Basement walls

Exciting!!! When the builders said it was time to start building they meant it. The basement walls are in and currently being back filled. We went with 9' ceilings so that when we finally finish part of the basement the ceiling will be 8' high. This will leave enough room for ADP to use the treadmill if he wants to run at home.

Treadmill has a New Home

The past few months have been interesting and slightly chaotic at times. My wonderful exercise room is no more because we sold our home and now live in a townhouse style apartment.

Moving has its own challenges and it was bittersweet moving out of our house. We brought our kids home from the hospital to that home. It was the first home we owned. It had a fitness room just for me (ADP could use it but he preferred the gym). One of the last things I packed up was all the exercise equipment.

Most of the exercise 'stuff' is packed away in the storage unit. My treadmill, however, has a new home. We could have turned the extra room at the apartment into a playroom or a storage room but we didn't. It houses my treadmill, the dog, and a few extra storage things. It is good to have my 'mill in my current home so I can run whenever I have time!

New Shoes

I am looking forward to hitting the trails next spring in these awesome shoes!

A Goal Achieved

I decided not too long ago that I needed another goal to strive for.  Well, I picked one that was too easy because a mere two days later I am where I want to be.  Of course, I can improve, but for now I am happy I can say I have accomplished a yoga headstand.

My kids were kind enough to get a picture:

And a video (without sound):

Fixing a Treadmill

My treadmill has gone SQUEAK - SQUEAK - SQUEAK for way too long.  I called the manufacturer and we went back and forth.  Apparently both the deck and the belt were due for replacement.  I finally ordered them and had time to replace them (with ADP's help).

The parts arrived and sat in my exercise room for a week before I did anything:

6# little box and 42# large box

I did not know how long it would take to replace both the belt and the deck, so I picked a day with little going on.  The directions were pretty clear, thank goodness!  First up, take all the extra protective covers off...

bare bones

Then remove the rollers:

the back belt roller

Then remove the deck and belt (they come off together).  The TM looked really funny without the extras on it.  And it wanted to be closed up.  Apparently it is the weight of the deck that holds it down.

from the back

the front

Then the hard part started...putting it all back together with the new parts.  It wasn't hard to assemble, but the back tension screws would not go where they were supposed to.  When we measured the deck, the new was slightly smaller than the old which was the problem.  With some teamwork we got it fixed and looking like new.

I ran on it and OH MY, is it ever quiet.  I will not miss the squeaking!

Cleared to Run!

Just a week after my car accident my doctor cleared me to run!  My car was totaled and I have a new-to-me car.  Last week was a whirlwind and it all ended up much better than I could have ever hoped considering how it started.

I was cleared to run just in time for my July race, Silks & Satins 5K which benefits the Special Olympics.  I didn't run during the week and my neck was still tight so I did not race the 5K.  I want to make it back to 100% before I try anything silly like that.

Early Saturday morning I headed to Saratoga Springs, where track season started the day before.  I got there early enough to watch some of the horses warming up:

I picked my bib up and then watched the horses some more.  My plan was to hit 10 min miles and to keep my heart rate down and my breathing even.  It was a good plan and I almost stuck to it.  I went more by my breathing and was doing fine at 9:45 to 9:50/mi so I stuck with it.

Right after the first water break I came across one of my favorite people to run into at Fleet Feet, Patty.  She is a sweetheart and this was her first race in a long time (due to injury).  When I mentored new runners through No Boundaries she was always there as the Fleet Feet rep.  I ran with her and she was doing great!  I was happy to be going slower so that I could talk when she needed some encouragement and to listen when she wanted to talk.  She pushed it at the end and was happy to have the race done.  It was fun to run with someone new!  When we finished I found out that she used to be a sub 25 min 5ker!  Wow!

done!

The race was just what I needed after the week I'd had.  I wasn't going for time and was happy with how I felt throughout the race.  My neck and back never hurt, and for that I was happiest.

