The Biggest Loser

So lets get this out of the way... In two words, how was the race?

Hugely disappointing.

  

• How did you feel at the start?

Tired but great! Slept about 3 hours....Same as all the other marathons.

• When did you find your groove?

Mile 4 - when Katy Perry's "E.T." came on.

• Do you always run races w/an iPod?

Yes. Ever since my 2nd marathon.

• Ever had an issue w/your iPod?

Funny you should ask.... No, but..... It completely crapped out on me [this marathon] at mile 9.  #@£%{]@): urrrgggg.

• How was the weather?

Beautiful but windy. Note to self...one thing treadmills cannot do is prepare you for wind.

• How did your legs feel after the mostly downhill decent at mile 14?

Better than I thought. But I'll still be looking into ShutUp&Run's new find. ;)

• Do you ever get cramps while racing?

Not until this marathon. Mile 16.

• So why did that medic on the bike stop you at 17.25?

He saw me barf at 17.

• Why did he continue to follow you to 20.

He thought I should pull out of the race.

• What did you tell him?

"I'd rather crawl on my hands & knees bleeding than ride on the back of that bike of yours. I bet you haven't even named it. " - ok, I left the "naming it" part out.

• What did he say to that?

"If you barf or dry heave more than 5 times- I'm pulling you out of the race."

• How many times did you barf?

Three. YAY me!

• Awesome moment of the run?

Right after barfing, the first time [about 1/8 mile after] having an unknown man say, "ummmm, you Karine's daughter?". My reply, "yep, did she not tell you I'd be followed by a medic?"

• How did you get medic boy to leave you?

He just declared, "your crazy but admirable. I'll come back at 24 to check on you. "

• Did he come back at 24?

Not that I'm aware of.

• Things you did in this race you've never done before?

Barf.

Get cramps.

Have music problems.

Stopping to WALK eleven [yes, I counted] times.

• Sad moments?

Not my "usual crew" along the race. Realize how much I love those few seconds of seeing my loved ones.

No peanut at finish line.

• Loser moment?

At 26.1 When friends Hubby yelled, "ya Emily. Great job!" and I replied, "I completely suck."

• Loser moment #2?

When they wanted a "finisher photo" & I didn't. Then he asked me to put the medal by my face & I said, "I'd rather not."

• Loser moment #3?

Seeing the Pita but avoiding him at all costs. Walked in circles in the "runners only" area until I thought I was done sulking, fighting back tears & being mad at myself.

• Loser moment #4?

Left runners area too quickly. Started bawling. Medal may have [very childishly] been "dropped" onto grass. I think the same thing happened to my full glass of water. Weird.

• Loser moment #5?

Crying. A lot of crying [under sunglasses, of course].

• Loser moment #6?

Missing a surprise visit from Brooke. A childhood friend.  Don't have the words to explain just how frustrated this made me.

You. rock. Brooke.

• Loser moment #7

Running out of the way of the photo guy at mile 20.

                      Time . . . .  3:35

The best RR ever, right?!

You are totally uplifted and ready to start your day . . . .  no?!

Sorry guys.  I'm my own worst critic.  I expect a lot of myself.  And I may be slightly competitive with myself. [and a bad sport]

I have plenty of things I'd love to blame this lackluster race on.  Some of which may even be valid.  But no excuse makes me feel any better.  Just a bad race.

Learning from it. and running on.

Wheel in the sky keep on turnin'

But [YAY me] I DO know where I'll be tomorrow.

Logan, Utah --- come on go google it, I'll wait.

So it took me like 114 minutes to fall asleep last night.  My brain has been working overtime [without pay] this past week.

Here's a [very select] few of the random thoughts.

* Today is our Family Anniversary [see this post].  FAIL - not happening.

* I'm praying the finish line in Logan will be this happy.

* I feel bad that my Sister "A" has to help me so much to get me out of town.  A - I am so grateful.

* So, I have a confession.  I'm sorry Andrew - the horses, the horses.  I tried backing out of the man/Horse 50 miler last weekend.  Just didn't feel I was in the right place [mentally] for this. - - FAIL

* Got an email from the Pita's co-worker Monday saying, "I just gave senor ___ the map for the 50 miler.  don't be a wuss, now!"  
My retort:  game on.

* Then he emails yesterday, "XXXX, will be bringing something home for you."  I replied, "He got me flowers at lunch?"  Nope.

Awesome-R.

He walked in with this:

I'm sparing you the photo I took with it taped onto my racing outfit for Saturday.  I was all smiles.  "I can't believe you'd do it JUST for the buckle", said the Pita.  Me: "Yep, all for the buckle and the 360 days I'll wear it each year."

