Elaine and Her Rope Toy

Happy CeCe

CeCe was happy this morning. She was eager to run outside, not stiff as before. Had to take her in early though as the noise from the construction across the street was freaking her out.

Running with a Cough (& Christmas Run)

I still have that nasty cough. Interestingly, the cough does not bother me at all during the run. But as soon as I stop, wham! cough my lungs out.

Oddly, tonight's run gave me my fastest pace for a 5K.
Time: 34:38
Distance: 3.11 mi
Steps: 5299 (setting for 37" per stride)
Pace: 5.39 mph (11.09 min / mi)

I also ran Christmas evening (before the nieces and nephews arrive). It was only a short 2 miler but it was nice since I was able to run at a faster pace (for me). I may need to do these shorter runs more often to work on my speed.
Time: 23:29
Distance: 2.16 mi (Tech 4o calculated it to 2.029 miles, w/stride length at 36")
Steps: 3573 (stride length 38" for this run!)
Pace: 5.52 mph (10:53! min / mi)

Merry Christmas!

Caught in the act. Elaine went digging around the packaging and got the sticky side of a bow on her collar. Got my Treo to record her playing but she stopped when she saw me approaching. She sat up with the "what did I do?" expression. Couldn't resist the almost perfect holiday camera-phone moment, complete with the red bow. In many ways, Elaine is one of my gifts --- and not just for today. Blessings are all around us. Sometimes we're too busy searching to actually see and appreciate what's in front of us.

Merry Christmas, everyone!

CeCe - Christmas Morning

CeCe is not as stiff and not overly reacting to external stimuli today (which is good). Took the opportunity to clean her up a bit. We had not been able to clean her much (other than wet towel wipes) this past week since we had to minimize her handling to avoid causing her to seize and stiffen up on us.

Good to see her slowly but steadily improving. Click on image to enlarge.

Rudolph Running

I got home a little later than I had planned -- it being Christmas Eve and all. The family was still chaotic, my youngest brother had not arrived with his family yet. Following the don't think about it plan, I asked Priscilla if she wanted to go for a run.

She was finishing up her presents and cards but she was ready for a break. Lil' Bro arrived as we were about to take off so we stayed a little to greet them. Gosh, how the boys have grown! Then off we went.

Andre, my nephew (Priscilla's younger brother), was cool to lend me his bike light. It clips onto my iFitness belt and is visible through my tank top.It worked quite well; I may look into getting one for these evening runs. Sis wanted me to wear the light on my nose a la Rudolph. I am not that crazy :)

CeCe - Best Part of the Morning

CeCe continues to improve. The tetanus still makes it difficult for her to open her mouth wide to eat on her own. But, as you can see, she does superbly well when handfed. We slice the canned food into pieces that would easily go in her mouth.

Running Partner

Tonight was a first for me --- running with a partner :)
My niece, Priscilla, is home for the holidays. She runs most mornings at UC, about 2 miles every morning. She was game to come running with me even though she has never ran 3 miles before. We had a good run. She held her pace back a little, I'm sure. We still ran faster than I ever did for this route --- 11:21 min mi :) (did I say I am slow?).

A running partner is nice. I kept going in places where I knew i would have slowed down if I was on my own. I was also glad to see that she had a good work-out also. Part of me thought the run would be too easy for her --- it was easy the first 2 miles then she had to work harder for the last one. I'm glad to see her in such good shape though. No one in the family (other than moi) runs so it was a pleasant surprise to see her running.

Time: 35:30
Distance: 3.13 mi (Tech 4o calculated it to 3.11 miles, not bad)
Steps: 5474 (stride length 36" in setting)
Pace: 5.29 mph (11.21 min / mi)

I thanked my sister for having Priscilla when she was relatively young --- so that my niece is old enough to go running with me (and I'm still young enough to do so!).

Don't Think About It

That was close. For a moment, it looked as though I was not going to get another run in until Saturday or Sunday, one short of my goal of three runs a week. My last real run was on Monday. I ran a 2 miler with my niece on Tuesday as part of the family weekly walk but nothing since then.

Coming home from work today, I thought about doing an evening run but I did not get home until after 7:30 pm. I considered not running and just doing it tomorrow instead. I wavered back and forth during the walk in from the car. The sky was clear. The air was cool and crisp. Holiday lights were up. Got into the house and decided to go for the run. Not slowing down to give myself a chance to change my mind again, I changed and laced up my shoes and head out the door. It was a beautiful run.

