Hot Yoga for the Beginner

Years ago when one of the first hot yoga studios in NYC opened across the street from our apartment I was curious but too intimidated to try it.  I've taken all of two regular yoga classes in my life, so to jump into hot yoga seemed kind of nervy.  Anyway, I got this great Groupon (my very first Groupon) for Hot Yoga back in October.  10 visits for $55!  Normally its much more expensive.  I'm finally trying it!

It was definitely intimidating walking into the yoga place having no yoga experience.   I walk into everyone stripping down in the foyer and putting their things in cubbies.  Of course, everyone looked VERY experienced and fit but not necessarily skinny.  I found the women with extremely muscular (like Madonna not like a body builder) arms wearing shirts that said "Yoga Girl" and the people attempting hand stands before class even started to be particularly intimidating.  The absolute worst part was walking into the studio and figuring out where to put your mat.  Very much a high school cafeteria type experience where you are just looking for a spot and hoping who ever you end up next to doesn't mind.

Have I mentioned that I have a slight coordination issue/problem?  Moving my hands and feet at the same time while listening to directions is SO hard for me.  Its much easier for me to just watch, copy and kind of just tune out all those fancy yoga pose words.  Luckily I was behind people that knew what they were doing.  The instructor in the first class walked around but the class was very crowded so she did not give much individual instruction.  She did ask if anyone was new to yoga at the beginning of class.  I raised my hand and she actually made me clarify whether I was new to yoga or just hot yoga.  I played it off like it was just the hot part because I was totally on the spot!   Still nervous that I'd get kicked out since I'm not an experienced yoga girl.  The class itself was fantastic!  The lights are dim and relaxing.   Everyone is sweating like crazy but you don't notice since you can't see it.  I didn't notice a sweat stink at all.  The second class went even better because it was less crowded.  The customers and instructor were a little more friendly in this class.  The instructor would help people with their poses and I liked her music a lot more.

Leaving the class, I felt very relaxed and energized.  Someone said you'd feel like you just had a massage and I would not agree, maybe like leaving the chiropractor.  It's definitely energizing and a lot more meditative than any other exercise I've ever done including that handful of regular yoga class I've taken.  Can't wait to go back!

My Little House

A small house holds just as much love as a big one. I am so thankful for our little house. I feel like we still have a lot of excess just waiting to be purged but we are in a great place.

Dining Room Make Over After...

So happy with the color.

Welcome, Monorail Silver

Painting the dining room today. The pink was ok but we never really fell in love with it. A couple of weeks ago I took down the curtains to wash and decided I liked the room more without curtains. Plus thanks to Hurricane Sandy trees are gone or thinned out in my neighbor's yard. Consequently, more light in the dining room is giving me the confidence to try a darker and cooler color.

Post Marathon Exercising

Its been about 10 days since the marathon and I'm feeling the urge to exercise again.  The freedom in my schedule is really nice.  I don't have to fit in a run if I don't feel like it.  While I have not weighed myself, I do fear a major weight gain if I just sit around.  I googled post marathon training and read varying things.  Some say rest 1 day for every mile you ran (26 days) while others like Hal Higdon provide a whole plan for the four weeks following the marathon, but most seem to say listen to your body.

My new regimen will be to do the weight circuit one day a week with 15-20 minutes of cardio, I'll have a swim day, a yoga day (thanks to my Groupon) and possibly a weekend long run.  I would like to be able to keep my endurance up around that 10 mile point.  A 90 minute run feels very cleansing to me.  That really would be great to fit all that in.  We'll see, its the plan for now.

Yesterday I did the weight circuit for the first time in a LONG while.  So long was my time away from the circuits that my account was deactivated!!!  Its rather embarrassing going up to the fitness desk and asking them to reactivate your account.  It had literally been only 8 days since the marathon and I already felt like a fat crap.  Once reactivated I worked my way through the circuit.  Today I am feeling ALL my upper body muscles, I'm enjoying the soreness though.

