TOL - Life Lately - Just Keep on Swimming

Happy Thursday!!! Linking up with Amanda per usual, thanks for hosting! I have been a day ahead all week in my thinking so glad that the end is almost near. Also if you make it through this entire, picture-less, long post, you are awesome. 

I feel like I am due for some life updates around here! Things have been a little…hard for lack of a better word lately. 

I don’t throw my personal life too too out there, but at the beginning of March my dad had 3 minor and 1 major stroke. It was one of scariest times in my life, flying down to Florida (where they are for the winter) and seeing him that first time was pretty heartbreaking. I was down there for about a week (which coincidentally was the same week my BF and I were going down for Spring Training and Disney so…good timing?) and by the end he was a lot better which was comforting but it is going to be a long long road. 

He was released after 5 weeks to go home Friday, which was a very rough adjustment since he is not walking and has some other complications. Which lead to Monday a frantic text from Mom and he was back in the hospital. As I tried to navigate that at work I 100% couldn’t hold in my emotions and let’s just say open floor plans are not your friend in an emotional crisis. Thankfully I have a wonderful work team. He is now back home again and we have around the clock care which should hopefully help both him and my mom. 

In the midst of this I get my April rent bill and my rent went up by $109 a month mid lease (due to an MCI improvement which they are backdating payment for). No one was willing to discuss with me, and I may have pulled a very irrational and unusual move for me and I put in my notice to move. LOL. Luckily, I found an apartment immediately and am signing a lease this weekend! Two blocks away for $300 less per month, so take that WPH Apartments. They are the worst. But happy to pay less, even with a broker fee will save $2000 over the next 12 months so YAY. So not the most ideal situation but I couldn’t take it. My rent has gone up by $334 a month since December 2014. Ludicrous. 

So now I am moving! 

I am also getting my drivers license all over again. I let my NJ license lapse for years and now have to redo the whole process again in NY. I also needed a SS card which I have never had so put it off. Turns out getting a card is SO easy. 

So I took the permit test, passed, took the 5 hour class, and now am waiting to take the road test…and then should be getting a car! <— I cannot wait, I have really been dying to have one to make life easier for a while. 

A lot has been going on and that is without the aside of work which has been going well, I’ve been expanding my horizons on new projects in different areas which is fun! 

I am also working a freelance project on the side, which YAY extra money but also…extra work. Because I do not work enough as it is, right?

I had a Remicade appointment this week, and had to push it a week because I basically had the plague and they wouldn’t let me get it – and feel lucky enough that my health is in a good place where (knock on wood) I am okay waiting that week. 

And then there is running. I am still doing it. Still not “seriously” training. My 5K PR made me kind of want to gun it in the half but I just don’t feel like working hard. I have a half this Sunday which should be a good test of fitness but it is also going to be a high of 80 and I don’t think my body is adapted to run hard in the warm weather yet. I haven’t been running with my garmin lately just my fitbit – and I don’t look at paces until after and lately I have been overestimating my paces (ex. Thinking I am running a 10/mile and really running 9:20) so who knows what is possible. Would be happy just to be sub 2 and see if I can expand upon it. But also I kind of don’t care. I basically want to PR without REALLY having to do work. LOL. That’s how it works, right? 

And that is more or less life in a nutshell. 

Things I am looking forward to: Paris next month AND becoming and Aunt for the first time! So those are two VERY exciting things on the horizon. 

Health Stuff: Crohn's + IBS Diagnosis

Hello there and TGIF! 

I am going to start off with something that warms my heart every morning.

This beautiful golden retriever loves the train. She gets super excited, all over wiggles, when it comes into the station, and her owner brings her every morning to watch. And her rain coat today was just on point. #allthefeels for this duo.

I have been waiting a little while to write an update but finally have some good, and bad news. 

Towards the end of January as I was due for my Remicade infusion I started to feel not so great. I figured it was the Crohn’s and my body was ready for the infusion. Plus the stress from finding out my company is closing. I told my doc (new one at the practice my original one left and I decided to stay) and she mentioned my dose had been reduced from the max. 

When things weren’t getting better I assumed it was due to the dose being lowered. 

