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By kilax, June 7, 2016 4:51 am

Until recently, the only issues my wonky supination had given me was the occasionally sore left side, shoes that didn’t last very long, and goofy race pictures:

Until recently. A few months ago I started getting a pain on the ball of my left foot around a hardened part of the skin, at what looked like a void. It took me until last week, but I finally figured out what it is – a seed corn.

I was finally inspired to figure out what it was because it hurt SO bad. I had to wear shoes/sandals all the time – pressure on it bare-footed caused a lot of pain on the ball of my foot. It was ridiculous to me how something so little could cause so much pain.

My normal method of cutting hurty things off my foot didn’t work. It keeps growing back. Grrr.

So the internets said to soak my foot and rub the seed corn with a pumice stone to relieve the pain, and – drumroll, please – it seemed to work! The pain went away after I did that. The corn is going to keep coming back, since that is where my left foot lands when I run, but at least now I have a way to deal with it – apart from completely changing my running style!

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By kilax, June 5, 2016 2:23 pm

Highlight of the Week: Feeling energetic and being able to work out the amount I wanted to (and feeling better than last week, in the humidity)!

Monday | May 30, 2016: 5 m run
Loc: Van Patten Woods, Temp: 77°/78°, Time: 48:39, Pace: 9:44 avg, Difficulty: medium, Felt: hot, still getting used to it!
Tuesday | May 31, 2016: rest
Wednesday | June 1, 2016: 5 m run (incl. 400, 800, 400, 800, 400) + 15 mins strength
Loc: hood, Temp: 64°/64°, Time: 44:54, Pace: 8:59 avg, Difficulty: hard, Felt: hot, spent, but okay
Thursday | June 2, 2016: 11 m run + 3 m run
Loc: DPRT, Temp: 62°/69°, Time: 1:48:07, Pace: 9:50 avg, Difficulty: medium then easy, Felt: legs tired first half, fine for second!
Loc: hood, Temp: 78°/78°, Time: 27:29, Pace: 9:09 avg, Difficulty: easy, Felt: good
Friday | June 3, 2016: teaching strength class + 6 m run + bike/run brick (w/Jack)
Strength: medicine balls and Airex pad, Difficulty: medium, Felt: good, felt it right away!
Loc: hood, Temp: 72°/75°, Time: 55:25, Pace: 9:14, Difficulty: easy, Felt: great!
Loc: Illinois Beach State Park, Temp: 73°/73°, Time: 34:31/8:37, Pace: 16.3 mph avg/8:37, Difficulty: easy, Felt: good!
Saturday | June 4, 2016: 14 m run
Loc: DPRT, Temp: 66°/73°, Time: 2:17:04, Pace: 9:47 avg, Difficulty:mostly easy, Felt: good, legs a bit tired
Sunday | June 5, 2016: 3 m run + 20 min bike + teaching fitness boxing
Loc: hood, Temp: 60°, Time: 29:25, Pace: 9:48 avg, Difficulty: medium, Felt: okay but tired
Indoor Ride Time: 20:00, Pace: 14.3 mph avg, Difficulty: easy, Felt: better
Strength: Boxing pads and gloves, Difficulty: easy (mostly observing), Felt: good

Notes:

• This week was so much better than last week… and the last month. I finally felt like I had some time to work out, work, AND get house stuff (and errands!) done too. Ha. It definitely helped that I had Monday and Friday off. Ha ha ha.
• Geesh, the backs of my knees were so swollen from mosquito bites that it was affecting my run Thursday am – it made my legs feel a bit stiff, and well, swollen! Stupid effers!
• I ran in to Bobbi and Dawn during my Thursday am run and that was a treat! And it gave me some energy to run a bit faster.
• I’ve enjoyed my runs but been spending a lot of the time during them thinking about biking and swimming – things that keep me cool when I work out! I hope to hop in the pool a few times this summer, and to definitely get out for more rides.
• I was able to ride outside this week! I was already thinking about asking Bobbi’s son if he wanted to join me, and it was perfect timing – he had his first tri today, but hadn’t ridden outside yet, or done a brick, so we did a small brick on Sunday. I enjoyed sharing my small amount of outdoor biking and tri knowledge with him.
• During my long run on Saturday I ran across a race on the trail called “Outrun the Cops.” People were chasing the cops, and some of them ran in full uniform! That was fun to see, and it got me pumped up and made me pick up the pace a bit.

