Almost one month after getting laid off as Project Coordinator for Jacobs ESTS, I am BACK in the working world. Today is my third day as the Distance Learning Coordinator in the Distance Learning and Professional and Continuing Studies Department of UAH.
All I have to say is SO FAR SO GREAT! I was very surprised to find something I actually wanted to do so shortly after losing my job. I feel as if the layoffs were just the kick I needed to get out of something I did not like and into something that will be a better fit.
The people here are wonderful. My supervisor is nice, funny, patient and helpful. I learn a ton of new things every day, and she is always willing to show me as much as I can take in. The other ladies (most are ladies, although there are a few guys as well) are the same. Everyone seems glad to have me aboard and I am treated as a member of the team already.
I really like the work so far and I find myself impatient to learn it all. My job will be to build the courses we offer online, to help students as they maneuver through their courses and programs, and to help instructors throughout the process as well.
My building and office are really nice. I don't think I have ever had such a spacious office. I have been encouraged to decorate it however I please, and I look forward to doing just that. This building has recently been redone and everything is fresh and new. I feel a little pampered by the new carpet and freshly painted walls, my very own printer, toilets that flush by themselves and hands-free sinks as well.
I am located close to my gym and close to the classes I will resume taking in the fall semester. It is an all around perfect fit for me, and I feel so amazingly blessed to be here. I look forward to coming every morning and the days seem to fly by. The atmosphere here is so different from where I've been that I just feel like basking in it.
So I am a working woman again and happily so. I am amazed and excited to be here. And now my lunch break is over and I am off to "surplus" to find some furniture for my office. Whoop!
Friday, July 30, 2010
Tuesday, July 27, 2010
Madison Maniacs
A year or so ago my sister decided to enter a program called No Boundaries. This program is sponsored by New Balance and organized by our local Fleet Feet store. The goal of this program is to train new runners and walkers to complete a 5k.
Julie (my sis) loved the program. She told me all about it, and I even joined her for some of the afternoon runs. When the program came around again, we volunteered to be coaches. Our first team was The Bobcats and we absolutely loved them. We made a ton of good friends and enjoyed helping them all reach their 5k goals. Our second team was called Inspiration and once again we made some wonderful friendships and enjoyed being a part of their running journey.
We took a few months off, but missed the program too much and now we are back. This time instead of coaching one of the Huntsville teams, we have our OWN Madison No Boundaries branch. I have named us the Madison Maniacs and our first training run will be next Tuesday, August 3.
I cannot WAIT to get started. I met several of our runners last night at the kick-off meeting and they are excited and hopeful. Some expressed nervousness, but I told them we would ease them into it and before they knew it, they'd be running 3 miles.
As a runner, I cannot adequately express how much I love helping others find and embrace their own running goals. The sport of running has brought so much to my life. From amazing, wild, crazy, hilarious, unbelievable experiences and accomplishments, to the enrichment of relationships such as that with my mom, my husband, my sis, and so many dear running friends (who will get their own blog post eventually).
Running has also given me a sense of self that I might not otherwise have. With my running goals and accomplishments comes a feeling of empowerment and the unwavering belief that I can do anything I set my mind to do. With that grows the desire to do more than what I have done before.
With the changes time brings, I find myself needing a way to figure it all out. Running provides a way to do that. It provides a calm consistency in my life. It keeps me fit. It makes me happy. It fulfills bits of me that long for more. When I run alone I allow my imagination to wander anywhere it wishes to go, and my prayers usually center around thankfulness. How could one NOT be thankful when outside, witnessing a beautiful sunrise while the lungs and legs and arms and heart do what I believe they were intended to do.
The reason I love the No Boundaries program is because I get to share the joy of running with people who want something running provides, but are not quite sure they can do it. This program uses coaches like me to show them that they can. Being a part of their journey and congratulating them at that 5k finish line is a truly wonderful, amazing, humbling feeling. I am blessed to be a part of it and I hope to continue acting as a coach as long as they will let me.
So if you, dear reader, are one of those people who desire to run but are unsure how to get started, find a local No Boundaries program or something like it. I believe you will find that you can and it will open up an whole new world of fun, friendship, accomplishment and strength.
And watch out for the Madison Maniacs. We are wild running fiends out to conquer the 5k and then, of course, the world.
Julie (my sis) loved the program. She told me all about it, and I even joined her for some of the afternoon runs. When the program came around again, we volunteered to be coaches. Our first team was The Bobcats and we absolutely loved them. We made a ton of good friends and enjoyed helping them all reach their 5k goals. Our second team was called Inspiration and once again we made some wonderful friendships and enjoyed being a part of their running journey.
We took a few months off, but missed the program too much and now we are back. This time instead of coaching one of the Huntsville teams, we have our OWN Madison No Boundaries branch. I have named us the Madison Maniacs and our first training run will be next Tuesday, August 3.
I cannot WAIT to get started. I met several of our runners last night at the kick-off meeting and they are excited and hopeful. Some expressed nervousness, but I told them we would ease them into it and before they knew it, they'd be running 3 miles.
As a runner, I cannot adequately express how much I love helping others find and embrace their own running goals. The sport of running has brought so much to my life. From amazing, wild, crazy, hilarious, unbelievable experiences and accomplishments, to the enrichment of relationships such as that with my mom, my husband, my sis, and so many dear running friends (who will get their own blog post eventually).
Running has also given me a sense of self that I might not otherwise have. With my running goals and accomplishments comes a feeling of empowerment and the unwavering belief that I can do anything I set my mind to do. With that grows the desire to do more than what I have done before.
With the changes time brings, I find myself needing a way to figure it all out. Running provides a way to do that. It provides a calm consistency in my life. It keeps me fit. It makes me happy. It fulfills bits of me that long for more. When I run alone I allow my imagination to wander anywhere it wishes to go, and my prayers usually center around thankfulness. How could one NOT be thankful when outside, witnessing a beautiful sunrise while the lungs and legs and arms and heart do what I believe they were intended to do.
The reason I love the No Boundaries program is because I get to share the joy of running with people who want something running provides, but are not quite sure they can do it. This program uses coaches like me to show them that they can. Being a part of their journey and congratulating them at that 5k finish line is a truly wonderful, amazing, humbling feeling. I am blessed to be a part of it and I hope to continue acting as a coach as long as they will let me.
So if you, dear reader, are one of those people who desire to run but are unsure how to get started, find a local No Boundaries program or something like it. I believe you will find that you can and it will open up an whole new world of fun, friendship, accomplishment and strength.
And watch out for the Madison Maniacs. We are wild running fiends out to conquer the 5k and then, of course, the world.
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| The Maniacal Coaches of the No Boundaries Madison Maniacs |
Monday, July 26, 2010
Old Yeller and the Mad Cyclist
The swim, however, had some surprises. We were swimming in a river and there was a current. It was also more crowded which meant swimmers were closer to me, bumped into me on occasion, and I was not fan of that. We swam from the dock out in a big horseshoe shape and back to the dock where there were two available ladders for us to climb to get out of the water.
My swim was all over the place. I couldn't get my rhythm, I couldn't catch my breath and then right at the end, I sucked in a mouthful of water which made breathing even harder. The sun was in my eyes so every time I popped up to make sure the current was not carrying me off course, I could hardly see where I was supposed to be going.
In spite of everything, I made it out of the water just fine and jogged to the transition area. I was relieved to be out of that water and able to catch my breath! It felt so good to be on my bike. It seems so strange to feel that way when I am still relatively new. It felt familiar, and things started to feel more enjoyable once I got going.
As usual, at the beginning of the riding portion, there was a lot of passing. I usually get passed quite a bit, so I try to find my place and stay to the right so the other cyclists can go around me easily. I do pass some riders, however, and I try to do that as quickly as possible - per the 15 second rule the race directors explained to us.
