Boating, foot doctors and drinking

I didn’t work out this morning or yesterday or even Friday. Feeling very chunky today. Friday was supposed to be a rest day, so I don’t feel guilty about that one. Saturday I did pretty well. I did 30 minutes on the Cross Ramp, then another 30 minutes of spinning. I know, fun, right? Then later that evening I walked for 3 miles. I would have preferred to be running and be done with it quicker but walking actually wasn’t too bad because I was talking to my sister on the phone the whole time. Before I knew it I’d completed 3 miles. I know, I know, how could I call it exercising while I’m yapping away on the phone? But at least I was keeping active.

And so Sunday I went wakeboarding with some friends, well actually I just sat in the boat, everyone else went wakeboarding. I know, I’m such a party pooper, but if you could see me right now, you’d know why my chubby butt shouldn’t be squeezing into a bathing suit. It was still lots of fun, and really relaxing. After that we went home and bbq-ed. That was so much fun, and before I knew it I was feeling extremely “relaxed” and giddy from the still undetermined amount of Malibu and cranberry I had. My plan that day was to jog or ride my bike the 2 miles or so over to a friend’s house, where we’d planned to meet in the morning before heading to the lake OR to exercise at the gym in the evening after our bbq. I seriously did not plan to be there all day, nor did I plan to dehydrate myself with all the drinks. But I did, and so there was no exercise in the cards for me yesterday.

And since I didn’t exercise Sunday, I definitely had to wake up early today and head to the gym. Well, I didn’t make it. Did I mention I had one to many drinks yesterday? Yeah, I wasn’t feeling the gym thing this morning. And now I have to make sure that I go to the gym this evening. I have to. Skipping out on the gym is just getting to easy and it’s not helping me shed any weight.

Also, I have an appointment with the podiatrist this afternoon, and I’m hoping he’s not going to tell me I need to continue to rest from running. I haven’t jogged in over a week. Augh! I’m going nuts. Unfortunately though, I did notice a slight discomfort when I went for the 3-mile walk on Saturday so I’m a little worried. I thought my new shoes were going to do the trick, but I’m still not convinced they’re the right ones. I ended up with a different pair than what I previously blogged about, a shoe that’s perfect for the neutral to underpronator. I figured I couldn’t go wrong since I’m definitely one or the other. I’m taking both my new pair of running shoes along with my old pair and see if the doctor can figure it out for me. I just hope he’s the one to tell me. When I called to make the appointment the girls at the front desk had to double check that the doctor would even be able to see me for shin splints. Say wha-? Isn’t a podiatrist the person to go to for such a problem? If not a podiatrist, then who?

Anyway, my appointment is in two hours. It’s driving me crazy, and I’m crossing my fingers that he’ll say, “You’re fine! You’ve had enough rest. Start jogging again.” And then I’ll plant a big sloppy wet one on his forehead and run all the way home. Otherwise, if he says I still can’t jog, then someone better be praying for the little doctor ‘cause I’ve got a lot of pent up energy in me and I’m not very happy, heh.

Non-running rant

Oh no she di’n’t.

But she did.

A distant cousin of mine, who lives in Palm Desert, CA, began texting me the other day about random stuff. She asked about my relationship and I told her it was going well, that my honey was now working for the state and at times puts in double shifts.

She replies by saying that she would like to see him work triple shifts so that she’d soon see a big rock on my finger. I reply with the good ol’ “lol” and said I’d give him the message, not really taking her seriously but slightly annoyed that she said that. Then immediately after that I get a concerned message from her saying, “Yes, please. I really want my cousin to at least be in her late 20’s when she gets married.” D’OH! First off, too late. I’m no longer in my late 20’s. And second, why is EVERYONE ELSE so concerned about me being a certain age for marriage and/or kids?

I should probably be used to everyone constantly making these types of comments to me, but I’m not. They do sting a little each time someone says something. Sure, I’d like to get married one day, maybe even have kids, but I’d like to do that when my sweetie and I are both ready, not because everyone else thinks I’m getting too old. I don’t even feel old. Sure, when I say 30 out loud, it’s like, Whoa! When did that happen? But for the most part, I don’t feel 30. And now that I’m running (see? I made this post about running, too.) I’m sure I’ll feel even younger. I just don’t get why so many people feel it is so necessary to make comments to me about my own life.

