Moving In Stereo

I haven't had a chance to run since before Thanksgiving due to sheer exhaustion. Too much going on with the house. I ended up "fixing" the floors, but they look great. I will get back into a running routine before the end of this week, even if it's a 2 miler in the new neighborhood. I haven't weighed myself, or guesstimated body fat percentages in a while, but I'm guessing I'm doing okay since everything still fits. I've been keeping extremely active.

The move is going well but slow, but that's okay. We hooked up the stereo so, at least, we can be connected to the world... LOL... Hubbie and I are partially moved in so we can get more things tended to. I need to call SDG&E to make sure the 1947 heater still works okay, hook up the internet and cable, and see about bringing one of the cats with me. (I really want to bring the dog first but the fence and gates must be repaired first). We had a gigantic 11' X 18' Persian rug (Grandma's rug that came with the house) cleaned last week and the cost to have it cleaned was rather steep BUT it would have cost so much more to purchase a new rug. It does look 100% better, though, since I don't think it had been professionally cleaned since Grandma was around.

I'm at the other house right now, packing more stuff, trying NOT to look at the mess, and catching up on my blog, e-mails, regular mail, and so on. My dog was really happy to see me.

Peace

Food, Glorious Food

Thanksgiving this year was nice in the way all of the "kids" were in town. Betwween college, jobs, re-locating, boyfriends, girlfriends and other busy-ness, the past few years we were always missing someone. This year everyone converged at my in-laws house. There was more food than necessary. I guess, ever since the year my mother-in-law forgot to make or delegate the mashed potatoes, everyone feels the need to bring just a little something extra... just in case. My hubbie invited one of his employees to join us, and that was lovely, especially for my Brazillian mother-in-law, because hubbie's employee is also Brazillian and everyone could dust off their Portugese skills. I ate more than normal. On Thanksgiving meals past, I could eat 2 plates of food and be okay. I sure can't do that anymore. I didn't load up my plate to cover every inch of the surface, but it was still plenty. I felt pretty sluggish today.

Today I packed even more household items, loaded up my car as much as possible, sent my son to the house to take the load, and packed some more. There is no way I would set foot in a mall today. A friend of mine actually went to a shopping center at 4 AM to wait in line. I'm sure he got a deal, but I enjoyed my sleep, thankyouverymuch...

This next week is all about getting the "new" old house set up as in putting everything where it's going to stay forever, think about Christmas, and actually planning my training runs for the next half marathon in January. I feel like my running has really slacked the past week, but I hope to be amping up the mileage soon.

Thanks Again

Peace

It Don't Come Easy

Warning - Rant ahead... You may want to skip this part.

I haven't worked out in the sense of weights and exercises, etc, but I have been physically busy. I am exhausted. My nutrition the past three days has been based on what ever hubbie brought to the house. "Green salad with a chicken topper" never computed in his brain when I asked for that. It was more like burgers, pizza, deli sandwiches that were mostly bread and cheese. ALL of the places he picked up food at had salads. I ate part of what he brought because that's all there was and I needed to eat. I now have a major itchy break out on my arm, eyelid and shin... I thought I had the floors done but hubbie decided to put another coat of poly on the floors I had finished and it messed up what I spent HOURS doing... It wouldn't be so bad if it were the bedrooms, but it was the transition between the diningroom and the livingroom and it would take resanding to fix the problem. GAH! I wish I could say something uplifting and positive like "I'll get past this and it's just a minor thing," which (in the big picture) it is -- but I'm exhausted -- I just can't deal. I have my breaking point, too... I probably won't go to the house today, but I'm thinking an easy run will do me good because hubbie can't mess that up.

Rant over. Sorry. I had to get that out.

The good news is that I haven't lost or gained any weight. Oh, and the San Diego Chargers beat the Denver Broncos. Yay. (Not that I'm a huge football fan, but it's nice to see the home team win.)

Today is a new day, the start of a new week. It has to get better. RIGHT?

Peace


PS
2.5 MILE SLOW EASY RUN 27:50

33, 45, 78 - Record Time

I stole this from Shoparound...

