ATCP and Red iPod Shuffle **Giveaway**!

As some of you are aware, I am doing the Dumbo Double Dare at Disneyland over Labor Day weekend. I'll be running with the A-T Children's Project to raise awareness and funds for research to benefit those affected by ataxia-telangiectasia.

The specific team I'm supporting is Team Randy and Alex. Alex is an adorable three-year-old who was diagnosed with A-T a few months before he turned two. Randy was Alex's mom, Crystal's, cousin. He lost his battle with A-T in 2004.

To help spread awareness, I'm doing a giveaway! (My very first one - I'm rather excited) ☺

The prize? A brand new red iPod shuffle.

"Why red?", you ask. Well, head on over to the ATCP website and you'll see - red is a color to show support for the ATCP.
The shuffle will come engraved with "The A-T Children's Project" on it... Those who know me know I tried to add more to that, but let's face it: Putting "Supporting Team Randy and Alex and the A-T Children's Project"? I tried, but I ran out of room. By a lot. (Surprise, surprise)

See, what'd I tell you?

Anyway, here it goes!
The entry period is between June 29, 2013 (see also: now) through July 22, 2013 at 12:00 AM CDT.
A winner will be chosen with 48 hours of the completion of the giveaway. The winner will have 48 hours after their name has been announced to contact me. If they do not, another winner will be chosen.

Have at! Please share with your friends and family. Our goal here is to raise awareness and help those in need! ☺


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Victoria's Secret. Yes, Really

Hi, my name is Victoria, and I'm awful at keeping secrets.

Ok, 1) that's a lie. 2) it makes me think of the stereotype for AA/NA/GA/etc. meetings.
"Hi, I'm [name], and I'm an addict."

But the fact of the matter is, I've got an amazing secret that I can't keep.
Well, I guess it's not really a secret, but it's fun to say it is. After all, friends make secrets, but secrets don't make friends, right?

ANYWHO!

You may remember me saying I'm running with the A-T Children's Project's Disneyland CureTeam over Labor Day weekend, and talking about fundraising to support the A-TCP?
Well, we got a virtual run up and, well, running! There are a few different levels:

• $10 for non-runners
• $25 for a 5k, 10k, or basically any other distance. This level includes an A-TCP decal
• $50 for a half or full marathon (or a shorter distance, if you so desire and want the shirt). This level includes and A-TCP t-shirt.
• Other - the option that gives you a little more leeway to pick and choose donation amounts.

I'm really quite excited for the whole thing. It'll be my first time hosting a virtual run, and I think it'll be their first virtual run ever for the A-TCP, so it'll be a fun experience for us all!

Here's the link to the Facebook page: Victoria's Not So Secret Virtual Run Facebook Page

Here's the link to the registration page: Victoria's Not So Secret Virtual Run.

Both pages give information on the charity, the run, as well as information on Team Randy and Alex.

Also, I want to clarify that it may be a virtual run... But all fitness levels and paces are welcome.

If you could like the Facebook page and share with your friends, that would be wonderful, and greatly appreciated!

That said, it's time for me to turn in for the night. Have a lovely night, ya'll :) 

And more virtual running

I would officially like to say "Scratch that last post" - that is, the count on it.
I said 8 virtual runs, not counting the one I did yesterday... Let's make that 11, not counting yesterday's.
...
Well, 10 left now, considering that the hubs and I did one of the Disney Series Virtual Runs (to benefit the ASPCA) tonight. He and I have apparently gotten each other in the spirit, and in addition to us doing at least 5k for each of the races, we're also doing each of the 1-milers.

I think I may have gotten my husband hooked on the "bling" aspect of running. With the 5k+ for those races, you get a medal. With the 1-mile, you get a dog-tag version of those medals.
At first he decided on the mile for Pluto because, well, it made sense. You know, getting a dog tag, and Pluto is a dog. Then he decided he was ok doing all of them with me ☺ Granted, he's got me doing the 10k version of each one, at LEAST, so I'm prepared for Dumbo and Dopey. And I'm glad he's got my back on training and doing this with me and all, although it's a bit daunting to think about doing 10k, whether it's on a treadmill or outside.

