New Year.

In the last six months, I've gained a few pounds... And by a few, I mean only certain clothes in my closet will fit and I am getting really frustrated with myself. I am okay when it comes to meals - I cook most of what we eat, when I do eat out, I try to find something moderately healthy, but I am terrible about snacking. At work, I eat snack mix, granola bars, candy, etc. When I get home from the gym after work, I will eat a handful of crackers, some chips and salsa, or whatever else is nearby while I cook dinner. Then after dinner, I always want something sweet and sometimes I make popcorn too. By the time I add up all the points in my snacking habits, it ends up being more than I expected, so I get frustrated and stop tracking points for the week.

And then I am way off track and it's just not good.

I was also working out 6-7 days per week, and I got really burned out on that. With the PF diagnosis and foot pain that doesn't seem to be getting much better, even with regular icing, massage, orthotics, and a boot I wear to bed, I need to find something that helps keep me mentally sane. Running is for sure my therapy, so when I can't do it, I kind of start to lose it and I don't really want to do anything else.

So here are my resolutions for 2014:

-Work out 4-5 days per week, and make it count. Find spin classes during the week that I can take, go with friends, find a TV show that will keep me entertained. And add weight training twice a week.
-Use the other 2 days that I don't go to the gym to volunteer at the animal shelter. Being there helps me remember what is important and that I can help the kitties feel loved until they find a home.

Weekend Fun.

Well, I saw the doctor last Monday and he diagnosed plantar fasciitis and a heel muscle strain, so they casted me for orthotics and I can't run for 3 months. I was really sad about it, but I'm coming around and just hoping that by the end of the 3 months, it'll be feeling better and I'll be able to get back to my routine.

On Friday I went to Provo for an eye appointment and saw lots of my old work friends, like Ashley and Pam and Megan, which is always fun. Then I met up with Janae, which to me felt like eating froyo with a celebrity, but she is really sweet and fun even though she is famous :)

Photo cred: Janae, and the Yogurtland employee

Saturday was super busy - gym, Target, took Caesar to get a microchip, made sugar cookies, sushi, went to a BYU/Utah basketball game.

Sunday was mostly normal, except that the fire alarm went off at church twice and then the fire department showed up and it was pretty crazy. There wasn't really a fire. Oh, and my mom gave me this awesome bottle of essential oil Christmas spray that she made for me, and I put it in my purse and somehow it came unscrewed so now everything in my purse smells like Christmas.

Turkey Trot and my foot still hurts.

Well, the good news is that I ran a 5K Turkey Trot with my friend on Thanksgiving morning. The bad news is that my foot still really hurts, and it hurt more after that race than it has yet. So I'm going to make an appointment and try to figure out what's going on. The even worse news is that since I can't run, I'm turning into a crazy person who yells at their husband for no apparent reason. Not good.

Apparently something was pretty funny.

Anyway. Depending on what I find out from the doctor, I am keeping my fingers crossed that I can maybe run these virtual 5K's on Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve.... but if I can't run, I will definitely be biking a 5K on both days! Because at least I can still do that. And spinning is a pretty good running substitute, since it kicks my booty.

My arms almost fell off.

Two Saturdays ago I went to a different spin class than I normally do. The spin teachers at my regular gym rotate every other week, and one is good and the other plays horrible music and is silent the whole time. So I decided to switch it up and go to another gym on the week when the not-so-good teacher is there. Let me tell you, this teacher nearly killed me! I should have known something was up when she walked in and her arms were killer. Sign #1. Sign #2 was that several people in the class asked where the coldest part of the room was (as in where the most fans would be hitting you at all times) and luckily for me, I was parked on the coldest bike. And the 3rd sign was that she told us she was teaching a 6am spin class on Thanksgiving. Crazy, I tell you.

So the class started out normally, with some jumps and hills and whatnot. The music was medium; she found some odd techno remixes of old rock songs, but then mixed in some new songs too. But then she started getting crazy and forcing the class to do hundreds of bike push-ups and arm raises and arm crosses and all sorts of other arm things and mine were on fire.

Brutal.

I will not be at the class at 6am on Thanksgiving, but I am thinking that if I ever want awesome arms, I will have to make this class part of my rotation!

Back on the injured list.

Well, I'm bummed to write this post, but it's probably better get my frustrations out here instead of complaining one more time to Chris about how much I want to be running...

After my half marathon three weeks ago, I had some pain along the back of my hamstring. I did some research online and found a forum where another runner had the same pain, and it was basically just a strain from overuse. It makes sense, because the half I ran had a ton of downhill and some uphill, and I hadn't trained much on hills, so I wasn't too worried about it. I did some yoga and tried to stretch it out a lot, then headed back out to run.

But now I'm having some serious pain on the inside of my foot, near the arch, and going up to the inside of my ankle. I took all of last week off from running, and just did cross training instead, but when I got on the treadmill yesterday, it started aching again at mile 3. So frustrating! I don't know what the exact problem is, but I'm taking another few weeks off to try and let it rest. If I still have the pain then, I think I will try to go back to my sports medicine doctor to see what he can find.

Aside from that, things are good. I had training last Friday to volunteer at Salt Lake County Animal Services, and then I spent an hour hanging out with some cats that afternoon. It is going to be such a fun thing. I basically get to brush, play with, and pet the cats that are in the shelter, and talk to people who come in to adopt them about what kind of cat will best fit in their home life. It works out well for me too, because Chris is gone a lot at school, so it's a good way for me to stay involved in things and not just sit at home and be sad and wish I was running. So that's what's on my agenda for tonight - hanging out with some cats and cross training!

