The Warning: Plantar Fasciitis

This is the big week folks! This is what I've been training for and set as my main goal for the summer. It's half marathon week!! On Saturday, at 7 am, I am going to start and finish my 13.1 mile race.

Here's the problem; yesterday (Sunday,) I did my last long run of my training program. It was the final straw, no more bitching or complaining because all I have left is the race. The distance yesterday was 11 miles and if you must know, the last distance I ran was 9 miles. It's quite a jump for a tubby like me to increase 2 miles in one week. I've been working on one additional mile a week. Well, I made sure to eat a good meal on Saturday night because I knew the carbs would really benefit my endurance. I guess I chose the wrong meal. 4 miles in, this gal was racing to find the nearest bathroom. SICK! From that point on, I had some dry heaving and stomach cramps but I pushed right though that. Mile 5 came along and I was chatting with my trainer about how recently the bottoms of my feet have been hurting while I'm running. I told her I didn't think I was slamming my feet down because I'm not that excited about running. She mentioned Plantar Fascitis could be my problem and just make sure I really stretch my feet. Basically this is when the tendons on the bottom of your feet get inflamed and make your foot hurt like hell! I pushed through then mile 9 I was in lots of pain, but I wasn't going to stop there. I finished my miles and within seconds had my shoes off. All day yesterday, my left foot was killing me and to make matters worse, so was my left knee. By the end of the night, I would have to stop and rest while walking around the house. Thinking everything would be better this morning I got up and BAM, basically the pain almost dropped me to the floor. Crap! I took a shower and hobbled around to feed the animals. Have you ever tried to get horses out of your way while limping? It's tough! Basically, I'm really worried and bummed out because I can't walk and who knows if I can even run. I'll have to keep everyone posted because I'm running 4 miles tomorrow and I think that will be the make it or break it moment. Keep your fingers crossed because I have really worked hard for this and I'll be bummed out if I can't go!
Until next time, peace out cub scouts!

It's a MIRACLE!

**Warning, this post is PG-13 content**

It's no surprise that I haven't been blessed in the chest and I really never had a problem with it until I realized I've been the same bra size for about 100 years. Great...one day I'll bust out into a solid B! Throughout the years, my good friend Victoria Secret has provided me hope that it is possible to look the part. Each year they come out with the ultimate miracle bra that is supposed to make you look HUGE! Don't worry, I've purchased all of them. My friend and I went a few years ago and when I tried on the bra, I yelled "It is a MIRACLE!" Yep, everyone started laughing. I bought two of those ones. $100 dollars down and two amazing over-the-shoulder-bolder (or pebbles)-holders. I was now on the right track to get those boobies pushed up. Allow me to show you some of progress of Operation Push-Up:

This is an example of "el-natur-al" but not really because I have my running shirt on. A little sad right? I know, I cry regularly.



Making progress...this is the "it's a miracle" bra. It does a good job and now has been demoted to my every day basic bra. I know this does the trick, but friends, I have now found the best invention. I know this was created for all of us under privileged gals. The creator of this bra, they know what it's like to try to impress someone and you're basically forced to put some chicken cutlets in order to attempt a comparison to the barbie doll across the room. Anyways back to this bra! Now, I only bring it out on special occasions that I know it will be appriciated. I'm not trying to draw that much attention to myself, but can't a girl want some big boobies every now and then? So I now present you with the ultimate straight from God miracle bra:

And then the heavens opened up and the angels sang! Haha! I try not to flaunt these amazing things, but for crying out loud...they look good! That dress is the first thing that was "low cut" that I wore that bra with. Mostly I wear it with regular shirts, but it was a special occasion. Don't mind my friend, she's blessed.

Okay well a quick story before I end this inappropriate blog. This past weekend was a rough one. Lots of parties and I had to make my usual bra strapless for a dress I was wearing for a friends wedding. Well, the day came to head home and I was wayyyy to tired to attach the straps again. So I put the new bra on and drove home. Due to the fact I was driving through Bozeman, I thought it was only appropriate to stop at my parents so say a quick hello. As mom went to give me a hug goodbye she said "Oh my gosh, what is that?" Yep, that was her noticing my big boobs. I laughed and said mom you know I don't have any boobs. She agreed and then wondered if it hurt that I had that on. No way! It's all padding...comfy as my bed! She just shook her head and that was that.

**I hope I didn't make any of you vomit, and if I did, get over it. This is an issue that many women struggle with. Not all of us can dish out $7,000.00 for some implants. If you want to make a donation, I'd gladly accept it.**

Have a nice day!

My mid-twenties crisis!

Life is often compared to a book and how the milestones can become a "new chapter" in your life. Obviously in my 26 years of existence, I have open and closed many chapters in my book. Three years ago, I took the plunge and moved to Idaho Falls for a job. That was the second time I packed myself up and moved to a new place. This time, I was going further away from my family and friends, just so I could start over. During this time that I've lived in Idaho Falls, I have learned so much about myself and how growing up is DUMB. I am responsible for my life and making sure I can pay bills and put food on my table. I have come to accept all these responsibilities minus the fact I hate, hate, hate student loans. In three years I have moved 5 times, lost my job, met new friends, started a better job, started adjusting to the LDS, became more adventurous, and still hate paying my student loans. Recently all these responsibilities are starting to piss me off! I want to forget about going to work every day and be able to sleep in. I want to go back to college, I didn't have to stress about all these "grown up" things. I was able to be with my friends and binge drink. (sorry mom!) My friends and I are now scattered across the world making it that much harder to visit them. We've all grown up and realized that drinking is a bad idea, bills are more important, and staying up past 10:30 pm is killing our work ethic. Why did we have to realize this? Can't we just have one month a year where we go away and not have to worry about anything? All I know, is I'd better get my stuff together because I am NOT IN COLLEGE anymore and my g.d. bills don't pay themselves. Come on 27....get here fast so I can get over my mid-twenties crisis!
Thank you for reading my venting session!
Have a nice day!

Progress report

So my friend won't stop bothering me to blog about how I'm doing on my list of goals for the summer. Nicole, this one's for you!

Here is my list:
1. Complete everything on this list NOT GOING SO WELL!
2. Read 5 books (for some of you, five is a small number but I'm not a reader, so this is a huge goal for me. I may need suggestions for summer reading) Only have one book down, but have started two others
3. Stick with the exercise program Some days I hate my life and exercising, but I'm staying on track
4. Go to the lake every weekend (this is weather pending and won't be too hard, I love the lake) I think I've gone about 5 times
5. Attend 3 Chuckers games Two down, better get the last one in soon
6. Ride my bike more often No comment
7. Golf Does thinking about it count?
8. RUN THE STINKIN' HALF MARATHON! 18 days to go!!
9. Love Shayne even if I never see him This one is having issues...
10. Spend some quality time with my BFF before she leaves the country Yep, we ran a race together and heading to a wedding this weekend
11. Get down two more sizes One down, one to go
12. Go hiking in the Tetons See previous post
13. Spend a Friday night with Shayne in the tractor while he's baling (even if there isn't room for two and I'm basically sitting with my butt out the side window)*Also note, this will involve learning everything about farming and tractors* Again, this one is under analysis
14. Play tennis I moved my racket the other day
15. Take piano lessons Signed up for them next month, but I'm going to have to cancel
16. Get back on a horse Going tomorrow

I may have not completed a lot of items on the list, but I have had many adventures. I've gone to the sand dunes and did some riding. Last weekend I went kayaking for the first time! We even hit some class 2 rapids. That might not seem big, but for a first timer who is slightly afraid of water, it was scary the first time. We paddled the 2 mile loop twice and I was more comfortable the second time. This summer has gone by so quickly and I know fall is in the air. I feel the temperature changing leaving me only to believe it maybe another long winter here in Idaho.

Just another slice of Heaven!

It's not surprise that I love the mountains. I feel that it's one of Gods greatest creations and to be honest those who haven't been around them are really missing out. When I moved to Idaho three years ago, I didn't realize how close we were to the Tetons. At that time, I had never been there just seen pictures. Imagine how excited when I was at work one day and I saw them for the first time. AMAZING! I have only visited Grand Teton National Park twice but have visited Driggs Idaho many times. Driggs is very close to the Tetons so it's nice to be in a Bozeman-like town and see the Grands at the same time. A few weeks ago, a few of my friends and I went up to Driggs to run in the Tin Cup 5k and ended up going up to Targhee for a while after. Basically we went up to have some drinks. A 5k really takes it out of you! haha The next week I met up with two of the women and we decided to hike to Table Rock. Here is a write up of the hike:
From the campground, the trail quickly climbs 400 feet in the first half mile, then levels a bit as it parallels the north fork of Teton Creek. Soon, you cross into the Jedediah Smith Wilderness Area, created as part of Grand Targhee National Forest in 1984. Jedediah, one of the most interesting figures of the Rocky Mountain fur trade era, answered an 1822 St. Louis newspaper advertisement calling for "enterprising young men ... to ascend the River Missouri to its source, there to be employed for one, two or three years." He quickly grew in stature. As a mountain man he was unsurpassed, successfully leading trapping parties through perilous territory. As an explorer he excelled, forging the first passage over the Sierra Nevada Mountains to the Pacific Ocean. A deeply religious man, he did not swear, drink, or use tobacco and he always carried his Bible. Jedediah lost part of an ear to a grizzly and eventually lost his life to a Comanche spear, but he never lost the respect of his men or his faith in God.

