Finally! Last Class!

My final class for my Public Administration Certificate starts today.  I've already petitioned for graduation.  I'm excited and annoyed at the same time.  Since it is an online college, I've gotten REALLY good and fast at hunkering down, giving up my social life and focusing on nothing but homework for about 2-3 weeks.  I can knock out a ten week class in as little as 11 days (that's my record, next best is 17 days).  But this next class does NOT look fun AT ALL!  Typically there are 8 assessments and a couple of assignments/papers.  This one has 7 assessments, 6 assignments and a final exam! Ick. And more ICK!  I'd love to knock this one out in 3 weeks or less because that is exactly how much time I have until I leave for Vegas!  DEFINITELY not going to take until October 6!  Eww.  I remember taking the full 10 weeks for my first class.  I feel like I'd still have been in

In the mean time, physical therapy is going to be a HUGE time sink.  Especially since I am going to be going two to three times a week since I'm so broken.  I start a new one next week for my ischial bursitis.  The new doc thinks maybe a possible "pelvic floor" issue.  My previous doctor came up with that but her staff SUCKED and NEVER got me any info on a PT person for it....twice.  I mentioned it to the new doc and he agreed.  BUT I don't exhibit ANY of the symptoms...so it just annoys me.  To add to my annoyance, the questionnaire asks all about if I have issues peeing and pooping and holding it in or getting it out. NOPE!  Also, it is typically an issue for women who have given child birth - NOT me... Bleh.  I feel like I'm throwing money down the drain.  Stretching my hamstrings does nothing for me.  The prednisone I got for my tendonitis has been nice, but alas, yesterday was my last day on it.

So I suppose if I'm gone for the next two weeks, homework is where I will be.  Hopefully I can get some extra workouts in...gotta look good for Vegas.

Contemplating the Whole30

So last night after I ate the last of the Cheerios, I decided I needed to actually cook dinner for a change.  I just haven't had a lot of time for cooking anything fancy and I'm beyond burnt out on my typical favorite meals.  I keep thinking about paleo because all the cool kids are doing it. I just hope not to be one of those arrogant people I read about on blogs...like oh my life is so hard because I want this but it's not paleo - well go eat it anyway! Or the I can't go so and so place because they don't have anything paleo.  Or I only feed my family paleo and nothing else.  Hey, there are some AWESOME non-paleo foods out there (milk chocolate, cheese, more cheese, maybe some occasional chips and occasional hotdog)!  While I can't see anything wrong with paleo other than missing out on some of my favorite foods, I just don't understand why people make it such a black and white lifestyle. 

Here is what I want to do: eat healthy.  I've been looking into some simple recipes.  The thing that I'm frustrated with about most of the recipes I'm finding is that they aren't simple.  Anything more than 3 spices to measure out is complicated to me.  I stumbled on a blog called StupidEasyPaleo.com.  The recipes looks yummy and relatively simple although a lot more elegant than I'd ever care to try.  While trolling around her blog, I stumbled on the Whole30 information.  Semi paleo based, probably a little more restrictive, but they have all kinds of shopping lists and meal planning available.  I decided to get the book and start there. 

My only issue with this is that I have three major hiccups in completing the Whole30 in 30 days - Las Vegas/ET Full Moon Midnight 10k, Disneyland Dumbo Double Dare and my trip to Tulum, Mexico.   If I'm traveling, I will indulge! I know I will.  I MUST find epic nachos everywhere!!! 

In the mean time, I want to soak up some information (between soaking on the last class for my certificate and mopping up my sweat after a tough workout) and try to eat better.  The last couple of weeks have at least been filled with more fresh food than junk food (OMG VEGGIES).  Hopefully, I can get a bit further away from some of the convenience foods (Cheezits, granola bars...those are my two "at work" options).

Anyone out there tried the Whole30?  Recommendations for starting?  Epic fail to pause it for travel?

Slosh Pipe Done!

The pipe I got for under $4 measures about 6' x 3". I know they should be longer, but I'm rather short.  I thought something smaller would be a good start. I glued on a white PVC cap on one end (they are cheaper) and bought an adjustable steel cap for the other end. With the testing so far, it holds :-) I filled it about 3/4 full with water and a splash of bleach. The whole project costed under $15 (I already had the PVC glue from my DIY irrigation). Not bad for a 20-25ish lb weight. I foresee some sore abs!

