It's Going

I'm really bad at blogging right now - sorry.  The new house continues to consume my life, but I love it here so it's worth it.  We're settling into suburban life pretty well - we still don't have any local friends but it's cool.  At this point we have:

• Family room painted and set up
• Master bedroom painted and set up
• Washer and dryer hooked up
• Light fixtures inside and outside replaced
• Family room furniture purchased
• Installed new refrigerator
• Office set up
• Guest room set up
• Hurricane avoided
• Bank account draining at the speed of light
• No time to exercise besides doing manual labor

By Saturday we will also have:

• The basement set up into another tv room
• The garden tended to
• All the twigs and shit picked up from the storm
• And a new friend...

I know, there were basically a million reasons not to get a dog right now but there was also 1 really good reason to get her.  The only reason we even bought this house was so that we could have a dog and then we found one we liked and felt compelled to bring her home.  She arrives on Saturday from a foster family in Mississippi.  If there is anything that I've learned in life, it's this: don't wait to be happy, make it happen.  That might sound overly dramatic, but why sit around and just wait for things to happen for you?  Figure out what you want, make a list if you must, and then take the steps you need to execute the items in a realistic fashion.  

She doesn't have a name yet... suggestions are welcome!

1st Suburban Run...God It Sucked

So I mapped out this 2 mile run on mapmyrun.com and I was like Ok this is going to be easy, I can just follow a route that is very simple... sigh.  Nothing is simple.  I quickly realized that the retarded route that I mapped out included a couple very main roads that were not ideal at all.  Also I kind of forgot how hilly towns are vs. Boston area.  My favorite treadmill setting is "rolling foothills" but this was so much harder and so much worse than my body has experienced in a long time.  In fact, my street is entirely uphill at various degrees for the last 1/2 mile of my run and it was so challenging for me (being out of shape + not being accustomed to hills) that a middle aged man came up behind me and asked me if I was Ok before blowing right by me.  I smiled and waved and that was that - it was just another mortifying moment in life.

This is probably the shortest run I've ever logged but hey, it's my first run in 9 days so I'm just happy that I got back out there before it was too late.  It was like 80 degrees and humid and when I got home Abe looked at me like, "what is wrong with you?!"  I was panting and sweating - and obviously this was not a good look for me.  Hopefully I can get back into decent shape soon because that was bad.  Real Bad.

We're In The House!

We are out of the city and into the suburbs and it's not as scary as I thought it would be. I mean the scary thing is actually that everyone out here is so freaking nice. Someone left us a door mat on our doorstep at some point during our moving and unpacking and its a mystery as to who it was. I mean sure it's probably a nice neighbor that came over to say hello or something and like left us a gift? Who does that? If that was someone in the city, I'd be like: hey stranger, get the fuck off my door step you psychopath! ... but you know it's just not like that here.

On Wednesday, we signed a million pieces of paper - many of which were the same things over and over and over again. Our lawyer (if you'd like to call him that) did a great job at keeping things real and organized and moving faster than the speed of light. The best part was when he said, "My wife got you a gift basket from Costco... you know it's nothing special, just something from Costco." Dude, if you are going to cheap out on something, don't admit it in front of a room full of 9 people, we paid you too much money for that. Later, we saw him at 8pm on a Saturday roaming Home Depot and he was dressed super casual and wearing a blue tooth headset as if he were about to accept an important call at any moment while wearing Adidas sandals and pushing around a cart full of wood in sales tax free New Hampshire.

We've moved many times: Somerville, Cambridge, Arlington, and now our most recent purchase outside of the city. This time was the

Only time that our movers were a let down. Here's a lesson to anyone who speaks another language and thinks that Americans are too stupid to understand you: we can sometimes understand you an it's insulting. Also, facial expressions do not lie. Also, taking 500 breaks makes your tips smaller you sons of bitches. I'm glad that ordeal is over, and they didn't break anything so I guess we should just like be happy about that. It's not like we didn't do anything ourselves, we moved an entire Jeep full of shit from one location to the next x2. I've never sweat at much as I did from Wednesday through yesterday, which is 6 days of nonstop sweating and wanting to die. My complexion is obviously amazing at this point, and did I mention that we were in a wedding on Sunday? We were, and 35 people asked me when we were going to have kids. Come on.

