Meet my husband...

Some of you may not have met him already. He thinks his name is Usain Bolt.

This might be my fault......I made him buy running shoes a few weeks ago. Begin problem.

Let me tell you a few things about my beloved spouse. He was a tennis superstar in his youth and even played tennis in a beer league until a few years ago. When his job and family responsibilities (i.e. supporting my shopping problem and dealing with our hyper children) increased, he stopped exercising. Which would be fine, except that with his rising cholesterol, job stress and generally crabby attitude, he really needed some exercise. (ENTER running)

2 weeks later, he is fricking Usain Bolt. "Guess how far I ran today" "How fast do you run this distance""I'm getting a blister" blah blah blah or my favorite "I think I have tendonitis in my big toe" (picture me laughing hysterically at that one). As the one who has actually been running for more than a millisecond, I resent the competition. I'm the runner, I tell him. YOU are just trying it out for awhile. He won't last- or will he?????

I created a monster.

I've been getting some complaints....

Really people? Don't you have a life? (tee hee) It's good to know I've been missed.

What's new with me?

Running- not so much. It seems everytime I get over 8 miles, my knee starts to hurt. I shared my hypothesis with Teresa. My butt is too big. SERIOUSLY. My knees can't stand the weight of my butt and thus, hurt. So, I surmised that in order to have a career as a runner (ha ha and give up nursing?!?!?!) I need to lose some weight. So back to Weight Watchers I run, being particularly motivated by the 4000 calories worth of margaritas, chips and salsa that I consumed last night (thanks teresa and francesca!!!).

Gotta love WW. This morning at our meeting, the skinny annoying leader Natalie (HATE HATE HATE her, much prefer Gayle but they alternate Saturdays) told us about WW's new campaign 'Lose for Good'. Now selfishly, I just assume they were talking about ME losing for good. Apparently not. For every pound members lose between sept and oct 17, WW will donate 1 lb of food to a national food bank. While I sympathize with the plight of hunger, should I be insulted that they basically want to take the food out of my mouth and give it to the hungry??? I'd rather just donate the food and not 'earn' it (or feel guilty when I don't lose any weight and people starve). AH.

On an another random note, I ran in my new shoes today. Not sure I'm digging them thus for. They are 'motion stabilizers' (i.e. orthopedic running shoes) for remedial runners such as myself who can't seem to keep their arches up. They make my feet awfully sweaty and my heels hurt.

I also scored a major coup last week when I found WIN detergent at Inline running store. It is the detergent of the US olympic team :) It is supposed to help get the permi-B.O. smell out of your coolmax-type exercise clothes. NOW, I have no idea if it actually works since I have yet to do wash...

And finally, I am just recovered from the outer ear infection I got from my germy Ipod ear buds. Please wash them- I didn't :(

Gotta run, we are off to Tosa Fest (the highlight of the Wauwatosa Social season). I promise not to neglect my blog so much.... Happy running!!

Plungers and hickeys

Good morning!

And a good one it is :). I have run twice this week and am feeling pretty good, a little out of shape but glad to be running. I had a heart to heart with my lovely PT Kate, who is doubtful that I will be able to finish the marathon. After whining and pleading, I finally just decided that I will do what I can do and if it's meant to be it will be. No sense worrying about it.

I got a little concerned last night when my knee pain reemerged. I pouted into PT this morning and whined a little bit about it. Turns out, this is NEW knee pain!!! Alright, you probably think I'm nuts right now. You're thinking "um, sara, knee pain isn't good". I got news for ya- it's good when it's not your old nagging injury. Because we caught it so early, we can head it off. I got a little soft tissue work (hurts like a mofo) and some 'little plunger' work on my IT band (seriously, there is a little plunger looking therapy tool that she sticks on my leg and is able to separate tissue and loosen it up- it also leaves round hickey-like marks on my leg- SEXY). That and my trusty foam roller and I will be a rockstar!

See my totally hot muscled leg below...


In case you are still wondering... IT stands for "Iliotibial Band".

I'm baaaaaaaaaaaack......

Team Bailey member Lynn had a Lia Sophia party on Friday night to raise $$ for CURE. Of course I helped in the money raising, if you haven't noticed thus far in my blogging, I 'heart' shopping of all kinds- even buying diapers at Babies r Us gives me great joy (pathetic, but true..)

This was one of my purchases


And on a even happier note, I ran yesterday for the first time in a number of weeks!!