Insert blood tests, scopes and a ct scan later…and the good news is, the Remicade has knocked the life out of the disease! As in the doctor who did my CT asked if I was sure I had it. And considering how severe it was this time last year that is AMAZING news. 

Side note: I don’t think I will ever want lemonade again after having to drink like 100oz of this stuff:

The bad news is, as my GI suspected, I am now presenting with IBS (which isn’t all too uncommon with IBD patients). 

She put me on medication, Librax, which is supposed to help with the muscle spasms and I have to say I am feeling a little improvement. 

But, this also means learning trigger foods which shall be a giant (and not so fun) undertaking. 

I got VERY comfortable and felt so good for a while that I loosened up on my food “rules” (part of why I wasn’t really believing it was IBS vs a flare since this came out of the blue again) but now am reigning it all back in. 

I am doing research and linking up with the RD at my GI practice for some help, but I know it means backing off some veggies, very minimal lactose and sugar/processed foods. I won’t be going gluten free. Gluten has never been an issue for me and I have tested for celiac a couple times already. I don’t eat a ton anyway but I know that isn’t my problem.

I have a half marathon next weekend which I had high hopes for. At the moment I am not sure I will be able to race it if my gut is not cooperating so it may be more for fun but we shall see. 


At least I have a pretty new bright pair of Kinvara’s to run in. 

So there we have it.  I am bummed for something else to figure out but honestly I would rather this than to know my Crohn's is flaring. 

Some Life Lately Updates

Happy Turkey Week!

I am actually not really a fan of the whole Thanksgiving stuff yourself theme but I am happy that this year my parents are still in NJ so we are having a Thanksgiving at our house here instead of trying to get to Florida.

My sister was married last weekend and so they stuck around a bit longer for the holiday. They jet off a day after. Sadly my one sis is on her honeymoon so will be missed but we have the majority.

My lovely Fam with the newlyweds 

Just some random ramblings since I haven’t posted much lately.

First off haven’t mentioned much lately but on the Crohn’s front things are good. My last Remicade appointment my doctor had received approval for a double dose and within a day or so the lingering symptoms seem to have disappeared. Next week I get my next dose and seems we have made it the full 8 weeks! Folks, I think this is remission.

Also saw my hematologist last week and waiting for final lab results but iron levels seem improved as well (mostly expected since the bleeding has stopped). Still feeling tired but I think that whole shortened days lots of darkness isn’t really helping the anemia.

Second let’s talk running! I ran both 5K and 10K PR’s. Feels pretty good to have some speed back in my legs. I got my half marathon time down to 2:02 and had planned to run one more in a couple weeks to see if I could break 2.

I’m on the fence. I have had some lingering hamstring issues since that HM and also some motivation issues from long runs. I think if the race is still available a couple days out and the weather isn’t frigid I will go for it but am holding back on that registration.

However I am running the NOLA Rock ‘n’ Roll Half at the end of February with the CCFA team and am going to be gunning for a PR. Now if only this hamstring will sort itself out. It isn’t hurt/pain necessarily but it is annoying. I have cut back on my mileage and amount of days running but it seems the longer/harder efforts definitely aggravate it.

And finally, I am getting close to my vacation countdown. I am heading on a week long cruise and then spending the following several days in Florida with my parents. It is my longest holiday and time taken off work EVER (kind of ridiculous at 34) and I am so ready. Any cruise tips that I should know of?

Hope everyone is enjoying a nice shortened week. I am ready to run a nice Thanksgiving Day 5 Miler (SO happy for longer than a 5K) then bust a move to NJ to be with the family.

This year I am so very thankful to have regained my health and to have my family near – that is what the holiday is about! 

A Little 'Crohn's Life' Update

Happy Friday people!

So I have been putting off an update because things are kind of up in the air right now with this whole Crohn’s thing.

The short story is, I am still not in remission as a scope last week confirmed.

The other part of this is, that I am feeling the best that I have felt in year(s).

Like, seriously – can we just look at how much I am running these days? Team no rest days over here. (I am taking one Sunday I know I know I need to – and a day of Vineyard Touring is a perfect excuse, am I right?).

 On track for another 40+ mile week once I do my long run tomorrow

And OUTSIDE.

