First, I wanted to send a special thank you to Dianna for her extra special support and encouraging words. Your friendship is a wonderful blessing to me my friend. And to all of you who take a moment to stop and share I send my sincere Thanks to you as well.
The Running
I'm only able to get in about 30 minutes, or thereabouts, to run these days, so my distance has dropped to about 5 km route and it's heartbreaking. I keep telling myself it's all okay and the extended break may have many hidden advantages. I've tried to make up for it with extra pushups, dips and situps. My training is right off track, but then again life is on it's own tangent itself of course. ~shakes head~
Next week I'm back to full workouts & running since I'll be in the big, bad city of Edmonton, going to school. Whenever I need to be away from my family I focus on studying (or working etc.), work out, run long & far and sleep. It keeps me sane while dealing with the lonliness.
My New Career
It was so hard to find what it was I wanted to 'be' next now that I'm no longer a soldier. I knew I wanted to help others but boy does that leave you with a tonne of options! :-) I've been mentoring in the Dispute Resolution Centre as a mediation student for 3 weeks now and doing a lot of primary study on conflict resolution as well. I've never felt so happy or peaceful about anything in my life ever before. When I joined the military it was always one test after another and I worked very hard and becoming good at all the different aspects: fitness, battle readiness, trade etc. With mediation I seem to be a 'natural,' and it takes so little effort. The studying is like learning names for something I already know intrinsically and now I'm developing a skill set to go with what already feels 'right.' It's the most remarkable thing really. I'm hoping that when I get back to my real training I will feel the positive energy flow through into that aspect of my life as well.
Well, just wanted to ramble a bit...thanks for listening. Beijos runners!
Sunday, August 29, 2004
Saturday, August 21, 2004
Ear Aches & Mediation
Okay, two things occupying my time these days (besides the 'Mr' ~winks~). I am pursuing my second-career education, curtesy Army medical retirement program, in the field of Chartered Mediator/Arbitrator while doing my OJT in a Mediation office here on base AND my ear is killing me. So, the result is a serious juggling of my schedules for working out, running, working, studying etc; and, then remember ear aches as a kid? I mean they distract your entire thinking and operating process. I'm maxed out on pain meds and it still hurts (I ignored the pain too long and it got rather nastily infected and damaged). I'm usually very good about listening to my body and taking care of matters but for some reason I just kept thinking, "oh it will pass;" it didn't.
Running has been weird because I'm strong and making good time & distance, and the pain meds for my ear make my knee a non-issue, but I can't think of anything except the throbbing, burning, explosive energy in my right inner ear. I find myself tensing my upper body and when I get home I'm one giant chain of knots under both scapulae. ~whiny sigh~ Still, I'm not wet, dirty, hungry and cold with soggy combat boots so all is well right?! LOL
I'm nervous about not being able to have a regular time of day to work out in the next few months. My schedule for classes is all over the place. Because this program is a series of 'certificate' courses that lasts 2-9 days in length, the timings change from one week to the next of when I will be in class, driving to or from Cold Lake and working. I have to be max flexible, something I dispensed with when I returned my uniform to the QM. Well, running is such second nature to me that I always find the time but weight training is another issue all together. I'm so easily intimidated by new environments, different equiptment etc. now, every new scenario is like a lead weight in personal drive department. ~sigh~
CHANGE CHANGE CHANGE!! :-)
Oh well, my family is together, I'm 98% physically healthy, as are they and really we are very blessed. A few challenges are necessary to keep you focussed and growing I suppose. Well, I feel much better now. ~smile~
Running has been weird because I'm strong and making good time & distance, and the pain meds for my ear make my knee a non-issue, but I can't think of anything except the throbbing, burning, explosive energy in my right inner ear. I find myself tensing my upper body and when I get home I'm one giant chain of knots under both scapulae. ~whiny sigh~ Still, I'm not wet, dirty, hungry and cold with soggy combat boots so all is well right?! LOL
I'm nervous about not being able to have a regular time of day to work out in the next few months. My schedule for classes is all over the place. Because this program is a series of 'certificate' courses that lasts 2-9 days in length, the timings change from one week to the next of when I will be in class, driving to or from Cold Lake and working. I have to be max flexible, something I dispensed with when I returned my uniform to the QM. Well, running is such second nature to me that I always find the time but weight training is another issue all together. I'm so easily intimidated by new environments, different equiptment etc. now, every new scenario is like a lead weight in personal drive department. ~sigh~
CHANGE CHANGE CHANGE!! :-)
Oh well, my family is together, I'm 98% physically healthy, as are they and really we are very blessed. A few challenges are necessary to keep you focussed and growing I suppose. Well, I feel much better now. ~smile~
Saturday, August 14, 2004
13 More Hours
In 13 hours I get to pick up the 'Mr' and even though this was only a little 2 week jaunt, I'm so incredibly butterfly anxious. I'm really missing him. I guess 6 weeks home after a 9.5 month deployment just wasn't enough for me. :-) I suppose if the 6 weeks was leave time it would be a little different. Okay I'm babbling...oooohhh I'm sooooo excited!!!
