We are going to wait a bit to trim the bushes and put mulch around this area to see what happens. Maybe some birdie pictures soon?!?! It will be fun to watch and we have a great vantage point.
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Sunday, April 11, 2010
A little birdie told me!!
We have a robin's nest on the window ledge of our home office. Only one little egg. No sign of the momma bird yet. The funny thing is that I was just looking at this window a few days ago thinking about cleaning the windows from the inside and outside. I even opened that window and the nest wasn't there, so it was built in a hurry.
We are going to wait a bit to trim the bushes and put mulch around this area to see what happens. Maybe some birdie pictures soon?!?! It will be fun to watch and we have a great vantage point.
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
We are going to wait a bit to trim the bushes and put mulch around this area to see what happens. Maybe some birdie pictures soon?!?! It will be fun to watch and we have a great vantage point.
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
Saturday, April 10, 2010
One week home
I think Murphy is happy to be home. He missed his sister and they are now inseparable yet again. (Note: when they are not happily napping together they are usually beating each other up.) Also, while he was gone, Murphy had to stay in a kennel for several months. I think he is happy to get his soft spot on the bed back. He keeps wanting to snuggle on our bed instead of stay in his dog bed. At this rate, we may need to upgrade our queen to a king! :)He's pretty much been his normal self - destroying the backyard, wanting to retrieve anything, and eating up a storm. When he was gone we hardly spent any money on dog food. Now the expense is back as he will eat 8 or more cups of high performance dog food daily.
Follow-up to I got swabbed!
You might remember back in early March when I got swabbed for the National Bone Marrow Donor Registry. The drive was held at IU for DKMS and the spotlight was on Lindsay, a college student at Duke diagnosed with Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma.
I just wanted to follow-up on how Lindsay is doing. She is a family friend and while I have never met her, I have met her parents and our mothers are childhood friends. The good news is that a match was found for Lindsay. Not from the IU drive, but that doesn't even matter! Someone else on the donor registry was a match and she all ready went through the stem cell transplant a few weeks ago. She is doing well and hopefully on the road to recovery. She has to be watched closely for the next several months and doesn't have to go through chemo anymore!
Also, if you were at the drive, you may remember a book that could be signed for Lindsay. Well, she did get that book and her family read through all the well wishes. They are thankful for all of the support and positive thoughts!
I just wanted to follow-up on how Lindsay is doing. She is a family friend and while I have never met her, I have met her parents and our mothers are childhood friends. The good news is that a match was found for Lindsay. Not from the IU drive, but that doesn't even matter! Someone else on the donor registry was a match and she all ready went through the stem cell transplant a few weeks ago. She is doing well and hopefully on the road to recovery. She has to be watched closely for the next several months and doesn't have to go through chemo anymore!
Also, if you were at the drive, you may remember a book that could be signed for Lindsay. Well, she did get that book and her family read through all the well wishes. They are thankful for all of the support and positive thoughts!
Monday, April 5, 2010
How to recover after a race??
I am not a good judge of how long to rest after a big run. In fact, I probably need some schooling on how to recover after a race. I've read you should take a week off. I've also read a day for every mile of the race. But, rest days are boring! I just can't sit still and sometimes going for a run is just easier. I know, I know. I should probably cross-train for a few days and rest my legs. But, it is so nice out and I sit in a windowless office all day long, so the thought of going to the gym or doing any type of exercise indoors does not appeal to me at all. I want to be outside whenever possible after work!!
Even though it was probably not the best idea after running a half marathon two days ago, I went for a very slow run around my neighborhood tonight. I thought about going to the gym, but I had meetings all day and didn't even get lunch (I took my lunch to a meeting, but it was 2pm and I was starving, so I threw all professionalism out the window at that point). Plus, after work, it was raining and my two dogs were outside at home. To avoid a total disaster, I knew I needed to get home to let them in before getting any more wet and muddy. So, I bypassed the gym and headed home. It was about 7pm when the rain subsided, which was not convenient to head back into the gym. Driving to the gym, getting in a working, and then getting back home takes about twice as long as just heading out my front door for a run. So, I went out for a 3 mile run and kept a slow and steady pace, around a 9:10 mile. It felt okay, but I definitely felt very tight. My knees are a little sore, but not painful. What does hurt is my lower back. It was bad after the race and felt a little better yesterday, but it is still a little bit bothersome. I am not sure if it is from all the hills or what, as my back is usually not a post-race issue.