Just past the 1 mile mark, look for moose in the open meadows and among the tall, shrubby willows which thrive near the creek to the right. The tender leaves and twigs of the willows make up a large portion of the moose's diet. In fact, the name "moose" comes from the Algonquin Indian term meaning twig eater. At the 2.5 mile mark the trail crosses the creek on a small footbridge. Black bear are often seen in this area. Bear cubs are born in January when the female is still asleep in her den. A newborn cub may weigh as little as just 8 ounces, which is remarkable when compared to its mother's weight of 150 to 250 pounds. Healthy females usually give birth to one or two cubs every other year. Just ahead on the left, you will find a large granite outcropping which is a nice spot to rest. At this point you have climbed 1,000 feet. To the southeast, you can now see gently sloping Table Mountain rising another 3,000 feet to its distinctive box-shaped top.

As you near the 3.5 mile mark, the trail bends to the right and enters a series of 9 switchbacks which climb 1,000 feet in less than a mile. Early in the season snow can be a problem in this area. Later in the summer, hikers on the lower switchbacks are treated to a beautiful display of wildflowers including: the prominent pink Lewis monkeyflower; the well-named monkshood, with its distinctive purple flowers forming a hood-shaped structure; the fiery red-topped Indian paintbrush; and the delicate mountain bluebell, with its clusters of tiny blue flowers hanging down from long stems. As you climb the switchbacks, you begin to see the mighty summits of the Teton Range as they peek over the ridge to the east.
First you see the Grand (13,770') then to its right, the Middle Teton (12,804') and to its left, Mount Owen (12,928'). Finally, far to the right you see the South Teton (12,514'). From this western vantage, the so-called "back side" of the Tetons, one can understand how the lonely French fur trappers, upon seeing these majestic peaks silhouetted against the sky, allowed their minds to wander and fondly dubbed them "Les Trois Tetons" (the three breasts).

The elevation at the top of the ridge above the switchbacks is 9,944 feet. Here, the summer growing season is short and the winter conditions are severe. The only trees that can survive are the gnarled whitebark pines and even they cannot grow much further up the mountain.

The climate is cool, moist and often windy. The soil is scant and supports a sparse population of shrubs and flowers. This is the biotic community known as alpine tundra. From here, the top of Table Mountain looks deceptively close. Actually, it's almost two miles away and another 1,000 feet up. As you continue up the broad, sloping meadow, try not to step on anything green. These plants struggle enough against the elements without also doing battle with your feet.

The box-shaped top of Table Mountain, which gives the mountain its name, is made up of sedimentary rock. Millions of years ago, many layers of sedimentary rock formed an unbroken horizontal blanket covering the older Precambrian basement rocks beneath. Approximately 9 million years ago, the Teton Range faulted up, exposing these hard basement rocks, which today make up the core of the Tetons. Subsequent erosion stripped away much of the sedimentary rock, leaving relatively few areas, like Table Mountain, exposed. Be very careful as you make the final ascent through this sedimentary rock. It is really just a consolidated accumulation of sand, rock and shell fragments and therefore, is brittle, crumbly and difficult to climb.

From the top of Table Mountain you feel as though you are standing shoulder to shoulder with the clouds. No words can describe this breathtaking view.


Suffice it to say that in 1872, famous photographer William H. Jackson, searching for the perfect spot from which to make the first photographs ever of the Tetons, chose Table Mountain as his vantage. If you think it was tough getting up here, imagine how difficult it was for Jackson, who traveled for nine days without benefit of a blazed trail, leading his mule, "Molly," packed high with bulky cameras, lenses, tripods, glass plates, chemicals and a makeshift darkroom. But it was all worth it. Even with the crude photographic equipment of the day, the images that Jackson captured from the top of Table Mountain remain unsurpassed!

It was the most amazing 10 hour hike I've ever done! (well, it's the only 10 hour hike I've done)