Seaside Monday

 

I had a nice run today down by the ocean.

 

It was peace and calm as far as the eye could see....

 

 

 

Although you can't tell from this picture and you wouldn't know any difference unless you're from here, but the tide seemed especially low today. I wonder if it's because the sea was so calm and serene.

 

 

Laurie

 

 

 

 

Summer 2014

Lake Dillon, Colorado

Hey y'all. Remember me? What? You thought I dropped off the face of the earth, didn't you? Nope, I'm still here. I have just had a busy, busy summer. Actually, I'm sort of on top of the world right now.....literally....at an elevation of  9100 ft., to be exact. Yep, Cliff and I are in Colorado. We are staying on the beautiful Lake Dillon....not far from Keystone, Breckenridge, Copper and Vail ski slopes. As we speak, I am looking at the mountains draped with clouds. The sun is actually peaking through today and I can see snow patches on the tops of a few of the mountains. You wonder how in the world, especially with the intense sun, can snow still be on the mountain top. Well, here at 9100 ft. it has been in the 60's during the day and 40's at night. I can only imagine how cold it must be at 14,000 ft. They call these 14'ers, by the way. Whitney and Jason love to hike them. As a matter of fact, they are taking Cliff on a 14'er hike this Sunday. They are going to hike Mt. Elbert. Apparently, at an elevation of 14,000+ feet, it is the second highest peak in the lower 48.

I'm not going! I didn't even get invited. Hang on, you'll see why.

Coming from sea level to 9100 ft. proved to be somewhat of an issue for me. Immediately upon arriving, I got a headache and couldn't breathe well. Then came some nausea, fatigue and not much of an appetite. After consulting with WebMD, I discovered that these, indeed, are symptoms of altitude sickness. I need to contact WebMD to let them know that there is another symptom.....bloodshot eyes.  The treatment is to take it easy, stay well hydrated, take something like Advil and even eating a high carb diet. If the symptoms don't subside in a couple of days, then they recommend going to a lower altitude or get this, go to an oxygen bar. Did you know they had those? Me either! But they do. And, you can buy cans of oxygen at the local sports store. Well, I am happy to report that I didn't need to go to the oxygen bar. I followed WebMD's advice and Jason bought me some altitude sickness pills. They helped, too.

We came here for exercise and training.....and well, to visit Whitney and Jason, of course. They are spending the weekends with us. This place is a mecca for exercise. You can literally walk right out of the door and be on a bike/run/walking trail. Our trail goes all the way around Lake Dillon, which happens to be about 18 miles. Great for Cliff's Ironman training for sure. He wasn't bothered with the lack of oxygen until he decided to do a triathlon in Silverthorne only 2 days after arriving here. He said he just could not get in enough oxygen on his swim. He probably felt like a fish out of water. It took him way longer than usual to finish the swim. I was starting to get worried. But alas, he emerged and was off on his bike. I knew he would recover on the bike....that's his thing. And the run wasn't too bad either. He placed 3rd in his age group. Go Cliff! 

Cliff and me at the finish of his triathlon...the Highest Triathlon in the World.

 

This little guy has a great sense of humor!

Even though I was experiencing some altitude sickness, I really wanted to try running. So Saturday, Whitney and I went for a 4-mile run. I say run loosely, of course, because I had to walk a lot. I was just coming back from a 2-week recovery break because of a hurt ankle. Not to mention, the running path was hilly. Uphills are a challenge anyway, but to run them in a 'lack of oxygen' state is far beyond challenging. It's downright brutal. We managed to finish the run and our time wasn't too shabby, considering. Downhills rock! And, the scenery....OMG! I don't know if there is anyplace any more beautiful. Well, maybe. But good land, this place is pure gorgeousness.

On a 4-mile run at Lake Dillon, CO.

 

Sunday, I rested after Cliff's Triathlon and then Monday, I needed to run 8 miles. I'm still in training for the Revel Rockies half-marathon....remember? I knew I would need some time to acclimate to the lack of oxygen, but I felt like after running 4 miles Saturday and not having any trouble that I could probably handle 8 miles. I started out slowly and was doing well. I ran around the lake to the dam, over the dam and into a very wooded area that led to a campground. By the time I got to the campground, I had ran about 4 miles and my water supply was gone. I saw a bathroom...decided I may as well and then was off to look for some water (primitive potty...no water). Surely, a campground would have some water. Well, everywhere I looked was primitive camping; no water hook ups. And then I saw a sign for the Camp Host and decided to take a chance. Sure enough, there was a water spigot outside his camp and I was able to fill up. I ate a GU gel and drank some water and was on the way back. Cliff was out on the bike, somewhere. He was finishing his ride and tracked me on his phone (we have an app called Find My Friends - great app!).  He saw that I was in a remote area and came looking for me. He found me just as I was leaving the campground, made sure I was ok and had plenty of water and then went on his way. It was a little warm that day and in hindsight, I think I may have been a little ambitious attempting 8 miles only three days after arriving from sea level. When I got back to the condo, I started feeling bad. I was getting nauseous. I showered, went straight to bed and tossed around like a beached whale trying to get back to the sea. And then it hit me......my breakfast, water, Gatorade and gels wanted out. And up they came. OMG, I was sick! I went to bed and rested for a long time. Physically or should I say fitness wise, I felt fine. I just needed oxygen. I felt bad for the next couple of days and then the altitude sickness seemed to just go away. I have acclimated, mostly! Yay!

