Last week was the first week in a really long time that I actually kept to my workout schedule. Tuesday was my track day, and I actually went to the track. I ran 6x400m intervals with 400 between each one. I ran 400m in 2:25 consistently each time. That was even while having to change lanes multiple times to avoid the one runner running the wrong way on the track, and another man who was walking the track and almost seemed to be bird watching. I was actually impressed with my time. I hate track, but it was nice to get a time on short distances.
On Thursday, I decided to see what my current time would be for 3 miles. I hadn't really timed a 3 mile run in several months. At first I was a little embarrassed to be pushing myself so hard on the public roads. I was sweating profusely due to the heat and huffing and puffing my way along. As I rounded my last corner and headed up my street, there was a man and his son walking on the sidewalk. At first, I didn't think they were going to give way and after 3 miles of running I wasn't sure I would make it around them, thankfully at the last second the father stepped aside and let me pass. I made it to my front lawn, and almost made a dive for the grass, but decided against it since they were right behind me. I ran 3 miles, estimated by mapmyrun.com, in 38:08. It wasn't my best time, but certainly better than I likely would've done 5 year ago.
Saturday was my long run. I was supposed to start at 7:30AM and run 8 miles. But I was counting on my inability to sleep past 6:30 lately to get me out of bed. I woke up at 6:30, but immediately fell back asleep and woke up at 7:30AM. I was late from the moment I climbed out of bed and we had a birthday party later that day so I had to get running, literally. I wanted to run my eight miles on a trail and I needed liquids and food to start so by the time I made it to my run start it was 8:10AM. After much trial and error with hydration systems for longer distances, I have finally had success with the hydration backpack. The other nice thing about it is there are plenty of pockets for keys, phone, nutrition, etc. I put on my fabulous backpack and headed out on my run. Thankfully, unlike the rest of the country we are not experiencing the extreme humidity and heat here in California, so the temperature was quite mild in the low 60s when I started. My currently long distance plan is a 3:1 run:walk. It is the only run:walk plan that I have been able to maintain from beginning to end of my run, and it is working fairly well for me. I have my phone setup for the interval and I turn on my GPS run tracker and then shove it in the pocket of my backpack. There are two different bells for the run and walk portions and I have learned that it works best if I don't watch the time during my run. On Saturday I ran my 8 miles in 1:51:05. I was happy with that, and rushed home at a little after 10AM to shower and head to the birthday party.
Monday, July 25, 2011
Friday, July 15, 2011
My best friend's disease ...
My best friend has CVID, Common variable immunodeficiency. I've learned a lot about this disease in the last year or so that I never even knew existed before she was diagnosed. And that's kind of the thing, unless you are directly affected by it most people don't even know this disease exists.
I have done a few seasons with Team in Training and I think the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society is a great cause which I have no problem fundrasing for, but everyone knows about cancer and Leukemia. Anytime I mention my best friend and her disease, I have to explain it. It's not AIDs, but it is an immune deficiency, and it's not an STD or something she caused. At least with a disease like cancer, all you have to do is say cancer and people sort of get it. With CVID or Cystic Fibrosis (which my son has), it takes an explanation of the disease before people start to understand. I often go out in public with her and she wears a surgical mask to help protect her from germs. She is always getting looks from people. They just don't understand. She's not SARS paranoid or just a germaphobe, a simple cold to someone else can be so much more serious for her.
I admit when I first met her I thought she was a hypochondriac. How could you not? She was always sick with something. Even doctors told her, that her illnesses are her imagination, or due to anxiety. But if you spend time with her. You start to see. When she was really sick, she looked really weak and sometimes could barely talk for long periods. Most recently she has been feeling better. She has looked healthier and happier than I think most of the time I've known her. This is due to being diagnosed, and getting treatment.
This is a very difficult disease. It's not easily explained and certainly not easily treated. But my best friend inspires me. She is generally a happy person. She has made the best of a bad situation. It would be so easy to crawl in a hole, but she fights. She is one of the strongest people I know.
I have done a few seasons with Team in Training and I think the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society is a great cause which I have no problem fundrasing for, but everyone knows about cancer and Leukemia. Anytime I mention my best friend and her disease, I have to explain it. It's not AIDs, but it is an immune deficiency, and it's not an STD or something she caused. At least with a disease like cancer, all you have to do is say cancer and people sort of get it. With CVID or Cystic Fibrosis (which my son has), it takes an explanation of the disease before people start to understand. I often go out in public with her and she wears a surgical mask to help protect her from germs. She is always getting looks from people. They just don't understand. She's not SARS paranoid or just a germaphobe, a simple cold to someone else can be so much more serious for her.
I admit when I first met her I thought she was a hypochondriac. How could you not? She was always sick with something. Even doctors told her, that her illnesses are her imagination, or due to anxiety. But if you spend time with her. You start to see. When she was really sick, she looked really weak and sometimes could barely talk for long periods. Most recently she has been feeling better. She has looked healthier and happier than I think most of the time I've known her. This is due to being diagnosed, and getting treatment.
This is a very difficult disease. It's not easily explained and certainly not easily treated. But my best friend inspires me. She is generally a happy person. She has made the best of a bad situation. It would be so easy to crawl in a hole, but she fights. She is one of the strongest people I know.
Tuesday, July 12, 2011
Vacation and Running
I've been a little MIA lately. We went on vacation. Before you ask why are we vacationing while my husband is unemployed, it was to my parents house. Which is cheaper than being at home since we don't have to buy the food and we drive my parents cars. Alex spent most of the time we were there in the pool. He loved it.
I ran 4 of the 7 days we were there. I think that's the most I've run in one week and it was in some of the hottest weather I've ever run in. The first day, I didn't listen to my mother, who told me I needed to get up at 6AM, and woke up late and didn't start my run until 7AM. I regretted that decision. By the end of my run at 8AM, it was already 100 degrees and the sun was beating down on my head as I ran the last mile. I also finished my water bladder with about 10 minutes left in my run. Not such a great first run on vacation. Lesson learned by day two. I packed another 20 oz of water and I got up earlier and was running by 6:30AM. Still not the 6AM my mother suggested, but better than starting at 7AM. I also ran into the sun on my way out so on my way back the sun was behind me. I finished my run at 7:30AM and it was a mere 93 degrees and ended with 10oz of water left. The last two runs were similar to the second one and I improved each day running the 4 miles in a little less time each day. This means I should be in great shape to run at home where the peak temperature is less than it was when I got up in the morning in Scottsdale.
I ran 4 of the 7 days we were there. I think that's the most I've run in one week and it was in some of the hottest weather I've ever run in. The first day, I didn't listen to my mother, who told me I needed to get up at 6AM, and woke up late and didn't start my run until 7AM. I regretted that decision. By the end of my run at 8AM, it was already 100 degrees and the sun was beating down on my head as I ran the last mile. I also finished my water bladder with about 10 minutes left in my run. Not such a great first run on vacation. Lesson learned by day two. I packed another 20 oz of water and I got up earlier and was running by 6:30AM. Still not the 6AM my mother suggested, but better than starting at 7AM. I also ran into the sun on my way out so on my way back the sun was behind me. I finished my run at 7:30AM and it was a mere 93 degrees and ended with 10oz of water left. The last two runs were similar to the second one and I improved each day running the 4 miles in a little less time each day. This means I should be in great shape to run at home where the peak temperature is less than it was when I got up in the morning in Scottsdale.
Monday, June 27, 2011
Unemployment
My husband lost his job last Monday. I've spent the last week trying to figure out what to say about this in a public forum. To say I'm frustrated would be an understatement. Other people saw it coming, but my husband went along in bliss, just ignoring that there was a problem. So here we are trying to figure out how to live on one income when we couldn't afford our expenses on two incomes.
We are presently 25,000 in debt, partly from dental work for my husband, partly from traveling, and partly from just plain overspending. We have a 4000 a month mortgage, yes, that's 4 grand. That's probably more than many people make a month and that's our mortgage. We also have a two year old, and well, that isn't cheap either.
I've at least come to terms with our circumstances, and my husband is out there searching for a job. So hopefully this comes to a conclusion soon, because we won't survive more than about 6 months on one income.
We are presently 25,000 in debt, partly from dental work for my husband, partly from traveling, and partly from just plain overspending. We have a 4000 a month mortgage, yes, that's 4 grand. That's probably more than many people make a month and that's our mortgage. We also have a two year old, and well, that isn't cheap either.
I've at least come to terms with our circumstances, and my husband is out there searching for a job. So hopefully this comes to a conclusion soon, because we won't survive more than about 6 months on one income.
Monday, June 20, 2011
Drug shortages
Five years ago I wouldn't have been able to tell you what is Mucomyst let alone Acetylcysteine. These two drugs have one purpose to thin mucus so it may be coughed up. It is a very important drug for anyone with Cystic Fibrosis. Right now, there is a nation-wide shortage of this ever so important drug. Mycomyst is the original drug, but it is no longer manufactured. The remaining drug Acetylcysteine is manufactured by three companies. One of those companies is having manufacturing contamination problems. So now it is down to two manufacturers and they can not keep up with the additional demand.
