SimplyComplexJen

My basil, rosemary, and tomatoes all doubled in size while I was on holiday.  The broccoli is showing signs of edible parts, and so are my pepper plants. 

My strawberries did not survive (it appears), nor did my arugula. 

My inbox is overflowing and if you don't hear from me in 20 min, you might check out my office.

I have over 300 unread emails in my box because I refused to be a slave to the blackberry while I was gone, and I'm not sure I'll go read them all.

My knee doesn't hurt anymore, so will also resume training today.... although does it count if all I want to do is 90min of yoga?  What if I do 90 min of yoga, and a quick 1.5 mi jog?  After all, I should probably ease back into it after 10 days off... (or so I'll say).

All in all..... the dog missed me, the kiddo missed me, and my routine is back.  Bonnaroo is checked off my bucket list.

Yes, it's good to be home.

Now, what trip do I plan next.....?

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I realize this may not be the most fun topic to tackle, but it's worth a post in my opinion.

About a year ago, I bookmarked an article so wittily called "Cycle Training".  (insert groans here).  There is no earth shattering news in this article, but gives a good breakdown of what your body may need during each phase of your cycle.

A few days ago, I was reading in Yoga Journal about inversion poses and menstruation, which I thought gave good balance to the argument of doing (or not doing) inversion poses during that "time of the month" (hereby known in this post as TOTM).

That got me thinking about in all of my preparing for a triathlon last year, and my years attempting yoga ..... surprisingly this topic rarely comes up.  So I thought about it and of course Googled.

In short, there is lots of advice out there, and more information than I care to think about.  Most of these studies and "rules" were done by men (who probably didn't bother to ask their wives for input).  What it boils down to is that, as with most things, you need to exercise your individual choice for what works best for you.  Listen to your body, maybe write down changes in your workout log, and go with whatever you decide.

From my experience, Western (or at least American) culture has deemed our period as "dirty" or almost like a disease to be cured (take this pill and skip your period, which I'll admit to have doing in the past).  But the reality of it is, it is a natural process and we should embrace it and try to understand how it affects us.  That includes our workouts.

I found this article to be interesting regarding TOTM and Yoga: http://yogapilates.suite101.com/article.cfm/practicing_yoga_on_your_period

TOTM and Triathlon Training and Racing: http://www.trifuel.com/triathlon/triathlon-training/the-challenging-periods-for-women-in-training-001342.php


Iron Deficiency and Nutrition: http://www.trifuel.com/training/health-nutrition/triathletes-and-iron

And on a lighter side, of course I run across a similar musing by a triathlete who wonders if you have a greater risk of being bit by a shark during TOTM and open water ocean swims.  http://www.triathlontrainingblog.com/post/for-females-do-you-swim-in-the-ocean-while-mentruating/

Be sure when you (if you're a woman!) line up at the start of  Tri, or in a room full of women waiting to do Downward Dog or Warrior, be assured you're not alone when it's TOTM.  As with anything, be sure to listen carefully to what your own body is telling you and work with your body, not fight it. 

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.Photo by Ivan Sciupac

Last night while cleaning house, and about 27 hours after my self-proclaimed crappy run of 2010, I noticed my bum muscles were a little sore.

Maybe those hills, even at a slooooow pace did some good.

To the commenters who said doing a crappy run was better than no run....

YOU WERE RIGHT!


Thanks for your support.  Now, off to my cozy 3 mi lunch time run on the treadmill.....

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I love when I'm done with a run, and on the inside I feel like the girl in the picture.

Free.

Happy.

Ready to do it again.

Last night wasn't one of those runs.


Up at 5:45 to start getting ready for the day.  A to school by 7:50.  On the road by 8:30 to visit a client.

As a side note, if there was a highlight of the day, it was the fact I didn't eat any of the dozen Krispy Kremes in my car on the way to said client.  I bought 12.  I delivered 12. 

After a 3 hour drive, I had the pleasure of taking client and team out to lunch at the only diner in town. It was yum, but the daily plate (enchilada) might have been heavy.  Not to mention I haven't had red meat since before Christmas, and I'm thinking the ground beef shocked my system a bit.

Then after 2 hours on site, another 3 hour drive home.  Scenic, quiet, and if anyone asks... my blackberry gets horrible service and that is why they went to voicemail.  Sometimes, you just have to enjoy the ride.

I got home about 90 min before the after-school care closes, so I thought I'd squeeze in a hill run near my home.  My first run outside in months (I run 4 days a week on treadmill at lunch at gym).  This is where it went bad.

91 degrees.

90% humidity.

6 hours in car plus heavy lunch.

Result?

2.75 miles in 31 minutes.

Fail.

I even walked home the last quarter mile.

Not only did I run slow (yes, it was hills, but that's besides the point), I think because of the humidity, I was sweating like I had just done a 10k.  I showered and went and picked up the little one. 

It's one of those runs when you're done, you're glad you're done.  I could blame it on a lot of things, but in short.... I just need to get my butt outside more and just run.  Indoor lunch runs on the treadmill are making me soft.

I read the book, HAPPY BACK, based on a recommendation. I loved it's simplicity and real life applications of simple exercises. In fact, I recognize a lot of the daily stretches from my yoga classes. The product summary from Amazon summarizes it best:

Happy Back is a self-help, how to book about caring for your neck and back on your own. Neck and back pain books typically focus only on exercises and stretches. Happy Back not only demonstrates effective spinal stretches, but also focuses on the ergonomics of daily living to avoid the accumulation of spinal stresses which may lead to pain. Over 140 pictures show readers do's and don'ts of standing, sitting, driving, working out, computer postures, bending and lifting, and even golf. Happy Back teaches you the simple stretches and exercises which are taught to each patient in Dr. Fuller's chiropractic office. These effective stretches only take a couple minutes a day.

It also helps that I know Dr Fuller personally and can vouch for not only him as a Doctor, but also his advice in the book. If you're dealing with the "normal" and everyday aches and pains of sitting in front of a computer 8-10 hours a day (pretty sure humans weren't designed for this type of activity), then this book will be a blessing to you. At least it has been for me.

I had no specific injury to set my general discomfort in motion but have a stockpile of reasons for stress and anxiety in my life, not to mention sitting at a desk in front of a computer for 8-9 hours a day. If you add on the high impact of running 20-30 miles a week, back discomfort was not a stranger to me. After I implemented many of the exercises in the book, I find my back hurts less, I have more energy, and feel more relaxed.

It only takes a few minutes a day, and is cheaper than bottle after bottle of Advil to relieve the back pain and aches ;)

Happy Friday!

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The Swim on my last tri kicked my butt.

I'm laughing today because my brother took his first adult swim class and is talking about how much he hates swimming. I feel your pain brother. Really.

So, I'm about to get into the pool for the first time since my triathlon.

What do you suggest?
Private lessons?
Total Immersion classes?
A simple class at the Y? (not ready for Masters classes yet)

I have access to an indoor pool across the street from my work. Luckily they also have a zero-entry pool for the little one that is life guarded.

This is what I'm working with.

I know all of you have suggestions.... let's go!!!!! This year, the swim will NOT kick my butt. I promise you.

I'll admit it. I let myself get fat in the last 2 years. As in the-only-time-I-weighed-that-much-was-when-I-was-8-months-pregnant type fat. Why? I could go into all the reasons. It started with a funk that lasted about 6 months after a particularly bad year.. then there was work issues, and a broken heart in there, then a stress fracture from running a relay, and sprinkle in life. But after that funk? It's all me refusing to get off my ass. Pure and Simple.

So, since Halloween of 2008 (about 5 months ago) I decided to get off my ass and start running regularly again. That was hard decision simply because I remember running being fun and good and my favorite part of my week. The cadence of falling into a good rhythm, the ability to think out problems, and the sense of accomplishment when I went further and faster than the week before.

Why was it hard to get back into it? It wasn't fun. I was slow and felt fat and it was HARD. No wonder people who have never been runners give up so easily.

So, I battled the bulge and the treadmill. I had a little setback in January with "walking pneumonia." (I'm still trying to figure that out *sigh*) I wish I could say I was sick feeling, but I had just had this horrible hacking cough and tired for weeks on end.

Since Thanksgiving, I've lost 16 pounds. I'd love to lose about 15 more to get back to my pre-funk running weight, but we'll see.

There has been many victories over the last few weeks... it's not the number on the scale, but how I feel. Since Jan, I've (re)learned to swim, and put my ego aside and took swim lessons at the age of 31! I FEEL fit! I feel stronger and leaner. I'm no longer losing 2 pounds a week now (I'd like to think that is because of muscle weight), but I have other victories than the number on the scale. When I swam (swum? swimmed? I hate that verb) 100m in the pool when 6 weeks prior I could barely finish 25? That is a victory. When I tell people my running workouts actually have names like Fartlek and Tempos and Intervals, I feel great. When I have friends attempting a 5k because my overweight ass is trying a sprint tri, I feel a victory! When I pass on Friday night happy hour drinks because I know I have a 7am workout, and people stopped giving me a hard time because they know I'm serious, that is a victory.

My victories to date are so much more than a number on the scale!

