For those who were worried, my yuck-procedure went just fine on Wednesday. I started off the morning by getting in 6 miles on the treadmill. I knew I'd be pigging out later, so I wanted to counteract it with some serious pre-calorie-burning. After my run, I headed over to my parents' condo in Florence so that my dad could take me to my appointment. When I got there, my parents were arguing about the kitchen disposal. They were both being comically irrational, so I was glad that it was time for my dad to take me to St. Luke. They definitely needed some time apart.
Once I got to the hospital and got checked in, I was irritated by the fact that it took 40 minutes of waiting in a room full of people (must of whom I suspect did not have insurance). Once I finally got in to the room, I shifted my emotions from irritated to nervous. My strategy for coping with it was to just remind myself that I ran a marathon, so this couldn't possibly be any more painful. And it wasn't. I spent the rest of the day Wednesday chilling out at my parents' house and eating Panera bagels (french toast bagels with honey-walnut cream cheese....mmmm). I had some pain, but my drug dealer (mom) gave me one of her "good" pills, so the rest of the evening was smooooooth sailing. I planned to take off Thursday as well, just in case I was still feeling yucky. However, I woke up Thursday feeling pretty decent, so I spent the day shopping and even felt good enough to go to my abs/kickbox class last night. I think I overdid it though, because I'm not feeling so hot today. Maybe it's just that I had to come back to work today...blah. I imagine that I'll magically feel much, much better come 4:00. Funny how that is, isn't it?
On a much more exciting note, I'm going to Las Vegas next week! I haven't been there since I've been an adult. We went there on my family's Griswald-esque "out west" vacation when I was 5 years old, but I don't remember much. We are departing next Saturday (the 30th) for 4 days. I haven't had a true vacation in quite a while, so I am looking forward to it. I'm not much of a gambler, so if anyone has any suggestions of things to do out there that do not involve cards, chips or dice, please send them my way.
Note to self: Watch Swingers for the forty-billionth time in preparation for my trip... "Vegas baby!"
Friday, May 22, 2009
Monday, May 18, 2009
Diet, Running and Yuck Stuff
I can sum up my weekend in one word: Gluttony.
Friday evening's Maifest outing was a feast of sirloin tips, polish sausage, funnel cake, more sirloin tips and topped off with way too many liters of beer and a late-night trip to Skyline. Saturday was just as bad. We headed back down to Maifest after football, beer and appetizers at MLT's. After a shish-kebob and more beer at Maifest, we headed over to Sidebar to watch my friend Shane polish off 50 hot wings and an entire pitcher of beer, hence becoming the only person to complete the eating challenge in the bar's history (they've only been for open two weeks though). I had pizza and wings at Sidebar. Later, I wolfed down more wings and some saratoga chips while watching small children sing innappropriate karaoke songs (both hilarious and disturbing; I'm fairly certain social services should have been notified).
So, by Sunday morning, I knew that my streak of gluttony had to come to an end. I made a healthy breakfast (french toast with lo-cal wheat bread and egg whites), then headed out to Lunken for a run. I promised myself after the marathon that I'd keep my distances to under 4 miles until I start the training group again in June, but after this weekend's eat-fest, I had to break that promise so that I could burn some calories fast.
It felt great to be outside running yesterday. The weather was perfect. Sunny but not hot, and with a gentle breeze. I used to run Lunken all the time back in the late 90s when I was living with my parents in Anderson Twp., but it's a little bit of a drive from Wilder, so I don't run there as much anymore. I've always kind of felt that Lunken is my "home" track, so it was a good place to test the waters for my first 5-miler since the Pig.
It was strange feeling how difficult 5 miles was again. It almost felt like the first time I ever ran Lunken, not knowing if I'd be able to make it or not. It was a little depressing. However, I cheered up when I got to the long two-mile stretch down the back that anyone who has run Lunken dreads. "Ha!" I said to myself, "This is nothing compared to Eastern Avenue."
After my successful 5-miler yesterday, I plan to push myself hard for the next few days so that I can take a few days off completely and enjoy some comfort food after my minor surgery on Wednesday. I'm not thrilled about having my third yucky biopsy in two years, but I know that it's important for me to continue getting screened so they can diagnose it and treat it before it becomes cancerous. Cancer would suck.
So I'm going to run hard in the next few days and try to eat better as well. Now that Maifest has packed up and moved out, that will certainly help matters in terms of what I am putting in my body. I am, however, counting down the days til Oktoberfest...
