The timliness of the offer was astounding - I had JUST decided I wanted to see what hotels are available!

and that, folks, is why I'm in love with the Internet. How else would I meet strangers who are instant friends?

Three Thing Thursday

This is, probably, the BEST TTT to date, ever posted by anyone, ever.

1. In case you missed my social media barrage immediately following our cancer clinic visit, Gabby is OFFICIALLY IN MAINTENANCE. We are participating in a clinical trial, and the arm that she was randomized into is... pretty mellow. Standard treatment is lumbar punctures and The Steroid every 4 weeks, plus a pill at home daily, and another 11 pills on one night a week. Her maintenance will be lumbar and Steroid every TWELVE WEEKS, plus the pill at home, plus the 11. Awesome.

2. I decided to run outside tonight, because it was FINALLY cooling off enough to do so. I was going to do 5 miles, tempo, but... decided it was getting too dark. Because I'm a dark chicken. Instead, I did a 5 minute warm up walk, followed by 3.4 miles in 34:15. That's a 10:04 pace. That is UNHEARD of for me, outside. UNHEARD OF. And it was magical. It was probably at 75% effort. And the weather was SO great. Until I got inside, and I turned into a sweaty beast.

3. My new job is fantastic, and finally, finaaaalllllly, after three years of being bored and having not much to do, I'm back to doing real work. Phew.



Did you catch my contest yesterday? Name our Ragnar Team, win free stuff! Link HERE.

Three Things Thursday

1. My 2012 race calendar is filling up nicely. A full AND another shot at Coast to Coast? Yes, please....

2. Brightroom says photos are ready from Disneyland. Somehow.... Somehow... There are no photos of me with my GINORMOUS medals. Nor of Fruit Fly, Rose, or #1 at the 5K. WTF, Brightroom?

3. I had scheduled myself for a rest day on Tuesday, my normal speedwork day. But I felt GOOD, so decoded to try the same run Becka was doing (8x800's, 1:30 RI). So I hit up the treadmill, incline at 1, and tried it. Warm up 1 slooooow mile (legs felt tired, but HEALTHY - such a departure from my last two halfs!), then proceeded to do 4x800 before quitting. It was awful. And I was really pissy.

Then I realized..... I was running, 48 hours after half marathon #3. After the previous two, it took WEEKS for me to feel up to running again. And..... I did my 800's in 4:35, 4:31, 4:36, 4:32. Prior to this, my fastest 800 was 4:38. And that was with 2:30 RI.

I guess I'll call myself a runner now.

Three Thing Thursday

1. Gabby had chemo Monday!!

2. I'm addicted to my Tommy Coppers....

3. A few weeks back, I asked around looking for a half in November. The Canadian recommended the Mission Inn Half. And I registered, fast. It was CHEAP. It's also.... hilly.

Curses.


Workout on Tuesday: 10x400's. Holy. Crap. That was a lot tougher than I thought. I promised B at 50halfmarathonsin50states that I would give it a shot. man. She was not joking when she said she was dying.

10 min warm up (.89), 10x400 @ 2:10-2:15 (2:09, 2:09, 2:10, 2:02, 2:07, 2:05, 2:05, 2:04, 2:00, 1:57), with 400 RI @ 2:50-2:55 (2:47, 2:51, 2:50, 2:45, 2:42, 2:50, 2:55, 2:51, 2:48, 2:49).
5 min cool down walk, .21

One easy peasy 3 miler tonight, then... Half Marathon #3!