My New Tee

A great big THANKS to Bad Ben's Ramblings for offering this tee on his blog. The designer is a blogger who I have enjoyed peeking at his work over here......Ink Doodles.

Hopefully, next year I'll be legit in wearing this shirt as I plan to do one of Ben's wild ultras!!

A Full Weekend

On Friday, I popped into a running store in my town to get new shoes, and lo and behold, they had the new heart rate Garmins! Yes.....I asked to look at one....and yes, silly me had to buy it!! She's a beauty.....and RED! How is one supposed to resist that?

I tried on a few pairs of shoes on the list my orthopedic gave me. Seems he only wants me in neutral shoes so the new orthotics will be the main support. Okay...that makes sense. Picked out a pair of asics, a half size bigger, of course had to buy new socks too, and I was ready for my run the next day.

I was asked to pace the new guy in our group who's in training for a half marathon in June, so I really got to use my new toy for an important purpose!! I dont know if I was busy looking at my watch or adjusting to my new shoes, but I wasnt watching where I was going and my left foot landed on the edge of the street and twisted. Shit! shit shit shit!!! Oh the pain!! Sweety Todd ( when a man loves to run) stayed with me and walked me thru it. In his defense, he wanted to get his car and pick me up, but the pain stopped. I could walk on it, and yes, I started to run on it, but after about 1/2 mile I walked it in. We had about 3 miles to get back to the parking lot, but I made it.

We got to the Bagel and that's where the pain really kicked in. It hurt so much I thought I was going to faint. So ReenRuns insisted I go with her to the closest ER for an xray. Darn these good friends! Just let me writhe in pain and put me out of my misery!!

Well, it wasnt broken (praise the lord) but the pain was unbearable and they gave me narcotics!!! Weeeeeeeeee---didnt feel a god-damned thing after that!!

Haight's Hangout got me home safely and became my servant for the day (I could get used to this!!). One good thing, I got out of working on Sunday and just laid around all day!! The pain eased up enough that I could finally put pressure on the foot, and I babied it all day with compression, ice and elevation. See, nurses can be good patients too!

I'm walking again, no pain, but certainly not running this week. I'll stick to biking and swimming. So this year, Reen was on crutches, Haight is still down and out with knee pain, and I twisted my ankle. Remind me why we do this crazy sport!!???

Pulitzer

A GREAT BIG CONGRATS to Mike Luckovich, the 2006 Pulitzer Prize winner for editorial cartooning.

Happy Passover

Bayley found the matzohs and doesnt want to share. Think he'll get "clogged up" like us peoples do???

Happy Easter to the rest of ya's!

My Secret Hideaway

Can you keep a secret?? It's a magical place hidden away in my neighborhood---a friend that grew up here introduced me to it. I've only shown the way to Haight, my Mom and, of course, my pup. I share it now with you. Hardly a soul goes there.

A winding downhill road with a running stream alongside takes you to Lake Michigan...make your way across four beaches, with the skyline of Chicago in the distance...there's the hidden passage--wooden stairs leading to a steep uphill winding trail......there you'll find my Hideaway at the top where peace is found! Come listen to the waves crashing on the beach, hear the birds chirping, squirrels rustling thru the woods....breathe deeply and thank Mother Nature for her gifts!

Shamrock Shuffle

Haight, Me and Reen along with my daughter and me in our volunteer shirts. The race shirts were white so I think we got the best ones (though those of us that ran got both!!). I couldnt PR because the race was sooooo crowded and I also had to retie my shoes!!! But I had lots of fun. I felt the strength my arms gave me from my weight training, and my legs also felt stronger. It's a cool course to do because it uses the same beginning and ending streets of the Chicago Marathon. That killer hill at the end was easier with only 4.5 miles behind me! Word on the street is that the Chicago Marathon will fill up by May this year instead of the usual July fill up. I still am weighing whether I'll do it again, but I guess I'll sign up just in case. So those of you looking to do my city's Marathon---get in there early!!!!

