Crazy Weekend Leads To Divorce!

This week was a crazy intense week at the horse show.  Another braider, who had a huge list, went down in emotional flames and everyone had to step up to close the gap.  That, along with several bailouts due to last minute changes to the ring schedules meant that I braided much more than usual.  I have two very unhappy hands right now.

Technically, these are the same hand.  The other is holding the camera.

I kicked the week off with a massive spasm in my left trapezius muscle that ended up getting my lat in on the party.  Not only did it prevent movement of the arm and head, it clamped down on my broken (long ago and badly healed) ribs so that breathing became a form of torture.  I ran to the nearest massage envy and got one of the worst deep tissue massages ever.  I will say that the guy managed to release the spasm but since he felt the need to grind his elbow into cold muscles with no effort to build up to maximum pressure, I spent the rest of the week healing the damage that he did.  I was totally out of action Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday.

However, on the upside, I had a nice run on Friday and again today.  The really big thing here is that today's run was after braiding all night, then cleaning the camper since I have someone flying in tonight and staying with me this week.  No seriously, after braiding all night... that is HUGE!!  It is unprecedented for me to have this much energy after braiding, much less after the biggest week/weekend I have had since last July.  My nutrition and hydration were spot on this weekend but more importantly, I got sleep.  Not just some sleep... enough sleep.  I rocked 8-9 hours every day this week.  By the end of the week, I almost felt like skipping my morning coffee!  Normally, when I get sleep, I see a massive jump in my run performance but since this weeks runs were fresh off and injury and fresh off a night of braiding, only being off my best pace by 30 seconds seems pretty damn good.

I saw this today and thought it was a good reminder of why it is ok to be wherever I am right now, fast or slow, fit or... otherwise.

....for a very, very, very long time!

Now according to various online sources, losing ten pounds would drop 20 seconds per mile from my pace.  I figure I have roughly 30 pounds to lose, give or take, so I am forfeiting a minute per mile.  I have been fairly mellow about my diet lately.  It has felt pretty balanced so I am hoping that I can allow myself to continue on this (very comfortable) path for a while and still see results.  I am, at present, having to actively resist the urge to become aggressively focused on my diet, which I don't doubt would yield results and make me even more nuts.

Speaking of nuts, I have a confession.  I love them.  I cannot be trusted with them.  They are my one true downfall.  I am beginning to think that I may have to divorce them, and their buttery offspring.  Raw nuts, roasted nuts, mixed nuts, single nuts, every variety of nut butter.  If they are near, I will eat them to the exclusion of everything else.  I am talking about a complete loss of control.  Now, I have come to the realization that buying peanut butter (or any other nut butter) and taking it home is a really bad plan.  I had been limiting myself to brief, single serving liaisons with my love while on the road (note: I am always on the road) but even those clandestine meetings have proven to be a gateway back to dysfunctional relationship land.

SO....  Peanut butter, my darling, it cannot be between us.  I am leaving you once and for all.  I love you but you hurt me.  You tempt me with your crunchy goodness and then you leave me bloated and broken.  I deserve better than this.  I deserve the love of another, one who will be as kind to me as I am to him.  I am leaving you for Asparagus!  Leave and never return!!

WHO doesn't love ROSIE!!