No Excuses

I only got up twice last night. And over-sleeping past the all-call at 7am wasn't going to keep me from racing out the station door with oatmeal and eggs in a bowl. I stopped at Stumptown and thankfully realized it was Sunday-no line! I got home, fed the dogs, found my hat, put Emma's leash outside for her adventure with Brett, and Zoe and I were off. This was going to be a personal distance record for Zoe. I was looking forward to running with Tom and attempting an even consistent pace for 25 miles.

The weather was nothing short of epic as we made our way from Germantown, where I met the masses, to the zoo. It rained, sleeted, snowed, hailed, shined, and we even caught lightening and thunder! Tom amazed me with his skills of observation. Tom was facing the tree we were resting under to get a rock out of his shoe. I was staring out into the rain coming down sideways as he said, "Now Kris it's going to start raining." Tom is full of wise words like these. You have to pay attention because you might miss them. Tom was strong and ran about 3/4 of the day at 160-165 HR. I was happy to sustain a slightly lower and more forgiving rate. Ronda and Michael, who finished the 30.16 miles in a smoking 5:06 had placed water and goodies out at the trail heads and fire lanes so we had great aid stations to boot! It was an awesome end (well save the 7 miles I have on the treadmill tomorrow) to my first Christmas Camp.

Oh yeah. Tom convinced, threatened, made me promise...it's all the same right? to run 100 miles with him and the rest of the gang to honor his 50Th birthday. This is in 2009. If all goes well in the Tetons- my first 50, I shall look forward to sharing this 100 mile day, wherever it will be, with the group. :] 7:24pm...totally bedtime.

Christmas Camp!!

Two days on, one off, two on. Half-way through! Yesterday at work I managed to get a 60 minute run in on the treadmill without interuption!! 30min easy, 10 min 8:00min/mi, three min easy, 10 min 7:40min/mile, 10 minute easy. Felt good.

Today we start Christmas camp at 8:00 on Wilwood with a nice 5-7 mile run. Then push-ups, sit-ups, planks for all.

Merry Christmas!!

It's going to be a long week. That's one way to make the Christmas Holiday last, work...four out of five days. Hopefully everyone will be nestled in their warm homes and not feel the urge to dial 911 between sips of hot chocolate and nips of sugar cookies. You hear that? Chew your food, unplug the lights before you go to bed and for goodness sake don't cook anything if you are busy doing something else. Thank you. Looking forward to Christmas Camp. Starting Monday we will run, do push-ups,sit-ups, and plank every day for a week. This yearly camp put on by Ronda and Stacey will include an end of the week jaunt down the length of wildwood. A mere 30 miles as Tom would have it. Sounds like a long ways to me, yes...still. But I'm game. Is the diet off that day? I'm going to have to make a command decision there and say, "YES."

Here's a little Christmas show courtesy of a friend. Of Course Zoe has to add flourish to all the dance moves. Peace.

http://www.elfyourself.com/?id=1675404907

Treats and Sweets?...No thank you.

After another Kenyan Progression Run with Ronda, Tom, Steve, Michael, and Susan, Ronda loaned me her "Trail RNR" Range Rover and the girls and I were off to the showers. I had an appointment with Mark in two hours. I would either see the fruits of my dieting labor or find that I ate too many fruits as they are not part of the plan. (incidentally no fruit had passed these lips for two weeks...so there.) Don't ask me about popcorn, I'm telling this story. After a short confession of banana pancakes after a fire (did I say "banana?") and some involuntary handfuls of popcorn (I blacked out) I was stripping down to my measuring and weighing-in clothes. Mark started caliper-pinching and tape measuring his guts out to get to the info that would tell me what I already felt in my waistline. I'd done a good job. I peeked as he entered the results from each pinch and measure. The numbers were going down by an average of 2 pretty consistently across the board. I've never been great at math, but I had an inkling this was a really good thing.