That said, I might have to buy him a medal hanger at some point! I know he's not terribly keen on running, but that he wants to get in better shape.
Although, I have my doubts on him "not liking it" because, uh, the man said he wants to do ALL of the runDisney runs with me at some point! That's 1 marathon, at least 5 half marathons, a 10-miler, whatever-distance-Expedition-Everest-is, at least 3-10ks, and at least 5-5ks. So either he's warming up to running, or he loves me. A lot.

Oh, what the heck, I'll give him the benefit of the doubt and say both! ;)

Now about that medal hanger... ♥

For the love of virtual racing!

I just did my first virtual race yesterday! :) I don't have the info right off hand, but 6.2 miles in `1:23:58 (that sounds about right).

I'm starting to really take an interest in virtual races, partly as a motivator and a training technique for Dumbo and for Dopey.

The hubs has been really supportive about the whole virtual race thing - which is cool, because I've signed up for a BUNCH. Motivation has been down lately, due to a combination of the heat, work, being tired, etc. etc. etc. And I was ok making excuses. Too tired, it's too late, I just don't want to, my hair will get all sweaty and gross, it's too hot...

Ok, that last one is decently acceptable, because I'm mainly a treadmill runner. I use the treadmill in our apartment complex's fitness room, and in the last, oh, 7-8 months or so, they put up signs that they don't want us to open the windows. And running on a treadmill without any sort of cross-breeze to help you keep cool is, well, not cool.
Part of me wants to ignore it, because that room gets absurdly hot and stuffy, and they don't have any fans in there (safe/healthy? I think not). The other part of me acknowledges that they put the signs up for a reason. Whether it's pest control or not wanting people forgetting the windows are open, or maybe the windows have been broken in the past, I don't know.

Although, in all actuality, this is good motivation for me to get back to the base to work out. Yeah, it involves driving to get over there and all, but at least there are fans.

We call this the contemplation stage. I'm aware I need to make a change, I'm just not quite ready to do it.
Heck, I've thought about just bringing my own fan into the fitness room, but that either involves lugging a fan back and forth (like I want to haul that up to the third floor after a long workout...) or donating a fan... There IS a Goodwill right down the road, though...

Anyway, back to virtual runs.
Like I said, I completed my first one last night! Now let's see what all I have left...

Before the end of the month I need to do the Moon Joggers Full Strawberry Moon Half Marathon, 10K, and 5K. I'll be doing the half.
I've also got the Pluto Virtual Race (think Disney's Pluto) for... Maybe a 10K, I'm undecided. The hubs will be doing the mile.
Then there's the Mickey Mouse Virtual Run, for which I'll be doing 10k the hubs will be doing 5k.
The Donald will be available in the coming week, and I'll do another 10k for that, and the hubs will be doing a 5k.

(Note: Anyone interested in the Pluto, Mickey, or Donald virtual races... the proceeds go to the ASPCA!)

Next month is the Birthday Run, which I plan to do on my birthday. 2.3 miles, for turning 23.
Immediately after (or any time during that week) is the Nerd Herd Running virtual Happy Birthday Harry Potter 5k and 10k.

I admit it, my birthday is the day before Harry Potter's.
I admit that I know this.

His birth year is also 10 years before mine.

Yes, I'm actually aware of these facts. Hence the run ☺
I missed their May the 4th (be with you) 5K, but I do want to hit the Banned Book Week 5k and Half Marathon in September... Which is right after the Prairie Dog Half Virtual... As in, they're in the same week.
Obviously I didn't plan that one out too well, but what are you gonna do about it except run?

So, that's 8 virtual races between NOW and the end of September (not including the one I did yesterday). Hopefully they'll help get me ready for Dumbo over Labor Day Weekend, and Dopey in January!

