Shin Splints

So after complaining about pain in my calves.....I asked one of the Personal Trainers at the gym I go to and showed him where I hurt and he said I had shin splints.  Ugh!       Wish I had google images this earlier - the Posterior Tibial Stress Syndrome pain is 100% me! Sweet. not!           

So I was told to go home, rest, NO running for a minimum of a week and to ice and foam roll.

Of course I had to google this when I got home and sure enough wikipedia and a ton of other sites agree.

If you're feeling kinda nerdy like me right now- I'll sum some stuff up for ya regarding Shin Splints so you dont have to waste time on google and can spend that valuable time on facebook instead.

1. Shin Splints are caused by exercise such as running, jumping, swimming, cycling, dancing or other sports

2. The onset of shin splints is most common after exercise, caused by high-impact training, excessive training, poor technique or biomechanical problems such as flat feet or pronation.

3. Standing for long periods of time and wearing high-heeled shoes may also induce shin splints (But I LOVE My High-Heeled shoes!!)

4. Shin splints can be initially treated with rest, ice to reduce inflammation, non-steroidal anti-inflammation drugs and physiotherapy

5, For healing, rest may be required for a couple of weeks or up to 3 months for severe cases.(Really hoping here a week or 2 of rest will do me good)

 (#1-5 source)

The only good thing out of this is that I have to study for an upcoming CPA exam - since I cant run I've been studying more - the trainer did say I can swim, cycle and elliptical, so tonight I did the elliptical in the gym. Felt good.   Then I foam rolled. I wanted to cry.  No not really but holy sweet moley - wowzers - pain pain pain.  Now that I know how to correctly use my foam roller - (I'll post on this later too!) yah these calves of mine are wayyyyy too tight and I dont help by wearing my pumps to work.....maybe I'll bring my flip flops and walk around the office in those instead, OR oooh pencil skirt and sneakers? LOL hmmm

Giveaway

So skinny runner is at it again - another giveaway! Check her out www.skinnyrunner.com
But don't enter because I want to win! Hhaha

The Mall

This is 100% accurate.  I love going to the mall, walking around, window shopping, browsing, and real shopping too.  Back in HS - me and my BFF were probably at the mall like everyday. I'm pretty sure she introduced me into the whole store credit card thing because I got my first store credit card at Express because of her. Heck she introduced me into Express too (this is 10 + years ago when Express was 10x better than it is now).

Ahh so Ok - Orlando has wayyyy too many Malls

- The old time favorite as its my 'home' mall

- Orlando Fashion Square Mall - the one thats now close to my current home - and was the fun place to go during lunch when I had a job close by in college

- The Mall at Millenia - ahh - Heaven on Earth- Love this place - its pretty new - opened in 2002 but still feels new! 

Orlando  also has The Florida Mall, West Oaks Mall, Oviedo Mall, Seminole Town Center, and then gobs of Outlet Malls :)

Ok what the heck is this rambling all about? I'm So Super excited! I went shopping tonight. With Spring here - stores send me emails about their new items - I've been DYING to go shopping to get a cute new spring/summer outfit.  Hubby is on a 'save money' kick so hes been trying to limit my mall adventures.

Tonight though - I had to go to Pearle Vision to drop my glasses off for my new lenses. They said it would take 30 mins - know whats next to Pearle Vision??? The Fashion Square mall!!! Now this place has gone downhill - lots of stuff has closed so I didnt think I'd find much but boy was I wrong. Their Limited is still in business and I helped keep them in business tonight.

I'm just so excited I had to share some of my cute new outfits.

I was SO excited - I did my infamous hold the iPhone to the mirror to take my own photos - classy - what can I tell ya.

I've been dying to find a khaki pencil skirt so I was so happy when I found this tonight. The purple top (also the same style as the one below) are 29.90 with 30% off right now. YAY for deals! Tried looking online but cant seem to find the top - maybe I have the price wrong....

When the hubby came home I told him I'm now content - the shopping bug is outta me. Hope you enjoyed my little fashion show. 

Run #62

"Motivation is what gets you started. Habit is what keeps you going." - Jim Ryun

So today I walked home from work again (2.9 miles) - I'm kinda liking my walks. I think downtown Orlando is so pretty. Especially the water and the fountains.  Its a warm one - but I finally got smart and took my backpack which was great for walking.

So after I got home and cooling off and chit chatting with my mom, I went out for my run. I committed to myself that I'd do 2 miles - I have a 1/2 marathon I have to finish in oh 290ish days and I've only run 3.25 miles ever - 10 to go. No more 1 mile runs.

Lake Eola is a great place to run, hence how many people are around. Tonight was the square

Then the circle around the lake - I could do it. I had to! I cant let myself down. So I started out, and I felt like a turtle and an elephant at the same time

                                                                          (source)

My legs felt So heavy and I felt like I was running SO slow - I didnt want to look at the garmin - I was sure it was going to confirm my slowness but I said to myself oh well - youre out running and a run's a run so just get it over with. 

During my run:

1. I saw Kitzzy - waved at her - funny I see her more often now on my runs. Glad I saw her because I was at the point of where I wanted to quit and its kinda silly but just seeing someone I kinda know motivated me to keep going so thanks Kittzy!