Our House

Last weekend was spent at the house working on the oak floors... It's amazing what a person can do with the right equipment. Saturday afternoon, hubbie rented a vibrating sander, about the size of a lawnmower and we knocked out two bedrooms, hallway, living room and dining room in one afternoon. Sheesh. I wasted time sanding part of the hallway floor with a hand held belt sander last weekend. It was still a pretty good workout, sanding the floors with that huge sander, but it was well worth the effort because the floors are smooth as silk. Hubbie and I stayed the night at the house.

Sunday we ran in the Shelter Island 5k walk/run. This is the event with the brunch afterwards. We arrived somewhat late, but with just enough time to walk to the starting area, barely any time to get our bearings, and the announcer said "runners, take your marks." I didn't hear any announcements that they were starting in a few minutes or anything like that. Perhaps I missed it, but we were off. No time for gum or throat lozenge. No time to set my stop watch. I still had my jacket on and realized it too late, so I wrapped it around my waist. I wasn't even warmed up yet and my legs felt like lead. After mile one my cell phone fell out of my mini fanny pack, which is just big enough for a cell phone and ID. I'm not sure how that happened but it did, and that slowed me down. I didn't stop for water at the water table. Before the end of the run at mile 3 I felt like barfing. I finished in 27:16. Ironically, I finished just behind the same lady I finished with last year, but I didn't realize it until after the run was over. I felt good about my time because I really didn't train for this event and I would have been happy with a 30 minute finish. Last year I finished this event about 45 seconds faster. Hubbie finished in about 33 minutes. Our whole objective to this 5K run was the brunch. We did meet a very nice couple who stumbled upon this run last year, as we did, and returned for the brunch. I also saw my cousin working the Naked Juice booth, so that was nice. I didn't realize it, but photos were being taken at this run. Since I wrapped my jacket around my waist, it covered my number, which was #336. Here's a half picture of me towards the end, next to #78. Since my number was covered there is no full picuture of me. I'll take what I can get... (I kind of like how the muscles in my leg that's pictured are popping out.)I had asked hubbie to bring his camera. He did bring the camera but he left it in the car, 3.1 miles away... OH WELL. After the brunch was over, hubbie had a soccer game to play in and I went back to the house to prep the woodb for the polyurethane. I polyed two rooms, then went back to the other house, showered and went to bed. Hubbie and I had a full day.

Monday I had my son drive me back to the house (so he could have the car to get to classes) and I worked on the floors, completeing the hallway, livingroom and part of the diningroom. Today was a day off from working on the "new" old house and stayed home to pack and do laundry. Upper body workout will happen during Dancing With The Stars.
That's it.

Peace


EDIT - 8 sets circuits, 15 reps each Bench dips, push ups, upright rows, bicep curls.

Crazy

I was just told that I am "crazy." Huh???

I've been paying attention to my health and fitness for around the past 7 years. I run. I like the fact that I staying fit makes me feel younger and, most of the time, look younger than most of my same aged friends. I enjoy running. I've discovered that I enjoy running in events, everything from 5k's to marathons. I like getting caught up in the nerves before a run event. I like knowing that other people enjoy running as much as I do. I like knowing that there are newbies at every run, as well as seasoned world class athletes. I like that these events usually benefit an organization to raise money or awareness. I like that I usually receive a goodie bag, funky t-shirt and snacks at these events. I like that I get medals at half marathons and marathons. I like the way it feels when someone says "good run." I like the way it feels when it's over. I like how it feels when I think about past run events. I like that people start to recognize me on my long runs over the weekends. I like the feeling of "runner's high."

As far as "crazy" in terms of running, I just don't know. Crazy is such a broad term. A close friend told me that their spouse thought I was crazy for doing all these runs. I do a handful of runs throughout the year but it's just a fraction of what others do. I know people who have at least 3 or 4 events planned per month, and sometimes a couple of those are over a weekend. I've recently watched a news clip last week about a guy who ran 50 marathons in 50 states. Is he crazy? How about Forrest Gump? (Yeah, I know, I'm referring to a fictional movie character.) He just ran. No reason. Is the Brazilian gentleman, Gomes dos Santos, who just won the New York Marathon crazy? Probably crazy happy.

