I think I might have found the magic food

I am no stranger to GI problems when running (or biking for that matter). I can swim after eating a full steak dinner with no problem, but running is another story. I have tried EVERYTHING and nothing sits well with me. In Honu I took in a bottle of watered down gatorade on the bike and two orange slices on the run, and I did my first marathon last year on 1/2 a shot block and water. Hence the reason for being carried to the med tent post race. I practice during training, but I am constantly sick if I have to take in calories. I have started taking immodium and dramamine (for the nausea) before every run that may require me to injest anything other than water. It has been a huge struggle and I have been worried about what I am going to do in the marathon this year. Do I puke or slow to almost a walk and pass out from not enough calories? Then last week I went into the grocery store and saw these:

And I remembered how this is what I used to use when I first started triathlons several years ago when I was totally clueless about nutrition. (I am still pretty much clueless, but I have learned that almost nothing will stay in my stomach for very long in a run.) I decided it was worth a shot and I did my long run on them, and actually felt great. I couldnt believe it! Two of them have 155 calories plus protein and carbs, so 4 in a marathon should just about do it. I may be the only one running with 4 gummy worms, but if I dont have to make a port-a-potty stop or 10 mid race, I dont care.

Too much to do

This past week has become an unplanned rest week. Our divisional team came in town for the quarterly reviews which meant early mornings, late night dinners and no time for running. It did mean a stay at the new st regis so that we could preview it and the staff could test before it opens. I got to test the new gym wednesday at 5am and it just happened that that was my hard workout day. Good thing, since it was the only day I ran. I also get to have the massage therapist train on me for 90 minutes tuesday. Can't wait!
Friday night came and our friends came over for a beer. One beer turned into tequila for the guys and guitar hero and american idol. I have video, but I won't post it because we really want to keep our new friends. Needless to say saturday came really early and we had a first birthday to attend. Nothing like burgers and corn on the cob for breakfast to soak up the beer.

Here is Chris testing out his new grill at 10:30 AM.

Today is a 13 miler with the middle 6 at 10k pace. It will hurt but at least I am not as dehydrated as I was yesterday because taking tequila shots at a first birthday is never a good idea.

No race for me

I had a 10 mile race this morning through the park. I even picked up the packet yesterday and went to bed early. But the alarm never went off at 5:30 and I didnt wake up until 20 minutes before the race. Had it been a 5K I would have rushed over but 10 miles is too long to do with no food and no water. Plus the start of the race was at least 25 minutes away. So instead I did a 16 mile run and I ran the race course and saw a few stragglers along the way that I cheered on. They deserved it as they were able to get their asses out of bed on time. I am totally bummed since this was the last long race before the half marathon next month, but there are still a couple of 10Ks that I can run for practice.
On the way home from my hair appt yesterday I saw this.

It was a nice surprise since my haircutter never showed up (and apparently didnt show up for the 2 earlier appts either). We didnt even have one of these on Oahu! I called Chris and he didnt believe me. I came home with 6 glazed donuts for him and it was like Christmas. They were gone within the hour. Congrats to everyone who actually got out of bed and raced this weekend and congrats to beth who kicked some butt at vineman while being sick.

When you suck at math

Moving to Mexico has had its occasional training challenges, mostly as it relates to kilometers vs miles. I am fine when it comes to converting a specific distance run in miles to a kilometer course and knowing how fast I need to run, but yesterday was a challenge. I was at the gym on a treadmill that had no conversions from kilometers to miles so I had to go on feel. I was supposed to run at 5K, 10K and half marathon pace and had no clue what that converted to in the speed on the treadmill. I made it a goal today to figure out how fast I was actually going. It is almost 3 and I started trying to figure this out this morning around 10. Finally I gave up and emailed my mom (the mathematician in the family) and she sent me this link. I have no idea how I did not come across it in my 200 google searches today or why my mom was the one to find it, but it is awesome and will make my life much easier. And it turns out in my calculations that I did on my own, I was right with the 10K speed, 30 seconds too fast on the 5K speed and a minute too fast on my half marathon speed. This is why I dont have a job that requires math.

Back from Canada

The trip was quick, but we fit a lot in just 5 days. I did get 4 runs in (2 long runs) and they all felt really easy (probably because the air was so clean), and being in a new place to run is always tons of fun. I didnt get any photos from the runs because my hands were full with my phone and other necessities in case I got lost, but you have to take my word for it that it was beautiful.
This was my first trip across the northern US border, and I wasnt disappointed. We went to the Stampede where I was going to test out which fried sugar was best, but it started to rain, and Chris didnt want to take part in the taste test that badly. I am pretty sure this is the same sign that they use at the Houston rodeo.


We also made a quick trip to Banff. I tested out the water to see if it was swimable.



Definitely not. I dont know how you triathletes out there train in Canada, it was pretty freaking cold. I think I might have made Chris's mom mad. She asked if we would ever move to Canada and too quickly I responded with a hell no. I dont think that was the response she was looking for.
Here we are staying dry

We even got to venture out of town to a ranch. I felt just like I was back home with oil rigs and all.

And the whole family together

Oh Canada

Since there was an election in Mexico this past weekend July 4th happened to be ley seca. Meaning stores and restaurants did not sell alcohol, which was really putting a damper on our BBQ plans. Chris found a store down the street that didnt know about the law and was able to buy 12 negro modelos, whew. Crisis averted. The rest of the weekend was filled with lots of activities with quite a bit of running.
Tomorrow Chris and I are headed to Calgary. It is his first trip home in a year and a half and my first trip to Canada. We are going to the Stampede (largest rodeo in the world I am told) and to Banff to some hot springs. There are also some parties sprinkled in here and there. I am most looking forward to the fact that in Calgary alone there are 5 Lululemon stores and in the itinerary I was sent (yes I have an itinerary from Chris) each morning we are going shopping. I cant wait! I also get to run in some new territory, which is always a welcome change from the same day to day scenery here. Plus I get a new stamp on my passport, so I can get closer to the amount the rest of my family has. I am competitive in all things, not just sports, and my family is the same way. Although Chris and my sister-in-law do not share this trait, so they usually sit back and let my mom, brother and I fight. A while back we had a contest over who had been to the most states and I was ahead by 1. I was living in Hawaii and my brother had never been, and he was planning a trip to come visit me. I almost didnt let him come.

He's Back

This was right after my run last night. You can't tell but I am soaking wet. And my arms are red because it was so cold, not from being sunburned. It is our rainy season and you either run in the morning, run on the treadmill or run at night when it is pouring. I didnt get up yesterday AM, so I had to run after work and this was the result. I had a 7M run at half marathon pace that ended up being 6 miles at marathon pace because I was too nervous of slipping on the path that I couldnt go any faster. And I only finished 6 before I couldnt see from the rain. I love running in the rain, but when it gets to a point that my earphones are shocking me from being wet, I call it a day.
It looks like I inspired Chris to come out retirement and run the Vegas Half. Mom, dont worry, he will be finished in plenty of time to hang out at the sportsbook while you wait for me. He said it was bigger news than when Lance came out of retirement. His goal is top 10 and I really think he can do it. He kicks ass at this kind of distance. Add on another half marathon and he suffers. I am just excited that I have my running partner back!


I have a feeling I am going to be bored at work today because 90% of the people I work with are in the US, but I have a lunch at the Embassy to celebrate which should eat up at least 2 hours. Last year around this time I was at Duke's getting ready to head out to the floatilla in Waikiki. Hopefully this year my ex-pat friends and I can come up with something just as fun.