And then there's the nutritionist

This isn't moving along quite as stellar as I would like.  I know, it is all me but... 
So as part of the running group we did 2 events on nutrition. 

The first was with the one running coach.  He is all about food and nutrition.  I might even call him obsessed.  But that's not a bad thing when you can pick someone's brain on the subject.  As a result of those conversations it was suggested that perhaps I wasn't getting enough protein.  So I started tracking my food.  I reopened my MyFitnessPal app and started logging in the food.  What a miserable task that is.  Well it turned out that not only was I not getting enough protein, it appeared I was not getting enough food.  I wasn't getting enough into my menu on a daily basis.  And then I found myself binging on bad foods at least once a week.  A brick of cheese and a box of crackers is NOT A MEAL!!!!  But I was hungry.

So the second edition on nutrition, they brought in a nutritionist.  And that was a broader view on what to eat before a workout, during a workout and after a workout.  FYI - I historically do not eat before a workout.  I have coffee when I get up but a meal does not happen.  I hated our Tuesday night runs because my stomach and digestive track just seemed so full all the time.  And to think about eating while working out?!?!  To date my workouts hadn't been THAT long.  Well at least in my mind they hadn't.  Little did I know.

So that's when I decided I would meet with her individually.
As it turns out - wow, there is a whole lot more food in my day that I need to be getting in my day.
We have broken it down into carbs. meat, dairy, fruits, veg, fat.  So far I have mastered breakfast.  At least when I am on the road and on work days.  Lunch when I plan ahead seems to be coming along ~ok~.  Well except when I travel.  Why do people want to eat so much food for lunch.  UGH!  And dinner is a struggle.  I think I have decided that soup after a workout is the easiest way to get all the food groups in a quick and easy manner. 

I was supposed to be down a whole bunch of pounds by now.  I was doing well for a bit there.  And then life on the road and the holidays kicked in.  So we continue to go back to the drawing board.  Hey, this is meant to be a lifestyle change and it is a work in progress for sure.

The latter part of 2014

Shall I recap the last few months or maybe I should start off where I stand right now... Hmmm...

Well the second half of 2014 saw me joining a running group that I have kept up with since June.  Not sure that my running has improved but I think it has.  My longest run at this time has been 8 miles.  It wasn't fun but I did it.  My longest unofficial timed run was a 10k.  Technically I missed the group's 10k as I was in Nova Scotia at the time.  So instead I mapped out 6 (VERY HILLY) miles and made a go of it.  The last official race I did was back on a cold oh so cold (20s) Saturday in November.  The majority of the group did a half marathon.  Let's be honest my ability to train for long distances with my work travel is hard.  So I did the 5k instead.  The nicest part about it - surely not the cold - was that I took a minute off my average mile pace.  YAY me. 

So now, I am looking to take that pace and make it a bit faster.  If I can get to an average 12 minute mile pace I would be happy.  In time if I could get it to 10 minutes it would be like high school again.  Yeah, don't hold your breath on that one.

So today we are off to do some speed work (hopefully before the rain) to keep focusing on that goal.

As for the running group.  It is in a weird state of transition at the moment.  Most runners wanted to take a break after their half marathons and around the holidays.  So it has dwindled down to just me and another woman that I have been running with.  Even our coach seems to have lost interest.  You know that's when I probably am at my best - bucking the system and all.

A new group is supposed to kick on in in a few weeks time.  And they are assuming I will be there.  We shall see how that goes.  It is to prep for a race I am not going to do sooo....  I just don't know.

So sad we had to say good bye

As with my dad the rush of memories are just exhausting and wonderful.  I just wish we had more time.  Will miss you always. 

Little guy

Ben Howard - Highland Drifting

No run

We interrupt the previously scheduled morning run qith a dog emergency.

For those that know me I make a conscious effort to note my food when I am truly focused.  Which I have been.  And I noted too much wine the other night and the subsequent sandwich and chips the next day.  And I noted the healthy food as well.

The culprit I always try to stay on top of.... fresh beets! 
You know the color goes through the system pretty much unaltered.  Had a doctors visit on the subject alone.  Inagine my embarrassment.

So this morning getting the dog is his cart and I notice a ting of red in his urine.  I take him outside to go potty and eat.  Sure enough crazy red urine.

Text my friend the pharmacist.
Call the vet.
Text a friend just to calm down. Their dog always has blood in urine problems.

And then I come back inside.  There is a dish on the floor by his corner.  I curse that it didnt make it in the dishwasher last night. Mutter mutter mutter as I bend down tom pick it up.

BEETS!  I had beets this week.  Bacchus had the bottom of the plate goodness from them last night.

Called the vet back. Cancelled the appointment.  And made a note to not only remember what I eat but to also remember what scraps I give the dog.

Now to swim.

