Bouldering in Bellevue

I went to the new Bellevue gym last night with 1.0. It is ridiculous huge, and it has some really awesome bouldering/climbing! The bouldering problems are fun, and there are so many to choose from!

Something rather weird happened to me though..a lot of the bouldering is really high off the ground, and I experienced a little acrophobia! The whole ground was a mat, but it was a LONG way to drop!

My only complaint about the place was that it is more of an "activity center" for Bellevue families than it is a gym for actual climbers. There were kids everywhere, and tons of parents and grandparents just standing around...watching. Watching?! Why weren't they climbing?? Weird. The kids were distracting and the parents were annoying. The climbing culture has definitely been lost at this place. :/ I will go back, but it will be on a weekday, when kids should be in school, and their parents should be on some boring conference call at work or something.

My right shoulder has been hurting after my bouldering sessions I have noticed...not so much after climbing on the ropes though. It makes the drive home with my stick-shift roller skate car fairly uncomfortable. The pain is always gone by morning though. I try to be conservative, and call it a night when I start to feel it come on. Last night though, both shoulders really ached. This morning they feel much better, but I am a little sore all over as I did get a dang good workout! ;) I am going to have to be very careful of this so that I don't injury myself and inhibit my ability to swim!

Loving my bike!

February 19, 2011
Had a nice easy 25 mile ride with Kristie and Renee on the Centennial Trail. Loving my bike. I don't think I have ever been more cold in my life....

February 20, 2011
Kristie and I kicked major ass on the Centennial Trail! I freakin' fly on my carbon fiber awesomeness. We were doing at least 17 mph for a good amount of our 35 mile ride, but did drop to 15 mph for the last few miles. Kristie was having some tummy pains. :(

February 21, 2011
I hit the trail again. I was a little wiped out, so I did 22 miles at a 15.3 mph average pace.

February 22, 2011
I fell down the stairs and did a number on my ass. OMG... I was banned from exercise. Doctor's orders. :(

February 28, 2011
I bought a trainer! Woohoo! Rode my bike in the living room for an hour. I loved it. Man is it hot when you don't have wind blowing in your face! lol

March 1, 2011
Jeff from work is my new exercise buddy! I was so proud of him. He did 30 minutes on the Elipical and another 30 mins on the treadmill! I did a vigorous hour on the bike trainer. It felt great!

March 2, 2011
Another great workout with Jeff T! We repeated March 1st's workouts.

March 3, 2011 (Today)
Jeff T is kicking ass! He did the Eliptical for 20 minutes or so, and then he hopped on the treadmill and did a run/walk combo for another 40 minutes! I ran a slow mile, but it was hurting my still painful rear end. I finished my hour on the bike trainer. I loved it! Yay!

Several months of Suckage

Do you know what's not fun? Pneumothorax.

It is time that I let go of what happened to me and stop feeling so defeated. Yes, having my lung collapse was total bullshit and I was screwed in more ways than one, but so what? It didn't kill me! I have allowed myself to use it as an excuse to feel sorry for myself and most of all, to be lazy. I have lost 10 pounds of muscle and gained it all and more in fat. I am barely fitting in my jeans! This must stop.

Last week I really did well. I ran between 5.25 - 5.5 miles each day on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday. I was pleased with my progress, and proud of my distance even after hardly running at all since before Thanksgiving. Now if I can just keep up the momentum this week... Yesterday I had to cancel on Ron (I'm working out with him again) because I had a sick kid. He canceled on me tonight because he had a date. This is not the start to the week I had hoped for.

I am going to make myself run tonight.

By the way, here are a few things I am looking at for the year ahead:

Mt Si Relay: April 10th

Beat the Bridge: May 15

Berry Dairy Half Marathon: June/TBA

Mercer Island Half: March 20

Lake Sammamish Half Marathon: March 26

Wenatchee Half: Apr 16

Mountains to Sound: June 26 (Super cool, but I'm not sure I could find a team...)

Skagit Flats Half or Full Marathon: Sept/TBA (This would be a good full....)

http://www.mountainstosound.com/
http://www.wenatcheemarathon.com/index.htm
http://www.evergreentrailruns.com/mar-26th-lake-sammamish-run
http://www.mtsirelay.com/
http://www.beatthebridge.org/site/PageServer

STP baby!!! I'm going to do it this year! Check out my beautiful new baby!
2010 Specialized Ruby Elite
Shimano 105 components
54 cm carbon frame

Skagit Flats Half Marathon 9-12-10

I had an amazing time running with Jeff and Stephen, in their first half marathon! Even though I was sick, I am very pleased with how I ran my race. I sure wanted to drop out of it that morning, but I knew that wouldn't be acceptable to me. Perseverance paid off! Perseverance FTW!!!

