Nurse On The Run

2008 Living History Farm cross country race

This is a brief report  from my experience running the 30th Annual Living History Farms Race in Des Moines, IA.  This race is advertised as the largest cross country race in North America.

I live in Omaha, NE and made the 2 hour drive to Des Moines that morning.  The forecast was upper 20-30 F but with the wind chill it was around 19 degrees, very balmy winds too.

There near 7,500 entrants of all ages,  a lot of high school kids, you can enter as a single or part of a team.  Many runners enter as teams, and get all dressed up in various costumes, tights, hats, or some brave the cold and opt for minimal clothing like thongs, or no shirts or speedos and swimsuits.  Me I was dressed in all pink and sporting a pink flamingo hat, We midwesters are a different breed!

So the  7 plus mile race starts in an open field at the beginning of the farm, a very narrow path and a long trot for a start.  At this point I knew this was not a PR kind or race, the crowds excitement is contagious as you make your way past brides, turkeys, reindeer, Batman, Robin, the minimally clothed it open farm land, the race starts with fields and hills and pastures.  Eventually, around mile 3 you make it into a wooded area realize as the screaming excited crowd backs up  what part of the race your at the first stream crossing ice cold water.   When you make your decent into the ravine you either buck up and dive right in and climb up the sides grabbing onto tree roots or as many runners were doing, stopping and waiting in a line for the rope you can grab to get out of the water and up the bank.   I went up stream to avoid the crowd and jumped right in.  Let me tell you there is nothing better then jumping into freezing water at 9a.m. on a saturday morning.  YES!  So trails and wet shoes mix to make mud soaked paths and hill climbs of extreme difficultly and parts where you have to grab onto ropes, trees and logs to get up, or to keep from falling back and taking out the narrow trail of runners behind you.  As you continue to wind through the woods you continue to cross more ravines some ankle deep others as high as your waist, some with rock stepping stones logs etc. in the way, some parts in which you have to paw your way up the muddy banks to get out of the water. soggy socks and cold legs break into large uphill climbs and rolling hills for a while until you head in the direction of another part of the woods and more fun water crossings, and “walls” of mud to scale up. At one point you make the decision, a fork in the road, “short and hard’ or Long and easy”  well I can’t attest to long and easy, but short and hard was about 100m straight climb out of the ravine!! fun, then back to the open farm, with uneven paths and ruts from tractor tires.  At this point I thought, “there is no way Steve runner could do this race with his bum ankle”    So finally a finish line  in sight  around the 7.7 mile mark, and a large crowd of brave cheering fans and volunteers and a hop across the finish line to warm clothes, hot cider and donuts.  Finishing in 109.38 .

This race was a fun and very challenging coarse I highly recommend for those thrill seekers looking for a good race to close the season with not looking for PRs but the thrill of racing with lots of other people enjoying the off roads of the sport. not only do you get to be covered in cold water and mud for an hour but you get all bragging rights of withstanding the cold and sharing your pictures with co-workers.  Please look at the link to there site

http://www.fitnesssports.com/November_races/LivHistFarms/lhf_index.html

and enjoy the pictures!!

From website photos

From website photos

A Heat wave in February?

So it is the 2nd week of February and we have had unusual weather.  The last 4 days have been over 50 degrees Fahrenheit.  Today its beautiful but 40mph winds, the news said if it were snowing we would have white out blizzards.  So unlike some fellow runners still toughing out the cold, I have had the advantage to run in shorts, and Capri pants. The most perfect running weather imaginable.  Why in February though?  Is this a sign of what’s ahead and global warming.  Or is this a tease and our next snow fall will be feet instead of inches and will winter last until May.  Hey its Nebraska I remember track seasons in which our first few meets have been cancelled from snow still being on the track or to cold to compete. Well I will say these beautiful days have been nice for running, a little wet still with all of the melting but perfect none the less. I don’t know what I will do when its cold again, probably back indoors to the treadmill and pool for cross training.

I have yet to decide what races to do and what exactly I want to focus on doing, triathlons, half marathons or another full marathon.  I am leaning towards a half, and triathlon but we will see.

Nursing job shortage?

Ok so i have been a nurse for almost 5 years now.  I have been told and experienced first hand that there is in fact a nursing shortage that is getting worse and worse as the baby boomers get older.  Never did I think there would be a shortage or jobs but there is.

    Now let me explain where the shortage is.  I am a travel nurse however I don’t really travel much.  I have been in my hometown this entire time.  I have managed to float around the different area hospitals and work 13 week assignments.  Most travel nurses float around the country often between several different cities for jobs.  The benefits for the nurse is usually a higher rate of pay then starting a new job and either a housing stipend, or a fully furnished apartment for the duration of you work assignment.  Sounds good huh.  I thought so and signed up.  Then shortly into my first assignment was my engagement.  So I couldn’t really take off traveling around the country and try to plan a wedding a little difficult so my intention was to get married then travel around a little, hopefully take my husband with me.   Well then shortly after the wedding my husband had the opportunity to take a spot on his companies team that would work in California.  Perfect we thought I could get a job out there and it would take care of our living situation.  No go.  there are currently no travel jobs for nurses right now.  The economy has the hospitals scared to spend their money in fear that their customers will not pay their bills.  Therefore a large shortage of jobs for the travel nurse.  Now due to the horrible economy my husband and I thought twice about moving to California.  We thought it safer to stay in Nebraska, the economy is a little more stable hear.  But I figured I could still travel some.  I applied for an assignment in Hawaii in which 48 applicants were searching for one of five spots.  I didn’t get it, not surprising much but this is happening everywhere. Many nurses are trying to find jobs and are calling other traveling firms all over and it is the same story. 

