« April 2005 | Main | June 2005 »
May 31, 2005
Back to so called normal life
I miss being at the cabin... Today, I spent most of the day in meetings and answering phone calls and emails to get caught up from being gone this weekend. I went to practise in the afternoon, and we spent a lot of time talking about the honor roll meet which is tomorrow. The honor roll meet is kind of a small version of the state meet. It's the 8-12 kids who have run the fastest time in their event this season from anywhere within about an hour from Lansing. We knew the 3200 relay would qualify, as well as my 2 fastest 1600 runners and my fastest 3200 runner. I was pleased when my second and third fastest 3200 runners both made the list, as well. Those who qualified for States in individual events are just running the relay and scratching in their individual events (one girl qualified in the 800, 1600, 3200 and 3200 relay!) to focus on the State meet. But the other girls are using this as their big end of the season race. I ran with the second group of girls that I mentioned, since I needed to talk to a couple of them about the race, and they only ran 2.5 miles since their last race is tomorrow (the others went 4 miles). I added on a quick 3 mile loop afterward, but that was all I had time for. As it was, I showered and changed in about 3 minutes, to be on time to the good-bye dinner we had for the guy I have been working with who is leaving next week (the reason things have been so crazy for me at work recently). I got home and just finished spending 2 hours putting together a photo slide show for our big good bye party for him with the kids we work with on Thursday night. I have spent way too much time staring at a computer today, so I am going to go take a nice long walk outside and enjoy the warm weather before I head to bed.
Posted by Ann at 10:05 PM | Comments (0)
Memorial Day Weekend
I had such a nice weekend! On Thursday we decided to cancel our Friday track practice, since we are down to just the girls going to states and we know they will do their easy run on their own. So Friday, my husband and I decided spur of the moment to go up to my parents cabin in the UP, since I did not have practice or work related obligations all weekend, and I really needed a true break after these past 4 weeks. I went in early to work, so I could come home after my 1pm sports massage and get ready. My hip is still holding in there, even with the hilly running I did this weekend. I got packed up and we left as soon as my husband got home from work, since it takes 6 hours. Saturday and Sunday were pretty similar days. I slept in (I slept 11 hours a night for 3 straight nights!) both mornings, than went for runs (6 miles on Saturday, 8.5 miles Sunday) on the very hilly dirt roads and trails near the cabin. It was so nice to have time to run for myself and to run not only somewhere different, but beautiful as well. I spent the rest of both days reading, watching movies and doing some great hiking along the shores of Lake Superior and around the small lake the cabin is on. Monday morning I got one last trail run in of 6 miles followed by one last hike around the lake with my husband. Than we packed up and drove back. I went for a quick 3 mile run to loosen up my legs before I unpacked and got ready for the week. I wish I could have stayed up there for 3 weeks instread of 3 days, it was so relaxing and so nice to spend so much time outdoors.
Posted by Ann at 8:16 AM | Comments (1)
May 26, 2005
League Meet
I am so tired this morning. I have so many forms to fill out with all the information I have figured out these last 3 days, that I need to have done and turned in by the end of the day, but I am really having trouble staying focused. Yesterday I had an early meeting at work with my boss, which actually went really good. I am starting to get a clear definition of what my position and that of my co-workers is going to be. Also, I am finally getting some little things, like a master key and program credit card, as well as getting paid for some of the overtime I am working. So it was a good meeting, but made for a long day, since after that I worked on my year plan, had a lunch meeting, worked some more and than went to my girls League meet which I did not get back from until about almost midnight. The girls ran great, most taking a few more seconds off their PRs, but for some reason it was the night for drama between the distance runners. I had 2 different sets of girls (2 in the mile, 2 in the 2 mile) who race almost the exact same speed get really upset with each other after the race. So most of my time between events was spent calming crying runners and patching things up. Its just normal problems that arise when you race over and over against a teammate, who you are not suppose to be competitive with, but one of you has to win every time. For some reason all the emotions involved in that came out last night. I did not get much running in myself yesterday. I ran a few miles with the kids at the meet, but that was it. This weekend I am going to try and get some real running in, as well as more of the small things, like lifting and stretching, since its a weekend with no meets.
