Recovery

 This goes out to all the women getting it in you're on your grind
To other men that respect what I do please accept my shine
Boy you know you love it how we're smart enough to make these millions
Strong enough to bear the children then get back to business

          Queen Bey

I used to hear about "recovery runs", these maniacs who would run a few miles the day after some very long distance and call it recovery. I thought the idea was crazy, but in recent years I've decided there is some merit to the concept. Although what I find is that it only feels good and better if you do something different than what you put so much effort into the day before. So taking an easy hike the day after a long run will make you feel better, and doing an easy run after a challenging hike can be good. 

So yesterday I did a grueling 8.5 mile hike. I had told Chris I wanted a challenging hike for Memorial Day, a mistake I don't intend to repeat. But I did climb the mountain and then today I did a three mile treadmill run, which was good. I tried to follow it up with yoga, which did not go as well, and then with some hot tub time which was excellent. 

The month of May is my worst running month ever. Just so everyone knows. Between getting sick and graduation and a new puppy, I've been a bit busy, which is almost never an excuse I use, but this month....was just rough. 

Small town

Every last one, route 1, rural heart's got a story to tell
Every grandma, in-law, ex-girlfriend maybe knows it just a little too well
Whether you're late for church or you're stuck in jail, hey words gonna get around
Everybody dies famous in a small town
- Miranda Lambert

This song always makes me laugh because it's so true of growing up in a small town. I remember once I was walking down the main road with my little sister, I think a car had broken down or something. And I was just praying nobody I knew would drive by, but of course here came the twins and their parents. As they passed us I saw their identical little heads staring out the back window at us. Anyway, I did three again. The lake was crowded and a good time was being had by all.

Let's go on down to the qwik stop
You wear your yellow shades and I'll put on my tight jeans
And we'll just spend the weekend burnin rubber
And we'll let 'em point and stare in disbelief

Still

You still wear your hair to your shoulders
You still look like a Friday night
You're still caught somewhere between the plans and the dreams
So that neither end up turning out right
- Dawes

I did a good 3 around the lake today. It's beautiful and solitary in the woods today and while I did do some walking, my breath came more easily than I anticipated. I did get two in Colorado earlier this week and 3.5 yesterday so It's been a decent week. Another run tomorrow and I will have 12.5 for the week and one yoga. By May 30 I hope to have gotten 52 for the month plus the 8.5 I'm behind.

Some people were just meant to be a memory
To remind us how we've changed
- Dawes

A Thousand Voices Dead At My Feet

A thousand faces starin' at me

A thousand times I've fallen

         - Barns Courtney

I love this song. I like that line I put in the title. Makes me think of all the voices I've silenced.... Like slayed Dragons on the journey to finding my own. 

Amyway, the only way I could talk myself into going running was to put the treadmill on negative .5 decline. But then I ran a good and fun four miles, so I guess that's what was needed. I would have maybe done some stairs but I had to get home to take the boy to get his new phone. 

They took away my Friday night Body Flow class, not sure if it is permanent or not. I still have the Sunday one but the only other options are yoga or flow at 6:30, which is just so late. I've been slacking on the yoga/flow since being sick, so I'm not sure what I'll do this week yet. 

Wrung out

Even if your hope has burned with time
Anything that's dead shall be regrown
And your vicious pain, your warning sign
You will be fine
- Angels And Airwaves - The Adventure

So I did my normal two miles at the gym this afternoon before yoga and let me tell you, this class was body wrenching. I had forgotten how hard the Sunday afternoon class is. Now I'm just wrung out and exhausted, but it feels good. 

You can put some money on it, you can place a little bet

Look at the kid from school
She's teaching mamas and papas how to be a little cool
She's changing fashion, the way she dress
The tracksuits are old, and the hoody's way too moody
For a kid with the will to funk
She dances in secret; she's a part-time punk

      - Belle and Sebastian 

For my kid, who graduated from high school this week and who is indeed, a part time punk. (And a full time bad ass.)

So I didn't have a great week as far as exercise. Eight miles total, just atrocious. I was busy hosting parties and having family and guests over causing extreme exhaustion in my basic introverted nature. Of course, all of this exacerbated by the seemingly necessary family discussions about who in the world is deserving of the pennies thrown from the white middle class train, and the many and varied drugs ingested to get through it all. 

So maybe eight miles is a victory. 

Beautiful night

This was my view on my run tonight. So pretty. I did 3.5, so 16 for the week and 2 yoga classes. Damn good week.

Good

All these lies that you told to yourself.

Like you don't need no one else.

Don't put your pride upon the shelf.

When she gave you all that she had to give.

You have to know where you live.

Do you even know what you did?

