Posts Tagged ‘Fran’

Monday was, for the most part, a great run: 12mi at a quick, comfortable clip even though it was 75 degrees out (you know I love me some weather whippin’).  But my toe!! Oh my toe.  It was like running on razorblades the whole time.  Yesterday, I could only run 4mi, it hurt too much and I was changing my gait to compensate.  Very bad.

If squeamish, skip
When I got home from the failed run, I discovered that the main cause of pain was due to little blood blisters forming in the injury from knocking against the rubber surround of my shoe.
End of scary bit

So with a little help from my friendly box cutter and my oldest working pair of Mens Kinvaras, I chopped out a chunk of rubber, same as I used to have to do regularly with the Ladies Kinvaras but this time on the other foot. I also figured out how to wrap up the injury effectively – a physics problem which had eluded me from the start.  That one thing let me walk around town yesterday without a modicum of pain.  Finally!

So the worst is over.  I can’t wait to get back out there today, restarting the high mileage train I’d hopped upon before this slight derailment.  And I promise to never, ever, ever again cut the callous off my pinky toe.  Ever.

Aside from that, in completely unrelated news, Fran and I are no longer an item.  We’re still friends but I’m back to being a free agent in the world again.  It’s positive and all for the best (nothing drama worthy) but I thought I would mention it.  You know, in case some rich handsome dude reads this blog and wants to take me to the south of France or something.

It’s official: After a lovely dinner on Saturday with the new man Fran, then later puking my guts out due to an overdose of gin & tonics and white wine, followed by him gently rubbing my tummy (no wait, I think the tummy rubbing was Sunday morning since Saturday night I was moaning “ooohhhh, everything’s spinning.  I still have to vomit.  Don’t touch me!!“) I am hereby declaring us An Item.

Fran & Flo

Because he’s so different than any guy I’ve been with before (and vice-versa, we both find each other extremely weird), I’ve been reticent to talk about it till I was sure we had a groovy thing going.  I still won’t say a lot about him since he reads my blog, Facebook and I suspect my forum posts, too (I’d do the same if he posted somewhere but that Luddite leaves me nothing to stalk) so I feel self-conscious discussing him, but it’s time.

Facts are: he’s divorced, has a great 15 year-old daughter, a huge heart, is funny, sweet, intelligent, masculine but unabashedly romantic and our chemistry is smokin’ hot.  The only wrench is that his job has such odd hours (he wakes at 2:30-3am most workdays) and he’s got kid duty in the late afternoon, so our dating has been limited to a couple nights a week and some apres-run rendezvous at the park for extra chat time.  We’re figuring out ways to see each other more though, we have too much fun together not to.

The running connection is entertaining, btw, but in an unexpected way (for those just tuning in, we’d been slapping each others palms in the park whenever our running paths crossed for over a year before he asked me out).  We both have this funny observation that nowadays when we pass each other in the park, it’s really difficult to associate our running selves with our “real” selves, it’s as if we transform into other people when in running gear.  Out there, I’m still “that runner chick” and he’s still “that bald dude from the park”.  Kind of cool in its oddity.

One last thing I’m going to mention that I really like about him, and this might sound strange, is that he’s not a hardcore runner.  He does put in solid mileage, 40-50mi/week, but it’s for fitness, not racing.  He doesn’t know or care about technical running stuff so he’s a great counterpoint to my loonyness while thoroughly respecting my involvement in the sport.  This works for me in a very good way.

OK, that’s enough Fran talk for now, he’s going to be a handful after this one. 

Last Week’s Running
51 miles that went like this: 6,8,8,10,7,12,off.  Paces went from 7:53 for a progression run to 9:01 on a cold and windy day that had me feeling creaky.  This week will be around the same mileage, then I’ll kick it up a bit the following week.  No worries, no “should do’s”, just having a good time for a while.

First off, thank you many times over for all the great blog/facebook/forum comments and emails.  From stories of similar situations with successful endings to those currently adrift in the same boat as me, I’m blessed to have such support.  Twas a busy post, too: 323 unique visitors on Tuesday, a usual day is around 220.  Something about life sucking gets a lot of eyeballs.

I suppose what I really sought from that post was permission to lay off a bit.  I know that sounds ludicrous, I’m a big girl with a working brain, but somehow the idea of  “you can chill some, it’s ok” was not meshing with my inner prejudiced “man-up” “don’t be such a wuss” voices.

