Where Do You Go?

Activity: Run
Date: 04/18/09 07:48 AM
Distance: 11.51 miles
Time: 2:14:29
Speed: 5.1 mph
Pace: 11' 41 min/mile
Calories: 1107

This was almost a no brainer. We ran at the bay. I probably could have fit in another mile, but that would have meant running around the parking lot next to Sea World several times to fill in the distance. The stats say I ran 11.51 miles. I wasn't trying to shatter any records with my slowness. Ha. I'm so glad we opted out of running with the track club today because it would have been tough. I would have completed the mileage, but I would have been good for nothing afterward, and we have a full plate of home improvement items to take care of today.

The weather today is stellar. I didn't have the foresight to bring the good camera, because some of the flowers were just beautiful. Wild yellow daisies were everywhere, and the park & rec folks planted several drought tolerant plants that showed purple blooms. Maybe I'll go back with the good camera just for pictures. I did have my cell phone and did manage a few pictures, but they don't do the flowers or the bay any justice whatsoever...





After the run we visited our favorite dive for Halla (French) toast and Bloody Marys. One of the windows we sat next to was covered with stickers. Somehow, this one applies to how some of our non-running friends look at our running - they think we're psycho:


Yesterday's song:
Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go - Wham - Run-DMZ

PEACE

The Straight And Narrow Way

Yesterday morning was the track club's marathon pace run over at Hospitality Point. Everyone runs up and down a two mile stretch as many times as possible for two hours. They even set up a huge clock so we can at least get an idea of our two mile splits. I decided to take pictures for the track club instead of run since the ankle is still not quite right. Even though the run itself is rather boring, I kind of like this particular run because we get a chance to see everyone run, whether if it's side by side or in passing. I enjoyed taking pictures but I soon found out that a certain five year old boy had messed around with the settings on BOTH cameras I brought, and some of the shots on my back-up camera were over exposed - it took me a while to get the settings just right, and the other camera had pictures of things like nostrils, fingers, the ceiling, toys, video games, and such, but a lot of those pictures were locked, and the only way I could unlock those was to delete everything, and I already had taken several pictures of the runners. I was disappointed with the quality of some of the shots, especially off of the back-up camera, which seemed out of focus and grainy, but at least I was able to contribute something. Even though I had technical difficulties, I did get a few shots that I really liked:

Everyone is just starting out. Notice how fresh and happy everyone looks! That's AKA Alice on the far left side of the photo wearing the white track club t-shirt, black leggings, and a big smile.

My husband and Coleen running in to make mile four. There's usually a few more in their group but I think the Spring Break vacation had something to do with the many no-shows.

Four miles done!

Our fearless leader, Paul, giving out words of encouragement to everyone. "You make a difference!"

Before I forget:
The first couple of days of Spring were rather gray here. I had every intention of going outside and capturing what ever is left, besides weeds, in our backyard. I never made it out. My son brought these flowers in from our yard after mowing the lawn. I'm glad someone remembered.

Friday's song:
Superhero - Jane's Addiction

PEACE

The Beat Goes On

Around the end of January...
I had a tough time dealing with some personal issues, and needed to separate myself from blogging (and other on-line communities). I just didn't want to say too much, as it can be so easy to spill my guts on this type of medium. Part of it was my health, which was something I did not anticipate, and it's a chronic illness. It's not extremely serious, but just enough to mess with my psyche. I'll just leave it at that for now. Another reason for the break is that we were just so damn busy, and we still didn't complete everything...

I did keep a quick diary of a few things that happened in February:

2/4 - Sports Rehab. I'm amazed. I'm already running less gimpier than last week, but my therapist is making me do things that feels so unnatural. It's working. Went and waited for trial shoes for about an hour through the track club. I was lucky and ended up with Saucony Pro Grid Ride 2.

2/5 - Last day of meds for now! I hope I don't need those for a long time. 2.2 mile run in the neighborhood.

2/6 - Lactose free ice cream. Hooray!

2/7 - Overslept and missed the run with the track club. Ran 7 miles near Sea World instead. Post run breakfast at the High Dive.

2/9 Sports rehab. It took me about 45 minutes to get there due to the downpour of rain. Tough but good workout. Note to self - don't carb it up for dinner the night before rehab. I sweat like crazy...


2/10

2/12 Weird, splotchy hives over the past few days. Not sure what the trigger is. Might be the meds...