My musings about the run:
1) It was exhilarating to be running again!
2) Cross training is BS. Nothing replicates running and it was evident in my performance yesterday.
3) Running shorts= chub rub. Going to have to figure out someway to wear my knee brace under my running capris.
4) It's going to be a long road back to distance, but I'm ready for the adventure. Heck, right now Bailey is in the hospital with wires coming out of his head- I'm in no position to whine about things being hard for me. Every time I get an update from the Caring Bridge site, I remember just why it is that I am doing this marathon in the first place! Here's a shout out to all the Rommelfangers in Minnesota right now- hang in there! You have gaggles of people thinking and praying with you!!!
GO Bailey Go!!!!

I haven't gone missing.....

Bless me blog for I have been lazy. It's been a really long time since my last run.

My knee has been achy and I have been working really hard to rehab it. I think this might be the week that I run again. Call it optimistic, but I think I can do it.
After all the cake I ate and all the beer I drank this weekend, I certainly need to run. My pants are getting snug and all my cute running clothes are gathering dust.
Running also gave me a little more self discipline than I have now. I have been in a downward spiral of brats, chips, Coke (oh!), ice cream (ok, so it wasn't THAT bad...) that only running can get me out of. Wish me luck :)

Did you miss me?

Hello blog. It's been awhile. I have now officially been a non-runner for over 2 weeks. I did run last night, but it HURT so it didn't count. It was a really frustrating run for me and I was really discouraged. My husband tried to be kind and reassured that it may take a little tiiiiiiiiiiiime to recover fully. Not quite the right thing to tell your impatient wife. Sigh.

On another note, I just got back from Denver and Boulder where I purchased ADORABLE running gear. I was a little disappointed in the 'Holy Grail' shorts I purchased from Title Nine. They are supposed to be the best running short they have to offer in the anti-chafe department. They are like regular shorts with a little spandex pair of shorts underneath em. Well, I can officially announce- they suck! Really, I cannot be the only marathoner in the world who CANNOT run in shorts because they end up all bunched up in my crotch causing my thighs to rub- can I?? They are SO going back....

Who woulda thunk it

After my first weekend of NO running in quite awhile, I learned the following things:
1) I like running (ahhhh!!!)
2) I love sleeping in on Saturday mornings
3) I felt sluggy without my run
4) Bacon chocolate is really really good. (sidebar: Indulge on Milwaukee St sells it and delish wine and cheese too! just don't order a glass of wine without looking at the price first um, $17 A GLASS people- my bottles aren't that expensive)

I know that last one was a bit random, but I really really like running. SO much that I actually have done my PT exercises to the 'T' and am prepared to BEG on wednesday for permission to have a little run this week. Who am I?

So much other randomness happened this weekend, every electronic I own broke (camera, my brand new cell phone and my CAR). Got a little shnocked on wine at Indulge. Saw Indiana Jones- I heart Harrison and Shia together [insert deep sigh here]. Overall, a good weekend....even sans a run.

And here is my blog 'shout out' to Teresa for her 14 miles! And the super sweet card as well- thank you!!

Sidelined

I have been officially put on the DL (not the down low, the disabled list).

I saw the PT today. Apparently, I have weak hips. That was a surprise- I never would have thought my "birthing hips" would let me down. It seems that weak hips make your kneecaps all wiggly. BAH. I got hooked up with some exercises & stretches and she ordered me a hot looking (not sexy here folks, temperature hot) knee brace. I was also instructed that if I want to run the marathon, that I sit my a$$ out of running for the next week ("at least one week", in her words). She also put some suave looking tape on my knee.

I see her again on Wednesday next week to beg for my running back.

Until then....happy trails to you!

PT for me.

I saw my wonderful doctor Kristin Reynolds (Aurora Wiselives Center- she rules!!!) yesterday, I have a problem of 'female knees' AKA patellofemoral syndrome. Basically, my hips have screwed me again :) going to meet Kate this afternoon at Aurora Sports Medicine, we'll see what she says....

On a random note, this picture was in an article in the Journal about fish frys being expensive. WEIRDNESS

The Underwear

The highlight of my week thus far (other that my sister coming home from India) was the stellar pair of Patagonia Active underpants that I bought last weekend. I got sick of having super sweaty underwear and just can't handle not wearing any under my running pants. I also had to duck into the woods last saturday to powder my nose (shut up) and had a SUPER hard time getting my sweaty cotton undies back up. (stop laughing). I wore them running on Monday and my bum stayed nice and cool.