Time: 35:50
Distance: 3.13 mi
Steps: 5503 *** stride length 36" in setting
Pace: 5.24 mph (11.27 min / mi)

My legs tired soon after mile 1. Not sure if it's due to low energy since I had not eaten much the whole day. But my breathing was great, nice and easy.

I love my Tech 4o watch. It was right on with the mileage. I'm going to keep the setting at 36" for the running stride for now. It's good to see my time improving even though my legs were tired.

So looks like I'll meet my goal of 3 runs this week (4 if counting the 2 miler). We have a family gathering on Sunday but I should be able to get a run in late at night. The trick is not to think about it. If I wavered back and forth then the reasons for NOT running were probably not that important. Don't dwell on whether it's a good idea or not to run. Don't give yourself a chance to talk yourself out of a run.

Don't think about it. Just run.

Too Well to Pose

Thumper is recovering amazingly well. His kidney values are stable with only the canned KD food. He still has a small lump by the right underarm but gradually decreasing in size. I cannot explain how he is doing so well. I'll take it though, no questions. Just glad that the little guy is doing so well. As you can see, he is too well to hold still for pictures now!

Miko Beanie Kept Me Warm for Post-C25K Run

Did my first post-C25K run this morning. Feels kinda weird running without a real plan. I need to work on a schedule soon to keep up with the running. I can feel the temptation to slack off now that there's no timeline. I want to continue with the 3 runs a week. Actually, I would like to run more often but it seems I'm still too sore to run every other day. Plus, I learned from today's run that I need to work on my legs; maybe some cross-training. Cardio-wise, the run was easy --- was not out of breath; breathing was nice and steady. But my legs were tired after 2 miles. Think I'll hit the gym for some weight work-out.

Time: 34:28
Distance: 3.1 mi
Steps: 5380 *** stride length was 37" this run; not very consistent, considering increase to 36" in setting
Pace: 5.4 mph (11.08 min / mi) --- my fastest pace for 5K thus far!

Stopped twice: once to re-tie shoelaces and once about 20 sec at stoplight.

Was cold this morning. Ran with my Miko Beanie (got on clearance at Sport Authority); kept me warm. Love the beanie. It has an opening at the top for my ponytail.

Overall, it was a good run. I like running early in the morning but it does put me behind schedule for everything else. Didn't get to the clinic until almost 9 am.

Will try to do 2 more runs this week. Fingers crossed.

Cat's in the Cradle

Danika starting early on her college fund.

I don't have kids (the 2-legged kinds) and don't really plan on having any. I have nothing against kids; just know that I'm not up to that commitment.

Love my nieces and nephews to pieces :). Actually, I love most kids --- as long as they are OPKs (other people's kids).

Danika reminded me why I love kids --- and why I don't have any.

I try to spend time with her after work. She would ask me to play with her while I'm eating dinner. Sure, honey, I'll play with you after dinner. But only for a little bit, ok? I still have work to do.

While I'm at the computer, she wants to read me a story. OK, hon, can we make it a quick one?

She wants to play tea party. Sure, hon, but make it quick.

You see, I thought I was being a good Auntie. Playing and spending time with her. Making time in my schedule for her. Then it dawned on me. That's no way for a kid to grow up. She should grow up knowing that she is an important part of your world, not some responsibility that you have to squeeze in between your work schedule or social life.

Earlier tonight, it was freezing in our house. I was working at the computer, shivering in my Snuggie (yes, I have a Snuggie) when Danika walked by. I grabbed her and said, "Brrr, it's cold. How about a hug to warm us up?"

She smiled sweetly and replied, "OK, but make it quick."

She's not even 4 years old yet.
The things they pick up from us.

I gave her a quick hug and let her go.
Cats in the Cradle played in my mind.

See why I don't plan to have kids? I feel this bad when she's my niece; imagine if I have kids of my own!

C25K Graduation!

Yeah! Today's run was the graduation run for C25K. I finished the 9-weeks program and can now run 5K (3.1 miles) non-stop. I'm still slow; takes me about 37 minutes to run the 3.1 miles (about 11.5 min mile). But just think, 2 months ago, I couldn't even run 2 minutes without huffing-n-puffing.

I wish the week has been good and the run was filled with happy thoughts. Unfortunately, this week was a continuation of last week with some more losses to cancer. It's always difficult for the families but it must be more so during the holidays. At times, my hugs at the end feel so inadequate. Some have families to share the sorrow; some are by themselves. The elderly clients living alone are the ones who get to me the most. Sigh.

