(update on the green girl...)

Wednesday, April 25, 2012

(the green girl has been away from sparkpeople for way too long.

here are some updates in the green girl world:

- i completed the 260 mile bike tour through connecticut, massachusetts, and new york
- i lost 20 pounds
- i shaved over an 1:15 off my marathon time and finally did a sub-6 marathon
- i met a new boy and fell head over heels in love [and he's a runner!]
- i gained back 10 pounds over the holiday
- i did two more marathons
- i completed my first relay this weekend at ragnar so cal
- i registered for my first ultra-marathon today [run woodstock! freak 50k]

here's a picture of me and my boyfriend at the los angeles rock 'n' roll half marathon:



i'm taking a break from running to heal some nagging injuries and that's what led me back to sparkpeople. without running, i feel lost and unmotivated so i'm back for the support.)

  Member Comments About This Blog Post:

(the green girl bought a $298 olive green purse for herself...)

Monday, September 27, 2010

(the green girl took a big step this weekend.

it all started with a green pleather bag i bought at sears. it was a splurge because it was over my usual $20 limit. but i fell in love with it. unfortunately, after a few weeks, the straps started ripping from the bag and i was devastated. i returned it and was refunded my money.



my family and friends all told me i needed to spend a little more and buy a real leather purse otherwise i was going to run into this issue again.

i searched and searched for a reasonably priced green leather hobo to no avail.

the least expensive was a nordstrom's brand bag for $128.00. i couldn't begin to imagine paying that much money for a purse but after awhile, i realized all things considered, it actually was the most reasonably priced green leather bag. i took the plunge and made the purchase.



my sisters were shocked that i actually went for it. it's not a big deal for me to purchase expensive designer things for my sisters but it was the first time i did it for myself. i don't think my sisters even own a purse that cheap.

my $128 bag served me well for a few months and then the seam along the leather strap started cracking. heartbroken, i returned it to nordstroms.

i was starting to feel like i wasn't meant to have something nice afterall. i mean i'd never had these issues with my sub-$20 bags. but then my family and friends all reminded me that i needed to spend a little more for a quality item.

this weekend, i went to nordstroms and fell in love with this olive green oryany hobo. it was the most beautiful shade of green - exactly how i'd envisioned my dream bag - and the shoulder strap had a piece of leather wrapped around it so i wouldn't end up with cracked edges again. i caressed the soft leather and admired how good it looked on my shoulder. and then i looked at the price tag. $298.



and guess what, my sparkfriends? i bought it. i hesitated for about ten minutes and then i went for it. i quickly told the salesperson yes before i could change my mind.

my family was shocked and at first my boyfriend thought my sisters had put me up to it - until he saw the bag. the instant i pulled it out of the silver nordstroms shopping bad, he understood why i bought this bag.

for once in the green girl's life, she bought something really nice for herself. not for her sisters. and i didn't put it away for safekeeping, i transferred all my stuff to the bag last night and proudly brought it to work today.)

  Member Comments About This Blog Post:

(the green's updated motivational collage...)

Tuesday, August 24, 2010

(the green girl decided it was time she updated her motivational collage:

www.flickr.com/photos/lilhlfpint/492
4116532/

my athens classic marathon training has been going well. i've been really pushing myself and it's nice to see results. i did 17 miles in 04:24 this weekend. it felt really good. i'm in recovery mode this week and then i'll start ramping up the mileage again. my longest run before the marathon will be 20 miles.

i've been putting a lot of effort and time into my running blog:

www.therunninggreengirl.com/

journaling on a daily basis as i train for athens has been invaluable. i highly recommend the ultimate workout log by suzanne schlosberg:

www.suzanneschlosberg.com/ultimate_w
orkout_log.html

i am going to make a point to get one of these every time i train for a marathon. i didn't really use it to track my workouts - i don't really need motivation to exercise - what i mostly used it for was to track how i felt each day.)

  Member Comments About This Blog Post:

(the green girl has been diagnosied with kyphosis...)

Tuesday, May 04, 2010

(the green girl decided to stop by the oc marathon expo on saturday.

this girl came up to me and offered a free massage - and of course, i said yes. i sat down in the chair and put my face on the paper barrier. as she started to rub my shoulders, she suddenly became alarmed and asked me if i was aware i have a big bump at the base of my neck/top of spine. i let her know i've had this bump for as long as i can remember - at least before junior high.

she said that this is a sign that i have a curvature of the spine and said i should come in for x-rays. i explained i don't have health insurance but she said they had an oc marathon special and i could get a complete exam, x-rays and evaluation for $20. i agreed.

i wasn't overly concerned. i mean, sure, i have insanely tight neck and shoulders. i always have giant knots - that's why i get deep tissue massages on a regular basis. i figure this is pretty common for most people who spend extended periods of time at a computer.

i went in yesterday for my exam. the doctor confirmed i have kyphosis and noted that my neck mobility is slightly limited. the movement i had the most difficulty with was leaning my head backwards - he said the kyphosis is stopping me from leaning as far as i should.

based on my online research, i am guessing my kyphosis is probably caused by the fact that i constantly hunch my shoulders forward. this is due to the fact that i cannot put my arms down if i push my shoulders back. i've had this problem since i was young. i remember when i took swim lessons when i was 7 or 8 and my friends would ask me why my arms didn't go down and i told them i had no idea. it could also be caused by osteoporosis - which runs in my family - but if i'd had this for most of my life, i'm not sure if that's the culprit?

i asked the doctor about that yesterday and he was really confused. he had me stand with my shoulders back and he looked puzzled when my arms awkwardly stuck out. i explained how i always figured i couldn't put my arms down because i was just too fat. he tried to push my arms down but saw they are all rigid.

i'll get the results from the x-ray next wednesday. if the answer is that i need to push my shoulders back, i'll just resign myself to the fact that i'll look awkward all the time. looking awkward is better than ending up with a serious hunchback problem.)

  Member Comments About This Blog Post:

(an update from the green girl...)

Tuesday, April 27, 2010

(the green girl is doing well. i had to really take it easy after overdoing it my birthday week. i stayed out too late too many nights and ended up with a fever and swollen glands. i learned my lesson.

i've slowly eased my way back into working out. i'm running a few times a week but i haven't returned to kickboxing yet. i am planning on doing a kickboxing class next week. it feels weird to not work out when i feel tired - i remember when being 'tired' was just an excuse to AVOID working out - now i have to listen to my body.

i've gained back the 5 pounds i'd lost but i'm not overly concerned about it. i strongly believe if i continue to make healthy choices my body will eventually settle in at a weight that is good for me.

i participated in an adult spelling bee this weekend but was eliminated in the second round:

therunninggreengirl.blogspot.com/201
0/04/green-girls-recreation-park-run-a
nd.html

my running group will start the summer training session this saturday and this saturday marks the 26 week mark to the athens marathon. as you can imagine, i'm excited but nervous. i have concerns about my posterior tibial tendonitis and my high acidity issues:

therunninggreengirl.blogspot.com/201
0/04/26-weeks-to-262-miles.html



i did stop and pick up some ph strips this evening. i'm going to start monitoring my ph levels twice a week to make sure the stress of marathon training doesn't cause me to become even more acidic.)

  Member Comments About This Blog Post: