Running Again

Today I hit the pavement again after a WHOLE ENTIRE MONTH off to let my plantar fasciitis heal. My doctor said I only needed to rest a week and half but I wanted to be SURE. 

I also allowed myself the luxury of starting off low and slow so that I wouldn't develop PF again. So today I only ran 20 min. And remember, I ALWAYS devote my first and last five minutes to warm up and cool down respectively. So really it's like I only ran 10 minutes. 

And you know what? I'm not ashamed! This is the choice I had to make to have healthy happy feet. I'm going to run every other day for this whole month. I'm not using a training plan YET but I'm working my way back up to the level of the training plan I will be using. 

You see, I've signed up for the Richmond half marathon in November, and I'm so excited!! It's really far away so if I don't want to peak too early, I've got to take it easy and gradually work my way through the training plan.

In other news I've now switched to a different medics, Z and upped my dosage. Today is my fifth day on it and while I fought a headache yesterday (side effect) I have noticed a slight trend of ease starting to happen. It seems as if less things are requiring me to self talk and boost myself up. I don't want to speak to early, but for the first time I can say I think it's going to happen for me. 

That is a hugely hopeful and powerfully optimistic statement.

Yay!!

Lastly, my weigh-ins have NOT been good. Maybe that's a side effect of the drug, but before I can decide, I want to really REALLY buckle down and track everything and especially stop myself from going over my daily target. 

So far I've been even or under by 1 the last 3 days, and I've been tracking pretty faithfully. This is good!! Along with my renewed running activities I have faith that my weigh in will be down! 

And if it isn't, then we know it's the drug and we need to find a different one.

Well that's about it. Check out Pepper's blog for my adaptation to brownies that make them easier to control.

See you all later!

Love,

B

Richmond's Monument Avenue 10k

Saturday I ran the Monument 10k! 

It's a huge richmond tradition and I was so happy to be a part of it! There were more than 40,000 runners registered!! Some of those people may have stayed in (I know of two!!!) because it was rainy. But that didn't stop me! I love running in the rain! The trick is to wear contacts (until they invent mini windshield wipers), dress in layers, and this is the big one... Wear TWO PAIRS OF SOCKS! When one gets wet it rubs against you. When two get wet they rub against each other!!! Boom!! I guess I do have another tip, French braid your hair. I always do this, but I especially don't need any flyaways or a rogue ponytail when it's all going to stick to my face. Ew.

So I had a strained tendon from over stretching the Tuesday prior. In case you're interested it was my Peroneous Brevis Tendon. Starts at your ankle bone and goes outside your foot to the middle bone that sticks out. If you turn your feet in to touch one another you'll feel the stretch. Now I have Plantar Fasciitis, so imm familiar with treatment, etc. so I knew to stay off it and ice it. That meant no training leading up to the race. That's ok, I knew I could run 6 miles, I've done it several times. 

So I just went out there Saturday morning pumped up and super excited. I ran the race and still managed to shave 2 minutes off my time!!! That's awesome!!! Thankfully the rain was just misty during my run. It didn't pick up until I was at the finish line waiting for my friend.

After the race we got an amazing brunch at River City Diner. I'm hoping to have them cater the wedding!!!! I got my favorite: French toast with dy scrambled eggs and corned beef hash well done! Yum!! I can't believe that I almost finished all of that! At least I was good and started with my protein (eggs) before splitting the time on the rest of the stuff (carbs and fats). I also ate everyone else's pickles before my own breakfast so that counts as veggies! Hah!

Then J and I went home and took a TWO HOUR NAP. Can't believe we slept that long! Perfect napping weather, thunderstorming the whole afternoon. We  wook up around 5 and arranged a Takeout dinner Chinese for me, soul food for him. (Perfect after a lazy day!!!) 

Around 9 we went down to The Portrait House in Carytown to celebrate our friends 24 birthday. (Gah we're getting old!) it was a pretty late night for us. Luckily we took a nap to charge those batteries! We had a great time. Loved seeing our friends. 

The rest of the weekend was nice and chill. I had to work Sunday and it was another rainy day. 

So that's our weekend! Pretty awesome! 

Get ready for spring!!!

Love,

B

The Good Kind of Busy

Today I hit the ground running. 

We'll not really. I commend myself for now pressing snooze, that is an improvement!!! But if we're being honest (and hello, that's the point) I did sit in my bed for approximately 5 to 15 minutes this morning. As usual. It's my time to check on what happened overnight on Facebook and email, etc. (not surprisingly, it's never much) and check the weather.

Ever since I was little I always have had a fascination with weather. I check it constantly and I always look at radar and numbers. I mean, dew point accounts for a lot people!

Anyway, when I did finally get my bum out of bed, I admitted to myself that I should just account for that time and wake up earlier. We'll see how that works. But the admittance is a good step.

I got ready for work and drank my premixed smoothies (one of my accomplishments from yesterday), then rolled in to work right on time. 

I plowed through work eating my usual 10 points or so. Hit up the grocery stores and gas on my way home. When I got home, I planted some herb boxes I've had sitting around for quite sadly literally a year (we'll see if they actually sprout). Then I donned my running gear and stupidly went out for a 6 miler. In my new prescription sunglasses. 

Obviously it started raining as I hit 3 miles and turned around. This is also when smart me decided to do the math of my pace per mile and I realized that I had to put the petal to the metal. I quite literally ran into the house grabbed car keys water and got in the car to drive to my piano lessons. 

I would have made it on time too, if I hadn't taken an exit too early and had to ride the clovers to get back on the highway. 

When I was done teaching their lessons I picked up my prescriptions and headed home. Of course I didn't grab a jacket so I was freezing in the sleet. When I got home I did a nice hour of yoga to de-ice my muscles from 2 hours after my longest run in 4 months. 

This was very relaxing until J came home and proceeded to ask me questions. He finally took the hint and went upstairs. It was at the exact moment of Shavasana (the closing of practice, focusing on meditation usually) that he decided to play drums. *sigh*

I hopped in a shower and by the time I was done I had to run to get to my WW meeting on time. 

Sadly I missed an opportunity to eat out with the in-laws, I left my phone at home and missed a text from J telling me about the change of plans. 

The good news is that I lost 1.6 lbs in the, ahem, 4 weeks I have missed of weigh ins. Yay!!!

I picked up my phone, called in my take out dinner, grabbed it and ate 2/3 in the next 40 min. I was hungry!

You have seen I didn't eat my usual intake AND I exercised a lot. So I was starving! I don't recommend this. It's so much harder to hear your body when it tells you that it is full. 

Then ms pep and I got ready for bed. Now J is home, but he's watching a soccer game so I'm going to bed on my own. It's very weird.

So busy days aren't always bad! This one helped me lose weight and keep focus on the things I wanted to acommplish. Even if it seemed like the world was conspiring against me, I just let it roll off my back and trudged on through. And now as I look back on my day I am so proud of myself!! Even for the little things like not pressing snooze! And especially for acceptance of things I still need to improve. 

What a wonderfully busy and accomplished day!

Namaste!

Love,

B

2-4-1

Which apparently means Two for One. Have a good laugh now because I won't be allowing anyone to get that one off on me again. It seems so glaringly obvious now, but in those first few days here in the UK (which today means UcK-y weather.) I couldn't understand a fraction of what I saw and read. I thought it might be what they called their Happy Hour. Turns out it's just an insanely good deal you can take advantage of during happy hour. 

I digress, today is a 241. Yesterday's lazy reading coupled with today's lazy weather. A few extras from the past week sprinkled in that I somehow missed. 

A prime example here. On our 2nd or 3rd say our friend BH took us on a quick walking tour of Cardiff City Center (where we're staying and the gents are working.) and I had to laugh about the perfection of this bird sitting stop the statues head. Could it be anymore hilarious?

Indeed if could because literally the NEXT DAY as we walked around looking for lunch, the same bird (I imagine this too be the Mufasa of seagulls, the arcade is his pride [double pun!].) or maybe Even a different bird that stole his idea or fought for the right to take his place, was in the same spot!!  Too funny not to capture.

In days since, I have no seen anymore. I can promise I would have photographed them! 

Below is a framed print we saw in the Rummer tavern when we returned one evening for a few pints. I especially am reminded of my Brother-In-Law. This is something he and my sister would like.

Yesterday J and I got out for a bite to eat (he couldn't stand staying in bed all day like me :-), though I've made quite the art of relaxation.) and he used a phone booth to call a local beer shop. As the phone booth was not of the vintage variety I thought I'd grab a quick few good shots of the castle we walk around day in and day out.

Here is a close up of the gorgeous clocktower.

We decided to watch the FA Cup games at the Queens Vault which is across from Cardiff City's millennium stadium home to their football club. It's actually a good team!

On the way home we stopped in a mountain gear store and I snagged this jumper for £8, wearing it today!!!

Later for dinner we found literally no one on the street and just a few options for eating out. This place, Revolution, was open and we were the ONLY customers. 

J ordered the "original" Budweiser from the Czech brewery that recently won a lawsuit allowing them to CONTINUE using their centuries old brewery name in the EU only. Stupid Anheuser-Busch trying to take advantage with their crappy beer. 

Turns out this one is only morse rarely better. J's rating below:

In the way home we stopped at McD's (again one of the few places open.) and grabbed a mcflurry of the local variety! 

Here's a decent description of what lion candy is:

Today I was determined to get back into running. Promptly got stuck in a few downpours from which I sought shelter in bus stops. Here's a look at how soaked I was (or at least the part not sheltered by me.) don't worry I wore a light running jacket but took it off the second I got in doors. Way too warm!

Figured you should also see how red and breathless I was. Heh.

I cracked open our window to cool down and decided you might want to see a picture of the clock tower that rings EVERY FIFTEEN MINUTES. I had thought this would keep me up at night, surprisingly not.

After I met up with the gents for lunch we went to grab Starbucks (yes they have them over here, and they use my gift cards!) and I thought you may care to know about the local big brewery, (think like Legend's or Hardywood.) makes me think of zombies. The dragon is the symbol of Wales. 

Anyway, I'm back now. Ready to read another good book. See you all tomorrow!!

Love & Cheers, 

Brooke

The rest of my week in Cardiff

So sorry it took so long to connect with everyone!! I've been having an amazing time over here on this side of the pond. For the most part we'd had really good weather. I went for my run during the dry part of the only rainy day we've had. Then I took a day and relaxed. That day we ate lunch at a creperie in one of the indoor arcades. We thought the crepes were ok, but our French friends, Elie and Dominique thought they were crap. Oh well the place was still adorable.

Below is a panoramic shot of the basement lounge where we ate. I'm not sure how well the panoramic will translate online, so do let me know. The place had some really trippy art all over the walls.

We founds music store that had a great selection of instruments. One notable wall ornament was this buffalo which you can barely make out in the dim light.

When I got back to our room the weather was so decidedly British that I wanted to share it with you. It's another panoramic. 

Then I realized that I had not shown you our posh room!!!! I took a really awful panoramic of it, don't mind our crap everywhere. There is like ZERO closet/drawer space.

I am obsessed with our bathroom, the panoramic doesn't do it justice. The tub is enormous. I LOVE taking a bath in it!!

That night we went to a pub before dinner and I got a recommendation for cider, it was huge!!! And delicious!!! It was soooo good. A new favorite.

Here is an adorable picture of J's little half pint, between my giant cider  and our mates pint glass. So little.

The next day was delightfully uneventful. We finished the evening out with our French buddies and pub crawled, eating subway & take-away fish and chips for dinner in our hotel lobby. I was a BIT done for at this point.

The next day was awesome!!! I went to an auditioning of Britian's Got Talent in the Cardiff Bay. Some of the people that work here used to work in the US division and invited me along. We started the day with coffee and I couldn't help noticing the paper at the top had some interesting headlines.

We hopped on a quick commuter train for £3 round trip down to the bay. We stood in queue and just about when we were freezing our bums off they gave us our tickets and let us just come back for the event. So we got amazing seats because our friend had been there for forever, she was really far ahead in line. It was so awkward cutting infront of everyone but they were truly British. We kept our eyes closed and said sorry and no one questioned us! We left to go warm up with some cocktails and on the way I spotted a few photo opportunities. Here's an original old church, so pretty. You can't really see it but but there is a round plaque on the wall that honors Roald Dahl, apparently he lived here!!!

In the bay, we didn't go over there, but there's the Dr. Who Museum. You can barely see it but the Tardis is dead center in the shot, on the platform in front of the museum. Even through the series is set in London, it's filmed in Cardiff.

As we continued we saw some swans and I was reminded that they are protected by the throne. Can't kill them. Who would want to? I did tell them about our Canadian Geese problem. 

Another show filmed in Cardiff is Torchwood. When the (*spoiler alert!*) killed off one of their main characters, fans built this shrine at the location of his death. It's pretty dodgy. 

Here we are in queue to see the judges come in. The only one of note to us Yanks is Simon Cowell and he looks WEIRD in person. The other judges were talented, funny, and well spoken, they also dressed appropriately for the occasion. Simon, as expected, wore skinny jeans, these awful pointy black shoes and a tight v neck white tee. *shudder.*

Haha this picture is where I said "Brooke's got talent."

Don't know why they numbered our braclets, it didn't do us any good.

The event was at the Cardiff opera house. The whole side facing the left had welsh written on it. Dunno what it said.

Here we are at our seats. Not terribly close, but close enough to see how weird Simon looks. 

Apparently we were not supposed to take photos of the stage, everyone else got yelled at... I got away with it!!!

Just after the event, with the Welsh words behind me.

The next day was delightfully sleepy. I read 2 full books and vegetated on Reddit. That night I suggested we get French food. Mostly because I was sick of crappy food. I figured even British French food was better than British food. We brought the Frenchmen with us, they were very funny!!! Judging everything against the actual restaurants in Paris.

Jason got mussels and it must have been 2 lbs of mussels. He didn't even finish it!!!

I got an AMAZING boeuf bourguignon. So delicious.

 

Don't we look happy and sated!!

The toilettes had a lovely pull chain. I thought it quite charming.

Before we left we asked the waitress to take a photo of us.

Great week!! Tomorrow we're touring castles outside of the city. I expect some amazing photographs!! Hopefully the rain will hold off!

Love and cheers,

Brooke

Puppy Run!

Today I had a special running buddy!!!

Pepper!

I keep meaning to work on her leash training, particularly running. I can think of a few awesome things that can come of this:

1) exercise for this hyperactive terrier/hound/retriever/monkey/dinosaur.

Yay for less whining at night because she's bored. 

2) this little distract-a-nator will be super alert for pending cars, pedestrians, hooligans, and alike. 

A downside (at least until she's more used to this) is that I nearly twisted an ankle 3 times... But I have faith!

When we got home she went straight to her pre-iced water dish.

Yes it says "Good Dog" Inside the dish.

Then she proceeded to plop down and pass out while I stretched and rehydrated. 

Oh how I never tire of pictures of her. My love.

Additionally, today I tried out my first pair of running socks!!! I got them at Costco, but regardless, I recommend them! I didn't know how important running socks were until I had a pair on. When you're wearing the RIGHT socks, you don't feel like you're wearing socks!! That's awesome! I also thought that it was cool that these are mostly spandex, a little cotton and I kid you not 2% rubber. Hmm. Maybe in the grey areas? Here they are!

Anyway. Still doing laundry and packing for England!!! Yay!! 

Love,

Brooke