Also, speaking of Dumbo! Since I'm raising money for the A-T Children's Project, one of the things we'll be doing is putting on a virtual run! It'll be the first one from the A-T Children's Project. Stay tuned for more info! It sounds like it's going to be super fun, I'm just hoping we'll get people to sign up for it. We're having a number of options available for registration, anywhere from just wanting to donate up to anyone wanting to run more that 26.2 miles! Still working out the kinks to the price points and all. And to make sure all of the money goes to the ATCP, there will be virtual medals instead of the traditional running medals.
Hopefully we'll have the page up and ready to go soon! I'm really looking forward to it.

On that note, I think I'm going to try talking my husband into a run! Wish me luck ☺

When did mental illness become synonymous with violence?

Heads up: This is one of my touchy subjects.

I'm posting this, because I'm... Annoyed. Yeah, that's a good word.
If you didn't know, I recently earned (and paid the licensing fee for) my PLMHP. Meaning, I've completed the work to get a provisional license to practice in mental health. Including a master's degree.
Yay! And I'm working toward getting a license that doesn't have the "provisional" attached to it. It's a 1.5+ year process for the latter bit, one that picks up where my schooling for my M.S. left off.

One of the groups that gets led at my work is a group on stigmas and stereotypes, with a focus on mental illness - how those with a mental illness are perceived by others, and how they perceive themselves to be.
One of the groups that I lead is a mental health awareness group, in which we go over current events related to mental health.

So as I was scrolling through Twitter after work today (instead of taking a nap... Bad idea, I guess), I came across this from the Huffington Post: Jackkqueline Pogue, Homeless Woman Accused Of Pushing Woman Off Train Platform, Was Schizophrenic.
Now, with all of the events that have happened last year, I have to say I'm annoyed. When something goes wrong, they automatically blame it on mental illness - in general. Now, it appears this woman actually DOES have a mental illness (specifically, untreated schizophrenia, according to the article), and I can understand it playing a part in this particular case. But I mean the past few events, like Boston, and the automatic assuming that people only do these things if they have mental illness.

Silly me, I looked at what people were saying in reply to the tweet with that article. And then I saw... This:
"Just like the people who have committed mass shootings. When will we institutionalize these people?"

I left out his Twitter handle on purpose. If he was that energetic about posting such a comment then he probably doesn't care who sees it, but I don't know that it's for me to share who it is...
It was one of those moments of "... Did someone seriously just say that?"
I double-checked his picture to see if age-related stereotyping was going on, and it very well may have. But I found it interesting that this person claimed to be a historian, a writer, a lecturer... and he was going about it without the facts.

Also, some of my clients are absolutely TERRIFIED at the idea that they may be hospitalized/EPC'd by the cops, concerned they'll be locked up.
So naturally I was a bit... Shall we say, incensed.

And like any, um, good person trying to hold their tongue in a manner yet get the point across... I schooled him. Because that kind of ignorance is unacceptable.
I provided him with information on mental illness from NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness).
I also provided him with information on schizophrenia from NIMH (National Institute of Mental Health).

In the event that you don't feel like checking out the information, let me sum it up:
Approximately 25% of the US population has a MI (mental illness) or had one at some point in their lives  -and that's before the release of the DSM-5 and the controversy that goes along with it, thank you very much. Give or take 1% of the US population has schizophrenia.
Speaking from personal experience with the population I work with, which includes SPMIs (severe and persistent mental illness - major depression as well as bipolar, schizophrenia, and schizoaffective disorders), as well as the information provided, most people with mental illness would like to be contributing members of the mainstream population. I've got clients who want to go to work and/or go to school - and clients who DO work and/or go to school. I've got clients who just aren't able to work. My supervisor has mentioned to me clients so terrified they'll be locked up that they avoid talking to others for fear that they'll see something wrong with them...
I've got cranky clients, quiet clients, boisterous clients, sweet clients, clients who laugh and giggle a lot. They have good days, and they have bad days. They enjoy watching movies, going on walks, going to the store, playing games, dancing... Laughing at Betty White's antics (we recently watched The Proposal for a laugh in my Stress Management group). We've had the occasional violent/aggressive client (see also: not often at all). Many of our clients are really quite intelligent - one who can school everyone on a certain counseling theory, another who is amazing at math, and who enjoyed science so much he taught it to his peers, multiple who've taught me a thing or two about music (and I used to be a music ed major!), and another who is so amazing at history it's a little scary! We've got one who's such a proud, new papa that he adores showing off pictures of his little one, all you have to do is ask. ☺

How is this any different from the rest of the population?

