Foodie at the Finish Line

Yahooooieeeeeee! 

I think my race volunteering gigs for the rest of the year are set...hurray!  I gotta say, I've really enjoyed the races I volunteered at so far this year and think I'm going to continue this going forward.  It's fun, I get to meet lots of cool people and I'm surrounded by runners...what could be better, I ask?  OK, maybe being surrounded by Chippendale's dancers might be marginally better but it's pretty close.  Hee hee.

So third race of the year is this weekend, Splash of Color, right here in little old Victoria!  It's one of these colour runs that are super popular right now.  I was going to sign up for it but thought nope...this is the Year of Volunteering, and I'm doing the Color Me Rad next year with D anyways so it's all good.  I requested the finish line and because I was the very first little old volunteer, I got my wish so I'll be the crazy little Asian, throwing colours all over the runners.  So excited!

Fourth race is also set as well I think...I got the heads up that I'll be at the finish line for the Goodlife Victoria this year too...I can't tell you how freaking excited I am, and the perfect ending to the Year of Volunteering!  A few months ago I sent an email to the volunteer coordinator at the Goodlife Victoria...I have a friend on the organizing committee so worked that angle...it's not what you know but who you know, amirite?!  Anyways, I told her how what happened to me last year made me realize how amazing the volunteers were and that I wanted to give back to the race and, if possible, could I pretty please with sugar on top be at the finish line?  My friend was at a committee meeting last night and said that apparently they all remembered who I was (yep, the infamous 20K collapser, that's me!) and that I'd be at the finish line as requested...squeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee! 

So that's it.  It looks like things are all set and I'll truly be Foodie at the Finish Line four times this year.  Four times is the charm, right?  Wink.

2013 - Week 33 Recap

Can't hardly wait.  Last two days until Hubs and I are off on vaycay for a week and I'm seriously dying here.  It's been a busy summer and we're looking forward to some time off.  What are we doing?  Mostly stuff around the house and then we're spending a few days in the big smoke (Vancouver) and yes, we're going to some cool new restaurants so we may indulge a wee tiny bit, hee hee.  And maybe some shopping too.  Also using that time off to go pay a visit to my regular physio...we moved offices recently so when I broke my ass, I couldn't get in to see my regular person so booked somewhere else as it's right in the same complex I work in.  Now don't get me wrong...I really like the new physio and think he's awesome, but all physios have different approaches and my regular physio has worked with me for years and got me through the marathon training in one piece and virtually injury free.  I think there must be something going on bigger than all the crazy niggles I've been having issues with (now the right calf that's been bugging me since last December has flared up and is causing me some grief...seriously, when will this end?!) and my regular person has a holistic approach that seems to have worked in the past.  All I want is to get better so I can get back at 'er...so far it's been broken ass, left inner thigh issue, Achilles heel injury, right calf niggle, wayward ribs and my lower back was bugging me because I had a vertebra out....I'm so ready for things to just feel good!  Just gotta say, thank god for "Team Wong"...my RMT, physio(s) and chiro.

WORKOUTS:

Sunday:  strength work

Monday:  home circuit

Tuesday:  rest

Wednesday:  2K treadmill run
Back at it after hurting my left inner thigh. Overall felt OK but getting a bit of a pulling feeling at the back of the knee.  Please do NOT be IT band syndrome...

Thursday: rest

Friday:  intervals on stationery bike

Saturday:  3K  treadmill run, strength work

FOOD:
Bang on except one indulgence that I must write about...anyone ever tried the Bavarian mustard pretzels from Starbucks?!  Holy, these things are crazy delicious...it gave me a crazy stomach ache after I ate it but it was worth it.

RECIPES:
Nothing new this week.  Dang.

2013 - Week 32 Recap

Perspective...sometimes that's all you need.  This past weekend I went to Lake Cowichan to hang out with a group of friends I've known forever...met them when I was fifteen at my very first job as a grocery store cashier, so I'm talking close to thirty years here!  We've gone through so much together and seen each other through so many phases of our lives...the crappy teenage years, the just-figuring-shizz-out twenties, the its-finally-getting-better thirties and now the I-think-I've-finally-figured-it-out-forties.  Anyways...Hubs and I went up to hang out with these girlfriends and their spouses, and we had such a great time.  As we hung out on the beach and spent time chatting around the campfire, I thought wow...how lucky am I to have such wonderful friends...like these are the types of friends that I would drop everything for if they needed me. 

Then I got the news.  One of the spouses was missing from the festivities, and I thought it was a bit odd but thought she couldn't make it up for work or something.  Turns out she just got the diagnosis of breast cancer...when I heard that, my stomach dropped.  As we sat around and talked about what was happening (thankfully the men were doing boy talk about RVs and fifth wheels), everyone started talking about their health issues and what was going on with them.  As I sat and listened, I was so thankful that all I was dealing with right now was a broken ass and busted leg.  Yes...ask me a week ago and I was having a pity party and wallowing in pissoffedness, but I'm not dealing with a diagnosis of cancer or other major health problems.  Perspective, right?  Truly, instead of waking up in the morning feeling grumpy or tired, I should be thankful and grateful every single day for what I'm blessed to have.  Yep, gonna do that starting tomorrow along with sending healing vibes to my girlfriend.