Do you see the fox on the log? He was not afraid of us, at all.

Just going about his business of hunting dinner.

Yesterday, Cliff and I went for a bike/hike/run. It was so beautiful. We biked to the trailhead, then hiked through a meadow with wildflowers. We saw the fox, pictured above, pouncing on mice and he didn't even mind that we were there. We saw cute little chipmunks and small squirrels. And then, we entered the wooded portion of the hike, up the small mountain. At the top, we could see gorgeous views of the lake below and the surrounding mountains. It was breathtakingly beautiful. We took our time, stopped at the overlooks and finally made our way down on the other side to a dirt road that led back to the trailhead. We hiked up the hills on the mountain and ran the downhills. And, we ran the dirt road leading back to the trailhead and bikes. Back on the bikes now, it was starting to get chillier and the wind had picked up....and then came the rain. It didn't take us long to get back to the condo, but I was huffing and puffing just the same. There is a very steep hill as the path approaches the condo. I didn't think I would be able to ride the bike up, but Cliff told me how to gear the bike down and make it easier to pedal. I made it....I couldn't breathe, couldn't talk or even sit up straight, but I made it. And the thought of vomiting again was real. But, I didn't even do that. I was tired, but felt fine afterwards. I had made a breakthrough. Who needs oxygen, anyway? Our total miles for yesterday was 7.94 miles.

Here are a few pictures from our hike........

The meadow with the Lake Dillon in the background.

There were pretty wildflowers scattered all around the meadow.

You can't see them very well here.

 

A close-up of some of the wild flowers.

Cliff at one of the overlooks.

The trail back down the mountain.

The dirt road that leads back to the trail head.

You can vaguely see the condo in the background, across the lake.

And a view from the condo looking towards a part of the mountain where we hiked.

 

I have so many pictures that it is hard to pick and choose. I want to show you all of them, but I would be here until next week trying to download them. So, I'll have to share a few at a time.

Today, I am going on this neat run that is all downhill. I ran part of it Wednesday and then it started raining on me. You know The Weather Channel's motto....turn around, don't drown. I figured I better heed their warning. Anyway, have you ever seen the "crookedest street in the world" in San Francisco. Well, this section of the running path is almost that crooked. It's like switchback city and it's all downhill. Loved it! Hopefully, I can make the whole 5 miles today without getting drenched, again.

UPDATE: Today's 5-mile run was rained out. Figures. I need to get an earlier start. However, after lunch, Cliff and I did go on another short hike between rain showers. We are going to do the whole thing next week. It was another pretty one, so I'll be sure to bring my camera and share those pictures soon.

Well, after catching you up on the last few days, there is still so much more to tell. I'll have to do it in spurts. I don't think any of us can handle the whole whopping summer all at once. And I'll continue to share our Colorado adventure with you along the way.....pictures and all.

But for now, I'm going to bullet the summer highlights, thus far. I'll go in depth with those a little later on.

June and July:

• Lidia and Sawyer spent a whole lot of time with us this summer...LaLa Heaven!
• I've been running a lot. Had to take a couple of weeks off, early July, due to some tendonitis in my ankle....I'm better now and rearing to go.
• We bought a lake house on Lake Greenwood in SC....A total shocker.
• Lidia and Sawyer are now avid fisher children....Just wait until you hear this story.
• Lidia and Sawyer learned to kneeboard.....It was Deja Vu and pure joy.

Upcoming:

• Cliff, Whitney and Jason's 14'er on Mt. Elbert near Leadville, CO.
• Revel Rockies Half-Marathon - Whitney and me.
• Cliff's Ironman in Louisville, KY.

Hope everyone is having a great summer. I sure am!

Talk to you soon,

Laurie

The Experiences of Running

Divas Half Marathon

N. Myrtle Beach ~ April 2014



I was so excited to be invited as a guest writer for the Grand Strand Running Club Newsletter this month. Scared, inadequate, insecure, but excited. My assignment.....running, of course.

I've had a couple of months to think about what I was going to write and honestly, I don't know that I can add anything to what you've already read about and what you, as runners, already know.

So, I thought I would tell you a little about my story and my experiences of running.

I began running two years ago this month. Initially, I started running for my health. And in no time, decided to enter some races. After all, that was what runners do, right? My first 5K was so powerful! I discovered things about myself that I would never have, otherwise. Of course, it has to be said.....I learned that 'the nerves' is a powerful cleanser. Ha!  But more importantly, I learned that my body will go farther than I ever thought possible. I learned that my mind can make or break me on a run. I learned that I can talk myself through some of the most painful runs or races and finish. And the sense of accomplishment I felt as I crossed the finish line was life changing.

