Ragnar

It's got some language, but "you ride a bike, you better be doin' drugs"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=cmu1CZEN6Yk

On a more better note... here's my Ragnar legs!

Yeah.... that last one looks pretty steep!! Must go run Mt Rainier a few times!

When did I became that runner???

So, I started having some strange chest pains in December and some difficulty breathing. I finally gave in an went to the doctor a few weeks ago. The EKG came back perfect. My lungs sounded great. Blood tests were good, only a slightly elevated potassium level but nothing to worry about. I left with an albuterol inhaler and the instructions to take it a little easier, and do a lot of sinus cleansing.

My breathing has gotten better, which has been positive. But the pains in the left side of my chest... otherwise known as the area of the heart.... has not subsided. It's pretty much just made me more aware of it. All. The. Time.  There seems to always be just something going on there, and then every so often it gets bad.

So, I went back to the doctor today. And now I get to see a cardiologist. Oh joy. Fun times with a stress test.

But the question is.... when did I become that kind of runner.  The kind that when she's told she's being sent to a cardiologist asks the doctor... "Do I need to stop running for now?? Because I'm doing a half marathon in a week and a half"  The doc gave me an incredulous look. "Well, these things can be scheduled pretty quickly, so why don't we see how that goes first?"  And I left, sad and downtrodden. And tonight in the gym I felt guilty and didn't run. Hello stationary bike.   :(

So, tomorrow I will call and make an appointment to run on a treadmill all hooked up to a machine and hope for the best. 

IMAZ....IMAZ...IMAZ..... wheee!!!!

Oh heck. I'm in trouble. Here it is only the end of January and I'm already counting down!

Triple loop bike course... doesn't look too bad!

Triple loop run course... pretty minimal hills!

counting to Cali!!

Ok, I need to not be in a funk. It's so hard with the minimal daylight we have here during the winter. Cali bound in 10 short days! I can do this!!!

Trail love!

Today I did my first trail race! I AM IN LOVE!!! I've done quite a bit of trail running over the last few years but have never done a race. Until today.  It's been raining all week in Seattle so I knew the trails would be muddy lovin'. And they for sure were. 

We were having a Seahawks playoff party at our house today, but since I'm not a big football fan, I knew I wouldn't be missing much. I got there around 2 and promptly ran into Patti K and Paul G just after picking up my bib. Perfect!! I had no idea what to expect from this course since I've never run there. They let me know it would be pretty muddy and had some good hills.

So... I finished the 5.2 miles in 47 minutes and a few seconds. So proud of myself. It was super duper hard work and I was breathing hard from start to finish and covered in mud. 

However, earlier this week I finally went to the doctor for the chest pains and difficulty breathing I've been having. And now I have an inhaler.  Soon, I will add suspenders and thick framed glasses. snort.

Eight days into 2011 and I've already done two events. Good start!

Brrrrr!

I'm going to come right out and say it. It's cold and sucky in the greater Puget Sound area.  We had some snow just before Thanksgiving. Then some more crappy snow a few days before the new year. After which the temperature dropped and stayed down there, only to finally get to the 40's and RAIN. Luckily a week later the snow is gone (hooray!!)  

I will admit that the even with the other than spectacular weather I have not quit running. New Year's day, on only about 3.5 hours of sleep, I met up with a friend and one of her friends for the Resolution Run and Polar Bear dip. Yes. Dip. As in water. As in Lake Washington (a really really big lake by Seattle).  The air temp was still below freezing at the 10:30 start, and the water temp was all of 42. Yes. 42.  At Ironman two years ago they let us wear neoprene booties at 59 degrees and even contemplated not having the swim. Okay, so the major difference is that 42 felt almost warm after running a 5k in the freezing air.  Seriously, cold. So cold in fact that the water dripping off us as we exited quickly froze on the path creating an ice rink to the finish line. Sweet!!!!! It was incredible. I can't wait for next year. The plan is to get a bunch of people to do it, or at least come watch, then celebrate the insanity afterwards with some majorly good grub.

So, the 2nd of January was Sunday- my typical long run day. I did a relatively easy, but cold, 10.4 miles running into my old roommate about a half a mile from my car at the end and wound up with sushi plans for that night. Mmmmmm. Sushi.

However, the pain in my chest that I've been feeling more on than off since the Seattle half marathon has hit a high this week and breathing is getting difficult. I've made a doctor appointment for tomorrow morning so hopefully it's something easy like bronchitis. And by easy, I mean treatable.  And not "we have no idea what's wrong with you. Drink some water and rest"  because I don't really know how to rest.  

Big things this year.

BIG.

HUGE.

FUN!!!!