I Have The Running Blahs.....

Sigh. I cannot get motivated these days. I haven't run in 2 weeks! Granted, I was sick the first week, started a new day job, still working my 2-3 nights a week OTHER job and have had a few embroidery jobs on top of that, but c'mon. I can't be the only busy person around here. The kids have been out of school for the summer the last couple weeks too. (They get out early here in Florida.) Friday runners club at the YMCA slamming to a halt for the summer doesn't help either. At least I had a guaranteed time with a running partner to keep it enjoyably competetive. I didn't realize how much I needed those weekly runs.

I have joined another track club. I figured this would help me stay focused. This one has 5k races on the beach every Tues night, but now I'm working too late on Tues to go to them. It's almost funny.

My Vibram 5 Fingers should be arriving any minute. That might get me going. I can't wait for those to get here. I was hoping to try them out before I bought them but I couldn't find a dealer here. I called to order them and found out the sizing is weird. I had to order 2 pairs to try them out, then I'll send the other pair back. I was disappointed they don't come in any girlie colors but the ones I did pick are cute.

My husband is out racking up his cycling miles. He's doing very well, biking with the Coastal Cruisers Tuesdays and Saturdays. They average about 35 miles each ride. After today's ride he'll have about 135 miles in this week. And he works between 55-60 hours a week! He did have an extra day off this week, that got him an extra ride he wouldn't normally get. I'd like to take this opportunity to mention his H-O-T legs. They go rather nicely with the rest of his H-O-T self. Lucky ME!

I am going to run right now. By the time I get dressed Bobby should be home. I'll be back later to let you know if I really ran or not....ha! Maybe I'll go to the track and do some speed laps.......

Trauma At The Cusick House

Yeah, it's about me, of course. Last January I was taking off the nail polish on my toes when I realized my big toe on the right was black. The nail I mean. I was horrified. I was worried. I didn't want to lose my toenail. I quickly repainted it and pretended it was just fine. I kept painting over it, staying in denial. I do that sometimes. It's how I roll. I'm "Queen Of Da-Nile". I figure if it isn't something that causes me to think about it 24/7, it's not worthy of my obssession. I moved on. I forgot about it.

About a month ago, I woke in the night because that very same toe was KILLING me. Just for the sheet to be touching it hurt. The pressure was unreal. I did what I usually do. I ignored it best I could and tried to go back to sleep. It was tough, but I have experience in this kinda thing. In the morning I'd forgotten all about it. It wasn't hurting anymore. Ok, whatever.

WELL...fast forward to last night. I was watching tv, minding my own business when I rolled around on the couch enough to catch my toe in the quilt. I felt a funky tug. I felt a little unsure about taking a look. I guess you could say I KNEW what I was gonna see. I slid my hand down to my foot. Nice and slow. Like it would make a big difference. I tapped a bit, not at all liking the sensation. Which was NO SENSATION. It didn't hurt at all. I was a little nervous. I was a lot torn. I thought it would be a painful thing, losing a toenail. Then I thought....well, it's a dead thing. Dead things don't hurt.

I pondered this point of view while I felt around at my toe. Trying to feel SOMETHING, ANYTHING. I just wanted one little sign the inevitable was not happening. My curiosity got the best of me. I got up and turned on the light. Got back on the couch, got comfy again. Started watching Larry The Cable Guy talk about some very redneck stuff. Pretended I didn't care that I could possibly be losing my toenail. But I was not convincing myself at all. I just knew. My toenail was gonna be coming off.

I pulled the quilt back off me. I pulled my foot up close to my face. Which BTW, is so easy since I've been doing yoga. I had a very clear view of said toe. It was (yeah, was) dark maroonish painted. Perfectly shaped and sculpted. Matched all my other toes uniformly. Then I did the unthinkable. I gave it a little pull. To my HORROR, it lifted way too far up to be able to pretend it would be ok. Except for the very bottom at the nail bed, it was NOT attached. I was scared. I was worried. I was sickened. I was intrigued. Yeah, I know, weird, but true. Like when you're on the highway and you're passing an accident. The whole 15 miles you are travelling at 10 MPH and bitching about the rubberneckers and thinking you'd just fly on by without looking but then when you do finally get to the scene you rubberneck right along with the rest of 'em. Yep, just like that. I had to look. So I did.

Oh my. Yikes. I didn't like this at all. But I couldn't stop playing with it. I flicked it while I watched Larry The Cable Guy. Took about 20 minutes before I felt it not return to that original "clicky" place. Oh no. I had to look again. It was SO not attached. So I did what you're probably thinking you'd have done long ago. But you don't know that for sure. You need to walk a mile in my Asics before you go judging me. Anyway, I gave it a yank. It came off. It looked so weird to be off my toe and in my hand.

I examined it closely. It freaked me out. I was pretty upset. But then I thought....HEY...I wonder if that guy needs anymore of these for his necklace?????? Problem was, what the heck was I gonna do with it while I found out that bit of information??? This was about midnight last night. My family would not understand. I got up and threw it in the trash. Then I leaned down and stared at it for about 5 whole minutes. Then I covered it with a paper towel in case someone came by and saw it there. Went back to the couch and played with my naked toe for about an hour. By the time i was headed for bed, I had convinced myself my toe looked just fine without a nail. By morning, i was not as easily fooled.