 - Airborne Toxic Event 

A productive week thus far. On Tuesday it was remarkably beautiful out so I ran two miles to a yoga fundamentals class and then two miles home. Awesome workout and thank god work isn't busy. I did 2.5 and yoga tonight so I'm at 12.5 for the week so I can make up some miles on Saturday. I actually went to happy hour at my gym and had some free drinks and food which definitely made up for the yoga.  

Still

I can tell you that you're all I've ever wanted, dear
And I can utter every word that you'd ever hope to hear
Your face so twisted and your eyes alight
I want to tell I can change when you cry at night
But I'd be lying
- Airborne Toxic Event

So last week was a productive week. I got 15.5 miles and 3 strength classes. Tonight I was loathe to go to the gym so I was waiting until the sun set to go around my hood. But then I got worried I'd be tired and not go. So I went and it wasn't pretty, but it got done. I probably should have taken it easy on the biscuits and gravy this morning but I'm only human. I mean, my dad makes the best biscuits and gravy in all the world. The world, people.

I didn't ask for this

Been working like a dog
I turned all my dreams off
I didn't know my name, I didn't know my name

        - Grouplove

I ran five miles on this trail that Chris and I have hiked a few times today. I fell pretty spectacularly.... I'm talking a full on, slow motion body hurling through the air kind of fall. Nobody saw, which is kind of a shame, it was a fall worth sharing. 

Anyway, I also saw my first bluebird of the year, which is always my own personal sign that it is really Spring, so that was nice. I skipped hiking today for no other reason than my inner introvert just couldn't take the socialization. 

I have about a million things to do to get ready for guests and a graduation party we are having next week. So I'm going to go ahead and take a nap while watching When Harry Met Sally. 

Whatever happened to all this season's Losers of the year?

Mommy's alright, Daddy's alright
They just seem a little weird
Surrender, surrender
But don't give yourself away

       - Cheap Trick

Today I did a "no shuffle" run, wherein I challenge myself to just put all my music on shuffle and I'm not allowed to skip songs. This one came up, which made me giggle. I'm putting together a play list for Rachael's graduation party, and I'm definitely adding this one! (John Denver also made an appearance, which sorely tested my no skip resolve.... Not good running music!)

So I did three on the treadmill today at the gym and this run went much more like I thought yesterday's was going to go. Yes it was hard, and there was plenty of walking, but I made it, I didn't feel like I was going to die of burning lungs. So if was better. 

And now I'm in the hot tub of cooties and righteousness. 

You're just like a pill

Instead of making me better

You keep making me ill

       - Pink

The last time I posted, where I said my chest was hurting and maybe I was getting sick? Yeah, that was the last time I did any working out of any sort until today. I got a cold (that really maybe is a flu) that straight knocked me on my ass all last week. And I have this new job so I couldn't call in sick and be the new person who calls in sick. I hate that person.

So anyway, I just gave running a try. I did two miles and it was really ugly. My chest still hurt quite a bit and I coughed a lot. 

So two miles for the week. I'm killing it. 

My mamas broken heart

Powder your nose, paint your toes
Line your lips and keep em closed
Cross your legs, dot your eyes
And never let em see you cry
- Miranda Lambert

I was quite proud of myself for running this morning. I was quite firmly in the camp of not going until about noon and then I found a burst of energy. It actually went pretty well given the altitude and my hangover. The one that got away is getting married which is really quite the bummer. But I am quite happy and enjoying life and in a great place. And I got 13 miles and 2 strength training sessions in this week. Just above goal. I'm kind of awesome. Now pre-gaming for an awesome concert tonight. Life is good people. Quite good.

Your clothes never wear as well the next day
And your hair never falls in quite the same way
But you never seem to run out of things to say
- Nine Days

I'm actually out of things to say. I did 3.5 miles around the hood this morning and then I did yoga tonight. Plan is to run 3 on Saturday and that will get me 13 for the week. I did the math and I'm actually about 8 miles behind pace for the year - we should be at 207 miles and I'm at 198.5. So I'm going to try to make up some ground this month since I have less travel planned.

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This is the story of a girl

How many days in a year?
She woke up with hope, but she only found tears
And I can be so insincere, makin' the promises never for real
As long as she stands there waiting
Wearing the holes in the soles of her shoes
How many days disappear?
- Nine Days

Two miles outside in the heat this morning. That is all.

All these psychics and the doctors
They're all right and they're all wrong
It's like trying to sing every word
When all you really need to do is hum along
- Dawes

I'm sitting doing my meditation before yoga, which isn't much but lying around, and there's this douche sitting in here talking on his phone. Rude. But then I saw that he's a trainer who's worked here for awhile so I forgave him. I did 3.5 around the hood this morning and it was both glorious in the breezy sunshine, and awful because I couldn't seem to get my breath. A lot of walking was done. So I ran another Mike just before yoga. I took Sunday off just cause I felt like it and then I chose hh over running last night. For someone with no social life I do seem to be busy lately.