New Year, new things afoot

The blog will be getting a much needed makeover and a slight shift in focus in the coming weeks...I am looking forward to running more, writing more and just generally being more.  

Hi...I'm back

 I know, I know, I haven't posted in ages (over a year or nearly that, I think) but I' m still here and ready to share my thoughts with you.  ;)  Since I last posted all sorts of fantastic, crazy, wonderful things have happened including me becoming an INKnBURN Ambassador...squee!  Expect product reviews and an awesome deal on INKnBURN gear coming soon!  Until then, hang out.

Big shoes to fill, 50 milers and other (mis) adventures

I am rehabbing the same pesky knee issue that forced me to run all of TNFEC 50K with a KiniseoTaped right knee.  After two weeks of VERY light running it is better, but I'm finding that if I step in slightly the wrong way I seem to re-injure it.  *sigh*  This is not making it any easier for me to decide whether I want to start training for BRR50 and if I actually want to run it, I need to start training like nowish.  Clearly I just need to be patient with my knee, to continue working with the capacity I have available and to decide further down the road, but patience has never been my strongest trait.  Like right now I am anxiously awaiting the arrival of my (new to me--last year's model) Hoka One One Mafates from The Clymb.  I've been curious about them for ages and at 60% off I could hardly pass them up.  So I'll be switching back and forth between barefoot, minimal and super cushioned.  A recipe for disaster?  I hope not.

A tiny bit of progress

With the help of a little pre-cut pink and blue Kinesio Tape I managed to wake up free of that pesky plantar pain, to run 5 miles outdoors, and to complete a Lotte Berk-style warm up and stretch routine all before the temperatures really began to rise at 9 AM.  I feel accomplished and tired, but I also feel like I need to do more.  Trails next week.  I'm putting it in writing so I can't back out.  Until then I continue to work on my championship couchsitting/arch icing skills.

On Running and not running

A friend of mine just told me she loves my blog so I was shamed into coming back to post something.
I had these beautiful and lofty plans to stay the running course post-50K and mostly I've stuck to the plan.  However...my left foot and that pesky plantar fascia are trying to sabotage my good works.  *sigh* (I do that a lot lately).  I didn't run yesterday--instead I hooped in my living room and went to a fantastically strenuous Barre Body class at night.  I feel good.  I feel sore in new places.  I feel like I'm being proactive about my fitness, but I don't feel the same way I feel after a run:  accomplished, exhausted and like my legs can carry me anywhere.

Aaaaaand I won't be running today either.  (Hello, Left Arch.  Yes, I know you are still there--you keep reminding me in a not so gentle, throbby kind of way.)  So I'm taking a bit of a run break while I re-group and plan for my upcoming relay in August, my rematch with the women's trail half marathon (you may have broken my foot last year, BRO Trail, but you have not broken me yet!) and Tough Mudder in October.  I have a lot of planning and crosstraining and running to do in the coming months and I am so looking forward to the point where all my body parts are willing participants in that process.

Fresh fare

So...initially I came here to report that pre-50K (Saturday), I am yet again slightly mangled, but I'm surviving. I ran 2 on Tuesday (and did AbRipperX after) and 3 today. The next two days are planned rest days so I'm going to keep my jumping about and running around to a minimum, BUT I am going to pick up our CSA share tomorrow and I'm super excited about some of the offerings:

 Kohlrabi, Turnips, Broccoli, Beets, Fennel, Snow Peas, Garlic Scapes, Oregano, Free-Range Eggs and Raspberries.  (I think I did a little OMGraspberries happy dance when I read the produce list)

No, I don't eat eggs--I AM vegan after all, but KJ does so he gets a rare treat (for him).  I am already planning a beet and fennel salad or perhaps a saute of garlic scapes and beets?  Not sure yet--there are lots of options, but I have no idea what to do with the kohlrabi.  This will be a first foray into kohlrabi prep for me.  This could go so badly.  Better start researching recipes...

I am also picking up my race packet tomorrow so I'll be making a quick trip to The North Face store to get my race bag and fondle  check out all the new gear .  *sigh*  This stay at home dog mommy career choice has its down side. 

Sleep, eat, run or practice?

These are my choices these days.  Do I eat breakfast first and run later?  Quick smoothie and quicker run?  Hills or speed?  Choices choices.

This weekend I didn't bother choosing --I just did a little of everything.  Yesterday, I was already tired from the very little sleep I manage on a good day, but I still picked up a friend, did a 70 minute silks class, went home to pick up the dogs and then hit Fountainhead for 10 miles on the trail.  By this morning I felt like hell and I couldn't decide which trail to run or whether to go back to sleep.  PHT is generally my go-to trail for 6 milers, but last weekend more than half of the trail was washed out by the Potomac and I didn't want to chance it.  So I compromised (going back to sleep wasn't ever really an option), strapped on the Kinvaras and started my run at my front door.  It was a bit of a cheat since I'm meant to do trails on weekends, but I still covered my mileage and was able to get to dance class on time.

My delts are pleasantly sore from TRXing on Friday and from aerial silks practice Saturday...AND my House dance practice is still a little klutzy but I feel better about my progress every week.   Everything worked out this weekend (sort of), but I really need to find balance if I want to be able to continue.