Living Up To The "Hell Yeah!" Blog Post

/

It's always interesting which blog posts hit a nerve and make the rounds. To this day, the most popular post I've put up (at least according to the Squarespace stats) is this post about eating a Snickers during my 24-hour ultra. Who knew "Snickers" was such a popular search word? 

Lately, however, the "Saying 'Hell Yeah!' to Life" post has been making the rounds, especially after Kim Williams was kind enough to repost it on his wonderful blog, Wishful Preaching. 

Writing a blog post and living it are two different things, however. Fortunately, I have friends and family to hold me accountable. For example, my friend Christie and I e-mail our workout schedules each week to see where we might match up for a run or a Bodypump class together. This week, I e-mailed her my schedule and for Friday typed the note - "I can do an 8 a.m. spin class if you'll do it with me." 

Read More

Smug Marrieds: Locked Out

/

Saw Jeremy, my chiropractor, yesterday and he cleared me to run. Short, easy, flat miles but who cares? I get to run again! 

Blair was already up and out the door for his run by the time I left the house at 6 am. I ran an easy 3.5 and climbed the stairs to our front porch. When I twisted the doorknob on our front door... locked. It had been unlocked when we were both out for our runs because I tested it before I pulled it shut behind me, which meant Blair had locked me out. 

I rang the doorbell and waited. Finally, Blair opened the door, looking confused. 

"What are you doing out there?" he asked. 

"Why did you lock me out?" I countered, stepping inside. 

"I didn't know where you were. I thought you were in the bathroom."

I looked at my watch. "You thought I was in the bathroom for the last 28 minutes?"

He shrugged. "Sure, why not. Doesn't seem out of the ordinary."

I burst out laughing and he it took a second but then he got it and started laughing too. "No, no," he said. "I mean, I thought you were in there showering and doing your hair or something."

Whatever. God, that was classic.  

Cheers,

Dena

Just What The Chiro Ordered... Maybe

/

What I failed to mention in yesterday's post about my new 5K PR is that I blew out my right hamstring at the beginning of the race. This hamstring/glute gives me grief every summer (marathon training time) and it had been acting up on and off for weeks. On Saturday, I'd almost reached the one-mile marker when I felt a big "POP!" at the back of my thigh and behind my knee. 

There was a moment of panic, then for a second I thought maybe the pop had actually released the hamstring because it felt good, then I took another few steps and returned to panic. The hamstring hurt. 

But the beauty of a race is your adrenaline is flowing and your attention is easily diverted. I kept running and it was fine. Until I stopped.

Read More

Caffeine & The Early Morning Workout

/

I count my blessings I've never been one of those people who has to rely on caffeine to get going in the morning. Although I drink my weight in coffee each day, it's all decaf. When (highly caffeinated) friends blink in astonishment and ask, "Why bother?" I don't have a good answer other than I find the smell comforting and I like sipping from a piping hot mug of coffee while I work. One too many "Special Tasters Choice Moments" commercials in my childhood, I'm sure. 

Typically, I drink one cup of caffeine coffee a week. That would be on Saturday morning before my long run. My hope is the unexpected caffeine powers me through my run and I think for the most part it works.

What's happening lately, however...

Read More