* Peanut came home yesterday proclaiming her teacher [Mr. C] said, "Your parents let you dress like this?  DO they dress like this?"  Her reply, "My mom shops for Lady Gaga."  Awesome. Not sure what the big deal is . . . see bottom 1/4 of yesterday's outfit.

* Taught a bunch of 8-11 year olds last night about labels.  [Things people call us].  Completely cracked up when a girl said someone called her "strange" and it made her feel sad.  I said, "was his name KOVAS?".  She looked at me, the way they all do . . . [is she talking still?].  I told her to OWN "strange".  Strange is beautiful!

* So I never do this but . . . . I bought something NEW to wear for the race in Utah.  A LIME green bra top.  Thought Utah would be the perfect place to rock it.  BTW, I hate lime green.

* And finally, the text reply from my mom this morning:

Me:  [5am-ish something] Have fun on your trip!  ILY!

Mom:  Thanks. U not sleeping? On way to see Dr. R for our flu sh*ts.  He came to see us yesterday and doesn't want us to leave without our sh*its.

Day. Made.

Got to love the iPhone and that the "I" & "O" are so close together when typing.

Mambo N 5 & CSN Winner

Had an awesome lunch with my parents yesterday. 
How did I score lunch with my parents on their anniversary?

* I'm their favorite. [ugg, why do I have to blogit [blog/edit] for other family members?! ;)

* I'm needy.  [yes, I was yesterday . . . . true but . . . . ]

* I scheduled it last week when I didn't realize it was "the day".  YAY me!

So here's the fun photo from "Rosa's".  Yes, my Dad's bald spot gives of very happy Ray's of SUN.

Loved visiting with them yesterday.  Actually, had about 2.5 hours to talk their ears off.  awesome.

We talked about --- um, it may be easier to tell you what we didn't talk about. ;)

So many of my happiest moments include my parents and their attendance at an event [AKA my daily life].

I loved sitting there in Rosa's remembering some little memories I hadn't thought of in a long time.
*The way my brother hates bugs.
*The fire pit in the back yard.
*Thanksgiving turkey
*"Happy" having dates in our back yard.
*Y-von's Duran Duran posters.
*Ann drinking carrot juice [and duh, always being nice].

Then we spoke of the marathon this Saturday.  They are sad they won't be there [in person].  I'm silently [sad---ER].  I couldn't tell them this.  My parents grew up in Logan.  They are now world travelers [which completely rocks] and my timing, it sucks. 

My Mom dropped me off for this exact marathon 11 years ago.  I felt like a kindergartner going on a bus for the first time.  My first marathon.  No iPod.  No "Gu's".  No breakfast.  No Garmin.  No clue what I'd run.  No potty stops before the race.  I really don't remember much of this race.  I'll blame it on the 9 week old Peanut growing inside me.  I swear pregnancy made me brainless.  Yes, even more so than today. 

But, what I do remember . . . . . .

. . . . . .  "Mambo N 5" was playing when I sat there like a scared school girl and leaned over to kiss my Mom.  Yes, I was married.  Yes, I was 22.  Yes, I heart my Mom [and Dad, but Dad was smart and stayed home sleeping].

Yes Mom & Dad you will be missed.  But I'll do great.  And yes, I'll text you.

NOW to the CSN WINNER . . . ..

. . . . Yep, random.org style.

It's LAURA @

Laura's Boise-full Life

 http://lauracdenner.blogspot.com/

Laura contact me at queenofjean [at] gmail [dot] com !

Emz

Smile - Uncle Cracker

Today, I love this song.

Went to visit with my parents on Saturday. [the homemade bread was just a fortunate "plus"].

My mom told me there were a few things for me on the bed in one of the spare bedrooms.

They made me smile.

This photo. Which I adore.
I love that we did this.
Me and my "circle of friends".

This photo from Peanut's Baby Shower.  Yes, still PLENTY of the 28 lbs I gained during pregnancy lingering, 3 weeks later [apparently ALL in my face]. 
 
 

This photo of me, S & K. [ My cousins.]

This sunset captured from my backyard Saturday night.

Leave Friday for Utah --- not really sure how this marathon is going to go.  Was training for a 3:15 marathon but . . . . . after being sick, yada, yada, yada ....... I seriously, have no clue where my body, legs and heart will take me.  But I'll take it. :)


Happy Monday.

          *****Don't forget to enter my CSN giveaway too! *****

Funky Cold Medina

Might as well get this over with, first.

We stayed at a "Hilton".  Like a Paris "Hilton".  I am ashamed Jomoosh and it'll never happen again.

They had quite the "Labor Day" pool party going on there.  Where the DJ reminded me how much I heart "Funky Cold Medina".  [Ahhhhh, college/high school...don't remember].

My favorite song [I have never heard before] was "Cupid Shuffle".  It's annoying as crap but this guy . . . .

