Long Slow Distance - 8 Miles Saturday

The Runner ... Holly

And her Gear ...Cell Phone, Water, Cliff Blocks, Road ID & IPOD Mini

The slight climb out of the driveway ...

Five Guys - Burgers and Fries - Temptation in the first mile.

Warm Up is over: Big Climb - Start of Mile Two

At the top of your climb - a Vintage Salmon Station Wagon - 1973 - FOR SALE!

What goes up must come down ...

And down further still ... Head to the river!


2 Miles Down - Rest Stop!


Miles 2-6: on the Mount Vernon Trail - Watch you speed!


Passed by a pack!


View at Mile 3 - 1 mile to your turn around!


A Beautiful Day for a Long Slow Run ...


On the back half of the run - Keep your eyes UP!! Only 3 miles left!


2.5 miles to go!


Finding Inspiration in the most unlikely places!

Runner's Notes: I had a blast "photo blogging" this run but the workout wasn't quite what I had hoped for. The one thing that I "forgot" was to put on my Body Glide and I paid dearly for that oversight. By Mile 6, my inner thighs were chafed and raw so I cut the run short. I walked the last 2 miles (mostly uphill) home. It was a beautiful day, so even walking was wonderful BUT I had the energy to run so that small mistake cost me a few miles.

Body Glide is a voluptuous triathlete's best friend! I won't soon forget that lesson!

Living STRONG in spite of chafing!

Back in the water...

The swim has always been my worst event in a Triathlon. Funny really, since I was in the water 24/7 every summer from the time I was 9 until I was 14. While I loved to dive and pretend I was a synchronized swimmer, I never got into the races across the pool that my Grandpa and my youngest Uncle often threw my way. I would try to beat them, but I never believed that I would beat them.

When the time came to "try out" for the Swim team in High School, I was so scared of failing that I didn't even bother trying. If I had *known* that they take everybody, regardless of skill, I might have shown up for tryouts that fall and I'd probably be a much better swimmer.

But I'm not.

You see I do fine in the pool. I definitely need to work on my stroke, bi lateral breathing and speed but I have no problems getting in the pool for the workout and doing my best.

The problem happens when I get in the water on race day. Open Water. I simply lose my cool and end up doing a modified crawl with my head up and out of the water the whole time.

So in an effort to resolve this problem and improve my swim, I am taking a swim clinic with Nancy. But more importantly, I am going to take Nancy & Jim up on their individual open swim offers. Nancy. has mentioned that she wants to get some open water swims in this year and has invited me along. Jim has said that he is willing to escort me in a boat while I do open water swims down near our friends at Lake Anna, this summer. It is wonderful having friends and family who want to see you succeed!
-------------
After a rest day on Wednesday, last night's SPIN class was welcome. I got out of work a little early so I used the extra time at the gym to reaquant myself with the Weight Room. Strength Training is something that I have been missing lately and I figure 20-30 minutes 2 times a week can't be that hard to add in. So I did some upperbody strength training work yesterday followed by an hour of Spinning.

Today is a rest day in prep for a LSD run on Saturday. (Long Slow Distance) The schedule calls for 8 miles of 3/1 intervals and the weather is supposed to be in the mid 60s! Sound like the makings of a perfect workout!

Sunday - I AM GETTING IN THE POOL!! Let it be said, Let it be done!

Hope you all have a great weekend!

Live STRONG!

Quads-A-Burning

My normal walk into the office today left no doubts in my mind that I chose the right day to schedule a recovery day. After a faster than normal run pace for 5 miles on Monday, last night's SPIN class left me and my quads empty of all available glycogen stores.

I am spent and D*MN does it feel GOOD!

It has me so motivated to be so tired that I went ahead and bought some more gear to complete my lovely "triathlon" race kit for this season.



So I hopped on over to Team Estrogen and bought this pair of shorts to go under my skirt. Because Comfort and large thighs prevent me from even considering the bikini-briefs that Zoot! recommends. I'm my own fashion icon!! PROMISE TO Nancy: When the shorts come in, I will post a picture and model my new race kit!!



SO with all this gear, I guess the next step is to add some more races to the calendar. I had thought about going to Boulder to visit Bolder and do the Bolder Peak Triathlon since Jim and I want to go to CO & it is close to my birthday. I also considered signing up for SteelHead as Nancy suggested since so many of you are also doing that race as prep for Ironman Florida.