Friday evening's Maifest outing was a feast of sirloin tips, polish sausage, funnel cake, more sirloin tips and topped off with way too many liters of beer and a late-night trip to Skyline. Saturday was just as bad. We headed back down to Maifest after football, beer and appetizers at MLT's. After a shish-kebob and more beer at Maifest, we headed over to Sidebar to watch my friend Shane polish off 50 hot wings and an entire pitcher of beer, hence becoming the only person to complete the eating challenge in the bar's history (they've only been for open two weeks though). I had pizza and wings at Sidebar. Later, I wolfed down more wings and some saratoga chips while watching small children sing innappropriate karaoke songs (both hilarious and disturbing; I'm fairly certain social services should have been notified).
So, by Sunday morning, I knew that my streak of gluttony had to come to an end. I made a healthy breakfast (french toast with lo-cal wheat bread and egg whites), then headed out to Lunken for a run. I promised myself after the marathon that I'd keep my distances to under 4 miles until I start the training group again in June, but after this weekend's eat-fest, I had to break that promise so that I could burn some calories fast.
It felt great to be outside running yesterday. The weather was perfect. Sunny but not hot, and with a gentle breeze. I used to run Lunken all the time back in the late 90s when I was living with my parents in Anderson Twp., but it's a little bit of a drive from Wilder, so I don't run there as much anymore. I've always kind of felt that Lunken is my "home" track, so it was a good place to test the waters for my first 5-miler since the Pig.
It was strange feeling how difficult 5 miles was again. It almost felt like the first time I ever ran Lunken, not knowing if I'd be able to make it or not. It was a little depressing. However, I cheered up when I got to the long two-mile stretch down the back that anyone who has run Lunken dreads. "Ha!" I said to myself, "This is nothing compared to Eastern Avenue."
After my successful 5-miler yesterday, I plan to push myself hard for the next few days so that I can take a few days off completely and enjoy some comfort food after my minor surgery on Wednesday. I'm not thrilled about having my third yucky biopsy in two years, but I know that it's important for me to continue getting screened so they can diagnose it and treat it before it becomes cancerous. Cancer would suck.
So I'm going to run hard in the next few days and try to eat better as well. Now that Maifest has packed up and moved out, that will certainly help matters in terms of what I am putting in my body. I am, however, counting down the days til Oktoberfest...
Monday, May 11, 2009
Wings Clipped
The first week after completing the marathon has been a roller coaster of emotions for me. In many ways, I am a Flying Pig that's had my wings clipped. The last few nibbles of my Congratulations/Nice Try cake hit the garbage days ago. My race clothes are washed, folded and put away, no longer reeking of 26.2 miles of funk. My bib and medal are carefully arranged on a shelf of mementos in my office. I'm trying so hard to hang onto that feeling I had when I crossed that finish line, but eight days later, it's already slipping away.
On the other hand, I am moving forward. This was the kind of weekend I had before I started training. I went to happy hour. I played flag football and spent the afternoon with my friends and endless buckets of beer at MLT's. I went to the Reds game Saturday night, and wallowed in the freedom of eating and drinking whatever I wanted without worrying about how my decisions would affect my running. All in all, my life is getting back to normal. But normal isn't enough for me anymore.
To conquer my blues, I'm formulating a plan. Meters & Miles starts up the training group again in June for those doing fall marathons. I'm thinking that I'll train to do a half marathon in October. Maybe Columbus or Indianapolis, or maybe even someplace more exotic? This summer, I'll be focusing on getting faster and stronger. I'm planning to hit the gym as hard as I was during the past 4 months, but try to keep a balance with my "normal" life. All that may change again come January, because in 355 days, I am planning on another date with the Pig. A lot of things can change in a year, so I don't think I'm ready to send in my $70 entry fee just yet, but it's a goal. It's clear and defined and it gives me a reason to want to get out of bed in the morning. I suspect the feeling I have crossing another finish line won't compare to how it felt the first time, but I'll chase it anyway.
I did short runs on the treadmill on Friday and Saturday. I have a nagging muscle strain in the back of my left hip, but it's getting looser with each run. Yesterday, I couldn't bear to run indoors with how nice the weather was, so I headed down to Pioneer Park in Fort Wright and did the 1-mile loop 4 times. It wasn't easy, but it felt great to just be out there running again. It gave me the sense that after a week of living in gloomville, that all will be right with the world as long as I can lace up my shoes and pound some pavement.