(The large font was unintentional. It happened that was because I increase the font on my smiley faces... But it worked out quite well, no?)

Mostly we have clients who want to fit in. Who want friends. Who want to be accepted. Who feel left out. Who will offer you support if it looks like you're having a hard time, and who will look out for you.
Some who miss the choices and lifestyle they had prior to the start of their symptoms and their diagnosis. I have a client who, to this day, well over a decade later, grieves the fact that, for her, mental illness means she has no option of even adopting children.

As for schizophrenia in particular, we've got a number of clients who wear headphones and listen to music to help with any auditory hallucinations (that is, hearing voices or other things). Sometimes they play whatever. There are a few in particular... One person loves classical music. There's another who enjoys rap, I believe - I'll have to ask what he's listening to some day. Another person likes a little bit of everything - and when the music is up loud enough, I find myself wanting to sing/dance along to it, because it's music that I also enjoy.

Riddle me this: How can you say that all people with mental illness are violent and should be locked up? Do you even know all people with mental illness? And what about the people who are violent and don't have a mental illness?

Oh, and saying someone is "mentally disturbed" or something to that effect isn't the same thing as "having a mental illness". Just FYI.

Basically: Having a mental illness doesn't mean someone is a bad person, or that they should be locked up. Although if you want to make a case for more mental health services to be available to people, be my guest.
Lumping everyone with mental illness into the category of being "violent" or something else equally unflattering isn't helping anyone.
I can guarantee you know or have met someone with a mental illness, or who has experienced a mental illness with a loved one.
By the way, ADHD, Postpartum as an onset specifier to a mood disorder (as in, the mood disorder started postpartum), and premature ejaculation are in the DSM-IV-TR, people.

Just saying. (Had to throw that last one in there for good measure, you see. haha)

☺

The joys of adulthood

I've been MIA in blogging, I know. I mean, HARDCORE MIA in blogging. As in, I don't remember the last time I made a post.

There have been plenty of things that have come up that I could have posted on... But haven't. It seems I'm to that lovely point of adulthood where I work 40-50+ hours a week... And then I sleep.
DH even jokes about my routine. I get up, have a bowl of cereal, go to work, come home, sometimes take a nap, sometimes read... Go to sleep. Add a shower in there somewhere, maybe add in a run - which is lovely for someone who has a number of long-distance runs coming up in the next 7 months, I know.

Nobody tells you that growing up means working a lot and sleeping instead of having a life, do they? (yes, I just rolled my eyes)

Let's see... I know a picture is worth a thousand words, but I'm kind of lacking pictures at the moment.