WORKOUTS:

Sunday:  3K treadmill run, strength

Monday:  3K treadmill run

Tuesday:  rest

Wednesday:  3.5K treadmill run, strength
Second injury, grrr.  Talked to Danya and she thinks possibly slightly torn adductor muscle, and gave me some ideas how to deal with it as my physio was away on vaycay. 

Thursday:  rest

Friday:  rest

Saturday: home circuit

FOOD:
Stellar...up until Saturday when we went to the cabin.  What happens at the cabin, stays at the cabin.  Heh.

RECIPES:
Garden vegetable soup from Alton Brown and Israeli Couscous Salad with Smoked Paprika...the couscous is amazing.  More than amazing actually!  Trust me, try this one, a total winner....I would never steer you wrong when it comes to food.

Two Steps Forward, One Step Back

Oh the humanity.  So...remember how I just said that my butt was getting better?   That it wasn't hurting on my runs?  That things were looking up and I was feeling good?  Yeah, not so much.

Yesterday I did an easy run on the treadmill and then decided to do 3 sets of 10 squats and lunges.  Nothing crazy, no weights on either...done billions of squats and lunges in the past as they're a staple at bootcamp.  Butt was feeling good, I was happy...and then on the last set of lunges, I felt a small twang in my left inner thigh.  I stopped immediately and stretched it and tried again, and decided nope...better hold off and not push things.  It didn't hurt like crazy like when I hurt my glute, but I thought I'd just better be careful and thought it was a niggle.  Rollered and stretched as per my new routine.

This morning I get up and it feels OK.  Maybe a bit tight but nothing too bad, it felt a bit sensitive to the touch but I wasn't in major pain or anything like I was the last time.  I decided that to be on the safe side, I'd take a tensor bandage to work and ice it.  Then I look and I've got a freakin' bruise on my inner thigh...I've strained another &#*$#(@ muscle.

Nooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo.

this is what i looked like today when i saw the bruise 

Sob.  I feel like I'm taking two steps forward, one step back.  OK, three steps back maybe is more like it!  Is this a test from head office or something?  I know a lot of people are dealing with way worse injuries than me, and it's comforting to read how other bloggers are fighting their way back from strains, pulls and fractures and are doing great.  And really...first world problems, right?  Way bigger fish to fry in the grand scheme of things.  Just right now, I feel almost like I'm afraid to do anything because I'm worried about pulling something else...I'm almost scared to do any upper body stuff because if I strained my shoulder or something...well, may as well take me out back and put me out of my misery. 

Yes, I'm frustrated.  Yes, I'm pissed at myself.  Yes, I had a bit of a pity party today.  Exercise is a huge part of my life and basically my existence, so to not be able to do it really drives me crazy.  Anyways...next steps...rest for a few days, stick to some easy upper body stuff (am not willing to risk any injuries!) and then go from there.  And I guess I gotta look at the silver lining...butt feels awesome.  Always gotta look at the bright side...this too, shall pass.

2013 - Week 31 Recap

It sure doesn't take long to lose fitness, I tell ya.  This past Friday I got the green light from my physio to add in some lower body strength training and start lengthening the distances on my runs as things are looking pretty good with the old bum...wooohooo!  So far, it doesn't feel like my cardio has suffered too much but not so with the strength side of things...I did 3 sets of 10 air squats and lunges to start on Sunday and I couldn't believe how sore I've been the past two days!  I guess it's been almost a month since I hurt myself so I'll need some time to build things back up again slowly but surely...I don't want a repeat of this little incident ever again.

This whole broken ass thing really got to thinking though...over the past six months I've definitely asked a lot of my body but really haven't looked after it that well...mea culpa.  I've been bad at stretching and rollering consistently and haven't been getting regular massages to keep things loose and limber, which I think has resulted in a lot of the issues I've been having with my ribs coming out of place more often than usual.  Well, no more...I'm vowing to roller and stretch nightly and make regular appointments with my most amazing and fabulous RMT.  "Niggles no more!" is my new motto.

WORKOUTS:

Sunday: home workout - hundreds
Yes, I like to torture myself...hundred pushups, situps, burpees and mountain climbers.  I admit that I didn't do the jump in the burpees but once the butt is better, I'm there.

Monday:  rest

Tuesday: 3K treadmill run

Wednesday: 3K treadmill run

Thursday: rest

Friday: intervals on stationary bike, chinups

Saturday: 3K run/circuit
Yay!  Ran the full 3K with one walk break...glute felt great!

FOOD:
Bang on...yes!

RECIPES:
Arugula Salad with Penne, Chickpeas and Sundried Tomatoes (this was fantastic, highly recommend!) and the Fiesta Bean Salad from Skinnytaste and Quinoa Salad with Herbs and Sunflower Seeds from Canadian Living.