Finally he pinched my quadricep- OUCH! We don't carry a lot of fat right there and it's not a pleasant feeling to be pinched where the skin is already pretty tight! Now the abdomen, for example, is another story...not only can he easily grab some fat, he seems to enjoy pulling it away from the body to both pinch and demonstrate how generous the portions of pinch-able material are in that area. Never mind. Moving on- My numbers. :] After weighing in we found I'd lost roughly four pounds. With the measurements and pinching we found that I did not lose lean muscle mass so in fact lost 4 pounds of body fat. This is monumental for me and very inspiring. Two measurements of note: My quads are larger (though could be from workout earlier in the day...blood still in muscles causing them to expand) and my back is larger- thank you crossfit. Just two days ago I was able to climb that gym rope 6 times with a little instruction. A few months ago I couldn't get a couple feet on that thing.

Progress is an intoxicating thing. My DFF (Diet Friends Forever...) is having equally impressive results. Ok, so our eating habits and determination may be termed obsessive by some. But water-dining and sweet potato-finding aside, you can't argue with the results. (ask if you dare...) It was a brilliant end to a very stressful week.

I'm now the proud owner of a 1995 Honda Accord Wagon. After the work it's had in Spencer's Shop (He's an amazing, sweet, and honest mechanic that specializes in Subaru's..."but can't say anything bad about Toyota's or Honda's either." 503-775-7467) old, (enter name here...haven't named her yet) should give me another 100k miles. Next up? Phase Two of the Diet (Unlike some...I don't get any more or different food), Christmas Camp (73-83 mile week of running...!) Working Christmas Day at the Training Station with Trainees on Truck 2, finally finalizing accommodations for my mom and I in Thailand. Good Times.

Tis The Season

Mark is holding over for me so I can ride my bike into work in the daytime. The sky is steel grey with peach colored light infusing the clouds. My Christmas lights are still on. The timer doesn't work...I just remembered that. There's a lot going on right now. I've used the word, "Stress," more times than I care to count this month and we are only in the 11th day. It's Christmas. Not being particularly religious this word has different meaning for me than some. But, the lights and spirit of the holidays usually causes me to look around and re-connect with those around me in a more intentional way. This year I'm struggling with that. I find myself very wrapped up in my own drama.

This is my attempt to jump out of this rut. My Mom is in the Philippines. I get to visit her in Janaury. I've not seen my mom for more than a year. She's become an activist, a friend, and an important part of a community on the other side of the world. I get to see this amazing woman in yet another shining example of someone to live up to.

My sister and her partner Todd will move into there new house shortly. Todd remodeled this house, while working full time, with his own hands. There journey of buying, fixing, almost losing, and finally moving into their new home has been nothing short of a miracle.

I've been adopted by this amazing group of runners. They run together, for miles, but they're so close and so supportive of every aspect in each other's lives. This energy practically carries you on air if you are fortunate enough to join this pack on wildwood. Ronda, my new DFF, has become a mentor and inspiration. I thought I was tough. She's doing things I haven't even imagined...let alone thought possible. We don't grow unless we challenge ourselves. I'm indebted to Ronda because I'm excited again to challenge myself in both running and nutrition. I've never tried the combination and the results...in just a short time are amazing. And Tom. Tom doesn't like to be mentioned in blogs. But he doesn't read them either so what he doesn't know won't hurt him. He doesn't take any shit. Especially your excuses or the reasons why. He just wants 20 push-ups and 20 pull-ups and if you can do that, great do them with one arm. There is no talk, just action. Tom rules.

My friend Seth is visiting this week. I've not seen Seth for almost a year. We used to surf together 2-3 times a week. I've not been in the water since September. I've not surfed with him...I can't remember the last time I caught a wave, and looked up afterwards to see if he watched. Only to find him staring back while riding the bigger wave of the set as I get pummeled trying to get back outside. He's taking me to the mountain to teach me how to snowboard.

My friend Kelley called wanting a swim lesson. Since a pretty traumatic introduction to water at a young age, Kelley has wanted nothing to do with anything more than a bath tub. I've not been in the pool for over a year. Kelley is actually easily swimming the length of the pool. Her only difficulty is learning to exhale out of her nose. She's determined to practice this basic skill so she can master swimming. She practiced the advice and drills I gave her willingly and with a smile.