In other news, I think my feet are shrinking.  My poor feet.  By the end of my training three pairs of running sneakers remained each a different size, 9.5, 10 and 10.5.  I ran the marathon in 10.5, trained mostly in the 10, and the 9.5 I wore around when I was not running because they were supportive even if tight.  While training I also lost a toe nail and then during the marathon my big toe nail became bruised so now I have a big purple toe nail.  Hopefully all will heal in time for flip flop season.  It is a relief thought that my feet will shrink down a little.  Before kids, I was an 8.5!

Wizard, Please Give Me an Imagination

Best Halloween treat the kids got was this little "Wizard of Oz" book.  I've never read the book but its definitely a favorite movie of mine.  I started reading it from the perspective of an author.  I am just so amazed that anyone could be so imaginative.  I went to the library and happened to find a book called "Finding Oz" by Evan I. Schwartz, its about how the author of "The Wizard of Oz," L. Frank Baum, came up with the iconic story.  I'm enjoying reading the two books at once.  Its so inspiring to read about a successful person who failed and persevered.  I don't know what I'm going to write my story about but I'm feeling like the project is worth pursuing.

Possible Ideas so far for my book:

(1) Children's book with Montessori themes possibly about a marathon, incorporate a map, flag, counting, history of marathon

(2) Interviewing my grandmother and mother - writing about some family anecdotes but also about our shared experiences in being women, as in childbirth, child rearing, being a wife, first job, first date, etc. How similar/different the common experiences are?  How did our decisions create the lives we have? What does it all mean/benefit/impede to my own daughters' and their life decisions?

(3) Writing an outlandish fictional novel, I am enjoying thinking about this one a lot BUT everything I think of I feel like I can relate it back to a movie or TV show or something I've seen before... must keep thinking.  L. Frank Baum didn't write the "Wizard of Oz" first... 

Creativity Wanted

I'm still basking in the glory of being a marathon finisher. The whole experience has shown me that I can persist and accomplish anything I really want. Embracing confidence, hugging self.

My new challenge is creating a story of some sort. I'm concerned about my creativity though. When painting with my kids last week, I traced our IKEA placemats. I could have made anything in the world. Hello Persistence, could you call your friends, Originality and/or Creativity? Tell them they are invited to my victory party. Thanks.

Perfect Marathon Weekend Experience

I did it!  I did it in 4:11:24!!!  I've wanted to do this for so long!  I am in the finishers club!

Arrived in Philly Friday afternoon.  Checked into the hotel, Sheraton Society Hill.  Headed out to the Expo.   Pleasant walk through Philly to the Convention Center.  Weather was great, as was the hotel location.  I never know what to expect at these Expo things.  I loved the marathon shirt and that was what I was most excited about at the Expo.

At the Expo, I listened to a talk about nutrition in the last 24 hours before the race from a nutritionist from Runners World.  The talk got me nervous because the speaker was encouraging of eating (what seemed like to me) a lot.  Gue and energy bars plus drinking lots while on the run which I don't normally do during training, certainly not in the amounts she was talking about.  She gave great reasons, they are all things that break down easily so they don't give you a full feeling while running but they will give you energy and help out on your sodium and potassium levels. Obviously I am not against eating and drinking but I try to keep it to a minimum while running since I hate portable potties and the thought of standing on a really long line to use one.  Never the less,  I have a stronger fear of being the person the EMS people have to scrape off the pavement so I bought the gue and I already planned on having a pre-race and during race bar.  So I was all set nutrition wise.  I decided to run with my water bottle and use it only after the 20 mile point.  Plus getting Gatorade and/or water at all the water stations that were not too crowded.  During the race I found the Cliff bar Gue and Power Bar to be a nice distraction during the run.  After the run, I felt better hydration-wise then after some of the half marathons I'd done.  Good nutrition advice, all this snacking didn't effect my pace at all either.