Dehydration
So, I mentioned I was back to work and it's full time now, well my eating and drinking pattern is all off. Here's how I found out: I was out for my run on Wednesday and when I got to 3K I started shivering like crazy. It was 32 degrees celcius out without even a gentle breeze!! Thank goodness for my camelback and Gu...it got me home. When I thought about it, I realized that I had consumed maybe two glasses of water in the last 2 days!! HELLO???!!! That is so not me. Well hard wake-up call but now I'm focussed on making sure I eat and drink right...requires preparation when you are a working lady. Like a 1 year hiatus can be that effective in wiping away my strategies for daily survival. Good golly.
Well, I'm on my SIL's computer so I should go. Hope everyone is well, goodness knows I'll be really well in 13 hours. ~winks~
Dehydration
So, I mentioned I was back to work and it's full time now, well my eating and drinking pattern is all off. Here's how I found out: I was out for my run on Wednesday and when I got to 3K I started shivering like crazy. It was 32 degrees celcius out without even a gentle breeze!! Thank goodness for my camelback and Gu...it got me home. When I thought about it, I realized that I had consumed maybe two glasses of water in the last 2 days!! HELLO???!!! That is so not me. Well hard wake-up call but now I'm focussed on making sure I eat and drink right...requires preparation when you are a working lady. Like a 1 year hiatus can be that effective in wiping away my strategies for daily survival. Good golly.
Well, I'm on my SIL's computer so I should go. Hope everyone is well, goodness knows I'll be really well in 13 hours. ~winks~
Monday, August 9, 2004
Today
The Run
Well, has anyone ever been on a run that feels like you were shovelling your body parts like pieces of a puzzle along the trail? Good golly but everything felt wierd, broken, sore etc. And there were strange little squeaky noises coming from my left knee...the good one! Well for all that, and a really atrocious time for the distance covered, I was outside and who can ask for more? The clouds were heavy laden with dark moisture and they hung so low in the sky I was sure I could just reach up and snag a piece to eat like cotton candy. Ironically, in spite of the heavy, blackness the sun still rose high and bright in the sky, well above the clouds and the effect was brilliant trickling down through the trees and onto the path. And the aromatheraputic effect on the foilage danced up a jig in my nose. (I was 'sneezy' as my daughter says) LOL :-)
A Little Note On Breathing
When my daughter takes a walk break while she is running, she calls it a 'breathing' break. Now, I assure her that it is not only PERMITTED to breathe while running but it is strongly ENCOURAGED as well. ~giggles~ But I think I know what she means. My first year of running I felt like I was suffocating and trying to breathe through every hole in my head. It's just that adjustment stage for some folks, who are perhaps so in tune with their physiology, that anything out of the ordinary is awkward and uncomfortable even. As your VO2 Max increases you find the difference becoming more and more subtle all the time until it is almost negligable. Well, that's been my experience. Now lately I find myself re-adjusting to breathe comfortably again. The humidity in Northern Alberta has been abnormally high this summer. The barometric pressure dance is really quite uncommon for this area. I'm wondering what the fall will bring?
Before The Run
Hmm, this post keeps getting re-written. Okay, well basically I'm off for my run...in the morning because I've decided that I would send the kids to their caregiver today even though I'm off. Being back to work has been great but the holidays came to quickly after starting up again. I've chosen the provincial park trail today as my place to run. I live right in the middle of the woods but I'm going to drive 20 minutes for different woods. Go figure?! ~shakes head and chuckles~ As you can see from the pic though, it is gordgeous. I'll let you know how it goes, today will be my first time at over 90 minutes in a very long time. :) Hope that pack stays light for most of it.
Well, has anyone ever been on a run that feels like you were shovelling your body parts like pieces of a puzzle along the trail? Good golly but everything felt wierd, broken, sore etc. And there were strange little squeaky noises coming from my left knee...the good one! Well for all that, and a really atrocious time for the distance covered, I was outside and who can ask for more? The clouds were heavy laden with dark moisture and they hung so low in the sky I was sure I could just reach up and snag a piece to eat like cotton candy. Ironically, in spite of the heavy, blackness the sun still rose high and bright in the sky, well above the clouds and the effect was brilliant trickling down through the trees and onto the path. And the aromatheraputic effect on the foilage danced up a jig in my nose. (I was 'sneezy' as my daughter says) LOL :-)
A Little Note On Breathing
When my daughter takes a walk break while she is running, she calls it a 'breathing' break. Now, I assure her that it is not only PERMITTED to breathe while running but it is strongly ENCOURAGED as well. ~giggles~ But I think I know what she means. My first year of running I felt like I was suffocating and trying to breathe through every hole in my head. It's just that adjustment stage for some folks, who are perhaps so in tune with their physiology, that anything out of the ordinary is awkward and uncomfortable even. As your VO2 Max increases you find the difference becoming more and more subtle all the time until it is almost negligable. Well, that's been my experience. Now lately I find myself re-adjusting to breathe comfortably again. The humidity in Northern Alberta has been abnormally high this summer. The barometric pressure dance is really quite uncommon for this area. I'm wondering what the fall will bring?