I run because I can and I am able to. It's that simple.

I was never great at team sports in high school. I participated in activities like tap dance, a short stint at ice skating, and a few dance classes in college to meet my Phys. Ed. Requirement. I did enjoy running in high school P.E. class. Running always guaranteed my "A" in P.E. There was no girls track team at my high school at that time, (but the boys had a track team where my brother excelled.) I didn't really start up running again until after I turned 40, about a year after I had decided to get off my fat butt and get in shape and joined a gym -- The running evolved out of working out at the gym and dropping 30 pounds. I have been plagued with bouts of asthma and I've been diagnosed with arthritis in both my knees two years ago. At 47, I'm still running, albeit at a pace good for me, but not as fast as I would like to be. I know when to say "Uncle" and take it easy... I don't need to break any records. I may never have a sub 4 hour marathon or qualify for the Boston Marathon, but that's okay. I actually had a second place finish in my age group two years ago, for a 5k run -- and that run was a not a personal best, in fact, it was the slowest I had ever run in a timed 5k. I was stunned and thrilled all at the same time - How could I run so slow and still win a second place spot? I had never won anything for my athletic abilities before. Participation is everything. I hope to be running for as long as I can. I'd like to run in that group of 60 and 70+ year olds, who I see from time to time at some events. If for some reason I can't run, I would certainly volunteer to help out at the run events.

I understand that running isn't for everyone. I know many people who intensely dislike running because it was used as punishment in P.E. class when they were younger, when the class became unruly, coach would just say "run laps." A lot of people find running monotonous and tedious. Running pains some people. Running is a mind set. It's like anything else. If your mind isn't into it, then it's not worth the effort. I wouldn't say someone is crazy for not running, why would they say I'm crazy for running?

I've entered in the word "crazy" on Wikipedia, and was cross-referenced to the word "Insanity." Hehehe...

Insanity, or madness, is a general term for a semi-permanent, severe mental disorder. The concept has been used in a number of ways historically. Today it is most commonly encountered as a generic informal term, or in the more narrow legal context of criminal insanity. In the medical profession, it is nowadays avoided in favor of specific diagnoses of mental illness.

Running as an enjoyable past-time = a mental disorder? I don't think so. I might be stubborn, but crazy? Nah.

Peace

Desert Rose

It's official. Hubbie and I are signed up to run the AZ RNR Half Marathon on January 14, 2007.

Any one wanna join us? Just in case, here's a little info and a discount code for the marathon and half marathon:

Register online before November 15 and save an extra $10 on the marathon and $5 on the half marathon (use coupon codes below). Thanks, Leslie, for passing along the info!

The price increases $10 for both races on November 15, so you'll actually save a total of $20 on the marathon and $15 on the half!Don't delay!
Register Now

Online Savings Codes:
Marathon: PENGUIN26
Half Marathon: PENGUIN13

A former BFL buddy from one of the first on line groups I belonged to invited my hubbie and I to stay with her and her husband, so we're taking them up on their generous offer, and they're running in it , too.

Now it's time to rethink training...

Peace

I'm Free

Yesterday was a "free" day in every sense of the word "free." I normally don't take an entire free day, but I was home all day, dealing with day one of TTOTM, laundry and a warm day. I enjoyed some left-over Halloween candy (Almond Joy, Reese's, Kitkat, and Heath Bars), a coke, and a lot of high carb foods. Amazingly, I don't feel sick to my stomach and I didn't blow up with extra water weight. I can't even remember the last time I had a regular Coke.

Today I ran my 2.5 miles in my hilly neighborhood in 24.21 - Not my fastest time but it felt pretty good, and I didn't feel as draggy as I had anticipated, especially since it was already 80 degrees when I set foot out my front door.

I did my civic duty and voted today. The polls are located at the neighborhood elementary school, about 8 blocks away. It always amazes me how many people drive to the polling place, even if it is a few blocks away. Of course I walked! (When my son attended that elementary school, I'd walk with him every morning. I'd always see the same families who lived just one block from us hop in their stationwagon every morning and drive the few blocks to the school. Sheesh.) Well, now that voting day is here, I'll be happy that I don't have to see another political flyer in my mail, TV spots where everyone is bashing eachother, and the phone messages on my machine with Arnold's recorded voice telling me to get out and vote...