Aren't they cute??






Can't wait to run 14 miles on Saturday- my friend Beka from Chicago is coming to run with us!

My blisters have blisters

The thing about marathon training is that you push through maladies that would have previously sidelined you. Right now, my left foot looks like hell and my right is somewhat better but still I wouldn't dare show up for a pedicure in this state. My right knee is throbbing and I have a large cyst on the back of it. So my plan?
Run 8 miles tonight. Why? Because I HAVE TO. Sigh. I am being responsible and going to see my doctor on Thursday who will likely tell me not to run on it (which I will likely ignore).

We ran 12 miles last Saturday. I still have a hard time walking down stairs. The squats that trainer Leanne made me do this AM aren't going to help that any. She did suggest getting a foam roller to roll out on after runs- doesn't this look fun?



(And no, I do not know this dude)

14 miles next week...

TMI

Last night, I bought the most expensive sneaks that I have ever owned (aren't they cute?)- thank goodness for that Team Bailey discount! The charming teenaged boy who sold me them should have gotten a raise for what I put him through. He pleasantly endured my complaints about sweaty feet and thigh chafing (AKA chub rub) and suavely suggested some Body Glide (I bought it- $12.99 a small price to pay to prevent THAT pain). Even went and looked for some pink socks for me because I just wasn't satisifed with the purple ones. If I only I got his name.....

LAZY LAZY

I am just too busy (or lazy) to blog every day. It seems I missed a month- oops!
Last Saturday, I ran my first 10 MILER! I was impressed with myself and somewhat surprised that I didn't die. (or wimp out) Take that!

Now, the blisters on my feet are a different story. And the bra chafe. YUCK. Then Teresa gave me the vision of toenails falling off which I really can't handle.

I worked out with my new trainer Leanne this morning who is an experienced marathoner. She reassured me that all of these ails plateau after awhile, so soon I shall not feel so broken. Good to know.

Until then, I will buy some new sneaks and some chafe proof bottoms. Maybe get a pedi while I still have nails....

ouch- the knees

I ran a very hilly 2.5 miles this morning and the knees are killing. I am going to try to embed some maps of my runs (thank you to mapmyrun.com). Off to work now...

Not so lazy after all

I ran last night! only 2.5 miles, but my first miles logged since before I left for india. it felt good to run outside in nice weather for a change. I just found out that my future sister-in-law Mary is running the Big Sur marathon this weekend, her 2nd marathon. That leaves me optimisitic that there may be a 2nd in my future.

Walt Disney marathon would be fun.... January 11th, 2009 (not that I checked it out:)

Any joiners?

Runners what??

Ok. Sometimes I question why I run. Reading this article was one of those moments. Something to look forward to I guess.

http://www.revolutionhealth.com/conditions/digestive/diarrhea/causes/runners-diarrhea?s_kwcid=ContentNetwork984611634

I didn't run this weekend. Not sure why, the weather was fantastic. It seems I was just not motivated. I'm thinking maybe I will go buy some new cute running stuff to get me in the mood :)

Crackberries

You may know just how insane the Blackberry (AKA Crackberry) makes me.
No one really needs to be able to email THAT much. Especially my husband :)

This morning at the gym, there was a girl on her Crackberry at 5:30am clicking and clacking away as if her life were dependant on it. I guess her workout could wait.....

The rumors are true

Sara Schedler is running a marathon.

Why?

Well..... got a minute?



In my quest for personal fitness (please don't laugh), I agree to things that may seem a little, well, much.



A few months ago, my boss Teresa and I were talking about our athletic conquests. In that conversation, she mentioned that she had done a marathon. I was impressed. Being a big wimp myself I thought, there is no way....

Alas, I was compelled by the adorable face of Bailey Rommelfanger, Teresa's nephew. Bailey has epilepsy (read his story at www.teambaileyforepilepsy.com). I agreed to run to help raise money for CURE, an organization that supports epilepsy research. As a mom and a nurse, I knew that if anything was going to motivate me to run this far, it would be a child (and a cute one)!

That's the long and short of it.

In this blog, I will share my battles with the pavement, my knees, and my mind as I train for the 2008 Lakefront Marathon. Should be interesting.....

Until next time,

Sara