Phew

Friend swim today

My friend's neighborhood pool opens early for lane swimming. So we are going to try to do that this morning. 
We were to meet at 7.  It's been postponed to 8. I am thinking she had Friday night plans.
So I guess I'll get up now amd do a quick run.
Haven't worked out since Tuesday.
Blek

love the angst anger sadness

swam some
ran some
this week...
and then got sidetracked...  thunderstorms and all
try again this weekend...
signed up for a 10k training course- not sure what that will be
not doing the related race as I will be in Halifax

http://youtu.be/dc-zMUlznAA

Swim bike fish produce

Ok maybe not exactly what one would expect.
Finally got myself going this morning.  Waking up in my own bed with a window open and the overall peacefulness of a May morning made it hard to motivate too quickly.
Got up did laundry made coffee and finally hit the road.
I am a bit unnerved for next Sundays.  I am so not ready for the race.  When you spend so many weeks on the road training is impossible.  People have inferred I should plan better that is achievable.  Folks thats not really true.  There arent enough hours in some days.
So here I am a week out.
I swam the wee little 200 yards for th sprint racing in the outside pool. At 2 minutes per 100 yards my pace was rushed. Colder water. Nerves. Will do it again tomorrow and Monday and Tuesday and Thursday and Friday.
I rode for 40 minutes. I would say I pushed that too.  There were no hills on those rides in Orlando. Never realised the huge difference.
No run yet for today.
Got gas on the way home AND went to the new fish market... scallops, flounder,  salmon..
Then stopped at produce market.

The afternoon consisted of prepping the fish.  More laundry. Scrubbing the patio.  Killing som weeds. Pruning the oleander.

Next up a shower.  Trying my darnedest to lay low this weekend. 

Jimmie Johnson (@JimmieJohnson) tweeted at 6:30 PM on Fri, May 23, 2014: Hey coach – think I earned my Blue Bunny pit stop today. http://t.co/GB5bxAej5M #BlueBunnyWinBig for $20,000 vacation http://t.co/Pwq7RfRW7o (https://twitter.com/JimmieJohnson/status/469968526216687616) Get the official Twitter app at https://twitter.com/download

And the rest of the week

We bought 4 days worth of tickets to try to take it slow around the park.  Days one and two seemed to work out OK for that.  Days 3 and 4 really rushed by.

We spent the whole day at EPCOT on day 3.  It was supposed to be a late start day with the intent of staying until the light show.  Late start didnt really register.  I think we were there by 10.  And we did stay through until to end.  Probably should have gone a little later on that day.

Day 4 was Magic Kingdom with the end of the day at EPcOT.  We did OK with that except WOW was I grumpy grouchy and tired yesterday morning.
We used the FastPass+ pretty effectively yesterday.  No wait for Pirates, Big Thunder Mountain or Splash Down Mountain.
Waited forever for Peter Pan ride.  Still not sure why that thing is so popular. 

From there we rode the monorail over to EPCOT. That is always a must.  Its like a lot more memories travel with me to this place than the new ones that are made.  If that makes any sense.
We waited in line for Test Track.  Actually it was easier than trying to coordinate with a FP+.  It is a fun ride.  For all the rides, I remember the exhibits as a child seemed more interesting and less silly video game oriented. Hmmm... 
From there we walked over to the United Kingdom for lunch.  Ate way too much!  Guess we didnt really need those crisps or mushy peas with the bangers and mash... 

The evening was just a crash...  back to the room a little after 5.  We took naps, baths, watched a movie and went to bed.

Today is a slow day.  Trying to motivate to get on my bike.  Then I guess there will be some pool time.  And then some shopping,  dinner and packing.

Tomorrow's ride home is always a chore.  Especially trying to balance our exit time in light of Orlando commuter traffic.

Was a good park day

Breakfast at Animal Kingdom Lodge.
Bike ride over lunch.
Afternoon into evening at Holywood Studios.
Saw the Beauty and the Beast show.  Had not seen that before.
Did the Backstage Tour. Hadnt donw that in ages.
Did a Walt Disney exhibit.  With a Julie Andrews narration gosh it made me sentimental for the man and his dreams.
Saw Fantasmic.  That was an interesting night show.
My mom watched some Star Wars fireworks as I screamed my head off on Tower of Terror.  Have never ridden that before.  Um, wow.  I tell myself 4 seconds to get to the bottom.  That is generally true.   But when you drop like that 3 times...  I was out of breath.  Feel a little hoarse.  Stomach/diaphragm feel a little out of sorts. Legs wobbly. And I wont dare share the other aspect of it.  I would ride again.

Hope she is feeling better tomorrow.  She did OK today.

Animal Kingdom and Magic Kingdom fireworks.