There are certainly days when I don't feel like a runner....not that I'm sure I know what being a runner is supposed to feel like. First of all, I'm slow. I got a sense of that the day a lady security guard driving a golf cart and I nearly collided. She whipped around me just in time and proclaimed..."Don't worry, I brake for joggers".  I thought and nearly out loud, OMG!  Did she just call me a jogger?  Yes, she did! So, I guess it was confirmed....I am slow.

However, there is a bigger picture here. Being slow has nothing to do with being healthy. And being slow has nothing to do with the distance of a mile. A twelve to thirteen minute mile is just as long as a seven minute mile. So running slow......Ha! Who cares? I've decided there are worse things than being slow. I am able to run, some don't have that luxury.

And then there are those days that I proudly rack up the miles and think to myself....I may not be an elite runner, but I am in an elite group of people called..........'Runners'.

I have a blog and write a lot about my runs. Some days my runs crack me up and I just have to tell someone. And some days, I'm pretty sure inquiring minds just want to know. Ha! By telling my stories, I hope to inspire people to get serious about their health while having some fun at the same time. (If I can do it, so can you. Just put one foot in front of the other and soon, you too, will be a runner and on the road to better health.) If you would like to read more about my experiences of being a runner or just life in general, you can visit me at 111lalalane@blogspot.com. Or, you can read about my latest 10K race here: http://111lalalane.blogspot.com/2014/05/hell-hole-swamp-10k.html

The experiences I encounter through running make it thrilling and keep me coming back for more. And although I've been running for two years this month, I still consider myself a new runner. Oh yes, in those two short years, I've experienced running highs and lows, an injury, some good races and some not so good races. But, I've grown to love it....all of it. And as I've contemplated my running as a whole, I've come to realize that running is a metaphor for life. You get out of it what you put into it. There will always be uphill battles and then there will be glorious accomplishments. Running can thrill you or make you feel defeated, but you learn from it and grow.

What more of an experience could one hope for?

 

Happy Running Y'all!

Laurie

Wild Hogs and My First DNS

Gosh, a week goes by very fast these days. Lots to catch you up on.

Lidia and Sawyer on lunch break.

Last weekend Emily and the kids were here. We gave Lidia a new bike for her birthday. So Saturday, Cliff and the kids rode their bikes around Market Common while I ran my 10 miles. Emily met them for lunch and they sat at one of the outside tables. I kept running by and would grab a swallow of Cliff's Coke, which I hate, but it hit the spot at about mile 8. And then I grabbed a piece of Sawyer's pizza. I just got the corner of the pizza, just bread really and it hit the spot, too. They finished lunch and I finished my run. The kids then went roller skating with their daddy and Emily, Cliff and I went to see "Divergent".  On Sunday, it was back to Market Common with the bikes. I rode mine this time with Cliff, Lidia and Sawyer. We rode for about 4 to 5 miles and stopped for lunch. Emily met us there. It was a good thing we stopped when we did because Sawyer was starting to go downhill. He said, "I'm starting to think this was not a good idea. Maybe, I should have stayed at home." HaHa! I had to encourage him a little to let's have lunch and if he still felt that way, that he could ride home with his mama. Well, just as I thought. After lunch, he was all refreshed and ready to ride some more. We sort of back tracked and ended the day with 9.76 miles. And then, it was time for them to head back home. :(  I'm sure the kids slept good that night, though. They are going to be here for Spring Break. Yay!!! Let's see who can tucker who out.

Oh, by the way, remember the picture I posted not long ago of Sawyer's toothless grin? Well, he's still toothless. I told him that at the rate his teeth were growing back, he might better go ahead and send Santa Claus a letter now. He thought for a minute and said, "Well, ok, but I don't want any wood teeth and I don't want any plastic ones, you know....fake ones." He cracks me up!!!

I ran 3 miles on Monday. And then 3 miles, again, on Wednesday. I met Cliff at the Jericho trail afterwards...like after running 3 miles, ok. I just needed you to know that. So, back to the trail... I rode the mountain bike, while Cliff ran. I nearly died. It was the hardest ride I've ever done. And, it shouldn't have been. The plan was to do a 3-mile out and back. I almost didn't make it. It was so hard. I had to get off several times to walk around mud holes. Cliff was running and he was faster than I was on the bike. He got completely out of sight. I got to a fork on the trail and stopped to try to determine which way to go. I lost my balance and fell. After figuring out which way to go, I got back on the bike and about that time Cliff was calling me to see if I was ok. He had already made it to the turn-around-point. I was seriously thinking of stopping and waiting until he got back, but he really wanted me to see this particular bridge. So, I told him that I would keep coming, but very slowly. I finally got to the bridge and just could not believe how hard of a time I was having. Honestly, it was not normal.

This is the bridge Cliff wanted me to see.

 

Here's another one...I didn't make it this far.