Posted by Ann at 9:21 AM | Comments (0)
May 24, 2005
Still Typing
These have been another crazy couple of days, although I am feeling like things are finally getting under control. I went into work yesterday feeling postive after my more restful weekend, and I found out that due to confusion over the transfer of leadership in our group, the information that a year long plan for every trip and large event from Sept. 2005 to Aug. 2006 is due Wednesday was not delivered to me (whose job it now is) 1.5 weeks ago like it should have been. So I have to have an entire year planned and all trips, etc confirmed by Thursday (I talked them into giving me an one day extention). I called camps and people we have worked for all day yesterday and after practice worked on scheduling our year out until 2 am. Today, when I got to work, I found out my mailing with the directions to incoming 6th graders and their parents for joining our program (starting this Thursday) was not sent out last week like I was told, but was still in our office. So I had to arrange ways to get all 120 of them called tonight, so they would know to come to the program we planned for them. The rest of day until now, except for a couple of hours for track practice I have been working on the scheduling and forms we need to fill out. I am a little sad to admit that I am feeling better after 2 straight days of planning and scheduling than I did at the beginning. I like knowing what the plan is, how we are going to get there and that everything works together. And now I know that for the next year and 3 months! I am down to only 2 large group fun events that I have dates for but have not come up with exactly what the event will be and a few names and details that I have to figure out on others. My goal for tonight is to finish filling out the forms we have to turn in with as much information as I can. I am currently on form 7 of 18. That way tomorrow I can figure out the remaining things and just add them to the forms and calendar and be ready to turn everything in on Thursday, even with my girls having their League meet tomorrow afternoon. Well, I suppose I should actually get to my running, since that is what this journal is for. On Monday I ran 5 miles and some pick ups with my track girls and than lifted right after practice with my husband. Today I ran 5 miles (2 with the track girls, since they have Leagues tomorrow and than 3 more on my own). Thats it for exercise, unless you count all the typing I have been doing, except for a couple of short walks around my neighborhood last night and tonight, since I just can't sit still this long. I can't wait until things settle down at work and (as long as my hip keeps feeling better) I can really get back to focusing on my running. I miss feeling in great shape. I can keep up with my girls and even run near the same pace (when my hip allows), but I miss that effortless wonderful feeling when you are running a good clip easily or hitting goal times on a workout that you only get when you are in your best running shape.
Posted by Ann at 10:59 PM | Comments (1)
May 22, 2005
A real weekend day!
Yesterday was so great! I loved having some down time and am in so much better of a mood today. In the afternoon my husband and I took the car to get the oil changed, and while we were waiting walked through our old apartment complex where we lived the first two years we were married. Than we had a BBQ on our back porch, and just enjoyed the nice weather and sitting in our backyard. Finally we went to watch the new Star Wars movie, which was not very good, but I was expecting that. Its just one of those movies you have to see, even if its not that great, in honor of the original 3 movies. This morning I had to work, but things went pretty good. We had our Sunday morning program, which took a lot of set up this week, and than a meeting for our volunteer leaders. I was happy with how this went, since we have had so much transition and changes lately and its pretty unclear about how some things are going to work in the future. I felt accepted in my increased leadership role and like people trusted me to figure out the future. Afterward I met my dad at the trails near my house and ran the main loop with him and than ran home, which was about 7 miles total. My hip felt almost normal again today! My left achilles was a little sore, but I am not too worried since that is an old injury that bothers me a little from time to time espesially when I run on uneven surfaces like today. When I got back I did my strech/stregthening routine, and spend a little extra time working on my calf muscles. Than we made dinner and went for a long walk, since the rain finally let up and it turned into a beautiful evening.