(but if that number wants to continue going down just to continue feeding my ego, that is ok too! haha)

People are scared of failing. Without even defining sometimes what success is, they are scared of not achieving it. For some, anything over a 4hr marathon is a failure. For others, simply finishing is a success.

It's a great sense of empowerment to decide that you won't let the fear stand in your way. When I tell people I have signed up for my first triathlon, most commonly I hear, "I couldn't even run a mile!" or "WHY?!?!?!?". What most people don't realize is that they COULD run a 5k if they needed, or even a mile. Most are so scared of failing that they don't even participate.

I'm training for my first triathlon. It's a sprint distance. To me, a successful tri is simply a finish. It's learning to swim as a 30-something and putting it together with running and cycling in one event. The fear of not being able to finish has kept me from trying so many things in life (beyond sports).

There comes a time where everyone looks at themselves and decides the fear is not going to control them, and I believe at that moment, you have already achieved success.

Back on February 6th, Dr Boston sent this to me, and there was a convo today with a girlfriend that made me feel like posting this for her. I hope others enjoy it as well.

“If I were feeling a little more lawless, I’d gather all the copies of Cosmo and Seventeen, douse them in kerosene, and strike a match. I’d throw in reams of print ads from Calvin Klein and watch with delight as Kate Moss’ stick-thin image was reduced to carbon.

I’d add copies of Shape and Runner’s World until the flames reached toward the heavens, and then I’d crank call the editorial desk at Muscle and Fitness until they stopped publishing pictures of women on steroids.

I’d get the master tapes of America ’s Next Top Model and dub over them with “Nasty Girls”, broadcasting the results on every television stat ion in America . I’d skywrite “CrossFit.com” across the Boston skyline, and gently admonish the hoards of long distance runners trotting along the Charles River —with a bullhorn.

I’d take every woman with mass media-induced ideals of beauty, and I’d show them what it really means to be beautiful. Beautiful women are strong and powerful. They are athletes, capable of every feat under the sun. They have muscles, borne of hard work and sweat. They gauge their self-worth through accomplishments, not by the numbers on the bathroom scale. They understand that muscle weighs more than fat, and they love the fact that designer jeans don’t fit over their well-developed quads. They know that high repetitions using light weights is a path to mediocrity, and “toning” is a complete and utter myth.

They refuse to succumb to the marketers that prey on insecurity, leaving the pre-packaged diet dinners and fat-burning pills on the shelf to pass their expiration date. Beautiful women train with intensity. The derive self-image from the quality of their work and their ability to excel. They don’t wear makeup to the gym, and they wouldn’t be caught dead with a vinyl pink dumbbell. They move iron, they do pull-ups, they jump, sprint, punch, and kick, and they use the elliptical20machine—as a place to hang their jump rope. They spend their weekends in sport, climbing walls, winning races, and running rivers. They laugh as they sprint circles around the unschooled, turning the image-obsessed into bench warmers.

Beautiful women don’t care if they’re soaked in sweat and covered in dirt, if their nails are chipped or their hair out of place. They care only about quality of life. Beautiful women are happy, healthy, and strong, and they’re right there beside me, tossing conventional beauty on the ever-growing flames of what used to be.

Be beautiful.

3 times this past week, someone has used the word "athlete" when talking to me. Honestly, I never thought of myself as an athlete, because I don't compete like I used to, I'm a newb to the triathlon scene, and I certainly don't look like the people I consider athletes. When I reread this article, I am reminded that those 3 people are right... I am an athlete and am beautiful because I am.

I'm angry.

I wasn't even doing anything strenuous. Really.

Last night I hurt and today I'm sore.

I'm angry.

I was playing volleyball and it's just my intermediate co-ed league. Last nights game wasn't anything strenuous, then it happened. I went to serve and I noticed my leg right above my Achilles and below my calf was sore. Then I stepped into my serve and realized it REALLY hurt. It hurt like someone had a lighter up against my leg. We were in our 3rd game, so I decided to ignore it. After all, it couldn't be that serious, right? I just was playing a low-key game.

By then end of the game, my ankle and knee were killing me and the burning feeling was worse. I couldn't wait to get outta there. Of course, I hadn't been to the market yet this weekend, so had to take the little one to get fruits and veggies for the week and her lunch stuff. By time I got home, it really hurt.

Called Dr Boston to get his advice, and he sounded very serious when explaining to me what he thought it was. Got bebe to bed and then propped up my leg with an ice pack, but by this point, it was almost 2.5 hours after it started hurting. Mommy duty doesn't wait.

I'm angry. I'm angry because I don't have a cool, "this is why I'm limping today" story. I'm angry because I'm not going at lunch today to work out. I'm angry because I don't like to slow down for any reason.