I ran after work. It was around dinner time. The local market must have had a fish special or something --- fried fish was the predominant smell tonight. Not nice at all. The run did not feel as good as the last one. My right knee felt too loose most of the run; did not settle into a stride. Oh well, guess some runs will be eh.
Time: 37.0
Distance: 3.13 mi
Steps: 5617 *** stride length was 35" this run; will leave the setting at 35" for now.
Pace: 5.08 mph (11.50 min / mi)

My right knee is still a little sore. First time that I have problem with it since I overdid things in October. To make matter worse, my form was all off because I was trying to compensate for the right knee. I'll take it easy and see how it feels this weekend; sort of want to start my post-C25K run this Saturday but will postpone if the knee does not feel right.

I plan to continue running 2-3 times a week (3 is ideal but some weeks are crazy) and want to improve my speed so I can then increase distance. With a current pace of 11.5, I have plenty of room to improve :)

C25K W9D2

I thought of taking Kobi with me but he had other ideas :)

It was freezing this morning; temperature must have been under 40F, which is cold for us. I had wanted to do W9D2 today. Felt a little bad that I chose to do the run instead of the walk with Mom & Sis --- that walk was scheduled for yesterday but we got rained out. I think Mom was hoping we do the walk today. I was up early and just could not wait for Sis to get up. OK, that's just an excuse. I wanted to do the run.

I head out without the heart monitor again. I liked the non-restricted feeling and think I finally can judge my effort now. I tried leaning forward a little more from the ankle; faster pace without much extra effort. I think I've been off on my running form. I was so focused on the tilting-pelvis-upward --- leveling the pelvis --- that I think I was actually leaning or holding myself back a little. I must be tilting it wrong or something. Anyway, I relaxed the tilting a little and things felt more natural. Must have helped since I finished the 3.14 miles in less time than before.

Time: 35.37
Distance: 3.14 mi
Steps: 5493 *** seems I maintained the increased stride from 35" to 36"; will adjust my setting.
Pace: 5.29 mph (11.21 min / mi)

Felt good. I think I could have gone longer. Which lead me to think about what I want to do after the graduation run later this week. At first, I was going to do the One Hour Runner or Gateway to 8K. But both are based on time. I prefer planning & mapping my runs by distance. So I may make my own schedule based on the One Hour Runner (i.e. instead of 30 min 3 times a week, I would do 3.1 miles 3 times a week, etc...). I'm thinking of keeping the first 2 runs of the week at about 3.1 to 3.5 miles and work on improving my speed and increase the distance gradually as my speed improves. The third run of the week will be the longer distance one where I gradually increase from 3.1 to 6.2 miles (10K). At this time, I don't plan to go past 10K as I can't realistically set aside over 75 minutes of running time a day. I'll just work on improving speed. Once I can run faster, I can add more distance.

Exciting that I'm about done with C25K!

First Rain is not Elaine's Friend

It's been pouring since this morning. Elaine is not much of a rain girl.

She didn't know what to do; just stood there frozen.

Then she realized the quicker she does her morning business, the sooner she gets back inside.

We waited for the rain to stop so we can go outside. But no such luck; it was raining even harder than this morning. Decided to dig out the reflective coat we got last year for the late night walks.

Don't think Elaine is too pleased even with the coat :)

Thumper's Feeling Better

Thumper continues to improve and is now up and prowling for his food.

The swelling by his right front shoulder and underarm is not as painful as last week. The warm compress seems to help. He's a good sport and tolerating (dare I say enjoying?) the warm compresses 2-3 times a day. Did the aspirate and no purulence so not an abscess as I feared. Seems to be more of an inflammatory reaction. Just worried that it seems to surround the lymph node. We'll give him some more time since the swelling has gotten smaller and he's improving. Hope we don't have to explore it.

W9D1 Run. Finally.

5K of silence but for the passing cars & my breathing.Alone w/the sounds of my footfalls & thoughts for a woman missing sweet baby tonight.

I finally managed to get the W9D1 run done tonight. I was not sure what to expect since I had not ran since Tuesday morning. I know, that's not even 4 full days between runs but, hey, I'm a baby runner. I've been following the C25K plan with 3 running days a week (except when I was injured / sick). Maybe I thought I would backslide running just 2 days this week.