 

Ok, bridge tour over and it was time to head back. I wouldn't even try to ride the bike back. I started walking. At one point, Cliff said, "Get on the bike and I'll push you." That worked for a little while until we got to the first mud hole. I had to get off the bike to walk around. So, I just kept walking at that point. There was a slight shortcut back to the highway, up ahead. I told Cliff to ride the bike back to the Jeep and come pick me up at the end of the shortcut. It is scary as heck being left in the middle of the woods by yourself, let me just tell ya. I was being brave though......had no choice. It was the best way to get out of there. I pushed snakes right out of my mind. It was a little cold for them anyway, I thought. But, what was more on my mind were wild hogs! Or bears! We have little black bears in our woods, believe it or not. I've seen them....well one. But, hogs? Girl, hush your mouth. I've never seen any, but they are there. Cliff even gave me instructions on what to do, if charged by one. He left me with a weapon.....a knife, with maybe a 4" blade. Well Lord, maybe I could aim for an eyeball. Still thinking of hogs, I thought to myself that maybe a little noise would scare off any hogs that might be in the neighborhood. So, I started singing.....Amazing Grace. And I can't sing! Can't carry a tune in a bucket! But I sang my little heart out, and then that sent me to a whole other level. God and I were having a moment! I knew then that I would be alright. When my mind came back to the trail and the thought of hogs, I began to realize that my singing could very well be mistaken for a wounded animal. And I don't even want to know what's in those woods that would love to come upon a wounded animal. So, I figured I better stop the singing altogether. And then, praise be....I was at the end of the trail. Cliff and I had made it to the rendezvous point at almost the exact time. I nearly collapsed in the Jeep.

After getting home, I went straight to take a hot bath. I sat there trying to warm up and relax my muscles. When I was finally able to get out of the tub, I was freezing to death....to the point of shaking. That's when I realized that I had a fever. And the body aches and fatigue was most likely from that. I felt like I had the flu. I felt terrible the rest of the night. Had a terrible headache. I was up and down all night long, taking Advil, trying to get rid of it. Thursday and Friday, I felt terrible and now had a sore throat. I was sure I had the flu. Saturday, I was supposed to run an 8K. There was no way. This was the first time I've ever had a DNS (did not show). I felt so ashamed, but I quickly got over that. It was raining buckets anyway. I would have had a hard time making myself go run in the rain, even if I wasn't sick. We missed dinner with our good friends Alice and Tom. I was bummed! By Sunday, I was feeling better. I was already starting to think about running again, but Alice said that I should rest another couple of days. I'll take her advice, she's a nurse.

Phew! Glad I feel better. And I'm sure Cliff is too. Now he doesn't have to load and unload the dishwasher. He really is a trooper. He helps a lot, when I'm sick and such. But, maybe, possibly, one of the reasons I'm glad I'm better is that I have a bone to pick with that Jericho Trail.

Update.......most of this post took place a week ago. I'm still training for a half-marathon and due to whatever I had last week, my training has been almost non-existent. I ran one day this week....it was supposed to be 6 miles, but I could only squeak out 3. Last night, I felt feverish again. And then today, I needed to run 11 miles to be on schedule with my training. Today's run was the worst I have ever had! I kid you not. It started out really nice. The temperature was in the low 70's, I was feeling good....just perfect. But by the time I reached mile 8, I was starting to feel extremely fatigued. By mile 9, I was struggling big time. Finally, I determined that I had bonked....hit the wall! I was also determined to finish the 11 miles. So I walked/ran the last 2....ok, mostly walked. But I finished! Christie rode by twice and asked if I was ok. I guess seeing me walking was not what she expected. OMG! I wanted to crawl up in her car so bad, but I fought the urge. And then when I was almost back to my car, I just wanted to lie down on the grass. I didn't really care if anyone saw me or not, but again, I fought the urge.

Cliff saw this while out kayaking yesterday.

Poor thing.

After my run today, I felt just like this!!

If I hadn't fought the urge to lie down in the grass, this is exactly what I would have looked like, too.

I'm taking it easy for a couple of days.  Hope today's run didn't ruin it for the rest of the week.

Time will tell.

Later Gator,

Laurie

Running In Fear..ior



Misspelled title? No, just a little play on words. I have to confess......I come from a long line of fears. Fear of snakes, fear of tight spaces, fear of suffocating, fear of falling down, fear of going bald...you get the picture. And then there is the feeling of being inferior. Is that a fear? I think so. Maybe. Could be. Let's talk about it, shall we. 

I read a post the other day about a lady talking about feeling inferior to other runners. She felt like she didn't measure up, couldn't run as fast as others and that she was just in the way...taking up space on the running path. She told a friend she was running with about her feelings and her friend dispelled any fears this lady had. The friend told her that she admired her for getting out there and running. All runners are new at some point and have had the same thoughts and feelings as she. Hummmm, those words jumped right off the page and landed directly in the center of my lap. I started thinking about that. I could totally relate to what this lady had gone through. It was a self-discovery light bulb moment for me.

Running for me has been something done as a loner. There are other things I do that falls into the same category.....I read, research my family history, sew, scrapbook, blog and I'm at home during the day alone. Don't get me wrong, anyone that knows me knows that I love my alone time. But maybe I'm missing out, maybe it's time to crawl out of that loner shell. I feel sort of silly when people ask me who I run with and my answer is "no one". I've been invited to go run with friends, but I graciously bowed out. I've come to realize why....I feel inferior. I can't run as fast or as far as they do. I feel like I would be holding them back and I certainly don't want to do that. Maybe I should remember my post from January 1st where I wrote that nothing is ever as it seems. So, maybe I've let my fears dominate my thoughts to the point of missing out on some awesome runs with some great people. Maybe I can't run that fast or far, yet. So what? I will in time and will have the benefit of making lifelong friendships.