This house was "move-in ready", which is what people like to call non "fixer-uppers". That doesn't mean there isn't anything to do upon arrival! We had a lot of stuff to do: changed locks, changed light fixtures, magic erasered all the walls, took down a glass door, disinfected everything, vacuumed (it still smells like other people in here), cut the grass, trimmed the hedges, measured for furniture, bought bedroom furniture and family room furniture, measured for a fridge, bought a fridge, called an electrician, called a painter, called a plumber, assembled the guest room, installed cable and Internet (and land line dudes!) and that was all in just a handful of days. I unpacked boxes like a total mad woman, I think there are only 3-5 left, just because I couldn't stand the sight of them anymore. My legs are killing me from running up and down the stairs for the past week nonstop. I might be the strongest woman that I know, but don't be jealous because I'm also hideously covered in mosquito bites.

Things are coming along. One thing that is not coming along very well is my running. I haven't been able to find the time to get in a run, especially since I don't know the area and there aren't many sidewalks so I'm a little nervous about where to go. There is a high school down the street but who knows if there is a morning practice going on there or whatever. I'm going to try and map out a run tonight so the next time I can get out of here I can try it out. Sure I'm sort of training for a half marathon, but at the end of the day running is my hobby and getting settled into a house is just more important right now. It will happen again soon, and oh this is great, we were gifted a super new elliptical by my old neighbors! I'm so excited by this, I don't even like the elliptical but when it's free... it's like the best thing ever especially since I don't have a gym here yet. I might not get fat this winter guys!

So yes, we're still settling in, but having a house so far has been amazing. I love it, even the commute to the city isn't as bad as thought (only 45 mins. this morning!) so I'm slowly getting back into my regular routine and back to blogging now that we have the Interwebs.

Last Night in The City

What?  Do you people use plates and silverware to eat your dinner?  Well, all of ours are packed and we weren't about to create more trash than we have to.  It's funny how packing seems to be going really well at first, and then that last 10% is So Mother Effing Hard!!  It's sort of like losing weight - same concept.  This last little bit of stuff is really a battle, we even had to go out and get more boxes.

This morning, we closed on our new house and it was totally scary and bizarre.  Sitting across the table from the people who you bought property from is really strange... you're just like trying to figure each other out without saying a word.  We rapidly signed papers - we talked to our lawyer, they talked to their lawyer, and then we said goodbye and we went to the house to measure stuff so we could toss around more money we don't have.  It's funny how quickly you can spend a butt load of money on things like light fixtures, locks, assorted home improvement items, and appliances.  We ate Wendy's for lunch in order to make up for the shopping spree, but really it's a shopping spree that has no near end in sight with all the things we'll need to get.

We have a lot more stuff to do tonight before the movers come tomorrow at the ass crack of dawn and after that - I don't know if I'll have Internet access (Verizon strike has ruined our dreams of Fios)... so in the meantime here are all the things I'm going to miss about living in and around the city:

• Walking to nice restaurants, or just the ability to walk anywhere instead of driving
• Access to good food and good bars and being able to take cabs home
• Amazing running routes
• Road races all the time, all year round 
• Awesome high-end gyms
• Just being able to do whatever you want after work really easily
• Specialty stores
• Delicious ethnic takeout
• The cool and busy city vibe

And what I'm not going to miss about the city:

• The MBTA
• The jerks on the MBTA
• Everything from cotton balls to wine is more expensive
• Rush hour traffic - going 5 miles can take 40 minutes
• Always having neighbors above or below you
• City drivers
• Not being able to have a dog
• Not having enough space for Anything
• Not being able to paint walls
• Shoveling sidewalks and driveways that I don't own in the winter
• Not being able to have a treadmill for winter running
• College kids are Everywhere
• Jaywalkers
• The inability to use our grill in the summer

As you can see, I'm just about ready to leave the city... it's just been my life for the past 10+ years so letting go is not as easy as one would think considering all the things that I'm done with.  When it's time for a new phase of life, you just know and then you have to make it happen.

Last City Long Run ... tear

What did I do this weekend, you ask?  I should get a trophy for all the shit I did just on Saturday.  If you aren't from MA, then you don't give two shits that it's Tax Free Weekend - woot!  It just so happens to be perfect timing for our upcoming move.  I ordered 3 pieces of furniture, and was told to wait by the phone to know if all was kosher on Sat AM.  I waited.  While I was waiting, I helped the boys load up 2 cars to drive out to a fun filled bachelor party of idiotness including 1 dead pig and tennis raquet bug zappers.  I drove Abe out to the party, dropped and the pig off, and then dropped by Marshalls on my way home.  I got a couple house things, and then ran into the bagel shop and proceeded to choose the most unhealthy bagel and cream cheese combination on the menu.  I figured, hell why not?  I shoved it in my face as I drove the rest of the way home since I had a long run planned and I was starving.  