In the end, I have had to settle for local races. Jim and I would LOVE to head to Colorado to race and ride AND I would love to spend time racing with you guys, but I simply don't have enough "Leave Time" at work thanks to the big M and treatment. So I have to choose my races with that in mind. After all, I need to save up some vacation time to come down to Panama City in November to volunteer at Ironman Florida!! You didn't think I would sit home while you guys kick butt in Florida together, did you?

So I am officially adding the Colonial Half Iron Distance Triathlon to my calendar on Sept 24th.

Hmm.. my Lunch break has expired...Back to work!

Keep Living STRONG!

Where did the weekend go?

I had a 3-day weekend and do you think I got even half my list of "things to do" done?

Nope!! But it was a full weekend never the less.

Friday night was a night "OFF" from the workout schedule. I met Jim at Sine, had a Kilian's Red and Spinach Artichoke Dip for dinner (YUMM) and then we went to the DC Motorcycle show where I went all "girly" over the Vespas and made Jim take a picture with me on one. If I am ever going to ride a bike with an engine, I plan to start small and that works for me.

BEEP BEEP!

Saturday morning I planned on an easy bike ride along the Potomac and through some surrounding neighborhoods. I got lost trying to go home (I'm still new to the neighborhood) and my easy 12-15 mile ride turned into 20 miles. The ride started out balmy and a little windy and ended in 20-30 mph head winds for the last 5 miles home. I'd say that I got a good workout (and now I will never forget how to get home from Fort Hunt!!)

Saturday night was spent visiting with friends and watching football.

Sunday I went to the Health and Fitness Expo and saw "Dr. Jeff" from The Biggest Loser 2. He looked amazing!!

Monday was "tax day". I spent the morning starting to reconcile my medical deductions for Tax Year 2005. I have not even started to reconcile my Rx expenses and I am flabbergasted at the amount of money that I spent this year. Thank goodness for what medical insurance I do have or I might not have any savings left.

Midway through "tax day" I took a break to do the long run that I skipped on Sunday. I ran an out and back course of 2.5 miles for a total of 5 miles that includes some hills and flats. Throughout the workout I found myself breathing hard and using every moment of the recovery in my walk intervals. I kept wondering why the workout felt so darn hard until I looked at my watch and realized that during the "run" portion of my intervals I was keeping an 11:30 pace.

That's a "pre-Interferon" pace!!

I wasn't "fall on the ground exhausted" at the end of my run but I was having problems making sense so I'd say that it was a great long run albeit a little harder than I probably needed to push it!

It is good to know I still can push it!

Bring on the week! I'm living strong!

Get thee behind me...

The Colposcopy adventure is over and a piece of my cervix is off to some lab in Bethesda, MD. It will be two weeks before I hear anything (according to my Doc) so I am left to my own devices and sending "healthy vibes" to my sample.

While Dr. Tabibi was doing her thing, she told me that everything looked okay to her but she wanted to send samples out just to cover all the bases. I would have prefer not giving a sample but I appreciate her thoroughness. We talked about if she had "ever" heard of Melanoma metastisizing to the Cervix and she said "No" so I am holding onto that nugget.

Later in the day, I saw Dr. Butler, my Oncologist, for my monthly checkup and unloaded all my stress right onto him.

"Blah Blah ... Colposcopy ... Blah Blah ... Night Sweats and Itching ... Blah Blah ... New Moles... Blah Blah ...Recurrence??"

Dr. Butler took the time to listen and ask questions and told me that he would test my blood a little more this week and make sure that there were no "odd" markers indicating problems. He looked at my new skin things and said "They look pretty benign to me so just keep your appointment with the Dermatologist in 2 weeks and have her look at them" and then reassured me that he had never heard of Melanoma metastisizing to the cervix.

He also was kind enough to tell me that all the anxiety of the last week was "perfectly normal" and he had been waiting for me to come to him and be "sick of it all" for a few months now. He commended me for being upbeat for as long as I have been.

All in all, Dr. Butler answered my questions and make me feel better. This allowed me to let go of some anxiety and really think about how I wanted to approach the next 20 weeks of treatment.

Last night while talking with Jim, I finally realized ::I have been coming to this for a while but last night it was "CLEAR TO ME":: that I am going to start treating my weekly shots the same way I treat my daily vitamins. It is just something I need to do 3x a week. Obviously I still need to be vigilant in doing weekly mole checks, but how is that any different than the monthly breast exams that we all should be doing as well?

No different.

For all intense purposes, I am CANCER-FREE with NO EVIDENCE OF DISEASE and have been since my second surgery on May 4th, 2005.

It is time to get back to Training, Working and Enjoying Life in General. I'm imagine my blogging will reflect more of my TRI training and racing adventures as well as the final countdown to this particular treatment year and I hope you will stick around as I transition, dear friends. It might bit a bit of a bumpy transition but I'm ready for it...

Living STRONG all the way.

Work It!

Don't wanna wait til tomorrow,
Why put it off another day?

One more walk through problems,
Built up, and stand in our way...ah

One step ahead, one step behind me
Now you gotta run to get even

Make future plans, don'?t dream about yesterday, hey
C'mon turn, turn this thing around

Right now, hey
It's your tomorrow
Right now,
C'mon,it'?s everything
Right now,
Catch a magic moment, do it
Right here and now
It means everything

(Right Now by Van Halen)

With a 1/2 Marathon with my sister Heather (Myrtle Beach 1/2 Marathon) less than 6 weeks away and a Half Ironman (to be announced after this weekend) in my long term plans, I realized this weekend that the "holiday slacking" was over. So I confessed to my slacking to Coach Debi, asked for some adjustments to my workout schedule to keep me "on track" and got serious.

This week I have been keeping an eye on my food intake and getting back to the daily workouts in earnest. After just 2 days, Tanita has been very kind in acknowleging that I have been getting all my water, watching my food and working out. I'm glad "she" is in a good mood this week but I know she is prone to serious "mood swing". If you don't believe me, ask Boulder.

Monday was a light day with Core exercises early in the AM (Earlier than the birds but not earlier than Nancy)

Last night I worked "hard" in spin class. We did a mock "criterion Race" which was 3 laps of 6 minute progressive climbs followed by a 2 minute "downhill" sprint and then 2 minute of recovery. I gave it everything I had in that class, knowing that the only thing I had to do after class was go home, eat dinner, give myself a shot and relax. When Jim and I finally did get home, I felt that "exhaustion" that I covet and I soaked in the "Wow, you worked hard today in class" compliments from Jim. He is much faster and stronger than I am in cycling and sports in general and isn't quick to hand out the compliments in the workout world unless you earn them!

So EARLY this morning, I found myself stumbling out of bed to get to the gym before work since we are having friends over for dinner tonight. By 6AM I was on the treadmill, doing my 2:1 Run/Walk intervals and shuffling my I-Pod like a mad woman to find the most motivating, pulse-pumping tunes I could to keep my pace up. By the end of the 45 minutes I was covered in sweat, face red and had covered 5K. There was a time when 5K took 33 minutes ... I look forward to that again.

I have found lately that focusing on this year's season is helping me focus alot less on my upcoming biopsy and my monthly appointment with Dr. Butler. I'm sure thousand of other cancer survivors have gone through what I am going through this week - Doubts creep in, along with anxiety and suddenly every new thing makes me wonder "Is it back?" "Did we miss some of it and it has spread?"

With 20 weeks of Chemo left, I have to find faith and courage in the knowledge that I am doing everything I can and that I can't worry about what I don't know yet. I have to Live STRONG now and not dwell on what "might or might not be"

Besides, I have to make dinner tonight ... LOL... and Gloria Childs, I am not!

Live STRONG, Right Now!

Flattered and Humbled

THANK YOU to every one of you who nominated me for Tri-Bloggie-for-Most-Inspirational Blog on Tri-Geek Dreams.

I have never won anything before!!! I was a runner-up in the "Degree Everyday Ironman" competition last year and got a cool Nike Backpack but this is much cooler than that!

Shakin' Up the Routine

I am not, nor have I ever been "a morning person" but year's ago I accepted the fact that most of the races and events I enjoyed required early wake-ups. No problem, as long as my weekly workouts could be in the afternoon.

Ah, but life changes .. as it is want to do... and today I found myself up at 5AM to do my Core Exercises since I knew that my evening was already booked with plans unrelated to Endurance.

5AM is DAMN EARLY! How do you guys do this on a regular basis?

For this week, I will wake at 5AM again on Wednesday and Friday for more Core Exercises and leave Tues and Thurs as afternoon workouts. How many weeks does it take to make a new habit?

I am curious ... When do you work out?

Living STRONG (and remarkably awake!)

Grumble Grumble

Why would you make an appointment with a patient for a biopsy in your Fairfax Office when the necessary equipment for this biopsy resides in the Reston Office????