In addition to running, I have been walking my dogs a lot in the last couple of days. They love to walk around the neighborhood and act like they own the place. Their little tails are way up in the air. It was so nice yesterday on Easter Sunday that we took three walks! We covered at least 6 miles throughout the day. Tonight after my short, slow run, we walked about 2.4 miles at a pretty decent pace. It's nice to get in a little extra walking workout in the evenings thanks to the dogs.
I am planning to run tomorrow night, but do plan some cross-training and rest for the remainder of the week. I need it, especially if I want to be ready for my other upcoming races! What do you do after a race to recover and how many days do you rest or cross-train? Help, comments, and suggestions are welcome!!
Even though it was probably not the best idea after running a half marathon two days ago, I went for a very slow run around my neighborhood tonight. I thought about going to the gym, but I had meetings all day and didn't even get lunch (I took my lunch to a meeting, but it was 2pm and I was starving, so I threw all professionalism out the window at that point). Plus, after work, it was raining and my two dogs were outside at home. To avoid a total disaster, I knew I needed to get home to let them in before getting any more wet and muddy. So, I bypassed the gym and headed home. It was about 7pm when the rain subsided, which was not convenient to head back into the gym. Driving to the gym, getting in a working, and then getting back home takes about twice as long as just heading out my front door for a run. So, I went out for a 3 mile run and kept a slow and steady pace, around a 9:10 mile. It felt okay, but I definitely felt very tight. My knees are a little sore, but not painful. What does hurt is my lower back. It was bad after the race and felt a little better yesterday, but it is still a little bit bothersome. I am not sure if it is from all the hills or what, as my back is usually not a post-race issue.
In addition to running, I have been walking my dogs a lot in the last couple of days. They love to walk around the neighborhood and act like they own the place. Their little tails are way up in the air. It was so nice yesterday on Easter Sunday that we took three walks! We covered at least 6 miles throughout the day. Tonight after my short, slow run, we walked about 2.4 miles at a pretty decent pace. It's nice to get in a little extra walking workout in the evenings thanks to the dogs.
I am planning to run tomorrow night, but do plan some cross-training and rest for the remainder of the week. I need it, especially if I want to be ready for my other upcoming races! What do you do after a race to recover and how many days do you rest or cross-train? Help, comments, and suggestions are welcome!!
Sunday, April 4, 2010
Murphy is home!
Murphy is home (for good) from hunting training boot camp. Poor baby is so skinny, so I'll be sneaking him so extra treats. Lucy is very happy he's home, too. Only downside: he is blowing his winter coat, so in less than 24 hours my house is covered in a layer of Murphy hair. Thank goodness for my Dyson!
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
Saturday, April 3, 2010
IU Mini Marathon Race Report
This morning was my first race of the spring running season. In retrospect, I probably should have started out with a 5k or 10k, like most logical runners. For some reason, I decided my first race should be a half marathon. I think I'll rethink that for next spring.
Leading up to the race, my training runs were just okay. I never felt great about any of them. In fact, several were a struggle as I dealt with side stitches. I am not sure why they continue to reoccur. I normally drink and eat the same things when training as I would for racing. I always make sure to drink large amounts of water and eat tons of bananas. I decided earlier this week that I either have a hydration issue or some undiagnosed stomach issue. Since I can control the hydration, I went into the race fully hydrated and hit almost every water station on the course. Literally. I think there was one about every 1.5 miles and I hit all but 2. I think it helped. I had some minor cramping, but none like on several previous training runs.
So, the race was okay. I finished in 2:03:06. I m a little bummed to not have finished with a better time. I started off so well. This course is hilly. The hilliest race I have ever run. And it's not like you run up a hill and then get a downhill. No, that would be too easy. It is run up a hill to a pretty flat area and then run up another hill. There were very few downhills. I did awesome on miles 1-10. I kept telling myself to keep my pace and not worry about the people around me. Let them pass me. Just keep the pace. I ran an average 8:40 pace per mile during that period. I felt great and had no problems. It was a bit windy, but other than some serious hills, I was on my way to finishing in under 2 hours and possibly evening setting my half PR.
