PORN!

Ok, I knew that would get your attention. Sorry for the slight of hand, but I have two important things to say....

1) Thank you all for your very kind comments for my DNF this weekend. Your words really went a long way to making me feel a hell of a lot better. As Michelle said, the way to get out of the funk is to come up with a plan for healing and stick with it. I'm off for ART today and will be doing my eccentric calf dips religiously, not to mention still foam rolling, etc. for my ITB....you never know! The good news is my insurance covers the ART, phew!!!

2) I am reposting this as only two people saw it. I apologize for the redundancy, but I really need to get the word out. If you can't make a purchase, PLEASE provide a link in your blog to let people know they can help AND get a little sumthin' sumthin' for their dollars. Thanks again!!

When Katrina hit I made a donation to the Red Cross. When the Tsunami hit Sri Lanka I made a donation the Red Cross. When Haiti experienced a devastating earthquake, I made a donation to the Red Cross. When Chile had their earthquake, I again made a donation to the Red Cross. Japan recently experienced a huge earthquake, followed by a devastating tsunami and the threat of radioactive contamination. I am broke. With the loss of my job and struggling to find new freelance work I felt paralyzed in any effort to lend a financial hand.

I have had a long time love affair with Japan. I studied Japanese martial arts for 7 years, read every Japanese author I could get my hands on, studied the language at NYU for a time and visited the country twice (ok, I also dated a Japanese guy for 4 years....I guess that sort of rounds things out). So, I have been wracking my brain about how to do my part to help and finally came up with an answer. However, it requires your help as well. I'm sure many of you have already done your part, but I know this relief effort is going to go on for some time to come.

I have designed a logo that marries triathlon, Japan and a willingness to help. I then opened a Cafe Press shop where one can buy that logo on T-shirts (men, women, kids and babies), water bottles, tote bags, etc. There is a base price for the items and any profit is my markup above that. I have made this $5.00. This $5.00 is 100% profit and every cent of it will go to the Red Cross. I will make nothing on this. You, however, will get a cool (cuz I think it looks pretty cool) T-shirt or whatever and know that you are helping out at the same time.

Here is the logo as you may not get the full appreciation of it on the store site (you can click to enlarge it).

Please click the link to visit my store or you can just click this logo image on my sidebar on the upper right of the blog. I am also relying on you to pass on this post or my blog so that more people can be reached to make a donation. I really appreciate your help in this effort.

Race Report: Sleepy Hollow Half Marathon DNF

I hate typying those three letters: DNF. I'm not sure which is worse, DNF or DNS (last month's race). I'm going with DNF. I think it hurts more to show up for a race, toe the line and not get to finish it.

I got up Saturday morning at 6 AM to make the hour-long train ride to Tarrytown (the next town over). I claimed my number and chatted with a couple of nice folks. This was a small race which was fantastic compared to the thousands that show up for the races I usually compete in in the city. I was very excited about doing this race, although, admittedly, I was treating it as a sort of training run because of my recent calf injury. So I felt pretty relaxed going into this; no butterflies.

The week leading up to race day I rested my calf, as in no running, and had ART on it on Thursday. It felt good on Friday, but I kind of knew in the back of my mind that that amounted to a hill of beans. Last Sunday I had no pain, in fact, I didnt even know my calf was jacked up until I started running and was halted 10 minutes in because the pain was so bad.

Back to race day. Michelle gave me a plan to ready my calf for the miles ahead: some eccentric calf raises (or dips, as it were), massage some bio freeze in, cover with a compression sleeve and do 5-10 minutes very easy warm up; check, check and check. Just at the end of my warm up was a very small, rather negligible, incline. When I hit that (softly, gently), Bam! There was the pain. Shit! Shit! Shit! What do I do? What do I do? In my mind I'm panicking, I can't pull out now, it hasn't even started. Ok, just walk around, take it easy. They started gathering everyone for the start and I figured, ok, let's just see, if it really hurts, I'll stop.

I asked Michelle ahead of time what I should do if I felt it, stupid question, I know, but I needed assurance that if I had to bag this race that someone else would agree with that decision. Who better than my coach?

The gun (horn, really) went off and we were running. I took it very slowly. Easy, easy....I felt it a little, but not bad, maybe I could run it off (who am I kidding?). Then we came to a slight downhill and the pain was there. So bad that I had to limp/run. I probably had not gone even 1 mile, but I knew it was over. I hit the porta potty and walked back to the start. A very inglorious end to my morning. It was like the walk of shame; I was so embarrassed. A few runners inquired if I was ok and a volunteer asked if I needed assistance back to the start. I declined, but my eyes were welling up and I was trying to keep it together. It was so hard to see the runners moving away and hear people cheering. Tears just started streaming down my face. I won't lie, I was feeling pretty sorry for myself. I didn't want to, but I've been holding it in for so long, trying not to feel like 'poor me', so I gave myself permission to feel really sorry for myself, especially since no one was there to witness it. I figured, at the very least, it would be a release, maybe a bit cathartic. It sounded convincing enough in my own head.

So far $58 in lost race fees (two races) with another a few weeks away. Now, when I can least afford it and am trying to figure out how to pay for the big ones that matter. I really am so mad at myself. I have no one to blame but myself for this calf situation. Just when you think you know what 'gradual', 'easy', 'slow' means....I go out in vibrams for 20 minutes (one time!) in an effort to get on the road to helping my ITBS and instead I eff up my calf; touché irony!

It's funny, I sometimes think, "ok, let's just pack it in for awhile. No training, no nothing, just let my body get back to zero and start over", but I know I can't and I know that that isn't necessarily the answer. I've come too far to stop now. Just the fact that I've missed a 'long run' has my head spinning. It's funny where our thoughts take us. One thing I do know, it's probably not going to be a stellar race year for me. My expectations are pretty low, so I can't be anything but happy if and when I manage to finish a race. It sucks to feel like I'm settling, but any other way of thinking for me will have me flirting with long term injury if I don't. It's the only reason I stopped today before it was too late. Oh sure, I knew I'd never finish the race if I pushed on; I'd have crippled myself in the attempt, but I wouldn't have completed it. Just knowing that I needed to accept things as they are is what convinced me that going any further would be foolish.

In any case, here's to the road to recovery and a long ride tomorrow.

Please, please visit the my Cafe Press shop and buy yourself a little something (I made this logo just for you tri peeps)! All proceeds will go to the relief effort in Japan. I would also be most grateful if you could point people in this direction to help in the effort. Thank you (you know I'm going to keep hounding you, right?)

Foto Friday: Strange and Tragic

Today, March 25th is the 100th Anniversary of the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire in which 146 people (mostly women and young girls) lost their lives.  This fire highlighted the need for sweeping change to the inhumane working conditions at that time.  Many of the dead perished in the building because the exit door was locked (either to keep the workers in or the union organizers out), while others lept to their deaths out of windows or fell from the fire escape which collapsed under the weight of those trying to escape the fire.  Fire truck ladders were not long enough to reach the top floors where the fire was.  Today that same building is part or the NYU campus, but each year there is a memorial for those who died.

The building today.

On this same date 26 years ago another fire occurred at the (unlicensed) Happy Land Social Club in the Bronx.  This fire was started by a jilted ex-boyfriend.  Eighty-seven people died.  Two years prior to the fire the building was closed because of safety violations: no fire exits, sprinkler system or alarms.  There was no documentted follow up by the fire department to see if these violations were corrected.  

It is clear that there were fire exits at the time of the fire, but they were blocked in an effort to prevent people from trying to enter the club without paying.  Today the corner where the fire occured is called the "Plaza of the Eighty-Seven" in memorial to those who died.

Memorial that stands across the street from where the fire occurred.

Please take some time to visit my Cafe Press shop.  I've created a design that I've put on 'stuff' you can buy and at the same time help the relief effort in Japan.  You can reach the shop by clicking on the  logo in the upper right of my blog.  100% of all profits will be donated.  Thank you!

Show Some Love For Japan

When Katrina hit I made a donation to the Red Cross.  When the Tsunami hit Sri Lanka I made a donation the Red Cross.  When Haiti experienced a devastating earthquake, I made a donation to the Red Cross.  When Chile had their earthquake, I again made a donation to the Red Cross.  Japan recently experienced a huge earthquake, followed by a devastating tsunami and the threat of radioactive contamination.  I am broke.  With the loss of my job and struggling to find new freelance work I felt paralyzed in any effort to lend a financial hand. 

I have had a long time love affair with Japan.  I studied Japanese martial arts for 7 years, read every Japanese author I could get my hands on, studied the language at NYU for a time and visited the country twice (ok, I also dated a Japanese guy for 4 years....I guess that sort of rounds things out).  So, I have been wracking my brain about how to do my part to help and finally came up with an answer.  However, it requires your help as well.  I'm sure many of you have already done your part, but I know this relief effort is going to go on for some time to come.

I have designed a logo that marries triathlon, Japan and a willingness to help.  I then opened a Cafe Press shop where one can buy that logo on T-shirts (men, women, kids and babies), water bottles, tote bags, etc.  There is a base price for the items and any profit is my markup above that.  I have made this $5.00.  This $5.00 is 100% profit and every cent of it will go to the Red Cross.  I will make nothing on this.  You, however, will get a cool (cuz I think it looks pretty cool) T-shirt or whatever and know that you are helping out at the same time.

Here is the logo as you may not get the full appreciation of it on the store site (you can click to enlarge it).

Please click the link to visit my store or you can just click this logo image on my sidebar on the upper right of the blog.  I am also relying on you to pass on this post or my blog so that more people can be reached to make a donation.  I really appreciate your help in this effort.

Five Fingers and Ten Toes

When I was in junior high school I had a gym teacher whose name escapes me.  It might have been Ms. Piehler or some such German sounding thing (aren't all gym teachers of German descent?).  The fact that I can't remember her name is disturbing to me because, aside from gym class, we spoke at least once a week while passing in the hallway.  Not so much to exchange pleasantries, but for me to answer the same question she posed each week, "Are you limping?"  Every time my answer was the same, "No, I'm not."

I was always puzzled by this.  Not so much because she thought that I was limping, but mostly because my answer was obviously unconvincing.  Either that, or she thought she would wear me down into confessing that, "Yes! Yes! You have finally found me out!  I am limping and you have seen through my evil plan to take over the world!"  

Fast forward 10-15 years later (in my 20s) and I am having lower back issues, at times the pain is so severe that I finally sought out the medical profession.  After a trip to an Orthopedist that amounted to little more than a pat on my head I went to a Chiropractor; I was desperate. While lying on the exam table and getting the 'once over', he pulled on my legs to, what?  Extend them? Even them out? Then he says to me, "Do you know one of your legs is longer than the other?"  I replied, "Isn't everyone's to some degree?"  "Yes", he said, "but not to the degree yours are."

Immediately I was transported back to junior high and my gym teacher's constant badgering.  It seems she may have been on to something.  This year so far I have been plagued with injuries.  I'm not even sure if injury is the right word as they haven't necessarily sidelined me permanently, but they certainly have forced me to take notice and in some instances, stop what I am doing.

 Starting with the most innocuous of these injuries is my left shoulder.  I mostly only feel it when I am stretched out pulling with paddles.  Not too bad, but I don't push it when it seems to be acting up.  Next is the ITB issue I have been dealing with off and on in my right leg, then my right calf and finally a pain (spasm?) that I sometimes get in my lower right back after riding.  See anything interesting here?  Aside from my shoulder, it is all on the right side of my body.  Which makes me wonder if there is anything to this whole "one leg longer than the other" and "are you limping" thing.  I also don't underestimate the role stress has probably placed in this little fait accompli (ok, exaggeration in the name of literary license.

A few weeks ago the ITB was my biggest concern and after reading way too much online about this injury, I decided that maybe goin back to basics was the key.  Many people seemed to have seen positive results through barefoot running.  Not content to run barefoot on the streets of NYC, strewn with glass, gravel and dog poop, I went out and purchased some Vibram Five Finger KSOs.  I knew that I would need to start out really easy with this and waited until I saw an opportunity to do just that.  It came two weeks ago when I had a Brick on the schedule: a 43 mile ride followed by a 20' easy run.

No doubt that when I first headed out to run in these after my ride it felt strange.  Not bad, as I go barefoot at home always and these shoes were comfortable.  As a general rule, I tend to over research things, but this I did not.  Why? Why? Why?  As it turns out, 20 minutes, which seems like an easy, short run considering every other run I do, is not nearly easy and short enough for heading out your first time barefoot.  I do believe that that is how I jacked up my calf, because I felt them for a few days afterward.  So being the Monday morning quarterback on this one, I decided to do my research post game.  I should really have only run about 5 minutes and done that a few times during the week; lesson learned......the hard way.

Getting away from the injuries and talking more about the KSOs, I can see myself really liking these.  I think they will go a long way to improving my stride.  I am a heel striker, a hard heel striker, even when I walk.  My husband has been giving me a hard time about this for years (I tell him I walk with purpose!  Whatever the hell that means, but it sounds good).  As a heel striker I am pulling myself when I run as opposed to pushing off.  Not to mention what the impact may be doing to my joints.  I do manage to keep my stride under my body, but I could feel the difference in the KSOs, not only how my feet strike the surface, but how each foot hits it differently from the other.  Wow....didn't see that coming.

