I had some great plans for my Saturday...

First (if God said so), I'd wake up. Then I'd eat breakfast!

The whole night I could hardly sleep knowing what awaited me, I was going to make oatmeal (as I do every morning). But-- Saturday's oatmeal was going to be very very different. After years of only adding my staple flavors of Vanilla Bean or Cookies and Cream I decided to switch it up a little. And introduce my taste buds to a whole new world of flavorful fun. Enter: Peanut Butter Chocolate.

Sweet.

No really SWEET, as in Peanut butter chocolate and oatmeal should never ever merge. It could just be that I got N.P.F.H (new-protein-flavor-happy) and added too much to my bowl, but I'm thinking the intensity of it all was too much for this palate or any human palate.

Take it from me, don't try this at home.

So not the start I had imagined, but definitely the next item on the agenda would go as planned. My 2000m tempo workout on my own in a couple hours!

However sometime after shoveling too sweet, too thick oatmeal down my throat and relaxing on the coach my lower legs started to feel 'tight'. If you are a world class sprinter, you know what I mean. Right! Calf, soleus, tibialis anterior, posterior, the whole compartment just felt restricted.


See you've been there.

Anyhoo, I tried to walk it off, do some self massage, but to no avail, leg was bugging. I don't like to skip workouts, especially since today's was on the honor system. But from where I'm coming from, if I so much as feel the onset of pins and needles--Bye--I'm calling it a day!




And so I did. Instead I went to see my masseuse and iced.



The next order of business was to stretch, do my exercises, eat a light lunch and watch the Reebok meet live on NBC. (Simultaneously where applicable).

I grabbed my stretching rope, turned the TV on to catch the meet and also grabbed a bag of my sweet potato chips, just to nibble on a few before I made lunch during a commercial.

How about the next thing I knew an hour or so into the broadcast Tyson Gay had run 19.5 in the 200m and I was staring into the empty bottom of a 200g bag of chips, with stretching rope untouched beside.



What kinda Saturday is this...Clearly I have some different plans for Sunday.

Dites

I wish I had an excuse for such a ridiculous absence, but I don't. But, I'm back!



ASU Opener
To update ya, I didn't compete indoors but began my indoor campaign very early. My first race was at ASU on April 10th, but it was a gong show because I got DQ'd for flinching. I was upset, because it clearly was a bad call by the official.

...And yes, Ill have some cheese w. my wine!


Kansas Relays
Next up was Kansas Relays, On April 18th. I took 5th and ran a 13.38. I was proud because it would have been a high school PB! But naturally, it was very tentative and pedestrian and just part of the process of coming back.

Drake Relayss
I had a better showing at Drake Relays on April 25, I placed 3rd and ran a windy 12.88. I was happy to be under 13 seconds, despite the 40 degrees F and cold rain making conditions hazardous. This race was the first one where I felt a better rhythm to my racing and knew things were rusty but on the right track.

Doha Super Grand Prix and Season's Best
The sub 13 second trend continued in Doha on May 9th where I got a season's best of 12.80 and finished 5th in a very competitive field. Once again the race fitness was not there and technically things felt blah, but I competed.






The decision to race so early was not mine, my Coach and Chiro and some dear friends encouraged me to get out there early and try to establish that race rhythm sooner rather than later. I am glad I listened because it gave us a lot of feedback about where I am and what we need to be focusing on in practice. My start needs a lot of work and my first two hurdles are much too "soft". What I am doing in the middle as far as acceleration is good, yet the snappiness of my last 2 to 3 hurdles drops off a lot.

Great info to have so we can tailor my training to fixing the flaws in my race.

Adidas Track Classic
My last race was the Adidas meet in Carson, CA on May 16th, which was a hard turnaround after being in the Middle East just five days before. I found my focus was the best it has been all season and I really tried to execute some of the elements we have been working on in practice. I didn't just race and abandon all, I thought the entire race. I placed 2nd behind the Olympic Champion Dawn Harper and ran 12.83, which I felt good about since it was into a moderate head wind of -1,1.



It's important to work on my race and see what works during this early part of the season, than trying to fix things later in the year when results really matter.

My next race is the Prefontaine Classic on June 7 in Eugene, I am looking forward to the high level of competition and the place that I set my 12.46 personal best.

Be back soon,
...Promise!
P

I love this commercial it makes me chuckle everytime I see it.



However it is far from accurate, and most track people would spot it right away. But who cares. Apparently someone at CNBC.com

Ciao,
P

New Years Resolute!

Resolution Month


I've seen so many joggers on the way to work lately, I didn't notice it so much until the BF pointed it out. Many of these people weren't the hardcore road warrior types. They didn't look the part. They weren't wearing the telltale athletica or rocking that overly exaggerated perfectionist running form. They had strides that were somewhere between a power walk and reluctant jog, with arms that were fighting a missing wind.