I rode along, enjoying the coolness of the wind against my wet skin, getting used to the rhythm and picking up speed. The course had some hills, but they were much more gentle than most of the rides I'd been on, and I didn't slow down as much when climbing as I usually do. Around mile 4 I passed a small group of cyclists. Once I had passed them I glanced back and then moved back over to the right. A girl about 2 bike lengths behind me yelled something at me. I have no idea what she said, but I certainly received a nasty "On your left!" when she passed me again.
I had no idea what that was about. Passing is certainly an acceptable occurrence. While the rules state that as soon as my front wheel is in front of your front wheel I have the right of way, I always make sure the rider behind me has plenty of room before I move back over to the right. If I'm going to pass, I alert my fellow cyclist and make it snappy.
So I didn't understand what I'd done to upset her, but I didn't think yelling was the appropriate response. So, as any good competitor would do, I decided it was ON. I began to refer to her in my head as "Old Yeller" (although I had a less kind name at first) and I decided Old Yeller needed to go down. Not literally as in fall off her bike, but as in get left in my dust.
Only, I had no idea how much dust I could actually leave behind. I meant to give it a shot, though. I passed her once more with a vengeance, pedaling like a mad woman up a hill and then I switched my gears and pedaled like a mad woman all the way down. Now that I was in front, I intended to stay there. Which meant lots and lots of crazy pedaling. No rests when riding down hill, harder gears, whatever it took.
I rode like a mad cyclist on a mission. My legs were burning, but I figured it was probably good for them. I was able, at my mad cycling speed, to pass several others and every time someone passed me, I gave them a quick glance to make sure it wasn't Old Yeller.
I never saw Old Yeller again. Once off my bike, I got a quick sip of Powerade, took off my helmet and my cycling shoes, threw on my visor and my racing flats, and off I went. Still like a mad cyclist only without the wheels.
As I've stated before, being a runner in a triathlon has its advantages. It may take my legs a moment to get used to the new activity, but once they do, they are on familiar territory and ready to go. The run had some MAJOR hills. No gentleness here, they were steep and long. I wasn't running very quickly, but I was still running and I passed several walkers. It was a confidence boost to say the least. In road races, I usually get in a pack and we all run together. I rarely catch and pass anyone, especially in a 5k. Triathlons, however, are a different story and there are athletes of all kinds, many who do not like the running portion of the race.
I finished my run in exactly 26 minutes. When the results were posted, I realized I had taken 2 minutes off my last triathlon time and I was thrilled. I don't know exactly how long my swim took, but I'm sure it was slower while my ride was 5 minutes faster and my run was about the same. I finished in 1:30, 5th place in my age group out of 23. I was pleased with the day's efforts. I visited all the snack tents, drank an entire bottle of water, and then went to cheer for Jason as he finished his event.
As for Old Yeller, I never did see her again. I explained the situation to Jason and he wasn't sure what could have caused her to get angry either, but I should probably be grateful. If it hadn't been for her, I never would have ridden like a mad cyclist and pushed as hard as I did. So thank you, Old Yeller, whoever you are, for the extra push. It was just what I needed.
Friday, July 23, 2010
The Other "R" Word in My Life
When I started this blog, I wasn't sure if I wanted it to be a little of everything or themed. As you can see, I chose themed, and went with a running blog (although I do let other subjects sneak in from time to time). I've seen so many fun and interesting blogs that talk about a little of everything - music, books, cooking, politics, etc. and I really like those. But I'm not so well rounded. I'm a pretty simple girl. I like running, good books, good coffee, my pup and my husband most of the time, and a few other people or things. It's simple and I like it that way.
Still, a side of me that is almost as big as the running side is the reading side. I have been an avid reader from the moment I knew how. In college I majored in English, not because it would prepare me for some great career (it did not and will not so be warned fellow lovers of the written word), but because I loved to read and write. I was exposed to books I loved and books I hated. When I graduated and began to work I felt like the sky was the limit. Not only did I have all the free time in the world to read, I had a paycheck to fund it as well! (Yes, I know there are such things as libraries, but I liked to OWN my books when I could afford to.)
I love perusing the book store to find the perfect book to take home with me and then getting totally lost in it. I love books of all kinds too, so you never know exactly what I am going to bring home. I'm kind of a snob, though, and I like to believe I have good taste. If an author cheeses me out, frustrates or annoys me by their writing, their plot, or stupid characters, I'm done with them. If a fellow reader suggests one of these authors, I know not to take book suggestions from that person in the future.
Recently I finished two great books. One was The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo and the other was Born to Run. These two books are totally different, and while I would certainly recommend Born to Run to all my running (and even non-running) friends, I hesitate with the first one. While it is good writing and the author succeeds in pulling the reader in so strongly that it is hard to get out until finished, it has a lot of content that I could have personally done without (and yet, I am in the midst of the second book...so you see what I mean).
Upon finishing these two books, however, I revisited a series from my childhood. I am not sure what made it come to mind - maybe the fact that my sister and I are working on a children's book series ourselves - but once I thought of it, I had to read it. This book was my very first chapter book. My mom read it to me and then I read it to myself. Once I'd completed it, my reading took off and I would read anything I could get my hands on.
But back to the book. I had mentioned this book to my mom and my sister recently, asking if they remembered it. I told them I wanted to read it again myself. When I got laid off from work, they got part of the series for me.
The book is Bunnicula by James and Deborah Howe. Have you read it? If not, you must. I recently finished the four books Mom and Julie gave me, and they were SUCH a pleasure to read. First of all, they are hilarious. The story is told by the family dog, Harold. The main characters are Harold the dog, Chester the cat, their family and eventually Howie the Dachshund puppy. And, of course, Bunnicula the vampire bunny.
I don't know how many times I laughed out loud at the personalities and antics of Harold, Chester and the family. I have loaned the first book Bunnicula to my niece in hopes that she too will enjoy it as much as I did, so I cannot provide any direct quotes from that one, but I do have one from another book that I want to share.
From the book Bunnicula Strikes Again:
What is happening is Chester, Harold and Howie are out looking for Bunnicula's mom, which Chester has decided is going to show up, create more vampire bunnies, and take over the world. They find themselves in an alley and they are approaching something moving, which they can see is black and white (the colors of Bunnicula).
"I'm going in for a closer look," said Chester. "Cover me."
"Okay," Howie said. "Do we have a blanket, Uncle Harold?"
"I don't think that's what Chester had in mind."
"Oh."
Howie takes everything and I mean EVERYTHING literally. James Howe keeps this consistent throughout the books and it is hilarious. As you may have guessed, the creature they were approaching was not Bunnicula's mother, but a skunk. Howie and Harold get sprayed and when they get home to their family (the Monroes), they are bathed thoroughly in tomato juice. Howie's humor coincides with that of Chester who is paranoid and sees the absolute worst in every situation. He is always coming up with plans and schemes that will save the Monroes and eventually the world. Harold is a big. lumbering dog who enjoys naps and meal time and these are the things constantly on his mind. His commentary throughout the story has me cracking up with the turn of each page.
I really could go on and on, but I don't think my review should be as long as the books themselves. I will end by saying that enjoyment can be found in these gems by kids and adults alike. Invest in the series. You won't regret it.
These books can be found on amazon.com and in most bookstores. A list of all the titles in the Bunnicula Series, as well as a list of all books by James Howe can be find inside on the first page.
Still, a side of me that is almost as big as the running side is the reading side. I have been an avid reader from the moment I knew how. In college I majored in English, not because it would prepare me for some great career (it did not and will not so be warned fellow lovers of the written word), but because I loved to read and write. I was exposed to books I loved and books I hated. When I graduated and began to work I felt like the sky was the limit. Not only did I have all the free time in the world to read, I had a paycheck to fund it as well! (Yes, I know there are such things as libraries, but I liked to OWN my books when I could afford to.)
I love perusing the book store to find the perfect book to take home with me and then getting totally lost in it. I love books of all kinds too, so you never know exactly what I am going to bring home. I'm kind of a snob, though, and I like to believe I have good taste. If an author cheeses me out, frustrates or annoys me by their writing, their plot, or stupid characters, I'm done with them. If a fellow reader suggests one of these authors, I know not to take book suggestions from that person in the future.
Recently I finished two great books. One was The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo and the other was Born to Run. These two books are totally different, and while I would certainly recommend Born to Run to all my running (and even non-running) friends, I hesitate with the first one. While it is good writing and the author succeeds in pulling the reader in so strongly that it is hard to get out until finished, it has a lot of content that I could have personally done without (and yet, I am in the midst of the second book...so you see what I mean).
Upon finishing these two books, however, I revisited a series from my childhood. I am not sure what made it come to mind - maybe the fact that my sister and I are working on a children's book series ourselves - but once I thought of it, I had to read it. This book was my very first chapter book. My mom read it to me and then I read it to myself. Once I'd completed it, my reading took off and I would read anything I could get my hands on.
But back to the book. I had mentioned this book to my mom and my sister recently, asking if they remembered it. I told them I wanted to read it again myself. When I got laid off from work, they got part of the series for me.
The book is Bunnicula by James and Deborah Howe. Have you read it? If not, you must. I recently finished the four books Mom and Julie gave me, and they were SUCH a pleasure to read. First of all, they are hilarious. The story is told by the family dog, Harold. The main characters are Harold the dog, Chester the cat, their family and eventually Howie the Dachshund puppy. And, of course, Bunnicula the vampire bunny.
I don't know how many times I laughed out loud at the personalities and antics of Harold, Chester and the family. I have loaned the first book Bunnicula to my niece in hopes that she too will enjoy it as much as I did, so I cannot provide any direct quotes from that one, but I do have one from another book that I want to share.
From the book Bunnicula Strikes Again:
What is happening is Chester, Harold and Howie are out looking for Bunnicula's mom, which Chester has decided is going to show up, create more vampire bunnies, and take over the world. They find themselves in an alley and they are approaching something moving, which they can see is black and white (the colors of Bunnicula).
"I'm going in for a closer look," said Chester. "Cover me."
"Okay," Howie said. "Do we have a blanket, Uncle Harold?"
"I don't think that's what Chester had in mind."
"Oh."
Howie takes everything and I mean EVERYTHING literally. James Howe keeps this consistent throughout the books and it is hilarious. As you may have guessed, the creature they were approaching was not Bunnicula's mother, but a skunk. Howie and Harold get sprayed and when they get home to their family (the Monroes), they are bathed thoroughly in tomato juice. Howie's humor coincides with that of Chester who is paranoid and sees the absolute worst in every situation. He is always coming up with plans and schemes that will save the Monroes and eventually the world. Harold is a big. lumbering dog who enjoys naps and meal time and these are the things constantly on his mind. His commentary throughout the story has me cracking up with the turn of each page.
I really could go on and on, but I don't think my review should be as long as the books themselves. I will end by saying that enjoyment can be found in these gems by kids and adults alike. Invest in the series. You won't regret it.
These books can be found on amazon.com and in most bookstores. A list of all the titles in the Bunnicula Series, as well as a list of all books by James Howe can be find inside on the first page.
Monday, July 19, 2010
Trail Running
Saturday evening after the Twilight 5k, I was talking with a friend named Christy (not the Kristi from the 15 mile run last week) about ultra training. She has run all sorts of crazy distances, her biggest being the Heartland 100, which she plans to do again this year. As we were talking she told me that she, Linda and Glenn would be running trails the next morning and she invited me along.
I haven't run trails since...well, I'd say the winter but there was that crazy Cahaba River Ramble a few weeks ago where I had an ankle mishap...but other than that it has been a while. I really like trail running, but I only go when getting ready for a trail race of some sort, and I usually sprain my ankle at least once while training for each trail event.
I think I would prefer trail running to road running if it were more accessible. As it stands, I live in the suburbs surrounded by more suburbs, and it is easier for me to step out the front door and run down the road than to get in the car and drive 25 minutes to the trails of Monte Sano. That is one of the things I love about running. You can get dressed, walk outside and go.
I think the ankle issues I have are due to two, maybe three things. The first is the fact that my right ankle is weak from a big, fat sprain when I was 17. That story another time. Since then it doesn't take much for me to sprain it. The second reason is that I so rarely run trails so my ankles, shins, and calves don't really have opportunity to build trail running strength. Even when training for an event I run a few trails, run my event, and return to the roads shortly after - just as my legs and feet may be getting used to the new terrain.
The third possible reason is my shoes. I purchased a pair of Asics trail running shoes about 3 years ago and I use those same shoes when hitting the trails. Because I seldom use them, I haven't invested in another pair. I know the purpose of a trail shoe is to protect the feet from rocky terrain and to give stability to ankles on uneven ground. After all of these sprains, however, I'm beginning to wonder if I need something softer and more flexible so that my feet actually know what they are doing and where they are landing with each step.
It is just a theory, but I sort of tested it out Sunday morning. I joined the girls and Glenn for a jaunt on the trails, and I wore my regular running shoes. I also tried to take smaller and lighter steps...as much as it is possible to do so.
Most of the trails on Monte Sano are not the friendliest. They are rocky, hilly, uneven, narrow - you name it. I think the more avid trail runners here call them "technical." Either way, my little test was a success. My feet felt lighter than they do in trail shoes. Despite the softer sole, I felt I had more stability simply because there wasn't so much hard rubber between my foot and the trail itself. I had a blast running with some new running buddies and I quizzed them on their trail shoe of choice. They all had different choices, of course.
Today, I will admit that my feet, ankles and shins are a bit sore. Nothing debilitating, as I was able to enjoy a 6 mile run with the girls this morning, but I can feel the soreness as I move around. I'm hoping to hit the trails with these friends at least once a week if I can manage it to get myself ready for my big event...which I think I have settled on as taking place in October...on trails. And I may even go to our local Fleet Feet store and see what kind of trail shoes they offer.
Any trail shoe suggestions are most welcome, of course, as I try to incorporate trail running into my weekly routine a bit more.
I haven't run trails since...well, I'd say the winter but there was that crazy Cahaba River Ramble a few weeks ago where I had an ankle mishap...but other than that it has been a while. I really like trail running, but I only go when getting ready for a trail race of some sort, and I usually sprain my ankle at least once while training for each trail event.
I think I would prefer trail running to road running if it were more accessible. As it stands, I live in the suburbs surrounded by more suburbs, and it is easier for me to step out the front door and run down the road than to get in the car and drive 25 minutes to the trails of Monte Sano. That is one of the things I love about running. You can get dressed, walk outside and go.
I think the ankle issues I have are due to two, maybe three things. The first is the fact that my right ankle is weak from a big, fat sprain when I was 17. That story another time. Since then it doesn't take much for me to sprain it. The second reason is that I so rarely run trails so my ankles, shins, and calves don't really have opportunity to build trail running strength. Even when training for an event I run a few trails, run my event, and return to the roads shortly after - just as my legs and feet may be getting used to the new terrain.
The third possible reason is my shoes. I purchased a pair of Asics trail running shoes about 3 years ago and I use those same shoes when hitting the trails. Because I seldom use them, I haven't invested in another pair. I know the purpose of a trail shoe is to protect the feet from rocky terrain and to give stability to ankles on uneven ground. After all of these sprains, however, I'm beginning to wonder if I need something softer and more flexible so that my feet actually know what they are doing and where they are landing with each step.
It is just a theory, but I sort of tested it out Sunday morning. I joined the girls and Glenn for a jaunt on the trails, and I wore my regular running shoes. I also tried to take smaller and lighter steps...as much as it is possible to do so.
Most of the trails on Monte Sano are not the friendliest. They are rocky, hilly, uneven, narrow - you name it. I think the more avid trail runners here call them "technical." Either way, my little test was a success. My feet felt lighter than they do in trail shoes. Despite the softer sole, I felt I had more stability simply because there wasn't so much hard rubber between my foot and the trail itself. I had a blast running with some new running buddies and I quizzed them on their trail shoe of choice. They all had different choices, of course.
Today, I will admit that my feet, ankles and shins are a bit sore. Nothing debilitating, as I was able to enjoy a 6 mile run with the girls this morning, but I can feel the soreness as I move around. I'm hoping to hit the trails with these friends at least once a week if I can manage it to get myself ready for my big event...which I think I have settled on as taking place in October...on trails. And I may even go to our local Fleet Feet store and see what kind of trail shoes they offer.
Any trail shoe suggestions are most welcome, of course, as I try to incorporate trail running into my weekly routine a bit more.
Saturday, July 17, 2010
Adventures in Unemployment Land
I have a sneaking suspicion that my time as an unemployed individual may be short lived. This is a huge blessing, of course, but in truth I believed it would take much longer. Now that I suspect UAH may be contacting me with a job offer before too much longer, I am trying to enjoy this free time as much as I can.
Thursday morning I did a 15 mile run with my friend, Kristi, and we hit some HARD Huntsville hills. She is a training partner who is always game for whatever I come up with, and so when I tell her I've got a plan and I need some hard hill work in the midst of a long run, she's ready to go. I did threaten at one point not to be her friend anymore as we ran down a steep hill I knew we were going to turn around and climb, but when we triumphantly reached the top, I decided we could stay friends after all.
After my run I came home, showered, and rested until a lunch with my friend Katherine at Moe's. We had quesadillas with steak, cheese and beans in them and that was the perfect post-long-run meal, not to mention the catching-up and conversation to be enjoyed.
Next I rushed back over to my side of town for a No Boundaries meeting at the Wellness Center. My sister and I will be coaching the Madison Branch of this program starting in August, and I am so excited about it. The Wellness Center will act as our host, providing speakers and a weight training course for all runners. I cannot wait to get started.
After that, I headed home to do a few chores and get dinner started. Since I had plenty of time, I decided I would tackle, for the first time ever, banana bread. This is one of my all time favorite breads, but I have never made it myself (which isn't shocking knowing me and my kitchen skills). SUCCESS! Absolute complete success. Crispy on the outside, moist but not gooey on the inside. I was extremely surprised and pleased...as you can see.
After the banana bread I made honey mustard chicken and steamed broccoli for dinner, which was also a success. You may call me Martha.
Friday morning I went for a walk with my sister and then came home to see Jason off to work, run a quick 3 miler, and get ready to go to Marathon Mountain. Julie picked me up around 10:00, we went to Fleet Feet to sign up for the Twilight 5k (which we will run tonight) and then off to Fayetteville to have lunch with Mom and Dad, and Mom's sisters.
Mom wanted to show us her newest hobby - the turtle pen. She and Dad made a turtle pen and Mom has been filling it with turtles she's found on her land and during her runs through the country. She now has a total of ten turtles. She feeds them fresh fruit, veggies and dog food every day, and she even has 3 turtle eggs to show for her efforts.
She lines them up and commands them to eat what and when she says. And most of the time they do it. Who wouldn't? She can be quite formidable.
This is Baby, the tiniest of the lot. He is kept in a small cage at the edge of the pen because Mom loses him and will spend hours trying to find him amidst the rocks, strawberry plants, and the small homemade pond in the larger pen.
Julie dropped me off at home a little after 4:00 and I went for one more 3 miler before dinner and relaxation with Jason. He made homemade blonde brownies (with chocolate chips in mine) and we watched Collateral before hitting the sack after a fun, full day.
Now it is Saturday morning and we are both lounging around a bit before going for a run, going for a bike ride, and racing this evening at the Twilight 5k. I'm not exactly sure what next week will bring. Maybe a call from UAH, maybe a new office, new hours and a paycheck. Maybe a few more days of freedom before I return to the land of the employed. I look forward to being there, of course, but I can't say I won't look back at these days full of whatever I decide to do, and sigh now and again. They've been just great.
Thursday morning I did a 15 mile run with my friend, Kristi, and we hit some HARD Huntsville hills. She is a training partner who is always game for whatever I come up with, and so when I tell her I've got a plan and I need some hard hill work in the midst of a long run, she's ready to go. I did threaten at one point not to be her friend anymore as we ran down a steep hill I knew we were going to turn around and climb, but when we triumphantly reached the top, I decided we could stay friends after all.
After my run I came home, showered, and rested until a lunch with my friend Katherine at Moe's. We had quesadillas with steak, cheese and beans in them and that was the perfect post-long-run meal, not to mention the catching-up and conversation to be enjoyed.
Next I rushed back over to my side of town for a No Boundaries meeting at the Wellness Center. My sister and I will be coaching the Madison Branch of this program starting in August, and I am so excited about it. The Wellness Center will act as our host, providing speakers and a weight training course for all runners. I cannot wait to get started.
After that, I headed home to do a few chores and get dinner started. Since I had plenty of time, I decided I would tackle, for the first time ever, banana bread. This is one of my all time favorite breads, but I have never made it myself (which isn't shocking knowing me and my kitchen skills). SUCCESS! Absolute complete success. Crispy on the outside, moist but not gooey on the inside. I was extremely surprised and pleased...as you can see.
After the banana bread I made honey mustard chicken and steamed broccoli for dinner, which was also a success. You may call me Martha.
Friday morning I went for a walk with my sister and then came home to see Jason off to work, run a quick 3 miler, and get ready to go to Marathon Mountain. Julie picked me up around 10:00, we went to Fleet Feet to sign up for the Twilight 5k (which we will run tonight) and then off to Fayetteville to have lunch with Mom and Dad, and Mom's sisters.
Mom wanted to show us her newest hobby - the turtle pen. She and Dad made a turtle pen and Mom has been filling it with turtles she's found on her land and during her runs through the country. She now has a total of ten turtles. She feeds them fresh fruit, veggies and dog food every day, and she even has 3 turtle eggs to show for her efforts.
She lines them up and commands them to eat what and when she says. And most of the time they do it. Who wouldn't? She can be quite formidable.
This is Baby, the tiniest of the lot. He is kept in a small cage at the edge of the pen because Mom loses him and will spend hours trying to find him amidst the rocks, strawberry plants, and the small homemade pond in the larger pen.
Julie dropped me off at home a little after 4:00 and I went for one more 3 miler before dinner and relaxation with Jason. He made homemade blonde brownies (with chocolate chips in mine) and we watched Collateral before hitting the sack after a fun, full day.
Now it is Saturday morning and we are both lounging around a bit before going for a run, going for a bike ride, and racing this evening at the Twilight 5k. I'm not exactly sure what next week will bring. Maybe a call from UAH, maybe a new office, new hours and a paycheck. Maybe a few more days of freedom before I return to the land of the employed. I look forward to being there, of course, but I can't say I won't look back at these days full of whatever I decide to do, and sigh now and again. They've been just great.
Wednesday, July 14, 2010
2nd Cup, 2nd Interview
I think that is a good sign. I remain hopeful. I'm trying, however, to continue leaving this whole process in God's hands. I've let him know I would like to have this job, but if He has something better in mind, I'm willing to wait. And it isn't like I'm suffering. On the contrary, I have truly enjoyed all of this free time. Time to write, to read, to think, to run, to rest, to nest, to organize, to arrange, to visit, to wander.
I have a new outfit to wear to my interview that I believe is sassy and professional. I like to tell myself from time to time that I am going to be one of those women who always looks cute and put together. A woman who accessorizes and has her nails manicured to perfection. A woman whose hair is stylish and whose eyebrows are always neat and orderly. The truth of the matter, however, is that I will always be a woman who yearns for her loose capris and soft t-shirts...and that is probably more easy on the wallet, anyway.
But today I will be the sassy, well put-together professional (although I don't have time to do anything with the nails and it was raining yesterday when I went shopping so I didn't look for any accessories to go with my new outfit, and my eyebrows could use a bit more attention....).
Tuesday, July 13, 2010
I Closed Down Georgia 400!
That is what the t-shirt says, anyway. In truth, we (Jason, myself, and a ton of other cyclists) only closed down a mile of it for about 30 minutes. Still. It is a big highway.
Jason and I are on a streak. It is the event-every-weekend-streak. It started out as an accident, but once I realized what we'd done, I told Jason we should see how long we could hold it. So he did a little searching online and found an event for us to do. We entered the Hospitality Highway Century in Roswell, Georgia. I would be doing the metric and Jason was doing the full 100 mile ride.
This was kind of big for me since the most I had ridden before the metric was 21 miles. Jason had never ridden 100 miles in one day, but he had ridden 70 so that was close. Plus, he rides about 40+ miles 3 times a week. I currently ride about 12 miles, twice a week.
I was a bit apprehensive, but mostly excited to be going on a new sort of adventure and trying something totally different than anything else I'd ever done.
Jason got up at 4:00 a.m. (3:00 a.m. our time) and ran 10 miles before the ride. I got up at 5:00 a.m. (4:00 a.m. our time) and tried to eat a cinnamon roll. The night before, Jason and I were standing at Panera ordering sandwhiches when I asked him how long he thought it would take me to ride 63 miles. He said about 4 hours give or take some. I said, "So it is like running a marathon." He said, "Yeah, something like that." I said, "I'm getting a cinnamon roll for breakfast then." I hadn't thought about just how long I'd be riding and I wasn't sure how 4+ hours on the bike was going to feel.
When we walked out of our hotel a little before 6:00, it was still dark. We got our t-shirts, tossed them in our car and joined the masses as we waited for Highway 400 to be clear. Once it had been cleared, all the riders began to move forward and we were off. The morning was surprisingly cool and it stayed that way for most of my ride.
Jason rode with me for the first 28 miles. At that point the 100 milers would turn off and the 63 milers would go straight. I told Jason he didn't have to ride with me, that I wanted him to get all he wanted from this event. I ride a good bit slower than him, and I didn't want to hold him back. He never acts as if I do, but I still worried about it all the same. While I enjoyed his company, I was a little relieved when we parted ways. I wanted to be able to slow down if I got tired and not worry about holding him back.
We hadn't stopped at the first two rest stops, so I decided when I got to the next one I would stop. I rode and rode and rode, and there was no rest stop. I was getting tired and thirsty. I'd taken sips here and there as we stopped at red lights, but I hadn't really gotten off the bike, and by mile 35 I REALLY wanted to get off the bike.
I finally took my own short break to drink and give my aching shoulders and numb bum a rest before riding on. Around mile 40 I finally arrived at a rest stop. I stopped, refilled one of my water bottles, ate half a banana, and visited the restroom. I was ready for the rest of the ride after that.
There were some tough hills all along the course, but most of them were gradual and not overly long. Around mile 47 that changed. I hit a hill so steep that I had to hop off my bike to walk up it. I didn't feel so bad when all the other cyclists with me did the same. After that we entered a neighborhood that was insane with hills. Up and down, up and down. Flying downhill was fun until it was time to go back up again. I walked one more hill, and then I was weary of getting on and off my bike. I decided to hit the next hills hard. By that point I only had 10 or so miles to go and I figured any energy I had left could be used.
The next hill was a doozie, but I decided I was staying on my bike. I pumped until I couldn't pump anymore and then I stood up. There was another guy with me who was zig-zagging up the hill. He asked me if I had done this ride the previous year. I let out a very out-of-breath, "No." He said he had, but that he didn't remember the hills being like this. I wanted to say, " I AM NOT A CYCLIST AND THIS IS INSANE" but there was not enough breath to be wasted on such. I just kept pumping.
There were several more hills like that. I was getting tired, but what else could I do but get over them? I could tell the other riders around me were getting tired too. Usually, they would get way ahead of me after red lights, but toward the end, they were staying with me.
At the VERY end of the ride there was a long one. I heard other cyclists talking about it at the rest stops, but I tuned them out. I did not want to know about it until I got to it. But I knew when I saw it that it was "the hill." I powered up like a champ - legs burning, lungs heaving. I think the true motivation was the fact that I knew I just had to get to the top and turn left and I'd be DONE! I was exhilarated by the fact that I'd completed 65 miles and I still felt okay!
The ride overall was beautiful. If we weren't riding through gorgeous neighborhoods with the biggest houses I'd ever seen, we were out in the lush, green countryside. It smelled so good out there, and despite the heat that showed up later in the day, there was a ton of shade and a few breezes as well.
There were about 3 or 4 drivers that were really ugly when they passed cyclists. That shocked and unnerved me even though it probably should not have. The first was when I was still riding with Jason. She tapped her horn at our group consistently, and I wasn't sure where she wanted us to go. We weren't in the middle of the road, and she was able to go by, albeit more slowly than if no cyclists were there. The second driver passed when I was with other cyclists and we were spread out in a long line. This driver sat on his horn as he passed all of us and it scared me to death. I got over as far as I could and prayed that he wasn't going to hit me. I didn't understand why drivers had to act like that. As a runner I haven't come across that too often and I imagine cyclists get more used to it since they are usually sharing the road with drivers. But wow. A little patience could have gone a long way there.
Still, once my heart stopped racing at the loud horn honking, I was able to get back to my peaceful ride and enjoy my surroundings.
The ride finish was not like all the race finishes I'd experienced. There was no finish line, no crowd of athletes, no cheering. Just a row of tables with some food and water and a few volunteers milling about. I grabbed a water and a peanut butter and jelly square and went to the hotel. It was a little anti-climactic. I laid on the bed for a second, feeling amazed at what I'd just done, then hopped up to change my pants (I had to get out of the sweaty diaper shorts) and grabbed my camera to go wait for Jason to finish.
I called Mom to tell her what I'd done and we talked until I saw Jason make the turn after the long hill. He looked good and strong as well. I think we were both a little surprised and pleased to feel so...normal after riding all those miles.
Being clean and showered was heavenly. We treated ourselves to Olive Garden, which is one of my favorite places, but I only eat there after major, calorie burning events. According to my little bike computer, I rode 65 miles, with a 13.8 mph average pace, burning 3,481 calories. I felt like I had earned my salad, bread sticks, and chicken marsala.
I had a great time on the ride, but I still think running is my all time favorite. Still, I could be talked into another metric. Maybe sooner rather than later...
Jason and I are on a streak. It is the event-every-weekend-streak. It started out as an accident, but once I realized what we'd done, I told Jason we should see how long we could hold it. So he did a little searching online and found an event for us to do. We entered the Hospitality Highway Century in Roswell, Georgia. I would be doing the metric and Jason was doing the full 100 mile ride.
This was kind of big for me since the most I had ridden before the metric was 21 miles. Jason had never ridden 100 miles in one day, but he had ridden 70 so that was close. Plus, he rides about 40+ miles 3 times a week. I currently ride about 12 miles, twice a week.
I was a bit apprehensive, but mostly excited to be going on a new sort of adventure and trying something totally different than anything else I'd ever done.
Jason got up at 4:00 a.m. (3:00 a.m. our time) and ran 10 miles before the ride. I got up at 5:00 a.m. (4:00 a.m. our time) and tried to eat a cinnamon roll. The night before, Jason and I were standing at Panera ordering sandwhiches when I asked him how long he thought it would take me to ride 63 miles. He said about 4 hours give or take some. I said, "So it is like running a marathon." He said, "Yeah, something like that." I said, "I'm getting a cinnamon roll for breakfast then." I hadn't thought about just how long I'd be riding and I wasn't sure how 4+ hours on the bike was going to feel.
When we walked out of our hotel a little before 6:00, it was still dark. We got our t-shirts, tossed them in our car and joined the masses as we waited for Highway 400 to be clear. Once it had been cleared, all the riders began to move forward and we were off. The morning was surprisingly cool and it stayed that way for most of my ride.
Jason rode with me for the first 28 miles. At that point the 100 milers would turn off and the 63 milers would go straight. I told Jason he didn't have to ride with me, that I wanted him to get all he wanted from this event. I ride a good bit slower than him, and I didn't want to hold him back. He never acts as if I do, but I still worried about it all the same. While I enjoyed his company, I was a little relieved when we parted ways. I wanted to be able to slow down if I got tired and not worry about holding him back.
We hadn't stopped at the first two rest stops, so I decided when I got to the next one I would stop. I rode and rode and rode, and there was no rest stop. I was getting tired and thirsty. I'd taken sips here and there as we stopped at red lights, but I hadn't really gotten off the bike, and by mile 35 I REALLY wanted to get off the bike.
I finally took my own short break to drink and give my aching shoulders and numb bum a rest before riding on. Around mile 40 I finally arrived at a rest stop. I stopped, refilled one of my water bottles, ate half a banana, and visited the restroom. I was ready for the rest of the ride after that.
There were some tough hills all along the course, but most of them were gradual and not overly long. Around mile 47 that changed. I hit a hill so steep that I had to hop off my bike to walk up it. I didn't feel so bad when all the other cyclists with me did the same. After that we entered a neighborhood that was insane with hills. Up and down, up and down. Flying downhill was fun until it was time to go back up again. I walked one more hill, and then I was weary of getting on and off my bike. I decided to hit the next hills hard. By that point I only had 10 or so miles to go and I figured any energy I had left could be used.
The next hill was a doozie, but I decided I was staying on my bike. I pumped until I couldn't pump anymore and then I stood up. There was another guy with me who was zig-zagging up the hill. He asked me if I had done this ride the previous year. I let out a very out-of-breath, "No." He said he had, but that he didn't remember the hills being like this. I wanted to say, " I AM NOT A CYCLIST AND THIS IS INSANE" but there was not enough breath to be wasted on such. I just kept pumping.
There were several more hills like that. I was getting tired, but what else could I do but get over them? I could tell the other riders around me were getting tired too. Usually, they would get way ahead of me after red lights, but toward the end, they were staying with me.
At the VERY end of the ride there was a long one. I heard other cyclists talking about it at the rest stops, but I tuned them out. I did not want to know about it until I got to it. But I knew when I saw it that it was "the hill." I powered up like a champ - legs burning, lungs heaving. I think the true motivation was the fact that I knew I just had to get to the top and turn left and I'd be DONE! I was exhilarated by the fact that I'd completed 65 miles and I still felt okay!
The ride overall was beautiful. If we weren't riding through gorgeous neighborhoods with the biggest houses I'd ever seen, we were out in the lush, green countryside. It smelled so good out there, and despite the heat that showed up later in the day, there was a ton of shade and a few breezes as well.
There were about 3 or 4 drivers that were really ugly when they passed cyclists. That shocked and unnerved me even though it probably should not have. The first was when I was still riding with Jason. She tapped her horn at our group consistently, and I wasn't sure where she wanted us to go. We weren't in the middle of the road, and she was able to go by, albeit more slowly than if no cyclists were there. The second driver passed when I was with other cyclists and we were spread out in a long line. This driver sat on his horn as he passed all of us and it scared me to death. I got over as far as I could and prayed that he wasn't going to hit me. I didn't understand why drivers had to act like that. As a runner I haven't come across that too often and I imagine cyclists get more used to it since they are usually sharing the road with drivers. But wow. A little patience could have gone a long way there.
Still, once my heart stopped racing at the loud horn honking, I was able to get back to my peaceful ride and enjoy my surroundings.
The ride finish was not like all the race finishes I'd experienced. There was no finish line, no crowd of athletes, no cheering. Just a row of tables with some food and water and a few volunteers milling about. I grabbed a water and a peanut butter and jelly square and went to the hotel. It was a little anti-climactic. I laid on the bed for a second, feeling amazed at what I'd just done, then hopped up to change my pants (I had to get out of the sweaty diaper shorts) and grabbed my camera to go wait for Jason to finish.
I called Mom to tell her what I'd done and we talked until I saw Jason make the turn after the long hill. He looked good and strong as well. I think we were both a little surprised and pleased to feel so...normal after riding all those miles.
Being clean and showered was heavenly. We treated ourselves to Olive Garden, which is one of my favorite places, but I only eat there after major, calorie burning events. According to my little bike computer, I rode 65 miles, with a 13.8 mph average pace, burning 3,481 calories. I felt like I had earned my salad, bread sticks, and chicken marsala.
I had a great time on the ride, but I still think running is my all time favorite. Still, I could be talked into another metric. Maybe sooner rather than later...
Saturday, July 10, 2010
Big Talk
I did not go anywhere. I did not run. I did not ride my bike. I did not go for a swim at the gym. Jason came and went, and every time he returned he found me somewhere, nose in book.
So what am I reading that is so amazing? I am reading "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, by Stieg Larsson." At first it was a little slow and thick with heavy details, and I could not figure out why I was reading about certain characters or how they fit into the story. I pressed on, however, until I was hopelessly sucked in and there was no getting out. Until midnight when I made myself put it down.
I knew I had to get some sleep in order to be able to run with my friend, Shannon, this morning at 6:30. Before I got into bed, I set the coffee pot to start brewing at 5:15. Somehow, I knew I was going to need it. Before walking into the kitchen, I stood in the bedroom in a moment of indecision. A few more minutes of sleep or coffee before the run? Coffee won. I knew if I crawled back in, I would be more tired and sluggish than I currently was.
I haven't been lost in a book like that in a long time. Before picking up "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo," I was reading "Born to Run." This one was of course, amazing, informative, funny and inspiring. But once I had purchased "The Girl" I put it down with only a chapter or two to go. I do not yet know who wins the race with Caballo's team of ultra runners and the Tarahumara. I will return to it as soon as I finish "The Girl." I will probably need something lighter to bring me back to my own, familiar world.
Friday, July 9, 2010
In an Ideal World
I would like every run (or let's just say most) to be a good one. I would like to run at least 6 miles a day. Every day. You read that right. Seven days a week. But I wouldn't limit it to 6. That would just be the minimum. I would like to do Pilates regularly (3 times a week) so that my core could keep up with the rest of me. And I would like to have really toned arms.
In an ideal world.
At this stage of my life (unemployed, no children, healthy, no injuries) the question could be posed as to why I am not doing these things. My answer...I don't know. I have some excuses though. Lack of motivation. Heat. I get tired. I forget what I want and instead of doing push-ups, I have a bowl of ice cream (because I am hot). I have a run that isn't good - or maybe two or three in a row and then I get discouraged. And I'm hot.
Being from Florida you would think I could handle the heat. And I think there was a time when I did not notice it. In high school, I used to run every day after school. That had to be about 3:00-3:30 in the afternoon. In Panama City, FL. So I'm not sure how I lost that or when I started noticing that heat was so unpleasant. But I am there. I am so very there.
And I am frustrated.
I wrote a few days ago that I had a plan. My plan is that I would like to run a 50 mile race. As soon as I decided and started looking for one to enter, I was ready to hit the ground running (literally). I wanted to start building my base (currently at 12 miles, which I do once a week) up to 15 and then begin working it back up to marathon distance and beyond. I wanted to start running twice a day a few times a week, tackling harder hills each week, and hitting the gym for other strength training needs.
But the heat is getting in my way. Or I'm allowing it to. My weekly mileage is not climbing like I'd planned, I am not hitting the gym, and I am not running twice a day. I do realize I only made "the plan" a few days ago, but still. Usually, when I make a plan it renews my interest and energy to get out there and get after it.
So it is time for a new plan - or several small ones. Instead of planning for the 50 miler alone and going from there, I'm going to have milestones (a term I learned from my time with NASA). Weekly, monthly, goal races, and then the biggie. I'm looking at a 50 miler in October (possibly too soon) or one in December (good timing, but not as beautiful as the one in October).
And maybe, with shorter milestones, I can obtain a small portion of that ideal world. I will record my journey here, of course.
In an ideal world.
At this stage of my life (unemployed, no children, healthy, no injuries) the question could be posed as to why I am not doing these things. My answer...I don't know. I have some excuses though. Lack of motivation. Heat. I get tired. I forget what I want and instead of doing push-ups, I have a bowl of ice cream (because I am hot). I have a run that isn't good - or maybe two or three in a row and then I get discouraged. And I'm hot.