These morning views, be still my heart. I have missed waking to the sun rise and pounding the pavement.

I honestly don’t know what “remission” will feel like or if I will ever go a day the rest of my life without feeling a little “off” at some point. What I do know is that if the way I am feeling on a daily basis the past few weeks is how I could continue to feel; I am okay with that.

I am tapering off of prednisone finally after a couple months back on it, since it wasn’t effective. But I still have bleeding in my lower GI which is frustrating, so I am on a new steroid. So there is that.

I have a remicade infusion next week – and don’t seem to have any serious breakthrough symptoms which is fantastic I think. BUT the bleeding part has my doctor considering an antibody test to see if the remicade is still the best course of action to continue.

Honestly, I am scared to go off of the remicade or switch because I feel well so to me it seems like it is working (he has another drug that is also infused that he would consider instead). But apparently you can’t have internal bleeding and ulcers forever or cancer risks are raised, sigh.

Also the iron infusions have worked WONDERS. I go back to my hematologist today for an update and probably one more infusion since there is still bleeding but my hair has stopped falling out in clumps and I have stopped craving ice (which I never knew was a symptom of anemia but my father the dentist is beyond happy that habit is broken!). I still need lots of sleep to function but there is definitive progress. Anemia is one hell of a bitch and happy to feel improvement.

So that is all I’ve got.

On one hand, I FEEL HEALTHY (I better pray to god I am not jinxing myself). The past 10+ months of an active flare sucked. Like royally sucked. People do not take health for granted. I think that is why I am having such a hard time taking a day off from running. I had the life sucked out of me for so long that each day I just want to embrace and the thought of being idle and not taking advantage seems absurd.

I think deep down I am fearing a relapse will happen and need to get out of that mindset. We are still figuring out how to get me to 100% and remission but for now, good lord, I am happy.

Thank you to everyone for your support, I love all the messages and kind words. More appreciated than I could even say.

What I've Been Up To Lately

I've been a bad bad blogger lately. 

Partially because my life has been pretty routine. And part because I don't really share too much of my personal life on here aka relationships which has taken up most of my free time outside of training. Gotta keep some things private right ;) 

So on the sharing front I've been holding back. But I am here and for the most part things are great! 

There was a crazy month of work - we had layoffs and while I was safe, I was also on the back end of things as far as knowing what was going on and planning for it all. One of the harder things that I have had to do professionally (side note - I do not work in HR and bless everyone who is in HR, it is TOUGH). 

Okay so lets see what HAVE I been up to exactly?

I have been base building and trying to get my running consistent. Especially important since this has happened:

After not getting into the NYCM through lottery (still considering running with TFK again). I threw my name into the Chicago Marathon - and got in. I figured, I couldn't NOT do it, so yup Marathon #4 coming at me in October. Which, is going to be an insane month I might add. First weekend one of my college BFF's is getting married, then the marathon and then a week after my running BFF is getting married - AND I am in her wedding. Hello to a packed October!! 

So for now my goal has been to hit 30 miles a week. I was signed up for more races after the NYC Half but only wound up running a couple of them. To be honest work had me beat by the weekend and I have been battling a non stop cold and exhaustion. So a couple times I woke up to less than stellar racing conditions and totally bailed. #sorrynotsorry I hate running in rain, wind and cold. 

I did however run a decent race yesterday (minus sucking at tangents) even though I could barely breathe so that made me happy. I am confident that come marathon time and fall running I am going to be ready to throw down on my PR's - if not sooner.

Newport 10K

I was covered with more snot than sweat by the end of the race. Who says running can't be sexy???

I am running another 10K this Saturday and a 4 miler Sunday - and am hoping to feel better and test some speed out better in both (although 10K will be in Central Park vs. Newport which was totally flat). And then on for what was one of my favorite races last year - Brooklyn Half Marathon!!! woo woo!!!

Minus 7:00am start time. Hello to 4am wake up.

After the NYC Half I was thinking there was a chance of PR'ing this but honestly with how work went and umm perhaps a little too much happy hour'ing I am pretty positive my body is not ready for it. But I am hoping to run a sub 2 at least. Time will tell but I am not putting pressure on myself at all. I have not been doing focused training.