Posted by Ann at 7:44 PM | Comments (2)
May 21, 2005
Regional Track Meet
Yesterday was a long, but good day. We left at 9am for my girls Regional track meet and did not get back until about 11pm. The good news is that all the people who had run the qualifying times already, qualified for States, which is such a relief. Its always scary when they have to perform on one particular day or their season is over. Everyone ran good times, right around or just below their PRs. Although I had a girl hoping to make it to States in the mile who did not drop quite enough time and was dissapointed, but she would have had to run a PR by 11 seconds to go. As far as my workouts go, I did my stretching/stregthening routine in the morning before going to the meet, since I was a little nervous about how my hip would feel after Thursday's workout. I ran about 5 miles during a break in the meet. My hip was a little more sore, but not bad. This morning I went for a 4 mile run at a little faster pace and my hip felt almost normal! Today is the first day in a month that I don't have to work or my girls have a track meet, so I plan to catch up on a few things I need to do (like change the oil in my car) and spend a good portion of the day doing absoultly nothing except probably taking a nap. I do plan on stopping doing nothing this evening long enough to lift weights and try the elliptical trainer again.
Posted by Ann at 12:09 PM | Comments (1)
May 19, 2005
Speed Workout
I actually managed to complete a short speed workout today! I ran 4x100, 2x200 and 4x400 with 2 of the girls from my track team, who were on a slightly different schedule than the rest of the team. My hip was a little sore throughout the workout, but it did not get any worse as it went on. It was not a partcularly hard workout, since these 2 girls are not my fastest, so their fast end of the season times were only between 80 and 84 for the 400s. I could really tell that I had not done much fast running for about 5 weeks, since normally its easy to push these girls, and today I was feeling the pace. However, right now I am just pleased that my hip is finally letting me run fast again. I had an interview at work, after practice, with a guy that is interested in working for our youth program. After talking with him, I am really hoping that I can get approval to have him hired. It would really take a lot of pressure off of me and my schedule right now, since I would have a full time assistant. After our youth program, my husband and I took a walk. I love the fact that winter is over, I have missed being able to be outside more and espesially taking walks in the evening when I get home late to catch up on our day with my husband. Tomorrow is my girls big Regional meet, so I am hoping for good weather to get those State qualifying times. Its suppose to be about 70 and partly cloudy, but they are predicting a lot of wind, between 10 and 30 mph depending on when I have checked.
Posted by Ann at 10:51 PM | Comments (2)
May 18, 2005
Elliptical Trainer
I ran 3 miles at practice and was able to pick it up at the end without making my hip hurt worse, which was good. Next my husband and I went to the YMCA and lifted. I tried to elliptical train, but it started making my hip sore, so I only did 10 minutes. My husband had plans with a friend who is moving out of town in a few days, so while my evening was not very exciting, I did finally finish up the work project that I have been doing the past couple of evenings.
Posted by Ann at 10:12 PM | Comments (0)
May 17, 2005
Nothing new
Yesterday I ran 3 miles and did my stretches and hip exercises in the morning with my husband before work and 6.5 miles with the track girls at practice. I lifted weights and helped my husband find a new pair of running shoes and than spent the rest of the evening on a work project. I had to finish up the project this morning before going into work, since I was too tired to finish last night once it got much past 11:30. So I skipped my morning run and just did the workout with my track girls this afternoon. They did mostly sprint stuff, 400s, 200s and 100s, since we are at the end of the season. I was not able to do all of the faster stuff because my hip started bothering me running that fast, but I did as much as I felt I could. My husband and I lifted weights again after practice and now I am waiting for my dinner to finish cooking.