Certainly not my best time ever, but I am pleased with it, given the circumstances. The race was an out and back, and the entire 2nd half had a wicked head wind! Brutal!! I loved the rain though. It was refreshing.

Time: 2:20:59
Better next time, eh?

Good Running Reads

I really urge you to read his book, "Ultramarathon Man - Confessions of an all night runner." It is a fun read and truly inspirational. Dean Karnazes is my running hero!
http://www.ultramarathonman.com/flash/

Another good running memoir: "My Life on the Run," by Bart Yasso.

My goodness, I've been neglectful!

Running has been going very well this summer! But perhaps before I get into the present, I should fill in the highlights...and sometimes lowlights of the past several missing months. :-)

March 25, 2010 - I had an accident on my bike. A jerk in a SUV thought he'd run me over so he wouldn't miss the light. I went down hard, landed on my elbows, & slid 15ft on my right thigh. The guy drove off, leaving me in the street, unable to get up, because at the time, I thought that both of my arms were broken. Luckily, I must have awesome bone density, because I had no fractures! It was a humbling experience to not be able to use either of my arms for a few days...I couldn't feed myself, dress myself...(Thanks again Jeff for all of your love and support.) In total, I had terrible whiplash, road rash (OMG that sucked!), and had swollen and badly bruised elbows. By March 31st, I was running again. I did 9 miles. It hurt like hell. Looking back, I think I must have hit my head in the accident, because I must have been nuts!

April 11, 2010 - I put together an awesome relay team called the "Twisted Blisters" and did the Mt Si Relay! www.mtsirelay.com We did awesome! Steve, Joe, Brenna, Julia and I, finished this 59 mile relay race in 8:37:04!! My 2 legs added up to an approx. 10 miles. Because of my recent bike accident, I was slower than usual, and I hurt like hell afterward, but I was proud of my effort and my awesome teammates!

May 16, 2010 - I ran the Beat the Bridge 8k for juvenile diabetes. www.beatthebridge.org I ran it with my friend Dana, which was so much fun. We chatted as we ran along and the miles just flew by! Another highlight was that Jeff ran it as well! This was his very first running race! He did so well! He beat the bridge (and me! lol)

May 30, 2010 - I got an iPhone!! Ok, this has nothing to do with running, but It is so rad it needed to be blogged.

June 19, 2010 - I ran the Berry Dairy Days Half Marathon! 13.1 miles and I had a blast! Renee and her sister also ran the race, and it really was a fun time. I don't actually remember my time...I know it was a couple minutes slower than last year when I ran it, but I was still really suffering from residual whiplash aches and pains from my accident. Lame, but won't hold this girl back! Jeff ran to 10k while I was doing my race, and that was really cool. It was becoming clear at that point that a runner was being born!

July 19, 2010 - Mt St Helens bi-otch! I wrote this on my FB: " This year's trip up the mountain was about a month earlier in the year than last year's, and that made a pretty big difference. There was SO much snow!! I was glad I wore Gaiters! There was also a brutal headwind while were going up. It nearly knocked me off my feet a few times! At the top, there was a huge cornice, so ever though we had an amazing view of Rainier, Adams, Hood, and Jackson, we could not look down into the crater (like I did last year.) That was a bummer, but it gives me an excuse to drag Jeff up again with me next year! ;-) Woot! I can't wait!! Oh, and my new sock system worked very well! I wore special running socks with toes, and a thick pair of Smartwool running socks over them. I didn't get any blisters or lose any toenails! AAHHH....the simple pleasures."

July 25, 2010 - I ran 13.1 miles...for fun!

July 30, 2010 - I cut my hair. This is also not about running, but it was a huge thing in my life. I regret it still... :-( (14.5 inches...)

August 14, 2010 - Jeff and I hiked to the Kendall Katwalk, and beyond, to Gravel Lake and Ridge Lake. 15 total miles. I charged up like a maniac of course and did a good amount of it running. It was a fabulous workout!

August 21, 2010 - Ran the Covey Run 10k for Seattle Children's Hospital with Jeff. My time was 59:20, pace per mile: 9:32. I was very pleased with my performance and my time. It was a great race! Jeff's time was 59:18, so he did awesome as well! I am so proud of him!

I helped save a life!!!