Let's see what else. There has still been a lot of time spent at one of my favorites, Body Pump!!!

Stacks of weights are my favorite. As is squatting more than the men.

There has also been a lot of seeing my picture posted with TFK for the NYCM. Can't say I don't enjoy it. Must have been the bow ;)

#famous - or something like that

And then of course, it is FINALLY SEEMING LIKE SPRING. I am ready to be off the treadmill a lot more and on the streets. Yes, I like the treadmill. Yes I do double digit runs on it when the outdoor conditions are not to my specific liking. But the return of these views = sayonara treadmill and hello river runs.

Holla NYC.

Tomorrow I am kicking off an Advocare 24 day challenge - thank you to Becky for reaching out to me to join in. I am super excited to use this as a kick off for marathon training (and umm beach body mission because yes I am vain and no I am not ready for bikini season and am headed to Miami for MDW).

But more on that to come tomorrow! (what what two posts in two days - I know believe it when it happens). For now I must decide if I have either one final adult beverage or coffee before giving both up throughout the challenge. 

Decisions, decisions. 

Calm Before the Storm

I have really been bad at blogging lately...but I have just been super busy! Work is keeping me quite occupied and I have been spending as much time as possible in my downtime offline.

But, I have SO much to share this week. Marathon training kicks off today! But that is all for another post.

If you follow me on instagram, you are well aware of what I am up to.

Beach. Running. Eating.

That pretty much sums up my downtime in a nutshell.

This past week, I took it on the easier side (errr I took one rest day. woo hoo?) But in all seriousness - not a single double workout day, long run totaled 10 miles and a whopping 22 miles done overall.

I have battling a virus/cold - to the extent that I even stayed home from work last Tuesday and this darn thing is still lingering on. I am ready for it to totally move out of my system.

Especially since I head to Miami on Thursday!! Long weekend with my sister + half marathon + shenanigans = totally stoked.

And of course - Happy Father's Day to the most amazing man in my life. He is still one giant goof ball to this day and there is absolutely NO question that I am his daughter. I love this man more than words can express.

He is always there for me to support me, or give me tough love. He has let me make mistakes but been there to pick me back up. He has led by example and I owe my independent, strong willed nature to him. He has taught me to never be afraid of failure and always set your goals and self expectations as high as possible. Because of him, I am always striving for better and refuse to settle. One lucky girl.

Circa mid 80's

And now...I shall bombard you with my weekend in pictures!

I am blessed that this is my life in the summer.

Belmar Lagoon

 

Backyard

 

Lucio!!

Views from the run.

 

More of my favorite eager swimmer!

Morning sunshine.

 

My grilling skills!

Sunsets from the front dock.

 

And this is what I was leaving to this morning. Savoring every last second.

NYRR Colon Cancer 15K + Marathon Training Lately

Apparently, we are now less than a month out from the NJ Marathon. Ahhh when did that happen?

I am not going to lie, this training cycle has me at times questioning my sanity and at others so looking forward to running another marathon. It seriously changes by the minute.

I think in a way I am getting a tad burned out by always being in training mode. I have been in training since the fall of 2011 without a break. I have some exciting things lined up for summer but as of now, while I am excited at the prospect of the marathon and ultrathon coming up (say prayers for me) I am also really excited for a break. I will most likely still run most days but I am looking forward to less structure.

Anyways. About that marathon training!



Daily Mile is so enthusiatic

I definitely toned down some of the mileage the past couple of weeks. My legs have been quite beat and I have added in quite a bit of cross training. Have I mentioned I haven't gone over 16 miles in a training run? Like I said, say prayers for me and this marathon!

On Sunday I incorporated the NYRR Colon Cancer Challenge 15K into my long run.

Saturday I had volunteered for the start/finish area at the Scotland 10K (by the way, so much fun! although cold). So I only wound up running 3 miles - and was exhausted from getting up at 4:30 and being on my feet until 11:30 so was desperate to finish them and wound up doing them on the faster side. Always smart.

I got to Central Park around 8:45 on Sunday (yay 10:15 start!) picked up my bib, dropped off my bag and began to plug away at my mileage.

I decided to not eat anything before as I wasn't in the mood to deal with stomach shenanigans and hoped this would stop them.

