The (almost) 5K

Last weekend a local hospital sponsored a 5K.  It was cheap as it was only eighteen dollars.  Also, there were booths and lectures on women's health.  But honestly, I did it for the t-shirt.

There is a local place called the town center.  There are lots of shops, restaurants and a movie theater. In the middle of it all, there is an oval trail for walking and running.

Some of my friends were there, and I also made some new friends too.

I had worn my black running vest since the morning was a little chilly.  Plus I needed the pockets for my cell phone, car keys, and asthma inhaler. Usually my hydration belt is used for carrying all that but I felt I would look a bit silly wearing that to a 5K. By the end of the race, I was carrying the vest as it got a bit warm out.

We were told to do four laps around the trail and off we went.  It was kind of a tough trail.  The hills look deceptively low but they don't feel that way.  At the end of the race, I looked at my Garmin and it read a distance of 2.76.  I was tempted to go a bit farther just to get a full 5K, but since the main idea was to get the t-shirt, it didn't matter.

Then I went to some of the different stations that were set up.  I started out with the scales, brave me!  I weigh in at 188 with a body fat percentage of 43.8.  Oh good, the extra fat will help keep me warm in the winter!

Then I stood in line for the glucose test where they prick your finger but I chickened out and left.

Over to the flexibility test it was.  I had a miserable fail.  The instructions were to sit on the ground and touch your toes.  With much grunting and straining, I just barely touched them.  I was then told that with my lack of flexibility, I was in danger of rupturing a disc in my back.  So, I need to add stretching into my routine.  I hate, hate, hate yoga so I hope to find a mild stretching tape.

The next challenge was to do a plank for a minute.  During the plank, she had me hold up my right food and then my left foot.  I did the whole minute for the plank and could have gone longer.  Boo-yah.  Finally something I was good at!

Then I had my blood pressure checked.  It was 112/76, not too shabby.

There were also seminars inside a restaurant.  I went inside to get some free coffee and what did I see displayed larger than life on a large screen television?  It was a VAGINA.  The first talk was on women's health down under.  My friend Jodi was with me and I whispered aghast, "That's a vajayjay!"  A gentleman standing nearby smiled, looked at me calmly, and said, "I know."  How embarrassing but funny at the same time.  When we went outside, I told Jodi we should have played vulva Bingo.  She told me the man was a gynecologist where she worked.  So I guess he wasn't just some dude who likes vaginas. Oh wait, I guess he was.


We had a really fun time.  I did some shopping at the nearby Target afterward. The house was out of toilet paper, a bad thing indeed.  Then I drove home and collapsed on the couch.  Normally less than three miles doesn't take it out of me, but I am dealing with some stress right now, mostly busy stress.  Stress tends to make me want to sleep and avoid life.

It was a great day and I really enjoyed it. If they hold one next year, I will probably go.  And who knows?  Maybe I will stay for the vagina lecture this time.

Been A Long Time

I haven't posted in a while and I really promised myself I would post more.  Since I was resting for three weeks, there wasn't much to post.

I had two decent runs this week and one not so great one.  My body is returning slowly.

One of my good runs was on Tuesday.  It was with two friends from my jogging group. One of them liked to stop and walk a lot which was fine with me.  It was still a great workout and probably much better for my tendinitis.  We went 6.2 miles and then had coffee at Starbucks.  I grabbed a large black coffee, excuse me; a Venti.  I don't know why that drives me nuts, but it does.  Can't we just say small, medium and large?  Anyway, that is a silly pet peeve and I don't expect anyone to agree with me on it.  Or should I say, if you don't agree with me you are a big poo poo head, so there?

The next day, I only did about two miles on my treadmill.  One was a jog.  One was a walk.  I also walked outside with my husband once or twice this week.  It is hard to keep track of my weeks between homeschool, exercise, housework, etc.  I am also looking for a part time job which will just add to the crazy if I ever get hired.

Today I had the choice between jogging with my friend Sandie at 7:50 and my friends Lhia and Jamie at 9:00.   I said, "Yes please," to both.  Sandie and I did 3.4 miles together and then I did 3 miles with Lhia and Jamie.  Well, actually I did 2.2 with them, broke off, and headed back to my car, for a total of 3 even.

The run with Sandie was a slower run.  The second run really pushed me.  Sometimes it is good to run with somebody faster as long as they don't mind slowing a bit for you.  It makes me push myself more and sometimes I even surprise myself.  Today my body was going, "Ahhhhh, stop please!"  However, I kept pushing on, if only because I didn't want to look like a wimp in front of my friends.  Who says we outgrow peer pressure?

I have ordered some compression socks. I can't wait for them to come in.  They are bright pink.  I wish I had seen the blue ones before I ordered the pink ones, as I liked that color even better.  That's okay.  I will rock the pink!

I am running a 5K tomorrow, not for time, just because it only cost fifteen dollars and the shirt was cute.  It is a women's only 5K, which is pretty nice too.

Have a great weekend all!

Cleared for Take-off

Wow, this should be my non-jogging, jogging blog.  I have pretty much been out of commission for three weeks so there has not been a lot to write about.

Today I went to an orthopedist/sports doctor.  My Achilles Tendinitis is healing up better than I expected.  Hooray!  I wish he hadn't insisted on taking x-rays.  I can't wait to get the bill for those.

I am only to add ten percent a week to my mileage and I am to avoid hills.  Did I mention I live in the foothills?  The hill part might pose a bit of a challenge.

Anyway, I'm still sore, but improving.  I hope the bump on the back of my right heel goes away.  I will be ready for Hood to Coast in August.  Knock on wood.  And I really, really wish I had the money for some compression socks.

That is all.