Then came mile 11. It started sprinkling around mile 9 and continued to get harder until it turned into a total downpour and rained the entire rest of the race. My legs started to feel the effects of all of the hills. I did a lot of hill training to try and prepare for this and I have run this course before, but I forgot how horrible the hills are! So, my legs felt like lead weights, it was raining cats and dogs, and the winds were gusting up to 30 mph. I also started to get some side stitches and had to stop several times to stretch them out. I definitely lost focus. I averaged a 15:00 min pace on this mile.!?!?! It did me in. I was thinking about giving up, kicking myself for not wearing my running hat, getting mad because the last aid station only had Powerade (which I hate) and I was really wanting some water. Looking back, I would have pushed myself more had I realized how horrible I was running. I just felt so bad at the time. Had I kept closer to the pace, I would have definitely finished in under 2 hours. Ugh! I am so mad at myself even still as I write this blog.
Somewhere just after mile 11, people started pushing each other along with cheers and complements for getting up the hill or running in the rain. I jumped over a puddle because my shoes were water logged and so heavy on my feet. Water in Bloomington does not drain off the streets when it rains, so I am not sure why I was trying to jump puddles. Anyway, the older guy next to me laughed and started making fun of me. He asked what a little water hurt at this point. I started laughing and I guess he got me to lighten up a bit and not focus so much on how bad I felt. At that I point, minus a few quick stops to stretch my side, I did miles 12 and 13 at a 9:20 min pace. I was never so happy to cross a finish line in my life. I was soaked, cold, in pain, and disappointed with my time. But, my friend Mandy greeted me at the end. She ran the earlier 5k and waited around about 1.5 hours to see me finish, which was really encouraging! I was actually bummed thinking no one would be there at the end and then she caught me right away and got some pictures, too!
You can see my decline on the chart below. The little circles show my pace at different points in time, which you can't see. But, you can see my steadiness throughout the race until the very end when I hit mile 11. Dang, I am still mad about that. (I forgot to turn off my Nike+ at the end and it is usually off about .25 miles, so that is why the miles are slightly off.)
Some interesting things I saw along the way:
Leading up to the race, my training runs were just okay. I never felt great about any of them. In fact, several were a struggle as I dealt with side stitches. I am not sure why they continue to reoccur. I normally drink and eat the same things when training as I would for racing. I always make sure to drink large amounts of water and eat tons of bananas. I decided earlier this week that I either have a hydration issue or some undiagnosed stomach issue. Since I can control the hydration, I went into the race fully hydrated and hit almost every water station on the course. Literally. I think there was one about every 1.5 miles and I hit all but 2. I think it helped. I had some minor cramping, but none like on several previous training runs.
So, the race was okay. I finished in 2:03:06. I m a little bummed to not have finished with a better time. I started off so well. This course is hilly. The hilliest race I have ever run. And it's not like you run up a hill and then get a downhill. No, that would be too easy. It is run up a hill to a pretty flat area and then run up another hill. There were very few downhills. I did awesome on miles 1-10. I kept telling myself to keep my pace and not worry about the people around me. Let them pass me. Just keep the pace. I ran an average 8:40 pace per mile during that period. I felt great and had no problems. It was a bit windy, but other than some serious hills, I was on my way to finishing in under 2 hours and possibly evening setting my half PR.
Then came mile 11. It started sprinkling around mile 9 and continued to get harder until it turned into a total downpour and rained the entire rest of the race. My legs started to feel the effects of all of the hills. I did a lot of hill training to try and prepare for this and I have run this course before, but I forgot how horrible the hills are! So, my legs felt like lead weights, it was raining cats and dogs, and the winds were gusting up to 30 mph. I also started to get some side stitches and had to stop several times to stretch them out. I definitely lost focus. I averaged a 15:00 min pace on this mile.!?!?! It did me in. I was thinking about giving up, kicking myself for not wearing my running hat, getting mad because the last aid station only had Powerade (which I hate) and I was really wanting some water. Looking back, I would have pushed myself more had I realized how horrible I was running. I just felt so bad at the time. Had I kept closer to the pace, I would have definitely finished in under 2 hours. Ugh! I am so mad at myself even still as I write this blog.