In a strange coincidence, the same day I posted that last entry, an article was published on Running Competitor addressing my worries in a freakily specific way (he must have known someone was going through runnerpause that day).  Check it out: Feeling Fried? Enjoy Your Training & Avoid Burnout by Matt Fitzgerald.

“…whereas runners typically focus on training for improvement and simply trust that they will enjoy their training if they train properly, new research on the role of the brain in exercise suggests that we may be better off doing the opposite: prioritizing enjoyment and trusting that the more fun we have in training, the fitter we will become.”

So with the help of your comments and this article as the cherry on the sundae, here’s my training plan for the time being:  Week 1 – Week Whenever: Enjoy

I did manage to get those progression miles in yesterday on an 8-miler just because it was bugging me how much I didn’t want to do it since, of all things, progressions are the simplest and most laid back.  It wasn’t fabulous or surprising (got down to Half pace) but it didn’t suck.  I’m cool with that.

GIM Headbands At The Endrance Sports Expo!
My pal Lara and her man Jeff own GoCycling.com with the coolest bike jerseys and accessories around, really neat designs with city skylines or craft breweries on them. (pssst…”Like” their Facebook page to win a free t-shirt!)

One of my favorites from their collection

Anyway, they’re super cool people and they’ve done a few Expos or events recently where they sell my headbands as a sideline to their own stuff, which is great because I don’t have to be there or make a trillion zillion headbands as I would if I was doing an Expo on my own.  This weekend it’s a huge one, the Endurance Sports Expo at the Greater Philadelphia Expo Center in Oaks, PA.

So I’m stopping by on Sunday with my new man, Fran (yes, he has a name and it is Fran) for a first “these are my friends” and “this is my new man” introduction (oooh scary).  While we’re there, we’ll go to one of the free seminars offered.

Interestingly enough, Matt Fitzgerald is going to be one of the speakers that day, but I’m going to pass since he’s talking about his Racing Weight book and there’s nothing new I care about on that score.  Instead, I’ll be dragging Fran with me into Torbjørn Sindballe’s seminar Developing Champion Mentality which sounds right up my alley.

Back to headbands, I’ll have a HUGE array of new styles next week, about 15 new patterns and they are so cute! I’ll keep you posted when they’re up on GIMheadbands.

I’m In The Spotlight Today
I was asked by a very sweet blogger, Jodi from runjodirun, if I would be this week’s featured runner on her blog.  She sent a list of questions and asked for a few photos so check it out when you get a moment.

Kinvara Jackpot
I got my shoes yesterday and they fit me to a T!  All this time I’ve been modifying the Women’s version and hating on the colors when I should have followed my friend Heather’s lead months ago with the Men’s version.  I thought there’d be more difference between them but all I can tell is it’s a tad wider and the tongue is a bit longer [insert dirty joke here].   3 pairs at $36 each…Win!

A sweet 6-miler awaits this afternoon.  I’m excited to get back out there – a feeling that hadn’t hit me till yesterday when, through a car window, I saw runners on the river path moving gracefully in the gorgeous blue-skied day.  I’m ready.

Points Of Note From My 2-week Running Break

Weight: All told, I gained 3 lbs.  There were a couple nights eating out and one desserty evening featuring this monster vessel o’ icing shared with my New Friend, but for a Frosting Ho such as myself, it was worth it.

This claimed to be a cupcake

My friend Lara also gave me a few scrumptious homemade cookies, but aside from those blips I ate the same as usual.  I’m totally fine with the gain because I know it’ll come off without having to do anything but run.

Lazy ass: I was. It rocked.  The only activity I did was 3 sets of pushups on Thursday, some crunches Saturday and one walk longer than my usual 2-block trip to Whole Foods.  Other than that, I spent my hiatus basically sitting or lying down.

One of my internet running buddies, Chris, mentioned that he’d be scared to take a 2-week no-running break for fear it’d send him back to his old lazy ways…”a slippery slope”.  I would have had the same worry a couple years ago but since so much of my identity is now wrapped up in running, it would be unthinkable to do anything but resume.  I’m sure the confidence of that helped me relax into it fully.

In a way, this lazy stint was like tapering for a marathon; you have to let go and trust that it’s doing you good, so you may as well enjoy it.  Or take spin classes if you’re paranoid.  I prefer laying on a bed, comaesque.

Supplement Stoppage: About 2.5 weeks ago, I quit taking Glucosamine and MSM.  I’d been skipping days before going to California – not on purpose, just forgetting – and though I brought some with me on the trip, I never took it.