Posted by Ann at 7:47 PM | Comments (2)
May 14, 2005
Good and Evil Roses
I only ran 3 miles before I left for my girls meet, because I had trouble getting myself to get out of bed. I got a few more miles in warming up with the girls before their meet and went for a walk with my husband when I got home. The highlight of my girls meet was the 4x800 relay. They got their time down to 9:45 (9:54 is state qualifying time), which is pretty dang speedy for 4 distance runners. I am feeling frustred with how my training has stalled this spring, I was really feeling good all the way through early January and looking forward to a good racing summer. I am trying to be postive with what steps forward I can make right now. I am feeling slightly better after 24 hours on my antibiotic, my hip is improving although slowly, and at least I got reasonable miles in 2 days this week. Oh, I almost forgot, my title is about roses for two reasons. First, my husband got me roses while I was gone at the meet (good roses), because he knew how frustrated and sad I have been resently and second, my rose bush tried to kill me (evil roses) when I was weeding my garden a few minutes ago (there was quite an amazing amount of blood for such a little thorn).
Posted by Ann at 9:26 PM | Comments (1)
May 13, 2005
More medicine
Yesterday I ran 4.5 miles with the girls from the track team. Today I saw the sports massage lady in the morning, and she gave me some new exercises to add to my list for my hip. After work I went to track practice, but only ran 2 miles with the girls, since I arrived late and they have a big meet tomorrow. I got home and my husband made me go into the doctor, because now that I am off my medicine I am getting my sickness symptoms back. I got another type of antibotics, but the doctor had me set up another appointment at the end of next week to test for mono, since he seems to think my symptoms and the fact they have lasted on and off for almost 6 weeks point in that direction. I don't know if its denial, but I am assuming that I don't have mono and really hoping this medicine will finally kill off these evil germs. After we picked up my perscription, we stopped by the YMCA and finally did some lifting, like we have been trying to all week. I am going to eat dinner, do my stretches and get to sleep early, since my girls have a big Invitational tomorrow and I am going to have to get up pretty early to get a run in before we have to leave.
Posted by Ann at 9:11 PM | Comments (0)
May 12, 2005
Running again
I did end up running twice yesterday like planned. I ran 5 miles with my track girls and than did 4 miles with my husband. We ran to the YMCA to lift, but ended up getting in a big conversation about what I should do with all the work stuff I have going on, and after standing outside talking in the cold for a while, we ended up just finishing our run home and skipping the lifting. I did not run very hard, but was feeling a bit better not being on my medicine, although my hip did not like the cold on my second run. I ate dinner, did my stretches and worked on the stuff I had to have done for this mornings meeting for the rest of the evening. I am glad this meeting is done, and feel like I have at least made another step towards clearing up my position and what I think is important during these changes, but there is still along way to go. Today I am just going to run once, because we have our youth program tonight.
Posted by Ann at 1:12 PM | Comments (2)
May 11, 2005
Actually writing
I can't belive its been this long since I wrote. This past week has been so crazy for me and my running has been very unexciting with my hip still giving me problems and my medicine for my strep throat making me feel sick. Last week the guy I work with at the junior high group annouced he is leaving. So I have been in the middle of figuring out what this means for my position, the group and dealing with hundreds of sad junior highers and volunteer staff. On the same day this became official, I found out the only serious boyfriend I had besides my husband, died in Iraq the previous weekend. I know its silly, because I have not seen him in years, but it brought up a surprising amount of emotion and memories. I could not sleep all last week between the two of those things and all my kids track meets. Than this weekend I was hosting a fancy dinner shower for my soon to be sister-in-law along with dealing with all the upset kids and their parents who had just found out when our letter arrived on Friday. So, I feel like I am just surfacing from a strage dream (although if I was dreaming I should be more rested). This week I am trying to get some order back in my life. While I need to deal everything at work, I also need to keep my priorities enough in order, that I can stick this out for the long run. So, yesterday I ran 4 miles with my girls and 5 miles in the evening. Yesterday, my girls had a track meet, but I decided to run when I got back. I did a total of 4.5 miles, with the last 3 miles at 7 minute pace, since I decided that I needed to stop being a baby and running really easy all the time since I am afraid of hurting my hip, am tired, and sick to my stomach from my strep throat medicine. I am so glad I took the last of my medicine today, since I found out that there was at least one good reason for running really slow, since about 150 metres from home I all of a sudden threw up all the water (and evil medicine) 4 times! Today, I have been in meetings all day, but am going to run twice this evening, once with my track girls and once with my husband. I have a lot of prep work to do for a meeting tomorrow, but am hoping to at least lift a little tonight, since I have really dropped that these last couple of weeks.