Yeah, that's it! I'm going to do it! I think it's high time I break the fear cycle. I'm going to try to branch out. Maybe I'll join the local running club or maybe I'll take my friends up on their invitation to join them. Maybe that's just what I need to push me to the next level.  What I do know for sure is that running will take you places you've never been, show you things you've never seen...and with a new prospective, I might add. Other benefits are a greater fitness level and a sense of well being.

What more could you ask for from something that comes as naturally as putting one foot in front of the other. I hope for those of you sitting on the fence, thinking of putting on your running shoes, yet holding back for some unfounded fear, that you take a cue from me and other runners.....lay aside running "in fear..ior". As my husband tells me constantly, "screw it, just do it"! (His words, not mine...haha! Don't want you hating on me for such brashness.) (But don't hate him either. He's good, he's wise and I love him.)

OK, confessions are over. Phew! Boy am I glad. It's not easy baring your soul to the whole world.

Before you go, in case you were wondering.....

1)  I ran outside yesterday for 3.18 miles.
2)  The IT Band roller works wonders.
3)  My knee didn't bother me until about mile 2.5. Stretched a little and was good to go.
4)  However, I had a constant dull ache in the left bum.
5)  Healing takes time.

Laurie

In 2012, I Learned That........

Dawn of a New Year

January 1, 2013

Today is a new day, the beginning of a new year.....and oh what promises lie ahead. Everything is fresh and new. 

Someone asked me, recently, if I had made any New Year's resolutions and I answered, no. Mostly, because I believe that resolutions, if broken, tends to seem like a failure opposed to not meeting a goal you set for yourself. Not meeting a goal doesn't mess with your psyche as much as a failed resolution. Goals, if not met, can be reassessed. You learn from them and you get a do-over.  I set quite a few goals for myself in 2012 and can honestly say that I met most of them. And since this time of year typically causes one to fall into a full blown case of "retrospection", I would like to share a few of the things I learned in 2012.

1.    In addition to taking care of yourself physically, you must take care of yourself mentally and spiritually.

2.   Nothing is ever as it seems. (This can be especially good to know for someone with an overactive imagination....I'm just saying...)

3.    You make time for and even crave the things you are passionate about.

4.    Hiking is more than a walk.....it's an adventure.

5.    Just when you least expect it, your husband of 32 years can still surprise the heck out of you. (Best Valentine's Day eva!)

6.    Kayaking is one of my many passions. Kayaking is more than a boat ride....it's an all-out, alligator fretting, thunder and lightening, monster waving adventure!

7.    Although seeking great adventures can result in being in the middle of the Murrell's Inlet creeks during a thunder and lightening storm, you are so glad you had the experience and wouldn't trade it for the world.

8.    Nuts (use your own imagination) are sensitive by nature. See item #2.

9.    I love running!

10.  Nothing is more powerful than running your first 5K race. The feeling of accomplishment you get from that will blow your mind.

11.  Dramamine works! Depending on how many you take....they may work too good, causing you to fall asleep in places you never intended.

12.  Writing a blog (baring one's soul to the entire World Wide Web) is very soul cleansing.

13.  72-73 degrees Fahrenheit with a light breeze is my perfect weather.

14.  Laughing to the point of snorting over the funny things your grandchildren say is the best medicine ever.

15.  You must listen to the experts. If not, this thing you've been trying to avoid the most will happen. (Slight injury....major bummer.)

16.  There are people out there who genuinely want to be your friend. You HAVE to let your guard down and accept it.

17.  Everyone needs alone time.

18.  Green juice is healthy, healing, energizing and tastes AWESOME!

19.  People are sent into your life, when needed most.

20.  Last, but not in the least.....as a matter of fact, probably the most important.....There is no problem that can't be solved through prayer! My favorite verse of all times....."When a believing person prays, great things happen". James 5:16

I'm going to wrap it up by giving you a few of my goals for 2013. These goals may be added to during the year or reassessed and tweaked, but for now they are:

• Begin a swimming regimen
• Learn to speak Spanish, fluently and maybe French
• Continue to lose weight
• Run a few 10Ks
• Run a half marathon
• Begin working on my scrapbooks again
• Continue to research my family history
• Finish my first quilt completely by hand (I have actually made several quilts with a sewing machine....just haven't finished the one I'm making by hand, yet.)

Did you set any goals for yourself in 2013? Come on, tell me a few. Accountability is everything!

Oh wait, in case you were wondering...........

How I spent this first day of the new year:  Watching Cliff and friends compete in a mini triathlon

Miles run today:  Maybe 1/2 (still nursing my knee, but had to get somewhere fast)

First meal of 2013:  Eggs Benedict

Number of friends sharing in this first meal of 2013:  4 plus the hubs = 5

Talk soon,

Laurie



Christmas Revisted...a liar and a thief

Running stats.....in case you were wondering.  

Total miles today: 4.2

Total miles run hurting: 3.2 (Something going on with my left knee and hip. Need to figure it out....don't want to be sidelined.)

Total miles walked: 1 (trying to recover from the pain)

Ran with: Whitney (Priceless)

Run route: The track at my old Alma Mater...Andrews High School

 

This is my daddy. This makes the 5th year that he has spent Christmas in Heaven. And this Christmas, he may have turned over in his grave. Because...................

It's official. I'm a liar and a thief. All I can say about that is that drastic times requires drastic measures.

It all began three weeks ago, when we found out that my daughter, Whitney, was able to come home for Christmas, after all. She wanted to surprise her grandmothers, so she asked us not to tell them she was coming. I had to shush Cliff a couple of times. He almost let the cat out of the bag, but not me.....I lied like the best of them. When Mama and Mrs. Wanda asked if Whitney was coming home, I told them no because her husband had to work and she didn't want to leave him alone. They said things like..."I am going to miss Whitney this year, I sure wish she and Jason could come home for Christmas." I tried to console them as best as I could...while lying through my teeth. I really started to feel bad for them; they were genuinely sad that they were not going to see Whitney and Jason this year.

Christmas Eve, Whitney was scheduled to leave Denver at 5:10 pm. I had already been glued to the Weather Channel to follow the news of the snow in the Midwest and the rain and tornado warnings in the east. I was concerned about the weather causing delays or even cancelling flights altogether. And, as luck would have it....her flight out of Denver was delayed. Now, she had a connecting flight in Chicago that was scheduled to leave at 8:55 pm. But because Denver's flight was delayed by 50 minutes meant that she was going to have only 5 minutes to change planes. It was down to the wire. She arrived in Chicago at 8:50 pm. For some reason, the flight leaving for Charleston was being delayed by another 5 minutes....so she had a slither of hope to make the connection. She said she came off the plane with about 15 more people RUNNING. An airport employee asked Whitney if she was running to catch the flight to Charleston and she said, "Yes". The employee told her that they were holding the plane for them. Thank heavens for Christmas miracles. She made the flight with no time to spare.

Christmas Eve dinner is always spent with my side of the family. And then my children always spend Christmas Eve night with us and even Santa Claus visits my grandchildren on Christmas Eve at my house. So....I was busy all day Monday cleaning, making the beds with fresh linens, baking and cooking the dishes I was taking to mama's that night and wrapping last minute gifts that FedEx had delivered that day. I did not stop to take note of the toilet paper inventory. And, as luck would have it.......I ran completely out. I didn't have time to go to the grocery store to buy more....I had too much to do. Aha, found a box of Puff's Tissue that would work until I could get to the store.  OMG! These tissues have Vicks Rub in them. Well....we'll just have to grin and bear it. Drastic measures!!

So, off to dinner at mama's with all my family. We visited and caught up with each other, ate and opened gifts. Cliff and I had to excuse ourselves a little early, but couldn't say why. I lied again, making up some kind of story. All the while, Cliff was tracking flight times on Southwest Airlines from his phone. So off to the airport we go. I was so excited that I nearly forgot about the toilet paper emergency. We stopped at two stores on the way to the airport and both were closed. OK, so what now? I sure hoped the Puff's Tissue, albeit a little infused with Vicks, would last through the night. We got to the airport with less than 10 minutes to spare before Whitney's arrival. So, I made a quick potty break, which reminded me once again of the lack of toilet paper back at my house. I never saw it coming, but right there, at 11:50 pm on Christmas Eve, in the Charleston International Airport bathroom, I made the decision that would forever label me as a toilet paper thief. I roped off  three or four feet of airport toilet paper and stuck in my pocketbook. I was desperate and it was so easy. I walked to the gate to meet Whitney and no one was the wiser.

Christmas morning....that toilet paper came in mighty handy. Emily never knew the difference. Holla!!  My grandchildren were surprised by Whitney. We told them she hitched a ride with Santa. Whitney also surprised her grandmother's. They both were so shocked. I don't think I've ever seen Mrs. Wanda jump up out of a chair as fast as she did, when she saw Whitney walk into the room. And the next day, when we visited my mama, she looked like she was going to faint..like she had seen a ghost or something. It sure was a successful Christmas this year. We pulled off three great surprises and a major toilet paper emergency was averted. I spent awhile trying to regain my status as a "truth teller" and begging forgiveness for taking such drastic measures as stealing toilet paper from the airport bathroom.

I'm wondering if I need therapy.

Time will tell.

How was your Christmas this year? Did anything exciting happen at your house? Tell me about it in the comments below.

Hallelujah! I have been reformed,

Laurie

It's my Birthday!!

 

Bad job of focusing, but you can see the mileage at the top.