I guess my wings haven't been clipped after all; they just got misplaced for a few days.
On the other hand, I am moving forward. This was the kind of weekend I had before I started training. I went to happy hour. I played flag football and spent the afternoon with my friends and endless buckets of beer at MLT's. I went to the Reds game Saturday night, and wallowed in the freedom of eating and drinking whatever I wanted without worrying about how my decisions would affect my running. All in all, my life is getting back to normal. But normal isn't enough for me anymore.
To conquer my blues, I'm formulating a plan. Meters & Miles starts up the training group again in June for those doing fall marathons. I'm thinking that I'll train to do a half marathon in October. Maybe Columbus or Indianapolis, or maybe even someplace more exotic? This summer, I'll be focusing on getting faster and stronger. I'm planning to hit the gym as hard as I was during the past 4 months, but try to keep a balance with my "normal" life. All that may change again come January, because in 355 days, I am planning on another date with the Pig. A lot of things can change in a year, so I don't think I'm ready to send in my $70 entry fee just yet, but it's a goal. It's clear and defined and it gives me a reason to want to get out of bed in the morning. I suspect the feeling I have crossing another finish line won't compare to how it felt the first time, but I'll chase it anyway.
I did short runs on the treadmill on Friday and Saturday. I have a nagging muscle strain in the back of my left hip, but it's getting looser with each run. Yesterday, I couldn't bear to run indoors with how nice the weather was, so I headed down to Pioneer Park in Fort Wright and did the 1-mile loop 4 times. It wasn't easy, but it felt great to just be out there running again. It gave me the sense that after a week of living in gloomville, that all will be right with the world as long as I can lace up my shoes and pound some pavement.
I guess my wings haven't been clipped after all; they just got misplaced for a few days.
Thursday, May 7, 2009
My 15 minutes are not up yet...but wait, yes they are.
The past few days have been rough for me. Physically speaking, I'm getting back into the groove of things. A short 1-mile run on Tuesday was excrutiatingly painful, but reminded me of how much I love running and how much I can't wait to run "for real" again as soon as my body heals. Last night I did a half-hour on the elliptical and 20 minutes on the bike at the gym. I wished I was running instead, but it was refreshing to get moving again. So I am feeling good on the outside, but inside I'm lost.
I really don't know what's next for me. I've spent the past four months working up to a goal, the goal has been accomplished, so now what? I had a long conversation with the manager at my gym last night about it, and we came up with a few ideas, like improving my speed, working on toning up more, etc. But these things aren't very exciting to me right now. Maybe once I've let the glow of the Pig wear off a little, I can get more amped up about my future plans.
Along with our goal-setting session last night, my gym manager and I were joking about how my "15 minutes of fame" are up since my stint with CinWeekly is through. When I came back to his office after my workout, he had an opportunity for me. Channel 5 news had called about a story they are doing on local "Biggest Losers" that they are airing in conjuntion with next week's finale of the show. They wanted to feature me. Wow! My 15 minutes aren't up after all!
Unfortunately, Channel 5 called me this morning and it turns out their photographer is sick today and they won't be able to feature me in the story after all. They are keeping me in mind for future stories on weight loss, but for the time being it looks like I'll be forced to crawl back into my hole of anonymity.
Oh well, my ego was probably getting a little too big anyway...
I really don't know what's next for me. I've spent the past four months working up to a goal, the goal has been accomplished, so now what? I had a long conversation with the manager at my gym last night about it, and we came up with a few ideas, like improving my speed, working on toning up more, etc. But these things aren't very exciting to me right now. Maybe once I've let the glow of the Pig wear off a little, I can get more amped up about my future plans.
Along with our goal-setting session last night, my gym manager and I were joking about how my "15 minutes of fame" are up since my stint with CinWeekly is through. When I came back to his office after my workout, he had an opportunity for me. Channel 5 news had called about a story they are doing on local "Biggest Losers" that they are airing in conjuntion with next week's finale of the show. They wanted to feature me. Wow! My 15 minutes aren't up after all!
Unfortunately, Channel 5 called me this morning and it turns out their photographer is sick today and they won't be able to feature me in the story after all. They are keeping me in mind for future stories on weight loss, but for the time being it looks like I'll be forced to crawl back into my hole of anonymity.
Oh well, my ego was probably getting a little too big anyway...
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