a cruel joke......or maybe it's a sign

I order groceries online and they are always sending me the weekly specials.  Remember yesterday, when I  said I was going to have to spend less time with my friend Oreo Cookie?  Well, today, I opened my e-mail and what to my wondering eyes should appear, but the black and white cookies that I hold oh so dear!!  For FREE!!!  And all I have to do is spend what I normally would anyway.  Bastards.  Like willpower isn't enough of an issue for me already.

Is it a sign that maybe I'm not supposed to kick the Oreo habit yet?  Or is it a test?

On the upside, I saw my PT today and she said I'm getting stronger and my flexibility has increased! I'm still only allowed to run every other day but I can increase my mileage up to 10 miles per week.  Kind of a downer when I told her I am planning to run the Get Lucky Triple 7 Half marathon in March and she said, "I didn't hear that!"  She redeemed herself in my eyes when she followed that with, "You might not be able to run much at all for the rest of that week."  So I more or less got her blessing.  Yay!!

got my first donation to ACS!

A big thank you to Mr. Nils K. for kick-starting my campaign!

I'm feeling kinda good about things.  I am finally able to do a relatively pain-free plank after doing whatever it was I did to my abdominal muscle.  And I've been running on the treadmill and the knee is feeling pretty good! Have to hang on to those good feelings because tomorrow I go back to kettlebell/TRX circuit class and I know I'm going to get my ass handed to me again.  I'm so excited to be getting my training underway and to actually have a training plan that includes more than just running.  Hope the knee, hell, for that matter, my entire body figures out soon that it just has to suck it up.  The mind has to convince the rest of the gang that training for a marathon is gonna be fun!

On a sadder note, it's time to stop spending so much time with my good friends Oreo Cookie and Don Julio.... I've gained about 10 pounds during my time off from regular exercise, probably directly related to my close personal relationship with the friends mentioned above.  (Note: as an FYI and before you freak out thinking I'm tossing back shots on a regular basis, Don Julio is NOT the kind of tequila with which you do shots - it's meant to be savored!  So jump back.)  And thank heavens I don't have any daughters selling Girl Scout cookies this year.  I LOVE LOVE LOVE Thin Mints and have no trouble putting away an entire sleeve in a few short minutes.  I swear, though, there are fewer cookies in those sleeves every year.....

the eagerly awaited link to donate to ACS is here!

Despite the fact that Grandma's Marathon is not going to be an "official" ACS race, I'm still going to raise funds for them.  You can click on the link at the top of the page or right here to get to my donation page.  You'll recognize the same lovely picture of me running slowly to the finish of the WRTC 10 mile.

To paraphrase the motto of Chicago elections from days gone by, feel free to "donate early and donate often!"

is it possible to pull a muscle in your abdomen??

If it is, I've done it.  As you (my millions of readers) know, my abs were a tad sore after getting my ass kicked in that kettlebell class.  I thought I was pretty well recovered with just a hint of pain in the left lower abdomen.  So I was at PT this morning and went to get in plank position when something "popped" in said left lower abdomen.  It hurt like hell and made even attempting a plank impossible.  If I turn or stretch wrong I get a super sharp pain.  I was planning to go to kettlebell/TRX class for more torture tonight but decided I better not risk further injury.  I am sick and tired of all these lame injuries!!!  I mean, if I'm going to be sidelined, can't it have been caused by something sexier than falling while walking the dog or straining a muscle in an exercise class?  I think I'm going to tell people my injuries are from bungie jumping in Katmandu.  (I actually do know someone that went bungie jumping in Katmandu - although miraculously, despite what appeared to be a very rickety platform and some questionable harness connections, no injuries were incurred - and I always thought that was the coolest cocktail party conversation starter EVER.)  I think both of my injuries (knee and abdomen) could have been caused by bungie jumping.  No one needs to know that the details don't quite line up.

kettlebells and pain

I cannot believe how sore I was after that kettlebell/TRX class.  I had no idea I am so very very out of shape! My entire body ached and my abs..... Oh.My.Gosh. were they sore.  Having said that, I'm hooked on that workout!  Obviously works the entire body and makes it pay for high consumption of Oreos and Don Julio anjeo.

I have been cleared to run every other day.  Unfortunately, I had a total wipeout while walking the dog two days ago.  It was cartoon-worthy: ice hidden under freshly-fallen snow.....my feet flew out from under me and I was parallel to the ground before slamming down on my left shoulder and knee.  That would be the bad knee.  Should have worn the damn yaktrax.

I'm doing better today but not still sure if I want to risk running outside -  aside from the ice-induced dangers it's really cold! Plus there won't be any cheering spectators, hot chocolate or a voucher for a free beer for finishing my run like I had in the Polar Dash.  Guess I'll have to look inward for my motivation.  Dang.

and the first race of 2011!

Ready to rock 'n' roll and hopefully avoid the slip 'n' slide.

Polar Dash 5K.
Pretty cold and windy morning (7 degrees, -10 windchill) but this run is tons of fun!  I promised my PT I would run even slower than usual and walk if needed to baby my knee.  Finished with 11:03 pace.  Not horrible and the knee feels fine.  Whew!

OMG, I did my first ever Russian Kettle Bell/TRX circuit class yesterday and it kicked my ass.  I'm pretty sore today but I have to say, I loved that class!  I'm told I need to strengthen my core so I'm less likely to hurt myself when running, so why not try to get some killer abs while I'm at it? The dream (of killer abs, that is) is still alive!

last race of 2010

Holy crap that's a lot of people

I like running - yes; blogging??  Maybe not my strong suit.  Oh well, on we go. Things are going to get much more interesting and bitchaboutable once I really start training for Grandma's.

Finally found out what's wrong with my knee.  Baker's cyst.  I'm told physical therapy should make things all better.  Hope so!  I'll look kind of funny if I have to make some type of contraption to pull my leg along with me. Kind of like those poor dogs who have their back legs on a little wagon thingy.

Ran the last race of the year on Saturday, December 4th.  It was a great race to close out the year.  We had a fresh coating of about 7-8" of snow which made traction difficult - not to mention driving to the race and parking on unplowed Minneapolis streets - occasional high "Yikes!" factor.  But the crowd was lots of fun and I got to high-five Rudolph (he of the red nose) when I crossed the finish line. You can't beat that!