My ALS Ice Bucket Challenge

You have to be living under a rock if you haven't heard of the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge. This effort to raise money for the ALS Association has gone viral over the last few months with everyone from Jimmy Fallon to George W. Bush. I've dodged the nominations until today, and I accepted the challenge.

Please consider participating in the Ice Bucket Challenge or dontating to your favorite charity.

Miles logged: 0.0

Music Monday: Young Blood

Artist: The Naked and Famous
Title: Young Blood
Fave Line:



Miles logged: 0.0

Running after a long break

I started back running this week. I've been doing my best to protect my back until the stitches come out (MONDAY!). I was not restricted from running, but in all truthfulness, I didn't ask if I could. I was only told no bending or stretching and I don't do either of those things when I'm running!

I had two great sessions at the gym during the week. I had good pace, my legs felt great, and I was just plain happy to be running after a week off. I was nervous for my long run this week. Running on a treadmill in air conditioning is very different from running out in the heat and humidity with a camelbak. I was not optimistic about my chances of getting very many miles in. But somehow I was able to run 15 miles. It was difficult with the oppressive heat and upset stomach from the antibiotics, but I made it through. I am so relieved!

The stitches come out tomorrow, so hopefully I'll be back to my normal self!

Miles logged: 15.0

Music Monday: Stolen Dance

Artist: Milky Chance
Title: Stolen Dance
Fave Line: "I want you by my side, so that I never feel alone again"

Miles logged: 4.0

See ya, mole!

My severly atypical nevi (AKA bad mole) finally went bye bye forever today. After 6 weeks of waiting (until after the marathon) and one postponement, I had the mole surgically removed. The whole procedure took less than 30 minutes. It didn't hurt at all, but it was as awful as I remember.

The procedure is done under some quick acting local anesthetic. So you don't feel any pain, but you can still kind of feel everything that happens. It was pretty awful feeling the cutting, scraping, tugging, and stitching, but I couldn't feel the pain.  Kind of hard to describe, but think about what it feels like when you get a cavity filled at the dentist when you know what's happening, but it's all numb to you.

Despite it being a mole the size of a pin head, I ended up with 5 stitches and a set of completely sweat soaked clothes. I was shaking so badly that I could hardly sign the receipt at check out. But I was fine. My husband took me home and I worked from home for the rest of the afternoon. The numbing agent started to wear off around 6:30, so that's when I opened the bottle of wine!

I have a round of antibiotics and the stitches come out in 10 days. I'm limited to no bending or stretching my back so that I don't tear out the stitches. My doctor didn't say anything about not running, nor did I ask, so hopefully I'll be out there this weekend.

Miles logged: 0.0

Music Monday: Lightning in a Bottle

Artist: The Summer Set
Title: Lightning in a Bottle
Fave Line: "Don't give a fuck about tomorrow"

Miles Logged: 0.0

All Coconut Water is Not Created Equal

I'm not a big fan of coconut water. I've read about all the super-hydrating benefits, the electrolytes, and the massive amounts of potassium it packs, but I don't love the taste. I've tried most of the brands on the market and have decided that I'm not really into it. I try to drink it after a long, hot run to get my hydration back on track. Some brands are tough to get down. I like to get really gross and mix coconut water with chia seeds...try it out if you like extra funky stuff. It also has been known to upset my tummy. If I drank as much coconut water as my BFF, Dean Karnazes, did when he ran Badwater (8 gallons), I would die of dysentery.

You remember Oregon Trail, right?

When I was a kid, we lived in Asia and used to take weekend trips to remote islands in the Java Sea. My brother and I would bust open coconuts with a piece of rebar jutting up from the jungle floor and our dive knives (I almost cut off the tip of my pinky doing this once), guzzle the juice and eat the flesh of the fruit. It was sweet and hot and sticky when it flowed over your face. It tasted NOTHING like what you buy in the grocery store.

That being said, I was at Trader Joe's yesterday, buying up their supply of coconut water (I like their brand and only go once a month) and the cashier convinced us to try their "fresh" coconut water (OK, she gave it to us for free). It comes in a single serving, 12 ounce bottle and is in the refrigerated section. It boasts a single origin (this isn't wine people) and first press (nor olive oil), but I'm not sure it really makes a difference. The flavor was good, sweet and not too salty, but not as good as the stuff from my childhood.

Miles logged: 12.0

Shiny New Shoes

I have worn out my old Altras. I'm not sure how many miles I've put on them, but it is definitely in excess of 500 miles. They form fit to my feet; each of my toes has their own indentation. They are so comfortable!!

However, my arches have been hurting after my long runs, so I knew it was time to look for a replacement pair. I found the same pair on clearance a few weeks ago! Not wanting to change shoes right before the marathon, I left the shoes in the box and took them out for the first time today. 

Though they were the exact same model as my old ones, I started to get a hot spot on my left toe. There's no blister, but I'm glad I didn't try to wear these for the race. They definitely need a bit of wearing in. 

Miles logged: 4.0

Music Monday: Riptide

Artist: Vance Joy
Title: Riptide
Fave Line: Running down to the riptide, Taken away to dthe dark side

Miles logged: 0.0