At Walt Disney World

Feeling a bit stressed. My mom fell yesterday... last time I had that car accident... what is it with this place...
To see her bounce off the sidewalk sitting there all the people came rushing over in the heat of the late day sun...
Not sure if her wrist is broken.  It is pretty bruised.  She doesnt want to have it looked at yet.  Ugh..
The biggest thing I have learned is I am not ready for this.  To be the caretaker.  To be older.  I dont think she is either.  Dinner was to be a nice late Mothers Day event and it just didnt go that way.
In light of recent events - and I suspect you know what they are - the fall just threw me for a bit.

Rode my bike around our resort yesterday.  That was nice.  Might try that again today or tomorrow.  We are going to breakfast at Animal Kingdom Lodge this morning.  Then going to check out this Star Wars Weekend thing. 

I guess this is a lesson in one day at a time.  Slow down. Pay attention.  Take care of yourself.  Take my vitamins.

Yes the head is still swimming even after a good nights sleep.

sinuses are hell!

it starts with the dry air of the plane ride...  it always leaves me felling just a bit dehydrated...
then you add to that the dry forced air of the hotel room...  I always tinker with the thermostat to try to get the right mix of air...
but then drop me down in the middle of the desert - UGH!!!
and when we weren't outside in the dry air we were in the casinos with the forced air and oxygen and who knows what else floating around... add to that staying out WAY TO LATE - silly piped in oxygen
and you wake up Sunday with a sore throat.. nothing I can't handle.  I have all my travel gear with me EXCEPT my cough drops...  but I seemed to do OK
by Sunday night - maybe not so much - self medicated with a ginger beer Jameson concoction followed up with a jalapeno infused beer...  they did a nice job of numbing the discomfort
Monday was ~ok~ Flight back - unpack repack do it all again...
Somewhere in there this week I just didn't kick it.
More hotel air and LOTS of pollen throughout Virginia.. 
I was close to beating myself up for stupid late night partying after the wedding until my friend confirmed her son is really sick with allergies as well.. he is my litmus test of sorts...
So I sadly stayed in for the better part of today.  It is beautiful outside.  I so wanted to swim, bike, run....  but I have been hacking up stuff and sneezing and just general malaise..
SO I downloaded pics from Vegas... perhaps friends of friends can see them, I am not completely sure
gonna have some soup and orange juice now and call it a day in..
the bike is still on the trainer so if I get so inclined I can do that.. as I hack up another lung
if only I had an ocean to dunk my head in

Vegas was fun

Very interesting.

VEGAS tomorrow...

going for a wedding... so much better than the world of concrete or whatever that was...
and a little less strenuous than the tri I was thinking of competing in as an excuse to visit...
and I only have one bag to check not a bike to check - still not sure how all that goes..

so I packed my little journal to write write write...  I had forgotten how fun the written word and thoughts were versus the typing...
and I don't have a book to read - rob lowe was gonna come along but never got over to the bookstore..
too close to the earthy crunchy store the dude works at..
I have a few magazines from a friend.. that will keep me somewhat entertained...

and I will comment upon my return as to my overall thoughts.. and try to remember how to share pictures...  like did you ever see the Ireland Ireland or London pictures... 

there really are days when i cant do it all

yesterday included face to face meetings, desk time back at the office, prep for today's face to face meetings, realization that prep for Thursdays meetings wont happen until today, house cleaning, dog walking, packing unpacking....  I cant wait for Disney...

Walk Run Stretch

I don't feel sore form yesterday but I suspect that could be up for debate tomorrow.

Today after spending most of the day tinkering around the house.. Laundry dishes cooking groceries etc..  I relaxed over a LATE brunch.  And eventually took it outside for a 2.6 mile walk run.  And a T25 Sunday Stretch.  

All in all a good day.  

The little guy did amazing today with his wheel harness.  I think he is tired and sore too.

5 days to Vegas.

Booked my Red Rocks and Hoover Dam tours this evening.  

Bike run swim

So timing and some misinformation had me riding the bike on the trainer ths morning.

46 minutes. 200+ calories.  Distance unknown.  Wouk guess 8 to 9.

Ran for 2.5,  I was trying to get 5000 steps in.  Took about 35 minutes.  

Then. Swam.  Just 500 yards.  My body was screaming at me...  YOU HAVENT DONE THIS IN AGES!!!

Now a soak in the tub.

Then off to a haircut.

And then I might venture out by myself for a late lunch.

The perks of giving up on the flighty boy...  I am not waiting around for him to confirm if he ants to run with me.  I am not waiting around to find out about lunch.  I am not rearranging anything to accommodate him.  Sadly I arrived at the same conclusion almost 4 years ago.  I was more hopeful this time.  Kept my patience longer.  But gave up nine the less.

Tomorrow is pack for Vegas day and whole lot more.

Swimming

NO CONTACTS! No crazy dry eye.

Only did 600 yards but that is 600xs more than I did a week a month a quarter ago.