Needless to say, I have to schedule a second appointment for a different office because they screwed up AND the appointment computer was down yesterday "so can you just call back on Monday?"

"PRACTICING Medicine" .. heavy emphasis on the "practicing".... SHEESH

Living STRONG.

Couldn't say it better myself ..

Early on in my short "blogging" history, I found a new friend. He is also a Melanoma survivor and a Triathlete. He didn't know me but he stepped forward with encouragment, compassion and understanding.

I am very blessed to call him a friend and his post yesterday on a "Time for Reflection" is a must read!!

Live STRONG Everybody!

My GOOFY Friends

(**Author's Note: I had a great picture to go with this post BUT Blogspot software is being a pain in the butt!! SORRY!!)

Some of my friends and fellow Bloggers are in the final stages of preparing for a very GOOFY running challenge this weekend.

Nancy, Jeanne andLinae are planning to run over 39.3 miles this weekend across Walt Disney World Resort during the two days. Saurday they will run the Disney 5K Fun Run & the Disney 1/2 Marathon and on Sunday they will continue toward their "GOOFY" goal by running the Disney Marathon.

You ladies are simply amazing! I hope you have a WONDERFUL time and I will follow you from here.

Year of the Phoenix

Happy New Year to you all!

Jim and I have declared 2006 to be the "Year of the Phoenix" in our household. The phoenix is a mythical creature celebrated across many cultures as a bird that "rises from the ashes every 500 years to begin anew".

And so we are choosing to use 2006 to "rise anew" - strong and vibrant towards a healthy, happy new year.

Living STRONG all the way...
---------------
I have struggled with making Goals in the last few months but since 2006 is a new beginning, I thought "jump in with both feet and make some long term commitments.

My 2006 Goals:

1. Loose 35 pounds of fat / Gain 10 pounds of muscle (min)

2. One Race/Event per Month (Swim,Bike or Run) - 12 events

3. Complete Half Ironman Distance Triathlon (2nd race at this distance)

2006 12-Event List

So far I have 3 months covered but I need to do some research to fill up the other 9 month and keep a little bit of balance if I can....

Feb - Myrtle Beach 1/2 Marathon
Apr - Cherry Blossom 10 Miler
June - Bike Virginia (250-350 miles BIKE TRIP)

I have a few ideas for other races but I need to coordinate with Jim's upcoming events. Looks like it is time to have a "Calendar Pow-Wow" again already!

*$#^%@#%$@#

EVERY WORD IN THE BOOK!!!!

Can't I have ONE Dr's appointment that doesn't involve some kind of drama?????

Went in for my yearly GYN appointment 3 weeks ago and had the typical yearly exam. Physical, PAP smear ... run of the mill. I went back to discuss some things with my GYN yesterday and she said, "No PAP results yet but everything else looked good."

TODAY I get a phone call that the PAP came back abnormal and can I come in for a BIOPSY next week?

I must have scared everybody I passed on the street today on the way home. I know I would be scared if I passed a woman who was talking out-loud to herself and saying things like "Leave me the F*CK ALONE!! YOU DO NOT GET TO STAY, THIS IS MY BODY!"

Odds are high that the abnormal PAP is nothing to worry about but as you can imagine my anxiety level is a little higher than usual and frankly, I am simply sick of having pieces of my body (skin, blood, now internal parts) taken every week.

I'm off to Spin Class to work out some anxiety. Living STRONG DAMNIT!

Gear Revisited

I am so excited about the gear that I got in the mail just before I left for the holidays that I simply had to follow up and share.

First up is a new bathing suit. I needed to find a new one because the straps of my speedo fall right on top of my port and rub. *Very Distracting*

I will be the *MOST* stylish woman in the back of the pack with my new Zoot triathlon skirt and rash guard! Not only that.. I will be protected from the sun "not so friendly" rays.

Last Item: Tanita Ironman Scale - To help me keep track of the 20 extra pounds that I have found in the last 6 months of chemo, that I now plan to *lose*. 6 months on, 6 months off *I hope!!* That simply 1 pound a week, a very manageable goal.

Happy Holidays!

My living room floor is covered in laundry!! It was a wonderful Christmas in VT with Jim and my family. Lot's of fun stories to share over the next few days.

Just wanted to take a moment and wish each of you a WONDERFUL HOLIDAY SEASON!

Live STRONG!

JINGLE all the way....