I ran up the east side to the reservoir where I finished two loops before heading back down to the race start. I tried to begin conservatively but started around 9:45 and then progressively dropped the pace each mile as I warmed up. It felt fine but I also knew that I was most likely going to bonk out at some point.

I made a bathroom pitstop on my way down and I reached the corrals around 10:10 and just under 6 miles into my long run pre race. Perfect timing. We started shortly after and I could feel that I was a little tight from stopping but not too bad. My goal was to not really pay attention to pace but I wound up doing those first two miles in the 9 territory. I slowed down a little bit (or well FORCED to slow down by means of rolling hills on the west side thank you no hills in forever for this lady) and then my stomach got a bit off. I drank water starting at the first stop since if I wasn't going to fuel I should probably have some water so you know, I don't die.

I had to walk a little through the water stop down toward the south end of the loop and stopped for the bathroom there. I was frustrated but I also didn't care that much. I was not going for time by any means and while there was no way I could continue to run without the stop, my stomach wasn't AS bad as normal.

Shortly after I bumped into my running partner Tara who was volunteering!



A shining example of just how much I was NOT racing.

I may or may not have stopped and chatted with her for a couple minutes. I was definitely stalling my way back to running. Oops.

From here on out the run definitely got hard. On my way up Cat Hill for the 3rd time I am positive I was questioning why I run. Why another marathon was necessary and why couldn't I be normal and be happy with a one and done scenario. Then we hit the flats and I was all okay this isn't that bad.

Then as we were going across the 102nd transverse towards the west side, again, my stomach went off and I started to 100% psych myself out thinking of the rolling hills.

I stopped for the bathroom again and then was on my merry way.

I was still pacing in the high 9's so that was alright but the hills were taking a toll and my buns and calves were burning up.

Then I hit that magical 8 marker and was all - 1.3 miles, piece.of.cake. and was smiles for the remainder of the race.


15K? More like 15M.

 

All DONE. Feed me.

I have no idea what my time was for the race. I took breaks, I took my time through water stops and was not running it for time. I enjoy throwing races into training because it helps to pass the time! Overall time with everything included, not too bad. Oh and no fuel for 15 miles, pretty sure that won't fly for 26.2. I will figure it out.

Should I have run a couple more...probably but my rationale is that those hills compensated for a couple miles and NJ is going to be 100% flat. Like I said say prayers for me since that has been my mentality lately about this marathon. I am either going to surprise myself or its going to be pretty miserable. I am running it to beat my Miami 4:33 but other than that my goal race is in the fall, this is for "fun".

Fingers crossed, but the stomach DOES seem to be improving. Did I stop? Yes. BUT it wasn't as bad and I am only at the beginning stages of really taking things out of my diet that "could" be problematic. I did 5 miles last night for recovery that were totally FINE. Then again morning is when I usually have issues, but still. Here's hoping that just under a month out if I keep up this strictness with the diet (more on that later...) then shit (totally intended) won't be as bad.

Happy April + Sugar Detox

It's April! Happy April Fools Day - and it really feels like Spring out there today. That equals happiness for me.

This week I am taking part in Laura's sugar detox challenge.

In general I don't have a sweet tooth, but there is a lot of added (and often unnoticed) sugar to a lot of "healthy" things that I consume daily.

For instance, I often buy sweetened almond milk, protein bars, protein powders, nut butters, dried fruits, gels and gu's and greek yogurts to name a few and some have alarming sugar quantities.

And, I am a big abuser of "fake" sugar substitutes. Me and stevia are BFF.

It is no secret that I have been having rampant stomach issues lately and think that this could possibly help. If for nothing else - it cannot HURT me any more to see what happens.

More on workout recap and training plans for this week later on.

Hope everyone is enjoying a lovely Monday - I know I had a little extra spring (hehe) in my step this morning since it was absolutely gorgeous!

And don't fall prey to any April Fool's pranks!

Taper Week + Injury (?)

Happy Monday! 

And for those that raced over the weekend (which seems like EVERYONE) a big CONGRATS!!! It seemed like this weekend was PR City. And I am SO having a case of jealousy and can't wait to race my pants off.