The BF and I have a theory, It's early in new years resolution week. People have a resolution to keep and they were out in full force. The first weeks of Jan we shall see plenty of this. However, come Valentine's day we will expect to see a dramatic falling off.

I don't have a problem with resolutions, I don't usually make them. I get the sense they are hard to keep, especially ones that have to deal with breaking a well ingrained habit.

However I have made two resolutions of my own for the first time in 28 years.

The First Resolution
To write in my journal at least a few times a week. I used to be hard core about this. Writing for hours until my hands would get so tired, that I couldn't understand my own writing the next day.



But between my regular diary and my gratitude journal [A list of things I am grateful for during the day, from finding quarters in my washing machine, to free food samples at Loblaws], I'm lucky to have a few entries per month.

I love looking back at the things I wrote as a kid and in high school. I know I will regret not keeping up w/ my thoughts when I have nothing to read in the coming years.

The Second
Is to create and maintain a vision board. I used to think that stuff was for corny folks, with too much time. But since I do believe in The Law of Attraction, it only makes sense.

A vision board is a collection of things you want in your life and you create a board that is filled with these things using words and images. If you see it for yourself put it up there. That body you want to have, the man of your dreams, the number of Cheerios in your bank statements....post it up!

So that is my new project, and I'll try to post a pic of it as soon as I complete it.
Ciao,
P-dids

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Wishing you and your loved ones all the best for 2009.

XO
P

It's The New Year Baby!

Bye Bye 2008
Normally I don't like to see the current year pass on. Knowing I will never see it again makes me sad. Like saying goodbye to an old friend knowing it may be a long time till you see them again, if ever.

But as for me and 2008--bump that. See ya when I see ya.

Peace!

I am so thrilled to bust out a brand new calender, for me it represents an official fresh start and putting an extremely difficult year behind me. January 1 2009 cannot come soon enough.

A Year In Review Past
Each year since the summer I turned 13 in 1993, I always look back at my year in a diary entry I dub "Perdita's Year in Review-XXXX". Some of the nonsense I have summed up at the end of some years was scatterbrained, others just indicative of a young child coming of age.

That summer I would sneak out of the house after midnight to play manhunt with a militia of other kids in our neighbourhood gully. We'd set the plan that afternoon, decide on a meeting time and point then sneak out of our respective windows. One night I brought my younger sister with me, we shared a room and she saw me leaving. To keep my secret I had to bring her slowpoke tail along.

Walking slower than usual (surprise!) to the rendez vous spot we got caught in the parking lot by our friend's mom. She was dressed in some scandalous outfit which I found strange since she looked like Mary Poppins in the day time. She asked where in the world we were going and questioned why we were both dressed in black.

(The nerve of this nocturnal private dancer to inquire about my attire w/ her fish net stocking self--but I was to young to question this back then, so I will now).

Nevertheless I froze like Bambi on the 401.

Certain mother would hear about this and I would be punished w/ the belt or whatever she grabbed first: hanger, shoe, pot...
I came up with a lie so big, that I've since repented, but certain I could still be heading to hades.

But I had to save us: "Uhh, my brother has not come home tonight, and my mother is at home crying. We are going to one of his friend's house to see if he may be there. My mom wanted us to wear black so no one would see us and take us.".

Jennifer's mother looked at us suspiciously, but then seemed to eat the lie right up. "Ok then" she said, as she hopped in her car, lit a cigarette and sped off to what I am certain now was the nudie bar.

Looking back at that year in review I thought I was so independent and grown-up, having this secret night life. Now looking back I was disobedient, a fibber and very irresponsible. And all the things you are allowed to be at 13!

2008 In Review
I haven't reviewed 2008 yet, I'm delaying what it might reveal or what I may learn about myself. If I had to take a stab at it I'd say I have learned:
1. "What a difference a year makes" is bang on
2. Relish every moment that you are doing something you love
3. When life gives you lemons, you better love you some lemonade
4. Cherish the people that treat and love you the same in your every circumstance
5. Be grateful for the good
6. Be grateful for the not so good
7. Small victories can turn out to be your biggest triumphs

...I'll have pages and pages to write in "Perdita's Year in Review: 2008". All I know is I am not unchanged as a result of this year and I think I'll discover it's for the better.

2009 We Welcome You!
Perdita

Season's Greetings!

I began my Christmas shopping tonight and must report I was highly unsuccessful. It had to do with the mass of people at the mall, the long lines and how tired I was from practice earlier in the day. So after two hours of fruitless wandering I left feeling irritated and defeated.

There was but two solutions to this: chicken milk w/ 'wodkah' (upon my arrival home) and the gift card!

One is so impersonal and quick --the other enables you to care less! :-)

Wishing everyone and their families the best this holiday season.