Gym Under Construction

I belong to a Facebook group... It is geared towards women and obstacle course racing (OCR). Someone wanted to know if cross fit boxes were worth it. Since I'm broke and all of my credit card debt is related to racing, my answer is: it may be worth it, but I can't afford it (this is where I laugh and say I need a husband or a better job).

This put me in the mood to start myown "box" at home as it related to my previous blog post.,.

First off, I went to my favorite thrift shop in search of belts for yoga bag straps (for making my yoga mat bags out of the left over denim from my sand bags out of old jeans). I found the handmade, adjustable kettle bell! I behaved and didn't buy it but still I was in shock and awe that it was there. My first though was, "well, it must suck if its here." My second was, "that's 40 lbs of weight for $15!"  Still I was good because I knew I was going to build other things today!

Side note, my workout today - 25 lb sandbagged 4 mile walk, followed by  a nice nap because I couldn't bring myself to go try my freebie pass at LA Fitness. When I finally dragged myself out of bed, I knew the lanes had just switch from 100 m to 50 m and the local pool would be semi empty. I drove down quick like and did a slow 1/2 mile swim to test my new goggles and practice my dog paddle skills. Once I finished I hit the thrift shop. 

At the thrift shop, I scored an aerobics step for $4 and (HUGE AND) a Michael Khors sequin tank top. For a dinky sequin wife beater - you know that would have been MAYBE $12-20 somewhere. But it was MK! $6!!! Score!

Then I ran to Home Depot. I bought a half sheet of plywood since I had enough left over from the glorious Murphy bed to make a plyo box, caps for my slosh pipe (I got a deal on a broken piece from a dinky hardware store 6' x 3" for under $4), 200' of rope, and supplies for a spear! Finally! The spear!

My friend Daniel (one of my favorite builder friends - I have two - and one who helped with the first two days of the Murphy bed build) came to help. We managed to make the 18" x 20" x 24" box. There was one miscut along the way...probably related to the vodka soaked watermelon, but we managed to epoxy fix it. Probably not smart for a heavy person, but I anticipate a lot more stepping than I do jumping due to my ankle issues and I'm lighter than a guy. Lots of glue and lots of screws and we ended up with this.

I'm rather proud of it. Labeled almost all of the sides. Killed a sharpie marking all of the sides. But...not only is it an awesome plyo box and huge stair stepper, it makes an awesome step stool.

Now, I have a knock off TRX from Woss Enterprises or something or other. It's great. TRX is very commercialized. You pay a lot of money for one of those. And -  I think they are worth it...for a gym. At home, you don't need something that heavy duty. I like that they have kind of a stopper loop (like my tech term there?) but that is really all my Woss is missing! People aren't using it 3-4 times a day 7 days a week. It's just me and I use it 1-3 days a week for a few minutes and to help with balance (I really need to get back on that once school is out...again....).  Sooooo... I have a hook in my gimpy vaulted ceiling in my living room. Yes, everyone that walks in thinks my Woss is a sex swing. But it's the highest point I have. That is until I scrounge up some cash and ask the ex-neighbor welder to build me an A frame type structure off the peak for climbing. Of course that's if he doesn't want to kill me for turning his barking dogs in as abandoned dogs.... Long story.

So, Daniel and I also set out to try some of the braiding techniques Id posted earlier. Maybe it was the drinks. Maybe it was that we'd been outside messing with  the box in the heat. Maybe it was that the instructions sucked! We couldn't for he life of us get anything going that remotely looked like a decent braid for weaving 8 strands of 3/8 poly rope together! I gave up and googled a tutorial on braiding 4 strands. This was because I had 2 100' ropes I'd cut to 50' then doubled to 25'. That was really my best option at this point. He got it and he braided the WHOLE thing while I untangled the ends.

Here are my gimp instructions.

Supplies:

2 different colors of 100' rope

Lighter

Scissors

Zip ties

Duct tape

D ring or something you can attach it too and hang it from 

While we were trying to figure out the instructions for braiding 8 individual strands, we had rolled up the excess rope and zip tied it. It made the untangling a bit easier. We also laid all the rope out straight and sprawled it out up top and taped it to keep it straightened out. When we came up with the 4 braid idea, we also bundled the sets of two ropes together with a loose zip strip. We slid this down as we got further down the rope and unwound it. Once they were unbundled, I duct taped the ends to the wouldn't get retangled as we threw the ropes around braiding them. 

