Tulsa Run wasn't my best

Much like I suspected my performance in the Tulsa Run SUCKED!! But I got another medal to add to my ever growing collection.


To recap….

Friday I went to pick up my packet. Usually it is at a University in mid-town that is across the street from a mall. Even though the street is busy if you had to cross, there was plenty of parking at one of the two places. This year they moved it to downtown. There is a big push to revitalize the downtown area and they are trying to force everyone into moving activities there. It took forever for me to find a parking spot, and then I had to parallel park, not pretty. Pick-up wasn’t organized very well. They didn’t email race numbers so everyone had to stand in line to get their numbers. I found a list of numbers on a vacant table so I got in and out fairly quickly considering. I really wanted to buy a shirt that says “I run so I don’t kill people” and wear it to work on Halloween just for the crazy lady who thinks I might “physically harm her” but they only had short sleeve burn out shirts in my size. The lady promised to have a long sleeve hoodie for me at the Route 66 expo.

After that I met HMF and a couple of other running buddies at Olive Garden for carbs. Yeah it was just a 15K but I will take any excuse to eat pasta. Service was unbelievably slow and they got most all our order wrong but I think the kitchen was jacked up. We all got the buy one now get one to take home special. That is like dinner for a week for me!!  We still had fun and the waitress was so happy we didn't jump all over her for the kitchen and bar screw ups. 

I was really worried about how cold it was going to be. I sat out a bunch of clothes and even went to Wal-Mart the night before and bought a robe to snuggling up in while I was standing around. As it turns out that really wasn’t an issue. I couldn’t find my Garmin charger anywhere and I only had 41% battery. I tore the house apart Friday night looking for it to no avail. I thought I could just use my cell phone, but when I got up Saturday morning it hadn’t connected with the charger well and didn’t charge overnight, it too only had 40% charge!! I kind of went into panic mode. I got the phone put on the computer and went outside to check the weather. I went with a medium weight under armour base layer, a t-shirt and a long sleeve under armour pull over, I wore merino wool base layer pants and a regular pair of running pants (the base layer was a small and the pants and x-small so it looked really strange. I also realized I had no pockets, so I put one of the running skirts my friend made for me over the pants. Well somehow while I was tearing my house apart looking for my charger I lost my sports bra I couldn’t find it anywhere. I finally just wore a dirty one. After all that I didn’t get out the door until 8:30; race started at 9. I was a little nervous. I go to get on the highway and the on-ramp to get on I-244 was closed. That is when full blown panic started to set in. I drove a mile and that on-ramp was closed too. I had to go about 4 miles to find an open on-ramp. I was pretty sure parking would be a nightmare but I found a lot close to the finish line (3 blocks from the starting line) that was charging $5 and just parked there. Probably would have been a waste of time to find a free our curb parking anyway even if I had left an hour earlier. I got there and didn’t even have time to get cold when they started the 10 second countdown to the start.

I ordered a new charger for the Garmin, it should be here today.  Still can't figure out what I did with the running bra???


I was actually doing well, a little over 12 minute miles until the half-way point. Because of my lapband I try to take a Gu about every 2.5 to 3 miles. That usually works out well because that is about how far apart the water stops are. But, being the slow person I am, the water stop at the half-way point was OUT OF WATER. I thought about taking my water bottle the day before and didn’t even think about it that morning in my rush. I think that is when the adrenaline from the panic of the morning started to wane and the headache started to really set in. I did take a Gu without water, which is not a good idea but not much I could do about it. About 8.5K in I rolled my ankle on a rock the size of a smart car. My ankle was/is fine but it pulled my hip. Not long after that, a lady that is in my old running group that has always been slower than me passed me like it was nothing. I was pissed. I shouldn’t have been, but I was.  Kind of gave up from that point on. 

But, first or last, you cross the same finish line and get the same medal.

I figured my finish time would be a little over 2 hours but it was more like 2:15. Not pleased but I didn’t skip it. And I am already thinking about who I am going to get to do Little Rock, OKC, and Joplin with me. I swore I wouldn’t do OKC again because I am just kind of over it after 5 years, but if I don’t train for OKC I will feel lost. I am signed up for Austin in April, but it is a 10 miler and just not the same.