Since I’ve been inactive I don’t notice any difference.  Also, I fully expect to have a couple minor aches this week due to resuming running but it seems a good time to reevaluate the need for it.  Due to my proclivity for bursitis-type thingies rather than joint problems, I could see myself needing MSM before Glucosamine, but if I suddenly get runners knee or my ankles start feeling screwy, Glucosamine, here I come.

The Funny Story

Saturday night, I’m at my New Friend’s apartment for the very first time, checking out the bachelor pad and getting a tasty manly-made dinner out of the deal.  The next morning (yesterday) we’re having coffee in bed,  chatting lazily, and I hear the sound of a door close.  Seems really close by, like the front door to the apartment.  A second later, there’s this guy standing in the bedroom doorway (thankfully, we’re both covered in a sheet); it’s a kid in his 20s wearing a Phillies hat and a goofy smile – very personable young fella.

My New Friend (I have to give him a better name soon) is totally nonplussed and says “Hey dude, what are ya doing here?” and the two of them have a little chat about the front door being unlocked.  The kid’s in no hurry to leave so I figure it’s my guy’s relative or a friend.  Finally, the kid says goodbye and splits, while I’m giggling at the ridiculousness of the scene.

Giggles became full-on laughter when I discover that my guy had absolutely no idea who that fella was, he must of stumbled in looking for his pal in another apartment.

The funniest thing was how long it lasted.  If you or I did that, I’m sure we’d be all “Oh my god, I am so sorry!!” and zoom outta there in utter embarrassment.  This guy was just standing around, almost waiting for an invitation to crack open a beer and watch TV with us.  Hilarious.

Headband Review!
Check out this beautiful review for GIMheadbands from the Philadelphia Examiner yesterday.  Talk about coolness, it was totally out-of-the-blue unexpected.  Yay!

I’m almost on my way to SoCal and so excited, it should be illegal.  Let’s talk race:

I don’t give a crap what happens, not one stinking worry.   If I get 1:35, ok, if I get 1:33, ok.  I’m going from what I know to what I don’t, different conditions, new environment, a race course I’m completely unfamiliar with…it’s all good.

I also have a mental “get out of jail free” card since I’m so overdue for that training break that if I do crappily, I can blame it on that, if I do well, I’ll blame it on something else like the weather (which I can handily blame if I don’t do well too – what a bargain excuse, it’s 2-for-1!).  That said, I feel pretty strong this week, the taper is kicking in and my energy level is good.  Bottom line: I’m going to race this thing to the best of my ability, the result to be determined on Sunday.

The 2-Week Training Break
It’s almost here, starting on Monday.  I’m pretty circumspect about it, as in, I don’t expect miracles and am happily resigned to the fact that it probably won’t make a tangible difference, except for some fresh motivation.  Coach A Muse/Adam disagrees though, saying he thinks it will indeed change something and bring an improvement of some kind, though exactly what remains to be seen.  That’s an uplifting thought and one I would love to prove out, though ultimately, even if all it does is make my tendons and muscles happy and my brain ready for a fresh go, it’s still a big win.

A Man
If you follow this blog, you know I haven’t dated anyone since my last relationship ended a year and a half ago.  Realizing how much time has flown by makes me cringe, but on the other hand, I’m a very self-sufficient gal and can handle being solo to a fault.  It’s not optimal of course, but I couldn’t stomach internet dating (did that before Nick and met a lot of weirdos and unsuitables), I never go out and no cute guys have magically sauntered across my living room floor, so it’s been a long drought.

Meanwhile, in the park…

There’s this cute runner dude I’ve passed for over a year; not all the time – there’ll be months when my running schedule changes and we don’t see each other, but when we do, we have a little palm-slapping ritual that’s sweet and always leaves me smiling.   I could tell this guy had good humor about him plus a bitchin’ bod (thank you, shirtless summers) so a couple weeks ago, when he stopped to ask my name and if I’d like to get together, I said “Sure”.

Now, since he’s going to read this and I don’t want to color anything, I’ll just say that we’re having a nice time.  I like my new friend.  That’s all I’ll divulge but I figured you’d appreciate knowing something was going on in my life besides tempo runs and sore toe-knuckles.

And with that, I guess this is my last post till the weekend.  I’m bringing my laptop so I can hopefully post pics and an update before I get home.  Have a great rest of your week, folks.

Big love,
xxxflo