Posted by Ann at 2:11 PM | Comments (2)
May 2, 2005
Jacy Christiansen
I forgot to mention yesterday when I wrote, I was reading the new Runner's World and I saw an article on that 11 year old girl that keeps winning big races. She has run a low 18 5k, which I heard people talk about in the fall and the article talked about how she had just beat 2200 women in a 5 mile race running 30 minutes! I don't know why this had not registered before when I have heard people talk about her, but I suddenly remembered Jenny Christiansen, who I ran with on my college team. She had 6 or 7 younger brothers and sisters, they all had names that started with J and there whole family ran together all the time. So I got on the internet and Jacy really is one of Jenny's sisters! She also has 2 younger brothers, Job and Jake, who have American records in the 5k (and other distances) ranging from age 3 to 7!
Posted by Ann at 8:35 AM | Comments (4)
May 1, 2005
Weekend Update
I ran 4 miles at track practice on Thursday and 4 again on Friday at my girls track invitational. I was pleased with the way my girls ran, everyone got at least a season PR. I had a couple of people make the Regional qualifying time (you can only take 2 runners in an event to Regionals and everyone else has to run particular times for example 12:15 for the 2 mile) and some fast times from my front girls (11:17 in the 2 mile, 5:21 in the mile and 9:55 for the 4x800). Saturday morning I had set up to run with my friend C, who I had not run with in forever to do a long run. I struggled with wanting to just go 11 or 12 with her, but reminded myself what happened to my hip last week when I made a big mileage jump, so we ended up doing 7 miles together. I was really pleased with the fact that my hip, while still somewhat sore, did not get much worse during the run. This is the first time I have made it over 6 miles in the last 2.5 weeks without it getting really painful during the run. I came home and my husband and I painted the final coats of paint on our dining room. So now we just need to do the trim and find curtains that match before my future sister-in-laws shower next Saturday. I got a sports massage from the same woman that has really been helping my hip at 4:30. She said it had loosened up again since last time, so my stretching is actually making a difference. She taught be another stretch and 2 strength/mobility drills for my hip to add to what I am doing. In the evening, I did my stretchs. Than we went to see Fever Pitch, which I enjoyed both for the baseball story (I have been a Cubs fan my whole life, so I could not help getting really caught up in the Red Sox story) and the romatic comdedy. Sunday, I went to youth program and a meeting. Than I met my dad to look at some of the houses he and my mom are thinking about buying. I liked a couple of them, but the last one was exactly what I want someday. The house was laid out so nicely and it was only a few years old (ours was built in 1954), but not too large. The master bedroom had 2 connected walk in closets, a sliding glass door out onto the deck and connected bathroom with a huge jacuzzi tub! There are lots of big windows and tons of light and its already painted in colors I love in every room. And the very best part is its in a neighborhood that is connected to the trail loops and just off the small lake I often run around. The trails are about 400 yards from your front door. Now, if I just had a spare $229,000 my parents wouldn't have a chance at that house! When I got back I ran 3 miles with my husband, since I did not want to push my luck with my hip after getting through 7 miles yesterday. It felt pretty good during the run, but tightened up a little when Dave and I walked around the block afterward, but I think that was mainly due to the fact it was in the low 40s and really windy. Than, I took a warm bath and stretched for 25 minutes and plan to relax around the house for the rest of the evening.
Posted by Ann at 7:38 PM | Comments (0)