Well I officially quit yesterday.  This training sucks.  Eric and I went for a run and he blasted past me and was finished 10 minutes ahead of me and he ran further than me. I was angry the entire run.  I was mad that my volleyball team had to forfeit our games because everybody was sick, injured or out of town, (which was the only reason I was out running in the first place). I was mad because I was slower than normal, I was mad because I was in pain and I said many profane words along the way.  Thankfully I was at the wildlife preserve so nobody could hear me…well maybe the few duck hunters out there shooting at me probably did but that is ok because they scared the crap out of me every time they shot at the stupid birds. You would think that hearing guns going off we have kicked my butt into gear but it didn't. Instead, I screamed from the top of my lungs "I QUIT!" Now I don’t think I was smiling when I said it and I know for a fact there was no rainbow over my head or a smiling star (I thought this was cute). 

I was just really upset.  My time was so slow and I was furious. Eric tried to be nice and walk…yes walk…water to me but I was so upset I said "NO! I’m no done yet!"  He really takes abuse from me whenever we go running "together." We never really do it together...either I'm mad at him for blasting past me and leaving me or I'm mad at him for running with me because I know my pace is too slow for him...he really can't win.   I’m so much happy when I’m alone.  When he comes along for a run, all my ugliness comes out. I’m so angry at his ability to go out and run 3.5 miles in less time than it take me to run 3 miles. I'm angry that he can do this even though he hasn't run since the triathlon which was over 6 weeks ago.  I have been “training” for 6 weeks and I still SUCK! It frustrates me. 

But I’m better now.  I came home and after another meltdown, I registered us for a 5K on Thanksgiving Day in Omaha and a 5K on New Year's Day in Minneapolis.  Now that I’ve invested into these two races, I can’t quit.  So let’s just say I temporarily quit.  And I quit in the middle of a run and continued running so is that really quitting?!  If I was a true quitter, I would have turned around and walked back. And actually after I said those words (around mile 2), I ran better and I felt better at the end of mile 3 and actually wanted to keep running.  See here are my splits...SLOOWWWW.

I ended up in bed at 8:30 last night.  Having all these meltdowns and being angry is tiring!

Well this week could have been another boring week but I have had a lot to celebrate to make it not so boring. If you forget about the team in purple (Vikings), all my teams won this week. 

Let’s start with Eric’s niece, Abbie.  Her soccer team (Mankato West) made it to Minnesota State Soccer Tournament.  We went to their game Thursday after work (yes I skipped band!). Eric and DJ had prepared me for the game saying they aren’t the greatest and LaCrescent was a good team…blah, blah, blah.  So sadly, I wasn’t very optimistic going into the game.  First thing first, Abbie started which is a shock…well this year it is because she is on a different team this year.  She was all conference and all city last year but moving schools and a new coach hindered her playing time.  90 freezing minutes later, Mankato West won 5-2.  Say what?  Yep!  They won and now they are going to the Metrodome! Whoop! Here is a pic:

This morning I was happy to see my hometown team football team won their first round playoff game.  The team isn’t the best but the beat the No. 1 seed CFC.  Very shocking and exciting. I hope they do well the rest of the way.  I have a vested interested because my cousin is the head coach…go John!

And then today the Gophers shocked the world and beat Nebraska.  Eric isn’t too happy about that…I’m still in awe that the Gophers managed to beat them.  When it comes to Big 10 play the Gophers are a laughing stock.  Now they have beat Northwestern and Nebraska…are they turning things around? I hope so!

So what else is new this week? Well on Wednesday, my official weigh in day, I lost almost 2 pounds since my last weigh in…very excited. I was down another pound since then but after all the crap I ate today I’m sure I’ll gain that back. :(

Training Update:

This week is a rest week which means I do less miles.  I’m not really sure if I’m at the level where I deserve a rest week but I took full advantage!

Sunday was a run day.  I mentioned this before…hills in Arcadia…almost killed me. I did 3 miles. It was cold and frosty.  Monday was an off day. Not that I wanted to but I wasn’t feel well.  Tuesday was a doubleheader in volleyball and we only had 4 players.  So I got a good workout.  Now we only have single games so I can’t count on that being my workout.  I really don’t burn that many calories playing. I probably lost a pound of skin on floor from my elbow.  People ask why I don’t wear knee pads. I always reply, why do I need them, I always land on my elbow.  Wednesday was supposed to be a swim day but I worked really late. However, I managed to do 30 minutes on the elliptical.  The old me would have said, Eric take me to the closest fast food restaurant and let’s veg on the couch and watch TV.  But the new me dragged Eric to the community center for a workout! As I mentioned above, I took Thursday off for the game.  Last night I did a short swim.