It looks awful. My husband, of course, wanted me to take a picture of it and post it here. No. I would not do that. If I haven't posted a picture of me in a bikini after working out and dieting for 2 months, I most assuredly will not be posting my toe here. Even though my toe is sexier than me in a bikini. Ha....whatever, the world may never know......

Today, I am pleased to report, my toe is fine. No pain. It looks awful but nothing a little artistically placed nail polish won't hide. Actually, I have a fake fingernail that fits my toe perfectly. I may glue that bad boy on tonight, we'll see. I'm just so glad it doesn't hurt!

A Wise Man Once Said...

"If you're too busy to run, you're too busy." Hmmmm, now where did I hear that? Oh yeah, my coach of a million quotes....lol.

So I have been busy, yes. I took on another job for the summer, which I do enjoy, but I need to figure in my personal time somehow. I've been training in the office this week, so it's more hours than I'll wind up with so I sacrificed my "me" stuff for now. And laundry. And grocery shopping. And making the bed before 4pm. Boo hoo (not). I cut my evening job down to 2 nights starting next week. That will open up some time.

The bonus is, I work in the office where my kids are going to summer day camp, so I get to see them throughout the day. It's also next door to my gym and I have been able to still make my yoga and core exercise classes. Another plus. I'll be home at night with my family more too. My husband is thrilled with that one. But he's still gonna have to make dinner on those nights I used to be gone. (kiddin')

Jim's half marathon training program starts up in July. I am SO looking forward to that. My daughter Kerri is still planning on doing it too, but Kirstin has already opted out. I knew she would so the pang of disappointment was minimal. I'm lying. I'm so disappointed. I was excited to have something the 3 of us were going to do together. I understand though. She just bought a car and is working her butt off. She won't have time for training. Don't think for one minute I won't be using her guilt to get her to make time for mother/daughter moments!!! Hahaha!! She knows it too....

I BEGGED Jim to let me be a "co-captain" for this training program. He agreed! He's just like any guy who can't stand to see a woman cry, so he yelled "ok" as he ran away from me.....LOL. Hey, I don't care HOW I got to be a part of it, just as long as I am. I've talked to a few people who have said they always wanted to run a half but didn't think they could. When I tell them I ran a whole marathon after 4.5 months of training, having NEVER run before, they start to see that it CAN be done. I love seeing them brighten up when they realize it's not an unattainable goal. If you want it, it is yours. I'm hoping to bring this kind of support to the team. Jim was very good at making me feel confident throughout my training, I know how much it helped me when I was feeling crazy for taking on this big of a goal. If I can do that for anyone, I'll be happy. This will also give me the opportunity to find some running partners!! Yeah, it all boils down to ME in the end.....lol.

I joined another track team. They have 5K races on the beach every Tues night. Perfect! my husband has Tues off so we can all go. Only problem is, my yoga class is at the same time. I figure I'll take turns each week. Tues night yoga was just getting more challenging too! I was sore for 2 days after the last class. My obliques screamed every time I did any bending. I love that!

I will be ordering my Vibram Five Fingers today. I'm very, very excited. I'll definately be posting about that! I don't think I'll be running further than a 5K in them though. I'm concerned with the "no support" thing. I have never had an issue with my feet from running. I'm sure I'll feel a difference in my legs and ankles after a couple runs in those. The Vibram's will work some different muscles, I'm hoping they will strengthen my ankles too. We shall see!!!!!!!

I Ran Barefoot.....

....for 4 minutes. HA!!! I ran in front of my house and it felt too weird. I'm hitting the beach Thurday, I plan on going for a barefooted run on the sand. In the sand I mean. I do believe this running without shoes will take a little getting used to.

Update On Running Barefoot

Ok, I guess I did not invent this type of running....lol. I have found so much info on running barefoot since my last post. I am so interested in this! Look at these funky shoes.....

I need to have these (even though they don't come in any girly colors). They're called Vibram 5 Finger running shoes. While they're not barefooting, they allow the feet to move more naturally while you run. I've talked about the dynamics of the foot movement inside a pair of running shoes with Jim (my coach) quite a few times. He's really into the scientific approach to running (almost to a comical degree....lol) The Injinjy socks kind of have the same idea, but if you ask me, once you put your sneakers on, it defeats the purpose of the socks. I'm still reading the info about these shoes and about running barefoot.

Another thing that's clicking in my head is that the speed spikes I have are very soft. Very flexable. I even thought they felt like slippers. Jim told me not to run long distances in them as there is no support, so I do have some questions about running barefoot.

I haven't found any info on the cons of running barefoot, I'm sure I'll find it though. I imagine burning the soles in this Florida heat, stepping on rocks/glass and even an occassional doggy dropping would be most unpleasant. Actually, I have stepped in doggy droppings barefoot as a child. It wasn't unpleasant. It felt kinda good in a freaky kinda way....LOL. But then the reality of what it was hit me and I threw up. True story. I was eight years old.

I'm going to go run around the block barefoot in a little while. I'll come back and give a recap about it later.

BTW, when I told Bobby I NEEDED these shoes, guess what he said. Yep, he said to wait a couple days for some auto withdrawls to come out first. He thinks it's a passing interest. I know for a fact he's about to get a new pair of bike shorts though. I do believe I hold the Ace this time....LOL