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3/8/12

On your mark ...

I don't want to jinx myself, but I'm running again. And I'm just so excited I could jump up and down ... assuming my legs aren't too tired. I had such a great experience with St. George and I've wanted to run another marathon for awhile now. I signed up for Ogden last year, but had some lingering IT band issues that seemed to love me a whole lot more than I loved them. So I began stretching and then stretching some more. Babying it. Becoming BFFs with my foam roller. Apprehensively testing it out over and over again with 3-4 milers, which usually ended in pain and disappointment. And having to spend even more time with my nemesis -- the elliptical. I am the only one who hates that machine? It's Awful with an actual capital A.

I started thinking that maybe long distance running just wasn't in the cards for me again. But here's the thing: without a good goal for exercise, I'm useless. I can come up with just about every excuse in the book. I've proven to myself that I always feel good after a workout, yet I can still convince myself that an hour of The Bachelor (shame on me) or grazing through Ikea will produce the exact same effect. Yes, something intimidating like a marathon is what I need to shove me into a routine. Not to mention how great I felt while training for St. George. I want that again.

Are you feeling like this woman yet? If so, sorry! You have my blessing to stop reading now. I try not be one of those annoying people who think you're just dying to hear about the size of their running blisters or what crazy stuff the wrong kind of gu does to their body. Rest assured I won't ever burn such knowledge into your brain. The less gross material people have to blackmail me with the better.

And now back to rruuuunning! (It helps if you read that in a sing-song voice). So what to do about that pesky IT band, huh? Well, I went back to the physical therapist, stretched a million times more, tried a few new strengthening things, said a few prayers, and here I am - 2 months in and so far so good. I'm doing a few things differently this time around, namely more strength training, some yoga, etc. I'm continually worried about injuring myself, but all I can do is be as careful as I can. My fingers are tightly crossed that I can make it make it through training injury-free, because if not I have unpleasant visions of having to spend the rest of my workout life on that bleeping elliptical. No thanks. I'll need to take it slower, so I've decided to forgo being concerned with time at all - just get across that finish line without limping. The quietly competitive side of me will have to stuff it and just enjoy the fine scenery.

And so here we are. Running. And stuff. Stuff like listening to some great music while running. I have no doubt that when I get up into my higher mileage I'll start listening to Stuff You Missed in History Class or This American Life (both highly recommended) and some mellow stuff. Anything over 15 miles and my mind starts screaming for something different. But until then - some old songs, some new songs ... working wonders. So for anyone looking for a few song suggestions, here are some that have been great for me:


To sum up, I like to run. And I'm hoping to do it more without injury. And because I'm a bit superstitious, I'll going to end this post with a hearty KNOCK ON WOOD. No really, I'm actually knocking on wood right now. I'll give you a virtual high-five if you'd do the same for me!

3/5/12

PoW: Feb 26 - March 4

 
 Homemade rolls + no KitchenAid mixer = sore arms.

3/2/12

My Phenomenon ... and not the John Travolta kind

Wanna hear a story? I've got one for ya.

Over the last year and a half or so the weirdest thing kept happening. It was mostly on the nights I would stop by the store on my way home from the gym. The carts at the store were outside, so in the winter they'd be pretty cold. I'd grab my cart and start roaming the store with my shopping list. Within about 10 minutes I'd notice that my fingers felt funny, kind of numb. Then I'd notice that they were losing their color. But not all of them - only a few random ones. And sometimes the colorlessness would only affect one side of a finger. I'd hurry through the rest of my grocery list and rush home to warm up. It usually took about 10 minutes hunched over a stove burner on medium heat and then I was back to normal.

Fast forward to the last couple of months. It was still happening. At the store. After my outside runs. Often on my toes as well. Just randomly when I'd get cold. A minor inconvenience, right? Well sure, but I was also beginning to worry that one of these times my fingers would never warm up. That one might just give up and die - falling off my hand and never coming back to me. Dramatic? You try staring at your deathly pale fingers and not become a bit concerned. So one night I took some photos and texted them to my parents. It was half "Hey look what I can do!" and half "Uhhhh ... I'm worried I'm a freak" kind of a text.