While my ITB hasn't been an issue as of late (mostly due to less running thanks to a crazy personal life), my calf is still an issue.  I tried to run on Sunday and got 10 minutes in and had to stop it was so painful.  No bruising, so it doesn't seem to be a tear and I am in the process of trying to find an ART person for some 'relief'.  I engaged my husband as my stand in ART therapist last night to massage my calf.  Let's just say he found the spot; holy shit! OUCH!

I have to now figure out how to correct this imbalance in my body muscularly.  I also have a half marathon on Saturday, for which I have no expectations.  If I finish it, it will be a minor miracle.

Foto Friday: To Run or Not to Run

Thank you for all the kind birthday wishes for my little guy, who isn't so little anymore!  He had a great day!

I've posted this guy's stuff before.  Christoph Niemann does an illustrated blog in the NY Times and the latest was called "To Run or Not to Run".  If you follow politics at all, then you can see the connection, if not, you can still enjoy the humor in this.

From the blog Abstract City

"Mitt Romney sure seems to be running; Newt Gingrich and Tim Pawlenty are probably running, too. Palin may run as well, and Obama will run no matter what. Should I?"

Love of My Life

My son turns 5 today! I know this is an old picture, but I stopped posting pics of him online a couple of years ago. Man, the time flies. Happy birthday Titus!! (just a nickname; one of many).

I woke him with this oldie this morning...of course he knows the remake by the Ting Tings on Yo Gabba Gabba (if you are not a parent this is lost on you), but there's nothing like an original!

The ABCs of I've Got Little To Say

Age: 43 in people years and 44 in tri years.

Bed size: King...I wish it were seperate bedrooms, now I know why my grandparents and parents sleep in different rooms.....snore!!!

Chore you hate: Cleaning the toilet, like I have to explain.

Dogs: Had a awesome white German Shepherd named Luke for 13 years who died about 9 years ago...he is still sorely missed.

Essential start your day item: Coffee and oatmeal; must. eat. breakfast.

Favorite color: Green

Gold or silver: Gold, 22K baby!

Height: 5'6.5", literally, but I always say 5'7" (they told us to round up in school when you reach halfway, right?) Everyone says I look taller, strange.

Instruments: Clarinet from elementary to HS.  Marching band in my first year of high school until I realized it interfered with soccer....bye-bye clarinet.

Job title: Captain Multitasker! Or, if you must, Feelance Designer.

Kids: One 5 year old son who is my pride and joy and treads on my very last nerve on a daily basis.

Live: NYC baby!

Mom's name: Marilyn

Nicknames: Reg, Gina, Wife Toots (ok, in sixth grade it became Rocky and it stuck with me until HS)

Overnight hospital stay: Remember my pride and joy?  C-section.

Pet peeve: lateness and people who don't say 'thank you'.

Quote from a movie: "You're gonna need a bigger boat."

Right or left handed: Right

Siblings: 2 younger sisters, middle one deceased.

Time you wake up: Anywhere from 5-7, depending.

Underwear: uh, yeah...

Vegetable you dislike: peas and carrots, blech!  I can feel my gag reflex just thinking about it.

What makes you late: My husband....always.

X-rays you've had done:  2nd grade for broken wrist (and others I cannot remember).  MRIs last year for heniated disc and labral tears in my hips.

Yummy food you make: Lasagna.

Zoo animal favorite: Elephants

Foto Friday: Because It Bears Repeating

I don't know, I just can't get enough of the People of Walmart....they are like some strange creatures evolution left behind....

I'm hoping the Rocky Horror Picture show was playing.

How much for the kid?

Rick James, aisle 4!

gag!

This is actually cute, but weird.

Speechless

Seriously?  Come ON!

Dallas Cowboy cheerleading tryouts circa 1968.

Not so pretty in pink.

Ditto!

I think I am blind.

I can hardly wait!

Dude, please.

Ditto, Ditto!

She is in a constant state of surprise

I don't even want to know

No room at La Quinta?

Foto Friday: Randomness

Creepy, strange, bacon and cool.

CREEPY!

It's a rug!

STRANGE!

My grandfather actually had one of these when I was a kid.  He loved a good joke!

BACON!

COOL!

Made from guitar picks

OK, kind of cool..

This is very cool and very funny, but you'll need some time to watch.