Foot Friday: Happy New Year!

Happy New Year!!!

 

Filed under:  Don't let this happen to you!!!

 

Stop the Ride...

I want to get off! That is how it always feels to me leading up to Christmas. I guess I have become quite the Grinch. This year was especially bad.

The condensed version:

On the twelfth day of Christmas that's such a pain to me,
Blizzard of the season,
Tipping everybody,
Spiking a high fever,
Client 'thank you' presents.
What to make for dinner?
Christmas cards for mailing,
Toy package fasteners,
Cruuuumbs eeeeveryyyywhere!
Wrapping all those presents,
Buying all those gifts,
Baking Christmas cookies
And trimming our Christmas tree.

Gratuitous photo. The tree hanging (yes, hanging) outside the church across the street. Can't make out what it's made of?

I mentioned that the weekend before Christmas that I was sick, but managed to chase it away with heavy doses of vitamins, grape seed extract and kefir. Monday I was still on the mend and Tuesday I felt completely myself again, which is good because I had a short brick to do based on some HR zones. That all went as planned and Tuesday night I met a friend for a glass of wine, some calamari and a salad.

Well, fast forward to the early morning hours of Wednesday and I felt like I had the mother of all hangovers. On one glass of wine? Ok, a glass and a half, but still. Then the nausea and chills kicked in and I figured it must have been something I ate. Mental note, "Call Laurie and see how she is feeling this morning." Well a text later and she was completely well. So not the food. I felt like shit and my body temp kept rising. Welcome to 103˚. Whoa! I don't even remember the last time I spiked a fever that high. Worst part? I still had to get my kid to school and I had to be downtown for a meeting with my client; she was going away for the holiday and needed to give my the details on a new project. UGH!!

My husband had an early shoot at Ground Zero that he couldn't get out of, (the Mayor planting a tree or something) so I was on my own. I stuffed my kid into a cab and took him to school (I would miss his school party, boo!), then tried to get a cab downtown; no luck, off to the subway. Fortunately I found a seat, but it was sheer mental determination that kept me from vomiting on the subway. Also, have you ever been so sick that every joint aches so bad that you can't get comfortable? My joints, especially my knees were screaming, I was squirming all over the place because I just hurt so bad. Well, I managed to make it through the meeting, hopped into a cab (yeah!!!), got home and dragged myself off to bed. It was a miserable day. My fever didn't break until the next morning. Even with Tylenol I only managed to get it down to 102˚.

When my husband got home I had to send him out to run errands I was supposed to have done, but couldn't. My awesome son is now old enough and responsible enough to get himself ready for bed in a pinch (minus flossing; for one night it won't kill him). I was laying on the couch and he came over with his bedtime story. I asked him if he didn't want me to read to him in bed, but he said, "You are sick and I don't want you to have to walk all the way to my room." I love this kid!

I am much better now, but man, whatever this was has seriously messed up my stomach. I didn't really eat for two days except for some grapes, orange slices and water. this was a mixed blessing what with all the holiday food, no weight gain!). When I could stomach something, I felt nauseas every time I ate and the bloating was awful. Thank God for peppermint tea.

My training has been in the toilet the last week. From Sunday (the 19th) 'til now I have managed the following:

1 brick: 40 minute bike, 30 minute run, strength training

1 55 minute run

1brick: 40 minute bike, 30 minute run (I skipped the strength, too tired and my stomach was in an upheaval)

If the illness wasn't enough, how about 20 inches of snow? We got wholloped!

My street.

A little night time fun.

It was such a strange storm, we had thunder and lightening. I have never seen that is a blizzard. We also had wind gusts up to 65 mph! We ventured out into the storm that night and made it to our local pub for dinner. There were a bunch of folks there stuck, since all flights were canceled and the airport was closed. My husband was more upset that the Eagles/Vikings game (set to play in Philly) was canceled.

Now that my whining is done, I hope you all had a very Merry Christmas!!

The aftermath.

Let's just say my husband is a good con artist.

8 Maids-A-Miking. If you are not familiar with the Byer's Choice carolers, well, my husband would say you are lucky. He hates them and my mom buys me a new one every year. He thinks they should start paying rent on the storage locker where they reside for the rest of the year.

I like New Years, no expectations, no pressure. My poor hubby will be working in Time's Square. I know it sounds, nice, but that is like the pit of hell on New Year's Eve. No self respecting NYer goes near the place on New Year's. I'll be cozy at home probably watching a bad movie; I love it!

Foto Friday: A Modern Christmas

A very Merry Christmas to you all.  I'd also like to wish Merry Christmas to all our troops and their families serving here and overseas.


And now a look into how the miracle of Christmas might have unfolded had it happened today.




This is my all time favorite for the last few years too.

Ugh, Is It Over Yet?

I used to like Christmas.  As it stands I absolutely abhor December.  It is a financial killer for me.  Besides the usual Christmas buying crap, which I usually try to keep at a minimum, I have three additional birthdays to buy for and all the tipping that has to be done.  I would be just as happy to completely forgo the commercial aspect of it altogether.  I have actually done that in the past; I refused to buy a single present, I was so much happier.  I think I will have to do that next year (ok, except for my son).  I am turning into a solid gold Grinch.

Now that I have that off my chest....I did 30 miles on my bike on Saturday.  It was 31˚F, feel like 27˚.  It wasn't that bad actually, except for my butt.  I need to figure out how to keep that body 'mass' warmer.  Ideas?  Wool undies? A couple of toasti toes adhered to the rear (uh, no)? Or this:

The Hot Buns Butt Warmer.

