Crackle... Fizzle...

A couple nights ago, I was laying down and my knee was a little achey. Sometimes when it feels like this, I grab the kneecap and bend my leg back and forth until my knee pops. But this time when I tried that technique, my knee didn't pop. Instead, I felt and heard an awful crackling noise. Yuck! So I did what any prudent athlete would do... I popped a Tylenol and went to bed. 

Speaking of sleep. I've been sleeping great lately. But not late. For some reason, since I started this garden center job, my internal clock has been set to wake me up around 6:30 every morning. There's absolutely no need for this since the earliest I have to be at work is 9:30. So these early wake-ups, combined with all of this physical activity, has left me exhausted. I'm starting to fizzle. Today I took a day off and I'm hoping this helps. 

Before our long-run this past weekend, the coaches talked to us about using energy gels. From what I've read, you are supposed to slurp/eat one every 45 minutes. Of course nobody in our pace group had energy gels and after about an hour of running, we simultaneously began to run out of energy. It was the first run that became challenging to finish. However, we did finish. 6 miles and 1 hr 24 minutes. This week I'll be trying a PowerBar gel packet. I'll let you know how it goes. 

Swinging High

I feel like I either have nothing to say here, or too much. When it rains... it pours. 

First I want to tell you what I'm doing during the week to keep building my fitness level. Right now I work at a garden center. This means that I squat, bend and lift trays of plants while walking/standing on concrete for at least 8 hours. If it's cold I catch the bus to/from work. Catching the bus entails a 10 min walk each way. When it's nice out I bike to work - about 3 times per week. It takes about 20 minutes of continuous peddling on my mountain bike (not made for urban commuting) to cover the 3.5 miles each way. 

In addition to this cross-training I also run twice per week for 30/45 minutes. My friend Sara is training to run the Chicago Triathlon, so we've been trying to run together at least once a week. I never thought I'd consider running as a way to catch up with friends, but it's nice. In fact, I've never enjoyed running with anyone before. But I'm a talker, and having someone there to talk to keeps me from embarrassing myself by singing cadences.

Secondly, let's talk foot/heel pain. I've been icing my heels and taking Alieve for the past couple of nights after work. After a little bit of online research, I think I've narrowed the condition down to Retrocalcaneal Bursitis. (Really, between the pharmacist and the internet, who needs a doctor?) Basically, the bursa where the achilles tendon attaches to the heel bone is inflamed.

Although it's painful when I'm standing, walking and even resting, the pain wasn't evident at all when I was running. Thank goodness! Based on this evaluation I decided it was time to replace my old Merrells that took me across Europe in 2004. I am now wearing a comfy pair of Keens. If my toes were longer I'd cross them hoping that this works, because rest... is not an option.

Lastly, this morning I got up early to run. It was cold, windy and rainy. I tried to walk for 5 minutes as a warm-up, but after 2 minutes decided I was cooling down instead, so began my 3:1 run:walk. The first part of the run I mostly thought about the cold, the wind, the rain and how long I was running, and where/when I should turn around. Then I turned around and began running with the wind at my back. All of a sudden I noticed the sailboats rocking back and forth in the harbor and thought about owning one of my own someday. Next I saw the crabapple trees in bloom and wondered about the invasiveness of the species. A little further along the path I jogged past the boat park (I'll post a picture someday) and wondered... would swinging be a beneficial cross-training exercise? 

When all was said and done, I covered about 2.5 miles in 32 minutes. You can see most of my route on USATF America's Running Routes (of course the beginning and end have been omitted for privacy.) Training for this on the lakefront in Chicago is truly amazing!

Who Benefits From Your Donations?

Picture having spent most of your life bouncing from one living situation to the next, having lost 15 years to your drug of choice, being excommunicated from your family, and on top of that trying to maintain your health against one of the deadliest diseases in history. And then going to a place that helps you take control, pull yourself up, and eventually sign your first lease. This is what happens at Bonaventure House.

Alexian Brothers, Bonaventure House ($5.000)

Their Chicago facility is a 35 room transitional living recovery home, which offers adult men and women with HIV/AIDS -- who were homeless or at-risk of homelessness - a chance to rebuild and reclaim their lives. Nearly 1,000 men and women have called Bonaventure House their home. With a wide array of on-site supportive services -- case management, occupational therapy, recover, and spiritual care - most residents are able to return to independent life in the community within a 24-month

5 Mile Pains

Between biking to work and running thrice a week, I'm definitely getting good use of my legs. This morning we ran 5 miles. I've done so much since then that it seems like yesterday. My legs seem to be standing up to the increased amount of exercise, it's my wallet that I'm worried about. 

We are required to have water bottles for the long runs so I went online and did some research. I wasn't enthralled with the prospect of having a water bottle jiggle around my hips, so I decided the to get the CamelBak Alterra. Instead of having a bottle that I have to mess with it has a bladder with a tube that I can just suck from - nearly hands free. Unfortunately, REI didn't have the Alterra. I tried on a few different waist water bottle holsters and ended up purchasing an Ultimate Direction Access waist pack. I also purchased a Nike swim-suit, a couple pairs of non-cotton running socks, a cheap pair of sunglasses that hopefully won't slip off, and a package Jelly Belly Sports Beans. With all of my recent purchases, it seemed like the time to throw in an REI membership too. 

When I first started running with the water bottle I was fairly annoyed by the movement. But, by the end of the first mile I don't remember noticing it at all. We'll see how it goes as the runs get longer. If it doesn't work, I can always try something new.... right? 

If the Jeans Fit

Wednesday morning I pulled on the pair of jeans I bought for work about 3 weeks ago. After buttoning them up, I realized that I could literally fit 2 hands comfortably in the waist band. So then I tried on the second pair that I bought the same day to see if they fit the same. They did. Then I decided I would try on the pair of jeans that's been sitting on my shelf for the past 6 months, in hopes that I would someday fit into them again. I thought it would be interesting to see how close I was to fitting into them comfortably again. To my surprise, they fit! 

I was in such disbelief that I went on and tried on every pair of pants in my wardrobe. I wanted to make sure it wasn't a fluke. Sure enough, a lot of pants and shorts fit much better than they did last summer!

To celebrate I went down the street and had a steak and egg skillet. Yummm! For my East Coast fans who may have never heard of a skillet, it's a plate of hashbrowns topped with melted cheese, topped with cut steak and green peppers, topped with 2 eggs over easy and a large dollop of guacamole. It probably isn't the healthiest meal, but if the jeans fit, why not celebrate?!?