HOT DAMN!!!

I've been doing the Lurong Paleo Challenge now for about two months. It officially ends November 10th and all measurements and the last 3 WODS need to be in by then. The last 3 WODS for the challenge were to repeat the first 3 and see if you could get better results. My Crossfit place is doing the WOD 8 this Friday and then 9 and 10 next week. I, unfortunately, will not be in fighting form and would probably get reprimanded by my doctor if I tried to do them then. Not to mention what my mother would do if I even mentioned going. So......I need to do everything that's left this week.

I went in today planning on doing 8 with 9 on Thursday and 10 on Friday. I adjusted that since the gym is doing 8 on Friday, I'd like to do it with everyone else. I therefore, did 9 today and will do 10 tomorrow. I also did my measurements today. I kind of wished I could do them at the end of next week since I'll be on an all liquid diet and probably will have better numbers.

ANY WAYS!! I was a little disappointed today with my WOD, not gonna lie. It was 100 burpees and 100 18# kettlebell swings. You could break it up anyway you wanted and came with a 12min time cap. I WAS SOOOO CLOSE!!! I broke mine up in 20s, 20 burpees-20 KB, 20 burpees-20 KB, etc. I had 4 KBs left when time was called. I was so mad since I had finished all of it at the start of the challenge. OR, so I thought. I just put my results in and I, in fact, did not finish last time. I failed to finish 27 burpees. This time I finished all my burpees and only missed 4 KB swings!!

Truth be told, I  haven't been that good at following this paleo lifestyle this time around. Dates, weddings, long work days, work lunches, and more dates have gotten in the way. I, therefore, did not expect to lose much weight or change much physically. I was pleasantly surprised when I went down in the areas I wanted to go down in and up in the areas I wanted to go up in.

Even if I don't win anything in the actual challenge I think I still win!!

Rock and Roll Series

This past Sunday I participated in the Cleveland Rock and Roll Half Marathon. It was a blast! The course was awesome. The bands were great. The weather was perfect. I did come in 25min off my best time but I at least finished and with the summer I had I'll take it. Also, for the first time in my running "career" they gave out ice water soaked towels. IT WAS THE BEST INVENTION EVER! My only peeve is that I REALLY wanted a beer at the end and the line was crazy long. I would definitely be up for doing this run again next year.

MOI?

So the old new guy will soon be the old guy. He doesn't know it yet but I just don't feel any attraction to him. It could be the way he bobs his head, the fact that he repeats everything I say, that he drives like a grandma with cataracts, or that he reminds me of Chris Farley, a person whose films I have never enjoyed watching. I do feel really bad about this. He came to my race this past Sunday! And brought me flowers! He is nice but I have no desire to go out with him again, let alone kiss him. (This post was originally written on Monday, I ended it with him on Tuesday.)

I have however, gone out on two dates with Hot Dan! And there is chemistry here, boys and girls. It might help that he in fact is hot. Don't get me wrong, the guy is also super sweet. He is a union carpenter/personal trainer. He was into MMA and now just works out. Doesn't run much but says if I'm willing to run with him he'll take it up. He is not into politics but as my mother pointed out, that might not be a bad thing. I can mold him! The only real hitch I have is that he seems to drink a bit much. And he realizes it. He says he's going to cut back, "because you deserve better." Also, according to him, I am intimidating. I found that to be a shock. I don't think of myself as that. Yes, I know what I want and I go after it. Yes, I am educated. But I think I'm fairly nice.

In fairness I have no idea what he had before. It could have been nothing.

 Anywhoodle, third date is this Saturday and he wants to make me "dinner and cuddle." And, I don't think that is a euphemism.

WOW

I can't believe I haven't written anything in two weeks!

CRICKETS!

Let's see...... The last guy I wrote about went bye bye. I still don't know what happened. I have half a mind to text and just ask. Who goes on 3 dates and then just ignores some one?
BUT!! There's a new one.

I couldn't lift my left arm last Tuesday and because of it I missed a week of Crossfit, had 4 chiropractic appointments, a massage, bought a new bed and failed to even start the Akron 1/2 marathon.

I'm feeling better and will run the Cleveland Rock and Roll 1/2 marathon this weekend. New Dude insists that he is coming to watch.

Lurong Paleo Challenge is.....a challenge. For the most part I'm doing great. Friday and Saturday nights are bit rough. I'm technically only allowed on glass of red wine. Who can drink only one? No beer. And it is amazingly difficult to be strict paleo on a date. I hate trying to explain it to new guys. 

And, work is chugging along.

My Burning Thighs

091113, 96cal row 60#

I'm back to Crossfit! I've been in 3 times since last Wednesday. The first day back I got a, "Where the hell have you been?" from my coach. He then proceeded to whip me into shape!

091313, 110#BS, 7+15, pu/rd

It took me 3 days to be able to walk normally after Fridays punishing squat session. I was praying as I walked in this morning I would not have to do much legs. HA! Squats again with wall balls and box jumps! I work on two different floors and am constantly running between them. Today, though, I've periodically taken the elevator.....one damn floor.

091613, level 1 15:45

I've also signed up for another paleo challenge. The last one worked out pretty well, so I'm excited about this one. It is a little stricter and goes for 8 weeks. The last one of which happens to be when I'm having my tonsils out. I refuse to call it cheating though, if all I can eat is bananas and ground up oatmeal! I did try to buy organic wholesome baby food but they all contain some form of grains! Day one though, so far so good!

Shameless

My appointment with my ENT was yesterday. It went swimmingly! Both he and his Dr. Sidekick were personable, listened to me, and talked to me as an equal. All things I like in my doctors. It didn't hurt that they were also attractive. Dr. Sidekick especially. At what age is it ok to shamelessly flirt with your doctors? I can totally see me saying, "Oh, your hot. Maybe you should come be my home nurse," or something along those lines while under the anesthesia. When I was discussing my snoring and crap in my tonsils with him I wanted to say, "You know..... I'm single and this really puts a cramp in my dating. If you take them out then YOU are pretty much guaranteed a quiet nights sleep." But I didn't. Don't worry, I have plenty of time to make a display of my attraction. I have to go in 2 more times, not including for surgery, where I will definitely make my intentions known!

I AM worried about the after care. My sister has volunteered to come help Monday and Tuesday. But, the last time she "took care of me" she let me fall face first into a row of theater seats. IT WAS DAMN FUNNY, though. She just stood there with a look of panic on her face and said, "it all happened so fast!" My mom has already said she's coming for the day of surgery and maybe the day after. But, she still works and can't take too much time off. My father on the other hand, is retired and as surgery will be in November, not playing golf. I will say this. My father is loving and great as............say a handy man, coach, drinking buddy, cat/dog sitter, computer repairer, milk tester, weird noise investigator, car fixer, dad. But he is LOUSY as a nurse. When I was in a wheel chair he was pretty good for a day or two, after that I had to get my own water and JUST
SUCK IT UP! That is actually a philosophy I do adhere to but there is only so much one can suck up and I fear the first 3-4 days is gonna be rough.

DNF

I tried. I did not come to the decision lightly.....It was a long, internal conversation.

I woke up like any other race day. Excited. Ready to make my mark. I was calmer than last 1/2IM. Until I hit the elevator, where someone said, "Did you hear? They moved the swim." I knew they might move it. Hoped they wouldn't. But they did. I understand the move. We had crazy winds and the lake was horrendous with rip currents. The harbor was much calmer. But still! If anyone has raced or done TRIs you know the slightest change in what you expect to happen can change what actually happens.

 I had a plan for the swim. It went 1)go to transition and set up. 2)walk to swim start (outside my hotel) 3)hand my clothes off to my mom 3)get into my wetsuit 4)swim to T1. Instead, I set up my transition left my sweatpants at T1, walked the 0.6miles to the new swim start, wait the 1.5 hours till my wave, toss my sweatshirt in the trash, struggle into my wetsuit, and start my swim. Which did not go well. It felt harder than any swim I've ever done. I had to stop and help another swimmer get assistance. And I took in a lot of water (I hope I get another tonsil infection just in time for the ENT). Once I got out I had to find my FLIPFLOPS!! and run the 0.6miles back to T1 with a wetsuit that weighed 8xs heavier.
Swim:56:07 T1: 13:33

Then I had to bike. I thought I was doing really well at mile 10. For some reason I thought I had done 10 miles in 20min. I thought I was going to be a rockstar after doing the math and realizing I would be done in 2hours. And then I REALLY looked at my watch and realized it was 10miles in 40min. And that's with the 15mph wind at my back! At mile 25 I thought I was done. I was ready to give up. But then there was this aid station at mile 30 with rice krispy treats and I thought, "Laura, quit talking crazy! Of course you're going to finish this!" But then I got foot cramps. Like crazy. I had to get off 3 times to flatten out my feet and give them a bit of a rest. Bike: 4:28:54

When I finally made it back to T2, I dismounted and had a sharp pain in my left hip. I had to make a decision. Continue or not. I took all my bike gear off and changed into my run gear. I walked around T2 for a minute or two, watching runners come in and runners go out. My feet still hurt as did my hip. I then sat down took off my chip and cried as I handed it to an official saying I was taking a DNF.

Looking back on it today, I wonder if I made the right choice. Yes, my hip aches but it felt fine after walking back to the hotel. If I had just started the run would it have gone away? Perhaps it was just how I was sitting on my bike? Yes, my muscles ache but not like last year. I can still walk normally. If I had just started the run would my feet have felt better in the different shoes?

I know that had this summer been like last summer I would have powered through. I would have had the mental stamina to push myself and talk myself into continuing. Had my training been there, I would have a new medal.