It's barely November and my December dance card is getting full, with various holiday parties for our places of employment, groups hubbie belongs to and our anniversary... I think we're gonna need a vacation after the holidays. Hmmmm. I'm still thinking about the Rock N Roll Marathon and Half Marathon event in Arizona in January. It would be a good excuse to get away somewhere. Yeah, we know how to relax...

Peace

Rock The House

I am sore.

I've spent the weekend sanding floors. It feels as if I've been doing squats and some sort of arms/shoulders work out all weekend, but with a belt sander. Weekend nutrition was decent and I made sure I had plenty of water. I had intended to do at least a 2.5 mile run in my neighborhood yesterday, but I ended up returning to the house for more labor intensive floor sanding. Older wood flooring does not sand as easy as "newer" wood flooring does, so it takes time. I did get to stay at the house long enough to see a gorgeous sunset. Today is an off day. I do have that Shelter Island 5K event this weekend so I do need to plan a couple of easy runs this week, just so that run isn't so tough.

It's unseasonably warm here today. In my neighborhood it's probably around 85 to 90 degrees and DRY... It's supposed to be getting a little cooler here and perfect for Southern California running weather... Is this global warming? Perhaps. All's I know is that there isn't enough lotion to make my skin not feel so dry and itchy...

Congratulations for those runners who participated in the New York Marathon yesterday! A shout out to Sister Smile for a fantastic finish!

Peace

I Wear My Sunglasses At Night

Now I have some time to get caught up! The past couple of weeks have been busy with filling in at work, packing, and every day living...

I met up with a fellow blogger! Leslie was in town and suggested that we meet for dinner. I had a wonderful visit and we could have talked for hours. It's always refreshing to meet someone with fitness goals, and understands that whole fitness lifestyle. Most of my friends and family don't really understand the fitness/running/nutrition thing. Leslie is a wonderful lady and I hope we meet up again in the not so distant future.

My stint as an employed person is over, for now. It was sort of fun and interesting being back at work. It was nice knowing that the job was temporary. I had the priviledge of having lunch with the boss, winning a "Geo Quiz" between the employees (I know my geography -- I won $10...), dressing up at the office as Herminie (from Harry Potter) for Halloween, and I didn't have to get caught up in office drama or dealing with weird patients. Part of my pay check went towards a really cool pair of Gucci sunglasses... Even though they were at cost plus employee discount, they were still pricey. I didn't buy them because they were Gucci. I bought the sunglasses because they're cool, and the brand name isn't plastered all over the frame, like with some brands. They're not as light as they appear in the photo. The photo does not do the sunglasses justice, but those are the sunglasses I bought. If they sold a similar pair of sunglasses at Target, I would have been all over those instead. The rest of my pay check is going towards moving expenses.

Hubbie and I signed up for a 5k run at Shelter Island on November 12, 2006. This is the 5k with a brunch right afterwards... You know I'm not going for a personal best, I'm going for the brunch at the end! Besides, my running the past month has been hit or miss. I did run a 10k distance run at the lake last Sunday, and that tanked... Danged asthma...

Now it's all about packing, packing, and more packing.

Peace

Face The Music

Thanks for playing "Name That Artist/Group/Band." Here's the recap of the month:

10/01/2006 Slow Ride - Foghat - Tom

10/04/2006 The Song Remains The Same - Led Zepplin

10/04/2006 Work To Do - Average White Band

10/06/2006 Do You Know The Way To San Jose? - Dionne Warwick - Barbie2Be

10/09/2006 One Way Or Another - Blondie - Shpprgrl

10/09/2006 Truckin' - Greatful Dead - Tom

10/18/2006 Takin' Care Of Business - Bachman Turner Overdrive - Tom

10/21/2006 Eight Days A Week - The Beatles - Katiefeldmom

10/25/2006 Humpty Dance - Digital Underground

10/27/2006 Yesterday - The Beatles

10/31/2006 This Is Halloween - Nightmare Before Christmas, The Citizens Of Halloween

Peace