   I guess the economy is even hitting the areas that you would think would have no issues.  My other job, thankfully I have two, pretty much cut all of their benefits.  the 401K matching went away, tuition reimbursement is suspended, parts of the health care benefits are gone, gift matching doesn’t exist and bonus shift are no longer now it is more, nursing shortage and very upset nurses working in poor unsafe conditions for patients.  Safety is being compromised because hospitals want to save a few bucks.  When there is a bad economy people do not stop getting sick, in fact health goes right out the window.  But more people are unemployed which means uninsured or underinsured and hospitals fear they will suffer because bills are not being paid.

I Fear the worst is yet to come and I can’t imagine what will happen to patient care because of greedy CEO’s want their bonus.

Death of my Nike+

So for almost three years now I have used Nike+ to log most of my runs. I found it convenient since I was already using my ipod. My finace` purchased me the system when it came out. This one my dog ate the part that goes into the ipod. Then I replaced it and had 2 sensors. I am sad to report both of my sensors batteries are now dead and I am sensor less. I know I know, I can get a new sensor online for about $10. However, my poor ipod is almost dead as well it only holds charge long enough to listen to about 2 hours of music or podcasts. Its sad no companion on my long run.
But, now the dilemma, what do I do? Replace the Nike+ and get a new battery placed in my ipod? Revert back to my Forerunner 200 system ( yes its the older one) Or use this opportunity to upgrade. I have been looking into getting a heart rate monitor but the big problem I have is some watch bands I am allergic to, something to do with the plastic in them. Currently I am using my old garmin, but its large on my wrist, loses signal often, doesn’t link to my computer and I would still have to bring the ipod and add a heart rate monitor if I want one. Or, get the new garmin, or find some other device. Any suggestions I am up for while I research and save the money. I loved my Nike+ it was easy to use however I don’t always wear my ipod and I have a feeling that the system is why my ipod is already.
Man what did we do before all of these fancy toys and technology?

5 finger shoes?

OK so after a while of thinking about these new Vibram 5 finger shoes I finally broke down and ordered a pair.  My trainer and I have been talking about these things and the concepts and theories behind how they are suppose to be better then our traditional running/ tennis shoes and how they could possibly help your feet and eventually prevent less injuries; who doesn’t want less injuries.  So I joined the bandwagon and invested in a pair of the sprints, my trainer has the classics.  

First impression- they look really cool, kind of remind me of water socks when i was a kid.  but draw back at first they are so hard to get on, its just odd cramming your toe into every little slot of the shoe, and if your like me and running has taken its toll on your feet,  I have some funny looking toes that are not normal.  Finally I got them on and decided to work out in them

first wearing- ok so I did a one hour workout, not too much running in them, more weights and gym kind of work out, at this point my trainer said ” oh man your legs are going to be so tired trust me”   I thought he was crazy I am a marathoner I work 12 hour days on my feet, it can’t be that bad.  Well we did circuit training and my first circuit was 10 minutes total of 250meter row on the machine, 20 kettle bell swings and 10 burpees ( if you don’t know what a burpee is ask me- great cardio workout tool)  OK so that wasn’t too bad next set was with a body  bar, 15 squatting thrusters, 15 sumo squats and a down and back lunge 5 sets.  Pretty good exercises all lower leg work any way, by set three my legs were DEAD.  He was not joking, it felt like I had just done a hard 10 miler or ran up and down stairs for an hour and this was only half way through my workout.  Our next set was upper arms, but I noticed when doing push ups I had better form and my feet could plant nicely, also I could jump rope better because I was more aware or the ground and the rope.  

     So after a total 1 hour workout, no running my thoughts were this:

compared to my regular running shoes and a workout I had better multi-directional movement.  I worked new muscle groups ( well in my opinion I did)  My arches did not hurt at all;which in when wearing my running shoes for a gym workouts my arches usually hurt from push ups and being on my toes for various things.  Lastly I feel I had no issues with pronation, blisters, uncomfortable feeling in my toes, or bunion ( yes I have one eww).

     Then I wore them to walk my dog for a good 3 mile or so walk.  Mind you I live in the Midwest, so its cold out and snow on the ground at this time of year.  Today Sunny and 50 degrees Fahrenheit.  First thought- My new shoes are going to get dirty.  Husbands first thought -I don’t want to be seen with you in those goofy shoes!

Then after walking through numerous water puddles and slushy snow I realized my feet werecold and these are not winter shoes, nor good for cold weather running.   Obviously these are shoes you can’t really wear socks with so that doesn’t help the cold factor.  But, as far as the walking in them, they are very like weight, I felt very use to them, comfortable, like being barefoot.  You can feel big rocks and stuff in them but not little pebbles or sand. 

     I would say not a bad first day in these shoes.  So far I enjoy them a lot, I can see it will take some work trying to run in them.  I know my feet will probably hurt after the first run.  But its just like marathon training and getting those feet nice and hard to withstand the long hours, and blistering your shoes cause.  So far I have a very positive opinion of these shoes and I think for me they can help alleviate some of my foot discomfort and hopefully strengthen my feet to make injuries less likely.

I will keep posting on the review of different activities in these shoes and how the progress is going on these shoes.  Maybe i will be able to make marathon distances in these shoes.

Here is a link to the shoe company website