Today I broke another running record.  I went 6.5 miles and I ran most of the first 4 miles.  The last two were not as good.  I was fighting a strong cold wind.  I was colder on the last mile than I was the first mile.  My splits are below. Like I’ve said before I’m very SSSSLLLLLLOOOOOWWWW!  But I’ve been reading some other blogs of slow fat runners (their words, not mine!) like me and they post their splits with pride. So I will too. By the way, I’m faster than most of those other people so that made me feel a little better. I find it interesting that my last mile was faster than my 5th mile. I must have done a lot of walking in mile 5! I must have run the 1st mile too fast since I slowed way down. I'm a little disappointed in that.

Mileage:

Week 6:  Swim = .50 miles;  Bike = 0 miles;  Run/Elliptical = 11.75 miles;   Total =  12.25 miles

I found this today and thought how true! Hopefully I can do this when I'm old.

What can I say, letting out frustration on Monday helped me I think.  I also got scolded by my friends.  So lesson of the week, even though I ran over 11 miles last weekend…I may not necessary see the results for a few days.  It is true. I just have to remember that.

So what did we do this week?  Well on Sunday morning I ran 3 miles (after doing the 10K on Saturday). Sunday afternoon we babysat Evelyn for a few hours while Greg and Celeste went to the play Wicked.  We took Evelyn to Edinbourgh Park, an indoor playground. It was cool. Afterwards when they came home we went out for dinner.  I was so stuffed I dragged Eric out on a 2 mile walk. 

The rest of the week was pretty boring. Monday I biked 4 miles on a stationary bike…I know shocking! I got sick of riding it after 10 minutes and moved to the elliptical.  I’m a little annoyed…there are 5 TVs in the workout room and to hear the sound you have to tune your radio to a certain frequency.  Well my radio player only works for one TV and it is set to Spanish!  You know how hard it is to listen to Two and a Half Men in Spanish.  ARGH! 

Tuesday was a volleyball doubleheader again. This time we had 5 players!  Woo Hoo! We won some games too. We have a new player that joined us this week.  It worked out great and she is planning on joining team.  Yippy!

Wednesday morning is my “official” weigh in day and I was down 11.8 pounds…I’m rounding that up to 12 pounds. YAY ME!  One problem with being so big is that 12 pounds doesn’t really feel any different.  Think about this. I lost 80 pounds in 2008.  The smallest size I wore was 18.  Well I was bad and went off the no fat diet (that I was only on because of gallbladder problems) and gained 40 pounds back after surgery.  I know, shame on me.  Anyways…40 pounds later and I’m only one size larger…20.  So for me, I had to lose 40 pounds to get down one size…it sucks.  After work I dragged Eric to swimming. I did 3/4 mile again.  I had to make it worthwhile since the pool was closed Friday.

Thursday is my off day…but I still have band practice so it really isn’t an off night.  We had elections for officers and section leaders and I am Low Brass section leader again.  Don’t get too excited… low brass people don’t want the extra responsibility so I basically have to do it.

Like I said early, the pool was closed Friday. :(  I had planned a bike ride to DQ for dinner and then biking home but it was too cold and rainy.  I didn’t make Eric suffer too much for his dinner…I just made him go workout at the community center. I biked on the stationary bike…AGAIN!  I did about 7.75 miles in 35 minutes. After we went up to Eden Prairie to some shopping and dinner.

Saturday has turned into my long run day. Swirl woke me up a little before 8 and pulled my butt out of bed and went for a run. It was 36 degrees and sprinkling.  The old me would have been forget this, I’m going to get donuts.  But nope, I went out in the cold and wet morning and ran 5.5 miles.  My time was 30 seconds faster than last week’s pace. Also, I ran the entire mile 3.  Mile 1 and 2 I did the run/walk shuffle but mile 3 was all running.  For mile 4 and 5, I went back to the run/walk shuffle. But I did mostly running so that is progress. 

After the run, Eric and I went to Wisconsin for the weekend. We meet Mike and mom at the bar for some pizza.  I did some things around the house for mom and we went to LaCrosse to do some shopping.  We finally got to Ed Sullivan’s for dinner.  It has been years since I last ate there. It was delicious. 

Today I went for another 3 mile run…man there are hills in Arcadia…I’m not used to hills.  It was a tough run and it was colder than yesterday’s run…it was so cold our car had frost on it and I could see my breath…but I did it. On the way home we went through Owatonna (because it is so on our way?!) to be with Abbie for the closing ceremony of her TEC Retreat…we were her pseudo parents as DJ had to work.  It was…interesting…Hugging and swaying…I’m not much of a hugger or swayer…or singing those Pop Christian songs…give me Amazing Grace or How Great Thou Art PLEASE!

Here is training update:
Something really shocking is going on here. So far in the month of October I have run/walk shuffled almost 28 miles and it is only the 20th.  I have a chance to make this month the most miles run. I’m only 7 miles away.  August 2012 I did 35.66.  But that was a lot of short 2 mile runs/walks for the “Get Fit Challenge” at work. (But in September 2012 I only did 6 miles)

Mileage:

Week 5  Swim = .75 miles   Bike = 11.75 miles  Run/Elliptical = 12.5 miles   Total =  25 miles