My awesome husband was great about doing all things running this weekend - attending the running expo, going away yet getting to bed early, eating Italian for dinner (when it gives him heartburn), finally waking up extra early race day and then endlessly scanning the crowd to look for me.  It was very much appreciated and I felt very loved.  Plus we had a lot of fun!  Found lots of little places to grab our meals, drinks, or coffee while out and about.  Philly is a great city.  Perhaps we'll move there.  Saturday we just took a nice long walk to the Art Museum to check out the start and then had lunch.  Took a cab back to the hotel because I didn't want my legs to get too tired.  Napped and then went out to dinner.

Sunday morning we woke up at 4:50am.  I made coffee in the room and ate a Power Bar.  Then I showered and dressed.  My husband got our car and drove me to the start as well as another runner we offered a ride to.  Pretty smooth morning.  Me and the other runner got within a few blocks of the start and jumped out of the car and walked to the start.  Thousands of runners, had to look around a little for our corral.  I was in my corral at 6:43am and began stretching, race start was 7am.  As the sun came up, it definitely warmed up a little.  I left my old coat and scarf on a fence.  They were collecting all the discarded clothes for the homeless.  Eventually in the first few miles I even threw my gloves off.  Got a little emotional as we moved toward the start, especially when they played a Bon Jovi song.  Just being in the moment and trying to absorb it all.

It was crowded for the first 10 miles, with runners and cheering crowds.  Funniest sign I saw, "Paul Ryan says the last hour doesn't count."  There was even a makeshift water station set up by some fans except it was beer not water!  My ankles got tight in the 5th mile and then it subsided.  The crowd thinned out a lot more once the half marathon people turned off.  There were still points along the race that seemed pretty packed and I had to maneuver through a "wall" of people a few times.  For the most part though it was not too difficult to find pockets of room.  There were various bands playing all kinds of music all along the route that kept the runners and the crowd pumped.  I loved that they put your name right on the race number so people could cheer you on using your name.  The race definitely got tougher after the half point.  I would say Mile 17 I really started to ache.  Mile 20 was a turn around in Manayunk which was kind of nice to make it to that point and then turn towards the finish.  Just after mile 24 was my wall.  I heard someone say, "Just 2.5 miles to go!"  I was pretty happy with my time at that point, very close to finishing at 4 hours maybe even less.  But I just had to rest my legs a little.  I finished up the other half of my Power Bar while walking, used my water bottle, regrouped and basically had to do that 2 or 3 times in that last little stretch.  Finally finished at 4 hours 11 minutes 24 seconds and I'm thrilled with that!

Carb loading

Checking out the Start

Marathon weekend kick off night

Another Bump

Trouble with the ankles and I am nervous.  I was supposed to do a 10 mile run yesterday.  I had so much tightness in my ankles that I ended up only running 5.  The first 4 miles I was experiencing some pain which was making me so nervous.  The thought of getting injured when I am so close scares me.  I am glad that I decided to cut the run short and ice.  I suspect I ran too many days in a row last week and too fast on the treadmill.  The good news is that I think my ankles loosened up during mile five but I was already in front of my house so I baled on the second loop.

My husband heard from a friend who was supposed to do NY Marathon and will now be doing Philly. Now I'm excited to just enjoy the weekend and meet up with friends.  I can't believe we leave on Friday!

Two Book Reviews

Finished Chopra's "Muhammed" and was a little disappointed in the ending.  All the information that was in the afterward yet barely touched on in the book kind of annoyed me.  Hate to be too hard on Chopra since he did write a fiction book not a biography but I didn't like that information just being dumped out at the end and not explained at all within the book itself.  I went to the library in search of a Muhammed biography and realized there was none.  Then I remembered it was one of the cons Chopra listed in the book that you can't actually write about the prophet.  I'm still interested in the muslim religion just have to keep an ear out for another book suggestion.

No Muhammed biography plus antsy four year old equals pick anything and fast.  In keeping with my interest of the moment, the middle east, I picked "Salmon Fishing in the Yemen" by Paul Torday.  Its really a fictional British story set partly in the Yemen but like I said antsy four year old.  I really liked the book.  The story was great.  I especially felt the theme was completely inspiring.  Dream the impossible and then make it possible.  First you have to have faith, then comes hope and finally love.  Words to live by.  I felt like it gave me a different perspective of how people in the middle east can live with so little.   Living in the desert with the absence of so much, even in the landscape, perhaps facilitates your thoughts, actions, being into keeping yourself open to God.

I was talking to my mother-in-law about "Salmon Fishing..." and she loves the movie.  Said it was one of her favorites even.  I have to see the movie now.  Upon further discussion we realized the book and movie have completely different endings.  Another reason to see it.  Which will I like more?   I think the movie ending has everyone ending up happily ever after whereas the book has this great surprise ending where the characters make some realizations about themselves but are not necessarily happy ever after.

A few weeks ago I went out to dinner with family and my cousin mentions he's writing a screenplay.  Well, it really set something off in me.  I kept thinking about his story.  But what really keeps bothering me is how difficult it is to come up with anything truly original.  Makes me admire the "Salmon Fishing" story even more because its definitely unique.  Wondering if my next project should be to write a fictional story (novel?)...

T-7 Days until Marathon

I can not believe that next week at this time I will be waking up for the marathon!  Its finally here and I am amazed that 22 weeks of training is ending, not without bumps, of course.

Hurricane Sandy kinda threw off the routine.  I ended up missing a medium run and then taking several days off in a row.  After the hurricane and six days of not running, I finally got back out and I was slow.  I wasn't trying that hard but still 10:20 minute/mile average.  I had two shorter runs at this slow pace last week.  Then magically I go for my long run and 9:05 minute/mile average.  Go figure!  This week my pace has been staying low.   I tweaked the schedule a bit to fit in all the runs so mileage wise I'm not behind.  I definitely realized that I don't want to leave myself with too many days of rest before the big day.  I must stay loose.  I'm kind of worried about my ankles since that achilles tendonitis still flares up.

I'm thinking that perhaps I want to get some music on my phone.  I normally do not run with music.  I like being in tune with my surrounding, mull over my thoughts, plus I just feel safer.  BUT,  I have never ran a marathon, maybe I should plan a little motivation for myself say past mile 20.

There's been a few Facebook friends who have completed marathons this season, mostly first timers like me.  One of them said that the last mile felt great because you know you are actually going to finish.  I loved that comment and now I am eagerly awaiting that feeling around mile 25.

Wondering what the whole experience will be like.  Since NY Marathon was cancelled, Philadelphia Marathon added 3,000 spots for runners from the cancelled marathon.  I feel for the people that trained for that marathon.  That has to be extremely disappointing.  I actually did have that happen to me when the triathlon was cancelled last August for Hurricane Irene.  Here it comes, my own selfish view, I am wondering if its going to be too crowded.  I didn't sign up for NY Marathon mainly because its too expensive but also I kind of wanted a smaller marathon.  Philadelphia Marathon seems to be getting bigger and bigger.  First it sold out at 27,000 participants crazy early and now they are adding 3,000 more spots.  Plus I gotta check out how the start actually starts.  How will I feel when all the half marathoners turn off to finish their race and I still have a second leg?!?  Perhaps, a smidgeon of worry is setting in too.

T-25 Days Til Marathon

Yesterday was the last of the (really long) long runs, 18 miles in 3 hours and 5 minutes.  It was rather grueling with lots of hills and I never really felt like I was that into it.  If I had done the training correctly today would have been 20 miles and I suppose I would've been really proud that once again I completed my longest run ever but I already did that 2 weeks ago.   I really hope I start enjoying the training again because I still have 25 days until the big day!

I'm just bored with this.  I'm still feeling very capable of finishing but I think my time goals may have been too ambitious.  I was hoping for low 4 hours but I think anything under 4:30 is more likely (I hope).  The tapper begins, just three more runs in the double digits.

