I always start my posts with, 'Its been a while', so, I know its been a while. I'm still alive and running. Our Breakfast Club fundraiser was fun and not a complete fundraising failure, so thanks to everyone who came, especially Marie and Lyla...they are so cute and I love them! I finally went to Highball, too with some friends and had a great time. We bowled and played a lot of ski ball...what I call herkey ball. It's so cool! I also planned a trip to Washington, D.C. for the end of March. My cousin Bree who goes to Georgetown is graduating in May so I am going to visit her and hopefully see the cherry blossoms. I've been once before, the summer when I was 14 I think, but I was in an awkward stage and didn't really appreciate it so this time I know I will!
So, I've talked a little about taking ice baths and Epsom salt baths but I just want to sing their praises a little more. Ice baths after a long run are the strangest thing, they hurt, you freeze and kind of go numb, and then you forget all about the 10 miles that you ran because they almost totally eliminate soreness. Not to say I am not sore after 10 or 12 miles, but they seriously do help. I bundle up with a jacket and a ski cap and a swimsuit bottom, get some coffee and a book to read and the 10-15 minutes I spend in the ice is totally worth the tingly burning sensation my legs feel.
This was Saturday after my 10 miles. My parents came in town this weekend and we had such a lovely time. My dad's sister, my Aunt Barbara came too! I hosted a Silpada jewelry party for fundraising Saturday and my mom and Barbara helped make the most delicious food and just really made the party nice. It was a success too and I made some money for LLS. My party will stay open until the end of February if you are interested in buying some jewelry! My brother came in town for a few hours and it was just a great weekend. Oh and GO SAINTS! I love them and Drew Brees...I've said it before but they Cowboys better not let me down another season because I am really excited for the Saints. And I'm not on the bandwagon...I've liked them for a while, and I've like Drew Brees for longer than that...so boo yah.
Now onto Epsom salt baths. I mentioned these I think in my last post when I was resting for a possible injury. Well that turned out to be that I let my calves and lower legs get way too tight and they built up with a lot of toxins that were trapped. I had a massage and the therapist suggested salt baths. The magnesium, etc helps to draw out all the bad stuff (it draws good stuff out too so you have to hydrate really well) and help loosen your tight and sore muscles, as well as improving circulation, etc. Here is a great blurb on their benefits. I am a fan of these now too because I hardly have any calf/shin/ankle pain at all! I have one spot that is still sore on my ankle but I've been icing it and took another Epsom bath last night so hopefully this will help relieve it. The bag says pour two cups in or something like that which is pretty accurate but you should just pour about 2 lbs in. If it's a 4-pound bag, use half, and so on. Get the water as hot as you can stand it and swish the salt around so it dissolves and you don't sit on salt crystals. Soak for about 20 minutes while drinking water. Again, hydrating is important because the salt is drawing out important fluids with the bad ones. I did one like two weeks ago and one last night, some people say once a month but it's up to you. Yay for baths!
Other than that everything is going well. I was sick last week with the flu/stomach bug that is going around here and didn't get to run until Friday and Saturday. I am feeling much better and I am excited to get back into the swing of things after being sick and injured. Luckily I haven't missed any long distance runs so I still feel like I am on track. I ran 12 miles two weeks ago, 10 last Saturday and am supposed to run 14 this Saturday, but it turns out I am going to run the Austin Half Marathon on Sunday!
I missed the memo on doing a half for practice before my full race but I got really lucky and got a spot to run this Sunday!! All my other teammates will be running, too. The circumstances are unfortunate - another girl on our team had a death in the family and is unable to run - but I am thankful for the opportunity and that her race bib won't go to waste. Here I come Austin Half! The course is in my neighborhood so I am really pumped to run it and get the feel for how a race goes. My coach says to see it as a dress rehearsal. My friend Jacci is coming in town to run it too! And we have Monday off! I am getting really excited.
I bought a yoga DVD last night. Got home after track practice and realized it's an intermediate level disc:(. I am a beginner so I am going to try to find a beginner level DVD and try to take some yoga at my gym. I've heard it is great for you obviously like everyone else has, but for training it's really great for stretching your over worked muscles. I am really excited about all these new things I am learning! And I thought I knew it all;).
I will update you soon about the race and etc! Until then I am going to keep running and resting and gearing up for Sunday!
Thanks for the support!
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