So yesterday, I, along with six of my teammates, made a serious error in judgment. We decided it was a good idea to run the Running Fit trail half marathon because, hey, it's on the MR race series. Bad choice. While six of us placed in our respective divisions, this race left a scar on our souls. I am not being overly dramatic. I won the female clydesdale division and my time of 1:56:19 was also third in my age group. No, that was not a typo. Why did it take me so long? Imagine a hill so steep, you are forced to slow your run to a labored march. Now, imagine flying down a hill so fast you nearly lose all body control in an attempt to remain upright. The terrain changed between sand, leaves, rocks, dirt, and bridges at steep angles that sway when you run across them. Imagine hitting the wall in a 13-mile race at mile 2. Imagine falling uphill (no style points). Was there ever any flat stretches to regroup and try to recover? No. I literally broke out into a smile when I saw the sign for mile 12. I may have hallucinated once or twice or ten times during the race. I think I saw the devil next to the sign for mile 9. Trail running, it's a hell of a drug.
I stopped at coach Mike's to use his outdoor pool as a makeshift ice bath. It was glorious. By the time I refueled by smashing a 2-lb Qdoba burrito, my body hurt too much to fall asleep so I just laid on the couch for a few hours. This morning, I wasn't as sore as I thought I might be, although DOMS still has 12-24 more hours to fully set in.
Moving on, I got out of work early today because the health department called and said we needed to close and shock the pool immediately. I still don't know what they found, but it scares me a little because I swam laps to loosen up today and I may now have the e.coli virus because of it. After work I took the bike Mike lent me to D&D to get the tires fixed, which was more costly than I had thought, but better than buying a new bike. Jere's old co-worker Mohammed set me up and put the tubes and tires on and from the moment he started talking, I became convinced that the man is certifiably insane. Jere was not being harsh or exaggerating in any of the stories he used to tell us. I asked him if he remembered Jere and he was like, "I knew you looked familiar. I could smell it when you walked by. Everyone has their own smell. Men aren't dogs, they're creatures of instinct and I could tell." Yeah, and I could tell you need to be somewhere where the walls are a little softer, there aren't so many sharp tools around, and your jacket is white with a few more straps. Anyway, the bike is pretty much road-ready, now all I need is a helmet and to get used to riding.
I have a ton of things to do this week and all I wanna do is sleep. Might as well go try to be productive....leave you with this....
Quotes from the weekend:
On falling during the race: "I fell so hard, my body left an imprint in the ground so deep the guy coming behind me fell in. I wish I woulda slept in today." ~Saleem
"I saw stars and my toe hurt like someone had hit it with a hammer." ~ Coach Mike
"I cannot believe you got me out here runnin this crazy trail in the middle of nowhere. I could be sittin in church."
~Jackie
"Oh, don't worry, you WILL be praying."
~Danielle
Monday, April 28, 2008
Sunday, April 20, 2008
we roll six deep
All together, seven of us from the StoneSteppers ran the 10-miler in Grandville yesterday with six of us bringing home age-group awards. We roll so deep. I took first in my division in 1:15:24. I wanted to finish in 1:15 or faster, so I was happy with that...especially considering miles 5-7.5 were a fairly brutal series of uphill climbs, but nothing compared to the hills we'll face in the woods next weekend. This was a MR Races Series event, so I'm glad I placed and now have a first and second finish in the first two races of the season. Unfortunately, after the race I got really sick with some sort of intestinal bug, which meant no celebratory bacon cheeseburger for me. Anyway, the race part of the day was good and so was the five-hour round trip to Grandville. Highlights include Cora (age 66) singing along to Bone Crusher's Neva Scared and Damon's Ying Yang Twins impression. Then at lunch Cora asked Damon what the Kenyans eat to make them run so fast and Damon said, "HGH." He could be right, they don't exactly sanction distance running. Anyway, after I got home I just kinda laid low for the rest of the day and went to bed early, I felt that crappy.
This morning I ran a few miles before church and the went out to have that burger, as I was feeling much better. And Aunt Gwen made homemade rice krispy treats which I smashed like a champ. I am trying to enjoy a peaceful Sunday and realizing that I have plans for pretty much every weekend until the fall. My next few weekends are: trail half marathon, Cam's graduation, 25K Race, the surprise party, and the Bayshore 10K. It's nice because I always have something to look forward to during the week, but I feel like I never really rest during the weekends. Oh well, you can sleep when you're dead.