I'm only an 8

What is your score??? http://www.danceswithdirt.com/images/trailquiz.pdf

Springtime Excitement

The first race of the season, the Shamrock Shuffle, is tomorrow!! It opens up our racing season here in Chicago--and it is the largest 8K in the World!! Khalid Khannouchi & Costantina Tomescu-Dita will be running. Cracker will entertain afterwards. 25,000 people will run. I can't wait. Today I'm going to Navy Pier to volunteer to give out the goodie bags...I will take my camera and post pics. Flowers are starting to bloom, buds are popping out on the trees and birds are chatting with me on my early morning runs. Life is good!

Need Zinc

Caught a cold---the painters in my home hid my vitamins so I couldnt take em ...so..BAM...a sneaky upper respiratory germ slid in! Well, I've been slammin zinc & Vit C down my throat, sucking on Coldeeze and pouring chicken broth and tea down there too...and the germ is almost all gone. A 2-day virus......that'll teach it!!! So my running, biking and swimming has been on a hold til I shake it off a bit....unfortunately I got those damn Girl Scout Cookies in the cabinet!!! ( why can't I create new paragraphs on here??!!--this formatting stuff kills me)

One of my favorite patients, Roy, gave me a cutting of his amarylis plant and pussy willow tree. I have two amazing flowers that just bloomed on the amarylis. Unfortunately, Roy passed away last week while I was gone. His wife called to tell me and when I told her about the flowers she said it's like they came out just for my Dad and Roy. I don't know how that part of the world works, but I like the thought.

Home Again....naturally

It has been both a rough and tender week. My Mother followed the Orthodox customs of Jewish burial and sitting shiva, she is sitting the whole week, even her Rabbi said he never hears that anymore. Needless to say, I'm very proud of her. Watching her being strong with her new wig, her hair hasn't grown in yet from all the chemo, was an amazing lesson for all. We had three cousins read eulogies, two cousins in Israel emailed a eulogy and my sister-in-law read it, my brother read one and four of Dad's friends read a beautiful tribute. At the cemetery, my 20-year old nephew read his tribute. I tell you...there is absolutely nothing in this world like good friends and family....May we all be blessed with that!!

As for running, I ran 9-miles one day and 3-miles another day while sitting shiva. Luckily, Mom was okay with that as those sitting shiva aren't supposed to do any kind of work. I came home and went to the gym that night to hit the bike for 50-minutes. So I feel a bit better after all those incredible deli trays and deli cookies that were delivered to Mom's house. Again, I feel blessed to have my health and a wonderful support group. That's all that really matters in life. And I thank you all for your comments--every wish went straight to my heart. Thanks again!

The picture is my sister, Mara, who lives in NJ, me from Chicago, and my brother, Joey, who lives in North Carolina. Life goes on.

And so it goes....

Dad passed away peacefully this morning. He put up quite the good fight. So, we're all heading out to New Jersey tomorrow. I'm taking my running shoes....I'm sure I'll need the soothing I get from my runs. In the meantime, my heart is broken.

Temptations

Got this emailed to me today by Godiva Chocolates.....why, oh why, didn't I ask them to take me off their mailing list!!??

A Tease at Ice Age

I decided to spend the day hiking.....I really wanted to see what the big difference on a "real" trail felt like, and the closest one around was 1 1/2 hrs north. So up my honey and I went. Since I did my long run of 12 miles yesterday and today was a rest day, I figured hiking was safe for today.

We got decked out!! Wearing our new trail/running shoes, new backpacks stuffed with goodies, a flashlight, doorags, tissues, mucho water, cell phone and an all-in-one knife-gadget--we were ready for anything!!! Bring it on!!!

