Topazs' Longest Run

Today I and Topaz went for a 22.5 mile run. Yesterday I was thinking that I'd call Steve at 15 miles and have him come out to the trail to pick Topaz up. Topazs' longest run prior to this, in January I believe, was 18 miles. Well, I was taking walk breaks every hour and Topaz just keep speeding along. He runs more mileage than I, with all of his out ahead, back to check on me, over the field, chasing the deer, I probably don't need to worry about him.

When I first purchased Topaz he was 4 months old. I have done extensive research on dogs and running. I learned that a dog shouldn't run over 10 miles until after 18 months-at this time his joints and bones are fully developed. I took it nice and slowly with Topaz, slowly increasing his mileage over time.

He is now three years old and has more miles in his body than I think I have in mine. He doesn't tire. He has constant energy.

Anyway, upon finishing the first two loops it was quite apparent he was fine with another loop of 7.5 miles. Off we went. I was dragging at the end and he was still spry.

We received a good 3.5" of snow last night so it was tough going through that, the surface was a bit slippery too. On our way back to the car my footprints were already covered up, it was still snowing that hard.

I kind of became freaked out by the eagles. I spotted 6 of them. Well, 4 for sure. 2 of them may have just flown to another spot. I saw 4 at one time. I think the other 2 were following us. Is that crazy?? It was freaky! Every time I looked into the sky there are these two blasted eagles; looking at us. Then they would fly away, and a few miles ahead, there I would see 2 of them, looking at us. Very odd indeed. Freakazoid.

This last week I have noticed that I think about, dream about and live for sugar carbs. Sugar, refined flour, the white (bad) carbs. I had planned a few evenings to have lean protein and veggies for dinner and then before I know it I am making 'fortified' french toast..topped with natural peanut butter.

I know that I am addicted to sugar. Oh my gosh, chocolate-Godiva-ouch. I consume pounds of it and I'm not kidding. Up until 2 years ago I worked downtown Minneapolis and walked, every day, past the Godiva in the skyway, on my way to my office. I found I loved the dark chocolate best. I began buying it 'for the boys' hello! Then bought my own stash and consumed it all by myself. I was in there a few time a week, leaving with my gold bag full of chocolate delights. Feeling the chocolate melt in my mouth gave me a feeling of peace and contentment. My cats are named Toffee and Truffles.

I am an alcoholic. I don't think I've mentioned that here. I quit drinking 8.5 years ago, when Troy, my youngest, was 6 months old. No, I didn't drink during my pregnancy. Only afterward. I had always been a drinker, a problem drinker. Always beer, the blackouts, etc. My Dad is an alcoholic too, sober since 1985.

So, I know the running which began as soon as I quit drinking, is another addiction that replaced the alcohol. Dad is a runner too! We ran his first Grandmas Marathon together in 2000.

Now, the sugar I've always loved. While reading Kay Sheppards' food addiction book last night-recommended by Coach at Leanness Lifestyle-which is why all this is coming to the surface (LL), many memories came back of my childhood and stuffing sugary things into my mouth. Eating all of the frosting off the cakes, eating all of the christmas cookies, going to the bakery at lunch and spending all my babysitting money on custard filled donughts. It's all coming back to me. What does Oprah say "dig deep..peel away the layers".. I guess that is what I'm doing.

You know, as a runner you always read how we need so many carbs to run. We need to have 65% of diet consist of carbs, need those bagels, need that pasta, etc. I bought right into that. But some of us are different. Some of us can't eat all the white stuff. We have to find another way. I'm searching..

Happy Valentine's Day!

I gave Steve strict orders of NO CHOCOLATE this Valentine Day. I'm happy to report that he delivered on that request. A very nice card and flowers were at the breakfast table this morning. I then realized that we will have been married for 20 years in June. TWENTY YEARS! OMG, that makes us old, doesn't it? We began dating when we were 16. Scary. Real Scary.

Yesterday and today my macros are close to 50/30/20 with the huge running weekend. LL guidelines are 10% on either side; so I'm still within the parameters. When you are training for an ultra the carbs must increase.

I feel REALLY good today. My legs aren't feeling tired, I don't feel sleepy and I popped my blister last night so my toe is feeling fine. Topaz was as chipper as could be today too.

No cardio today; Monday is my only day off from cardio. I will be lifting Back, Trapezius, Tricep tonight. This is a new weight training I'm going to try. I know it is good to mix it up and periodization seems the way to go. We'll see. This is the 'awesome periodization 1" from LL.

In Bootcamp we have been divided into 3 teams. Team A, B and C. I'm on Team A. The team that loses the most fat/gets the highest grade/ wins a trip for 2 nights to Vegas or Orlando. Wouldn't that be cool?

The website for my ultra is finally up:http://www.geocities.com/running_50/homepage.html I get all excited when I look at it. It takes little to excite me, I guess.