I'd like to end this post with a shout out to the best brother ever: MC Cammer. Even though you punch me for chips, try to convince me that dad's drunk, try and highlight my boyfriend's "unmanly" habits, and call me a butthead, I still love you. Even more than Chelsey. I hate that you would perceive any sort of favoritism on my blog and I think I can clear everything up with one simple word: Militant.
This morning I ran a few miles before church and the went out to have that burger, as I was feeling much better. And Aunt Gwen made homemade rice krispy treats which I smashed like a champ. I am trying to enjoy a peaceful Sunday and realizing that I have plans for pretty much every weekend until the fall. My next few weekends are: trail half marathon, Cam's graduation, 25K Race, the surprise party, and the Bayshore 10K. It's nice because I always have something to look forward to during the week, but I feel like I never really rest during the weekends. Oh well, you can sleep when you're dead.
I'd like to end this post with a shout out to the best brother ever: MC Cammer. Even though you punch me for chips, try to convince me that dad's drunk, try and highlight my boyfriend's "unmanly" habits, and call me a butthead, I still love you. Even more than Chelsey. I hate that you would perceive any sort of favoritism on my blog and I think I can clear everything up with one simple word: Militant.
Thursday, April 17, 2008
"your cat is retarded...and fat"
So I had dinner at my grandparents tonight, and yes, they were awesome as usual and the dinner conversation of various radical religious sects and whether or not my brother is ever going to marry his girlfriend was riveting. I had to break some devastating news to them though, their stray cat (who began life in their home as 'Minnie,' but later became 'Max' when they took him to the vet and discovered he was a boy) is mentally retarded and becoming rapidly overweight. I cannot explain to you the looks that this got me, but I can tell you that Max is totally useless and I am right. As I'm leaving to go meet Anthony, my grandpa gives me some chocolate to give him to "remind him to call" him. I swear my boyfriend and my grandpa are dating behind my back...or in front of my face. They have no shame. Grandpa also put new skids on my great-grandma's walker and seriously, watch out, that woman is a 92-year-old speed racer.
Anyway, after impressing both myself and my boyfriend with my superior navigational and resignation letter writing skills, I came back home to hear my mom tell me half a dozen stories about her day...in third person. As in "So I went to the deli to get my soup and there was this lady and I told her she was cute I knew she wasn't Jewish--she was big, and then I saw this brownie and I was like, 'LT, you need to get that brownie' and I didn't find out until I got to the register that it was $4.50." Unfortunately, LT wasted $4.50 because that brownie tasted like straight ass. Don't worry, I told her exactly that. And I know that just made mom my sound like a bigot with severe ADD, but trust me she is not a bigot.
Practice this morning was fun, we did half mile cruise intervals after a mile warm up and then strength training. I'm feeling pretty ready for Saturday. Work felt super long, but for once Xena, one of my three-year-olds in the 2:00 class, didn't pee on the pool deck, so that's progress. Wow, I love my job. Almost as much as I love The Office. If you don't watch it, you should start.
So all in all, a pretty blessed day. My one gripe is gas prices and how in a month or two I probably won't be able to afford a drive around the block, let alone any road trips. **Side note: LT just tried the brownie and informed me it is not that bad, just a little dry. "It's got really good cocoa." Yeah, ass cocoa.
Anyway, after impressing both myself and my boyfriend with my superior navigational and resignation letter writing skills, I came back home to hear my mom tell me half a dozen stories about her day...in third person. As in "So I went to the deli to get my soup and there was this lady and I told her she was cute I knew she wasn't Jewish--she was big, and then I saw this brownie and I was like, 'LT, you need to get that brownie' and I didn't find out until I got to the register that it was $4.50." Unfortunately, LT wasted $4.50 because that brownie tasted like straight ass. Don't worry, I told her exactly that. And I know that just made mom my sound like a bigot with severe ADD, but trust me she is not a bigot.
Practice this morning was fun, we did half mile cruise intervals after a mile warm up and then strength training. I'm feeling pretty ready for Saturday. Work felt super long, but for once Xena, one of my three-year-olds in the 2:00 class, didn't pee on the pool deck, so that's progress. Wow, I love my job. Almost as much as I love The Office. If you don't watch it, you should start.
So all in all, a pretty blessed day. My one gripe is gas prices and how in a month or two I probably won't be able to afford a drive around the block, let alone any road trips. **Side note: LT just tried the brownie and informed me it is not that bad, just a little dry. "It's got really good cocoa." Yeah, ass cocoa.
Wednesday, April 16, 2008
did you save something for the race?
So for the second day in a row, practice was amazing. Yesterday, I cruised through a 7 mile speed workout and this morning, our 8 mile run was the best run I've had in awhile. It gave me a lot of time to sort some things out in my head and by the time the sun came up and the birds started singing, I was cruising at a nice pace, totally relaxed. Hopefully I will have that same feeling in the race on Saturday...I had to assure Mike and Damon I saved some of that speed for Grandville. I hope I did.
On a completely unrelated note, there has to be an easier way to do taxes. As an advocate for waiting until the last minute to file (do laundry, fill up my gas tank, etc.), I think the IRS could come up with a much simpler way to record 1099-MISC earnings...that form is the bane of my existence. The fact that I still feel a little bit like hitting something a full day later may be an embarrassing testament to my violent tendencies, but hey, at least I'm not in denial. Luckily, I have a tax-savvy cousin who was able to save me from jumping off the balcony.
Speaking of jumping off the balcony, yesterday, my grandpa came over to finalize the guest list and invitations for my mom and grandma's surprise party next month. For anyone who knows my mom, it's pretty hard to sneak around her to plan anything seeing as her curiosity is a cross between the most inquisitive 5-year-old you've ever met and an FBI interrogator. Seriously, she's on that level. I can't wait until May 17th. But we've got the save-the-dates out, finished the invitations, and pretty much have everything set up with the caterer. Gramps "knows a woman who plays the harp" and has been thinking about getting her to play the party. Totally random, I know. In his own words, "She brings her own harp. It'd be pretty expensive, but really unique." Of course she brings her own harp. So I guess that's the only thing that's up in the air right now. I love my grandparents. Their anniversary is today and I wish I could have seen Grandma's face when she saw her present: a new washer and dryer. Nothing says "i love you" like cutting edge laundry appliances...apparently.
Yesterday was also unofficial "ex-boyfriend day." If you are one of my exes who missed that memo and didn't randomly call me, it's okay, I totally forgive you. In fact, thanks for NOT going to the trouble. Today is it's-sunny-and-70-degrees-out-so-I really-don't-care-about-anything-else day. Please celebrate accordingly.
Remix will be home two weeks from Saturday and I think I speak for both of us when I say this summer is going to be out of control. As long as she remembers that blueberry bagels are the bastard children of the bagel family, I think we will get along great. I hope Cam comes home too. I can't believe the lil bro is graduating already, it's crazy, but I'm excited for him.
I'll end with this random story from work yesterday: This lady was swimming at our pool for the first time and when she got out, I was off duty, just chillin on the deck. So she's about to walk past me and I say, "have a good day." And she stops and tells me, "I like swimming here way better than Royal Oak. The guards there stand right at the edge and watch you, like you're retarded or something." I said, "I don't know what to tell you about that." I thought, Call me crazy, but don't you want lifeguards to be watching you swim? And how are you going to say that when Katie is swimming about 5 feet away from you? What is wrong with you?" It's important to note, that Katie is a mentally retarded girl who comes in every Tuesday with her paraprofessional and is the nicest girl ever. I wanted to smack that lady, she was so ridiculous, but again...violent tendencies.
On a completely unrelated note, there has to be an easier way to do taxes. As an advocate for waiting until the last minute to file (do laundry, fill up my gas tank, etc.), I think the IRS could come up with a much simpler way to record 1099-MISC earnings...that form is the bane of my existence. The fact that I still feel a little bit like hitting something a full day later may be an embarrassing testament to my violent tendencies, but hey, at least I'm not in denial. Luckily, I have a tax-savvy cousin who was able to save me from jumping off the balcony.
Speaking of jumping off the balcony, yesterday, my grandpa came over to finalize the guest list and invitations for my mom and grandma's surprise party next month. For anyone who knows my mom, it's pretty hard to sneak around her to plan anything seeing as her curiosity is a cross between the most inquisitive 5-year-old you've ever met and an FBI interrogator. Seriously, she's on that level. I can't wait until May 17th. But we've got the save-the-dates out, finished the invitations, and pretty much have everything set up with the caterer. Gramps "knows a woman who plays the harp" and has been thinking about getting her to play the party. Totally random, I know. In his own words, "She brings her own harp. It'd be pretty expensive, but really unique." Of course she brings her own harp. So I guess that's the only thing that's up in the air right now. I love my grandparents. Their anniversary is today and I wish I could have seen Grandma's face when she saw her present: a new washer and dryer. Nothing says "i love you" like cutting edge laundry appliances...apparently.
Yesterday was also unofficial "ex-boyfriend day." If you are one of my exes who missed that memo and didn't randomly call me, it's okay, I totally forgive you. In fact, thanks for NOT going to the trouble. Today is it's-sunny-and-70-degrees-out-so-I really-don't-care-about-anything-else day. Please celebrate accordingly.
Remix will be home two weeks from Saturday and I think I speak for both of us when I say this summer is going to be out of control. As long as she remembers that blueberry bagels are the bastard children of the bagel family, I think we will get along great. I hope Cam comes home too. I can't believe the lil bro is graduating already, it's crazy, but I'm excited for him.
I'll end with this random story from work yesterday: This lady was swimming at our pool for the first time and when she got out, I was off duty, just chillin on the deck. So she's about to walk past me and I say, "have a good day." And she stops and tells me, "I like swimming here way better than Royal Oak. The guards there stand right at the edge and watch you, like you're retarded or something." I said, "I don't know what to tell you about that." I thought, Call me crazy, but don't you want lifeguards to be watching you swim? And how are you going to say that when Katie is swimming about 5 feet away from you? What is wrong with you?" It's important to note, that Katie is a mentally retarded girl who comes in every Tuesday with her paraprofessional and is the nicest girl ever. I wanted to smack that lady, she was so ridiculous, but again...violent tendencies.
Monday, April 14, 2008
say what ya need to say...
I wish I had a really funny story from today that I could tell, but for once I don't. All I did today was wake up sleep-deprived, go to the gym, work, run some errands, and come home. I am suddenly super restless just being here and I think I'm gonna take a little road trip down to Ohio this week because as I was so brutally reminded yesterday, I have no friends up here. I had a really long talk today with one of my favorite aunts and it really put some things into perspective for me. Sometimes it's just nice to know that there is someone who has been through the same things I am going through right now.
I was also reminded in that last 24 hours that I have the greatest siblings ever and a bff who is the perfect listener, so thanks. Also, thanks to remix for reminding me how much I don't miss desperately finding school projects that involve the smallest amount of effort to get a passing grade. Good luck with your Nigerian ginger drink. Now the only thing I am doing desperately is trying to find a new job and it's just so much harder than I thought it would be. Some days, it's easy to be patient and prayerful, but especially lately it's been so frustrating. Fortunately, I have running to get that stress out of my system. The Striders Saturday Classic 10 Mile Race in Grand Rapids is this Saturday. GET EXCITED. A bunch of my teammates are going and it should be a pretty good day. I'm feeling pretty healthy and pain-free the past few days which has been a huge blessing.
More to the point, lately I feel like there is something that is keeping me from saying all the things I want to say and need to say. Mostly, I feel like I can't find the right words to explain what I feel. I wish I could speak as well as I can write, but hopefully the people in my life who need to hear those words know me and know my heart well enough to hear the things I don't say along with the things that I do say. It is what it is, and 4:45 is gonna be here way too soon and I have a speed workout to look forward to, so I'm seriously thinking about calling it a night.
I was also reminded in that last 24 hours that I have the greatest siblings ever and a bff who is the perfect listener, so thanks. Also, thanks to remix for reminding me how much I don't miss desperately finding school projects that involve the smallest amount of effort to get a passing grade. Good luck with your Nigerian ginger drink. Now the only thing I am doing desperately is trying to find a new job and it's just so much harder than I thought it would be. Some days, it's easy to be patient and prayerful, but especially lately it's been so frustrating. Fortunately, I have running to get that stress out of my system. The Striders Saturday Classic 10 Mile Race in Grand Rapids is this Saturday. GET EXCITED. A bunch of my teammates are going and it should be a pretty good day. I'm feeling pretty healthy and pain-free the past few days which has been a huge blessing.
More to the point, lately I feel like there is something that is keeping me from saying all the things I want to say and need to say. Mostly, I feel like I can't find the right words to explain what I feel. I wish I could speak as well as I can write, but hopefully the people in my life who need to hear those words know me and know my heart well enough to hear the things I don't say along with the things that I do say. It is what it is, and 4:45 is gonna be here way too soon and I have a speed workout to look forward to, so I'm seriously thinking about calling it a night.
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