Make sure you burn the ends when you're done. This will help to keep them from unraveling. Don't cook your fingers shaping the rope ends either (speaking from experience).

Once we were done braiding, we duct taped all of the ends together. I put a zip strip over the ended too just for an added measure. 

I did a group burn after that hoping some would melt together for added protection from unraveling.

Here is the final rope.

The other style of braiding was coming out too flat anyway. I like that this is more round although knobby. It will make a good starter rope. It has some stretch to it, but I think it will settle eventually.

In the end, 25' shrunk down to 19'. Not bad!

Sand Bag Workout for under $35.00

After reading through a lot of the GoRuck info (because I'm totally obsessing over completing one), I noticed they are now allowing you to use sand bags instead of those bricks!  I did a 3 mile walk with those bricks.  It sucked.  I don't care how much padding there is, they still seem "sharp." My back was tender the next day! I was having a hard time imagining walking, jogging, trekking, doing pushups and bear crawls for 8-10 hours with that digging into my back.

Considering I don't know how long it will take for my ankle to heal and I don't want to spend a whole lot of money (because there are race entries to buy!!), I decided to do some research on making my own sand bags.  Sand bag systems which include a duffel bag of sorts and a number of empty sand bags designed to hold 5-20 lbs of sand each are EXPENSIVE!  The cheapest one I found was a 60 lb set for $42 on eBay which actually seemed relatively reasonable, but I wanted more options and combinations than what the kit provided. Even the "sand bells" that we carry for an obstacle in a Spartan race are $20+...IT'S A SAND BAG!!!!  Then you have to go buy sand.  Sand is relatively cheap, but still!  It just seems crazy how they are priced.

Here is the supply list:
Zip lock baggies (gallon and quart sizes)
3 mil contractor trash bags
Duct tape (I used two 10 yd. rolls)
Sand
Scale
2-3 pairs of old jeans (men's work best - bigger legs)
Velcro (I used "industrial strength" which was sticky back...and not to friendly on the sewing machine)
Sharpie
Sewing machine and all the notions that go with it - thread, scissors, tape measure (if you're picky), pins if you want everything to hold still (I hate pins).

My first task was to fill the zip locks full of my desired weight of sand.  This was kind of a two step process.  I'd fill one zip lock, weigh it, then dump it into a NEW zip lock because dust was getting in the zipper and making it break.  The purpose of the zip locks was mainly for form since I thought using a HUGE bag would be difficult when it came time to shape.

Next, I taped the top of the zip lock closed with duct tape.

Remember to squeeze the air out before you duct tape them shut.


With a 60 lb. bag, I ended up with 5 10 lb. bags, 1 5 lb. bag and 1 3 lb. bag.  I'm going to guess that since my digital scale only did 1/2 lb. increments that some of them could be off by about 1/4 of a lb. to cause only 3 lbs. to be left.  Oh well.



Next, shove the sand bag inside of a contractor trash bad and start rolling into a neat little package.

Yeah - spacing/layout sucks...one day I'll care enough to learn HTML to fix it.

Eventually, it will roll up into a nice neat little package.










Getting smaller.  Press the air out.

Now wrap it in lots of duct tape! You could cover the whole thing but I really just wanted enough to give it some shape and hold the rolled parts of the bag in place while sealing the final edges.

The jeans - kind of a crappy picture, BUT they are jeans...and I think everyone knows what they look like.

The reason they almost look new is because my friend works for a clothing retailer.  These were returned because the back pocket rivet was ripping out of the pants leaving a hole.  They were going to be trashed, but he rescued them.










Next, measure.  You could be technical and account for fancy seams and hems and such...but I plan on beating these.  They will almost ALWAYS be inside of another bag, so I wasn't really picky about it.  This was how I measured: Lay out everything on top of the jeans and cut with a little bit of hem/finishing room to spare.

Flip the jeans inside out to prep for sewing.

If you are starting to reach the upper thigh part of the jeans, you may wish to add a seam for more of a straight line.

It's really a lot more straight looking, I swear.  I just did two rows of straight stitch.  I don't really know my stitches...and even after 15 years using the same sewing machine, I still don't have a clue how to really adjust everything to make it do the fancy stuff.