What a feeling to learn that's not so. Tonight's 5K was even easier than my accidental one last week. I ran the same route and did not have the problem on the upslope. Tonight was also the first time I ran without the heart monitor -- it was great not having that restrictive band across my chest. I confess, the heart monitor was my security blanket in many ways. I was never good at judging pain and listening to my body so I was worried about overdoing it in the beginning. The heart monitor was a way for me to gauge my effort so I don't keel over dead on the street :)

Without the distraction of checking my heart rate, I must have fallen into an easy pace and kept it up the whole run. I finished the 3.13 miles almost 30 seconds faster tonight!
Time: 36.43
Distance: 3.13 mi
Steps: 5505 *** seems I increased my stride from 35" to 36" for this run; progress!
Pace: 5.11 mph (11.44 min / mi)

It was a quiet, cool night for the run. I hit a nice pace and was able to think about the day. It was a busy day --- make that a crazy week. Ended the day with humane euthanasia of a dog with an inoperable tumor that had finally compromised her quality of life. We knew the day was coming; actually thought it would come sooner than today. The diagnosis was made over a year ago but we were able to maintain good quality of life for her with pain management. In many ways, she lived as though nothing was wrong --- "ignorance" is a blessing for our patients --- until the tumor got too big and impaired her bodily function. Much as it saddened us and pained her human companion, it was time for farewell.

We can prepare all we want, make our checklist of things to monitor, etc... but I've come to believe that it's almost impossible to ever be ready for that moment. And that there's never a right time. Just because it was time does not necessarily mean it was the right time. How could there ever be a right time for something like that?

No Running :(

My last run was on Tuesday (sounds like a confession, eh?). I had planned to run last night and when that didn't pan out, I thought I'd try this morning. But no luck there. It has been 14+ hour days this week at work and am having problems fitting in my runs. I was looking forward to starting Week 9. I am still slow so a 3.1 mile run takes at least 35 minutes; add the stretching and showers (my co-workers would appreciate that, I'm sure) and I need to budget 90 minutes to do the run in the morning and get to work on time. So far, it's not happening :(

I was doing the runs in the evening last week but has not finished with work until after 10 pm this week. By then, safety concerns kept me inside. So I thought of getting up early for pre-work runs. Well, I didn't wake up until 5 this morning; not enough time to do the run and get to work by 6 am. It's a catch-22. I need to go to bed earlier to get up in time for the morning runs. But I can't get to bed early because of work. Besides, if I get done with work early, I would just do my runs in the evenings then, not go to bed so I can get up early :)! Maybe I should reconsider the treadmill at night. Sigh.

C25K W8D3

I really like my Tech 4o watch. It took some fine tuning but after the second adjustment to the stride length, I think it's pretty accurate for a non-GPS device. Tech 4o got the mileage at 2.83 miles, compared to the 2.82 miles from the map.

I head out early this morning for the 2.8 mile W8D3 run. It's a route around my parent's home in OC. It was cold this morning (for me) so breathing hurts a little at first. It wasn't until mile 2 that breathing was easier and the legs were moving smoothly. I found myself leaning forward at the waist and had to make a conscious effort to tilt my pelvis and lean from the ankles.

If only I can start feeling how I feel at the last quarter of the run earlier in the run, that would be great! I was worried about running this morning since it was the shortest time between runs since recovering from my knee pain. I ran the 5K the night before last so was worried it was too soon. But it was the few chance I have to run in the morning so I took it and hoped for the best. It worked out well.

Time: 33.41
Distance: 2.82 mi
Steps: 5127
Pace: 5.02 mph (11.57 min / mi)
Min HR: 80 bpm
Ave HR: 161 bpm (89% MHR)
Max HR: 168 bpm (93% MHR)

The wiring in my reflective armband got too bent (stuffed in my gym bag) so the blinking red lights are malfunctioning. May have to get a new night light for the late night runs. At least the armband is still reflective.

I felt good at the end of the run and know I can do the 3 miles in week 9. I plan to make it 3.1 miles because I like the way 5K sounds :) The trick is getting through the first 1.75 miles --- everything is so difficult those first 20 minutes; breathing and strides are labored. Then, as if a switch is thrown at 2 miles, everything comes together and the rest of the run is almost effortless.

Hopefully, those struggling 20 minutes dwindle with time and training.

Found another newbie runner to follow for inspiration (and sympathy!). In addition to marshmallowrunner and runningman, there's now runnoobrun. I still check in the C25K forum but try not to so often because it tends to eat up the time and I don't get any work done. Selecting some blogs to follow helps cut down the web-surfing procrastinating time.