No Running but Crafty

Making use of running journal with zero running included.

Tomorrow I will hit 5 weeks of no real running.  My feet definitely feel improved but I can tell the problem is still there.  Went and saw a doctor, she was as helpful as I expected her to be.  Went back into Garry Gribbles Running Store to buy something new to try, and see if there was any employees there who had any good ideas.  After talking with the guy there I bought new inserts and going to try never putting any pressure on my feet without supportive shoes on until my feet heel up.    This means putting my shoes on before I get out of bed and only taking them off if I'm not on my feet.  There has been a few days where I got up at a ridiculously early hour to get to the gym.  On those days I would have my outfit sitting right by my bed so I did put my shoes on before I got up.  I didn't have any morning foot pain on those days so I'm thinking this might work.

I'm sorry but what?

Gretchen got this shirt for doing her mile run in Texas.  Obviously I want her to wear it all the time but she doesn't care to wear anything that is not a dress.  If it's not a dress it must be pink, purple or from the movie frozen otherwise forget it.   I made a few adjustments to the shirt to get her to wear it.    Now it's a dress with a purple skirt and fits Gretchen's wardrobe standards.

Hating on the Elliptical

Things I Hate

1.  Not Running

2.  Elliptical Machines

Last week a ran a whopping 11 miles total before I decided to admit to myself that I needed to stop running till this pain in my feet goes away.  I last ran 6 days ago and the not running is getting annoying.  So now that the weather is getting nicer I'm spending more time inside the gym instead of outside running.  I've increased my weights routine, more weights, more days.  Said goodbye to carbs and hello to lean protein.  I think I can already see a little more definition in my muscles but I could just be hallucinating from lack of carbs.  I've been putting myself on the elliptical for 30 minutes a day which just seems ridiculous.  The cardio equipment at 24hr Fitness leaves a lot to be desired.  It's old, usually only fixed with band aids and apparently ignored by the cleaning crew.  Nearby gym options are kinda limited and I picked this one based on the weights area.  It's not fancy and can be too crowded but they have a lot of stuff.  I normally only use the treadmills when it's winter and the weather is horrible.  I never use the other cardio equipment until now. 

Part of why I love running is that it makes me feel like a badass.  The elliptical does not make me feel like a badass.  Even if I listen to Eminem the whole 30 minutes I just feel stupid and not worn out.  I know how to make an elliptical workout hard but it's boring and not the same at all.  I need to feel worn out.  Tomorrow I try swimming and then maybe biking again.  

While I have not been running, I have been a little crafty.  I made Gretchen this knit flower dress, she seems to like it.

Wall Art

I've been working on adding to my bedroom wall art a piece at a time since Wake up & be awesome went up in January.  It's really coming together now.  Probably belongs in a museum but instead it's in my bedroom where it will be seen by no one.  The picture above just demonstrates my poor iPhone photography skills, looks so much better in person.  If you would like to schedule a viewing let me know.

I'm using different techniques for each of the pieces.  Wake up I did in glitter.  

This one is all Gretchen.  She cut up the cow postcard, taped the fabric scrap to the bottom and added the aladdin sticker.  Then hung it up on the wall herself.  I'm not sure what it represents.

Best things I went old school and broke out the cross stitch.  Felt like I was in 4-H again.  I picked the quote because I think it's funny and true.

Only a fool is just sharpie markers, a little quicker than cross stitch.  I got the quote from Ray Lewis in an Xbox commercial.  I'm not a Lewis fan but I do like the quote.  I mean if anyone knows how to not trip on what's behind him.

Run the mile I stitched on the sewing machine.  It is bright orange thread on gray wool.  I really like how it turned out.  I looked up where it was from,  David Willey, a Runner's World Editor.  I found the quote on pintrest where I find most everything.  Seems like good running/life advice.

I may redo this one.  It is just printed on the computer kinda needs a little more.  Another quote about working hard, I like it.  The quote comes from Vince Lombardi a coach full of great quotes.