 

Maybe I should have been popping out babies a long time ago, but I will be the first to say I would not have been a good mother. Even now, I question my motherly instincts because I have none. I’d like to have children someday, but I don’t have the desire to have them this very instant. I will admit, though, that every time someone says I should be married by now or having babies I feel like maybe there is something wrong with me, since someone did once say to me, “What’s wrong with you?” after finding out that I was not married. Maybe there is something wrong with me, but do I really have to be reminded of the fact? Or that other comment, “I don’t want to be 30 and having a baby! Can you imagine being 50 when your kid is in college?” Why, yes, I can imagine that.

It just bugs me. It really really bugs me. I wish it didn’t, but I’m an overly sensitive female and I take a lot of things to heart.

Anyway, rant over. Right now would have been a great opportunity to go running, but alas I cannot so I will let the thought linger and hope that the chocolate cake my sweetness bought does not call out to me.

I may never be married, or maybe I will, who knows? I will be an old mommy if I am ever blessed with children, but does that really, truly matter? I don’t think so, or at least I hope it doesn’t. 

Why should I run?

When I can do this and burn 118 calories an hour.

New Layout

Sorry about the frequent layout changes lately. I’m having a hard time finding something I like and that will also be easy on your eyes.

Taking it easy

The shin splints didn’t ease up even after taking a day off on Friday. I tried going out for another jog on Saturday morning and it was terrible. I tried to run through the pain but it was unbearable. Halfway through my run I accidentally ended my Nike+ workout, which just added to my disappointment. I began a second workout with Nike+, but I wasn’t feeling it and the pain was obviously still there. I went home defeated and iced my shin for about a half hour. Later that day I went out and bought a shin support specifically for shin splints. Hope it helps.

I almost didn’t get up early enough to go to the gym this morning. I was tired and I definitely wasn’t excited about heading to the gym. I had a long debate with myself but finally decided to drag myself out of bed. I no longer look forward to my workouts. I was seriously dreading the gym and working on those boring machines, but off I went anyway. Mainly because my weight has been creeping up again and I’m feeling really awful about myself. I desperately need to change my mentality.

I worked out my legs today and raised the weights I was exercising with by about 10 lbs. The best way to look at this is to know I’m making my legs stronger, which in turn will make my runs easier. But I still miss running. There’s just no sense of accomplishment when I step off the elliptical. No satisfaction. I know that’s not the best way to look at this, but I am really bummed. I really hope this is just for a little while. I don’t even know how long I should take a break from running. Five weeks into running with my Nike+ sensor and now I have to stop? I really hope it’s just shin splints and not the beginning of something more serious though.

Anyway, on a brighter note, I finally achieved my 100 miles with Nike+. Check it! Go me. My first milestone. Sure it took me 5 weeks, but I did it. And for those of you who may question who Vedge is, that is actually me. I go by Rah Rah on a few sites and Vedge on others. I guess, it’s whatever I’m feeling at the moment. Rah Rah happens to be what my nephew calls me. (He cracks me up!) And Vedge came about when I took the first two letters of my name and combined it with the last three letters of one of the nicknames I have for my guy. Sort of like Brangelina only flabbier, but I can assure you it was me who completed those miles.

Please send my shin happy healing thoughts and hopefully I’ll be out and jogging soon.

The Shoe

Presenting the new shoe.

I have no idea how to upload pictures onto my blog.

I went during lunch as planned with my extremely dirty Nike Triax back to the sports store and exchanged them for the Mizuno Wave Inspire. I was satisfied with the decision I made while at the store, when I walked out of the store and even as I drove back to work. It wasn’t until I sat down at my desk and began surfing the internet AGAIN to read about the shoe that I began to doubt my decision. Lots of great reviews. Okay, good. But then on a couple of sites I saw it was the right shoe for the moderate overpronator. Gah. I don’t overpronate, for sure. Aren’t I supposed to be an underpronator or supinator, depending on what site I’m looking at? (That almost sounds like a superhero or something. Fear me! For I am THE SUPINATOR.)

GAH! It’s bad enough I’m an already indecisive person as it is, but now I have to find the perfect pair of shoes because if I don’t I risk injury! *gasp* Why do they have so many choices? And why can’t someone just look at my feet, my shoes, the way I run and tell me if I really am a supinator, or if I have a neutral pronation. And why do I sound like I know what I’m talking about when I use those words. Words I’ve only been familiar with for a couple of days. Truthfully, I really wish I never learned the words. I would have just gone out and picked the cutest pair, tried them on and if they fit, purchase them. Ignorance truly is bliss. But I know it’s best to have the right pair. It makes the runs easier and you have less of a chance of injuring yourself. I really wish my feet would talk and tell me what the heck they were though!

