Down but not out

This was supposed to be a "taper" week but I ran only once this week, so far. I ran a very comfortable 12K distance on Tuesday, but by Thursday I was sick. It's a cold that's going around but it really knocked me out. I have no energy to run or to even set foot in the gym to try something else like the recumbent bike. I'm feeling a little better as I type this entry, so I hope I can get in an easy run around my neighborhood tomorrow. Even though my weight is stable and normal, I feel like I weigh a ton. I don't do well being sedentary, even when I know it's better listen to my body and rest... I''ve been easing up on the carbs since I'm not doing much, and I've been drinking plenty of water... Sounds boring but I dislike being sick. Ugh!

Marathon article

Browsing through the San Diego UT I found this article about the RNR marathon and three first time marathoners. Do check out the link. I could relate, especially when they discussed aches and pains...

Hot in Las Vegas

Sitting out at the pool all day only turned into an hour... It was way too hot. 100+ degree heat and no shade just didn't cut it. The good thing about the Las Vegas trip is that I wasn't as bored as I thought I would be. It helped that there were some other non-architect people around as well. I did well with the eating and drinking and did not have to deal with hang overs, bloatedness or weight gain. I did fit in a 4 mile run on the treadmill at the Luxor gym. I dragged a little but I felt good that I did it. I also attended the convention and picked up a bazillion free pens and what ever else they had to give. Michael was like a kid in a candy store. He loves all the building supplies and shiny, new, state of the art materials and fixtures. We also walked up and down the strip in the evening, which is a long walk, but even though I got the 4 miler in that same day, I needed to keep moving. Even at midnight, it was still toasty outside. The newer casinos have state of the art filters and air conditioning systems, which helps with the smoke, but being a non-smoker, the smoke around me still made me feel as if I lit up myself. Only one person in our group was kind enough to ask if it was okay to light up. Nice guy. No other smoker in our group asked. Hmmmm. I didn't run today, even though I had planned to. I was exhausted, due to a late flight home. Tomorrow I have plans to visit the gym and get in a 40 minute run. I have "12 sleeps" left before the marathon. I restocked my MSM, but I need to hit up Costco for the Sam-e, as it's much less expensive there. The next couple of weeks are all about staying on track with out over training. I received my race number and corral number last week... Gotta chill. Nerves are starting to creep up. Gotta find that "Zen" state of being.

Ramblngs, rantings, etc...

Yesterday turned out to be a no run, no exercise day, but not intentionally. I played front desk person at work while the other staff memebers had a seminar in how to use a very high tech piece of optical equipment that takes retinal photos. Retinal photos used to be done with a special Poloriod type camera, which was adequate but it was a flat, 2 dimensional photo. This new, nifty (huge) piece of equiment shows several computerized layers into the eye, in which the doctors can check the health of the eye, and if the patient is having prolbems this can be a valuable tool in aiding a diagnosis. Without getting into a ton of optometric vocabulary or a long winded explanation, this high tech piece of equipment will be a time-saver for the doctors. Sorry, the name of this machine escapes my mind at the moment! Arrgh! After work, I took my 17 year old son, Erik, to get his hair cut. It's a miracle! He said he would get his hair cut, but not at my place, so I took him to a "hip" place in Hillcrest. Keep in mind that his hair resembled the rock and roll hair of the 1970's -- really long and bushy. Someone said he looked like a cross between Jim Morrison and Slash... His hair cut was somewhat of a dissapointment because the lady at the shop gave him a dutch boy 'fro... not a good look... It looked okay wet but when it dried out the volume of his hair took over... I guess she never cut super thick, wavy hair before. Today I'm taking him to my stylist to "fix" the unjustice... Other foibles? My daugher ran out of gas, the dog left an unpleasant surprise on the carpet, every other call at home was a soliciter, Erik forgot his cell phone -- and was at the "Star Wars" premier but waited in line with all the others that HAD to see it at the midnight show -- his friends kept calling his cell phone a few times to see where he was in line. Blah, blah, blah! The best thing about yesterday was the gorgeous weather and free lunch from the guy training the staff on the new equipment. Today I'm going out to the gym for a tempo run and, perhaps some abs exercises. Next, it's all about packing for Las Vegas for the AIA convention this week end. I actually do not want to partake in this trip because, as a non architect, I will be bored. The last time we went to Las Vegas for a business related function I was bored silly since there was no one to hang out with while everyone attended seminars, and I don't gamble. (I have this thing about loosing my money...) I couldn't hang out at the pool because it was February and rather cold. Maybe, this time, will be different. The weather is much warmer so, maybe the pool will be a good place to hang out with a good book, even by myself.