• Just over a month ago (on May 4th) I graduated with my M.S. in Community Counseling :D
• On May... 12th I completed the Runway Run. I was either 5th or 6th from the end, but I did it! Other than the Princess Half Marathon, THAT was the event that got me interested in running :D 7 miles in 1:29:06... I admit to being a little miffed that it was 3 second slower than I thought, but I beat my goal of 1:30:00! :D
• On May 29th, the hubs and I celebrated our second wedding anniversary.
• Two days later my hubs celebrated his birthday. No clue why I married him so close to his birthday. Shopping for gifts was a pain! :P
• Two days later was our 6-year dating anniversary. See above, but this time no gifts.
• Aaaaaaaand, good ol' June! On the 6th I apparently was issued my PLMHP (Provisionally Licensed Mental Health Practitioner). Got it in the mail on the 7th, started supervision this week to work toward a license that DOESN'T say "provisional"!
• Lacking running motivation. I think part of it is related to the heat.
• What I lack in running motivation, I make up for doing three walks a week with my clients at work to improve physical (and hopefully mental!) health. Nothing like getting out and getting moving!
• Speaking of which (see also: reminder to self) I've got clients who often pace due to not being able to sit in a group/class for 45 minutes... I need to invite them on the walks
• Today... I realized that I have walked and run at least 280 miles this year. Waaaaaaaaaaaaaay less than I'd hoped to have achieved at this point, but let's face it... I'm doing better at this than I ever have. I may not reach my Moon Jogger goal of 2,013 miles this year (and I still have 6.5 months to go!!!), but I'm doing so much better than I EVER thought I would have done as far as running, walking, and overall exercise.
• Speaking of which, my ILs and DH got me registered for the Dopey Challenge as a graduation present!! SO excited. NEVER would I have thought I'd be doing a marathon. But in 7 months time, I will be sticking it out there and trying my best - and doing it. I won't be the first to finish, but it'll be a first for me. And I'm excited.

Random blurb, that I may have mentioned before: After the Boston Marathon events, I had a friend text me to make sure I wasn't there.

Let's face it, there's no way I'm getting a BQ - at least, not any time soon, not without a whole lot more effort and all.

But, HELLO, love and support. I know she doesn't know a person has to qualify, but the feeling was "She thinks I can BQ!" Add that to the other supportive people in my life, and it's all golden.

So, being an adult is busier than I thought, considering I have pretty similar hours the ones I kept in high school - only difference is I'm in bed by 11 usually. Or at 9:30 I'm asleep on the bed until DH pokes me and tells me to get ready for bed. LOL.

Oh, the joys of being an adult.

And yes, I am surprised that it's just barely 9. I thought I was 22, not 222! haha

Women's Running Series Bloomington, MN Half

I can't remember if I posted on this before (what kind of blogger am I?! haha, kidding), but I talked it through with DH and I signed up for the Women's Running Series Half Marathon in Bloomington, MN in June!
It'll be my second half marathon, my first one by myself. That latter part is  intimidating  terrifying, but I have to remind myself that not only am I doing the Dumbo Double Dare by myself over Labor Day Weekend, I'll be doing the Dopey Challenge by myself in January. And maybe a couple other runs in between.

I always  expected  knew that I would be doing many of my runs and races by myself, but when it's only happened once then it's something you forget about.
I also can't help but remember the Princess Half back in February. I was in such a nasty mood, and my legs just hurt so badly that, of all things... I contemplated giving up.

Now, obviously I didn't, and I have the medal to prove it. And now that I have the experience under my belt, I know what I should and shouldn't be doing (for the most part) pre-race. And that includes not burning myself out (physically, mentally, and emotionally) in addition to putting more effort into my training.

Unfortunately, as much as I can remind myself of what I have "learned" (kinda already knew, but had verified), it's easy to get caught up in the negativity of one event.

One of my goals after we move into our new apartment next month is to get a medal hanger.The search has been... Interesting... But I think I'll be going with one from Allied Medal Displays:

I think at the point I'm at in my running, this sums it all up for me. I started running because I knew I could. I always told myself I couldn't, I'm not fast enough, I'll look stupid, etc... But one day I realized the only thing holding me back is me.
That goes for running longer distances. Running races by myself. Heck, just getting the guts to sign up for one!
Because I know my husband is behind me. My family is behind me (that includes his folks, too, even though dear FIL thinks I'm nuts - then again, the magnet on my car says "13.1 - cuz I'm only HALF crazy!" haha). My friends are behind me.

Speaking of support systems... One of my friends actually texted me to make sure I wasn't in Boston. I told her no (obviously), and then on Friday I realized... She thinks I could run Boston. Nevermind getting into a discussion with her on the details of BQing and such, because I don't think we discussed it. And I'm pretty sure a BQ isn't in my future.

But the fact remains:

It's great to have people who have your back and have confidence in you,

but you have to have your back and have confidence in yourself.

