Not Much Going On

I have been sadly remiss on my blog.   Mostly because I don't have alot to blog about right now.   I have been busy but not with anything in particular.   Work, exercise, socializing with friends and family seems to take up alot of time. 

 I started back to a 40+ work week in January, I had dropped down to 32 hours a week to train for the IM.   I can't beleive how little free time this seems to leave me.   I cannot fathom how someone can train for an IM while working 40 hours a week and making time for a family with training.   I know it can be done and there are plenty of people out there who do it, but it still blows my mind that they can.   Where do they find the time???   I am currently struggling to find time for running 4 days a week, swimming and biking one way a week!!   

I have also been fighting the winter blahs.   By mid-January this is normally in full swing.   The cold weather combined with it seeming like it is dark all the time make it very hard for me to want to do anything other than eat, sleep, and curl up with a blanket and watch movies.   This might also explain why I have packed on 10 lbs since IMAZ.   It seems that I lack the motivation to do much of anything  and it is with great effort that I am able to pull myself out of bed every morning.

I am feeling very selfish right now and feel like I could complain about everything, but I really don't know how I can because compared to alot of my family and friends I have it easy right now.   This is what I mean:  I have a childhood friend who's mother just passed away; I have another friend who's dad is terminal and has been given 3 mos to live; my boss found out she is pregnant for the first time and a week later got diagnosed with breast cancer; a good friend of mine is facing her 2nd round of inpatient chemo and a stem cell transplant to battle stage 3 lymphoma; my cousin's 7 year old daughter has hydrocephalus and in the process they have found a small tumor in the center of her brain.  Need I go on??   It is hard to feel sorry for oneself when your loved ones are suffering so much and you can do so little for them but try to give positive energy, thoughts, and prayers!  So that is something else I have been doing more recently, trying to send out a few prayers and positive thoughts everyday.   It is hard though because winter seems to drain all my positive energy!   Plus I am PMSing right now which never seems to help anything!

So, if anyone is actually reading my blog right now.   I am going to ask you a favor.   Will you also help me to pray for everyone who is struggling right now, send positive energy and thoughts in any way you can??   I think with everything terrible that is happening in the world right now, a little positivity could really go a long way!  

My stats since my last blog entry:
1/18:  60 minute run (5.86 miles)
1/19:  2600 swim, 30 minute run, 20 min core workout
1/20:  rest
1/21:  50 minute run
1/22:  35 minutes on the trainer
1/23:  13 mile run  (2:18)
1/24:  45 minutes on the trainer
1/25:  70 minute run (6.92 miles, hill repeats Emerald Parkway)
1/26:  2700 swim:  400 warmup, kicks (50 x 1min, 100x 2min, repeat 4 times) pulls (same as kicks), mainset (100x1:55, ez 25x45, 7 times), 200 cool down

First Marathon

I would like to give a big shout out to my dear friend, Liz Brinkman, who completed her first marathon today at the PF Chang's Rock'n'Roll Marathon in Phoenix!   There is nothing like the feeling after you finish your first marathon and I know that Liz rocked that course today!   I especially admire Liz for this accomplishment as she did almost all of her training on her own.   I have been very fortunate in that I have always had a running group to help me through all of those tough and long training runs.   Liz had to plan her schedule around that of her job as a mother and dietician, her husband Dan's job and various activities and both her children's schedules.   That is not an easy task, and yet she managed to do it and kick ass on her first one!   Congrats to such an accomplishment Liz!!!  


My stats for the week:  
Sunday:  45 minute on trainer, 45 minute core strength
Monday:  45 minutes on the trainer
Tuesday:  50 minute run
Wed:  30 minute run
Thursday:  2600 swim, 50 minute run
Friday:  rest
Saturday:  10 mile run, tried a new app on the phone, here are the stats for my run
Sunday:  rest

Let It Snow

It has snowed 12 straight days here and the temps have been in the 20 degree (F) or less range, 3 times in the last week dipping into single digits at night.   This can make it a challenging time for running outdoors.   Not only because of the cold factor, but because the running trails tend to be an icy and slippery mess!   I will take my workouts indoors, but I can only do this a little at a time.   Running around a track or on a treamdmill (or dreadmill as some call it)  is very boring to me.   I feel like a hamster caught on one of those wheels, going nowhere, but slowly in my case!

So, in an effort to run outdoors I have been forced to figure out more efficient ways to be able to run in the cold and snow!  I am told that Yaktrax worn over running shoes, can help in icy and snowy conditions.  I haven't tried them yet, but will do a summary if I ever do.    Through experimentation over the past few winter sessions of MIT, I have found that if dressed appropriately, a cold weather run really isn't all that bad!    This article by Dr. Pribut, does a great job at suggestions for dressing for cold weather running.   Having the appropriate gear, plus the added motivation of meeting people for a run, have enabled me to run twice this week outdoors!

My Stats for the Week:  (1/4/10 to 1/9/10):

Monday: rest

Tuesday:  2300 swim, 50 minute run

Wed:  rest

Thursday:  50 minute (outdoor run)

Friday:  45 minutes on the bike trainer

Saturday:  11.4 mile run (outdoors and with hills)

Just Keep Swimming, Swimming, Swimming . . .

With the start of the New Year, also comes the start of my next Master's Swim Class.   A Master's Swim class, is basically the equivalent of an adult swim team, but without the meets (although there are a couple of meets per year that you can sign up for, but I have yet to do this).   For me, it is a nice way to work on my swimming fitness while also being in a group setting.   It is one of the few workouts that I do during the week where I actually have company.   And while it by no means turn me into Michael Phelps or Dara Torres . . .

. . . it is a really nice way to cross train while running, and my hope is that it will help me be aerobically fit enought to keep making it through the swim portion of the triathlon (if I am not drowned or knocked out first by everyone else)! 

First Swim Workout of 2010:
400 warm up
50 x 6 swim on 1:15
50 x 7 kicks on 1:10
100 x 6 swim on 2:10
50 x 7 pulls on 1:10
drill:  finger drag 50 x 2 on 1:15
cool down:  100
* I did an extra 100 on the warmup, so my grand total pool mileage today was 2300! 

I skipped my run workout yesterday, so I did a brick workout and followed my swim with a 50 minute run around the DRC track.  I think I am ready for a nap now! 

The Eagles Supper Club

The "Gentleman Chef"  Michael Pickard was in town for the Holidays and wanted to make a special dinner for a group of friends.   So, an invite was placed and a quaint group of us showed up at the McKenna Household for supper.   This group consisted mosly of friends with which I went to gradeschool (OLP) and highschool (Bishop Watterson).  The food was great and the night was deemed a success.   The yearbook was pulled out and reviewed and as I sat there with this lovely group, I cannot believe it has been 18 years since we had graduated highschool!   Seems like we all just left, but in catching up with old friends, alot has happened in that time.   At the end of the night there was talk of making the "Eagles Supper Club"  a regular thing.   This would be much easier if Michael actually lived in Columbus and not Houston, Texas! 

Michael Pickard, the "Gentleman Chef"

The main course:  Salmon with Beurre Blanc, presentation is everything!

Here's to the "Eagles Supper Club!"

My stats for today:

Hour on the trainer, 45 minute strength/stretch (while watching "The Hangover')

A Visit to the Farmer's Market

Despite 8 degree temps and snow/ice covered ground, MIT still met as usual this morning.   I grumbled for about the first mile, but it turned out to be a nice run.   We ran the (hilly) MIT winter route  through the neighborhoods instead of along the trail, as the roads were more clear of the ice.   With this type of weather you have to change your stride and take shorter steps to be more careful on the ice, the pace is typically slowed down as well.   So with that in mind I decided not to worry too much about the pace, I went as fast as the majority of the 10:30 pace group could handle. 

After 8 miles I called it a day and decided to head to the Olde Worthington Farmers Market.  This was just my first run through and I was short on cash, but I still managed to walk away with veggie burgers, veggie breakfast patties, eggs, mixed greens, cherry tomatoes, 2 types of homemade bread, (made with local ingredients) and an array of winter veggies!  

My goal next time is to bring a bit more cash (and/or checkbook) and stock up on some grass fed beef, lamb, chicken, and locally made cheeses!   At some point I would like to have bought at least one thing from each of the vendors to help support their efforts and income! 

After getting home I enjoyed a meal of a fried egg sandwhich with a breakfast patty!  Nice to know that 3/4 of my meal came from local vendors and it was delicious! 

For the rest of the day I am working on baking some desserts for a supper party I am attending tonight.   On the agenda is:

1)  Brownies

2) Carmel Cake with Carmelized Butter Frosting

3) Megan's Ginger Chocolate Biscotti

My Stats for today:

8 mile run, no timing

Happy New Year

Happy New Year!  Hopefully 2010 will be a great year for everyone!  

Just a quick blog to list out some of my New Year's Resolutions

 (in no particular order):

1) Complete a race with my sister, Lora.  We have yet to do a race together and I have wanted to do one with her for awhile now.   At this point in time, we are signed up as a team (Team K) to participate in The Big Sur Internation Marathon Relay.  The plan is for me to do the first part and Lora to do the second.   My personal goal is to be able to do the whole thing, so I can run the second part with my sister!  

2)  PR my time in the international, sprint, and 1/2 IM distances of the triathlon.

3)  Invest more interest/time into my professional career so that I can be a better team player to my co-workers and to provide a better experience for the patients that I see on a daily basis.

4) Promote a better relationship with those people that I love by being a better listener and communicator.   Being present and active in my actions and thoughts when I am with a friend, family member, or significant other. 

6)  Explore my relationship with food:  By this I mean learning to cook more meals at home rather than relying on convenience foods.  Buy more locally produced food, beverages, and consumer items to help support the farmers and vendors of the area I am living and/or visiting. Develop a better appreciation of whole foods and beverages and actually enjoy the experience of eating vs. just shoveling food down so fast that I  don't even really taste it!  Understanding better how the things I ingest impact my overall well being. 

Really I just want to live a healthier lifestyle in all aspects of my life:  physical, emotional, and spiritual.   Hopefully these resolutions will help me to accomplish this! 

My stats since last week:

Monday:  5 miles on the dreadmill (50 minutes)

Tuesday: 45 minutes on the trainer

Wed:  rest

Thursday: 45 minute run outdoors

Friday: hour on the trainer, 40 minute strength/stretch