griddlebandits

[griddlebandits]

Dark Mode

Fun fact – I cannot read normal computer screens. I cannot navigate filling out forms on paper without significant difficulty (and inevitably leaving a lot of fields blank). My visual impairment is unique in that a good portion of my visual field is covered in fog. That’s the best way I am able to describe it. When I look at a “normal” screen (i.e. white background) I can’t see most of what is…

[griddlebandits]

What's cooking?

I am not the best at cooking. I’ve never enjoyed it, and that has always deterred me from trying. I think for most, cooking is a learned skill that rarely comes naturally. You get better with practice. However, I do like to bake, and I do like to make food for people if it makes them happy. Food = love, right?I recently attended a weekend retreat with the women in my church, and I brought a pan…

[griddlebandits]

My very brief "75 Hard" journey and what I learned

I don’t know if any of you have heard of “75 Hard” but it’s this bazonkers challenge that some guy made up a few years ago, and it seems to have quite the following. The challenge is this: For 75 consecutive days you must complete the following tasks:1) Drink one gallon of water2) Follow a diet of your choosing, no cheat days!3) Read 10 pages of a nonfiction book4) Complete two non-consecutive…

[griddlebandits]

Where are my glasses?

The other day I went for a run. Just before I left the house I was looking for my reading glasses in order to choose the music to stream from my phone. When I wear contacts it makes me far-sighted, so reading glasses are a necessity. When I run I often can’t read my Garmin watch well because I don’t have magic telescoping arms. I couldn’t find the glasses but I was able to manage without, so I…

[griddlebandits]

Scary Book

I’m reading a really scary book right now. No, it’s not a gory thriller or suspense novel. It’s a book about type 2 diabetes – The Diabetes Code by Jason Fung, and it’s freaking me out. For one, it’s very science-y so it’s slow reading. For two, I’m worried about every human I know and love because, well, sugar. Refined sugar is terrible for our systems, and at least here in the U.S., it’s in…

[griddlebandits]

What now?

Runners like to ask each other questions like, ��What’s next on your calendar?” or “Do you have a goal in mind?”. The answer to that first question is nothing. I have nothing on my calendar. But to answer the latter, I do have a goal, and that is to focus on running faster 5ks. I told my husband when I came home from Sleeping Bear that I was done with longer races for awhile. 10k would be my max.…

[griddlebandits]

Sleeping Bear Half Marathon Complete!

Finally, my post race recap. It gets a little messy in my head, so bear with me (you are welcome for that accidental pun!)… We call this Flat Mel. It’s a runner tradition to lay out your gear the night before. One last check to be sure you have everything you need! Allison and Mel, getting some pre-race fuel at Slabtown Burgers in Traverse City. The Sleeping Bear race was four hours away, so I…

[griddlebandits]

Race Completion Post Pending

I’m hopping on here briefly to let y’all know I finished my race, and it went well. I not only survived, I surpassed my own expectations. However, I am understandably quite exhausted, and that reaches mentally as well. So while I have photos loaded into a draft post, I lack the mental clarity to put the words together cohesively. I’ve jotted down notes so as not to forget fun details, and hope to…

[griddlebandits]

Sleeping Bear Training Week 13 of 14

Woah, what?! We are almost there folks. And while I got a little off track with my long runs, I have been diligent this week about getting some miles on these legs. A 4 mile run here, a quick 2 mile run there, and ending the week with a 6 mile “long run”. That’s the taper. We don’t want to wear ourselves out before race day. These last two weeks are for maintaining fitness but giving ourselves…

[griddlebandits]

Sleeping Bear Training Week 12 of 14

These weekly posts are getting to be less about the training and more about how life attempts to interfere. Ah, well. Life happens. You adjust and move on! So this week I completed one task on my training plan, and that was a 12 mile run. I had originally scheduled this long run for the previous Saturday, but I opted instead to watch my son play tennis. So I had looked at the weather for the…

[griddlebandits]

Ways I've Changed

I used to be an obsessive planner. Internally, more than externally. I mean, if you ask me to plan a party, I’ll cringe, and if I agree, it’s with great reluctance. No, it’s the planning of my days that I used to be obsessive about. What I need to do in the coming days, weeks, months. I have a calendar and I can’t live without it. Or at least that’s how it used to be. Now, it seems, I am finding…

[griddlebandits]

Sleeping Bear Training Week 11 of 14

So. This week was all sorts of upside down as far as training goes. I only had two runs planned. A “short” run of 4 miles and a long run of 12. I also had hoped to do strength training, but it did not happen the way I expected. Instead of doing boring Fitbod exercises, I helped my husband sand and restain our deck! He had done a bunch of prep work over the weekend while I was out galivanting…

[griddlebandits]

Sleeping Bear Training Week 10 of 14

Well, where was I? I don’t even know what happened last week. Monday was Labor Day so the rest of the week was just… off. All week felt like I was playing catch up. Which means my training suffered, and I’m honestly very nervous I’m going to pay for it on race day, but I’m pressing forward regardless. I’ll have my guide runner with me, so if anything happens and I am unable to run, she can drag…

[griddlebandits]

Sleeping Bear Training Week 9 of 14

These weekly updates are starting to get really messy, but we’re hanging in there folks, I promise. Week 9 did not go quite as planned, but I’m still here. Still looking forward to this half marathon. It’s only 31 days away! One more month of training to go! Monday – 42 minute Fitbod, Shoulders, triceps, chest and abs. I had to be careful with this one because I could feel where my shoulder is…

[griddlebandits]

Sleeping Bear Training Week 8 of 14

Okay, here’s the recap of week 8 (I feel like I’m really slipping on getting these out in time):Sunday – Rest and stuffMonday – Some medical stuff, helping prep kids for school starting on Wednesday. Basically all the family management tasks that wear me out. But it was a good day. Lots of steps (Also there may have been a donut or two).Tuesday – 5 mile run, all the hills in my neighborhood and…

[griddlebandits]

She is not me

I want to share something that I learned this week, in case it might resonate with you as well. The other day I found out some bad news. A horse that my daughter had loved riding had passed away. I was feeling quite emotional about it, and debated when to tell her. I finally decided to just rip the band-aid off and do it right away. I went up to her room, opened the door, and said, “I have to…

[griddlebandits]

Sleeping Bear Training Week 7

This week, I’m pretty sure *I* was the sleeping bear. I’m gonna warn you right here, this is more than a running post. I’m gonna detour and touch on family matters and a little on perimenopause. If you can’t handle that, please move along. Thank you very much. If you’re game, please continue. Sunday – I slept 8 hours, 43 minutes the night before. Not a lot of activity. I think I went to church.…