New Girl In Town

Bruise within one hour. Ouch.

This morning I set out all my stuff for the triathlon. This afternoon I had to change out a couple of things as I checked the weather. It looks like the wet weather may hold off until the afternoon.
Today was my appointment at Muscle Works. Drove over Suncrest in the snow storm instead of taking the freeway. I got there early and changed into my shorts and I sat by the fire, got warm, and then took a little snooze in the overstuffed chair.
Once it was my turn I went and sat on the massage table and Stacey asked me if it was ok if Tori worked on me instead of her. I said ok. Well I wondered if she would be easier because it was the first time she worked on me but I was wrong. I had a new problem with my right calf she discovered and it hurt so bad when she worked on me. Oh my gosh did it hurt. I thought nothing could be worse than IT band. I was wrong again.
Well Tori has been well trained at the College of Massage Therapy, and she is also being well taught in the art of Muscle Works torture where they work to fix our sore bodies. I was very impressed with the work she did on me and I was helped a lot by the work she did on me. I am bruised - my badge of MW honor. Stacey took a minute to work on my left hand which was having shooting pains today. I left with a good kind of sore going on in my body.
After the massage I headed over to Power-Tri to pick up my race number & bag. Since I was way early I just got my number and race map and I'll get my swag bag in the morning. While I was there Danielle spotted me and we visited. I also asked about the changing area they planned for those of us who don't want to bike and ride wet. The race director said she came up with the idea while sitting in the hot tub.
Tonight I finished getting all my stuff together for the triathlon. Bagged up my bike stuff to use in the changing booth. I am excited about having fun at the race tomorrow. I hope I didn't forget anything. Wish me luck.

Marathon Week 9!

Wow, training Week 9 is here already. I missed yesterdays cross-training, just got tired and lazy. Busy doing normal life stuff. Today after work I had a visit with Stacey at Muscle Works. After she worked my legs over she did a bit of massage on my neck and then booted me out the door to do my 4 mile run for today. Well, not really - about the booting I mean - but I actually had to run 4 miles when I got home.

Nice day, 36 degrees, snow on the ground but the trail had been cleared by some nice person. Dressed for the temperature and headed out with Tinkerbell. Didn't meet anyone running today, just one lone walker. Lots of geese out in the Jordan River Parkway, their poop all over the trail where they were hanging out. Its like a poop poop dance to try not to step in it.

Tried to run each mile faster than the previous mile. It is kind of hard to determine the speed of mile 3 because after mile 2 I stopped to drink a bottle of water. I was also walking and going to eat some strawberry Gu Chomps. They were almost impossible to get out of the package because I forgot to cut it open before I left. Turned out ok though, I did not like them and so one was enough for me. Not liking something strawberry flavored - strange for me. I am going to stick with my Clif Shot Bloks in my favorite flavor of Cran-Razz. No more trying anything else.

My run stats: Mile 1 - 12:45 & Mile 2 - 11:58 & Mile 3 - 13:24 & Mile 4 - 11:22 with a .22 mile walk home. See I was able to improve my speed. Chalk up another run, another goal met. Way to go Marsha!

Sick Happened

Due to over-indulgence of fatty hamburger, onions, great tasting food with milk in it and chocolate I got SICK and therefore had to miss my first training day yesterday, also missing a day of warm Arizona running. grrrrrr. I hope I learned my lesson this time. It was a painful one and I do know better. And I missed some precious time with Alicia and grandchildren, especially sweet Marley's talk in primary.

On the positive side, Jan and I were still able to make our drive home from Arizona by switching drivers often so the other could rest and snore if necessary. I didn't hear any snoring.

This week I will be switching running to Tuesday & Thursday, with the long run still on Saturday. And I will get in a swimming day tomorrow. I felt a little weaker today and my times will show that. I am sure with some good fuel in the next few days I hope to be good as new. It sucks to have to eat good all the time. It sucks when I eat things my body does not like.

Today's run was 3 miles with a short walk home afterward. I had to bundle up again, no shorts for awhile. Temperature was a chilly 34.7. My cute little running buddy today was Tinkerbell. She did a great job and tried to keep me moving at a quicker pace then my recovering body could do. Mile 1 11:46 > Mile 2 got worse 12:12 > and then Mile 3 was 12:21 and would have been worse had I just not pushed because I saw I was on track for 13! But I got it done and legs held out after their visit with Stacey from Muscle Works earlier in the afternoon. Another goal met.

I've got some bruising...

Had a session yesterday with Stacey at Muscle Works. I thought that telling her that it hurt a little above my right knee probably meant nothing, and that if it did how painful could it be anyway? It was just a little sore. Well she jotted down my complaints of different sore spots (I'll bet there was a gleam in her eye I didn't notice), set aside the clipboard, had me lay down on my back and went to work on my leg. When I had a chance to talk next after moaning in pain and doing my "he he" breathing, I was able to ask what muscle is that? The quadriceps muscle. Then came the pressing on the psoas to correct the leg dragging that occurred on Day One. Not quite as brutal as the other.

This morning it was back to the gym for another run. Shorts and tank top. Still hot but I survived. No foot dragging thanks to a working psoas. Kept up a nice easy pace for 2 miles, finished in 25.02. 8 tenths of a second better than Monday. Workout really was about run for 15-30 minutes, on goal for the day.

And the bruising? dark finger spots all up and down my right leg from my massage by Stacey. I'm trying to get her back by getting her to sign up for a half-marathon. I'll let you know how that goes.