Man Collapses at mercer Island's Rotary Run half-marathon finish

By Elizabeth Celms, Mercer Island Reporter City Reporter
Today, 2:09 PM · UPDATED

Emergency medical attention was required when a male runner collapsed of a heart attack within feet of the Rotary Half-Marathon finish line on Sunday. According to Sam Sullivan, director of the Mercer Island Rotary Run, as of March 22, the man was still hospitalized in an induced coma but breathing on his own. Doctors are optimistic for a good recovery.

"The fact that an ER nurse was right there [at the finish line] and started CPR immediately was very fortuitous," Sullivan said. "There was also a spectator, a woman, who jumped the barricade and administered mouth to mouth." (Me!!!)

The director added that there were five other medical emergencies during the race.

"At the time the man collapsed the EMT's, who were stationed at the event all day, were working on another man who was not in as bad condition so we got them down to him as soon as we found out how serious his condition was," he said.

None of the other emergencies, however, were as severe as the man who collapsed.

"All of the others are doing fine as far as we know," Sullivan said.

In all of the emergency chaos, Sullivan said that nobody identified the ER nurse, a race participant, who resuscitated the man. His family is asking anyone who might know the nurse's name to report it, so they can thank him personally.

I must say, I am so happy that this poor man is going to be ok. It is a day in my life that I will never forget. On a less serious note,... Man! Those chest compressions sure get the glory! LOL Well, I am proud of me at least. :)

This weeks running and stuff

I have been good and bad about running. The runs I have done have been a good distance this week, but just not enough of them. On Saturday, I didn't run, but I did do the elliptical for 50 minutes. On Tuesday I went to the gym and ran 5 miles, and today at the gym I ran 4.58 miles. I weighed myself tonight and I am 2 lbs down from Tuesday! (I am not ready to share numbers at the moment lol.)

I have found a team for the Mt Si Relay! I am so excited. I would like to run legs 3 and 8. Total mileage is just under 10 I believe. So team names... I have only thought of 2; Team Ram-Rod and Twisted Blister.

I have a work out planned at the gym tomorrow. I am meeting a new friend there. It will be nice to have someone to chat with while on the hamster wheel! My goal is 6 miles. I would like to run or do the elliptical on Saturday for about 50-60 minutes, and then a 7 miler for Sunday. I guess we will see what happens.

My next race!!!

I almost forgot! I have committed to this!

http://www.mtsirelay.com/

Feb 22 - March 1

Feb 22: No run... Just napping.
Feb 23: Major workout at the gym with Frauke. We did weights, then ran for 10 minutes, then weights, then biked for 10 minutes, then weights, then ran for 20 minutes. I was wiped out at the end of all that!
Feb 24: Ran home from work. 3.7 miles
Feb 25: Biked to work. That was all I could do. Tuesday's workout had me crippled! lol
Feb 26: I'm drawing a blank..
Feb 27: 17 mile bike ride.
Feb 28: Rock climbing and bouldering, and then a 5.3 mile run.
March 1: Napping. :)

Runs: Feb 17 - 21

I was pretty good this week! I ran but didn't go over-board. Here is how the past few days played out:

Wednesday, Feb 17: ran 3 miles
Thursday, Feb 18: ran 2.3 miles
Friday, Feb 19: ran 2 miles
Sunday, Feb 21: ran 5.85 miles

I'm feeling great. No real aches or pains in the feet, ankles, or knees. Friday's run sucked ass for some odd reason. My lungs just weren't happy. I guess they can't all be euphoria! Tonight's sure was though!!!!

Running 2/10 - 2/16

My foot is feeling great! I saw my PT on Wednesday and she gave me the green light to run again as long as it feels ok. I worked late that night so sadly, I couldn't run.

On Thursday, Frauke rode my bike and followed me while I ran after dark. It was an awesome run! It was raining and the fresh air felt great. She must have enjoyed the fresh air too, because now she is running outside! Yay! I don't know how far I ran that night, but I imagine it was 4+ miles.

I didn't run on Friday, but I did take a Tango lesson with Jeff, which was fun and exercise.

On Saturday, Jeff and I did the loop around his neighborhood and Silverlake. It was 4.85 miles and it was very enjoyable. We took a swing class that night too!

On Sunday, Jeff and I took the dogs for an easy hike at Wallace Falls. We hiked mostly, but I did run about 2 miles of it.

I took Monday off. I was pooped. I even napped with the dogs!

Today I ran 2.25 miles while Spencer rode his bike next to me. Another great run in the rain. :)

FRUSTRATION!!!

I am so frustrated! My foot is feeling so much better, but can I go running? NO! Yesterday I got the go-ahead to run again, but sadly Wednesdays are my long work days. By the time I got off work, it was dark out and it is safe to run alone. I was going to run today, but it was pouring outside. Jeff agreed to come over later in the evening to run with me, but forgot about a previous commitment and bagged out. Once again, it is dark out and I can't run. What really sucks is that it stopped raining! I can't run tomorrow either because I work a long day again. I feel depressed and unsupported. I think maybe I should buy a treadmill. As much as I hate it, at least I'd be running...

There is the gym... I HATE the gym... You know.. I hate feeling like this more. I should force myself to go and play "hamster." I know in my heart though, that an outdoor run in the night air is what my soul needs.....

Dumb-ass update....

I saw my PT and she did therapeutic ultrasound, massage, and then iced it. She said that even though when I did it it felt the same as my Achilles tear last year, it actually looks like an ankle sprain involving the Posterior Talofibular Ligament and the Calcaneofibular Ligament. Poop. No running for 2 days, then I have to see her again.

I felt more upbeat earlier today. Now that it is the evening and my foot is all bruised and it hurts to bear weight.. I am feeling tearful.

Dumb dumb stupid dumb.

Eww.. in my excitement to go for a fabulous Monday hike, and because of my inherent clumbsiness, I just took a tumble on my stairs... I re-tore my left achilles. I did this last March when I was in Hawaii too, (who knew a foot race with a 5 year old on the beach could be so dangerous!!!) so I know the drill. Instead... of super fun hiking today, now I'm seeing my physical therapist at 12:30. LOL Good times!

My 2/7/10 run and weird toe issue.

I had such an amazing run last night! I ran for about an hour in Jeff's neighborhood and around Silver Lake. It was one of those runs where I enjoy it so much that I grin while I'm running and even hold my arms out and do "airplane" while I run down the hills. I LOVE running late at night. I loved the rain on my face.

I am not sure of the actual mileage. My Garmin was not taking a charge yesterday for some dumb reason... I'm not happy about it. I'm thinking about re-running it when I can get my Garmin charged so that I can report accurately. Regardless, the run felt great and I worked hard. Lungs felt great; huffy and puffy, but not painful, and my back, feet, ankles, and knees were stellar! They didn't even stiffen up when they cooled down when I got home. I like these new runners. I'm using my green Smart Feet in them.

There is something I should report. I am not sure when it started but I think it was very late summer-early fall when I started having some really weird nerve damage signs in my right great toe. When I extend that foot and point that toe, it sends an electric shock-like, burning, shooting pain along the inside of that toe, from the top down to the distal end of the first large joint. It is ridiculous-painful but also causes a superficial numbness in the area. At first, the numbness would eventually fade, but well after the pain had subsided (which generally takes 3-10 minutes). Now, however, it is always numb in that area. The pain is only triggered by that positioning as described above. When the pain is triggered, it does make the numbness more pronounced.

So what is there that I can do about this? Rest and Prednisone and possibly a Cortisone or some other injection to the site is my best semi-educated guess. LOL About 10 years ago, I had similar symptoms, but on the top of my other foot. I had had no injury and I was not a runner at the time. It was totally random. My doctor offered no explanation, told me to stay off of the foot for awhile, (walking triggered the pain/numbness, so I was off it anyway) and she gave me Lidocaine patches to apply to the area. They did very little to help the pain. The symptoms lasted about 6 weeks and then disappeared. About 5 years ago I was working with a guy who had similar symptoms in his ankle after a skiing trip. His problem was unmanageable at work, and had to take something like 6 months off work while he laid on the couch on pain pills and Prednisone. Luckily, my pain is only triggered by something that I can manage to avoid doing... but still... WTF?

Wanted: Motivation, Encouragement, Accountability

This is a copy of a note I posted on my Facebook today:

There are several different possibilities for half marathons for me to run this year, and training season is well upon me. Admittedly... I am floundering. I think it is tough when you've taken time away from something that you love, and when you return to it, you can't perform at that same high level that had brought you such joy. Where is the joy in struggling to complete 3-4 miles?? I guess I need to remind myself that part of the joy was seeing how far I could come.. to see myself progress, get stronger, get tougher.. I am impatient. I want the reward now. But is it truly as rewarding if I don't have to struggle and sweat and shed some tears to get there?? I'm going to do something that I do not often do... I'm asking for help! I could use some words of encouragement people! Any cheerleaders out there???