 **********

Amount of miles run: 5.2

Amount of time I wanted to stop and walk: 5 (to coin a phrase from a new running friend....log-legs)

Amount of times I did: 0 (hallelujah)

Things I noticed along the side of the road: a wrench, a dead frog, a dime and a brick

**********

Yes, today is my birthday and it has been an awesome day. It started with a call from mama singing Happy Birthday via a stuffed toy bear. LOL! Here's how the rest of the day unfolded...................

Breakfast: Comfort food. Grits and Eggs.

Spent the day with: Cliff. He took the day off work to spend it with me. Sweet!

Ran: 5.2 miles in Lakewood.


Remember this? I posted it a few weeks ago. Beautiful place to run.

This was the same place today, Dec. 18th. It turned ugly. I really had to watch my step.



Or...I could step on one of these.

Or...one of these. Take it from me, one of these little suckers will throw you to the ground in a heartbeat.

And, it could will make you look like this.

Lunch: Quesadilla Explosion Salad at Chili's w/Cliff.

Call from: Whitney, wishing her Ma a happy birthday.

Throughout the day: Received special birthday wishes....calls, cards and comments from Facebook friends and family.

Lazy afternoon ended in finally packing up to go home. Arrived home to find Emily, Lidia and Sawyer waiting with birthday cake and presents.

And then a nice ending of a great day was one last call from Cammie....singing in an oh-so-sultry and raspy voice...Happy Birthday!

I sure don't feel a day older, just a little wiser and for sure a little more cared for. All the birthday wishes have been so special. Thank you all for remembering!

Laurie



Exercising a “Spirit” of Excellence…..

What does it mean to have a “spirit” of excellence? Well, I believe it’s doing what’s right even when no one is looking. It defines our character. Not only does it apply to things that have been asked of us, such as on our jobs or in school, but it also applies to the things that will bring us success on a personal level. For the most part, I can lay claim to the fact that I do follow this credence. However, I’m confessing right here, right now, in front of the entire World Wide Web that for the past 20+ years, I have not been practicing that spirit of excellence in the area of my health. It was not until I lost my father in 2008 of heart disease and diabetes that I got serious about a healthy lifestyle. Even then, it took a few years for me to commit to a plan of action. VERY RELUCTANTLY, I am posting this picture of me. It is not to show you that I’m proud of how I look, promise you that! No, it’s to hold myself accountable for the journey I’m on and hopefully, encourage someone out there to begin to change their lifestyle, too.

Race to Save Hearts 5K - Nov. 17, 2012

North Myrtle Beach, SC 

Long story, short….I have always realized how important diet and exercise are. I have read the books, the many articles and watched Dr. Oz. Heck, I could write a book on the subject. But it is now….NOW….that I’ve reached the point where I believe know I have to do something about it. And I hope that somewhere along this path to fitness and healthfulness, I can encourage or inspire one of you to join me in this journey.

So today, I am writing this blog to say….I’ve turned over a new leaf. I’m practicing a spirit of excellence. Don’t confuse this with I think I’m excellent. Ha! No way! Just that I choose to eat right and exercise, even when no one is looking.

In case you’re wondering who, what, where or how…..I mean that’s the nuts and bolts of the whole thing, right. Well here it is….

Nov 2011:

-adopted a vegetarian lifestyle (went cold turkey)

-lost 4 lbs right away

-gained a ton of energy

-brought my slightly increasing blood pressure back down to normal

June 2012: 

-began running (walk/run about a mile at first)

July 2012:

-able to run 2-3 miles

Aug 2012:

-able to run 3 miles consistently and even ran up to 5 miles

Sept 2012: 

-able to run 3-4 miles and even ran up to 7 miles

Oct 2012:

-ran my first 5K race

Nov 2012:

-able to run 4-5 miles consistently

-ran my 2^nd and 3^rd 5Ks (pace improving each time)

Dec 2012:

-running 5 miles consistently

-weight lost since I began running in June - 10 lbs.

For now, the diet is healthy. The weight-loss is slow. The running is consistent. Finding the right balance is tricky. By all accounts, I should be losing lots of weight. I don’t know why, exactly, that it’s coming off so slowly. But I have a long list of it’s “probably this”. I will continue to figure it out. I will continue to eat vegetarian (although at times, I just have to have some shrimp or piece of salmon) and I will continue to run.

My diet and exercise goals for 2013:

-run a couple more 5Ks

-run a couple of 10Ks

-run a half marathon

-begin swimming

-ride bike more

-continue to eat vegetarian

-continue to lose weight and get as healthy and fit as can be

Follow me….not by just reading my blog. But follow me in eating right, exercising and getting fit. Take it one day at time, one month at a time and then you can look back on your year and say….look what I’ve accomplished. You owe it to yourself. Practice that spirit of excellence……do it even when no one is looking.

Until next time,

LaLa

Adventures of the High Seas.......

I was hesitant to post this. I was afraid that it wouldn't be exactly what I'm going for in this blog, but decided what the heck. After all, this was an adventure for me....being a 50-plus-year-old cruise newbie and all. I was going to call it "Tales from the High Seas", but decided I couldn't because my sister, friends and I made a pact.....What happens in the Bahamas stays in the Bahamas. I can certainly give you some highlights of a great adventure, though.