I was still waiting by the phone by the time I got home.  Seriously, WTF.  Finally, I was like - If I don't run now, then I'm never going to do this damn thing.  Enter brilliant idea with a bad attitude:

Yeah, it's only 1/2 brilliant and I totally realize how pink I am right now.  Sure it keeps my phone dry, but what it doesn't do is make it any lighter.  My phone is really heavy and was sort of awkward to run with.  The run itself was pretty much awful.  For the first time in a long time I hit "the wall" and wanted to DIE.  I hit the wall at mile 6 - as you can see below, and then somehow clawed my was through the rest of the run.  My legs wouldn't cooperate, my arms wouldn't cooperate, it was all so painful, the lactic acid was taking over my body and I knew the only way to make it stop was to get home dammit.  This was definitely one of those runs that made me think to myself, "WHY do you do this to yourself... you could be out at brunch you moron."

The splits are unimpressive.  I really wanted to run by the Charles River for my last long run while living in the city, and instead of being able to enjoy it, I spent 90% of the time dreaming of how good water would taste.

This run worries me for a bunch of reasons, but thankfully my right ankle, right arch, or left hip did not bother me the entire time.  I would like to thank excessive foam rolling for that relief.

After my ridiculously slow long run, I did Jillian Michaels 6 Week Till 6 Pack Abs because I was really going for total body pain.  Then I stretched, foam rolled, and ate lunch.  It was 4pm by this point.  4pm!!  My entire day had gotten away from me so obviously to compensate for that I decided to do a million things all at once - packed 6 boxes, went to Home Goods and TJ Maxx, dropped off donation stuff to my parents house, ate dinner, went to Bed Bath and Beyond, packed 6 more boxes, tossed like a hundred high school pictures where I look fat, and enjoyed a cider.  Sorry, no photo documentation of whirlwind day of being productive, because I was too busy running around like an insane person.

Hopefully, I'm less nuts today... but FYI moving in 4 days, and only 60% packed.

Physique 57: Arms & Abs

Holy Eff, this was really hard and it was only the condensed version.

Length: 30 minutes

Equipment: 2 light weights, 2 heavy weights, and a little ball the size of a dodge ball

Difficulty: medium to super freaking hard

This is just one dvd out of a series of 3 Physique 57 dvds that I have, and it seems that it might be the easiest of the 3 due to it being only 30 minutes.  I've done plenty of at home workout dvds before, from pilates to barre method to P90X, and honest to God - this is the most intense workout I've done so far.  Like any other workout there is a woman to watch to do the beginner version of the moves and then there is someone else to watch to follow the advanced version of the moves.  I stayed right in the middle of things and I even used only light weights the whole way through the arm section and it was pretty painful.  These women do not take breaks!  In P90X you're allowed multiple 30 second breaks to get water or like whatever, but not here, there's no rest for women who want to look good apparently.  The instructor urges you to keep going and not to stop because we don't want "jiggly arms"... I like her, she makes me feel bad about myself and then somehow good about myself at the same time.  The abs section was really good, there were a lot of moves that I've never seen before and that hurt in a new and very special way.  You use the ball throughout this section and either squeeze it between your legs or put it under your lower back or hold it and swing it around.  

This is most definitely a good workout and if you have any Kelly Ripa arm jealously, then maybe you should give this a try - she swears by Physique 57.

I'd say that this is a very good complement to my running, however, I can't imagine doing this 4 times a week.  It was worth my time for sure, and if you're looking for a new exercise dvd then this is one of the best that I've seen so far!

My Butt Hurts

[If this is your mother or your grand mother, I am sorry.]

This woman made me laugh.  We were under a bus stop and just so her head wouldn't get one drop of water on her, she broke out a very special rain hat.  My mother calls these "head condoms".  Yes, My Mother.  I emailed her this photo just for fun.

Today I woke up intensely sore from last night's mini series of weighted squats and side lunges.
3 x 15 reps of squats with a 10 lb. weight
3 x 12 reps of side lunges with 10 lb. weight
I swear to you, that's all it took to make me feel all kinds of ass soreness.

Walking is pretty painful but I figured that once I loosened up on the treadmill things would get better.  Oh no, that's not what happened.  Things never got better, and it was just too much.  My legs wouldn't cooperate, I couldn't even get a full stride going.  So like the winner I am, I gave up, walked for 6 minutes and got off the treadmill.  Instead, I spent 15 minutes foam rolling my butt all while getting funny looks from other gym members.  What?  You're never over extended yourself with squats and lunges?  Do I have really weak glutes?  The answer to that question is Yes.  The whole reason I get so many little injuries is due to the lack of all over strength in my body: arms, core, glutes, hamstrings, all the way down to my freaking toes.  So it's only fitting that while trying to amend this issue, I would push myself a little too far.  Anyways, as the day / night goes on, the more my butt seems to hurt.  it's like the lowest part of my butt right where the thigh hits.  Anyways, it totally sucks.