Somewhere just after mile 11, people started pushing each other along with cheers and complements for getting up the hill or running in the rain. I jumped over a puddle because my shoes were water logged and so heavy on my feet. Water in Bloomington does not drain off the streets when it rains, so I am not sure why I was trying to jump puddles. Anyway, the older guy next to me laughed and started making fun of me. He asked what a little water hurt at this point. I started laughing and I guess he got me to lighten up a bit and not focus so much on how bad I felt. At that I point, minus a few quick stops to stretch my side, I did miles 12 and 13 at a 9:20 min pace. I was never so happy to cross a finish line in my life. I was soaked, cold, in pain, and disappointed with my time. But, my friend Mandy greeted me at the end. She ran the earlier 5k and waited around about 1.5 hours to see me finish, which was really encouraging! I was actually bummed thinking no one would be there at the end and then she caught me right away and got some pictures, too!
You can see my decline on the chart below. The little circles show my pace at different points in time, which you can't see. But, you can see my steadiness throughout the race until the very end when I hit mile 11. Dang, I am still mad about that. (I forgot to turn off my Nike+ at the end and it is usually off about .25 miles, so that is why the miles are slightly off.)
Some interesting things I saw along the way:
- A guy wearing those shoes that look like your foot and are supposed to simulate barefoot running. I have seen them before, but never actually saw someone wear these in a race. They don't look that comfortable to me. I stick with my cushioned shoes!
- After that, I saw a guy running barefoot! Yes, completely barefoot. I can't even imagine. Part of the course was on the shoulder of the bypass (a major road through Bloomington) which is all rocky. Then we ran through campus and by tons of construction zones where the roads were cracked and uneven from all the equipment. Then, through the rain puddles on the road. No way. Even if it is scientifically better for me to run barefoot, I choose to stick with my cushioned shoes again!
- A police officer staring down a female runner in a white t-shirt. He was working at one of the intersections and she was a bit ahead of me when she passed him, so I saw the entire lookdown. This, of course, was the part of the race where we were totally soaked and you could see right through her shirt. It was rather funny.
- A guy in a banana suit. Everyone gave him high-5s along the route. Also pretty funny.
Congrats to all my friends running the 5k and half! Everyone did great despite the conditions!
Friday, April 2, 2010
Work: Total Classic
Some days, I get to the point where I want to throw the towel in. I was explaining to a friend last week some of the "normal" things I deal with on a daily basis. The friend was shocked and was also immediately reminded of the movie, The Office. Yep, that movie is my life in a nutshell. I think it is especially challenging to work in HR as people expect you to just know everything and be able to fix it all even if it is not an HR issue or not even related to the job. Plus, they expect you to remain nice. Trust me, I normally put on my happy customer service face deal with it, but some days you just can't be nice anymore.
Here is a classic email exchange with co-worker from today. The sad thing is this happens multiple times a day every day. It gets old.
Co-worker 1: I am getting this system error, what should I do?
Me: Yes, I know this is a problem. Email co-worker2, let her know about the error, and wait for a response from her as she handles that piece, not me.
Co-worker 1: Okay, well, I'll copy you, too.
Me: Whatever.
Co-worker 2: Here is what needs to be entered into the system. If you keep getting the error, notify the system team. Thanks.
Co-worker 1: What should I do?
Me: Umm, enter it and if you still get the error, report it to system team email address for correction.
Co-worker 1: I got the error again (insert screen shot of said error), what should I do?
Me (losing total patience at this point): As I mentioned in the below email, report the error to the system team by email. I cannot fix this error for you.
TPS reports, anyone??
Here is a classic email exchange with co-worker from today. The sad thing is this happens multiple times a day every day. It gets old.
Co-worker 1: I am getting this system error, what should I do?
Me: Yes, I know this is a problem. Email co-worker2, let her know about the error, and wait for a response from her as she handles that piece, not me.
Co-worker 1: Okay, well, I'll copy you, too.
Me: Whatever.
Co-worker 2: Here is what needs to be entered into the system. If you keep getting the error, notify the system team. Thanks.
Co-worker 1: What should I do?
Me: Umm, enter it and if you still get the error, report it to system team email address for correction.
Co-worker 1: I got the error again (insert screen shot of said error), what should I do?
Me (losing total patience at this point): As I mentioned in the below email, report the error to the system team by email. I cannot fix this error for you.
TPS reports, anyone??
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