Spider Bite and other news

I've been so tired lately--too tired to blog or twitter or facebook! A couple of weeks ago I had an allergic reaction to what might have been a spider bite. So gross. Steroids and antibiotics and I'm all better now, but my leg was swollen and painfully itchy for a while. Coming back from my parents' house after a week's rest was tough, but I actually started running there on the flat terrain and really enjoyed it. When I came back it was harder to get motivated to run again until I realized that I've probably put on a good 15 pounds from not running, and not all of it muscle. Yikes.

I started run-walking a few weeks ago and have been getting in at least 3 run-walks a week, which was my goal. The other days I'm still walking, trying to rest at least one day (so tough for me). I feel better for the most part except being tired. Time to check those iron levels. Last night I had the worse restless leg-type of sensations in my legs and feet. It was unbearable. Not sure what's going on with that.

I'm looking forward to the 4th of July 5k coming up. I didn't register in case I chicken out. So sad that I went from running a 5k 2 or 3 times a month (and winning at least 3rd or 2nd in my age group!) to this.

sdg

A week of walk-running

I did four run-walks last week -- awesome! I forgot how amazing that "Runner's High" feels. I also forgot how great it feels to be soaking with sweat after a workout. The funny thing is that my body suddenly wants to go back to its semi-vegetarian ways. When I'm lifting weights for a period of time, my body only craves protein. It could also be that I loaded up on Indian food all week at mom & dad's and was sent home with leftovers (thanks Mom!).

In any case, it's been easier to eat better since I started running again, even though I'm not going full-blast. I'm really enjoying walking with run breaks (running with walk breaks was previously unbearable to me, "the runner"). My legs and knees are thanking me too!

I found an easy 10-minute route at home that I can do four or five times to get in a decent workout depending on how much time I have in the morning. I really liked being able to do a 10-minute loop at my parents' house. Knowing I just had four more loops to go made it so easy!

I had another great 50-minute walk-run this morning. I'm slowly turning very brown in the sun but hopefully this week I'll be able to start waking up earlier now that "vacation" is over.

sdg

Walk-Run-ning

I started doing a little light running this past week. It's probably the new Mizunos! It's definitely harder than it used be, but I forgot how awesome that "Runner's High" feels. I'm trying not to do too much, just a few spurts of running during a few of my daily walks. I'd be happy with 3 run-walks a week.

This week I'm down south visiting mom and dad, enjoying the flat terrain. I did a fifty minute run-walk on their treadmill yesterday, with 20 mins of running total.

I went for a nice 50-minute walk this morning. I forgot what it was like to the share the road with Muscovy ducks! Cute but messy!

Shalu

New shoes!

Finally got a new pair of shoes to replace my nearly 10-year-old hanging-by-a-thread pair. Trying Mizuno this time...it was hard to break away from New Balance and Adidas. So far so good. I did notice some shin pain in my right leg yesterday, but it could be that I'm walking a little faster now that I have some spring in my step!

Another great 50-minute walk this morning. It was still foggy from yesterday's thunderstorms so it was nice and cool well until almost 8am.

Yesterday I walked 40 minutes and still didn't break 10,000 steps! Goes to show you how sedentary we are during the day sitting at our desks. If I didn't walk in the a.m., I'd probably never break 5,000!

sdg

Sunrise and Moon

Wonderful walk this morning! Fifty minutes under a breathtaking sunrise. The sun was a big red orb under the morning haze for the longest time. In the southwestern sky, the moon was still bright and almost full. Awesome! Actually, I've had a few great walks since last Thursday. I'm averaging 50 minutes now. I actually walked over 14,000 steps yesterday! Woohoo!

sdg

My friend, the hawk

Saw the red-shouldered hawk again today during my morning walk, sitting on his post near the pond. Twelve hours later, there he was, sitting on the roof of our next door neighbor. I was sitting on my chair in Buddy's nest, looking out the window, and saw Mr. Hawk perched on the roof, cleaning his feathers! Buddy wasn't nearly as impressed and proceeded to enter "torpedo" mode.

Great forty-minute walk...I even saw the little bunny again. I do, however, need to get a new hat as the RCCL one my mom gave me isn't cutting it. Sorry, mom.

sdg

Great walk this morning

I had a lovely 45 minute walk this morning. I love when the fog is just hanging over the "valley" (it's Florida, we don't have real valleys). Coming down off of our hill, you can feel the sharp, cool air as you get into the foggy low areas. The lake was absolutely breathtaking this morning. The fog made it look like the trees we see in the distance were floating in the middle of it. So amazing. I felt for a moment that I was back in Wintergreen, Viriginia. How cool that I get to see this every day!

sdg