Well, first we got lost...where the hell is this trail??...the directions looked easy enough...ok, a few wasted minutes (alright..it was about 30 in all) and a stop at the gas station and we found our destination. We jumped out of the car and got our gear on, checked out the trail map and decided to take the 3-mile trail. All this gear for 3 miles??? Silly, aren't we....but we had fun....saw a runner going by and thought he's training for the Ice Age 50k, two couples hiked by with their dogs (hey..they dont allow dogs here) and that was it! How peaceful!!

We hit the bathrooms, scrape the mud off our new shoes and jump back in the car....just a taste. Enough to make me realize this is my next goal for sure. Next year tho......still got some training to do to earn this title of UltraChick.

I'm not doing well with my diet....it's my only vice--sweets, especially chocolate. But I'm trying to be kind to myself cause this is a tough year for me....Dad's illness, selling my home, moving, kids leaving......lots for one year. So I keep talking to myself that maybe I have to allow this vice...a more realistic goal is to not gain any weight...give up the goal to lose. That's probably more sensible during stressful times. I'm trying to be ok with that.

Last Time I'll Be With You

I'm in New Jersey. I've been here since Thursday, visiting my folks. My Dad, Sy aka Seymour, is dying. Developed bladder cancer ten years ago and it has metastasized to his bones and he's now home with hospice care. Mom, who just finished chemo and radiation for her newly diagnosed breast cancer, is doing fine. Life is something, huh?

I go back home today.....so how do you say goodbye? I know I probably won't see him alive ever again. Though, he's been quite the fighter. He won't go down easy....never did, never will. Mom on the other hand is a woos. I got my tenderness for people from Mom, my tough edge from Dad. I'm a survivor cuz of Dad. I'm a lover cuz of Mom. I need both, and at this point in my life, they are both a part of me.....so I know I've gotten all the lessons I'll need in life that Dad can offer. Now all I want is time. But in a few more hours, that will be gone.

Dad grew up in Brownsville, Brooklyn, New York. He was a child in the middle of the Depression. Got food from the bread lines. Was raised by a single Mom, who actually kicked her cruel husband out years before, but he came back and raped her.........ps,, Dad was born 9 months later. So, all these years that I saw the tough side of Dad, who was tough as a Father and Husband, I gave him leeway. I understood. He had unresolved anger in him, yet he always sparkled for me. He was an extremely handsome man, people asked me if he was my older brother...it's why people think I'm younger than I really am--thanks for those genes Dad.

And while I'm at it Dad, Thanks.....
...for supporting our family as best as you could with only a JHS education,
...for yelling at the speeding cars that went by the backyard where we played,
...for passing on to me your love of building things,
...for giving Mom the first flower that bloomed in our garden,
...for teaching me how to drive that humongous station wagon,
...for your love and respect of Judaism,
...for your love of the Yankees only because they had a player with our last name,
...for loving my grandmother (Mom's Mother) and letting her live with us til the day she died,
...for not letting boys in my bedroom,
...for making me take a car mechanic course in HS,
...for helping me leave you with no guilt after your heart surgery, back to Illinois to be with my new husband 26 yrs ago,
...for the unconditional love you have for my children,
...for my conviction to do whatever it takes in life to get through.

I'll miss you bunches.....but I will survive.

Reasons Why I....

Why I Hate......