Even so, I wouldn't trade my support system for the world ♥
And before I forget, other medal hangers I'm contemplating:

(both from Heavy Medalz)

Food Porn, and Boston

I'm sure I'm living vicariously through someone at Red Robin right now. Ever since I got my wisdom teeth out on Wednesday, I've wanted a burger. Or chicken. But definitely a burger. And of course, they told me to stay away from ground beef... So I'm assuming a burger is out of the question (especially the fabulously spicy Burnin' Love Burger at Red Robin, fried jalapenos and all!)

...

Still trying to figure out how to get proper nutrition for running until my mouth completely heals. It's hard enough (and sad enough) when I get GI issues from running anyway...

On that note, here's a picture for you. Because I can ;)

Red Robin's Burnin' Love Burger, at your service.

(Also, I'm totally baking some sweet potatoes/yams right now. Got some mashed ones I'm hoping come out like sweet potato pie (yum!!), and some sweet potato pieces that I'm hoping come out like fries/wedges/what-have-you, but, you know, sweet) ;)

That said, with everything that's been going on in Boston, what with the explosions at the 117th Boston Marathon on Monday (15 April 2013)... Facebook, Twitter, the news... Everything and everyone has been talking about it. And I don't don't blame them. It's a pretty major event, scary and life-changing for so many - in positive and negative ways.

Negative ways... I shouldn't even have to specify how. Three dead, a large number injured (100+), and even more affected in other ways.

Positive ways, well... It's amazing to see people joining together to provide one another with support. From the slowest runner to the fastest runner, those in between, those are aren't runners, etc., etc., etc. - I've seen nothing but support, and it really does make a person feel good about some of the goings-on in the world, realizing (or having it reaffirmed) that there are wonderful people out there.

Today (within the last few hours, in fact) they caught the (still living) suspect. Boston was on lockdown this morning while they searched.

The other suspect (his brother) is dead.

That said - and please don't try to burn me at the stake or through the computer for this - I truly hope they have the right people. Looking online, seeing that people have been sending the suspects death threats in some way, shape, or form (and the threats sent to the person they initially thought was a suspect, but actually wasn't)... It stings.

Maybe it's just me and I'm overly sensitive (or not sensitive enough), but I can't imagine wishing someone dead. Maybe hoping they stub their toe or something, I guess, but not actually wishing someone dead.

I know some people will say "You run, why don't you get it?" or "Well, they shouldn't have done this!" or "That's what they get!" but... It's not up to me to decide "what they get". Such a concept has always made me rather uncomfortable.

I don't believe it's up to me to decide if someone lives or dies.

Take that how you will. Agree, disagree, hate me, love me, whatever you will.

I stick by that.

On that note: I hope those in Boston, as well as friends, families, runners, those who were at the Boston Marathon, etc... I hope they can breathe better and rest easier tonight. And that the right people are held accountable.

♥

Words of Wisdom (Teeth)

I had my wisdom teeth taken out yesterday. Something I could've lived without, but nothing like the horror stories people kept feeding me with horrible nurses, oral surgeons not listening to people that novocaine won't work on them, that kind of mess.

Although I will say it was kinda weird and creepy because they had wrist clamps for heart rate/pulse monitors, and the cords attached to them (so yay, no sticky stuff!). I was hanging out around 68 or so, and then the oral surgeon walked in and it jumped to about 78.

Nervous much?

I found it rather... Humorous, for lack of a better word, that they told me to come in wearing short sleeves or something that could easily be rolled up past the elbow (for IV sedation)... Yeah, they stuck it in my hand.
The oral surgeon told me that in about two minutes the room would spin.
I only got as far as thinking "Man, my hand feels a little numb..." and then I woke up.

Yeah, I don't know what "room spinning" he was talking about.

I love my MIL. My husband has a bad habit of volunteering her for things and not telling her until a day or two before (or, you know, being "nice" and "volunteering" me for things... We gotta work on his communication! lol??), and she ended up taking me to the dentist AND staying in the waiting room for an hour and a half - all while being on a teleconference that she'd had scheduled.
Not to mention the fact that they actually showed me a video on how to care for my mouth AS I was waking up.