Alex takes Acetylcysteine daily to help prevent build up of mucus. He takes it more than once a day when he is sick. To this point, we have just taken it for granted that it was available. The biggest problem we've had was that they want to give it to us in 30 ml bottles, but he only takes 2ml per day and the bottle only lasts 4 days so we end up throwing out medicine when we have a 30 ml bottle. Now, I'm lucky if I can find it in any size bottle. I didn't even know there was a problem until last month when I went to pick up his refill from Walgreens. They didn't even bother to let me know about the backorder until I showed up. They just had their automated system call me and tell me there had been a delay in one of the medications. Then when I showed up, the pharmacist just stated it so matter of factly that it was on back order until at least July. Uh, no. He needs this every day, and we are low. After a little convincing, she called another pharmacy and found it. But when I showed up to pick it up, they only had 30 ml bottles, that would only last us 2 weeks. This pharmacist was much faster to react. She called around until she found the right medication for my son. Walgreens just lost a customer. Unfortunately, the pharmacy that had the drug was closing, but they would have it for me the next day. It took 3 pharmacies and a few hours to get the Acetylcysteine last month, and that was only a one month supply.
Alex takes Acetylcysteine daily to help prevent build up of mucus. He takes it more than once a day when he is sick. To this point, we have just taken it for granted that it was available. The biggest problem we've had was that they want to give it to us in 30 ml bottles, but he only takes 2ml per day and the bottle only lasts 4 days so we end up throwing out medicine when we have a 30 ml bottle. Now, I'm lucky if I can find it in any size bottle. I didn't even know there was a problem until last month when I went to pick up his refill from Walgreens. They didn't even bother to let me know about the backorder until I showed up. They just had their automated system call me and tell me there had been a delay in one of the medications. Then when I showed up, the pharmacist just stated it so matter of factly that it was on back order until at least July. Uh, no. He needs this every day, and we are low. After a little convincing, she called another pharmacy and found it. But when I showed up to pick it up, they only had 30 ml bottles, that would only last us 2 weeks. This pharmacist was much faster to react. She called around until she found the right medication for my son. Walgreens just lost a customer. Unfortunately, the pharmacy that had the drug was closing, but they would have it for me the next day. It took 3 pharmacies and a few hours to get the Acetylcysteine last month, and that was only a one month supply.
Wednesday, June 15, 2011
Roller Coaster Ride
On Friday, I was told that I was going to be offered the job I had interviewed for and it included a promotion. I was ecstatic. It isn't that I don't like my job, but I've been doing it for 6 years and I was ready for something new. Then yesterday, just 5 days later, I was told the job requisition was being frozen because the company is going through layoffs. It was a total roller coaster ride. I just wish they had never told me the job was mine. I had told people, I had told my lead. My manager already knew. I feel like I'm totally screwed. My manager knows that I'm itching for a promotion, but I don't want her to think I'm not happy. Ugh what a mess.
To top it off, I did an assessment of our current finances to figure out that in the last year that we have accrued $25K in credit card debt. No, it did not just happen overnight, so many things have contributed. One year ago we bought a new house that is testing our ability to stay on budget. Well we have proven we are not so good at it. I was putting away money for the property taxes, but they were higher than I calculated so we were short. I put it on the credit card. That just added to the debt already there, ranging from vacations to just overspending in monthly expenses.
It's been a rough few days, but hopefully it will get better. Hopefully, I am not part of the layoffs. That would really suck, going from having two jobs, to having no job.
To top it off, I did an assessment of our current finances to figure out that in the last year that we have accrued $25K in credit card debt. No, it did not just happen overnight, so many things have contributed. One year ago we bought a new house that is testing our ability to stay on budget. Well we have proven we are not so good at it. I was putting away money for the property taxes, but they were higher than I calculated so we were short. I put it on the credit card. That just added to the debt already there, ranging from vacations to just overspending in monthly expenses.
It's been a rough few days, but hopefully it will get better. Hopefully, I am not part of the layoffs. That would really suck, going from having two jobs, to having no job.
Thursday, June 9, 2011
Not so Vegan...
I did really good at the whole Vegan thing for a few days, then came pizza and lasagna on Tuesday and a latte with milk on Wednesday. I stayed vegetarian, but that whole cheese and milk thing is hard. I have absolutely no will power when it comes to cheese, I want to, I really do, but when it's just staring me in the face, I am terrible. I never really thought about how hard it is to avoid cheese. Restaurants stick cheese on everything from your salad to your burrito. It's hard to say, "can I just get a bean burrito", it doesn't even sound good, no meat, no cheese.
However, I am learning not to mind skipping those things when at home. We made mushroom Stroganoff last night with soymilk and fresh wheat fettucini. Other than being a little too thick (should've added more vegetable stock) it was really, really good. I've also learned to really love hummus. Yes, i know, it's just beans, but add some garlic and jalapeno and it's pretty good. So I guess that's progress.
However, I am learning not to mind skipping those things when at home. We made mushroom Stroganoff last night with soymilk and fresh wheat fettucini. Other than being a little too thick (should've added more vegetable stock) it was really, really good. I've also learned to really love hummus. Yes, i know, it's just beans, but add some garlic and jalapeno and it's pretty good. So I guess that's progress.
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