.......every time they played it [four times] he'd get up and shake it.  I was crying with laughter.  He was awesome.

Photos.
[were deleted]

Photos.
[were deleted]

Photos.
[were deleted]

**So the Pita found/read/loved/examined my blog Thursday night........[in detail].  So the four photos I had of him flipping me [and or] the camera off . . . . he deleted.  So-so-so sad.  Isn't this censorship?  Can I call the police?**

I managed to save a few.  heeee heee heeee [in my evil voice].

Got this from Rad Runner ----- Peanut thinks you walk on water.  I told her you do.  So now you are a super hero too.

Not sure why she came out [photo] looking umpa loompa colored?!

So the rest I'll explain in numbers:

3 - hours it took to get to Mount Lemon to hike.
2 -# of potty stops while driving.
2 -# of times I used "nature" rather than the "toilets" that were being offered. so gross.
5 -# of times I realized, Arizona really can be pretty.

6 -# of miles we planned to hike.
1 -# of shoes Peanut brought.
1 -# of shoes that were two sizes to small
0 -# of socks Peanut brought.
44 -# of times she said she was "sorry".
0 -% chance I'll let her pack again without checking the "goods"
1 -# of times she said "this waaa-taaaahh says, energy an it's not giving me any"
1 -# of family photos I managed to not get deleted. [yay me]

1 -# of kids who'd think to pose with their hand under their chin for a hiking photo.
28 -# of minutes it took before Peanut needed Moleskin applied to each heel.
3 -# of times she said my "beaver skin" isn't working.  [cracked me up - it's the little things right?!]
100 -% more we had to pay for a room in Tucson than we usually do.
100 -% happy we were that the Pita booked it anyway.
7 -# of photos Peanut took when we thought she hadn't even taken one.

14 -# of times I was asked, "you're going to blog about this aren't you?" ummmm, yep.
3 -# of miles we completed.
3 -# of crepes had in a 24 hour period.  yum. "Planet of the crepes".....nice. 
8 -# of sunset photos I took.  This is my fav.

4 -# of ice cream cones I ate.  It's LABOR DAY!!  COME ON!!
20 -# of miles I ran Monday.

35 -# it felt like I ran.
99 -% sure that I am not 100% better.  Energy is not there.
11 - days until my Top Of Utah Marathon.
10 - days until I get a bloggy meet-up with Kera in Salt Lake City.
0 -# of marathons I've run without Peanut being at the finish line to greet me.

I don't think I like this "first" very much.

Hope you all had a wonderful weekend.

AND

A huge thank you to the replies to Peanut on her post.

Her. year. made.   She was/is so happy.

PMDD or PMTDD anyone?

"There's no place like home." - Dorothy [wizard of Oz]

Poets have long said [something like], The best part of a journey is coming home.

I see it more as a delicate "re-entry".  Maybe the astronauts know what they are talking about.  Jump back into your daily "life" too fast and you'll "burn up" [or out] but go in to easy and you fall off the radar never to be seen again. [yes, dramatic but remember what blog you are reading].

I feel as if I am suffering from this dilemma, I call PMDD.  {Post Marathon [Trip] Dysphoric Disorder}.

Without a doubt, when I return from a marathon [especially in another city/state].  I seem to fall into a low-grade depression or funk.  PMTDD.  Which includes being tired, slightly moody, food cravings, increased sensitivity to criticism  & sleepless.

Sadly, there is no KNOWN cure for PM[T]DD.  However, I hear wearing 8 Gu packets in your belt loops, never having more than 3oz of any fluid in your carry-on /purse & wearing compression socks to the grocery store has helped some.  No one really knows why these methods help but some believe it tricks the body into thinking it still has a marathon [in some awesome far away state] coming up.

When we come home we are the same person who left. 

The only thing is . . we're not.

I think psychologists could explain PMTDD quite simply. . . while racing/running we feel free, ready to live it up, get that PR, try something new.  While at home, we know there will be many work emails awaiting, a crap load of laundry, a dirty house, a relationship to address, a dog to pick-up, the light bulb that hasn't ever been replaced in the laundry room.  I know, I know it's not really bad.

The run . . . the trip . . . life experiences . . . they change us.  No, not in huge ways rather, small subtle ways.  A lot of these changes cannot be seen until we are home.  Which is why no matter how difficult to endure, PMTDD is a necessary part of the journey.  our journey.

Does this mean me need to suffer through this alone?  Heck, NO!  Hello, why do you think I blog?! ;)  I love to read about your journey.  what you do.  How you cope.  I think we should hold web/video conferencing meeting [for extra support].  What the heck, let's all meet up in Boston [or NYC - YAY!] next year. 

Ahhh crap, who am I kidding?  I just signed up for [this] as I suffered through my PMTDD yesterday.

I am so not addicted to running.