This was the already finished bottom of the jeans.  This worked well for my quart sized bags of sand (5 lbs. or less).

Next, stick on your Velcro.  Since I knew it would be holding a bit of weight and I MIGHT some day add some nylon straps, I wanted to make sure it stayed so I sewed around all of the edges of the Velcro.

When I had two unfinished edges of denim, I stuck the Velcro over top of the top unfinished edge thinking it might help with some of the "catching" of the bag and subsequent unraveling should I take the sand out.

Once you flip it back right side out and stuff your sand bags into it. Here is what it looks like.

I used a sharpie to write the weight on the outside.  It wasn't like they were designed to hold much more than that so I didn't have any issues permanently marking them (sometimes I have commitment issues). 

I really just need one more pair of jeans to cover my last sand bag, but you could always use a larger portion of the leg and stick two sand bags in tight for a 20 lb. bag.

This pic reminds me of minions for some reason....

Now to wait for my back ordered duffel bag from Amazon - worst case, I pay the extra $1 and get it in OD green. I just like black because pink accents look better on it :)

Cost:
Duct tape: $4.00
Sand: $4.00
Trash Bags: $16.00 for a box of 32. I used 7 bags for a total of $3.50.  You could probably use regular trash bags and just add more duct tape too. 
Industrial Strength Velcro: $8.00
Baggies: Had them. Won't miss them.
Sharpie: Had it.
Jeans: Donated.
Duffel Bag: $14.00

Grand Total: $33.50

Now....what to do with the left over butt of the jeans... maybe a Kindle case or a bag or a yoga mat carrier even though I HATE yoga!

Oh - and for those of you who ended up with the sticky Velcro

Results Are Semi In

It was great thinking it was a pinched nerve (easily fixable) in my foot. However, I picked up my MRI results. The verdict says posterior tibial tendinitis. Now....meet with the doc and get a plan of action. I'm doubting surgery. I'm semi happy about that. Maybe some PT which  more times than not has eaten my money rather than help. But I could potentially recover faster and get on to the next big plans....,

Waddle, waddle

Whatever the ankle issue is, it hurts. Originally it was posterior tibial tendon insufficiency and I had a cortisone shot. I've had the MRI but I can't get in to see my doc for another week about the results. I read something about the pain associated with plantar fasciitis.  I always thought it was elsewhere but it kind of describes the pain I'm having. In the mean time, I've flipped all my straps around on my boot from the previous surgery. It's hot in that thing! But my ankle feels better with it on.

Anywho. I've slept funky because I'm at war with my pillows. I can't quite turn my head. So I decided to go get my back put into alignment. I like my chiropractor but he's a bit strange and always points out where my breasts are in relation to my shoulders and hips. Ahh so the ankle. He thinks its a pinched nerve. I would love for it to be a pinched nerve! He did some ankle jiggling and I will say I was able to do my workout with a bit more impact but I don't know that it was because of the ankle realignment jiggle or because I rocked the boot all day. He told me it could take 3 days for the pain to go away. Fingers crossed he's right!

In the mean time, my MRI results will be ready today (once everything opens since it is 2:30 am and I just can't sleep right now) and I'm hoping the report the comes with it says a little something so I know what's up instead of waiting another week for my doc appointment.

Well the dog just plopped on me so I'm guessing that's the cue I'm supposed to go back to bed.  I'm busy fantasizing about my version of a GoRuck bag, good ankle mojo, hiking in Mexico and tossing frogs into the backyard of the THREE (they keep multiplying) barking dogs. Bet they won't bark when they are stoned off their ass!

GoRuck Anyone?

I keep thinking about a GoRuck now that I've finished my Spartan Trifecta...  I wish I had this uber big following so that someone could tell me all about it.  The site says the one in Tucson starts at 1:00 am.  1 AM!!!!!!!!!  Still sounds fun even if sleep deprived and a good way to practice for the Spartan Death race even if not nearly as long. 

Here's hoping my ankle gets better so I can sign up for it!  Oh, that lingering cough can go away too!  I called my doc in Utah and she wanted me to go for blood work.  SERIOUSLY?  For a COUGH?  She's nickle and dime-ing me to death over these co-pays.  I switched docs.  She diagnosed me with post-nasal drip associated with allergies.  Can you imagine getting blood work over that?!  We shall see about the new meds.