1. From one of the Dummy RNs who sits in the office and reviews my charts, "Lora, when will you finish with this patient, we have been seeing her a long time. When will you get her blood levels stable already???" What I wish I could say..."Fuck you......this patient has a cancer that is strangling her to death..you think her blood levels will ever be stable?? I bring a smile to her face when I come and soothe her once a week...what is that worth? Just because your job makes you act like a freakin machine don't take it out on my precious patients or me. And go workout forgodsakes, your ass is getting HUGE!"
2. Unnecessary phone calls.....Cingular keeps calling to try to tell me of the new shit they have to offer to get me to pay more. I answered their call once, (I am the goddess of ignoring calls) and told them to remove my name from their precious list. The minimum wage sweetness on the other end told me it could take a month to do it due to paperwork issues. I blasted her....You want me to buy more electronic features from a company that in this day and age can't use a frigging computer to update a stupid list?? Get my name off now or the state will be calling to shut your asses down!! (Damn I need more power)
3. Asshole drivers......to the white Mercedes, tan Lexus, yellow sportscar with a shopping cart handle on the trunk, Hummer who should be in Iran but thinks it's cool to look like a war vehicle that works best in sand dunes while being shot at but actually lives in a 4000 ft mansion on the lake with live-in help to help keep their pathetic lives running smoothly.....Fuck you all for cutting me off cuz I'm not driving 20 miles over the speed limit so that you can get to your more impt appointments than my silly ones of trying to save lives.
4. The selfish 84 yr old sister that lives upstairs from my 80 yr old patient who cant get out due to circulation issues and has no children to help. The sister gets pineapple upside down cakes from her daughter, it's my patients favorite dessert.....she won't give my patient a piece but never neglects to tell her she has it. (Don't worry, I found a bakery that makes them...she gets that cake from me--one slice at a time cuz I know she'd share it if she had more.)

Why I love.....

1. The lady at the Cleaners ....for singing while she walks on the trail by my house. For always asking me how my knee is doing when I pick up the cleaning.
2. My coworker who always drops by the desk I'm working at when I make my biweekly visits to the office to bring me bottled water to help get me through my day.
3. My patients...who say "May God Bless You", who thank me with feeling, who have crocheted little items to express their appreciation, who have given me little bags of goodies so I won't go hungry while driving to my next patient, who have shown inner strength during some of the ugliest times in life.
4. My puppy.....who just wants to spend his life staring at me.
5. My Honey.....for not only going out of his way to buy me the best chocolates in the Chicagoland area, but for buying me a CD of music he hates to his core (yeah....yeah...I'm a Barry Manilow freak...don't go there)
6. My daughter....who has gotten in just about every kind of trouble these past two years and has blamed everyone else....for the beautiful Valentine Card and box of chocolates. And she got one for her brother and my Honey. There is hope!
7. My son...who at 6'3", 250#, still allows me to wake him up with a kiss on his forehead and a whisper, "Time to wake up my Baby Boy."
8. Cuz I have many more reasons to love than hate...I am grateful.

Smy Turn

I'm having an interesting running/tri year. I was soooo motivated by races last year. Did plenty of half-marathons culminating with the Chgo Marathon...It was amazingly exciting. I'm feeling calmer now...excited about going for the tri....relearning to swim, researching a road bike, dangling a 50K in front of me for next year...but it's not the same......I'm not sure, but maybe wisdom is the culprit.

I didn't tune into my body last year...didn't listen to it...didn't really want to. I had goals to achieve and just wanted to get to them. Now I want to enjoy, really enjoy. I want to make sure my body holds up, I'm learning to listen to all it's squeaks and screams (tho I've not heard it screaming yet). I've taken a day off when I ache...not worrying about not sticking to my training schedule. Honestly....it's much more relaxing.

I'm in this for the long run. There's sooooo much out there to do. Even non-competetively. This is such a beautiful country....I want to hike/run/bike so many parts of it. I want to get back to Arizona, New Mexico, Colorado and find more hiking/running trails. I want to discover what North Carolina hides in its' mountains. I want to see wildlife and plantlife. I want to hear Mother Nature talking, whispering. I want to soak in her hot tubs and swim in her streams. I want to, so I will. This year I'm going to do what I can to make it happen.

My kids will be moving out by summer....I'm getting rid of the big house and moving into a condo. To a town I can walk around in, in a car that can push thru it all, in a body that will be ready. After 22 years of caring so much for others, this will end up being my year. Been a long wait, but damn I'm ready!