So I exchanged my shoes and thought I was done with my dilemma. Only now I’m not sure if I should go back and exchange them again. Maybe I should have stayed with the Nike Triax and just gone up a 1/2 size larger. I don’t know. I’m so confused.

No-go on the new shoes and my butt is sore

The new shoes did not work out. I jogged 4 miles and walked 1 this morning and the whole time I felt the shoes a little snug. The weird thing is that I even went up ½ a size. As soon as I got home I pulled them off and I saw the beginning of a blister. Glad I didn’t go a bit longer otherwise I’m sure I would have felt the little sucker.

My right shin ached a bit, but not like it did the other day. My rest day may have helped or maybe it was the fact that I was wearing new shoes, although I’m not sure how much good the shoes could have actually done. I’m going back to the sports store today to return them. I tried to do the wet test again this morning to find out what foot type I have and I still think I’m an underpronator, maybe even neutral pronator. I can’t quite figure it out. Why is it so difficult? And seriously, why aren’t there any specialty running stores in Bakersfield? A friend told me that the only place that really tried to help you find the perfect shoe was Soccer Warehouse who specialized in soccer and running gear, and I’ve just found out both their local stores went out of business. Yesterday evening I went to Sports Authority and NO ONE was there to help me with running shoes. I’m seriously getting frustrated.

Hopefully today I’ll find a perfect pair of shoes. I’ll try to see if they let me get on a treadmill to try the shoes out.

Also, my butt is sore. That’s probably not such a bad thing, though. heh. Yesterday morning I worked out on the cross ramp and did strength training exercises for my legs. It was a good workout, although I missed my running. Back at it this morning, but I wished I could have gone a little faster or longer. I finally got to hear Tiger Woods congratulate me for my personal best on the Nike+ sensor last week. lol I haven’t heard him again. Seriously bummed. I’d been hearing Joan Benoit’s voice a few times, finally hear Tiger Woods and now he won’t speak to me again. heh. I really do love the voice feedback feature on the Nike+ sensor.

Maybe next week. For now I just have to focus on finding some running shoes, instead of focusing on Tiger Woods patting me on the back.

Over the weekend

The weekend wasn’t great for diet or exercise. Saturday morning I woke up and did an okay run. I think I had to take breaks in between my jog to walk. I honestly can’t remember. I just remember it being extremely hot outside even in my new moisture wicking gear. That run is saved on Nike+ so I could go back and look, I’m just too lazy.

Sunday wasn’t any better. In fact, 1.5 miles into my walk/jog my Ipod died. Ugh. I was seriously bummed. I decided not to continue jogging since it wasn’t going to be recorded into my Ipod anyway. I went home and did a few minutes of Turbo Jam instead. It was a nice change, although I don’t feel like I got too much of a workout. I realized that when I jump around my downstairs neighbors can hear it so I try to tone it down a bit.

My back is still sore today from Turbo Jam though, so at least my upper body got a decent workout. And finally yesterday morning I tried going out for another jog before work and after 2.5 miles I was worn out. I did pig out the day before so I’m pretty sure it had everything to do with how uncomfortable I was feeling during my jog. It definitely was not a great workout weekend.

Luckily this morning I was able to complete 5.5 miles. Today turned out to be a better workout day, although not much better since now I think I have shin splints. I began feeling a pain in the front of my lower right leg about 2 miles into my jog. That’s shin splints, right? I tried to run through the pain, but eventually slowed down to a walk for one lap after my third mile. After that I began doing tempo runs as 1mile suggested. I ran every 200 meters and walked the remaining 200 meters around the lap. I did that for the last 4 or 5 laps. The pain went away after a bit, but I feel a light pain now.

I am so bummed. Now it seems that I have to slow it down a bit and I don’t really want to. I will take a break tomorrow and maybe get on the Cross Ramp at the gym for 30 minutes. I knew I was overdoing the last week and now I think it’s caught up to me. I don’t want to take a break yet. Maybe a couple of days, but I’d really like to keep going. I read online about some exercises to help out with shin splints and I’m going to try to stretch better. And tomorrow I’m going shopping for new running shoes. I don’t even know where to start. I’m not sure what type of shoes I should be getting and I don’t trust the big sporting goods stores to really know about the right fit for me. It seems its almost always high school kids that work there. I am truly bummed. I want it to go away though, so hopefully I’ll be okay by jogging every other day. I really don’t want to stop.