Exhibit A on my poor birdie finger:



And Exhibit B on my innocent little pinky finger:


And because my parents are internet wizards, by the next morning they had found my problem: Raynaud's Syndrome. Or as some on the web call it, Raynaud's Phenomenon. Using the word phenomenon makes it sound a lot more mysterious than it actually is, so let's go with that. Turns out only about 5% of the US population has Raynaud's so maybe my mom was right about that "special" thing! Here's one definition:
Raynaud's (ray-NOHZ) Phenomenon is a condition that causes some areas of your body — such as your fingers, toes, the tip of your nose and your ears — to feel numb and cool in response to cold temperatures or stress. In Raynaud's Phenomenon, smaller arteries that supply blood to your skin narrow, limiting blood circulation to affected areas. As a result, the skin may turn white and then blue for a short time. As blood flow returns, the affected areas may turn red and throb, tingle, burn, or feel numb.
It's basically something that can be a problem in extreme cases, but is more of an irritation for the majority of people. Nothing was said about fingers falling off, but there was talk of "skin sores or gangrene from prolonged or repeated attacks" in extreme cases. GANGRENE, PEOPLE. Decay of body tissues. I'm am NOT on board with that. And I'm not saying to click on these links, but I don't want this, or this, and definitely not this.

I'll eventually go see a doctor just to rule out the other things associated with Raynaud's, but in the meantime does anyone want to buy me a lifetime supply of hand and toe warmers? You'd be saving me from gangrene. Cause nobody likes the awkward gangrene girl.
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2/28/12

PoW: Feb 19-26

I don't technically have a Photo of the Week this week. I mean, I did take some photos. But I hardly think that my white fingers (I'll explain another time) or Michelle's lost mushrooms in the backseat of my car really qualify. But I did get this one of pretty Ben Lomond when I was in North Ogden for family dinner:


It may not have been taken with a Photo of the Week in mind, but I still love it. Of course I'm partial to anything North Ogden, but I think anyone would agree that it's pretty majestic. I have plans this summer to hike it. Or, as a friend suggested, hike the switchbacks up and then run along the top the rest of the way. Ha - we'll see if the altitude is too much for me!

Until then, I'll just be content to stare when I can. Ben Lomond is a very familiar sight that makes me a happy girl. And sometimes it's really nice to have something familiar to focus on while the rest of the world seems to stir so unpredictably all around.

And so, Ben Lomond: You. Me. Summer. Get ready.

2/21/12

Easton: 2 YRS

THIS KID. Sure, I'm biased because Easton is my nephew. But I'm pretty certain anyone would agree that he's adorable. He's one of a kind -- full of everything from sweet to sass. And to me personally, Easton is an example that good things (really good things) do come to those who wait. I'm very grateful for that understanding and for all of the love that Easton brings into our family. 

So everyone please pull out your baby shower ahhhs & ohhhs because it's about to get crazy cute up in here. Spoiler alert: dimples.

2/20/12

PoW: Feb 12-19

Mat Kearney!

2/14/12

2/14


Cause nothing says Happy Valentine's Day like a doily heart covering your face because your makeup has gone sour for the day.
So HAPPY VALENTINE'S!

And one of my very favorite smoochy love songs:

2/13/12

PoW: Feb 5-12

Say hello to Larry the Lion, my Valentine's box! Larry didn't win me a prize, but inside we both knew that he was a winner.
Minus the frustration of getting spray glue all over my phone, he was a real treat to make.

2/5/12

PoW: Jan 29 - Feb 5

Great Salt Lake
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1/31/12

W Family

Such a great family! It was cold out, but everyone braved it really well. Even the littlest of the bunch :)









1/29/12

PoW: Jan 22-29

Curlie is 7 months along! I promise I didn't make her lay on the ground all Sunday evening. But even if I had -- sacrifices need to be made in the pursuit of awesome pictures. Isn't it every pregnant woman's dream to have a feet, thigh, and belly shot?


And completely unrelated: a pretty song.

1/23/12

PoW: Jan 15-22

ZAC BROWN BAND!
A band that I've wanted to see for a long while now. Worth the wait.


And one of my Zac Brown favorites:

1/17/12

‘Cause that was the real you

Oh Mat. How does he manage to capture it just right every time?


‘Cause that was the real you running through the fields of gold wide open,
Standing in places no picture contains.
That was the real you, windows down, we could smell the mint fields crying,
Sing with the radio to a song we can’t name.
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1/15/12

PoW: Jan 8-15


Strawberry Reservoir

1/8/12

PoW: Jan 1-8

Pretty January colors


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