2/14 Ran over 8 miles with the track club. I splurged and bought our family a Wii for Valentine's Day. (We rarely splurge for Valentine's Day.) I also purchased Wii Fit, an extra stick and steering wheel, and Mario Cart -- Everyone is having fun with it.

2/15 I've just discovered an independent/co-op type grocery store near by that has a lot of organic foods I'm not allergic to. I'm trying rice cheese, soy whipped cream, coconut ice cream made without dairy, soy, or gluten, and a lime-ginger beverage.

2/18 I'm so sore and exhausted... Sports rehab. It's a good thing.

2/19 A blurb from Shape magazine:

“The International Journal of Obesity found that women taken in between 90 to 500 extra calories during the two weeks before their period. ‘Our research shows that a woman’s stomach empties about 25 percent faster in the two weeks before her period than it does in the weeks immediately following it,” says Ixchel Brennan…This may be due to a rise in the levels of the hormone progesterone right after ovulation.’”

2/21 Missed another long run. I hope to make up the run sometimes next week, provided the weather is kind.We're hosting a baby shower on the 22nd and there was no way we could run and be back home in time for the table and chairs delivery. We worked our butts off doing yard work, painting and cleaning and it still feels like we haven't put a dent in anything... Ever feel like bulldozing the entire yard and start from scratch? I wonder what it would take to get on one of those yard make-over shows on HGTV?

2/22 Baby shower



2/28 Ran with the track club in Coronado, about 11.8 miles in a little over 2 hours. Last year I ran this same route in about the same time, but ran 13 miles and change. I know, there's no looking back, really, but I sort of wonder if I'll be able to get back that strength and stamina to PR a half marathon? I have blisters on my feet for the first time in over a year.

By the way, that's my husband right behind me. I still ran further than he did, as he turned around on the run before I did. I still passed him up on the last mile, which surprised him, and it took every ounce of his being to catch up to me and pass me up with about 100 yards to go.

Today
March 1, 2009 ... Finally...
Spring is just around the corner, but we're having a very Spring-like day.

This tree will be in full bloom in about 2 to 3 weeks.

A good day to be outside!

Little things mean a lot...

Ripe!

Finding beauty in the weeds... Hmmm... Blog header?

Friday's song:
Cheap and Cheerful - The Kills - Barbie2be

Februrary 2, 2009's song:
Nothing Is Easy - Jethro Tull - She Do Run Run

PEACE

Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap

Today was the first Friday in three weeks that I haven't had to work. I spent my entire morning with my grandson. I thought it would be a good idea to get him outside for some gardening. He wasn't too excited with the idea of gardening at first so he went around the yard playing with his Hotwheels. I decided that he needed to get dirty, so I supplied him with a small hand shovel and a plastic flower pot. Needless to say, my grandson had a blast. before I knew it, he was lying in the dirt making dirt angels... It was great. It didn't occure to me to get pictures later on in the dirt discovery morning, but he was pretty well covered and quite happy with himself.






The best part about spening time with a 3 1/2 year old is that they look at things just a little bit differently. We're slowly working on getting the house in shape. Remember that the house is circa 1947ish and had nothing done to it 20 years prior to us moving in last year. The interiors are just about finished, for now, but the outside needs a decent paint job. My grandson pointed out this rust stain, just outside the sunroom door. He said "Mimi, he's sad. He's crying." I told him that we'll paint it soon and make it happy again.



While the little guy was enjoying the dirt, I was pulling some major weeds and overgrowth. The hot July 2006 temperatures and the freezing weather we had later on in December pretty much thrashed most of our plants, so we did almost nothing to keep anything going, so we're just like stating over. Amongst the weeds were signs of spring. The poppies that I had planted last year are coming back.



Today was some serious yard work. It was like doing several sets of squats, deadlifts, upright rows and tricep exercises. It's back to the "Yard-work Workout." I don't mess around. If I'm going to be digging in the dirt, it's going to be heavy duty. None of this picking little weeds with tweezers and my pinky finger extended business... I've got tools and I'm not afraid to use them.

Tomorrow I run. It's going to be in the 5 to 6 mile range, perhaps a little more. I'm in the zig-zagging phase right now, where one week I put in the longer mileage,and the next week I back off. Next week should be a 16 miler. The interesting part will be fitting in two 20 mile runs (in May) instead of just one.

Peace