Feeling nostalgic.

Last night, I went to Provo to visit my friend and see her new house. I decided to leave work a little bit early and go to the gym there instead of fighting more traffic at 5:00. I haven't been to Provo in awhile, and most of the time when I go, I have a specific event (visit a friend, go to a basketball game, etc.) so I usually don't have time to kill when I'm there. Last night I drove past my old house, which is on the way to the gym I used to go to, and I was feeling some serious nostalgia for the memories.

Wellington II (where I had some of the best and worse roommates of my life!)

So as I was sweating it out on the stair climber, I was looking around my old gym and remembering how it all began for me. It was Christmas 2007, and I was seriously overweight. My sister asked if I wanted to run a 10K with her, and I couldn't imagine saying yes. The day we had to run the mile at school had always been the worst day of the year for me. It was hard and painful and I wanted no part of it. But then my dad chimed in and offered me a plane ticket to Oregon to run the race if I trained and signed up. That was more appealing, since I was a poor college student and always looking for a free trip to visit my nephews. So I looked at Hal Higdon's training program, and felt really overwhelmed. I honestly didn't think I could do it. The first few weeks of training were so hard. I could barely walk the amount that was on my schedule to run.

I spent a lot of time here.

As I got a little more endurance, I ran my first 5K in Highland with my dad. It was reallyreally hard. But when I crossed the finish line, I got this rush of excitement and was so proud of myself for finishing and sticking with it. When I ran the 10K with my sister, it rained the whole time and I cried. But as I finished, I felt that same amazing feeling. So I started talking to my friends at work about other race distances, and they recommended a half marathon. So I signed up for the Salt Lake Half in 2008. At one point during that race, I seriously considered getting on Trax for the last 2 miles. It was hard. But I loved it.

I actually did one of my long runs with my work friend, Ashley, and we ran all around Springville. It was one of the hardest runs I ever did. I think that was partly because she is really speedy, and partly because she had run many more miles than I had, so her endurance kicked mine to the curb. I finished that run and was driving home and passed a McDonald's. I stopped there and got the biggest Diet Coke they sold and sat in my car for about 20 minutes, trying to recover.

Memories.

Since those days, I can run a half marathon without feeling like I might die. In fact, it has become my very favorite race distance. I trained for the St. George Marathon in 2009, but due to a knee injury, I couldn't run the race. I had to take close to a year off, just focusing on healing and low-impact exercise, and met with four different doctors in hopes that they would have an answer. No one did, but as I continued to lose weight and follow their advice, I was able to train for 4 more half marathons and run them pain-free. I might never get to run a marathon, but who knows? I am just excited to see what is ahead in my running life.

running survey!

1. What is your favorite type of cross training?

I've been doing spin classes, which are really really hard, but I always feel awesome after it's over.

2. What is your favorite song to run to?

Katy Perry- Roar

3. What brand of shoes do you wear?

I used to only wear Asics, but then I got analyzed at a running store and they told me I'd been wearing pronation shoes but I don't actually pronate. So now I wear Mizuno Wave Sayonaras. And I love them.

4. Do you wear a hat when you run? 

No. But I probably should, because look at this hair. 

5. What temperature is your favorite for running?

60 degrees with the sun out.

6. Do you run solo or with a buddy?

Always solo. Anytime I run with another person, I feel like I am holding them back and they are annoyed.

7. Are you a morning, noon, or evening runner?

My very favorite time to run is 9am. But since I have a job, I have to settle for 5pm runs on Monday-Friday.

8. Do you have any big races coming up?

Not really. Thinking about doing the Winter Running Series in January, which is a 5K, 10K, and 15K, all two weeks apart. The next race I'm signed up for is the American Fork Canyon Half, which isn't until June.

9. What is your favorite post-run snack?

Diet Coke and Cheez-its.

10. What is your favorite distance?

10K, because I can run it without requiring a ton of training or stress. But I also love the feeling at mile 13 of a half marathon.

11. What is your favorite race?

American Fork Canyon Half. 100% of race proceeds are donated to help pay for cancer treatment for patients who can't afford it. And it is so completely inspiring and motivational.

12. Do you wear a Garmin?

Yes. Used to wear the oldest one they made, but Chris's parents gave me the Forerunner 10 for my birthday this year. It's pink and cute!

13. What is your least favorite race?

The SheRuns 10K that I ran last summer in Heber. It was poorly organized and not well marked at all, I got lost and ended up running an 8K.

14. Who is your running idol?

My sister and Hungry Runner Girl

15. How long have you been a runner?

I ran my very first race in 2007. And it was brutal.

16. Do you run with your wedding/engagement ring on?

Never. I don’t like anything on my hands.

17. What is your favorite workout?

Long runs are tough, but I love the feeling of pushing myself to run farther than the last one. I also am getting more into speed workouts!

18. What do you drink to stay hydrated?

Water. I took Gatorade in my hydration belt during the Haunted Half and it was pretty delicious though.

19. Where is your favorite place to run?

Provo Canyon

20. What do you carry on a run?

iPod nano on every run. If it’s longer than 6 miles, I will usually bring fuel (Power Bar energy blasts are my new favorite) and a hydration belt or pack with water.