Now that the run is over, I am looking forward to the cold weather! I really need to get some sweaters and long sleeve shirts. Most of the ones in my closet are Large. I have a few small but not many. My shopping hiatus is only supposed to last until my birthday in a few weeks, but with a $3,000 dental bill coming up it will have to be extended. I will have to hit up some consignment stores.
Hope everyone has a great week.

return from the dark side

I took off work Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday.  It did wonders for my attitude, thank goodness because I am not sure it could have gotten any worse. 

Monday I had my first colonoscopy ten years earlier than is normally recommended because of my family history.  Of course my mom is going through chemo now for colon cancer but is expected to make a full recovery.  My dad had to have a portion of his colon removed several years ago because of a reoccurring precancerous polyp and 2 of my aunts and my dad's side has had colon cancer.  So basically it is pretty much a guarantee that either me or one of my two sisters will end up with it.  I got a clean bill of health, except that I am showing signs of diverticulitis.  I had to google it to see what it was.  I kind of wonder if the lap band surgery didn't have something to do with that since I am eating lots more protein and not nearly as much fiber?

Tuesday I took off for the heck of it.  I did get Hunter to the vet for his monthly arthritis shot and to have a spot on his tail looked at.  Turns out the spot is probably just an infection and we got some medication to help it heal up.  He loved going places with me, my little sidekick, so it wasn't much of a chore.  Plus I just love his vet.  She is one of the special ones who really truly connect with the animals she cares for.

Wednesday I took half a day for the heck of it and had lunch with my sister.  I walked around the mall for a little bit AND DIDN'T BUY ANYTHING!!  Although JC Penny has some new sweatshirts with thumb holes I am probably going to have to get in every color after payday.  Then I went to Ulta and blew $50.  Man it is so hard for me at that store.  I am such a make-up whore.

I got to visit the oral surgeon that afternoon about replacing the now missing baby tooth.  I know I want an implant and not a bridge because of the location of the tooth and the long term benefits but had no idea how much those bad boys cost.  $2300 for one tooth!!!  And that doesn't include the crown that my regular dentist has to put on.  And I am lucky that I don't have to have my sinus cavity lifted or a bone graft.  It sounds a little expensive but I am not sure dental surgery is something you want to bargain shop for.

My weight is holding steady at 112.2.  Tulsa Run is tomorrow and I am so tempted to skip it.  It is going to be so cold!!  There is a 40 degree difference in the temperatures from the same time yesterday and yesterday wasn't warm.  At least it is close to Halloween so I can get a bathrobe and wear it over my running clothes and say it is a costume.  Or I can put on my old clothes that are too big over my running clothes and start off "fluffy" and shed the old stuff as I go along.  The throw away clothes go to homeless so it would be for a good cause.  I really want to skip it but I can't let that be an option.  I just keep telling myself it is only a 15K, 9 miles, not even double digits!!

OK, got to run an errand for work.  Hope everyone has a great weekend.

not sure I have 10 things

1.  I worked up the courage to weigh.  111.4

2.  Monday I go in for my first ever colonoscopy, thanks Mom and Dad for giving me that gene.

3.  Wednesday I go to the oral surgeon to see about having my honey boo boo gap tooth fixed.  After almost 40 years my last baby tooth came out.  There is no tooth to replace it so I have a huge gap that I just can't seem to stop messing with.

4.  I decided what the hell, why waste a Tuesday...I am taking off all three days.  Lord I need it.

5.  Massage 9am Saturday!!

6.  Work sucks so bad I can't even begin to explain it.  Since this is a public blog and I have more than a 5th graders understanding of security I will not go into it in detail.  Just know that I have hired an attorney.

7.  My little man Sidney went all night without coughing last night!!  Maybe the kennel cough/allergy/whatever it was is gone.  I know he had to be miserable.

8.  That's all folks.

Monday hum drums

My weekend was pretty good.  I meet HMF for lunch on Saturday and gave her her gift.  She seemed to like it.  I hope so because I got that puppy on clearance and there is no taking it back, lol.  It isn't everyday you find a denim Coach swing bag for $50!!

After lunch I did a little shopping and challenged myself not to spend over $10 on any one item, mostly just to keep my mind of off work and how much I hate it right now.  I literally cried all the way home on Friday and didn't think I was going to make it away from my desk before I broke down.  I think all the stress of having a chauvinistic bully of a boss, way more work than time, and the drama over the fight; which I will have to go to court for has finally taken its toll.  Add to that my Mom's cancer and I think I am standing right on the edge. 