You know what else sucks?  Packing.  We've packed maybe 12 boxes and we have at least another 40 to go - damn all those wedding gifts! I am totally against e-readers because I love the feel of a book, I want my book to be paper, I want to run real pages, etc.  Right about now I really just want to throw all my books into a pile and burn them. Ok, not really, they were all very good books - the bad ones will be donated.  I'm so done with this yet I've only just begun.  We have way too much stuff, I can't even handle it.  We are moving in one week from tomorrow.  One Week!  We're so not ready.

Quick Post

Quick morning post:

I'm going to the beach for the first time this summer... with wine in my cooler.
I love my new Mizunos - no insoles are needed, further review to come.
My apartment is a disaster.  A cross between packing and a PT office. - sorry Abe.
All of my super tight muscles have finally relaxed.
Ankle pain gone for now - we'll see what happens after tomorrow's long run though.
I have to go to a dance club tonight - shoot me.
Abe was Not kidnapped in Columbia - woot woot!
Today will be my first time parallel parking our new SUV... watch out.

Have a nice Saturday!

The Importance of Strength and Flexibility

I foam rolled and stretched last night for close to 45 minutes and today my body feels almost like new.  Of course at the time it was super painful (how does this not leave bruises?), but it really was worth it!  I was supposed to run this morning but I just couldn't get out of bed - which I know is a terrible excuse, but I had time to get in a short run after work so it was no big deal.  In fact, I was feeling super motivated and thought today might be a good day to try out some mile repeats on the nearby track.  My Garmin had other ideas though, it was basically out of battery so I sat around and charged it and waited and waited and then finally I was like: Eff it, if I wait any longer I'm staying on this stupid uncomfortable couch!  So I strapped the watch on and I got out there and was surprised at how good I really felt.

Um, I have no idea where those splits came from - but I give all the credit to foam rolling and realizing that muscles just shouldn't be tight all the time.  This was one of those rare runs where I actually felt energized and able to hold good form.  I did feel a bit out of shape especially with my breathing, there were moments of struggle, but I got through it and then foam rolled and stretched like a mad woman.  My foam roller is my new BFF.

This was a good one for me, and it really perked up my otherwise very bland day.  Tomorrow morning, I'm going wedding dress shopping at 8am.  Do you know anyone else who tries on wedding dresses Before work?  Well my friend and coworker does apparently!  I was like, "...what?...8am?................Ok I'll meet you there!"  I really am happy to go with her to do this because I know how special it is to some people (not me) and she was the runner who gave me insanely great advice on my injuries, but the early hour is something that nightmares are made of.  I'll have to consciously remember to smile and be encouraging and give good feedback as opposed to yawning, having a zombie expression, and not speaking before 9am.

Injuries and Solutions

Pain.

Lately, I've been logging miles and logging my pain area and levels.  I've had a nagging ankle issue since May which is nowhere close to getting better and now most recently I have a hip / IT Band (not really sure the exact location) issue starting 3 days ago.

I was talking to my friend at work who is a fantastic runner, and I was explaining my problems.  She herself has a couple of weird injuries that she's battling through and for her, yoga has been the biggest help so far.  Her opinion of my issues blew my mind:

1. I likely need new shoes.
2. I need to stretch for longer each day and integrate yoga
3. Lower body strength training 2-3 x per week doing Real exercises
4. Running logs to figure out when / why injuries start
5. Don't go to a PCP for a running injury
6. Foam roll my hip.  Tight muscles = eventual injuries.

Note how simple all of her suggestions are, but how True they all are at the same time.  It's funny how easily I can forget to do stuff - I was doing squats and lunges religiously for a few weeks about a month ago but then it just dropped off my schedule.  I am still pretty good about doing extended stretching at night, but the foam roller was getting dusty until my hip.  It seriously hurts so mother effing bad to foam roll a really tight spot, but then when you get up it's like magic how much better it feels.  So it's like: pain + more pain = less pain.  She also mentioned that sometimes an injury can present as one thing but really be something else, for example knee pain can often be from your shoes or from a tight IT band.  Back pain can also appear but be because of tight quads.  I want to hire her on as a consultant for my household of continuous aches and pains and maybe a running coach too - girlfriend goes under 19 minutes in her 5K, she amazes me.  Anyways, so sometimes simple advice can be the difference between being healthy and being sidelined.

I just spent a half an hour watching various foam rolling exercises on youtube and then executing them. It was 30 minutes well spent!  Also, I had no idea how tight I was until I did all that.