I got *NEW* GEAR in the mail last night!! YEAH! I love presents to myself. I'll list my gear later today but for now, here are soem pictures from 10 of this past weeks 16 miles of running!

JINGLE ALL THE WAY, BABY! Holly at the Jingle Bell 10K on Dec 11th

Holly and Nancy running in DC at the Christmas Tree Run - Dec 16th ... picture by *Jeanne*

More later ....

Days Like This...

I'm sure even Lance has days like this...you get out on the road, ready for your workout and you quickly discover you have nothing to give. You may be ready mentally but physically, you can't generate the power you need.

What do you do on days like this?

Today I made the choice to cover the distance, no matter how long it took me. Today I had to accept that the pace was going to be S-L-O-W but I still covered my 6 miles. While I was able to manage intervals, they were not any where near what I would consider close to a "run" pace so I am considering the workout a "power walk" for the sake of recording mileage.

It was a beautiful, sunny, cool One hour and thirty minute walk with some run intervals. Some days you take what your body can give and are thankful.

Thankful and Living STRONG!

S-L-E-E-P-Y

I simply want to SLEEP for at least 12 hours. I guess I did a little too much this week .....

I didn't get in bed last night until well after 11:30PM. These co-workers had better eat every last Magic Cookie Bar !! How is that for some *Holiday Spirit*? Just 5 minutes until the University Holiday Party begins (and the WEEKEND too!)

*YAWN* I'm off to socialize!

Hope everybody has a GREAT DAY! I will check in later this weekend.

*ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ*

Tagged Twice!

Well I am sitting here waiting for the "Magic Cookie Bars" to come out of the oven for tomorrows Holiday Party at work so I figured I would answer two "tags" that I got in the last 48 hours.

TAG 1: from Jeanne is "Write 5 random facts about yourself"

Fact 1: My feet are the perfect length - 12 inches, which as we all know is a measure foot. Of course others would simply say my feet are big, especially for a woman. When I was only 8, I already wore a woman's size 10 shoe. Shoe shopping was always traumatic. It is probably why I don't have a lot of shoes.

Fact 2: My family lives in VT and I *STILL* can't ski ... (hmmm.. feet too long?)

Fact 3: I am most definitely a "CAT" person if made to choose. Dogs are sweet and fun and cool but I'd rather have a cat, any day...

Fact 4: I have only been "athletic" for about 7 years now, Better Late than Never!

Fact 5: Tiger Crickets that hide in our guest bathroom on cold night really freak me out and *ALWAY* require removal by Jim

Now onto Tag #2: from KLN is as follows:

1. Your favorite holiday memory.

Being 15 and getting to stay up after my little sisters went to bed and play "Santa" for the first time along with my parents. Christmas turned into a whole new experience in that moment!

2. Your favorite holiday cookie or treat.

My Grandma Winters " Chocolate Peanutbutter Balls" (NO COMMENTS FROM THE PEANUT GALLERY!!)

3. Where you will be over the holidays.

Sharon, Vermont for 7 days !! I CAN'T WAIT!

4. Your favorite holiday song or carol.

To SING: Silver Bells
To LISTEN TO: Anything by Bing Crosby, Nat King Cole or Karen Carpenter

5. A special holiday tradition in your family.

I guess over the years this has become a tradition since we keep doing it. Every year that we are together, my Sisters and I make it a point to go sledding down the front yard (my parents live on a mountain, very STEEP yard) for a few hours. And if you bring a significant other, they are coming along for the ride, at least once!!

We are never outside until well after 9PM or later and we always end up soaking wet, cold and aching from laughing and avoiding trees with our bodies. Mom and Dad always come out and watch but I don't think we have ever gotten them on a sled. This year will be Jim's first time doing the "G-Family Christmas" and you can bet he will be out in the snow with us!!
----------
All these TAGS have me READY for Christmas! But for now, I need to pull the cookies out of the oven and get to bed!

Sweet Dreams!

Christmas Lights Run

Too much eggnog? LOL .. this picture of me *CRACKS* me up! It is part of a dud shot BEFORE the actual run. Looks like it should be me at the bar *after* doesn't it?

Last night after my oncology appointment, I met with Nancy, *Jeanne* and Jeanne and we ran the 4th Annual Christmas Light Run with around 100 other local runners.

As we were waiting to start, a total stranger (who both Nancy and I noticed smelled like she had been dipping in the Eggnogg herself) came up and gave me this tremendous hug and said "Take a Christmas picture with me!" Who am I do deny somebody a Christmas wish? So I kindly obliged. Merry Christmas Strange Woman!!