Happy Holidays...Merry Festivus...Happy Kawanza...Happy Hanukkah!
Perdita

Corny for Christmas

I'm planning to drive home this weekend 10 hours from the Paign to P-town. I have been looking for flights since November, and they are so so reasonable. But it is the rental car that is hurting me. I have done this trip every year since 2000, and this is the first time I refuse to spend so much just to get home.

To rent a car for 2 weeks, used to be a decent $250. Now these crooks are talking about $450-500 for an economy car. Who's fitting in that?

I refuse!

So that means I am making the drive, which I so don't want to do. But it will save me a rio grand, easy. Especially important, since I have 9 nieces and nephews who are expecting Christmas gifts. And you know how many DS games a G can buy?






Christmas is next week, and I haven't really prepared for its arrival. I have stopped buying for the adults and just spend on the kiddies. If I am lucky I'll get a grand total of 2 gifts my own self. That is something from the BF and another from my mom.





Who better make sure her gift is off the chain. Because for my 28th birthday bash in August, she got me a card with a $2 quick pick.

I mean really, mother.

If I win the lottery you come off looking really great. But guess what--I didn't.

But really, I am excited to close out week 7 of boot camp and get home to be with my family. And all I want for Christmas besides a juicer and food processor is their happiness.



..lol, I'm so corny for Christmas.

Perdita

A good laugh

I got two emails from friends sending me this. It is Too funny!

P

Freedom

Hey now,
I'm in the native land. Can I get a "West Side!" since I'm in Vancouver.

It was drama getting here from the Midwest last night. I flew out of Indianapolis because it was the best connection, but meant I had to drive two hours from my house to get there.

When I arrived I was told my flight was delayed by three hours. I'd miss my connection and would have to spend the night in Houston. Then connect the following evening because there is only one flight per day.

Come again? ...Selecta!

I asked about other options. "Nancy" wasn't too concerned about my plight. I bought my ticket on some cheap as dirt website, so I knew it wasn't much value to them. I also am not on their frequent flyer program.

She kept typing, and sighing, typing and sighing. I was getting more and more distressed with each fruitless click.

"That's the best I can do Miss Fe...Felss...Feleese..."

"Call me Perdi!", I told her. Just to end the stammering that was embarrassing us both. I could just see was fixing to call me "Miss Felis-Navidad".

I took a breather and got on my hand held and looked up connections online. I noticed a few--Nancy was holding out on me. But I knew because my ticket was bought on Hotwire I was a sitting duck. But I'd be damned if I was going to spend 24 hours in commute mode--oh hell to the naw.

I noticed a more sympathetic agent and decided to approach her, even though Nancy was free.

NOTE: Just so you know who you are dealing with, I won the drama award in grade 8, was told by my grade 6 teacher Mr. Livingston I was going to be a star actress "with a host of credits to my name". And my mother used to pay us, her children if we could be the first to cry on cue--I never lost.

All of that, I am convinced, prepared me for the moment before me. Here it was, I was about to shine.

Looking anxious, I approached sympathetic looking "Margaret", explaining that I had drove hours to get here from out of state. I was desperate to get to Vancouver tonight, Thursday night just won't do. This was the killer: "Can you help me... please?"

Then I allowed a single tear to escape from my right eye. (I know, mad skills). It was a silent cry, but deadly. This must have pulled at her heart strings, because she called me "Sweetheart".

Pity, sympathy, call it whatever you want, as long as it got me a seat at 35, 000 feet.

Margaret typed till her fingers were blue. Whenever the typing stopped, I would manufacture more tears. Right then, the typing would begin again.

Sweet.

For Em-pha-cis, I sniffled some and said: "I'm sorry".

She announced there was nothing she could do with my ticket on her airline and none of their partners had flights today. But there was one connection leaving in thirty minutes, on another airline. She was going to call them and see what they can do. They didn't pick up the phone when she called.

Dammit, I just knew I was overnighting in blasted Indiana.

But to my surprise, Margie says: I'm going to try to put you on their flight. It may not work but go over and check in like you belong.

With that I grabbed my passport, wiped my tear stained cheeks. (OK they weren't tear stained--but I CAN do that--for the right price), and headed to their counter.

I flashed my great big smile, made chit chat with the agent and gave him my documents, while asking how his day was, and was he ready for the holidays. Hoping that all this banter, would distract from any asterisks or pending remarks that could possibly be next to my name.

My heart was beating so fast. I so desperately didn't want to lose a whole day stuck in airports. With that exchange of pleasantries the man gave me my boarding pass and told me to have a nice flight.

FREEDOM!!

I snatched that piece of paper so fast, and took off like a run away slave towards Kanata!

NOTE: When I got to Van I looked at my original flight. It still hadn't left, and was scheduled to arrive at 3AM the following morning.

Ya see what ones inner drama queen can do.

Shame Free,
Felicien-Navidad