I don't really have anything to post- except to state the obvious, but I figure an obvious post is better than neglecting the blog entirely.

I swear I can hear you yawning.  (Who dat?)  Kuddos for Laura for watching the game with us.  I did not really invite too many people to the Superbowl "party".  I knew it would be a little stressful and not really a party at all until there was a Saints win.  I am so excited Dave and I had a chance to go see a game in the Superdome this year, and I have no doubt we will be season ticket holders when we move back to New Orleans.  

The next day, I knew hell had frozen over when I walked out and saw unexpected snow on the ground, and remember the Saints had won the Superbowl.  Pictured above is Cayenne, our unofficial Who Dat contest winner, enjoying the morning in the snow.  And yes, they all got a piece of turkey bacon- the contest was a little rigged with the boa.  

And I came home today to two new Splish grab bag suits.  Dawn must intuitively know when someone likes animals...

I was fortunate enough to get a chance to swim with Nancy, Laura, and Joy on Tuesday- something I rarely get to do these days.  It takes us about 2 hours to do an 1:15 workout- simply because we won't stop talking.  The water was warm, yet somehow I kept shivering between sets because we talked too much.  And why do any of this if it is not for friends?  I think that often about this sport-friends are a huge motivator for me.  I really need it to warm up around here so we can get some good talking time in on the bike.  

1st Annual Who Dat Costume Competition

Today we hosted the first annual Who Dat Costume Competition.  Please cast your vote for the cutest dog, and the winner will receive an extra piece of turkey bacon.  

Contestant #1:  Shelby Angel as a "Who Dat"

"I believe that Who Dat belongs to the people of New Orleans, not the NFL.  Who Dat, Who Dat, Who Dat Say They Gonna Beat Them Saints?"

Contestant #2:  Cayenne as a "Saintsation"

"Let's cheer our team on to a Superbowl win!  Stand up and get CRUNK!!!!"

Contestant #3:  Rooney as "Drew Brees"

"Our city, our team.  FINISH STRONG!"

Running Continued

I am living in a constant state of DOMS from excessive lunges, squats, burpees, and jumping in strength class.  However, if constant muscle soreness is any indication of improvement in my present physical condition, I can only believe that in 6 more weeks I will have become a stronger athlete.  Until then, I will have to hold back my lame excuses at swim practice and look alive and happy while my sinking butt is getting handed to me.  

I have made it to 4 miles running- and I am killing it with a 10:35 pace.  Yep, like a big bonk at mile 22 of a marathon, except I am not bonking.  The success, though, is not about pace or distance- it is the fact that I can run 4 miles now and not absolutely dread it.  On Thursday of this week, I forced myself outside in the cold, dark, rainy night for a run.  I told myself I would love it like I used to and to heck with everything else.

Why is this significant?  Training log 2009- running:

March 15- Injury

Remainder of March- 0 miles

April- 6 miles...for the WHOLE month.  

May- progress, I ran a total of 4 miles one week, 5.5 miles one week, and 6 miles one week.  

you get the picture.  The rest of the summer looked basically the same.  A 2-miler here, a 1-miler there, until I just stopped trying.  

Last time I attempted 4 miles?  July 8.  Training log reads:

Run:  4 miserable, painful miles.  

So, when I finally realized that it had been almost 8 months since I had run 4 miles, I perked up.  My training log this time did not have the words "painful or miserable" in it.  Progress!

I am really trying to block out that voice that says "you used to run at such and such pace.  how will you ever get back to such and such time in a race?"  Blah blah blah.  That negative voice can be so overwhelming!  

The negativity just makes the task at hand seem even harder, and the solution is relatively simple.  With time and hard work, I will reach my goals.  Thursday was one of the first days I felt decently successful at just getting out there and running without dreading the slow pace or the overwhelming feeling that comes along with the task at hand.  I was just running, and that was good.  I didn't have to stop every half mile to stretch.  I wasn't paranoid with every little twinge.  I didn't walk home crying.  

This weekend I plan to run a little bit on the trails and solve all of my problems- as I tend to do on a good run.  I will solve yours too, probably.  For some reason I seem to forget the answers, though as soon as I stop running.  Maybe that is why we are compelled to run more..and more...and more....

To hopefully be continued....