So this morning I was suppose to be up at 4 am and off to a 7K swim workout.

Unfortunately a very sore throat woke me up at around 2:30 this morning. I got up took some stuff and never feel back to sleep. By 4am I did not feel good at all….At that point I had to make the decision to go to the workout or stay in bed. Since I had only slept about 4 hours and felt pretty bad-I decided to stay in bed…I finally feel back to sleep and stayed that way until 10:00! I never sleep that long!!!!! Never!

Now you may be wondering why am I writing about this. The fact is that I feel very guilty for missing this key workout! I wanted really badly to swim the 7K today and have been looking forward to this the whole month! I love these long swims. There is something so relaxing about swimming for a hours at a time.

A few weeks ago when I took a week off from training I had no desire to workout…today I wanted to so badly but pretty much new if I did swim- I would have caught this cold that is knocking at my throat. I feel like it was a slacker week of training as two other workouts where cut short due to weather….speaking of weather….I think the weather is the culprit for my throats state.

This week we went from 78 degrees on Sunday to a blizzard on Thursday…So far this winter I have avoided EVERY crud that has come through the office and infected everyone. I’m just hoping that by not swimming today I will avoid this thing….And I should not worry about missing one key swim workout—but for today I can’t help it. I’ll just see what tomorrow brings and if I kick this thing……more later….

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It’s been awhile since I’ve checked in and posted what’s going on. So, February is the month my coach Andrea decided to “stretch” my mind/limits. This month I have two 25 mile runs on my training calendar plus tons of swimming and more running during the week!

Yesterday I got to masters early and started swimming then- swam masters. During lunch I went to the gym and strength trained then following work did a 45′ continous swim….and I loved every minute of it! Am I weird or what? I felt so good in the evening following that swim…..And I slept like a baby…

Many changes are a comin….in my personal life and in my training. February is my birth month-so it’s a great time to try new things and stretch my mind.

My coach talks about “placing myself” in reference to the group I train with. She helps me see that I may be limiting myself with my own beliefs about what I am capable of doing and achieving. Hence-this month is about challenging those beliefs and breaking through barriers that may be holding me back…now how fun is that? Seriously! To find a new level- and new ability- to expand my belief in myself…..It’ll take a lot of work- or then again- maybe not…..
All I know is I am absolutely gamed for it!

Here’s to Going The Distance!

Weekly Roundup- last week before the Marathon, next weekend.

Weekly:
Swims: 2 days; 1 masters; 1 free swim 1 hour non stop- 2 hours
Bikes: 2 days; 3 hours
Runs: 1 day (missed 1 day): 14 miles
Other: Weights- 2 days
Stretch 2 days

Sleep: Not so good this week. Alot of sleepless nights
Recovery: Bodywork; massage followed by compression pants;
Nutrition: ate well this week
Mood: for the most part sad
Health: Good!

Key Workout:
Description: 14 mile endurance run w/ 4 miles at tempo
Location: South Table Mesa
Nutrition: 1 Hammer Gel; SportsQuest- Aminos, thermolyte, Vo2Max
Weather: low 30’s and pleasant
Distance: 12.5
Pace: 10-12 min.
Heart Rate: 140
Comments: Felt really bad starting out for over 1 hour. No sleep all week nor night before.- Felt better after taking sportsquest products!

Rode the trainer this morning to get-er-done. It was cold and windy…..suppose to do 3 hours, could only handle 2.5 hours….what a wimp. At least it’s done.
So, three more days and I’m on a plane to California. Get to visit my folks and sister!
Then next Sunday is the Redding Marathon! I am so excited! It will be a great trip and a good run no matter what.

Set out for a run with my good friend Elizabeth Saturday morning. After a night of absolutely NO sleep following my friends funeral, I was groggy and not feeling well. But showed up at Elizabeths house bright and early and we were off for some FUNning on South Table Mesa.

The run was hard for over an hour. I felt like cr..! I took some of the SportsQuest products and within minutes I felt better. And I was finally able to kick my butt in gear and get some miles movin.
It was a cool day- 30 degrees or so- but we had a blast. Most of the miles were endurance which lent to lots of talking and catching up….but then I was on my own for my tempo milage. I’d go out for 1/2 mile and come back and catch up with Lizabeth. We had a blast!!!!!!!
All in all- good run- lots of fun!!!!!!!
Can’t wait to do it again.
http://connect.garmin.com/activity/1768614

For those of you who don’t know, I work as a case manager for the Mental Health Center of Denver (MHCD). In my work I get the opportunity to work with people with severe and persistent mental illness and substance abuse problems. I have the privilege to be a part of 28 peoples lives on a daily basis and support them when ever, however they may need me.

This past week one of the people I was fortunate enough to be a part of her life, passed away in her sleep. Her passing has touched me deeply. For confidentiality purposes I will call her Jane.

I came into Jane’s life almost two years ago. I remember the first time she came into the clinic to meet me, skeptical and reserved to meet yet another case manager. In that first hour of meeting me we formed a mutual respect and bond that lasted until her passing.

To say Jane’s life was hard and she had struggles that she over came would be an understatement. Jane came to MHCD 6 years ago homeless, and struggling with addiction and untreated Bipolar disorder.. By the time I met her 2 years ago she had 3 years of recovery from addiction and 3 years of recovery from Bipolar disorder. Jane had taken the challenges in her life and turned them into learning experiences that she overcame.

Jane had a way of reaching out to people and making them feel welcomed and love. She had an incredible ability to ALWAYS see the positive and beauty in everything and everyone. She lived modestly yet always gave whatever she could to someone in need. Her heart was bigger than the room and so was her love for life. When ever life presented her with a challenge she faced it and remained positive. Jane’s ability to remain positive was amazing and humbling at the same time and she always amazed me with her inner strength and resilience.

Jane did not have to let me be a part of her life. I can not express how HONORED I always felt the she did allow me to share her life, that she allowed me to be by her side during the challenges that arose. Jane was truly one of the most amazing people I have ever met. I feel privileged to have shared 2 years of her life with her.

What I take from knowing Jane is summed up in one of her favorite sayings:
Live Well
Love Large
And
Laugh Often.

I thank you Jane for the privilege of knowing you and for allowing me to share a part of your life.

I know you are with the Angels singing and dancing.

Wow- I continue to be surprised by the fact that I am actually able to run 20 miles or more! I never knew I could do this-especially weekend after weekend. It’s really cool!
So the run was fun- I parked at Goodson Rec Center and decided to break the run into 5 miles sections….I went south on High Line for 5-turned around and at mile 10 was back at the car. I was able to swap water bottles for full ones and headed north for another 5 out and back. It was nice to do this as it broke the run up and I only had to think about doing 5 miles at a time-not 20.
The cool part is my time was about 2 mins less per mile than my 26 mile run. I felt like I finally might be getting how to run so it feels like I’m rolling over my feet….It was actually easier to go fast than slower like I would normally….amazing. My thighs were a-blazin and I just kept thinking this is what it’s going to take at Ironman…..
One thing I noticed about myself on the final 5 miles-when someone passed me I wanted to stop….I’m not sure what that’s about- but I think it might be something I want to turn around….it would be good to get the gumption to chace after someone rather than stop…hummmmm
The weather was cool and overcast the whole time. Right when I finished running it started snowing- I love how things can work out like that!

Worked on the fuel again- 1 Mocha Gu (YUK); steamed red potatoes w/salt (not so good); peanut butter (definatly not); Vanilla Hammer Gel (love it!)
Drank 3 bottles of water……
So here’s to runnin another 20
http://connect.garmin.com/activity/1768622