It was so much fun and I honestly think that I ran a PR in the first 2 miles to the National Christmas Tree just trying to catch up to the main pack. Of course everybody else was out for a leisurely run. I was hanging off the back and Nancy was kind enough to hang with me when I needed to take a few walk breaks. By mile 2, we were generally in the bunch with other runner's around the whole time so we got to sing and greet people on the street. It was a wonderful way to spend a chilly night!

Jeanne, Jeanne's friend, *Jeanne*, Nancy, & Holly

-------
FROM NANCY'S BLOG: We gathered at Union Station to get our packets of carol lyrics, then headed outside for final instructions and a rousing rendition of "Jingle Bells". We ran past the Capitol, all lit up as beautiful as it is every night. Then down the National Mall and past the major Smithsonian museums over to the Ellipse by the White House, where we had some more carols by the National Christmas Tree. Then back over toward the starting point, stopping for a moving tribute to fallen police officers at the Blue Christmas Tree across the street from the National Law Officers Memorial.
------

Following the run we stopped in at Kelly's Irish Times Pub. Jim met us there and I treated him to a Guinness, Nancy to an Irish Coffee and myself to a Black&Tan. MMMMM... CARBS! I tried to treat *Jeanne* but she was happy with her bottle of water.

It was a wonderful run with some AWESOME Ladies!!

My Personal 13.1....

Today is the official halfway point in my 48 weeks of Interferon Chemotherapy. 24 weeks and I am done!

•In "IRONMAN" terms I would be at Mile 56 of the Bike leg.
•In "Marathon" terms I would be at Mile 13.1.
•In "Cancer" terms, I have 7 months NED (No Evidence of Disease) since my second surgery in May 2005.

In terms of my Cancer adventures this year, I have had 2 surgeries, 18 days of high dose Interferon Chemo and I have given myself 72 Sub-Q Interferon shots and I have only 72 left!

Here is hoping that the last 72 go smoothly!

Living STRONG!

One Word

Linae tagged me to describe my goals for the 2006 Season in one word.

My one word: Balance

2006 goals:

• Finish Chemo
• Cherry Blossom 10 Miler at MINIMUM 5/1 intervals; sub 2:10
• Century Day at Bike VA - June 2006
• Half Ironman (Fall 2006) - 7:00 finish

-----
I think thee best advantage I have this year in terms of fitness goals is finding "BALANCE". Not every day is a good one but with only 24 weeks left of my chemo, I have a pretty good idea of how I feel day to day and how to counter balance my fatigue levels, working full time and doing my "tri" thing.

B-A-L-A-N-C-E is key!

One More Time, with Feeling

The first time I ran the Cherry Blossom 10 Miler in April 2004, we had snow, rain and blue skies ... all in the same 2 hour period. I vowed on that day that I would NEVER race the first weekend of April ever again....

I rescind my "VOW" .. I wanted a race to look forward to for the spring. I also know that Keri AND Nancy will be there on race day too! I got to race with my PEEPS!

After all, TRI-BABEs cannot live by Half Ironmans alone...

Living STRONG and waiting on new "GEAR" to arrive .. I think the Mail Carrier is hording my gear!

Look for a new "blog-segment" tonight ....

Jingle All the Way 10K

Holly, Keri (Bday Girl) & Amy - Sunday Dec 11, 2005

Sunday was the first annual Jingle All the Way 10K at West Potomac Park in D.C. There were 3 goals to the race:

1) Help my friend Keri celebrate her Birthday and start a new "Birthday Tradition"
2) Have Fun!!
3) Get my big butt moving again post-Marathon

I had no grand expectations for times in this race. I have not done much in the way of consistent training since the Marine Corps Marathon in late October. I had only managed to run 6 miles in the last 4 weeks and was entirely relying on muscle memory and run/walk intervals to get me through the miles

I was *hoping* for a finish time around 1:25 - That would be no slower than my earlier marathon pace and not too shabby for a "Interferon Athlete"...

So I met Keri and Amy at the start line. We strapped on our Jingle Bells, took a few pictures with Keri's new Champion Chip (a cool gift from her husband) and we were off! We started out in the back of the pack around the 12:00 pace sign. The sound of *jingle bells* all around us.