In the mean time, I'm rocking that old medical boot from my surgery (other foot this time) trying to help my ankle rest.  I really should do something spiffy to this thing so it's not all black, boring and ugly....

Ooops...totally derailed there.  Anyway, I have a pack, an awesome head lamp and even taped up some bricks for the GoRuck should I manage to pull it off.  I wish I knew how it compared to a Spartan.  While it sounds tough, it sounds a lot more friendly.  Wish me luck!

Crazy Back-to-Back Runs

On June 28th, I flew into a teeny tiny airport in Ogden, UT.  I tried to sleep on the plane, but being in the middle seat SUCKS!  Does ANYONE like the middle seat?  Maybe if you are flying with two other people who don't mind drool on their shoulder because they are close friends or family or if you're a polygamist with a wife on either side, but otherwise I can't think of any reason to like the middle seat!

Anywho, after a small car rental issue (because no matter how small Ogden seems to me, it is large enough to have TWO Ogden Enterprise locations...oops) and some super awesome pizza at Tony's, I managed to squeeze in a two hour nap at the hotel in Park City.  Notice I'm naming all of the towns?  That is because I was all over...and feel that is necessary to stress this for the dramatic effect of the story.

I got changed into my race gear and headed for Provo where I would be doing the Provo Glow Stick Run at 10:00 pm.  Yes, PM, as in with my ankle issues I was expecting to finish around 1 AM.  And then..run a Spartan Beast (12+ miles and 25+ obstacles...and an unimaginable amount of hills) in the morning.  Packet pick up was easy, mainly because it was a very small venue.  We got a local to tell us where a good coffee shop was since we had some time to kill between packet pickup and the race.  I had a really fantastic (but bad pre-race) honeydew frappe.  YUM.  It just so happened to be next to a running shop too...how convenient. 

Eventually, we are back at the race start snapping glow sticks and getting ready to run.  I wished it would have started at 9:30 or 9:00 instead of 10:00 mainly because I knew I was going to finish late, but because as you got deeper into the course, it was INSANELY dark.  So dark, my headlamp wasn't providing much in the way of light.  I could see maybe 10 feet in front of me and was semi-blinded by the amount of stuff floating in the air.  It was like running through a haze.  Needless to say, I've bought a new, bad ass headlight (with a red light on the back) since this. I figure it will come in handy for the ET 10k.  It was a bit painful.  My posterior tibial tendon insufficiency (or pain in the ass ankle issue as I call it) kicked in around mile 5 and my ischial bursitis kicked in right with it.  By mile 10 I had the start of a blister (so much for blister proof socks).  I gimped my way to the finish in 2:52 minutes.  The cool thing was I came in 12th in my age group.  It just sounds awesome.  Really awesome, until I say there were only about 115 runners.  Oh well.

Then there was the hour drive back to the hotel in Park City.  Bleh.  The other person who was meeting us there for the Spartan was already asleep.  LUCKY.  I was out cold by 2:30 am or so and back up at 6:00 even though alarms started at 5. More bleh.

Off to Spartan.  I was sore.  My ankle and butt hurt.  I was exhausted.  I needed more sleep and it was about to get hot.  I did more burpees than I care to admit, but I just didn't have the mental focus to pull it off.  Plus, after having the plague, I was still coughing...STILL! I was drained. I just wanted to finish and get my Trifecta.  I did...in about 5:19. 

The following day, we hit the Olympic Park in Park City.  I opted for a cheaper pass since I was still exhausted.  I could have ziplined all day and been happy.  I also passed on the bobsled track again.  First it is expensive.  Second I felt I really only needed to do that once in my life.  The other people I was with did more rides and courses.  I did the lower "hard course" (I can't keep all the names straight), but quickly decided I didn't want to work that hard after a Spartan.  The zipline was relaxing, until you walk off a platform for a 65' fall.  Bit creepy and I mildly panicked for about 1.5 seconds until the spindle at the top grabs to slow you down.

All in all I would say it was a good trip even if it was painful.  On the way back our flight was delayed about 3 hours so I was even able to knock out some homework.  It also got me thinking about other races a few days later.... Hmmm  Death Race anyone?  Maybe after I know more about my ankle.  At the moment, I'm totally envious of my friend who just signed up.  I know I'd whine and cry the whole time, but at the same time, I'd also be thrilled to give it a shot.  Now, if I could just get another job to pay for it all....