A few months ago, Carla called to ask me to come along with her and two of her friends on a Bahama's Cruise. My immediate reaction was ....... "Are you crazy"? "You know I get motion sickness and sea sickness is THE worst". The very thought brought on flashbacks of some 30 odd years ago to a day spent on the high seas with my then boyfriend, Cliff, and his best buddy, Earl. Let me just say that visions of chunky eggs and tomatoes and hugging the side of Earl's boat filled my head. Well...I quickly snapped out of that and let me just interject here that peer pressure is strong. Carla easily talked me into going along. So, off to the drugstore I go. Two packs of Dramamine would probably do.

Carnival Fantasy Cruise Ship

Friday:

- Board ship in Charleston.

- Explore.

- Mandatory safety meeting.

- Set sail.

Uh oh......so glad I took a dose of Dramamine before boarding. Ship is rocking and rolling. Felt like a mild case of vertigo. Can't walk straight, keep bumping into wall. Going potty was worse. Prior to dinner, might better take another Dramamine. Feeling a little funny. Made it through dinner. Stop by a game show...still feel funny. Lay head on back of seat. Dramamine knocked my lights out. Woke up to Carla snapping pictures. Felt very vulnerable and violated. Not even funny. Pretty sure I snored at some point. Back to the room before an all-out drool fest commenced. Propped the balcony door open with a chair. OMG! A peeping Tom or Neck Craner lives next door. Hurry, get back inside!  Ahhhh, the sound of the wind and waves......sleep that night was sweet.

Saturday:

- Still rocking and rolling.

- Decided still had enough Dramamine in my system.

- Moved chair so we could close door. Neck Craner in full gear. Had my hair up in a towel and still had my gown on. Made his morning, I'm sure!

- Warned Carla......that's all I could do.

- Lounged most of the day on deck, sunning and watching the ocean flow by.

- My day to run, good thing they have a gym.

Uh oh.......planned to run 5 miles. Hopped on treadmill, ran a few steps and the shipped rolled right. Ran a few more steps and the shipped rolled left. Dang! Should of taken more Dramamine. After 2 miles, enough of this. Don't feel like puking in the gym. Finished with 2 more miles on the elliptical and 2 miles on the bike. Whew! Done! And no puking. Major accomplishment. Rinsed out my sports bra and hooked it to the arm of one of the chairs on the balcony. Sometime later, decided I better go get it before Neck Craner did. Finished the day with the Captain's dinner. Yes! I'm wearing my !New! Cowboy boots. Told friends about Neck Craner. One solution offered.....shake the "girls" at him. Gah!!! Not happening!!! Bedtime. Sneak out to balcony for chair to prop open door. Arrrgggh! Carla! He's out there again! Duck back inside. Good thing sleep came so peacefully. Homesick!



Becky, Carla, Janice and Me. Black was our signature color.

Sunday:

- Nassau

- Shopping

- Beach

Uh oh.......FYI, teenie tight men's bikini bathing suits and butt crack in the Bahamas? Yep, same as the states. Gross!!! Beautiful water, though. Back to ship for late lunch. More sunning and deck time.....sweet! By now, the only time Carla or I ventured out to the balcony was to grab the chair to prop the door open. Neck Craner was always waiting. Homesick!

Nassau Beach



Nassau Street

Monday:

- Freeport.

- Shopping in the parking lot. Really?

- That didn't take long.

- Ship leaving early today, no time to visit what is supposed to be the most gorgeous beach, ever.

- Head to the deck again.

Uh oh.........where's my camera? Got to find it...there is the most beautiful sunset, ever. Whew, found it. Leaving Freeport. Tugboat helped us leave port. Ahhh, that sunset! Ahhh, a full moon! All is well at sea. Except, homesick!

Shopping in Freeport Parking Lot

Becky, Janice and Carla sunning on deck and Sunsets

Leaving Freeport....Full Moon at Sea

Tuesday:

- At sea.

- Back to the gym. This time was able to run 3 miles on treadmill and 2 on elliptical. Hey, there's a jogging deck up top. I have to run on it, I have to. Wait....what? Eleven times around equals a mile. Well, that'll drive me crazy trying to keep up with laps. Decided 1/2 mile was enough. Pure gorgeousness!

Uh oh.........Need a Dramamine! Looks like we are headed into a storm. Sky is dark!! Began to rain. Seas not as rough as I feared. Learned to dodge Neck Craner. Sleeping with the balcony door propped open on the open seas....priceless!

Wednesday:

- Arrive in Charleston.

- OMG! It's cold!

- Disembark.

Uh oh.....Carla and I retrieved our luggage, strolled through customs with no wait and no problem. Our floor went first. Becky and Janice's floor went last. Major bottleneck in customs! Two hours later and we are headed home. Did someone say something about being homesick? Shoot, I'm ready to go again.

Hope you all get to experience a cruise one day. Just be prepared with Dramamine and decide ahead of time what you'll do if your next door neighbor is a Neck Craner. Other than that, the food was great and plentiful, the friends were so much fun and that south Atlantic Sea? Absolutely beautiful!!!!

Til next time,

Laurie