Apparently you can strap this baby right over your pants.  I think skiers mostly use it to keep their backsides warm and dry.  I am tempted.

Or this:

My gloves worked out well.

 

 

 

Gloves for Spock

My toasti toes also did the trick.  I don't put them in my shoes, but actually stick them to the top of my shoe under the shoe cover.  I like it better that way since the top is mesh and it adds another layer of protection.

My poor butt though....There must be something.....?????

I was supposed to go run 9 miles on Sunday, but Saturday night my throat started hurting and very quickly I started to feel pretty crappy.  Off to dose myself with vitamins, grapeseed extract and gargle with Listerine.  Remember that movie, My Big Fat Greek Wedding?  Remember how her father thought Windex was the answer for everything?  Well, Listerine is my husband's Windex.  I was strongly urged to head into the bathroom and gargle the minute I mentioned it.  I think 'strongly urged' is probably an understatement.  

I awoke on Sunday feeling like roadkill and hocked up some bloody phlegm (it's that time of year again!).  I decided to use the neti pot too since I was feeling a bit congested in one nostril.  All this blood came out, well not gushing, but still enough to startle me.  No run.  Then my left ear started hurting, but not a constant ache, but I kept getting these stabbing pains and it felt clogged and I still feel it today, although I feel better otherwise.  No swim today. 

Foto Friday: Late Edition Holiday Decor

Sorry for the lateness, but I had a meeting this morning with the track.  These are from Dyker Heights in Brooklyn, called the Dyker Lights.  It is this big time Italian neighborhood with some big McMansions, each trying to outdo the other.  They even have tour buses that go through.  I've been dying to go forever and we finally made it this year.  

You can see the guys eye in there.  My son was a little freaked out by this one.

Others from the web..

You have got to love this!

Brrrrrrrrrrrrrrr...........And Other Stuff

Remember that nice storm the Midwest got that collapsed the roof of the Metrodome?

Well, aside form the fact that my husband, who is a Giants fan, was upset there was no game (and of course that no one was injured...eh em), we did get the cold temps, but thankfully not the snow.

I know I am bitching about 21 feels like 10 and 12-21 mph winds while it is probably colder somewhere else, but play along.  I had a track workout on the schedule this morning; more of a fitness test:

Planned duration: 1:10
Planned distance: 6.0 miles
w/u easy 15 min jog
@TRACK with HR monitor!
Run 1 mile @HR140. Note time. Rest 3 minutes.
Run 1 mile @HR150. Note time. Rest 3 minutes.
Run 1 mile @HR160. Note time. Rest 3 minutes.
Run 1 mile @HR170. Note time. Rest 3 minutes.
Are you tapped out? Can you run a mile at 180? If not, no worries. But if you think you can run one more at 180 then go for it!
Easy jog 10 min.

I got dressed with all my running gear on, took my son to school and while my cerebral cortex was sending out flashing red signals, I started my warm up run to the track.  Well, that is about as long as I lasted.  My face felt like it was going to crack and break off.  I surrendered to the elements.  I wouldn't last 10 seconds in Minnesota.  Ironically,  or not, I had ordered a balaclava that arrived the other day, but needs to be returned as it fits like crap, but more on that later.  Instead I went to the gym and did a quick 5K on the 'mill (8:34 avg, which is easier than on the road and good for me being the non runner, runner that I am).  I also had a swim on the docket for today so I did that too.  Nice crampy feet and calves. Michelle says that is from running and then swimming.  Huh, who knew?  I did wonder since I usually never cramp (only in races, of course).

Santa arrived a little early this year for me:

 I have a fleece balaclava, but it is too hot, and I also wanted somthing I could breath through so I purchased this from REI Outlet.  NO GOOD.  It fit funny and the piece that sits under the nose is hard and scratchy.  This means nose burn = no fun.  Back it goes.  Does anyone have one they love and use for running and biking?

 Liners for......

Split mittens for biking!  I have been jonesing for a pair of these since last year.  Pearl Izumi has a pair I've had my eye on, but I couldn't justify spending $70!!!  So I did a bunch of searching online and someone recommended these by Swix.  They are actually for cross country skiing, but are the same, pretty much and cost (drum roll please) $28.93 at REI Outlet.  Cha ching!

I plan on riding outside as much as possible seeing as how there is no way in hell I can fit a trainer in my apartment (weather permitting).

We also went to visit Santa this weekend.  

 Because he forgot to ask for something when he saw Santa, he insisted on writing him a letter:

"Santa, How are you?  Please can I have a Hess truck and jet?  Thank you.

He also insisted on drawing him a picture of Rudolph and a rainbow....or Rudolph pooping a rainbow,  who knows, because certainly Santa's reindeer poop rainbows, right?  Frankly, I am seriously impress that he did this by himself, he is less than 5.  Of course someone else's kid could be painting masterpieces and this would still be awesome to me.

Good books I've read recently that are NOT training related:

Outliers by Malcohlm Gladwell

The Likeness by Tana French

Has anyone read Zinn and the Art of Road Bike Maintenance?  I have it on hold at the library and it is taking FOREVER!  

Saw this down my street.  Thinking of using this in my next big tri.

 Does anyone else think it's strange that Amazon is selling the nook?

Oh!  And I forgot to include this in my last Foto Friday: