so what's a runner to do when she starts the new year with an injury? crosstrain! on land and by water, i shall prevail!
the only local duathlon i was able to find was the tbr series in granite bay. it's the same race held on june 7, july 12, and august 2. a 1.5 km swim followed by a 10km run. on paper it looks easy, but i can't swim more than 1 lap and that's what, only 100 m? i've got to multiply that by 15 and then i have to run 6.2 miles? ha! ha! ha!
the first race is 6 months away, which gives me plenty of time. i'm hoping that my foot will be in good shape by then, especially considering i took most of november and all of december off. if not, i'll just tear my hair out and cry in a hole. but here's to hoping that because i'm not 30 yet, i'll heal up nice and fast ;)
my other "sporty" resolution for the year is to spin at least twice a week. it would kick ass if the spin bikes at our gym calculated mileage, but they don't. so i can only measure the frequency of my visits. the 6am class on tuesday and thursday work very well with my schedule. and there's an 8am class on saturday. so really, i have no excuses.
i wish i could schedule in at least a half marathon this year, but i don't want to be dumb. getting my foot back in proper running form is my first priority.
so that's it folks. pretty simple. 2008 is the year i go bi!
Monday, December 31, 2007
Sunday, December 30, 2007
525,600 minutes: how do you measure a year?
how can you measure whether the past year was a success or failure? and what's really more important, quantifying or qualifying? let's start by checking to see how i did on my resolutions:
1. run my first marathon! done and done!
2. run at least 2 half marathons. nope and nope! santa cruz was a no go for a variety of reasons and i never signed up for a second one.
3. run at least 3 days a week, every week. hahahahahahaha. um, no. this didn't happen either.
other non-running related goals. this year, i also want to:
1. learn to sew. nope.
2. pay off one of my credit cards. yup! and i paid off my car!
3. find steady employment, whether it be with my old company i'm freelancing for now or a new job here. technically yes.
4. live up to (or down to, i guess) the weight documented on my driver's license. not even for one minute was i the weight on my driver's license.
so out of 7 resolutions, i made good on only 3. less than half! does this make me a slacker? nah. am i too lenient on myself? nah. because i like taking the qualitative approach to measuring.
running that marathon makes up for missing those other two resolutions. i mean sweet jesus, i ran my first marathon! who cares that i didn't run all my training mileage? who cares that i didn't have any half marathons to practice? essentially, i ran my two half marathons during my one marathon! ;)
as for my non-running goals, i didn't learn to sew, but i did learn to cook better. if there were a sewing network on tv, i'd be all good with the sewing. and as for my weight and my current weightloss challenge, my feeling is this, if i really really really cared about being smaller, i would have manned up and lost the weight. as it was, i think i had other priorities. or maybe ive gotten complacent. either way, i'm not bummed that i'm not a size 4. i think this year, i'll just resolve to being smaller than i am right at this very second. or maybe not even make a resolution about my weight, which will be a first since, i don't know, 7th grade?
what else can i say about 2007?
if you've been reading my blog, you know 2007 was a big transition year for me. i came into it really trying not to pressure myself or expect too much. i was reeling from a horrible breakup from someone i wanted to spend the rest of my life with and was ridiculously emotional and unsure of how i would really handle the change. throughout the year, i had doubts about whether my move was smart. not so much the move itself, but the timing. but ultimately i knew i made the right decision. i came home to be closer to my family. and everyone knows, that you just don't know how much time you'll get with your loved ones. my little nephew knows my name, runs to me when i come to visit, cries when i leave, and is seriously, the coolest and smartest toddler around. i'm very happy i'm not just the crazy aunt he sees at holidays, but one that is around to influence his life on a regular basis.
i'm happy to be home, amongst my brothers and cousins, who to my surprise are totally grown and capable adult human beings! they aren't babies anymore! and as adults, they're pretty fun to be hang out with. i'm happy i'm home to be with them, to get to know their significant others, and watch them add to our family!
and then there are my parents. everyone said i'd go totally freakin' insane living with them again. there were bets placed on how soon i'd move out. and to my surprise, i've actually liked living at home again. i think we missed each other that much. i'm glad i'm home with my mom at night during the week, while my dad is at work. i'm glad i'm home to take them out to places they've never been, trying things they've never tried. i'm glad i'm here to drive them around to run their errands. i'm glad i'm here to just keep an eye on them. they're still relatively healthy and active, and i know that if i wasn't here they'd be ok. but they are getting older, and i'm happy to be here to help them when they need it. i know i can't live at home for forever, but this year hasn't been so bad, really. dare i say, my senior citizen parents are the best roommates i've ever had.
i've kept in touch with everyone back east that i wanted to. and it seems that in the year i've been gone, i haven't really missed much. that will change once my best friend has her baby in march, though. i will miss that. and i'll miss her shower. but i think i've gotten to a place where i think i'm ok with that. the hardest thing about my 20s was watching my friends couple off, get married, move out to the 'burbs, and now start to have kids. i was still "stuck" at the trying to couple off phase. it sucked so bad not having my girlfriends around to do the things we used to do. and it sucked trying to find new ones. i think i'm now at the point where i, a singleton, can co-exist in a world with couples and parents, and not have it feel so strange. and i've had a whole decade of learning to rely on myself.
the job-front has proved interesting. it's probably the area i put the least amount of effort in. many times during this year i was depressed about it and many times i felt guilty for not really wanting to do more. but i think i now have a better idea of what i want in my career and where to find those opportunities.
transition is always a weird place to be. throughout the year i always felt like i was missing something or someone. it felt like i had no home and it felt like all i had was the past. but now, after a year, i feel like i have my bearings and i can begin a future.
so here's to 2008! here's to turning 30!
1. run my first marathon! done and done!
2. run at least 2 half marathons. nope and nope! santa cruz was a no go for a variety of reasons and i never signed up for a second one.
3. run at least 3 days a week, every week. hahahahahahaha. um, no. this didn't happen either.
other non-running related goals. this year, i also want to:
1. learn to sew. nope.
2. pay off one of my credit cards. yup! and i paid off my car!
3. find steady employment, whether it be with my old company i'm freelancing for now or a new job here. technically yes.
4. live up to (or down to, i guess) the weight documented on my driver's license. not even for one minute was i the weight on my driver's license.
so out of 7 resolutions, i made good on only 3. less than half! does this make me a slacker? nah. am i too lenient on myself? nah. because i like taking the qualitative approach to measuring.
running that marathon makes up for missing those other two resolutions. i mean sweet jesus, i ran my first marathon! who cares that i didn't run all my training mileage? who cares that i didn't have any half marathons to practice? essentially, i ran my two half marathons during my one marathon! ;)
as for my non-running goals, i didn't learn to sew, but i did learn to cook better. if there were a sewing network on tv, i'd be all good with the sewing. and as for my weight and my current weightloss challenge, my feeling is this, if i really really really cared about being smaller, i would have manned up and lost the weight. as it was, i think i had other priorities. or maybe ive gotten complacent. either way, i'm not bummed that i'm not a size 4. i think this year, i'll just resolve to being smaller than i am right at this very second. or maybe not even make a resolution about my weight, which will be a first since, i don't know, 7th grade?
what else can i say about 2007?
if you've been reading my blog, you know 2007 was a big transition year for me. i came into it really trying not to pressure myself or expect too much. i was reeling from a horrible breakup from someone i wanted to spend the rest of my life with and was ridiculously emotional and unsure of how i would really handle the change. throughout the year, i had doubts about whether my move was smart. not so much the move itself, but the timing. but ultimately i knew i made the right decision. i came home to be closer to my family. and everyone knows, that you just don't know how much time you'll get with your loved ones. my little nephew knows my name, runs to me when i come to visit, cries when i leave, and is seriously, the coolest and smartest toddler around. i'm very happy i'm not just the crazy aunt he sees at holidays, but one that is around to influence his life on a regular basis.
i'm happy to be home, amongst my brothers and cousins, who to my surprise are totally grown and capable adult human beings! they aren't babies anymore! and as adults, they're pretty fun to be hang out with. i'm happy i'm home to be with them, to get to know their significant others, and watch them add to our family!
and then there are my parents. everyone said i'd go totally freakin' insane living with them again. there were bets placed on how soon i'd move out. and to my surprise, i've actually liked living at home again. i think we missed each other that much. i'm glad i'm home with my mom at night during the week, while my dad is at work. i'm glad i'm home to take them out to places they've never been, trying things they've never tried. i'm glad i'm here to drive them around to run their errands. i'm glad i'm here to just keep an eye on them. they're still relatively healthy and active, and i know that if i wasn't here they'd be ok. but they are getting older, and i'm happy to be here to help them when they need it. i know i can't live at home for forever, but this year hasn't been so bad, really. dare i say, my senior citizen parents are the best roommates i've ever had.
i've kept in touch with everyone back east that i wanted to. and it seems that in the year i've been gone, i haven't really missed much. that will change once my best friend has her baby in march, though. i will miss that. and i'll miss her shower. but i think i've gotten to a place where i think i'm ok with that. the hardest thing about my 20s was watching my friends couple off, get married, move out to the 'burbs, and now start to have kids. i was still "stuck" at the trying to couple off phase. it sucked so bad not having my girlfriends around to do the things we used to do. and it sucked trying to find new ones. i think i'm now at the point where i, a singleton, can co-exist in a world with couples and parents, and not have it feel so strange. and i've had a whole decade of learning to rely on myself.
the job-front has proved interesting. it's probably the area i put the least amount of effort in. many times during this year i was depressed about it and many times i felt guilty for not really wanting to do more. but i think i now have a better idea of what i want in my career and where to find those opportunities.
transition is always a weird place to be. throughout the year i always felt like i was missing something or someone. it felt like i had no home and it felt like all i had was the past. but now, after a year, i feel like i have my bearings and i can begin a future.
so here's to 2008! here's to turning 30!
Saturday, December 29, 2007
the ghoul pool
my new office? they're a little wacky. here's an example:
every year, they do a ghoul pool. right before the beginning of a new year, participants make up a list of 25 celebrities they think are likely to kick the can in the coming year. if someone on your list bites it, you get points. points are calculated by subtracting that celebrity's age from 100. the person who gets the most points at the end of the year wins $25 from each participant.
it's not a wish list, they keep saying. a little morbid, yet interesting, no?
i checked out the lists from last year. someone actually had anna nicole on their list. i didn't really think she was likely to pass. and a couple had bill walsh on their lists too. he's been off my radar since he stopped coaching the niners. i was also sad to see michael j. fox on everyone's list.
anyway, because i'm a follower, i've joined in. but i'm sorely behind on my celebrity news in regards to chronic illnesses etc. who should be on my list of 25 celebrities???
every year, they do a ghoul pool. right before the beginning of a new year, participants make up a list of 25 celebrities they think are likely to kick the can in the coming year. if someone on your list bites it, you get points. points are calculated by subtracting that celebrity's age from 100. the person who gets the most points at the end of the year wins $25 from each participant.
it's not a wish list, they keep saying. a little morbid, yet interesting, no?
i checked out the lists from last year. someone actually had anna nicole on their list. i didn't really think she was likely to pass. and a couple had bill walsh on their lists too. he's been off my radar since he stopped coaching the niners. i was also sad to see michael j. fox on everyone's list.
anyway, because i'm a follower, i've joined in. but i'm sorely behind on my celebrity news in regards to chronic illnesses etc. who should be on my list of 25 celebrities???
Wednesday, December 26, 2007
happy boxing day!
as much as i was ready for the holidays to be over, i'm still surprised at how fast it all went! i couldn't wait to see how my nephew would react to the gifts i got him 1. a tricked out tricycle that plays music, has a horn, blinkers that really light up, and 2. a thomas the train pop up tent! the thing is 5 feet tall! and i bought him a huge pack of 150 balls to fill it with! i don't know who had more fun, me and my brothers or the monchichi. luckily, the tent was also a cozy place to take a nap. as for the tricycle, his legs are just a smidge too short to reach the pedals (short legs run in the family), but i'm sure he'll be cruising along in no time!
and what did MH get me? a few "trinkets" from this fine sf institution and a trinket from the jewelry store. looks like i've been good.
the rest of my loot included cash, gift cards, and cashmere, so i'm pretty set!
in the days winding down to the end of the year, i'm getting myself organized. i reorgazined my closet: took an inventory of all the clothes i own, got rid of a large bag of stuff, and stowed the out of season stuff away neatly. i got rid of some furniture that wasn't at all useful and am now in the process of reorganizing my office. i have buttloads of papers to file, artwork to hang, and photos to organize. then i need to settle in and take stock of the past year and figure out what i want to make of the coming year. 2008 marks the big 3-0 for me, kids. the big 3-0.
and what did MH get me? a few "trinkets" from this fine sf institution and a trinket from the jewelry store. looks like i've been good.
the rest of my loot included cash, gift cards, and cashmere, so i'm pretty set!
in the days winding down to the end of the year, i'm getting myself organized. i reorgazined my closet: took an inventory of all the clothes i own, got rid of a large bag of stuff, and stowed the out of season stuff away neatly. i got rid of some furniture that wasn't at all useful and am now in the process of reorganizing my office. i have buttloads of papers to file, artwork to hang, and photos to organize. then i need to settle in and take stock of the past year and figure out what i want to make of the coming year. 2008 marks the big 3-0 for me, kids. the big 3-0.
Friday, December 21, 2007
what could it be?
yesterday, MH spent the day getting my christmas present. i am DYING to know what it is. he said he couldn't get it around here and had to make a special trip to sf to get it. and when i called him during the day he didn't want to answer because he didn't want me to hear what was going on in the background. and he says it's 4 things.
now supposing that all wasn't a ruse for him to get out with the boys to a strip club or anything (which would be totally gross because it would have been in the middle of the day, and no one wants to see the strippers who work the day shift), what in hades could he have gotten me?
and i'm over the cloud that plagued me last week. just in time for christmas! i can't wait for everyone to open what i got for them! i know christmas isn't just about the presents, but i see my extended family ALL the TIME. but it's not everyday i break the bank buying them stuff...oooooooh, i can't wait!
now supposing that all wasn't a ruse for him to get out with the boys to a strip club or anything (which would be totally gross because it would have been in the middle of the day, and no one wants to see the strippers who work the day shift), what in hades could he have gotten me?
and i'm over the cloud that plagued me last week. just in time for christmas! i can't wait for everyone to open what i got for them! i know christmas isn't just about the presents, but i see my extended family ALL the TIME. but it's not everyday i break the bank buying them stuff...oooooooh, i can't wait!
Monday, December 17, 2007
merry christmas, happy new year, and bah humbug!
so boys and girls, the holidays have finally got to me. my moodiness is at its peak ; i go from having tons of energy to none at all, from feeling super to feeling like crap. it's a combination of a lot of things really, and when i get this way i usually just try to stop fighting and just let the time pass.
my swim lesson was cancelled tonight, and my instructor will be on hiatus until jan 9. not that it matters, i haven't been in the pool since my lesson last week. don't ask me how long it's been since i've run. that just makes me want to cry. it sucks so much i don't even want to read about how great everyone else's workouts are going. i know, i'm a selfish bitch like that.
so i'm absolving myself of the guilt of things i haven't done and things i know i won't get around to doing before the year is done. it's all i can do to keep my sanity. don't tell me to get my fix of endorphins. i'm opting to hibernate instead.
so....in case i don't get back on here anytime soon, merry christmas and happy new year, my dear blogger buddies. i'll be back, don't worry. but in the meantime, run happy and be healthy!
Saturday, December 15, 2007
christmas meme
1. Wrapping paper or gift bag? wrapping paper! i've designed my own paper the last 6 years.
2. Real tree or artificial? artificial. we've always had an artificial tree. if i had my way, i'd decorate it once, and store it already decorated so i don't have to do it every year.
3. When do you put up your tree? it's still not up.
4. When do you take down your tree? can u tell i hate decorating the tree?
5. Do you like eggnog? never had it. looks nartsy.
6. Favorite gift received as a child? cabbage patch kid
7. Do you have a nativity scene? yes
8. Hardest person to buy for? my dad
9. Easiest person to buy for? my nephew
10. Worst Christmas gift you've ever received? i can't really think of one, actually. i guess that's a good sign i've been a good girl! :)
11. Mail or email Christmas cards? neither. i don't do christmas cards. my goal is to not stress myself out and if don't get to them, then i don't. and i never do!
12. Favorite Christmas movie? home alone!!!
13. When do you start shopping for Christmas? the week after thanksgiving
14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? nope. that's tacky!
15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? can i answer everything? my family does a huge potluck and everyone makes their signature dishes so EVERYTHING is good.
16. White or colored lights? always white.
17. Favorite Christmas song? traditional: oh holy night contemporary: all i want for christmas is you
18. Traveling for Christmas or stay home? now that i'm home, stay at home!!! travelling this time of year is hell!
19. Can you name all of Santa's reindeers? dasher and dancer and prancer and vixen. comet and cupid and donner and blitzen and rudolph!
20. Angel or Star on top of tree? angel
22. Most annoying thing about this time of year? other people's tacky xmas decorations: like when their lights aren't in sync. or don't match. or when people put like 20 inflatable decorations on their lawn. also, tacky christmas sweaters, jewelry, socks, and other accessories. blech.
23. What I love most about Christmas? childlike hope and wonderment. it's like we're all kids again and can dump our cynicism and just be happy about making other people happy.
so....consider yourselves tagged and hop to it!
2. Real tree or artificial? artificial. we've always had an artificial tree. if i had my way, i'd decorate it once, and store it already decorated so i don't have to do it every year.
3. When do you put up your tree? it's still not up.
4. When do you take down your tree? can u tell i hate decorating the tree?
5. Do you like eggnog? never had it. looks nartsy.
6. Favorite gift received as a child? cabbage patch kid
7. Do you have a nativity scene? yes
8. Hardest person to buy for? my dad
9. Easiest person to buy for? my nephew
10. Worst Christmas gift you've ever received? i can't really think of one, actually. i guess that's a good sign i've been a good girl! :)
11. Mail or email Christmas cards? neither. i don't do christmas cards. my goal is to not stress myself out and if don't get to them, then i don't. and i never do!
12. Favorite Christmas movie? home alone!!!
13. When do you start shopping for Christmas? the week after thanksgiving
14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? nope. that's tacky!
15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? can i answer everything? my family does a huge potluck and everyone makes their signature dishes so EVERYTHING is good.
16. White or colored lights? always white.
17. Favorite Christmas song? traditional: oh holy night contemporary: all i want for christmas is you
18. Traveling for Christmas or stay home? now that i'm home, stay at home!!! travelling this time of year is hell!
19. Can you name all of Santa's reindeers? dasher and dancer and prancer and vixen. comet and cupid and donner and blitzen and rudolph!
20. Angel or Star on top of tree? angel
22. Most annoying thing about this time of year? other people's tacky xmas decorations: like when their lights aren't in sync. or don't match. or when people put like 20 inflatable decorations on their lawn. also, tacky christmas sweaters, jewelry, socks, and other accessories. blech.
23. What I love most about Christmas? childlike hope and wonderment. it's like we're all kids again and can dump our cynicism and just be happy about making other people happy.
so....consider yourselves tagged and hop to it!
Thursday, December 13, 2007
diving in
the last place i took swimming lessons was at the Y in bethesda. and anyone who has been to a YMCA knows what it’s like. people everywhere! kids. seniors. families. babies. it can be pretty chaotic. but my membership was cheap, the pools were open yearround, and it was 5 minutes from my house.
my swimming experience tonight was worlds different.
my lesson was held in the outdoor pool that was enclosed by a huge tent-like dome. the only light came from inside the pool and because the pool was heated to 90 degrees, the dome became a huge steam room. it reminded me of the movie cocoon. but without the old people.
just me and my instructor, judy. my own private instructor and what felt like my own private pool. all for the low, low price of $30 a lesson. sweet!
i explained that i had 2 main goals: 1.improve my swimming skills so i can get a decent crosstraining workout. 2.develop swimming endurance to complete an aquathon/triathlon.
then she had me show her my butterfly, breaststroke, and freestyle. turns out i’m not as bad as i thought. and i felt better about my swimming once i was in the water doing it, rather than stressing about it. but obviously, i have a lot to work on. and a lot of upper body strength to build. moving water wround sure takes muscle! and don’t be surprised if my stomach is totally flat by valentines day. i could totally feel it in my abs by the end of my half hour lesson.
i left my lesson feeling totally renewed, refreshed, and rejevenated. i still miss running, but this is a fine replacement.
my swimming experience tonight was worlds different.
my lesson was held in the outdoor pool that was enclosed by a huge tent-like dome. the only light came from inside the pool and because the pool was heated to 90 degrees, the dome became a huge steam room. it reminded me of the movie cocoon. but without the old people.
just me and my instructor, judy. my own private instructor and what felt like my own private pool. all for the low, low price of $30 a lesson. sweet!
i explained that i had 2 main goals: 1.improve my swimming skills so i can get a decent crosstraining workout. 2.develop swimming endurance to complete an aquathon/triathlon.
then she had me show her my butterfly, breaststroke, and freestyle. turns out i’m not as bad as i thought. and i felt better about my swimming once i was in the water doing it, rather than stressing about it. but obviously, i have a lot to work on. and a lot of upper body strength to build. moving water wround sure takes muscle! and don’t be surprised if my stomach is totally flat by valentines day. i could totally feel it in my abs by the end of my half hour lesson.
i left my lesson feeling totally renewed, refreshed, and rejevenated. i still miss running, but this is a fine replacement.
Tuesday, December 11, 2007
HWC week 7: at least someone's following the rules
last week: 155
this week: 156
thanksgiving #2 finally caught up with me.
MH on the other hand has lost 5 pounds since last week. isn't it typical? a guy gives up soda for a week and boom! half a size smaller. i do have to give him credit though. for a guy who knows very little about nutrition, he's been very good at following the rules i set for him.
me on the other hand? i'm more of a "do as i say, not as i do" kind of teacher...
there is hope, though. swimming lessons start tomorrow!
this week: 156
thanksgiving #2 finally caught up with me.
MH on the other hand has lost 5 pounds since last week. isn't it typical? a guy gives up soda for a week and boom! half a size smaller. i do have to give him credit though. for a guy who knows very little about nutrition, he's been very good at following the rules i set for him.
me on the other hand? i'm more of a "do as i say, not as i do" kind of teacher...
there is hope, though. swimming lessons start tomorrow!
Monday, December 10, 2007
Friday, December 07, 2007
thursday night
the japanese sure make a good beer. it's been ages since i've had sushi. and even longer since i've had a taste of the kirin ichiban. i just love saying the name over and over. ichiban! ichiban! ichiban!this week has been a total wash in terms of workouts. instead of getting up early to go to the gym, i've been getting up early to work on freelance projects. then spending the day at my new job. after work, i've been shopping, doing baby shower invitations, and an assortment of other errands.
tonight should be pretty low key, so let's hope the forecasted rain doesn't prevent me from getting my arse to the gym.
Thursday, December 06, 2007
das boot
it came. i tried. it works! no heel pain in the morning, just like it promised. now, i'm not reinjuring myself everyday! and surprisingly, it was comfortable. my foot didn't sweat. i could move around freely in bed, while my foot stayed in the flexed position. so far, i give it 5 stars. and thanks to ebay, i got it for half off retail price.
i can't wait for my yogatoes to come in!
Wednesday, December 05, 2007
HWC week 6: thanksgiving miracle
last week: 156
this week: 155
it's got to be a thanksgiving miracle, because after the way i ate this weekend, there's NO way i should have dropped a pound. maybe it's from getting my hair cut?
this week: 155
it's got to be a thanksgiving miracle, because after the way i ate this weekend, there's NO way i should have dropped a pound. maybe it's from getting my hair cut?
Monday, December 03, 2007
it's the hormones talking...
i was never an athlete, so the idea of an "off-season" is new to me. the closest thing i had to an off-season was summer vacation, and being the nerd that i was/am, i usually spent that time working, volunteering, taking classes, and/or doing summer reading.
my self-diagnosed PF has forced me into an off-season, but all i can think about is what marathon i want to run next year. i'm just not motivated without a race. i'm an achievement-whore. i need something to hold me accountable. i need structure. running just for the heck of it doesn't work for me. so "exercising" aka crosstraining for the heck of it doesn't really work for me either. i need something by which to measure my progress. i need a formal event where i can pat myself on the back and say "good job you did this, here's your medal and free food". so going to the gym to ellipticize or kickbox doesn't hold the same urgency for me. yeah i signed up for the weightloss challenge, but even so, working out to lose weight isn't enough of a reason for me to work out. (this might be my hormones talking)
and since i don't know when my foot will be feeling better, i have no idea when i can start running again. it's gotten me pretty bummed. if i can't train for a race, i have absolutely no motivation to get my arse to do anything!
so then i got to thinking, how about a triathlon? then i started freaking out about the cost and work involved with a bike. then i started freaking out about the fact that i can't swim more than a lap without my lungs catching fire. then a million other thoughts raced in my head: what if i do want to go back to school? what if i do find another job? what if about a million other things...
i do want to do a triathlon, eventually. now is not the year.
BUT.
i did consider, seriously, a duathlon. a swim, run race! and there are three that exist next summer in the sacramento area, in june, july, and august. i am hoping that things aren't so bad with my foot that i won't be able to handle a 10k. i'm more worried about a 1.5k swim in open water.
BUT.
that will hopefully be remedied by swimming lessons. i've been playing phone tag with a couple people and hopefully i can connect with a real live honest person this week and start soon. don't get me wrong, you can throw me in water and i know enough to not drown. but to swim 1.5k?! ha! i'm hoping that my lessons will keep me motivated, and that increasing my distance and improving my technique in swimming will feed my desire for achievement long enough to heal my stupid foot.
so that's the long explanation of the plan, folks. and i've ordered some fun toys to help with speedy foot recovery. this and this. i know, you're jealous. but i'm sure i can talk MH into giving me a foot massage tomorrow night. he's good for that.
my self-diagnosed PF has forced me into an off-season, but all i can think about is what marathon i want to run next year. i'm just not motivated without a race. i'm an achievement-whore. i need something to hold me accountable. i need structure. running just for the heck of it doesn't work for me. so "exercising" aka crosstraining for the heck of it doesn't really work for me either. i need something by which to measure my progress. i need a formal event where i can pat myself on the back and say "good job you did this, here's your medal and free food". so going to the gym to ellipticize or kickbox doesn't hold the same urgency for me. yeah i signed up for the weightloss challenge, but even so, working out to lose weight isn't enough of a reason for me to work out. (this might be my hormones talking)
and since i don't know when my foot will be feeling better, i have no idea when i can start running again. it's gotten me pretty bummed. if i can't train for a race, i have absolutely no motivation to get my arse to do anything!
so then i got to thinking, how about a triathlon? then i started freaking out about the cost and work involved with a bike. then i started freaking out about the fact that i can't swim more than a lap without my lungs catching fire. then a million other thoughts raced in my head: what if i do want to go back to school? what if i do find another job? what if about a million other things...
i do want to do a triathlon, eventually. now is not the year.
BUT.
i did consider, seriously, a duathlon. a swim, run race! and there are three that exist next summer in the sacramento area, in june, july, and august. i am hoping that things aren't so bad with my foot that i won't be able to handle a 10k. i'm more worried about a 1.5k swim in open water.
BUT.
that will hopefully be remedied by swimming lessons. i've been playing phone tag with a couple people and hopefully i can connect with a real live honest person this week and start soon. don't get me wrong, you can throw me in water and i know enough to not drown. but to swim 1.5k?! ha! i'm hoping that my lessons will keep me motivated, and that increasing my distance and improving my technique in swimming will feed my desire for achievement long enough to heal my stupid foot.
so that's the long explanation of the plan, folks. and i've ordered some fun toys to help with speedy foot recovery. this and this. i know, you're jealous. but i'm sure i can talk MH into giving me a foot massage tomorrow night. he's good for that.
Saturday, December 01, 2007
thanksgiving, again
i'm at my brother's house with the rest of my immediate family, celebrating thanksgiving, again. my sis-in-law was away last week for a family emergency, so we're celebrating it again, now that she's back and her mother is doing much better.
last week, i was "good" on thanksgiving. this week will be a totally different story. my brother is cooking. my brother, the chef. 'nuff said, eh? so i figure, i may as well go whole hog! where's the beer?
then it's back in the saddle again on sunday.
i'm thankful for multiple thanksgivings........
last week, i was "good" on thanksgiving. this week will be a totally different story. my brother is cooking. my brother, the chef. 'nuff said, eh? so i figure, i may as well go whole hog! where's the beer?
then it's back in the saddle again on sunday.
i'm thankful for multiple thanksgivings........
Friday, November 30, 2007
taking the edge off
dudes! i have so much to do. and no desire to do any of it. but i want to be all clean and organized before i start my new job on monday morning. but i'm feeling cranky and lethargic. and i'm craving carbs DESPERATELY! i'm scared to give in because carbs only beget more carbs, but the gremlin inside needs to be fed. what will do the least amount of damage?
- caramel apple martinis?
- fudgy brownies?
- a heaping plate of pad thai?
Thursday, November 29, 2007
Tuesday, November 27, 2007
HWC: week 5
magically, i weighed in at 156 today. after a week of chips, beer, and no exercise followed by a week of watching what i eat (i had no pie whatsoever people. NO PIE! ON THANKSGIVING! isn't that illegal?) and no exercise, i'm up 1 pound from 2 weeks ago, but down 2 pounds overall...sounds good to me.
i'm off to a bad start on the exercise front, but tomorrow morning, i'm meeting my new trainer. MH. we made a deal, i help him with grocery shopping and his diet, and i give him permission to torture me at the gym twice a week. i get to nag, he gets to watch me sweat. fair deal.
and something that motivated me today: i was talking with a guest who just came in from a run. he's getting his ass back into shape for his annual physical for the air force. when he told me he was trying to lose weight i said, "but losing weight during the holidays is the hardest!" and he said, "but if you can do it now, you can do it any time." pretty smart. if you can lose weight during the holidays, when overindulgence is at its peak during the year, you're basically the badass of weight losers. and i always want to be the badass of something!
plus we'll all have a head start on all those people trying to fit into bikinis come june. shit by february, our valentines will be very happy we turned down all those desserts.
i'm off to a bad start on the exercise front, but tomorrow morning, i'm meeting my new trainer. MH. we made a deal, i help him with grocery shopping and his diet, and i give him permission to torture me at the gym twice a week. i get to nag, he gets to watch me sweat. fair deal.
and something that motivated me today: i was talking with a guest who just came in from a run. he's getting his ass back into shape for his annual physical for the air force. when he told me he was trying to lose weight i said, "but losing weight during the holidays is the hardest!" and he said, "but if you can do it now, you can do it any time." pretty smart. if you can lose weight during the holidays, when overindulgence is at its peak during the year, you're basically the badass of weight losers. and i always want to be the badass of something!
plus we'll all have a head start on all those people trying to fit into bikinis come june. shit by february, our valentines will be very happy we turned down all those desserts.
Monday, November 26, 2007
the design elves were here
thanks for all the positive comments about the design of my blog! since some of you asked about redesigning yours, i thought i'd offer some tips, if you're interested.
most of you know i'm a designer. but i'm a print designer, so i don't know any css or html or any of that other fancy-schmancy webcrap. that's why i use blogger. they've made it relatively easy to create a custom look on here, even within the confines of default templates, even without knowing what you're doing!
my template
my blog uses the rounders template. i chose this because it allows me to choose separate background colors for the header, sidebar, and main area. this gives you huge flexibility and control. you can go neutral, or bold, or coordinate with the holidays. you can show allegiance to your favorite sports team. or be inspired by the colors of your garden or what's hot in fashion. either way, you can customize it to your needs and update it as often as you want. right now, my sidebar and main area are both the same color, making it look like one big section.
my masthead
under TEMPLATE, go to PAGE ELEMENTS, and click on edit in the header area. you have 2 options: insert an image behind your blog title and description or replace the title and description entirely.
let's talk about the first option. instead of just a plain background color, you can insert an image. the default size for the header of this template is 720 x 156 pixels. so horizontal would be good. and keep in mind that your title will go over it. maybe go for a fun overall pattern or a photo with a lot of "white space" where the title will go. again, this function is as easy as clicking a button and uploading a picture, thereby making it easy to change, whenever you want.
my image replaces the title, giving me more control over the typography. i design all my mastheads in photoshop CS3. i am certain there are other programs out there that most non-designers use, but i don't really know of any. but i'm sure you all do. again, the size of the image needs to fit the default header size: 720 x 156.
getting fancy
i've recently figured out how to make my blog wider! i always thought the main area was too narrow, both proportionally and absolutely, so i did a search in HELP and came to this site which gave me step-by-step instructions. the HELP function in blogger really lives up to its name.
i've also found the HTML cheatsheet on webmonkey.com to be helpful.
also, if you like what you see on someone's blog, you can check out their code to see how they did it! in firefox, under VIEW, go to SOURCE CODE.
if you're worried that messing around with your template will screw things up, make a copy of your virgin template before you go messing around, just so you have it as a backup.
but not too fancy
and if you'll allow me a brief amount of time on my design soapbox. don't go too overboard! just because you can choose 10 different fonts to use throughout your blog, doesn't mean you should. my eyes will bleed and i will never read your blog again. and please remember the importance of hierarchy. if everything is important, nothing is important. don't make everything bold! and italic! and large! and bright! and blinky! and zoomy! pick 1 or 2 things to focus on, and let the rest support and compliment those important things.
but most importantly
have fun! as you can see, there's really not a lot to my custom-looking blog. just an image and a flexible template. so have at it! i can't wait to see what you guys come up with!
most of you know i'm a designer. but i'm a print designer, so i don't know any css or html or any of that other fancy-schmancy webcrap. that's why i use blogger. they've made it relatively easy to create a custom look on here, even within the confines of default templates, even without knowing what you're doing!
my template
my blog uses the rounders template. i chose this because it allows me to choose separate background colors for the header, sidebar, and main area. this gives you huge flexibility and control. you can go neutral, or bold, or coordinate with the holidays. you can show allegiance to your favorite sports team. or be inspired by the colors of your garden or what's hot in fashion. either way, you can customize it to your needs and update it as often as you want. right now, my sidebar and main area are both the same color, making it look like one big section.
my masthead
under TEMPLATE, go to PAGE ELEMENTS, and click on edit in the header area. you have 2 options: insert an image behind your blog title and description or replace the title and description entirely.
let's talk about the first option. instead of just a plain background color, you can insert an image. the default size for the header of this template is 720 x 156 pixels. so horizontal would be good. and keep in mind that your title will go over it. maybe go for a fun overall pattern or a photo with a lot of "white space" where the title will go. again, this function is as easy as clicking a button and uploading a picture, thereby making it easy to change, whenever you want.
my image replaces the title, giving me more control over the typography. i design all my mastheads in photoshop CS3. i am certain there are other programs out there that most non-designers use, but i don't really know of any. but i'm sure you all do. again, the size of the image needs to fit the default header size: 720 x 156.
getting fancy
i've recently figured out how to make my blog wider! i always thought the main area was too narrow, both proportionally and absolutely, so i did a search in HELP and came to this site which gave me step-by-step instructions. the HELP function in blogger really lives up to its name.
i've also found the HTML cheatsheet on webmonkey.com to be helpful.
also, if you like what you see on someone's blog, you can check out their code to see how they did it! in firefox, under VIEW, go to SOURCE CODE.
if you're worried that messing around with your template will screw things up, make a copy of your virgin template before you go messing around, just so you have it as a backup.
but not too fancy
and if you'll allow me a brief amount of time on my design soapbox. don't go too overboard! just because you can choose 10 different fonts to use throughout your blog, doesn't mean you should. my eyes will bleed and i will never read your blog again. and please remember the importance of hierarchy. if everything is important, nothing is important. don't make everything bold! and italic! and large! and bright! and blinky! and zoomy! pick 1 or 2 things to focus on, and let the rest support and compliment those important things.
but most importantly
have fun! as you can see, there's really not a lot to my custom-looking blog. just an image and a flexible template. so have at it! i can't wait to see what you guys come up with!
Sunday, November 25, 2007
mastering tables
check out the new tables in my sidebar! i've broken down my holiday weightloss challenge. and when viewed in this format, it looks like a piece o' cake, no?
and you'll notice that my workouts this week do not contain any running. that is because i am taking a 3 week break. the fourth week, i'll try again, just to get my legs used to running again for my 5K on the 23rd. i'll show up because i paid for it, but how things actually go that day remains to be seen.
as for my foot issues, i thank everyone for their advice. you've solidified everything i've read on the subject. i never had any foot issues until i started running. during half marathon training, it was my peroneous longus thingamajig. i got custom orthotics for both my running shoes and everyday shoes. i trained for my second half in those orthotics and they worked fine. i never got to race, but i never had the issues i did training the first time around.
then i started waiting tables. i used the everyday orthotics in my work shoes but still ended up with achy, sore feet. and during marathon training, i started noticing pain in my heels, mainly my right foot. towards the end of training, i thought for sure i wouldn't make it because of my feet, but whatever, you know i ran the mofo anyway.
i'm beginning to think the problem was maybe the orthotic in just my right shoe. so i bought a pair of those really expensive, ugly dansko clogs that chefs and nurses wear.
most. freaking. comfortable. pair. of. shoes. ever!
and i don't have to wear an orthotic. even after a whole day on my feet, they aren't sore or achy. the only thing i feel now is the persistent nagging right heel pain. i'm thinking maybe the running orthotic is ok because i only started having problems when using the normal orthotic (and adding mileage and waiting tables). i'm hoping that swapping out the clogs for the normal orthotic, not waiting tables, and treating my feet and calves with TLC will do the trick.
and then you never have to hear about my foot issues ever again.
and you'll notice that my workouts this week do not contain any running. that is because i am taking a 3 week break. the fourth week, i'll try again, just to get my legs used to running again for my 5K on the 23rd. i'll show up because i paid for it, but how things actually go that day remains to be seen.
as for my foot issues, i thank everyone for their advice. you've solidified everything i've read on the subject. i never had any foot issues until i started running. during half marathon training, it was my peroneous longus thingamajig. i got custom orthotics for both my running shoes and everyday shoes. i trained for my second half in those orthotics and they worked fine. i never got to race, but i never had the issues i did training the first time around.
then i started waiting tables. i used the everyday orthotics in my work shoes but still ended up with achy, sore feet. and during marathon training, i started noticing pain in my heels, mainly my right foot. towards the end of training, i thought for sure i wouldn't make it because of my feet, but whatever, you know i ran the mofo anyway.
i'm beginning to think the problem was maybe the orthotic in just my right shoe. so i bought a pair of those really expensive, ugly dansko clogs that chefs and nurses wear.
most. freaking. comfortable. pair. of. shoes. ever!
and i don't have to wear an orthotic. even after a whole day on my feet, they aren't sore or achy. the only thing i feel now is the persistent nagging right heel pain. i'm thinking maybe the running orthotic is ok because i only started having problems when using the normal orthotic (and adding mileage and waiting tables). i'm hoping that swapping out the clogs for the normal orthotic, not waiting tables, and treating my feet and calves with TLC will do the trick.
and then you never have to hear about my foot issues ever again.
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