The three of us ran together for about 3 minutes and then fell into our own paces. Amy is expecting, so she settled into a Power Walk, I started my run/walk intervals and off went Keri - running away to try to set a PR at this race distance.

Although my miles slowed as I knocked them out, the weather was cool, crisp and perfect as we ran along the Potomac River waterfront. We hardly had wind in either direction (an anomaly on Haines Point for sure) and while I slowed down an average of around 8-10 seconds per mile, I was more than happy with the results.

Mile 1 - 12.26
Mile 2 - 12.38
Mile 3 - 12:41
Mile 4 - 13.02
Mile 5 - 13:30
Mile 6 - 13.03

Overall - 1:20:13

My average pace was just a little over 13:00 minute miles. Not too bad for somebody who simply showed up and tried to pull a 10K out of her very cute winter hat! I'm happy with the result.

Oh and a BIG SHOUT OUT to Keri who not only RAN the entire 10K (her first time doing that) BUT broke 11:00 minute miles and set herself a new Personal Record!!!!! Way to go Keri!! I fully expect 10:00 minute miles from you by the time you run this race next year for your birthday!

Wednesday night I am doing the 4th Annual Christmas Lights Run with Nancy and *Jeanne* and I suspect it will be as much FUN as it looks!

Living STRONG with good friends all around!

Flakey Days

SNOW! or rather SLUSH is what we got last night. It should make for some extra FUN this Sunday when I run the Jingle All the Way 10K in DC with my friend Keri!

Last night I did a long night at the gym. Since we had an *IMPENDING STORM*, my office let us out an hour early. (Folks down here really jump the gun with any call of snow) So I wandered s-l-o-w-l-y to the gym and hit every possible shop in Crystal City along the way. I still ended up there with 45 minutes until the scheduled SPIN class. So I jumped on the Elliptical Machine for an easy 30 minutes, did some stretching and then took the 45 minute SPIN class.

We had a different instructor tonight, another Jim, who KICKED OUR BUTTS in a wonderful way. I will definitely be coming back for his class as often as I can.

I'm not sure how "ready" I am for the 10K on Sunday but I showed myself last night that I can still handle over an hour of cardio so I figure I didn't lose as much fitness as I thought during my NOVEMBER post-marathon slump. YEAH!!!
-----------
Tonight is the 5th Anniversary of Jim and my *first date* and JIM HAD TO REMIND ME!! I guess that is the kind of year it has been. We're heading out to dinner and then off to Penn Camera to buy each other *OUR* Christmas gift to each other. This year we are treating ourselves to a new camera: Nikon D70S We are both old school shutterbugs with about 5 cameras between the two of us that we use and about 10 antique cameras that decorate the townhouse.

I think we might have to set up a "schedule of use" with the new camera though ... I doubt it either one of us will want to let it go much in the first few weeks!

Somewhere in the midst of today, I need to fit in a 3 mile run. Looks like I have to make a date with a treadmill later today!

HAPPY HAPPY JOY JOY!!!

You SPIN me Round, Round ...

Last night I venture back to the gym with Jim. The winter training season is officially upon us and my tight work clothes are "WARNING" me that I am at my personal limit. A quick jump of the scale confirmed it. I could continue to bitch and moan and cry about how I have gained 20 pounds in the last 6 months but I'm not going to do that anymore.

Instead, I am going to do what I can to get back to my "pre-diagnosis" weight. I accept that I may not be able to do anything about the numbers on the scale but if I am "living as if" then eventually my body with catch up with me. I accept that a change in the scale might not happen for another 6 months but at least then I will know that is was something beyond my control.

Toostie Rolls don't qualify as "beyond my control" unfortunately.

So Jim and I headed to the gym and the local "SPINNING" class. For the un-familiar, SPINNING is 40 minutes of group exercise on stationary bikes with music pumping and a good spin instructor leading you on heart-pumping ride to nowhere.

Jim and I *LUV* to spin!!

Unfortunately for me, on my first time in class in 6 months, we had a substitute instructor who had NO RHYTHM at all! She was UP, she was DOWN, she was UP, she was SPRINTING ... Personally, I think that she must be hysterical to watch riding on a real road bike. I don't think this woman EVER spends any time in the saddle ... Perhaps she simply needs a new saddle?

After the first 15 minutes of her constant popping out the saddle to sprint, I simply chose to do my own thing and monitor my effort. I have enough years of SPIN classes to modify my workout as needed. So I still got a great 40 minute workout. I am looking forward to trying a different SPIN instructor on Thursday though. Anything has to be better then "Out of the Saddle" Sadie, the crazy spinning lady!