• Monthly recap time! May has been my worst month of the year so far. Laziness and a busy schedule was not a great combination for me, and it definitely left me feeling crappy. Onward, though! In May I ran 115 miles and cycled 86.5 miles (5 indoor rides, 2 outdoor rides). I taught 8 strength classes and 3 fitness boxing classes. I only did 1 strength session at home. My coldest outdoor run was 41°F and my warmest was 83°F.

Link to Training Week 345

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By kilax, June 4, 2016 6:50 am

Man, Freddie and Bill crack me up.

Have I mentioned Data gives zero f*cks about them? Chipmunks and birds? Oh yes, please. A raccoon? That’s his buddy! Deer/dogs? He’ll hiss at them. Ducks? Not even sure he sees them. No reaction. I had to place him here to look out the window:

And he was like, “eh.”

He does care that we are working outside without him. Sorry, Data.

We’ve spent the last three nights clearing an area around the pond, and removing trees from the pond (with Freddie and Bill keeping us company the whole time, each night). We’re prepping the area for pond fountain equipment, but also trying to better our view of the pond, and make it healthier, overall.

Before (note, all the brush on the left side of the photo, and more trees in the pond):

click to see larger

After (still a work in progress):

I know – you can barely tell the difference!

Here’s a shot from Wednesday after we cleared a lot of the brush, but before we took most of the trees down:

And here it is on Friday with the trees removed from the pond (stumps left behind to deal with later, circled in red) and waiting on the grass to be cut up:

Lots of work left to do, but we enjoy it (it does wear us out though)! Several people had negative things to say about yardwork before we bought the house (and since), but we like it. I actually prefer it to inside the house work! And getting this pond cleaned up will make it a lot better to be outside, because (hopefully!) we’ll have less of a mosquito issue!

JK, guys. I use the clippers.

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By kilax, June 3, 2016 12:13 pm

*and a few words

Ha!

How have I run by this sign so many times and never noticed it until today? (Well, that’s actually because I am never running toward it, on the same side of the road – not sure why I looked today.)

So… dictionary.com doesn’t know what fludge is. Urban dictionary says it’s the residue left on the screens of a cell phone after use. I kinda doubt that is what this place is processing… but I definitely learned a new word today. And definitely plan on using it. Ha.

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By kilax, June 2, 2016 11:29 am

• Freddie and Bill seem to be conditioned to the sound of the dump cart – they hear it coming and think I am coming with food! Which, I usually am, but last night I was actually using the dump cart to clear out logs and brush from around the pond. But they came running up, anyway. Sorry, guys! Luckily, I was able to empty out a feeder for them. They must be STARVING. Ha ha.

Not food

Also, not food (you can barely see the cart, ha!)

• I was unprepared for how sad I would feel, cutting down a few trees, even though we talked about it, and we want a bigger clearing by the pond (and need it for some of the fountain equipment) … and have a LOT more trees on our property. Sigh. It’s the nature girl in me. I better get used to it though – we’ll have to take down more in the future to make our land a bit healthier (not enough light is getting to the forest floor).

Lots of trees

• This year is the first time I’ve made time to run on “Global Running Day” (which is always the first Wednesday in June, and previously called “National Running Day”). For years, I’ve been in the office every Wednesday, and not made the time to run with the hours commuting. But my team switched our required office day this year (it changes every other week) and it was easier to fit a run in on the “holiday” this year, because I was working from home! I think these made up holidays are a bit hokey (National Donut day is tomorrow!), but I do like starting my month off with a run! May was crap (workout-wise) and I am determined to make June better.
• Damn though, my June schedule is getting NUTSO. Someone asked me when I was free for a meeting (outside of work) and I had two dates to give them… out of the whole month. And now one of those is no longer available. Eek. How about July?
• My ankles are sore from unclipping out of my bike pedals on their own from my fall. Ouch! You can’t see the bruise/swollen-ness too well in this photo… but you can see my ridic tan line! Ha!

Link to Random Thoughts Thursday 100

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By kilax, June 1, 2016 6:23 am

… for Data. Ha.

I heard him hit the window and thought “what in the world?!”

Then, “Oh yeah, the chipmunks!”

A few baby chipmunks live in our yard, and one of them was giving Data a show this morning.

Steven loves the to watch the chipmunks. His favorite thing is when they sit on the edge or our patio, and look out over the yard.

We often see them do that in the morning, so I imagine it’s the calm before they start their crazy chipmunk day of running around and up things. Ha ha.

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By kilax, May 31, 2016 5:39 am

We were in Iowa this weekend for my future sister-in-law Alyssa’s bridal shower!

Alyssa by the “DIY cupcakes” station

I have Alyssa to thank for our upcoming trip to Alaska! She is from there, and she and my older brother decided to have the wedding near her hometown. I was really hoping that is where they would have it! I am so looking forward to visiting Alaska, and meeting more of Alyssa’s family!

Alyssa moved to Iowa two years ago to live with my brother, and she immediately fit in with our family. We love having her here with us!

My sister and mom did all of the decorations, food, and prizes for the party and I was in charge of games. You probably remember me asking you guys for suggestions?

I wanted to make the games as least painful as possible (no wrapping the bride in toilet paper, ha ha), so they were mostly written – a “how well do you know the bride” quiz,

a favorite memory with the bride, and a memory game. We had Alyssa walk around in this apron with kitchen stuff pinned to it, then had her leave the room and asked the guests questions about it. Only, the questions didn’t focus too much on the apron (“what color is Alyssa’s dress?,” “are her nails painted?”). Ha ha.

We had a good time! We spent a lot of time talking about the wedding and all of our travel plans there and I am stoked to spend more time with everyone in Alaska!

Party guests

My snister and our nephew James

Sisters – Amber, Christina, me and Alyssa

After the party, my mom, snister, Alyssa and I drove by a house that my brother and Alyssa put an offer in on. It’s outside off town, on a dead end road, on several acres! I totally get the appeal of that! I hope it all works out!

There was a bit of goofing around when we got back to clean up the party space. Christina and I were operating on little sleep, and Alyssa and I were operating on spiked punch, so, fun times! Ha ha!

Then we hung at my dad’s mom’s house, which is our usual get-together spot!

It was great to spend time together before our next gathering – in Alaska. EEEEEEEK!

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By kilax, May 30, 2016 10:06 am

It finally happened! I finally fell off my road bike!

I’ve had my road bike since the end of summer in 2013 and have said multiple times that I’m surprised I haven’t fallen off it yet. I figured my first fall off would be a slow motion, coming to stop and not unclipping fast enough sort of thing – because that seems to be when most of the people I know fall off their bike.

No, mine was riding my bike through what looked like a long shallow puddle of water, only to find out that underneath the water was a layer of slimy mud.

It was a very fast skid and fall with no time to unclip. My ankles seemed to do that on their own when I hit the ground (ouch).

I immediately got up because I heard my dad fall behind me – he fell when he hit the brakes so he wouldn’t hit me! Ugh! Luckily, Will saw it all in time to put his feet down (he was on a recumbent) and get off his bike to walk it.

Then, just walking through the water was a challenge because of the slimy mud. Dad fell again! And ended up with the most impressive road rash:

You can barely see the scrapes on my shoulder – my shirt (and bra) got the worst of it (and I woke up sore from it, today):

(Funny thing – whenever I pick a jersey to ride I almost always think “I should wear something with sleeves because it provides more protection in case I fall!” But wanting to be comfortable (heat-wise) and not wanting a farmer’s tan always seems to win. So yeah, I had a tank on when I fell).

And this all happened less than a mile in to our ride! Ha!

We were saying there should have been a sign out – there are signs all over the rest of the trail for MUCH smaller puddles. And lots of signs to dismount, too.