The funny/sad thing is, while I was on my way home Friday I was thinking about what I have at home that I could binge on.  Then I remembered I can't binge anymore without throwing up and risk damage to my band.  That was the final straw that put me in that "ugly" cry.  Sad thing is, I still feel fat.  I can't seem to work up the courage to weigh.  I am wearing a new pair of jeggings today that are a zero from AE so I know it is my irrational brain beating me up.  I am a like a People magazine subscription y'all, I have several issues.

I called my doctor this morning and asked her if she could prescribe me something for stress until at least my mom is through with treatment.  I haven't heard back from her yet.

Sunday we went to see Argo.  Great movie.  I will read the book or get it on audiobook to listen to on one of my trips.  After the movie we went and got the two old guys and took them to the park.  Pretty sure it wore them out.  At 12 and 13 we don't get them out as much as we used to.  We stopped and got them an ice cream cone to share on the way back home.  They are such good 'brothers'.  

In the middle of the night last night little Sid started to cough so hard he was gagging himself.  He did that all night long.  I told Dennis that I was going to take the little guy to the vet before I went to work.  I taped him on my iPhone because I figured that as soon as I got him in the vet's office he would stop coughing and they would think I was crazy.  He did cough but before we went to the room.  Dr. Reed said she heard it loud and clear.  It is either kennel cough or really bad allergies.  We will only be able to tell if one of the other dogs gets sick.  So frustrating.  He did get some medication for his cough though.  Maybe we will all sleep better tonight. 

Of course I got a text message while I was at the vet saying that I needed to be in a 9:30 meeting.  I sent a message back and said that was not going to happen unless they wanted me to come in wearing a juicy sweatsuit and carrying a sick dog.  I really don't think they would do that if it was someone with a kid. 

I did decide to just get new running shoes over the weekend.  The store I had been going to doesn't carry Izumi so I just went went to a different store and got a pair.  I hate to spend another $100 on shoes but if I am going to log any miles it is worth it.

OK I will stop whining now...

I prefer to call it friday-eve ten things today.

1.  I took off work yesterday and sat with my mom in Chemo.  It is both depressing and uplifting at the same time.  Hard to explain.  She is doing well though.

2.  As is normally the case after spending the day with my mother, I feel fat.  She doesn't have to say anything, it is just those old feelings from growing up being told I will always be the fat sister.

3.  I was almost certain the outfit I sat out to wear to work was going to be too small when I put it on this morning.  Of course it wasn't.  I am wearing the first button down shirt that I can remember putting on in years.  I still feel a little gappy and stiff but I think it is more because I am not used to this kind of shirt. 

4.  Running is still kind of blah.  I am getting blisters again and it is really pissing me off.  I have Spenco 2nd skin blister stuff on my feet now.  I ran 2 miles on Tuesday and the blisters were really bad by the time I was finished.  I am supposed to run tonight but my work running friend cancelled on me.  I may wait until Friday, give the feet some more time to get better and do hill sprints on Friday.  My long run is 'only' 6 miles this week, I will do that on Sunday.

5.  I have several people here at work that are being unrealistic with work deadlines that they sat on for god knows how long and are now sending me emails like every 30 minutes asking for updates.  I get off work at 4:30.  Even though I have the response drafted I think they will get it at 4:29.  Asshats.

6.  I have my first colonoscopy scheduled for October 22.  I also have a 12 mile run scheduled for the day before.  Dennis told me not to worry about it, I will get at least that many miles in going back and forth to the bathroom.  Because of the band I have to do my prep stuff a little differently, starting Saturday.  I hope I can get the run in on Saturday, if not I will have to blow off a long run.

7.  October 24th I have an appointment with the oral surgeon to see about getting my baby tooth replaced with an implant.  That sucker is loose.  I have a little bit of OCD when it comes to certain things.  Yesterday I was fixated on that tooth and I wanted it out of my mouth immediately.  I asked Dennis to help me just yank it out but he said he would never do anything like that again after the blood spurting from my ear and the horrible terrible ear infection.  The tooth is still there, still bothering the eff out of me.

8.  October 27 is the Tulsa Run, the oldest and biggest run in Tulsa.  I have done the 5K but I have never done the 15K.  I think I am prepared since I did a little over 10 miles over the weekend, even if it was mostly flat.  Even more reason to do the hill sprints.

9.  I think I am going to try out a new food truck for lunch, it is my new obsession.

10.  The bat shit crazy lady is in a vacant office talking to a union rep about something that happened while I was off yesterday.  I have been walking by and listening in as much as possible.  Yes I should be ashamed.  I already got the notice that I will be called in to testify.  I wish they would fire her already.  I was forced to talk to her last week and I gave her short yes/no answers as much as I could.  She makes me sick.

pity party, table for one

So I am not in a good place with my running.  Like at all.  I ran with my work friend after work yesterday.  During the run she took 2 phone calls and returned a text message, never breaking stride, never out of breath.  Me, on the other hand, well I was sucking air.  The entire run was just tough.  To make matters worse I see on the interwebs that the 101 year old runner ran a 5K and is faster then me. 

It doesn't help that I trained work friend to run her first half marathon.  It wasn't very long until she was running circles around me.  She ended up kicking my ass in the half marathon.  She now runs an average of 11 minute miles and could probably greatly improve her pace if she could find a better running partner that doesn't run 13/14 minute miles.  I suck.

I will always be the "runner" at the back helping the race director pick up the orangee cones as everyone else has drank their free beer and have headed home.  I will probably never run a sub-3 half marathon.  I either need to just accept that or find another way to get some cardio in.  I have been running for 5 years and I am pretty sure my pace will not improve much at this point.

Yeah, I know, running is an individual sport and I shouldn't compare myself to others, but that is very hard to do, especially when everyone is flying by you.

I can blame my horrible pace on the heat, the humidity, my heart rate issue, heck I can blame it on the moon being in Gemini but the common denominator is that I might as well be a walker the pace I run. 

This might be hard to believe but this is making me want to cry, I am just so frustrated with myself right now.  When I had Lap Band surgery I thought losing 65 pounds would greatly improve my running pace but it didn't, not even a little.  I am just always going to be one of the last ones across the finish line.  I just need to do some self reflection and see if that is enough.

Supposed to do a 10 mile run this weekend.  This could make it interesting.

Sorry for the downer post but I need to vent.

planes, food trucks, and running

I had a fabulous weekend. Well, I guess it was just Sunday since I worked from home late Friday and half the day on Saturday. But I did get my part of the project finished and won't have to work OT again for awhile!!




I had planned on going for a 5 mile run after I finished working on Saturday. As I was getting my shoes on I heard what I thought was the wind pick up. I looked outside and saw that it had started to rain. I'm no wimp; I like to run in the rain. I went to get a light rain jacket and walked out the door just as the clouds opened and it started pouring. I decided it was a short run anyway and changed into my PJ's and got out the Kindle instead. Well played mother nature.



Sunday we went to what was supposed to be a food truck festival. As it turns out there were a total of two food trucks there and one hadn't opened yet. So much for a festival. We decided to go in and look around the air and space museum since we had never been there. It is very small and probably not worth the $15 each we paid each for admission. There were also some old WWII planes that had come in for a special thing so it wasn't such a bad deal. We went through the museum part pretty quickly then went back out to eat lunch. The other truck had opened, but we got food from the first truck anyway, beef tacos, and "grub" fries. The fries were so freaking good. They said they were twice fried and seasoned with fresh rosemary. Heaven I tell you!!



Then we went to look at the airplanes. It was pretty neat, but they charged over $500 for a 30 minute flight in a B-29 bomber and $1500 for a 20 minute flight in a Mustang fighter. We decided we were more than happy to pay our $15 and look at them on the ground.



Dennis was falling all over himself to make me happy. Not that he doesn't do that on a regular basis, but with the last few weeks I have had at work, it was really nice to be doted on.



Add the season premiers of Dexter and Homeland and that is a great day!!



I haven't weighed in a few days, but I can tell I am gaining a little. Not a bad thing. My doctor's office called me to reschedule my October appointment and the liaison lady told me that he tells all of his seminar classes about me and how he has told me he will take fluid out of my band if I continue to lose. I am sure they think he is crazy just like I would have back at the beginning of my journey. I just knew I would be one of those people that the band just didn't work for!!


OK, I am off to change into my running clothes and get in 3 miles with my friend from work.  It looks nice and cloudy outside, maybe I can beat the rain this time.