Helen and Ann, Mother and daughter, are still walking the lanes of the pool causing mischief and smiles wherever they direct their caring jabs. They are like pillars of community. Even when you don't go for days, months, or years, they are there excited to see you back again when you do decide to return.

My friend Rishi just returned from a month in Brazil. He moved into my house over a year ago and put up with my impatience, odd schedule and obsessive behaviour caring for my dogs. He became a friend and cooked soup for the neighborhood soup party. He actually reads and comments on my blog. He works hard to reach out to people no matter where he's living, which is Chicago now, unfortunately. Hi Rishi!

It's light out. I have to ride to work. I sold my car yesterday. Today I have: no car payment, amazing friends, amazing family, beautiful dogs, and strong legs to ride to work under a clear, dry sky that still has some peach clouds.

Thanks.

Car For Sale

I think I'm on Day 5...or is it 6? of my new menu. I don't want to psych myself out by calling it a diet. Not only that, but I'm hoping to implement a more permanent overhaul to my daily intake than "diet" suggests. Mark of www.atlasfoods.com did warn me of the sugar cravings I would feel and possibly a bit of the not-so-nice-Kris might make an appearance. Well, she came out yesterday, of course at work. I was surrounded by really delicious-looking, smelling food. I persevered. But after waking at 2:30 in the morning for a fire and not getting back to the station until 5am...I caved. The banana pancakes were too much to resist. If Jack Johnson says...how can I refuse? After confessing/consulting with Ronda today I've decided to eat 5oz of brown rice, 2.5 oz of Flank Steak, 5 oz of Asparagus and say 3 Hail Mary's. (Not being Catholic I made do with saying, "Hi," to the girls three times.) Consensus was that I needed another meal having worked (some might argue that while being in command) for hours in the night. So I've learned I need to have contingency meals in the fridge at work. This will thrill the self-appointed refrigerator guard at the station. Bring it baby, this food is working, nothing standing in my way.

On the fitness side of today. I'd planned on an easy run with the girls and crossfit. I adjusted begrudgingly to a nap and grocery shopping at Trader Joe's for the next week's meals. I'm feeling somewhat recovered because of that decision. This weekend will be a long weekend filled with TWO "long" runs back to back. Zoe's wicked excited. I'm curious as to whether this will knock me out for the rest of the night.

Finally, I'm selling the Pilot. Anyone want to buy a silver Honda Pilot for a screamin deal give me a call. Gots to tighten the old belt strap. Audi...girls and I have some movies to watch!

New Nutrition

Fruit is out. At least for the time being. I'm eating what seems like my body weight in green vegetables everyday ...well ok, I just started today. I met with Mark of Atlasfoods.com and he set up a comprehensive diet/menu plan for me for the next six months. My goal is to lose body fat. I would be thrilled with losing 7% but obviously any positive change will be appreciated. I'm hoping this plan will help me lose the fat without significant lean muscle mass loss. I will continue the long distance running training as well as crossfit. Today, my first day, was spent cooking and preparing tomorrow's foods for work. Even though it's only 1600 calories on my easy workout days the food actually seems like quite a lot. The five meals will hopefully keep me full and not thinking of snacking on popcorn and other treats. I can't wait to hear the guys at work and their opinion on my bags of food. No doubt I will have some rich quotes to include in my next entry. It's 6:30 and I have to eat again! Will keep posting. K

Kenyan Progression Run

Today was a two hour run getting increasingly faster as the miles clicked. Not sure how much I actually "Progressed," more of a regression run for myself. But it was really good to realize the VO2max test is probably inaccurate due to some heavy workouts and lack of sleep prior to the test. I was bopping along at my supposed new threshold, 155, for quite some time...speaking in full sentences. So will look forward to getting the test again in 6 months. Ronda kept us all in line on the way out and put her headphones in for some serious marathon pace business on the way back. I look forward to keeping up with her at some point...not today. Zoe did repeats back and forth from the front line to Tom and I. Emma hung with us the whole way. We were surprised with some beautiful fluffy white snowflakes as we finished up the run.