But really, if I saw that sign, and saw how low the water was, I would have had no idea it had a layer of slimy mud underneath and still probably tried to ride through. But we all know I won’t ever do that again! Ha! I was very cautious of puddles after that!

We continued on with our ride. I noticed my left handle bar was crooked from where I landed it on it (the guys helped me push it back in place), but my tires were spinning evenly and the gearing was all working, so I wanted to keep going! My hometown has a great paved trail system that is fantastic for road biking and I had really been looking forward to riding with Dad and Will!

The rest of the twenty miles were mostly without incident. We did come across a tree that was down on the trail (they had a nasty storm last week), but it was timed perfectly for Will to put in a bid on eBay, ha!

And then there was an incident where a goose thought I was riding too close to him and his family and flew in front of my bike and was flapping his wings in mid-air while I tried to ride forward… silly goose.

It was a fun ride, despite it starting with our falls! I can’t wait to ride a day of RAGBRAI with Dad and Will (and Will’s sister Julie, and Gina). Two months to go!

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By kilax, May 29, 2016 10:42 pm

Highlight of the Week: Going on a bike ride with Dad and Will (my brother-in-law)!

Monday | May 23, 2016: teaching strength class
Strength: soft balls and cones, Difficulty: easy, Felt: good, but distracted and pissed about work (and I had the day off)
Tuesday | May 24, 2016: 2 m run
Loc: hood, Temp: 83°/73°, Time: 18:40, Pace: 9:19 avg, Difficulty: medium, Felt: legs sore from Monday… then had to turn around to use the bathroom
Wednesday | May 25, 2016: 5 m run + 10 m ride + 10 mins strength
Loc: hood, Temp: 68°/65°, Time: 47:58, Pace: 9:35 avg, Difficulty: easy, Felt: okay, legs still tired
Indoor Ride Time: 34:56, Pace: 17.2 mph avg, Difficulty: easy, Felt: pissy about the TV not working, but good, otherwise, ha
Thursday | May 26, 2016: rest
Friday | May 27, 2016: teaching strength class + 3 m run + 5 m run
Strength: med balls & Airex pads, Difficulty: easy, Felt: decent, hot
Loc: hood, Temp: 69°/70°, Time: 27:55, Pace: 9:17, Difficulty: medium, Felt: tired legs (from pond work?)
Loc: hood, Temp: 74°/76°, Time: 47:35, Pace: 9:31 avg, Difficulty: medium, Felt: SO WARM
Saturday | May 29, 2016: 5 m run + 5.1 m ride (both w/Dad and Will)
Loc: to Prairie Lake, Temp: 62°/63°, Time: 47:57, Pace: 9:36 avg, Difficulty: hard, Felt: tired and sweaty
Loc: Cedar Prairie Trail, Temp: 63°/65°, Time: 32:43, Pace: 9.4 mph avg, Difficulty: easy, Felt: great, no longer so sweaty!
Sunday | May 30, 2016: 21.4 m ride (w/Dad and Will) + 2 m run (incl. 3×400)
Loc: Around Waterloo, Temp: 63°/68°, Time: 1:58:52, Pace: 10.8 mph avg, Difficulty: easy, Felt: good
Loc: Cedar Prairie Trail, Temp: 68°/68°, Time: 17:22, Pace: 8:40 avg, Difficulty: medium, Felt: so hot

Notes:

• I was really pissed off about surprise office days (my commute is two hours each way) messing up my workout schedule (and home life balance!) this week. Grow up, Kim.
• We got our first real taste of summer weather this week – humid humid humid. If I feel that horrible when it’s in the 60s/70s and humid, how will I survive the 80s? Ha ha. I will adapt. I do each year.
• On my Friday lunch run I was a bit suspicious of a car waiting on the end of my street (on my way back home). I stayed clear of him when I ran in, but he called out to me, “Do you have plenty of water?” Aww! Just a neighbor being friendly! I thought that was nice.
• I went to my hometown this weekend and got a chance to ride with two of my RABGRAI compadres – Dad and Will! We had an interesting ride Sunday, but more on that, later!

Link to Training Week 344