Happy Turkey Day + 5 weeks

Not much to say here, folks. I'm just trying to keep my workout schedule as consistent as possible with the circus family, in town this week for Thanksgiving. Kidding about the circus part mom, don't take offense. I'm hoping to run at least 5 days this week, and was able to get in a swim yesterday during lunch...chances of getting on my bike this week are slim to none, but I hope to return to some normalcy next week. And, did I mention we got another dog? Yah, well we did, so my sleep schedule has been off as we are trying to teach my human babies dogs, not to jump on our bed at night. So, yeah...

I'm also trying to enjoy my last few weeks of semi-unstructured training before January hits and Ironman training begins. I am petrified so excited to begin this journey towards becoming an Ironman. Who wouldn't look forward to 18-20 hours of training per week + a 40 hour work week? Sounds fun, no?

I hope everyone has a happy turkey day everyone!

Guest Post from Flash the Bassett Hound

Hi, my name is Flash the Bassett Hound, and I was recently adopted by some fabulous people, The Ruyle's. I am a dog-and-a-half long and half-a-dog tall. I weigh 50 lbs and I was put on this earth to entertain everyone. My mommy is obsessed with basset hounds and while googling images of basset hounds like me, she came across the following photo. She was distraught to find this on the internet, and I felt it was my duty as a bassett to blog about it.

Check out the sign in the city center of Prague. Is this some sick stereotype against those of us vertically challenged? What kind of sick Euro trash decided a Basset was "perfect" image to put on this sign? I am officially dog-cotting the Czech Republic.

Sbohem (Czech for Goodbye),
Flash Toby Ruyle

** okay, people, I might be officially crazy by blogging as a dog. Please take my directly to the looney bin. K, thanks.

Fat.Kids.Paradise

Today was our office Thanksgiving lunch. After seeing some of the things people were bringing (frito pie, fried turkey, pie galore) I secretly considered packing my own lunch and scarfing it down before our office lunch and then claim sickness at the office lunch. I try to be a healthy eater (although for the past month I've not been doing good and my pants are fitting a little tighter. Me no likey, and so I have vowed to return to healthier eating). Anyway, my eating habits are always strange to my office mates which make these luncheons a bit uncomfortable for me. I get the odd looks and comments regarding my plate - "What you don't want any fried bologna." Hell to the no. I run, people. And, fried bologna will do nothing but make me want to crap my pants on a run. Sorry, but that is the truth.

So, back to the luncheon. Before the luncheon I scarf down a banana and a Clif bar. I arrive and quickly scan the table for something I can eat. I thank sweet baby jebus when I see that someone has brought salad and fruit. I fill my plate with copious amounts of salad, fruit and a handful of wheat thins. I avoid the fried turkey, frito pie, fatty fat casseroles, donuts, pies, cookies (and more) like the plague.

That's when the comments begin. There is one girl in particular who my eating habits really seem to bother, because she must always comment on my plate. "Oh my god" she says, "You are not even eating any turkey." Sorry sweetheart, I want to say, but I do see that you have 2 pieces of pie in front of you so please just proceed with your meal.

I come back to my office, eat some granola and pray that we do not have a Christmas Office lunch.

Casual Racing? No such thing.

I lied or was self-delusional when I stated in my previous post that I wasn't going to "race" San Antonio, but was going to just "run for fun." I'm just too freaking competitive for that. I get in the race environment and just want to go go go! There is no holding back.

I finished yesterday's marathon in 3:20:19, which was my 2nd best marathon time so far, and 12 minutes better (!) than last year. It wasn't pretty though. It was hot. And humid. I was actually feeling good until mile 20. I started to get light headed from the humidity at that time. The last six miles were painful, but I was able to pretty much maintain a consistent pace and just told myself to keep moving forward. I was hoping to break 3:20, but close enough. I feel blessed to have had such a good race when many others struggled. I'm gunning for a 3:15 at Houston in January.

Hubbs (Dan) had a great race as well. I'm so proud of him! 13.1 miles on little training, done and done. Way to go Dan the Man!

Last week's total:
Run: 61 miles
Swam: 5200 yds
Let's not talk about the bike.

TGIF!

It's been one helluva a week, and I am so glad that Friday has finally arrived!

My crappy week was sparked by my car getting broken into in broad day light at the Rec Center Tuesday while I was swimming during lunch. Yes, someone smashed the glass in on the passenger seat of my car and helped themselves to my purse, wallet, Iphone and wedding rings (I put them inside my purse when I work out b/c I didn't want to leave them in the lockr room). Apparently, it was my bad to think my belongings would be safe in a locked car in broad daylight. I spent the rest of Tuesday talking to the police, insurance and trying to remember all of the credit/debit cards and other information in my wallet that I needed to cancel or could lead to identity theft. Pain.in.the.butt.

I've also been behind the ball at work getting things ready for the Cupid's Chase 5K that we put on in February...mostly because the City rejects every.single.race.course. we propose. So annoying.

So enough for being Debbie Downer here, but that's been the cause of my stress and lack of sleep this week...so not great conditions when preparing for Sunday's marathon. But, I know I can easily complete the distance, it is really doesn't matter what my time is...I'll just go have fun with it, and if I have a good race then great. If not, there's always others!

I'm looking forward to getting out of town this week, especially heading to run Rock and Roll San Antonio, which is always such a fun & positive environment. Have a great weekend!

Quote of the Day

"Formulate and stamp indelibly on your mind a mental picture of yourself as succeeding. Hold this picture tenaciously. Never permit it to fade. Your mind will seek to develop the picture...Do not build up obstacles in your imagination."
-Norman Vincent Peale

P.S. Run for the Water 10-miler results & my recap I posted on Dailymile:
Time: 1:09:49 (goal time was 1:11:40)
My goal was to run 7:10 min/mile splits, and I wrote my splits on my arm (classy I know) to try and say on track. I didn't feel great the first half and was off pace and starting to stress...
Got my second wind half way through and finished 2 min under my goal time.
1st five miles were at 7:12 pace, 2nd five miles were at 6:46 pace. Think it just took me a while to wake up! My first 10-miler running sub-7 min miles (just barely!)

P.P.S. So excited to San Antonio this weekend!!!!

Lazy Saturday

It's 3:00 pm, and I am in my sweat pants and ready to spend the rest of the day on the couch watching the movies I rented from Blockbuster (The Women & The Soloist) and read (Buster's Midnight Cafe). Flash and I have the house to ourselves while Dan goes off to Southwestern to enjoy free beer the Homecoming festivities. I've picked up my race packet for tomorrow and am excited to relax for the rest of the day. Ah, I love lazy Saturday's.

I decided against "racing" the 5k at Southwestern this morning, and instead to pace Dan. We finished in 24:41, which ironically I won my age group with that time, even though it's over 4 minutes slower than my usual 5K times (no offense Dan). How did the pacing go you ask? As expected, Dan became angry as hell annoyed with me by mile 1.5 as I told him to get his ass moving up the hill and pick up the pace. This is the second time I've paced him in a race - the last one being last Thanksgiving when I yelled at him for getting passed by a pregnant lady. Tough love my friends, tough love.

Happy Saturday! Tomorrow is race 2 of the distance challenge: Run for the Water 10 miler.

Put Down the Snickers and Step Away from the Candy Dish

Slowly...alright, now slowly turn around and step out of the kitchen altogether. Good girl. Now, I want you to go to your room...no, don't be looking back at the kitchen, there is nothing there for you..focus....good job. Okay, put on your running clothes. No, those are your lounge-around-the-house clothes. What? You think I don't know the difference? I've been around the block,you know. Stop complaining cuz I don't care. You've been a candy eating machine for over a week and it ends today. Now go! Good, we're making progress here. Yep, that outfit will do. Sure you don't want to wear a tank top instead? Well, I hardly think the middle finger was a necessary response. Get dressed. I said, GET DRESSED!! Alright, get your shoes on. Get your watch and iPod. Whatever.....you freaking know where it is so stop acting dumb. Sigh. Middle freaking drawer. You are starting to piss me off. Okay let's go. Nope-not to the kitchen. No, you don't need a drink, you just want candy. Let's go. Baby steps, baby steps. Good....almost there.....and here we go!

Rockin' and Rollin' in San Antone

I've been a horrible blogger. Not that I don't have a zillion thoughts running through my head, but sitting down to write them has been another story.

Last week's totals were nothing to brag about, but I told myself no structured training last week after big races the past 3 weekends. I just worked out when I felt like it and only 1 workout was at a high intensity. Here are last weeks numbers.

Swim: 1700 yds
Run: 48.75 miles

(I also ate a ton of food and halloween candy and it was delightful and I will not feel guilty)

I DID however do something exciting/certifiably insane on Saturday!! I convinced my husband to let me sign up and jump in and run San Antonio's Rock and Roll Marathon coming up on Sunday, Nov. 15. And, I also convinced him to sign up for the 1/2 marathon.

I'm really excited for several reasons: 1) I have good memories from this race, as it's where I BQ'd last year; 2) There are a ton of friends from running club who are running....so there will be lots of familiar faces; 3) I just love racing, marathons especially....and, I'm already in shape for it, so why not!!; 4) Dan got us a free hotel room with his points, so we don't have to fork out cash for a hotel....and good thing, hotels in SA are pricey. 5) The Rock and Roll marathons are fun!! The Los Lonely Boys are headlining the concert post-race, so we might even stick around an extra night to see the concert.

(I told myself I will not race San Antonio, just run for fun at a leisurely pace. But we all know that never happens.)

This Sunday is race #2 of the Austin Distance Challenge, the Run for the Water 10-miler. I've never ran this race before (I was injured last yr) so I'm not sure what to expect as far as the course. I've heard there are some hills, but it's downtown so that is to be expected.

On Saturday the Hubbs and I are running in a fun little 3 mile race at Southwestern. Since I'll need to rest my legs somewhat for Sunday, I may just pace Dan (but probably not because we all know how that would turn out)

Have a great week!