To Buy a Bike

I'm learning about bikes...getting ready to buy one for my triathlon. Thought maybe this one would help me bigtime:

Rocket Bike - Jokaroo.com

But I'm realizing that bike jumping is NOT for me:

Insane Bike Jump - Jokaroo.com

Which Path to Take

I'm still deciding on whether to do the Ice Age 50k in May....got great support from my fellow bloggers which I so appreciate! Here's what Coach Meredith emailed me about this decision....

"If I were you, I would probably hold off on the Ice Age 50K until next year. Your focus this summer is successfully completeing your first triathlon! That is a big undertaking in itself. I would stay focused on that goal, get your body completely healed, strong & then you could always do it next year."

During the Chgo Marathon in October, my first Marathon and longest distance, my right shin was really aching. It put me down for only 2 weeks, probably because I went right in to see my physical therapist and orthopedist and listened to what they told me. I changed shoes, got an orthotic (for my verrry high arches), iced regularly, and learned how to stretch and strengthen properly. And now with the cross-training of biking and swimming my body feels much stronger during my runs.

Here's the year with the 50k..........

3/19.....March Madness Half Marathon
4/2......Shamrock Shuffle 8K
5/13.....Ice Age 50K
5/21.....Cleveland 10K (would do the 1/2 Marathon if I don't do the 50K)
6/25.....Naperville Sprint Triathlon
7/22.....Waterfall Glen Extreme 10K
10/22.....Chicago Marathon

I've been socially running for 10 years, but this is only my third year of doing races. I haven't done ANY speedwork yet. I've been a back-of-the-packer and my goal this year is to be in the middle-of-the-pack. I'm leaning towards forgetting about the 50K for this year...I'll still have plenty of goals to work on. I'm finding the hardest part of all this is reigning yourself in!!

An Ultra??????

I've lost my mind!!! That's right....I'm thinking of doing an Ultra!! A 50K actually!! I have been loving pushing my body this past week....damn those muscles feel good when they're sore.

So here's the Ultra I'm toying with....Ice Age Trail 50....it's calling out my name. I don't know what's happening to me!!! My first Sprint Triathlon AND my first Ultra in 2006?? Who has taken over my body????? I think it's this crazy blogging world.....it's a drug I tell ya!!!

So here's the plan for this year thru June.......

March Madness Half Marathon
Shamrock Shuffle 8K
Ice Age Trail 50K
Rite Aid Cleveland Half Marathon
Subaru Women's Triathlon-Naperville Sprint Distance

Is there a special Athlete's Prayer out there? I'll need it!!

This Weeks Schedule

I'm signed up for Welcome to the 2006 Subaru USWTS Naperville, Illinois a sprint Triathlon!! Annnnnd----my 18 yr old daughter signed up with me! How awesome is that??!! It's a Women's Only Triathlon, so it should be a bit less intense--real good for my first one.

Here's what Coach Melanie has me doing this week:

Monday..........Swim 30 mins, Lift Lower Body
Tuesday.........Run- hill workout, CORE exercises
Wednesday....Bike 45 mins, Lift Upper Body
Thursday.......Tempo Run, CORE exercises
Friday............Bike 45 mns, Life Upper & Lower Body
Saturday........Long Run-9 miles, CORE exercises
Sunday...........REST

She calculated my daily caloric intake requirement at 2000-2100 cals. To lose 1 lb/wk I need to reduce it by 500cals/day. On workout days, I only reduce it by 25o calories. I've purchased this program FitDay - Free Weight Loss and Diet Manager to help me track my daily intake. (I think Mind (AND NOW LEGS!!!) of Iron Sheila first mentioned it on her blog--Thx Sheila!!)

I was invited to a Goal Making Party this past Saturday Night. Lori, the IronMan Hostess, had us write down our annual goals and then pulled out three of them from a hat for prizes: $50 gift certificates to a local athletic store and a TYR bag! Not bad, huh? Unfortunately I didnt win anything, but met lots of interesting people. I stayed late enough to watch them light up a cigar and pass it around! Fun Folks--I had a blast!