Happy Day!!

Today I rode my bike to work just like I used to do BK (before kids)!! I used to ride in and home a couple times a week, but once Liam was born, I had to pick him up just down the road from work. Ten years of picking the boys up after work, and now they are both at the school near home -- yea!! Oh right, before I get too excited, soccer and baseball practices are just about ready to start again . . .

Bill got my road bike -- '89 Trek 1400 - my first bike as an adult -- ready last night and I packed up my backpack and headed out this morning. I used Conor's flashing red reflector on my backpack and he was really upset that a car may hit me AND HIS FLASHER WOULD BE BROKEN! Ahem, I guess I understand where I rank.

Anyway, it was awesome to get a couple workouts in and save gas $$. And the hill climbing was something else. My heart rate was astronomical -- 170 bpm average on the ride out with a max of 198. When I got home, I jumped in the car to pick up the boys at school.

Then I had lunch with Naira since she is in town this week. I always have a blast with her. She has the Boston Marathon just around the corner and a sore hamstring now, so I hope she heals fast. We talked about the Hawaii IM lottery that we entered into. . . not really sure if being selected would be a good thing or not. Just a couple weeks to find out.

Ahh, now I have that sweet tiredness from kicking my butt not once, but twice today . . . .

First ride outside

I just had my first outdoor ride of the season and it was wonderful!! Sure, the drivers have to remember not to run me over and I have to relearn which dogs are "contained" and won't chase me into traffic, but, heck, it is March and I am outside for a couple hours!!

I did the hill on the new Greater Cleveland Tri course twice -- much easier than the Sperry hill. I looped around through Geauga Co. before I made my way back to Penitentiary Glen for a pit stop. I'm shocked my bronze plaque isn't on the women's restroom wall -- I mean, come on, I must have stopped in there a thousand times last year training for Ironman! It is a perfect point to run to for my long runs and a good stopping and refilling point for biking.

Anyhoo, my foot is feeling awesome! Last Saturday, the procedure went extremely well. The worst part was getting shot up with the anesthesia (Bill had to leave during that part). My ankle looked like it had a teething ring embedded under the skin. I didn't even feel my foot until Sunday morning, but when I did, I was stunned. I have been compensating even standing and sitting. It is supposed to begin hurting in another week while the healing takes place, but that is a small price to pay. I am only running in the pool for a month, then I'll head outside and see how it goes. Keep your fingers crossed that all goes well. . . .

Oh yes, the rash on my legs is gone . . . . hallelujah!

The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly

I've been absent from posting for almost a month, so I'll keep it short and sweet . . . .

The Good - First off, I am officially on the Snickers Marathon Team for 2007!! Secondly, I ran five miles outside last Saturday on a country club golf course path. It was gorgeous!! However, that leads me to . . .

The Bad -- my heel spur hurts (almost) all the time! Since I haven't been able to string together consistent running (and my yearly total is still less than 100 miles), I canceled out of my half marathon next month. And totally unrelated is . . .

The Ugly -- I have a delightful rash on my calves. It doesn't make sense, but it occurred when I used a "glow" lotion to get ready for a trip to Castaway Bay last weekend. I used the darn stuff everywhere, but I got a rash just on my calves. Of course, I blamed the water there too, but anyway it is slowly clearing up -- yuck!

OK, hopefully the bad and the ugly are ready to go far, far away. Today I am having the Extracorporeal Shockwave Treatment done. I'm planning on the luck of the Irish to work for me!!

Happy St. Patrick's Day!!