VO2max results: Further proof that...

... my endurance addiction might run a little too deep:

I didn't get to finish my VO2max test, and I was devastated over it. No really, I felt tears well up for a second. Here I was, not wanting to fall off the treadmill or otherwise embarrass myself in front of my peers. Instead, I almost cried over not being able to do something that everyone else in the class was thankful they didn't have to suffer through. HA! Talk about embarassing myself. It would be the talk of the next frat party...just behind "hey where's the keg?"..."Hey, did you see that wierd mom lady in class crying over her vo2max test?" . Ok maybe not. But point was, it sucked, and I got a little too worked up over it.

What's up with that?

Long story short, during warm up my heart rate was going in and out on the monitor. The strap wasn't a good fit, so I tried another one. Once the test started, it took me a few minutes to get used to the massive contraption on my head and in my mouth, and having a nose plug on. It's a very odd feeling running on a treadmill but not being able to see your feet, or even really anything on either side. I wonder if that's how horses feel with blinders on!

Anyway, heart rate was in and out again. Got to the second stage, first incline, and my professor had to get out the finger pulse oxomiter to see if she could obtain a heart rate that way. I guess that wouldn't work either, because she pulled the plug on the test. I totally understand why, it is a safety issue when you can not properly monitor your subject. And as far as the class was concerned, we got some sort of data to analyze, even if it wasn't a "max" value. So it wasn't a total wash for the class. But I was still a little (ok a lot) dissapointed. Kind of like when you are super excited to eat some leftovers, only to find your significant other already ate them. That feeling, times 20. Or that time in first grade when I woke up and the tooth fairy "forgot" to show up, haha.

So the results are: I have a small ribcage.

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Moving onto a much more delightful topic, CONGRATULATIONS to the winner(s) of the Run U Mother giveaway! TJ said she had such a hard time choosing a winner, so she chose two! Congrats to Jama @ Kyle Momma Runs, and Ruthie at Fantastically Fit 40s! Congrats to both of you wonderfully inspirational running moms! And to not end my blog on a total sour pants note with my hissy fit about my VO2max test, I will instead share their awesome entries with you:

i love being a running mom because it helps me to teach my kids by example. It is easy to tell them to do something but a lot more difficult to show them through your actions on a consistent basis. Last night my 6 year old asked me "mom, isn't today the day you are doing your long run?" she keeps me accountable and I do not want to let her down :) ~Jama

I am a running mom cause of what running does to me mentally, physically and spiritually. Running brings me back to the person I was meant to be instead of the depressed, overweight and miserable Mom i use to be. I am a running mom because its about being who i was created to be, about being a the Mom my kids deserve and the wife my husband deserves. I run to let other Moms who have given up know that if they just keep trying, eventually they will become the person the dream to be. I run because it makes me realize i am stronger than I ever thought I could be. ~Ruthie

THANK YOU to all of you who entered! It made my day every single time the blackberry signaled I had a new comment on that post. Running moms rocks! (And thanks again to the wonderful ladies at Run U Mother for the giveaway!!)