Totally slept through most of it.

And on top of everything else, she changed my bloody gauze, and even made me try to have some milkshake before she made me take my painkiller (nevermind that I didn't need or want the painkiller, she followed instructions and wouldn't let me take it on an empty stomach - and she wiped my coat when I spilled shake and dripped blood on myself).
With a mouth full of clean gauze, I told her I loved her. And that I'd never felt so attractive in my life (sarcasm, of course).

My last run was two nights ago, and ended in enough time that I had a small dish of frozen yogurt, some orange juice... I think I also had my water and vitamins, or something like that... All right before the cutoff of when they told me to not eat before the surgery.
And then waking up around 8, about an hour before the surgery... Needless to say, I was crabby because I was hungry - AND I wasn't allowed to have water or anything.

The more recent dilemma has been deciding what I can and can't do. I woke up at 7, despite having the day off... And I wanted to go for a run.
Of course, I've been pretty clear-headed since the surgery (although a bit groggy yesterday, but still pretty lucid), but I know good and well that DH and the ILs would've been all "NO! NO YOU MAY NOT!!!"
And soI didn't.
I paid credit card bills. I looked up shoes for graduation for about an hour. I spent just over an hour on the phone with my FIL (and yes, the "NO YOU MAY NOT!" was confirmed). And then I was so bored (and maybe a little tired?? But mostly bored) that I slept from just after 11 until about 2, pausing for random phone calls, of course.
I was so bored I was tempted to go into work. Of course, I'm going in at about 5 anyway for an evening training.

And here I am, awake. Very minimal pain, maybe a hint of discomfort here and there... And I've been living on Ensure shakes and pudding - the kind of pudding that has to be refrigerated! (How weird is that??). And a little bit of applesauce.
Which is tasty and all, but it blows because I would go for a burger or a spicy chicken sandwich or something if I could, but I should probably avoid that for the next couple days.

On the subject of nutrition, I've been trying to figure out exactly how to take care of myself post-run for the next week while my mouth heals. I already have a hard time with GI issues post-run, and now it seems like I'm going to be on applesauce, Ensure, pudding (cold pudding! ick), and water for ages.
I feel a bit like an old person with hardcore dietary restrictions or something.

I tried looking it up, and I found all sorts of posts from people who ran a great distance the next day, or couldn't run the next day, who felt fine or had a horrible experience, and I'm just thinking "Well, I could be out and moving around instead of laying here like a lump because I'm not in pain..."

Even better, the experience I got from my other job... They called me yesterday afternoon with an open shift on Saturday - I'd already told one person I wouldn't be able to do Saturday (the day of the NCE), but that I wouldn't be able to come in to fill out the paperwork because I work during the hours the office is open. She told me it was ok.
My phone was on silent yesterday and I dozed through the call. When I saw they'd called I was going to make DH call and let them know I was unavailable for a shift - of course he didn't do that. So I sent them an email.
I called them this morning to make sure they got the message, and was told that when "something like this happens" (meaning my wisdom teeth getting taken out) I need to call and let them know I can't work.
Uh... That's not why I can't work Saturday. I'd already spoken to someone about it - I'm not working Saturday because I paid $300 to take a licensure exam. I feel perfectly fine, and I'm not available for them during the week anyway! I don't know what wisdom teeth Wednesday have to do with work Saturday - AND I was lucid enough to send an email that was grammatically correct and had no spelling errors.

Head, meet wall.

I love them, but I'm waiting to get a call to work graduation day this time around, too. I took the day off when I graduated with my bachelor's, and ended up working an overnight :-/

Which reminds me, if you all didn't notice... I'm graduating! May 4 :)
I rewrote my career counseling essay for my written exam, and I will be graduating! As in, diploma and everything! Now to find the right shoes for graduation. MIL and I will be going after the NCE on Saturday to see what we can find.

That is all. For now ;)

"Running Diet" vs. "Healthy Diet"

While laying in bed this morning, DH and I were talking about what needed to be on our grocery list. I've got a pretty basic grocery list that gets me through just about everything (that is, I can add or subtract, but those usually stay the same).

You know, the goods: water, milk, bread, peanut butter... Cheese, because no grocery list is complete without cheese. Obviously. Greek yogurt, bagels, OJ, cereal (like Frosted Mini Wheats or Honey Bunches of Oats Honey Roasted), bananas, stuff like that.

And sometimes there are the things that we run out of less often than the other items, and need more of at that time. Canned tomatoes, black and/or kidney beans, random vegetables, oatmeal. Maybe the occasional box of granola.

While trying to figure out how to expand our list in a healthy manner, find stuff we'd actually WANT to eat (bell peppers are not my idea of fun), stuff that works if we don't have time to cook/don't feel like cooking, stuff that will hold us throughout the work day, I decided I would look up "best foods for runners".

Or something like that.

Of course, if you've ever wondered what a runner "should" eat and therefore have looked it up, asked somebody about it, or heard about "carb-loading"/"carbo-loading", you know that big things that show up on these lists are: bananas, pasta, bagels, peanut butter, fruits (especially berries), veggies... And, you know, the occasional random obscure thing.

And yogurt. Which I love, although I usually see "plain yogurt" on those lists. Blech.

I know some people love their plain yogurt, but I think it tastes awful. Well, to each their own.

Anyway, as I was going through these sites, one after another after another, I realized that they all said just about the same thing (see above with the most popular items *coughBANANAScough*).

And it occurred to me, you can look up "What should runners eat?", "Healthy runner's diet", "Best running foods", "Best foods for runners", and whatever else pertaining to running and food... And what you get on the "yes!" list is basically what people should be eating anyway.

So how is it that a "running" diet isn't the same thing as a "healthy" diet?

Now, obviously there are some differences - some things that you may need more or less of depending on what's going on with your body.

For example, ease up on the fiber-rich foods before a run, especially a long one. It's all about the right amount and right timing, otherwise you may end up making some, uh, pit stops, if you know what I mean.

I had a doctor suggest taking calcium/magnesium/zinc supplements when I told him about the Princess Half. Fabulous idea, except when I took them I realized I couldn't take the full serving because they made me feel... off (dizzy, etc.), which was a sign that I was already getting enough of the... Magnesium or zinc, I forget which.

It's amazing to look at the "differences", and especially the similarities between "healthy" diets/lifestyles and "running" diets/lifestyles.

It also feels a bit like "healthy" eating is looked down on, is thought to be a bit "stuffy", and has a hint of "WTF is wrong with you?" attached to it. Hello, have you seen what some of the more popular foods/restaurants serve most of the time, and the stress that's been put on obesity, foods that aren't as good for you, changing up fast food, etc.? But it's also important to take into account that some of the "healthier" foods are far more expensive than processed foods, and they tend to go bad faster. I wonder if the financial aspect of this has to do with any of the (mis)conceptions surrounding the "healthy" diet. I know that when discussing socioeconomic status (SES) in my classes and talking about health, one of the things that's mentioned is people not really being able to afford to eat better.

Whereas it seems like runners who essentially eat the way they should... Are almost revered. Maybe thought to be a little nuts (no pun on the importance of eating nuts, I promise!) and maybe as "kooky" as the stereotypical vegetarian (Tofu? No thanks! My ILs eat it and I just can't wrap my head around it. My vegetarian hubs and vegetarian ILs eat it occasionally, but tends to go for stuff that's less... Obscure, so to speak). But it's often "Man, that willpower, fueling the body for their runs, etc., etc."

Ok, so these are obviously (mostly) my own points of view and opinions and hardcore ramblings and all.

Has anyone else noticed similar things?

Any and all input is welcome! ☺

Oh, and I did add soy nuts to my grocery list. (And still, no tofu!) ;)