Fat Biscuit

Workiversary

I've just completed one full year back at work, and I've gone the whole time without blogging. Mostly I've been too busy. Sometimes, I've been too miserable. Sometimes still, I've been too excited and happy.

You know, . . . I'm moody.

I've learned a lot in the past year, made some money, taken a career-related course, and past a difficult exam. I've also learned some important things about myself that only come to the surface in an office environment.

Now it's time to "look for a new opportunity" as we should so vaguely state at job interviews.

It's also time to sign up for another damn marathon in the hopes that I'll stay injury-free this time. I'm thinking Richmond.

Good News, Bad News

The good news is really good: I got a brand spanking new job, full-time, doing something I've never done before. I get to learn something new and get paid. I get to wear fun clothes and do working lunches and get Starbucks on the way in and order business cards . . . 

Because Taylor works at home, I even get to do all these things without having to ship my kiddo off to daycare or aftercare. Awesome! Yay to second careers!

 

The bad news is sort of related to the good news: I have not had a steady week of exercise since mid-May. When I worked at home part-time, exercising and my health were easy to focus on. I went to the gym during the day to fit in yoga or pilates. Now I sit at a desk all day. This sitting has not been kind to my niggling back issues. I've even managed to develop a hip injury, most likely because I'm somehow compensating when I run to protect my lower back. I had to give up on the marathon this year, and I'm devastated about it. Running keeps me healthy and happy. I just need time to figure out how to make it work with my new full-time office job.

 

Thirty-Seven Years

Eight years ago today, I started keeping (sporadically) this blog. I was 29.

Today I'm 37, and so far, I'm having a hard time with it. Of course, nothing says "Happy Birthday" like losing your regular freelance job the day before. We won't starve, but I do need to find more work soon. I'm trying to look at this unexpected job loss as an opportunity to try something new, . . . to shake myself out of this cozy, easy existence I've had going for the last 6 years. 

Turning 37 also means I feel dangerously, perilously close to being 40. I don't feel 40. I feel about 24.

I had some lovely cards and birthday wishes today, my favourite being this card from my Mum . . . .

Who knew that hedgehogs were so intellectual? 

NYC: 3 Days, 1 Outfit

Wordless Wednesday: Waiting for Marathon Training

Golden Ticket

I did it. I got my Golden Ticket.

It was touch and go¹ for a while as to whether or not I'd be able to hobble through the 6.2 trail miles of the Irish Sprint 10K in order to gain entry into the Marine Corps Marathon. But, resting my pulled back for the 2 weeks beforehand--plus going to physcial therapy and getting some good stretching and pulling and electrical stimulation--was enough to make it doable. Slow, . . . . but doable.

I've had two weeks of physical therapy, and at this point, my PT is not really sure what's causing me to repeatedly strain my lower back. Initially, it seemed my left illium was sitting a bit higher than my right. 

Now, however, it seems that the muscles around my pelvic bone have loosened up a bit and realignd. (Please note that I really don't understand the magic of physical therapy yet, but I do trust my PT.)

I ran 5 miles on Sunday at a slow pace and my back handled it fairly well. This morning I had another round of PT, and this afternoon I 'm going to run a few miles and then stretch, . . . and stretch, . . . . and stretch. 

¹Using phrases like this surely means I'm slowly turning into my Mum.

Grumps

I've done it again, people. I've messed up my lower back. I don't think there was one specific exercise or mile that did it, just the accumulation of running + bad sitting posture + weak abdominals. I'm just guessing about that, of course, because for years now my back has periodically flared up, leading to lost training weeks and a very grumpy Ceri. But yet, I have no clue what the main culprit is, nor do I have a firm grasp on the steps I should be following to avoid these back issues.

Because this year damn well better be the "Year of the Marathon," I'm seriously considering making a PT appointment. I want some exercise, anatomy Guru to massage me and stretch me and tell me what to do every day to stop this from happening again. It could be that I'm prone to these aches and pains (I know my Dad had a "bad back"), but I don't want this genetic imperfection to keep me from exercising and training and getting my run on. And trust me, if you had to live with me or see my grumpy face at the bus stop every day, you wouldn't want it to either.

Will a PT help me? Should I just pop more ibuprofen? Advice?

 

Happy St. David's Day!

1. We finally tracked down our Father's family and have essentially discovered a tribe of kinfolk, all living in Swansea, Wales. Sian and I have 7 first cousins! We couldn't be happier. 

2. Bought new runnng shoes yesterday (pic to follow) in anticipation of this summer's marathon training. I used a 20% Pacers coupon in combination with my Pacers reward points and came away with a pair of Mizuno Wave Rider 15s for $75 (vs. $115). 

3. This is what happens when Scott visits: