long day(s)

Thank goodness for schedules and the motivating power of putting on the running clothes. Otherwise I'm not sure I would have done anything but come home and sleep today. Wednesday I had the "wonderful" perk of my job - delays in Newark for no darn reason other than it's Newark. Awesome. So my 5:26 PM flight was delayed nearly 3 1/2 hours before they realized "the plane was no good". The had another plane but it wasn't arriving until 9:50 PM. Mind you I had a day trip Thursday to hotlanta and my flight was scheduled to leave at 6:18 AM. So to make an already long story a little shorter I didn't land until 11:45 PM and walked into my condo at 12:35 AM. I was able to pull off a stellar 3 1/2 hours of sleep before my 4:05 AM wake-up call. Suh-weet.

My site was cool with my deliriousness today so that was good. I caught an earlier flight home that actually arrived relatively on time. Still with the earlier flight it ended up being a 12 hour day! The whole day, when I wasn't sleeping or working, I was thinking about the running schedule and how I could possibly make up 11 miles if I didn't run today. There was no way I could. I came home checked some e-mail I hadn't checked in what felt like a week but wasn't and slowly changed into running gear. It helps I had just spent a crapload amount of money at nike.com and had some new fun stuff to take for a spin. Plus I had my 3rd pair of WRIGHTSOCKS to try. (I promise that review on the 3 single layer socks I tried this week). Well the power of the new gear took over and I headed out to see how far I could make it before the exhaustion took over. I promised myself to take it easier than usual and if it didn't click today I would turn around. The legs felt like cinder blocks the first mile or so and I contemplated turning home but then it started to fall into place. I made it the full 11 miles! Then I came home showered, got dressed, and did something I've never done in Chicago... I went to dinner by MYSELF :) I do it all the time while on the road but have never done it in my own city. It was a nice little evening at my favorite Indian restaurant.

I have to say I'm very proud of myself today! Normally I would have come home changed into my "fat pants" (aka pj's) and curled into bed with the computer. I feel so much better that I didn't! Now it's time for some much needed and deserved sleep!

Is it Friday yet?

What day is it?  I've been told it is only late Tuesday night but I feel like my weekend should be starting already!  4 a.m. came extremely early Monday and the day did not end until nearly 9:30 pm when I finally arrived to the hotel after a full day.  Woo...  I think I ended up with 3 1/2 hours of sleep and nearly 17 hours of working and traveling.  There were grand plans of waking up early Tuesday morning to get a cross-training session done.  In the end the extra 45 minutes of sleep won.  I feel a little guilty but the sleep was needed to get through my day in New Jersey at least semi-functional.  All this travel was cool when I was 23-24.  I've enjoyed the points and other perks but 7 1/2 years later I feel like a little old lady.  A day of travel wipes me out.  If I only knew what to do instead...

I'm now home for a day with a lot to do including going for a run, a lot of work reports/miscellaneous in-house work, and catching up with all of you.  I miss 2 days and there are nearly 300 posts in my google reader! 

Long Week

Happy Leap Day - and what did you all do with your extra day this year? Me I sat in an airport for 3/4 of the day. What a week people! I am finally home from the whirlwind travel week of 4 visits in 4 different cities. Today had to be the longest day. I woke around 5 a.m to catch my 8 a.m flight to Detroit. Of course I didn't print my ticket the night before (because I didn't actually start getting ready for bed until 11pm). Sure as s*** every single kiosk was broken. I had to stand in line to check in for the first time in over a year. At least the stressed agent moved my seat up a couple of rows. Then I show up in Detroit and what do you know it's snowing which isn't so bad but Hertz tried to give me a Ford Mustang. Ha ha so not happening. Why do they even have Mustang's available in Michigan in winter anyways? Luckily there were some 4 wheel drive vehicles on the lot for a small upgrade fee. Then I drove over an hour each way for a 40 minute face-to-face visit. Sat in the airport and instead of being healthy I treated myself to a margarita and tacos. Finally arrived back home at 7pm. But I'm finally home with no foreseeable travel in the near future. But there is always the chance of last minute trips. But maybe I'll get lucky and can get back to running (this is a running blog I swear) and life in general. I'm looking forward to getting it done this weekend - 50 degrees on Sunday! Then back to 30 Monday. But I'll take it no matter how brief right now.

Oh and the family wedding drama begins. But I'll have to save that entertainment for another night. Plus I am sure it will escalate and make an even better story. But to give you some background...My mom passed away 4 1/2 years ago. My dad re-married last May. My sister doesn't like the "step mom". It goes a lot deeper but I'm not willing to go into all the dirty details. Anyways I wasn't a huge fan of the situation and I wasn't always sure of her intentions but she makes him happy and I have to deal with it the best a grown child can so I put on a happy face and deal. It's not that bad just uncomfortable at times. Anyways there is a lot of opportunity for new family drama when trying to plan wedding events! yeah!

Fantastic - It's the word of the year

Well unfortunately I didn't get the date I wanted for the wedding venue. I did get the alternate date but now I'm running into all sorts of problems. Most importantly a very dear family friend who is a photographer in Ohio is booked on that day. Now not only will he won't be there but that also means one more thing I need to find/book and added expense we weren't prepared for. I'm starting to wonder if planning this thing can be done in Chicago in 8 months without sacrificing a lot and paying a lot. I'm one big stressball. Sorry I know this is a running blog but my life has been all wedding all day. This week is my attempt to get back into the running/cross training way of life to try and alleviate some stress.

I am traveling this week (added to the stress). My flight was canceled Sunday which meant I was rescheduled Monday morning on a 6:30am flight. FANTASTIC! Woke up at 4 am but only slept for around 3 hours. Freaking Fantastic! Flew down to Fort Lauderdale worked for 4.5 hours and caught a flight to Atlanta. Got into the hotel around 10pm last night. Long day... Here in the ATL until Thursday. I miss my bed at home already... Just finished a treadmill run and elliptical cool down. It was a struggle to get through but I feel so much better now that I'm done. I may even get to work out two days in a row this week! I haven't done that since last year I think. Next I may even start eating better ;)

By the way I can't stop using the word fantastic. And I use it at the most opportune and inopportune time. I'm obsessed. And I have no idea why or where it came from. But I'm on a mission for to make it the next IT word :)

Last Trip (maybe)

Getting ready to leave on what potentially might be the last business trip of this year! I'm not going to get too excited yet because things (such as my manager's prerogative or study time lines) could always change. But as of Weds, Nov 28th at 6:15 I officially have nothing else on the calendar in the way of work travel. wahoo! But my running schedule is all messed up this week because of this short trip. I'm trying not to get too stressed about everything being all mixed up/fitting everything in for the week. Just before lunch today I was able to get in the "easy" 7 miles I had on the schedule. They didn't feel so easy but I maintained a decent pace. I wasn't really looking at the watch too much...just didn't have the energy to lift my arm to look at it. It was one of those runs that I just wasn't really feeling it but I wanted to get it done. It lacked all excitement and enjoyment. Lately that has been happening. I am sure it is both a combination of general burnout from this long training schedule and my poor food choices. I am trying to get back on track with the food this week - I even packed my own dinner to take on the plane (okay there maybe a cookie in with the apple and turkey sandwich). Hopefully that will make the difference in a couple of weeks...