Renee:
You are my inspiration!! If I can do it you can too!!Come on move you a$$ you can do it!!:)

Alyssa:
Renee, that really means the world to me. Honestly. Thanks so much. :) I am really proud of how awesome you are doing with your running. 13+ miles on your treadmill! You go girl!!! Oh, and I did go right home and I ran. It was only 2.5 miles, and I probably could have done more.. in fact I wanted to, but my left ankle was feeling "fussy by that point." lol

Megan:
Alyssa, I think that taking time off from any intensive sport is good for your body. Now, you can get back into running and achieve all those goals again! It will start to feel good again soon. Just remember that getting out there is the hard part. Keep it up! What 1/2 marathons are thinking of doing?

Alyssa:
You are so right, Megan. Getting out the door is the hardest part, indeed. I hate that friggin' rain and cold! lol But we all know that you warm up within a couple blocks! Here are two races I now have my eye on...
http://www.nodm.com/index.shtml
http://www.berrydairyruns.com/

Although I haven't been running like mad, I sure have been active. Between biking, hiking, and running, I have had one active and full-of-fun summer!

On Sunday, I did a little 5k race down in Freemont. It was the Oktoberfest Brew-Ha-Ha 5k. Very fun little race! I haven't seen my official time, (approx 30 min.) but it wasn't great. There were hoards of people and tough to get around them. I wasn't after time though.. just fun. :)

Today I went to the climbing gym. Climbing really fun! I liked the high ropes, but what I really had a blast doing was bouldering. I just couldn't get enough! My arms were like jello by the time I finished, and you know me, that means I've had A LOT of fun! lol The problem solving required in the bouldering is really what sucks me in.. I think my stubborness actually came in handy! I couldn't believe how sweaty I got! Man.. I can't wait to go again! This doesn't mean I wont run anymore lol, I'm just always happy when I find another form of exercise/entertainment. :)

Oh, I forgot to mention.. I went on a night run the other day. I really like running at night. It is so freeing! I ran with my hair down, and enjoyed the way it felt as it whipped around in the wind. I'm never going short again.. long hair is just way too much fun! :)

I have been in a running slump. For the past 2 weeks, I have been trying to get out of it. I think I am feeling more positive... Last week I put in 23 miles, which isn't what I was putting in at the end of spring/early summer, but it is a decent improvement. My shot at the half this Sunday is pretty much shot though. Not only am I not really ready, but I'm broke lol. I can't justify paying a reg fee when I am worried about bills and food. lol Oh well.

On Friday night, I had a great 5 mile run on the treadmill. On Saturday morning, I ran Bridal Trails with Jon. It was pouring, but it was still fun. I did struggle, and I had to walk some on the hills. Monday morning I ran 5miles plus change with Jon, and that went fairly well. He is so encouraging to run with. I'm glad we have started to run together again. :)

Goal #4: Climb Mt St Helens

Where do I begin?? I suppose I can start by crossing "Climb Mt St Helens" off my goal list!

You know what the worst part of a break-up is?... It is the loss of the future.. the loss of plans made. It's not really a secret that I went through a very painful break-up earlier this year. Jon and I had made many plans together... plans that had meaning to me. I can't tell you how painful it was for me to go through my calendar and delete our future.

Not only was Climbing Mt St Helens on my Year of Thirty-One goal list, but it was one of our plans. In the beginning, I had thought, "Fuck it! He isn't going to hold me back! I'm going to go alone!" but my friends and especially the boys didn't want me to. Eventually, a friend of mine offered to go with me. Unfortunately, he couldn't commit to any firm plans, and it was a no-go. I started to think that maybe it just wasn't meant to be, and soon all of the permits for the summer were sold out. About two weeks(?) ago, I had spoken to Jon about the Helens trip. I had wanted to know which trail he had used before and so on. He had mentioned a web site where people would sell permits they weren't going to be able to use. All of last week while I was sick, I thought about how Mt St Helens was the last thing to do on my goal list. How could I not do it?? So I called him on Thursday, asked for a link to the web site he had mentioned before. During the course of the conversation I realized that what I really wanted, was do the climb with him.. so I asked, and he said yes. I'm not sure I understand completely why it was so important that he was the one to go with me... I think it may have had a lot to do with my need for closure... Things fell magically in place from there. He got a sitter for his kids, I traded a day with Eric, and I found a guy with permits for sale.

The climb up the mountain was truly amazing. The view from the top was breathtaking. Finishing off the last goal on my Year of 31 list on the top of a mountain, on a beautiful sunny day,.. it was positively spiritual! Something else happened up there though... I let go of all my "Jon shit." We ran like maniacs all the way down the mountain. The details I am going to keep private, but I will say that the trip brought us healing, understanding, and forgiveness. It was interesting.. we both needed to climb that mountain together.

Closure FTW!