Should I do it?

I SHOULD!

Or should I?

I can’t decide. There’s a race, running event, whatever the proper reference is, on July 19th here in Bakersfield. You can choose between doing a fun 2k run, or a timed 5k or 10k run. Should I do it? I’ve never entered a race in my life. I’m nervous. I’m not even a runner yet, although I’ve heard from somewhere before that the “only difference between a runner and a jogger is an entry form.” That’s probably not true because I think I’d still consider myself a jogger even once I’ve completed the race.

I’m nervous even considering it. Me? Race? Hmm… I’d definitely try for the 5k if I entered. I just really wish I had someone entering with me. It’d be much less nerve-wracking. I gave my cousin a call to get him to join with me, but he’s leaving for the CHP academy that morning. Ugh. He was the one that said he’d enter a race with me if I ever got the cajones to do it.  I’m very happy for him. I used to love watching CHiPs while I was growing up, heh, but it’s a bummer for me because now I’m left without a running partner.

And let’s just say I do get brave enough to enter ALL BY MYSELF, do I have to do special training for a 5k? I try to jog 4 continuous miles every time I go jogging, not counting the 1/2 mile warm-up and 1/2 mile cool-down I complete by walking. Seems easy enough to do the same exact thing during the race. But I really think I may need some insight from an elite runner who is also my kind, caring, helpful, supportive, awesome, amazing, wonderful buddy 1mile! *flutters eyelashes* hehe.

I feel so silly being so nervous about something like this. I mean, it’s not like I’m entering a marathon. Yikes, if I was! I’ve just never really been a “go get ‘em” type of person, which is just too bad.

We’ll see. I may do it. Or maybe not. Maybe I should wait until I’m really confident about my jogging. Geez, it shouldn’t be this difficult.

New clothes

So, I’m not sure if I made the best choice yesterday when I picked up some new workout gear. Obviously, I am not in the best shape of my life. And muscle? Well, I’m sure it’s in there somewhere, but definitely not visible.

I just really needed some moisture wicking tops since it’s getting really hot here. It’ll be in the 100’s by tomorrow. 96 degrees today. I also wanted to find a few cute outfits just to feel better about myself. I even found an Underarmour top. Yeah, baby! I splurged… a whole $15 at Marshall’s for that top. Heh. Everyone else can think I paid full price for it. I bought a few tops and a pair of running shorts yesterday. A nice change from my hot cotton tops and shorts that ride up my chubby thighs.

This morning I almost didn’t get up but two things forced me to: 1.) I can take Friday off instead of today so I can stay up late tonight, watch the new shoe Fear Itself on NBC and not worry about staying up late because I’ll sleep in an extra hour tomorrow and 2.) I can wear my new workout clothes. That sealed the deal and I was off.

I was alone for about ½ hour before anyone else showed up on the track. And it wasn’t until the same three women from the day before plus a new friend showed up that I began feeling self-conscience about my new tight-fitting wardrobe. I probably shouldn’t be wearing these clothes, but it’s specific for my needs, jogging in warm weather. I probably shouldn’t have cared what the women thought, but I did. And sure they’re not at a point in their lives where they can criticize someone else’s extra curves, since I actually could have joined their group and fit right in. In fact, anyone else could have a long debate about which one of us would actually qualify as the “skinny” friend. Heh.

However, they’re walking in t-shirts, sweatpants, and loose shorts. In fact, the day before I would have been wearing a similar outfit. But no, I thought I’d look cute in my belly hugging, love-handle squishing, new top, showing every one of my imperfections. I will promise I will not wear this outfit to the gym, but I will wear it at the running track even if I’m not the cutest in it. And maybe the women aren’t mocking me, maybe they’re thinking, “Wow, that woman has confidence!” Heh. Fat chance. No pun intended.

I figured I can see myself in my new outfits and become even more motivated to actually look decent in them. I will say though, it felt better throughout my jog wearing those clothes, than when I’m all sweaty and gross in my cotton t-shirts. My t-shirts are solely reserved for the gym that’s full of people that are more likely to notice how much like a stuffed sausage I resemble in my new gear while I’m exercising directly in front of them for 45 minutes on the elliptical machine. So t-shirts for the gym, it is.