Being from Florida you would think I could handle the heat. And I think there was a time when I did not notice it. In high school, I used to run every day after school. That had to be about 3:00-3:30 in the afternoon. In Panama City, FL. So I'm not sure how I lost that or when I started noticing that heat was so unpleasant. But I am there. I am so very there.
And I am frustrated.
I wrote a few days ago that I had a plan. My plan is that I would like to run a 50 mile race. As soon as I decided and started looking for one to enter, I was ready to hit the ground running (literally). I wanted to start building my base (currently at 12 miles, which I do once a week) up to 15 and then begin working it back up to marathon distance and beyond. I wanted to start running twice a day a few times a week, tackling harder hills each week, and hitting the gym for other strength training needs.
But the heat is getting in my way. Or I'm allowing it to. My weekly mileage is not climbing like I'd planned, I am not hitting the gym, and I am not running twice a day. I do realize I only made "the plan" a few days ago, but still. Usually, when I make a plan it renews my interest and energy to get out there and get after it.
So it is time for a new plan - or several small ones. Instead of planning for the 50 miler alone and going from there, I'm going to have milestones (a term I learned from my time with NASA). Weekly, monthly, goal races, and then the biggie. I'm looking at a 50 miler in October (possibly too soon) or one in December (good timing, but not as beautiful as the one in October).
And maybe, with shorter milestones, I can obtain a small portion of that ideal world. I will record my journey here, of course.
Thursday, July 8, 2010
Today
Some things about today at 8:00 a.m.
- I am waiting for my brother-in-law, Mark, to bring my sweet nephew, Caleb, to my house. We will be hanging out all day. I cannot wait. First stop, legos!
- My first sip of coffee was simply heavenly this morning. So good, in fact, that I had one of those TV moments where I closed my eyes and sighed.
- I had a horrible run. I was hoping for 6ish miles with a hard hill in the middle, but cut it short when I realized I had absolutely nothing. Noth-ing. I may try that again later this afternoon.
- I have an interview today at UAH. I'm kind of excited. It is for the Distance Education and Professional Development Program Coordinator. I applied Monday night and got a call Tuesday morning. I have a lot of questions. And I wouldn't have minded another week of unemployment...should I accept/be offered the job. Jason will be hanging with Caleb while I interview. It is like parenting-practice day.
- I don't understand how I can have mistakes in my blogs after I read them 14,000 times before I post. Then, when someone comments and I go back to re-read (again) what they read and try to see it through their eyeballs, I find mistakes! Like two "are's" or the wrong verb tense. I fixed those, by the way. I just wanted you to know.
- I think that is it. I thought I had more things...and maybe a deep thought or two, but I don't think I do. The conclusion of the matter (besides fearing God and keeping his commandments which is the whole duty of man) is that despite having a bad run, there is good coffee and a hilarious, fun nephew in my day.
Wednesday, July 7, 2010
B....rick
Yesterday I skipped out of my morning run with the girls in favor of a few more hours of sleep. I hadn't been able to get much sleep the night before so when the alarm went off, all of me said no.
Usually when I make this choice (and I try not to make it often) in the summer months it means I do not get any running miles that day because I am not willing to run in those temperatures, and whatever exercise I do get will have to be done indoors. A class at the gym, perhaps.
Well, now that I am the proud owner of Red Sass the bicycle, exercise outside in the southern summer heat is not so bad. I've always enjoyed a good sweat and for some reason cycling in the heat is not as oppressive as running in it.
So after a bagel and coffee, I set out to get some miles with Red Sass. I rode a little over 12 miles and called it good. I was thinking of doing something else, I just hadn't decided what. A brick perhaps? (I need to interject here that I only know this term because someone else said it to me a few weeks ago and they explained it as Bike, Run, Ick).
I came inside, stripped out of my cycling clothes (I find them extremely uncomfortable when not sitting on a bike), and sat down at the computer to drink water and consider my options. By this point it was noon, very hot outside and I was losing motivation fast. I was either going to do some other form of exercise or take a shower and tackle some house work.
While stalling and hydrating, I went to my blog and clicked "Next Blog." I have recently discovered this function, and I love it. I never know what I am going to get. Cycling blogs, running blogs, cooking blogs (how those apply to mine, I don't get), family blogs, etc. It is like channel surfing, and sometimes I can hardly get myself to stop and read because I want to find out what is next.
On this occasion, my first click took me to Riding the Wind and for once I found myself too interested to keep clicking.
I had landed on the blog of Anton Krupicka who recently finished second over all in the Western States 100. Not being a major Ultra Marathon buff, I had never heard of him before, although upon reading further I recognized a few names from the book, "Born to Run" which I am about to finish. Krupicka's blog took me further along link to link as I read of his and a few other's ultra experiences. I was amazed and inspired. I thought to myself if these guys can run 100 miles on crazy terrain, surely I can run 3 tiny ones at noon in July.
So that is exactly what I did. A simple 3 miles. I took a water bottle just to make myself feel better, but it wasn't bad at all. My splits were 8:31, 8:54, 8:45 and I didn't think that was half bad for a runner like me in heat like that. I call it a brick simply because I ran after I rode, but there was significant rest and blog reading between the two.
Another plan has begun to take root in my mind as well. A plan inspired by the book, "Born to Run" and the articles of these ultra runners. I'm still in the planning stages but I think I know what I want to do.
Because if they can do that, surely I can do this.
Usually when I make this choice (and I try not to make it often) in the summer months it means I do not get any running miles that day because I am not willing to run in those temperatures, and whatever exercise I do get will have to be done indoors. A class at the gym, perhaps.
Well, now that I am the proud owner of Red Sass the bicycle, exercise outside in the southern summer heat is not so bad. I've always enjoyed a good sweat and for some reason cycling in the heat is not as oppressive as running in it.
So after a bagel and coffee, I set out to get some miles with Red Sass. I rode a little over 12 miles and called it good. I was thinking of doing something else, I just hadn't decided what. A brick perhaps? (I need to interject here that I only know this term because someone else said it to me a few weeks ago and they explained it as Bike, Run, Ick).
I came inside, stripped out of my cycling clothes (I find them extremely uncomfortable when not sitting on a bike), and sat down at the computer to drink water and consider my options. By this point it was noon, very hot outside and I was losing motivation fast. I was either going to do some other form of exercise or take a shower and tackle some house work.
While stalling and hydrating, I went to my blog and clicked "Next Blog." I have recently discovered this function, and I love it. I never know what I am going to get. Cycling blogs, running blogs, cooking blogs (how those apply to mine, I don't get), family blogs, etc. It is like channel surfing, and sometimes I can hardly get myself to stop and read because I want to find out what is next.
On this occasion, my first click took me to Riding the Wind and for once I found myself too interested to keep clicking.
I had landed on the blog of Anton Krupicka who recently finished second over all in the Western States 100. Not being a major Ultra Marathon buff, I had never heard of him before, although upon reading further I recognized a few names from the book, "Born to Run" which I am about to finish. Krupicka's blog took me further along link to link as I read of his and a few other's ultra experiences. I was amazed and inspired. I thought to myself if these guys can run 100 miles on crazy terrain, surely I can run 3 tiny ones at noon in July.
So that is exactly what I did. A simple 3 miles. I took a water bottle just to make myself feel better, but it wasn't bad at all. My splits were 8:31, 8:54, 8:45 and I didn't think that was half bad for a runner like me in heat like that. I call it a brick simply because I ran after I rode, but there was significant rest and blog reading between the two.
Another plan has begun to take root in my mind as well. A plan inspired by the book, "Born to Run" and the articles of these ultra runners. I'm still in the planning stages but I think I know what I want to do.
Because if they can do that, surely I can do this.