Kind of. 

I'm a tad bit worried about my foot and what is going on with it. But not worried enough to go see someone about it. I have a feeling that the advice and/or diagnosis is going to go something like "oh hey maybe don't run so much on it" or "total rest".

And all I can say is with my race schedule...

I've got training to do! Half marathons, Marathons and Ultra's to run!

On Saturday I had some magazines to read so I spent a lot of time on the elliptical with that before running a good 3 miles at HM pace. After I walked it out on an incline for a while. I just felt the need to be moving but knew I shouldn't run too much with the long run on Sunday.

My foot felt a little achy, but it feels better running than anything else. I should say that I was responsible and iced it...but that didn't happen. I did stretch out a lot focusing on my calves which I was told to do since if it is tendinitis then that would be helpful.

Sunday I was super lazy and more interested living vicariously through everyone racing the NYC Half to get my butt out of bed. I woke up so that I could watch the coverage which was awesome. GREAT race by both the men and women! But then had lots of trouble motivating.

Mr. Hal Higdon called for 2 hours of running - not specific mileage so I finally set out around 1:30 or so. 

My foot pretty much "ached" the duration of the run. Not unbearable pain, but definitely uncomfortable. I'm less than amused. 

I managed to cover 12.5 miles in those 2 hours. I tried to not pay attention to pace only to keep myself dialed back when I took off out of the gates sub 9 min pace. Bad news for a LSD run but hopefully good news come race on Saturday!

On another note, I have once again gotten to the bad habit of not fueling for these "long" training runs. My stomach and fueling improved greatly over the fall since I knew I HAD to do it for the marathon - however - I took one gu during my run on Sunday and oof disaster. I probably won't be fueling for the half this weekend. Especially if I am on track to PR. I do not have a stomach of steel and will need to retrain it in the next few weeks for the NJ Marathon.

I am going to actually taper this week! So with drastically reduced mileage and both Thursday and Friday off I am hoping that helps a bit. Plus I guess I will stretch. And maybe ice. Or something like that.

Anyone with a great race weekend? Tell me about it! And let me live vicariously through you! 

Here I Am!

Damn. Life has been straight up busy. It feels like it was just yesterday that I wrote my last post but it was over a week ago.

The good news is, I am alive!

But what a couple of weeks it has been.

It has been hard, mostly on a personal front, I have a lot that has happened and a lot of challenges have been presented and I just didn't have too much to report nor is this fun little fitness blog the outlet for those (at least at the moment while it is all happening) so I just had to step away.

I just needed to break from social media for a bit. I haven't been on instagram or facebook much and am still yet to start up with twitter! But I'm back now!

I returned from Indianapolis late Monday night (thank you very much planes not showing up and flight delays...)

While my last post was discussing the challenges I faced trying to get in my training while I was working 12 hour days and at dinners/late nights each night.

I am happy to report I somehow still managed to get in a 30 mile week.

It was a matter of grabbing runs when I could. Meant a lot of speedier short runs and lacked a long run, but running was just the name of the game. If I had a break for an hour I was going to run 3 miles shower up and get back to work. I didn't sleep a lot and was the most shocked that I did not wind up sick by the end lasting on 4 hours of sleep most of the time.

I got back on Monday night and even though I didn't get to bed until after 1am (I am stickler for unpacking and doing laundry right away, thank you type A) I was up and in the gym at 5:30 to get back to business as usual Tuesday morning.

I managed to get in some great workouts and with some juggling got my schedule to "normal":

Monday - rest day
Tuesday - 4 miles morning / 6 miles night
Wednesday - lifting morning / 6 miles night
Thursday - full body lift morning
Friday - 4.5 miles morning

Normalcy feels great when it comes to my workouts. When I am unable to stick to my schedule I just don't feel "right". I am such a schedule person.

I am also happy that the weather seems to be warming up some so I can probably start ditching the treadmill more! Woo! This cold weather wuss can't wait.

So there we have it. I have lots to report and other things to discuss on the running front but for now I am happy that I am home, have a day off (it's been 2 weeks without!) and can just rest up a little bit.

Oh and HAPPY MARCH! We are inching our way closer and closer to Spring and I for one am ecstatic about that!