Busy as a bee

It seems that when life gets busy, running/exercise is the first thing that is dropped or pulled back on.  Life lately definitely counts as busy.

At the moment, I continue to spend my weekends in Binghamton NY, and my weeks staying at the Best Western Capital Beltway in Lanham Maryland. (I recommend this hotel if you are looking for a place to stay to visit DC.  The staff is professional, the place is kept clean and tidy and it is far less expensive than staying in Virginia/DC. Plus it has a killer breakfast included in the price.)  Its hard, as I miss my family - but long term it is fantastic.

On August 8th, my son turned 10.  That was a VERY rough week to drive away from home.  The week before I had been in Maryland, and wished my father a happy birthday over the phone.  I have been at his house sharing is very excellent German Chocolate Cake for the last several years. (I do have to admit however, he saved me a piece and gave it to me when I was back on the weekend.  My mother makes the BEST German Chocolate Cakes!)  The idea of missing my son's birthday several days later?  It was ripping me apart.

Things have a way of working out however.  I was visiting one of our sites in Baltimore, and she suggested that I email the CEO asking to leave early, and head up.  Unsurprisingly - he gave his consent, and I headed back to NY.  I got to pick my son up from the Boys and Girls Club, and spend his birthday evening with him.  This was a HUGE surprise for him, as he thought we were just going to do his birthday via Skype!  I then got up at 2:30 AM, and drove back to work.  

You can see how I happily gave up my workouts for a couple of days, so that I could spend my son's birthday with him!

Weekends are spent packing/cleaning/family time - so my running goes to nothing then as well.  I am maintaining running tues-thursday, but the complete lack for four days of every week is definitely hurting my stamina-building.   But now the good news.

We have put a deposit down on a town home in Crofton Maryland!  The town seems marvelous, and the number of runners is insane!   It is a good thing that I run with my phone - as I have no doubt I am going to get lost as I learn the area.. I see lots of "5 mile runs" turning into far longer... And possible calls to come get picked up!  We are moving on the 15th of September (So if any of my dear readers have made it this far in the non-running post, AND live near by - feel free to send me an email if you would like to help us un-pack!)

I had signed up for the Marine Corps Marathon this year.  And while I am not ruling it out, HOW I will run it has drastically changed.  I am thinking a nice run/walk combo - with a goal of 12 minute miles.

Yup, you read that right.

Its an interesting time to be me.. And I wouldn't have it any other way!

Fitness while traveling

[caption id="attachment_1633" align="alignleft" width="323"] My friend at the Best Western Capital region![/caption]

It's funny to me, that you often read about people who stop their work outs while traveling.  Now this DOES make sense to me if you are staying at cousin Vinny's house.  I'm willing to bet some pretty good money that Vinny doesn't have a small gym set up for anytime he has visitors.

One of the nice things about staying at a hotel - is that most of them DO have some sort of gym and pool.  Now, I admit I have found out here in the Washington D.C. area - that the pool is not the least bit useful to work out in.  There will be no doing laps when busloads of children are in there enjoying their summer vacation!   But this hotel does have a small gym.  For my purposes - it has a treadmill, which is what I need to re-start my running hobby.  I can't say how much I have missed it.  Those miles do seem a lot longer than I remember however... :)

ch ch ch ch changes.....

[caption id="attachment_1623" align="alignright" width="300"] All ready for my first day! Nervous as HECK I might add![/caption]

"Turn and face the change...."

The last month and half have brought a whole lot of changes, some happy, some sad, some both and some that are down right scary.  I am sitting and typing this up from the Best Western Capital Beltway in Lanham, Maryland.  As my mailing address is in a small town called "Binghamton, New York" - it raises a question of why on earth am I five and a half hours from home?

Running is fun.. The other options? Seem lacking....

This not running has been a severe downer for me.  As you can tell from the lack of recent posts - I have not been doing much in the exercise/work out department.   I can honestly say that I do not know how Red kept her sanity with no running.  I also have this bizarre ingrained feeling - that if I cannot run 3 miles consistently (as my short run, not my long run) that I am not a runner.   The ultimate irony of this - is I do not hold anyone else to this standard.  I have friends that are out running 1 mile, and all I have for them is praise and assurance that as soon as they tie on those shoes and head out the door - they are a runner.  Yet for some reason I don't apply that to myself.

Since I enjoy running - I can (when I am physically able to do so without pain) get myself to get out and run.  I may not want to get out of bed, I may not feel like getting up off of the couch - but once I get outside putting one foot in front of the other, I enjoy it.  I mean I REALLY enjoy it.  I have tried starting (And will do it) Insanity a couple of times.  I have gone bike riding. I have lifted weights using the "total gym."  Any of these are fun as a variety work out for me.  To do something different one day.  But I cannot get excited about standing in front of my TV for 45 minutes, 6 days a week.  I don't mind riding a bike outside, and have even found that short run - followed by a bike ride can feel good (emotionally and physically.)  While I am happy to run in the rain, cycling doesn't work out so well and this limits me when we have had the amount of rain we have had in the last couple of weeks.  I had debated riding a bicycle to work to help get exercise, but the rain has prevented that one too.

Productive Weekend! 3 Mile Run (WOO HOO!)

So, I have to say - as far as running and exercising is concerned - it was a productive weekend!

[caption id="attachment_1608" align="alignright" width="300"] Doesn't really fit today's posting. I just liked it![/caption]

I had decided I was going to try 3 miles this weekend - and headed out Friday evening to See how it felt.  It was odd.  Around the two-mile mark, I noticed I was limping - but my foot didn't hurt.  It was tight, but not painful (well, beyond the standard every day pain from Plantar Faciitis.)  Into the second mile, probably 2.5 miles or so - it was definitely moving into sore.  I iced and stretched when I got home, and figured I wouldn't run the next day or so.  But man did it feel good to run 3 miles. That's my distance that - for me - is "running."  If I can't do three miles (minimum) regularly, I don't feel that I am actually runner.

Speed and Agility Work

[caption id="attachment_1591" align="alignright" width="300"] My Daughter getting her awards from the Troop-Leader (Her mother!)[/caption]

Change of plans!  My daughter's final girl scout meeting of the year was last night.  This is the one where we have pizza, play games - and most importantly to the girls - they get their awards!

There were A LOT of awards!!!!  For my son's final cub scout meeting they got their ranks.  For girl scouts they got the whole kit and caboodle.  A pin for completing a year,  a whole bag of cookie incentives, badges,  a certificate and more!  Needless to say, the girls were very excited.  Follow it up with Pizza, girl scout cookies and Hawaiian Punch?  It was like a slice of heaven!

Now, I'm sure you are wondering how this is related to running, especially the Speed and Agility Work mentioned in the title. Well, while the girls were eating pizza, the boys wanted to go into the gym (scouts is held at a school.)  Well, before long freeze tag started up - and I seemed to usually be it.  Sprinting after kids, changing directions, etc for 30-40 minutes DEFINITELY counts as Speed and Agility Work!   I was WOOPED!  Fortunately I was wearing sneakers with my inserts in them, but that did not prevent me from icing my foot when I got home.  I also took one of my naproxin - which I had been weaning myself off of.

While I was rolling my little ice bottle on the floor - it made me realize how much less pain my foot has really been in.  I can run.  I can wear my VFFs (though I wear an elastic arch support around my foot), I can sprint and dodge on a hard gym floor.  I can walk all over philly, I can drink beer. (ok, that last one isn't related to running. But it IS tasty!)  It's interesting how we can get used to something like constant pain, which can make it harder to really see if it is getting better or not when it happens in little increments!

I'm going to keep up what I am doing - because it works.. I MIGHT even try a 3 mile run this weekend.  Though I have to admit I have concerns that this may be "too much too soon"

Insomina prevents early morning workouts...

So last night was one of those nights where I could hear every noise in the house, every thought in my head and everything that occurred last night.  Those nights are NOT conducive to an early morning workout!  But that's OK, because I really wanted to do a longer bike ride.  Those are easier to do at night when I have more time!

Tomorrow, I will let you know how far I made it!