Living STRONG!

You SPIN me Round, Round ...

Last night I venture back to the gym with Jim. The winter training season is officially upon us and my tight work clothes are "WARNING" me that I am at my personal limit. A quick jump of the scale confirmed it. I could continue to bitch and moan and cry about how I have gained 20 pounds in the last 6 months but I'm not going to do that anymore.

Instead, I am going to do what I can to get back to my "pre-diagnosis" weight. I accept that I may not be able to do anything about the numbers on the scale but if I am "living as if" then eventually my body with catch up with me. I accept that a change in the scale might not happen for another 6 months but at least then I will know that is was something beyond my control.

Toostie Rolls don't qualify as "beyond my control" unfortunately.

So Jim and I headed to the gym and the local "SPINNING" class. For the un-familiar, SPINNING is 40 minutes of group exercise on stationary bikes with music pumping and a good spin instructor leading you on heart-pumping ride to nowhere.

Jim and I *LUV* to spin!!

Unfortunately for me, on my first time in class in 6 months, we had a substitute instructor who had NO RHYTHM at all! She was UP, she was DOWN, she was UP, she was SPRINTING ... Personally, I think that she must be hysterical to watch riding on a real road bike. I don't think this woman EVER spends any time in the saddle ... Perhaps she simply needs a new saddle?

After the first 15 minutes of her constant popping out the saddle to sprint, I simply chose to do my own thing and monitor my effort. I have enough years of SPIN classes to modify my workout as needed. So I still got a great 40 minute workout. I am looking forward to trying a different SPIN instructor on Thursday though. Anything has to be better then "Out of the Saddle" Sadie, the crazy spinning lady!

Living STRONG!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY CATHY!!

My youngest sister Cathy turned the big *21* on Sunday. She was born during my Freshman year in Highschool and we are 14 years apart in age. Frankly, I don't see how she could be 21 .. since I don't feel much older. Hmmph ...

• I remember changing your diapers and burping you

(Heather, Cathy & Holly - 1986)

• I remember sitting you on my lap to brush your little curls (which are big beautiful waves of hair now!).



• You were always a patient model when I was in the mood to take pictures



• I still have stories that you wrote in grade school and drawings that you mailed me when I was far away (3 hours is far when you are 6!) in college.

• I may not have been around much for the majority of your childhood, I was off trying to "make my way" but you and Heather were always on my mind and in my thoughts and I cherished coming home for Christmas every year so I could see you.



• I don't remember when it happened but one year, I came home from Christmas and my "baby" sister was a young woman. And what an amazing woman you are!



Happy Birthday Baby Sister!! I love you!

All Grown Up and Elegant

December 1, 2005 - Holly and Jim at the American Patriot Award Gala.

On occasion I get the chance to do some really high profile design work. This was one of those occasions. The display behind us in the picture is my handy work. I don't have the full shots of the display developed yet but when I do, I will post it.

We had a wonderful time! Sometimes it is fun to get all "gussied up" and go out! My dress was a little more fitted than I would normally like but frankly, I was happy that it fit! Jim's pants are a bit long! We decided if we did this more often (formal events) that we would just have him buy a tux. You can only do so much with a rental!

Still, all things considered, we look mighty fine if I do say so myself.

---------------

In an effort to get back on track, I got out this afternoon for 3 miles of run/walk intervals. I can't believe how quickly you can lose fitness! I had a hard time believing that I did a Marathon 30 days ago. Oh well, when you start - it is always at the beginning. At least I have the chance to "start!" I will take it.

Live STRONG!

HELP - MUST - ESCAPE ...

I have been sucked into the GIANT VACUUM that is WORK! I am the lead designer on a display for the American Patriot Award and everything needs to come together today for the Gala event tonight.

The fun part is that Jim & I get to attend the Formal Gala tonight. It will be the first time I have seen my guy in a tux! Hopefully not the last time! Hehehe.

In more embarassing news...I just saw my November Totals - UGH!! I am run/walking a 10K next weekend. Looks like I am going to focus on FUN and let my friend Keri be the one to set the PRs!! Looks like this weekend will be the perfect chance to jump start the training routine again.

I'll get back to normal posting tomorrow perhaps with a picture or two of Jim and I looking snazzy and hob-nobbing with Washington, D.C. Elite.

Till then, Live STRONG everybody.