Your shorts I may redo as well.  I wrote it out with a Sharpie then stitched over it on the sewing machine.  I went to iron out the fabric and the steam from the iron caused the marker to bleed.  Like, don't like, I don't know.  The quote comes from a Nike ad.  I don't know if this one sounds silly but it's for me and so true.  When I started running I was wearing down to the knee basketball shorts.  Now I wear short shorts, can't have all that excess fabric getting in the way.

Reminder To Run

For most of the time that I have lived in my house there has been a big blank space above the fireplace then last year I bought a large canvas with plans to paint some sort of design on it.  I stuck it up on the wall waiting for inspiration to strike.  Then back in March I decided on a running quotes board.  I already had a list of favorite running quotes collected on a pintrest board.  I painted some background colors on my canvas then used different sized sharpies to write out the quotes.  I planned out the design of the quotes beforehand on a scrap of paper so they would all fit.  I've had it finished and up for months and have slowly been redecorating the rest of the place around it after I realized the entire place was beige.  I painted the fireplace wall white and I am in the process of painting the other walls a minty green.

Monday:  Ran 3 miles on the basement treadmill somehow I got Gretchen to let me run long enough for 3 miles since she doesn't nap anymore.  I have to give her a turn first though, luckily that doesn't last very long.

Tuesday:  Ran 5 miles on gym treadmill in morning after Resistance Training Class then 3 miles at night before Suspension class

Wednesday:  Went to the gym just to run, planned it around Totsersize which Gretchen loves.  I ran 5 miles on the treadmill, super boring, I wanted off the treadmill as soon as I got on but was able to run 5 before I said to forget it.

Thursday:  Ran 5 miles on the treadmill after Resistance Training Class.  Did a little speed work after the first 2 miles following the 30sec, 20sec, 10sec X 5.  Done 3 times with 2 minute slow run break in between each.  

It is Friday morning now and I still have 17 miles in the next 2 days and all signs point to treadmill.  It's not looking good.    

Dinosaur Princess 3rd Birthday Party and Fitting in the Miles

Gretchen turned 3 and for her party we went with a dinosaur princess theme.  I picked it because she loves the show Dinosaur Train, I'm sure you've seen it, and loves princess stuff.  I didn't do a ton with the theme other than talk about it because she is 3 and don't care.  I did find a bunch of cheap plastic dinosaurs at a store I never shop at because I couldn't find them anywhere else at my price $1.00.  then cut off the tops of their bodies so they could be used as a flower pot and spray painted pretty colors.  If you are on pintrest I'm sure you have seen this done in some sort of way.

I also made crowns cutting a crown shape out of stiffened felt, sewed an elastic strip to the back and hot glued a few gems on the points.  

I think the party was a success, Gretchen loved it so what else matters.

In other news I poured a cup of coffee on my laptop earlier this week because well I don't know how it happened it just happened early one morning sitting on the couch sandwiched between Gretchen and Gwen.  Anyhow the laptop is currently propped over a dehumidifier hoping for the best.  I am using my old computer in the meantime which seems to be working better than I remember it working.  I have to leave it plugged in constantly because it refuses to recognize a battery, it runs slow and shuts off on its own occasionally.  

Running:

Thursday: 4 on treadmill

Friday:  0

Saturday:  8

This gave me 31.5 for the week, same distance as the week before, so ok.

Sunday:  6 miles on flat trail

Monday:  0

Tuesday:  4.5 miles on gym treadmill in the morning and 2.5 miles on gym treadmill in evening before suspension training class

Wednesday:  nothing, never left the house

Thursday:  4 miles on a treadmill at the gym after AOA resistance training class had a short amount of unexpected free time later so I fit in another 3 miles outside

Friday:  6 miles on trail outside work, went super well, negative splits, last 3 miles, 8:01, 7:48, 7:38 hilly and felt great

Saturday:  8.5 outside super windy but nice temp out

Hit 34.5, 3 miles over last week so perfect and still with 2 days off.

Sunday: party day so no running

Planning on hitting 38 and unfortunately this will probably include lots of treadmill time.