2, Ran into a small child - its true - he was so eyeing something at the lake and was running towards it so like any logical thing I start going the opposite way but being a small unpredictable child, he changes path and WHAM right into me - I had to grab him otherwise he was going right to the ground.  Nobody was hurt and luckily my mental focus wasnt ruined.

3. Its HUMID - I probably sweated 10lbs. Or at least thats what it felt like.

4. I saw one of the Park Rangers bringing a swan back to the lake - I guess it wandered over to a local business so she was walking behind it making it go back home. I giggled when I saw it - it was too cute! Lake Eola has so many swans I <3 it!

Results of Run #62

Distance: 2.25 miles

Time: 21:09

Pace: 9:23 / Mile

M1 - 9:31

M2 - 9:18

M3 (.25) - 9:07 / mile pace

Run # 61

"Run hard, be strong, think big!" - Percy Cerutty

Tonight was a great run around my favorite place - Lake Eola. I initially set out to do a 2.5 mile run - but ended up pulling out a 3.25 mile run - I've never done this before. I'm really happy.

The calves are still super sore - its the inside of my calves near my ankle and its not the entire calf so I'm running out of guesses in determining whats wrong. Could I have bruised that part of my leg by foam rolling? Could they just be bruised?

The 1st mile was bad - only because my calves hurt - they felt so tight - like a rope being pulled. Im not sure if I forget about the pain or if it just stops but miles 2 and 3 were fine.

Tonight Brett ran too - he ran the opposite way from me so we could high-five eachother which was a HUGE motivator for me tonight to get to 3.25 miles. I also think what really helped me was not starting off super fast and not throwing in the towel too early. I figured if I started off slower and sped up then I might be able to go further, and I was right - and I wouldnt look at my pace until the very very end which was a smart move on my part.

Watch out Disney - I'm coming for ya! hahha

Results of Run #61
Distance: 3.25 miles
Time: 31:28
Pace: 9:40 / mile
M1 - 10:01
M2 - 9:45
M3 - 9:29
M4 (.25) - 8:45 / mile pace

Run Disney

So on St. Patricks Day I did something crazy.....no I didn't go out and drink gren beer. I signed up for this...

The 2012 Disney 1/2 Marathon was happy to take my money and my husband's money and send me a confirmation that we are registered for the race. Oh my goodness. Craziness!!!

Hard to believe in 291 days from today I'll be right here

With what 20,000 other people? probably looking at my husband saying why did we do this? to which his reply will be, not we- you! you signed us up for this. LOL. I hope hope hope the weather will be decent like it was for the 2010 group and not like 2009 (record cold!).

I'm excited and nervous - my mom and mother in law have committed to coming and cheering us on so I'm really excited about that.  I just have to get serious about training and I'm SO thankful I have 291 days to add 10 miles to my training.

So tell me - have you ran Disney? What did you think?
Have you run a 1/2 before? how much time did you give yourself to train?

Garlic Chile Shrimp with Rice

Ok so this might not look extremely good from the picture - BUT it is yummy if you like Shrimp and Garlic and Orange flavor.

Besides being Yummy - this is SO easy to make (especially when you buy shrimp already cooked)

Ingredients:

1 Cup refrigerated ginger salad dressing
2 Tablespoons roasted garlic
4 Tablespoons Orange Marmalade
2 Tablespoons Soy Sauce
1 Teaspoon Chili pepper blend paste (if you're into spice add a 2nd teaspoon)
1/2 lb - 1lb cooked shrimp

Steps:
1. In a small sauce pan combine all ingredients above (minus the shrimp). Allow sauce to simmer on low until ready to serve (about 15 mins) Stir occassionally

2. While sauce is simmering make 2 cups of Rice ( I use Minute rice because its quick and easy - if youre talented or have a rice cooker - sticky rice would be awesome!!)

3. When rice is ready, using a serving spoon, spoon 2 spoonfulls onto a plate and sperad the rice evenly.
Place 6-8 medium size shrimp ontop of rice

4. Spoon the sauce overtop the rice and shrimp (I do about 2-3 large spoonfulls, using a serving spoon).

Sauce Serves 4 - for me and Brett this is an easy meal for 2 nights.

Run # 60

"Keep varying the program. Your body will tell you what to do."  - Joan Benoit Samuelson

Ok so this is my most favorite running shirt. It's really comfortable and eventhough I'm a hot sweaty mess I dont feel gross in it after my run.

I'm behind on my studying - studying for what? The CPA exam.  Yah I know makes my stomach turn too.

So tonight I didnt really want to run but I wanted to do something - I was in between 1 mile and 2 - the 1.25 mile won. My calves still hurt - I think I've pulled them. They kill once I get going and then they stop maybe about .25 of a mile in..... not sure what that means but ugh worst pain ever.  I'm not foam rolling them to see if that helps because oh goodness does that hurt bad.

Not sure whats going on in blog land but everyone seems to be posting about food latey - I'm notorious for always being the last to know, so if there was a memo that went out I didnt get it. So I thought ooh I'll join in on the cool kids and post some pics of my dinner tonight that I love to make. So stay tuned.

Results of Run #60
Distance: 1.25 miles
Time: 10:47
Pace: 8:37 / mile
M1 - 8:54
M2 (.25) - 7:37 / mile