Tuesday, July 6, 2010
Brave
Being new to the world of cycling, I have a few inhibitions when it comes to riding out on the open road alone. The truth is I simply do not trust drivers, whether I am in my car, on my feet or on my bike. I never assume drivers will make the smart or right choice, and so far that has kept me out of trouble on the road.
I prefer to ride my bike in mostly traffic-free areas or with a buddy so that at least with two of us out there we might be more visible. Still, those two things are not always readily available, and if I wait around for one or the other, I may not be able to ride as much as I would like.
One available option when desperate for a ride is that of the neighborhood loop. For "real" cyclists, this would be hilarious. The loop is usually 3 miles, but I can stretch it into 4 when needed. It is very boring to say the least and with all the slows and stops, I can't really get a good rhythm going.
So Sunday I decided to try to be brave. I did part of the neighborhood loop and then when I approached an opening to a busier road, I exited. I was a tad nervous, but I rode steadily and calmly, turning right on another road still bordering my neighborhood.
As I approached another entrance to my neighborhood I told myself to be brave and go straight. Going straight would take me on a much longer road, and then I could make a huge square that would eventually bring me back home. I approached the entrance...and I turned back into my neighborhood. "You are NOT brave," I said aloud to myself.
I did the loop again, through the neighborhood and back out on the "open" road. I rode around the hood to the same spot where I had turned instead of going straight. This time I went straight, adding a good 7 miles to my very tiny neighborhood route.
When I finally approached that same entrance for the third time I was on mile 14. I turned into my neighborhood for the final time, but this time I gave myself a whoop and said aloud, "You ARE brave!"
And so I am. Today I will head out once again and who knows. I may turn out to be even braver still.
I prefer to ride my bike in mostly traffic-free areas or with a buddy so that at least with two of us out there we might be more visible. Still, those two things are not always readily available, and if I wait around for one or the other, I may not be able to ride as much as I would like.
One available option when desperate for a ride is that of the neighborhood loop. For "real" cyclists, this would be hilarious. The loop is usually 3 miles, but I can stretch it into 4 when needed. It is very boring to say the least and with all the slows and stops, I can't really get a good rhythm going.
So Sunday I decided to try to be brave. I did part of the neighborhood loop and then when I approached an opening to a busier road, I exited. I was a tad nervous, but I rode steadily and calmly, turning right on another road still bordering my neighborhood.
As I approached another entrance to my neighborhood I told myself to be brave and go straight. Going straight would take me on a much longer road, and then I could make a huge square that would eventually bring me back home. I approached the entrance...and I turned back into my neighborhood. "You are NOT brave," I said aloud to myself.
I did the loop again, through the neighborhood and back out on the "open" road. I rode around the hood to the same spot where I had turned instead of going straight. This time I went straight, adding a good 7 miles to my very tiny neighborhood route.
When I finally approached that same entrance for the third time I was on mile 14. I turned into my neighborhood for the final time, but this time I gave myself a whoop and said aloud, "You ARE brave!"
And so I am. Today I will head out once again and who knows. I may turn out to be even braver still.
Sunday, July 4, 2010
Socks, Kisses and Poo
Jason gave me my lucky socks when we had just barely begun to date. In fact, when he arrived at my door step to pick me up for the Rocket City Marathon packet pick-up we had only gone out for coffee. After that coffee date, he had gone to New Orleans to help with the Katrina disaster relief and before he got back to Huntsville, I had gone to Orlando for work. Coffee and phone conversations were all we had before it was time to run the Rocket City Marathon.
When Jason showed up at my house to take me to packet pick-up and then to a pre-race dinner, he handed me what would become my lucky socks. These socks were white with what appeared to Jason when he bought them to be four-leaf clovers. Upon closer inspection, he discovered they were not clovers, but green flowers. It didn't matter, though. I absolutely loved them.
I like to believe they were not only my good luck charm but his as well. We both ran the Rocket City Marathon the next day. I broke 5 hours for the first time, achieving a 25 minute personal record, and Jason broke 3 hours for the first time. For almost every marathon since then (and I only say almost because I am not 100 % sure) I have worn those lucky socks.
The three good luck kisses originated from Jason as well. These took place about 3 months after the lucky socks at the Cotton Row 10k. We were lining up to start the race when Jason leaned in for a kiss. When I realized what he was doing I said, "Jason! The minister and his wife are right there!" He, of course, grinned at me mischievously, said, "So?" and proceeded to lay three big ones on me right there in front of our young professionals minister, his wife, and over a thousand other runners (who probably had not even noticed).
Ever since then it has been customary...no, mandatory for me to receive my three good luck kisses before each and every race - from the 5k up to the marathon, and anything else I come up with to run. And from time to time, as he walks up to the front of the pack after giving me my three kisses, I want to look around and say, "Yes, I am indeed with the cute, fast one there."
And finally, the lucky poo. I do not believe I am alone when I say that before all big races (and even long training runs) I prefer...need...demand my lucky poo to occur. I feel lighter on my feet and at ease in my mind if I approach that start line knowing my lucky poo has taken place. I think, by now, I have trained myself in this art so well that even before I roust myself for those few sips of hotel coffee, I begin to feel that wonderful feeling, and I know that all will be well. No matter what else may happen out there during those 26.2 miles, I have at least achieved my lucky poo. I might even go so far as to say that this lucky charm is the most important - the one that actually affects the outcome of the race. The other two, while special and important, simply warm my heart, encouraging me to push hard and reach for whatever goal I have set for that particular day.
So those are mine. What about you? What lucky charms do you incorporate into your own race experience?
Friday, July 2, 2010
Maintenance
See, I view myself as someone with a limited amount of steam. I think I have a capacity for large amounts of steam, but I am still going to run out eventually. So when running, working full time, and maintaining a house, yard, self, etc., only so much each day gets done, and to me, not nearly enough.
BUT, when the 8 hour claim on my time each day (employment) is removed, plus let's say an hour to get ready for that 8 hours and then an hour getting to and from that 8 hours... LOOK at all that time and STEAM left at my disposal!
So, needless to say (but I'll say it anyway) I've been maintaining.
Yesterday, I got up, ran 6.5 miles, saw Jason off to work and sat down for some writing/coffee time. My massage therapist called around 9 to say that she had a 10:30 opening and I could have it if I would like to come earlier than my 4:00 time slot. I took it.
I hopped up to mow the back yard (I'd done the front the day before) before my appointment. I mowed for an hour, drove to get a massage, and then back home to eat lunch and finish my yard work. I emptied the second bag of grass, watered all my plants and trees, weeded the beds in the front yard, swept off the front porch and straightened a section of the garage, battling a man-eating spider or two. I attempted to figure out the weed-eater, but it had too many steps and I didn't want to lose any fingers. I repotted some plants and called it a day for outside work. I had dirt on top of more dirt on top of massage oil on top of sweat on top of more sweat. I felt I had finally earned my shower, so I went to get one.
Things did begin to slow at this point. I was cool and clean, so I focused on things inside. The kitchen, the laundry, a bit of reading, cutting some fresh fruit, and then I tackled something brand new. The grill. Jason had already given me instructions, but once I got out there I needed them again. I called, he instructed, I thought I might blow my face off, but I didn't.
My chicken wasn't nearly as good as Jason's, but it was edible. I was a little aggravated with it, but Jason gave me some tips for cooking it more slowly on lower heat next time, so now I'm looking forward to trying it again. Maybe some salmon next time.
As Jason and I sat down for a little relaxation, I felt satisfied with my day. More satisfied than I have in a long time. I love maintaining our little home. I love taking care of Jason and our pup, Chance (who REALLY enjoyed the day with a stay-at-home buddy). I love working outside, helping things grow, and then enjoying the beauty of it all. I love time alone to think, work, and write. Sometimes I rock out to my ipod play list entitled "Cleaning House" and sometimes I enjoy the silence.
For however long this time lasts, I will enjoy it. I will take care of my yard, my home, my peeps, myself, my writing until the next step shows up.
And now I must go because there are these two empty bins I intend to fill, plants to water, surfaces to dust, a dog that might need a bath... maintenance.
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