Before The Run
Hmm, this post keeps getting re-written. Okay, well basically I'm off for my run...in the morning because I've decided that I would send the kids to their caregiver today even though I'm off. Being back to work has been great but the holidays came to quickly after starting up again. I've chosen the provincial park trail today as my place to run. I live right in the middle of the woods but I'm going to drive 20 minutes for different woods. Go figure?! ~shakes head and chuckles~ As you can see from the pic though, it is gordgeous. I'll let you know how it goes, today will be my first time at over 90 minutes in a very long time. :) Hope that pack stays light for most of it.
Saturday, August 7, 2004
House Exercise
I'm having such a great day. My house was killer cleaned from top to bottom today by moi and a dear friend. It smells like sunshine in here! Then, guess who managed to land a phenomenal deal on a free weights set for home? Yup, me. I'm setting up a super-circuit in my basement and I'm so excited. My neighbour is building me a little three step box for the cardio (along with my jump rope of course) and when we move to the new house my DH will get a buddy to rig up a light with timer! Can you believe how cool this is for me?!
AND that is NOT all folks. Can you believe there is more? I know, I was thinking the same thing..."what more could she possibly hope for in a simple Saturday?" Well, I was accepted into my vocational rehabilitation program. Which means that the Canadian Army will pay me a decent portion of my normal wages to go back to school and they pick up the tuition and books. Then, to sweeten the pot I get a 24 month, interest free loan to purchase the new laptop I need for the program.
I feel like I've won the lottery. Oh, and my run was great today...imagine that?! ~giggles~
AND that is NOT all folks. Can you believe there is more? I know, I was thinking the same thing..."what more could she possibly hope for in a simple Saturday?" Well, I was accepted into my vocational rehabilitation program. Which means that the Canadian Army will pay me a decent portion of my normal wages to go back to school and they pick up the tuition and books. Then, to sweeten the pot I get a 24 month, interest free loan to purchase the new laptop I need for the program.
I feel like I've won the lottery. Oh, and my run was great today...imagine that?! ~giggles~
Thursday, August 5, 2004
At a loss for words
Hard to believe that a Franco-Italian-Canadian can be at a loss for words...but there you have it. I keep my training log and it only has the bare minimum. I got 'the look' from a friend of mine about that just the other day when we were doing our logs in the change room. ~chuckles~ What would I do without you L?!
I'm on meds for my condition again and that makes me even more sleepy than I've already been. Granted the extra water, vitamins and meditation seem to be helping a great deal with that issue.
So, as to my training, well it's been steady and routine. Nothing particularly bad (except the fatigue) and nothing especially noteworthy I suppose. Then again, slow and steady finishes the race and that's not so bad for me right now.
One awesome thing is that the beauty of this place never fails to impress and move me. I couldn't ask for a more gorgeous piece of country to live and run in. And I discovered why the tap water here tastes like pure nectar of the gods. It turns out our water supply is directly tapped from underground, mountain tributaries from Jasper. Pure mountain water! How cool is that?! Well actually it is always quite cold. ~big grin~
Say a prayer or send a postive thought out to the universe for the crazy lady will you?! ~winks~
Oh, before I forget. Please check out my friend Emily's Blog as she has a post about Cell Phones For Soldiers. It's a noble cause to help keep American soldiers connected to their love ones while they are deployed. All you have to do is donate your old cell phones that you may be using for a door stop right now after getting the newest and coolest version. (I have 2 on the way now: one was a door stop and one a paperweight...hope they don't mind the Scooby Doo stickers?! :-) Canadian soldiers are more blessed in this area because even though it is scarce on communications for us sometimes, these poor American soldiers will go through very long stretches without contact home.
I'm on meds for my condition again and that makes me even more sleepy than I've already been. Granted the extra water, vitamins and meditation seem to be helping a great deal with that issue.
So, as to my training, well it's been steady and routine. Nothing particularly bad (except the fatigue) and nothing especially noteworthy I suppose. Then again, slow and steady finishes the race and that's not so bad for me right now.
One awesome thing is that the beauty of this place never fails to impress and move me. I couldn't ask for a more gorgeous piece of country to live and run in. And I discovered why the tap water here tastes like pure nectar of the gods. It turns out our water supply is directly tapped from underground, mountain tributaries from Jasper. Pure mountain water! How cool is that?! Well actually it is always quite cold. ~big grin~
Say a prayer or send a postive thought out to the universe for the crazy lady will you?! ~winks~
Oh, before I forget. Please check out my friend Emily's Blog as she has a post about Cell Phones For Soldiers. It's a noble cause to help keep American soldiers connected to their love ones while they are deployed. All you have to do is donate your old cell phones that you may be using for a door stop right now after getting the newest and coolest version. (I have 2 on the way now: one was a door stop and one a paperweight...hope they don't mind the Scooby Doo stickers?! :-) Canadian soldiers are more blessed in this area because even though it is scarce on communications for us sometimes, these poor American soldiers will go through very long stretches without contact home.
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