Garmin (started watch at start line): 3.13 mi / 30:17 / 9:41 ave

Official (no starting mat): 5k / 30:38 / 9:52

Place: 612 of 847

horse crossing

When I left I had to wait for about 10 horses to cross the road. They were either headed to warm up or done and needed to be taken back to cool down and be tended to.  Horse racing is big in Saratoga and the horses definitely had the right of way!

the swag...an interesting mix!

Not Quite Running

I have not been cleared to run, but I will be! This weekend there was a car accident that was not pretty in any way. Two cars were totaled in the accident. Thankfully, all three people involved walked away from the accident with no major injuries.

I was one of the drivers and surprisingly enough I have only one black and blue mark on me. However, my neck, back, and through the back of my shoulders are sore. I was checked out by the EMT's on the site and then went to the ER later in the day. They all said I'd be in pain and said I shouldn't run. This Friday I go to my GP and I hope to be cleared to run.

This weekend I have a 5K planned. If I am cleared to run I am not going to race this one. It would not be a good idea! The car is a goner, as is my front license plate (pictures below). So, if you are running, know I am jealous of you. I know better than to dive right back in after a car accident.

A Run out West

Last week we were visiting ADP's family in Montana.  We kept busy which left time for only one run when I was out there.  One was fine because we did a lot of other things, like hiking and driving up the side of a mountain on what I felt was a way too narrow road!

The day I ran we had a full day planned, so I was up and relatively early.

the sun was up!

It was fun running along the lake for a while.  The sun was up enough to light the sky and the lake was calm as glass!

Flathead Lake

The first mile was downhill, which meant the last mile was uphill because I did an out and back.  It was a simple four mile run for fun and pictures.

the running path

I did run slower than I usually do.  Most said I would not notice the altitude.  While it wasn't as bad as I thought, I could tell I was at 2800' as opposed to 300' above sea level.

a flower that caught my eye

I ran out two miles and saw this trail sign.  I wanted to go farther, but only went down the path a little before turning around.  It would be neat to have time to run more on it.

I made it back in time to get ready and head to Glacier National Park for the day.  It was a good and easy run.

ADP's Father's Day 5K

the starting line

It was a great morning for a 5K.  It wasn't too warm, there was a nice breeze, the sun was behind clouds and my job was taking pictures of the family.  No wonder I liked this 5K so much.

and they are off

ADP was the one running.  ADP has run this race four years in a row now and he really likes it.  This year the course was different, but in a better way (no 180 turn-around, just a few sharp 90 degree turns).

looking good!

see ya when you come back

ADP had a great race up to mile 2.5 and then he got a side-ache.  Those suck!!    

ADP and his cheering crowd

ADP slowed down for the last mile because of the side ache and still finished strong.

final stretch

Here he is at the finish line with 5 guys chasing him down:

and DONE!

Father's Day 5K 2012:  18:40

Overall:  11th place

AG:  3rd place (a nice mug for an award)

Happy Father's Day ADP!

Mud Mania 2 RR

For the second year (of two), Amanda and I went to the Mud Mania race.  They added obstacles and had a lot more people.  Some of it was good (better food and more people), some wasn't (standing in line to go through obstacles).

Parking at the park was full so we parked at the school and caught one of the shuttle busses.  Once there it was easy finding our way around since we had been there the year before.

Amanda had picked up our bigs the previous day, which was really helpful.  We were in the second wave which had the benefit of watching the "elite" runners come in while we were waiting to start.

The beginning of the race was different this year which made the first ~mile more interesting, but there were three times we were at a standstill because of an obstacle.  This means I cannot compare this year's results to last year's results (good thing...because we were slower).

When I finished the race it was a good thing.  Last week, at the Lake Placid Half, I was wondering why I put myself through the running and training (it was a rhetorical question).  Yesterday, when I finished I wanted to do it again!  Talk about a fun race.

45:46

distance of 2.9 miles

overall place 612 of 811

gender place 344 of 

division place of 33 of 52 (35-39F)