I feel like any set back is major at this point. I have less than 5 months until my first triathlon (see ticker to the right). My swimming is just now starting to improve and I had planned to start a tri-training program I found (for a little more structure) and now I am resting when my enthusiasm was on a upswing.

This sucks (and hurts).

So, again, it's been awhile since I've updated, but here's the latest. I had a crazy friend talk me off the fence about a triathlon. Found one for July, so luckily I have some time, but not much.

First things first, I have to learn to swim. Keep in mind, I can swim playing around at the pool, lake, or in the ocean, but have never swam a lap before Jan 2009. Seriously. So, I noticed the community center is offering a triathlon swim class on Saturday mornings. I take it and have been trying to practice at lunch on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

This weeks practice? The trifecta of disaster.

First. I walk out in my swim suit to only discover another trader from another company works out at my gym and is sitting in the hot tub. I've known him 12 years. Greeeeat, an audience. Disaster part 1.

Secondly, I suck at swimming. Truly this is one of the hardest things I've had to learn and I hate not doing anything well. I am also convinced I am going to die this summer of cancer of the stomach considering how much pool water I manage to ingest. Dear lord, how hard can this be? I gulp so much air, I burp chlorinated water for an hour after practicing. My stomach will hurt for 2 hours after a practice haha

Third, the middle aged men at the pool don't help. They are swimming 2 or 3 laps to my one then like to head over to the hot tub and watch me struggle. Keep in mind, these men have bellies bigger round than my ass circumference and look like they would have a coronary if they tried touch football with their grandkids. They like to comment on how "this week looks a lot better than last". Did I mention colleague from other company is watching all of this?

So, add together:
water in stomach +
middle aged men kicking my butt +
audience from a colleague I wish had never seen me in a swim suit
= trifecta for disaster.

Said friend who kicked me off the fence? He said, "it sucks until it doesn't." I hope he's right.

I typically go to either the gym at lunch or yoga class. I realized today after running at the gym why I don't meet men at the gym.

1. What I wear.

I realize I have lots of cute work out clothes, running tanks, etc... and a lot of that I wear for races, but at the gym? running shorts and usually an old race tshirt. The other girls? totally color coordinated and ready to impress. I just want to run and do my weights.

2. My Makeup. Or lack of.

I usually wear 3 things during the week for make up: moisturizer, mascara, and chapstick. In the locker room, you'd think it was Saturday night at Blonde the way the girls are touching up their makeup. I sweat. I don't just glisten, I sweat when I work out because I'm running my arse off (literally). If I didn't take off my mascara before I ran, I'd look like a raccoon or Hlburi the morning after a bender in Vegas.

3. My Hair.

I put on a pony tail. If I didn't my curls would look like Medusa and the fro would ensue. It wouldn't be pretty when I went back to the office. If I didn't tame my hair in a pony tail, it would not be a pretty sight. What I have learned though is this puts me at a disadvantage to the other women. When I'm done with a "cute little set" on some circuit machine, I can't giggle and flip my hair. I like it out of my face and off my neck.... see the sweating comment above. Of course I know how to throw out that giggle and flip my hair, but again... I save that for the weekend when I have bothered to put on eyeshadow. I refuse to primp and tease and spray my hair prior to a workout. It's just not me.

4. My conversation skills.

Obviously I lack the ability (or willingness) to gush in the weight room things like, "OH myyyyyy. You add weight to that bar? You're sooooo strong. Do you work out evvvvvery day? (insert hair flip and giggle here)". I'm more likely to ask you about your tshirt and how you did in that race or whatever. Oh? I hate running with my ipod, I think it detracts from the experience, but I'll put it on even if I don't turn it on. Why? An IPOD works as chatty-kathy repellent.

5. My overall look.

I work out hard. With DD, I only get one free evening a week, so I have to make my workout at lunch efficient. I get red in the face... i don't know if it's German coloring or what... but I'm one of those people who do. If I managed to pull off items 1-3, it would be ruined by the 2mi mark on my daily run. Also, I am not about to put a push up bra UNDER my sports bra, so I have a little "extra". We all know sports bras push the girls down and granted I probably look more like a 12 yo boy than the girls the adidas ads, but I have to be comfy to run. This probably is out there on the TMI scale, but at least I can admit my problem.


So, after much thought on the treadmill today while running 3 miles, I decided..... the gym is probably NOT where I'm meeting someone. I mean, the gym is business, not social. For me, it's a bit like a gynecologist's office, but with fewer stirrups. Or maybe it's like the dentist's office, if I'm on the stair machine - I hate that thing with a passion. I love going to the gym and the post-workout high I get, but I'm doing it on MY terms!