Steve rolled his eyes at me when I told him I entered the 100. I was originally going to run the 50, but you know, I need to reach higher, I told him. He is only worried I'll injure myself. He asked me if I would like him to come along. I'm thrilled that he'd ask; but I don't think I want him there. You know, I could go through a crabby spell, no, wait, I will go through a crabby spell and it is best I don't take it out on him!! Tyler and Troy are very excited for me. They think it is cool that Mom runs long distances. They came to my FANS 24 hour run and cheered their little hearts out. I ran 84 miles at FANS in '03 and 89 miles in '04. That website is www.fans24hour.org I don't know if I'll do FANS 24 or 12 hour this year. The 24 is really a bitch. It takes EVERYTHING out of me...and I can't even the 100 miles. Damn.

I'm feeling the need to gab because I am hungry and I have another hour to go before I leave for home and begin to cook up my salmon. I'm starving!!

Today is a moderate zig zag: 1450 calories, 46% Carb, 34% Protein and 20% fat. Keep the eye on the prize! That buff lean mean machine...and an IPOD at the end of the 5 week bootcamp WHEN (NOT IF) I reach my goals!

That's mine..right on! 

Way in the distance..there he is! 

The nest is empty today. Bummer! 

Actually, I'm not driving, I'm running!! No vehicle.. 

Here we are! 

Prairies Edge Trail

I am SO excited! Yesterday after work I 'discovered' a new trail in the Sherburne Wildlife Refuge, not far from home. I went out to my regular Blue Hill Trail and it was a treacherous icy mess. I twisted my damn ankle out there last week and it still hurts. I was NOT going to try it again. So as I was driving home, thinking I'd have to hit the pavement I saw a long gravel road with a barricade at the entrance. It was labeled Prairies Edge Trail. There was a map posted stating the trail was 7.5 miles long and meandered through an Eagle nesting area. I called the local Sherriff dept. to make sure I wasn't trespassing and got the OK to run the property. It was fantastic!! I only needed to get in another 4 miles so I did that and knew I'd be back this morning.

I was. 7:00 AM I and Topaz were back out there for 15 miles. We saw the sun come up, saw 8 deer and 4 Bald Eagles. I didn't have my camera! I will definately bring it along tomorrow so I can post a few pictures. There is 1400 acres of oak savanah, wet lands the the Eagle nesting area. Not one other person was out there. Yahoo!

Tomorrow we go out for another 15 mile run.

Oh my gosh, Leanness Lifestyle is the bomb. I'm down 3 pounds this week. I'm hitting my calories every day and I'm excited. That's the biggest thing. I'm excited.

Breaking Records

It has been so beautiful outside! Yesterday it was 51 F ! Yes, in Minnesota. We are breaking records and last year it was 11F. Yahoo.

I and Topaz went out for a 10 mile run after work yesterday. It was weird because I still had to wear my snowshoes but I was able to wear shorts and a short sleeved shirt. That is the first time I have ever worn shorts on snowshoes!

Today it is 52F, we'll be out for another run.

I realized today that my morning treadmill run is like my cup of coffee. It is something that I now do every day without thinking about.

When I first began BFL and realized that I'd have to run 20 minutes HIIT 3x a week I was kind of put off by it. Hell, I was already running 40+ miles a week-sure they were long and slow, but did I really need to get up at 4:30 AM to fit in the HIIT? I didn't like it at first either. Somedays I'd just reset the alarm and figure I'd do it later. Right.

Then I began realizing how awesome I felt after my HIIT; even during it. I felt more alert, stronger and felt like I really accomplished something.

Since I've found LL I'm realizing that I need to run more than 20 minutes 3x a week for HIIT. I need to accomplish many cardio hours to burn this fat that doesn't budge. You know, I thought I got enough cardio in. I haven't been. I need to do more cardio and lifting. Lifting 3x a week isn't enough either. It's enought for the everyday person trying to get down to 20% fat but not enough for where I want to go.

I've been doing BFL for almost 2 challenges and have only lost 7 pounds (Challenge 1) and 4 pounds (Challenge 2 so far). I have learned to lift, learned the process of HIIT and learned to eat 6 balanced meals. But it isn't enough. I want the lean lean body!

I have been accepted into the LL "Bootcamp Intensive" I begin February 9. I can't believe how excited I am about this. Check out the website www.leannesslifestyle.com to read an overview.

I'll be taking pictures and sending off everything this week for the start. I'm ready.

Tomorrow is "Putting On The Ritz". It's a gala-affair I'm going to attend with a few friends from my running club. Steve has gone with me in the past but he is at a pool tournament this week. This is a fundraising event put on by the Big Lake Booster Club for our schools. I've never attended as a school employee before. I've only attended as Julie Berg.

I have this beautiful Anne Klein dress to wear. It's strappy and low cut. It would look real great after this intensive!

I have a hair appointment tomorrow afternoon, a 15 mile run planned in the morning, Troy's basketball game in the late morning and the gala in the evening. Might be a busy day!