Chopra Kick Continues

I'm still on my Deepak Chopra kick.  I am giving "The Book of Secrets" a rest.  I do enjoy the book and will go back to it but its a lot of intense thinking.  Sometimes its nice to just get sucked into a fiction book.  I can't believe it was a couple of years ago but it was, I read Chopra's "Jesus" book which is part of a series Chopra wrote.  There's also a "Muhammed" and "Buddha" book.  I really enjoyed "Jesus" but being Catholic I have some background information on Jesus.  A few weeks ago, I decided to grab the "Muhammed" book and learn about someone I had no background information on.  I am enjoying this book as well but since I don't have background information on Muhammed its hard to know what aspects are fiction and what is actually historical.

The aspect that I am going to focus on which seems so glaring after reading 2 of 3 in the series is that these people, Jesus and Muhammed, are special people who had to figure out their gifts.  I find this so interesting.  These very special people were definitely always special with "signs" occurring as they were children, they were sent by God or chosen by God depending on your faith, yet as adults they still had to figure out how to be open to God and reconcile it within their lives just like everybody else.

Shouldn't we all be doing that?  It gives me hope.  This is something I find hard to do yet I know is tremendously important.  But if it was hard for such special people like Muhammed and Jesus, of course it is going to be hard for regular ol' me.

In a very practical sense, I was pondering this aspect of work, life, nothing being easy, last week.  I had a 14 mile long run.  I was looking forward to my long run thinking how I'd "enjoy"it, thinking it wouldn't be too hard, since I know I can do 20 miles, etc.  Then right before its time to go I've got butterflies in my stomach, while on the run the first few miles I felt heavy and sure enough by mile 12 I was taking walking breaks and crazed because I had finished my water early.  Its just never easy even when you know you can do more.  There is just so much struggle to anything that is a challenge.   I know this is obvious to most.  If I take the time to train myself to do what ever I want, it WILL be hard but I can succeed and there will always be something greater as a result.  

Challenge #1 is a physical challenge, the marathon, which by most accounts is the easiest form of challenge.  What will the the next challenge be?

Knowing I Can Finish

Last week's long run was supposed to be an 18 mile run.  My training partner was confused and planned a 20 mile route.  I had plenty of butterflies in my stomach over 18 miles so I suppose it was better to get the 20 mile run over with as a "surprise."  It was tough but I finished strong in 3 hours 13 minutes!

For so long my "push" point, the point were I'm struggling and take a few walk breaks to suck down my water, has been 10 miles.  I noted in my last post that I made it all the way to the half marathon point before hitting my "push" point.  I can report that its still increasing.  My Nike app was acting sporadically so I shut it off in frustration.  I would guess though that I did not hit my push point until I was in mile 19!!  In my soreness in the last few days, I'm realizing that I'm capable of finishing!  There is a pride in my heart that is already building up.

My only hope now is that I do not get injured in these last few weeks.  My left side has a slight ache that I'm familiar with so I'm going to make sure I do my IT band exercises.  I'm feeling so close already!

Sweet 16

Well, last week shook out pretty nicely.  I finished all my training runs, including my longest run ever of 16 miles.  I finally heard back from our contractor who should be coming today to fix the shower door.  The animal trapper is coming today to expel our squirrels and it is not costing an arm and a leg.  Mid week was kind of rocky but the week ended nicely with a great weekend.

I am loving Hal Higdon's training plan.  This week has started like last with a short run on the treadmill.    Like most people, I tend to run much faster on the treadmill and it is really making an impact on my pace.  The first 11 miles of my long run were all in the low nine minute per mile range!  At the half marathon point I was at 2:01 hours which is only slightly off 1:58 (my best half marathon time to date). The last three miles of the 16 were brutal and I ended up run/walking those last three BUT its still an improvement from my usual come a part after ten miles!  So my "push" point has definitely increased.  The run took a lot out of me, probably did not help that I ended up finishing a mile away from home and so still had a long walk.  Next up is research nutrition and power gels.

Can't wait to see our contractor and get the shower door fixed.  I will be so disappointed if he can't do it.  The only thing that could make my domestic life better at this point is if one of these squirrels gets trapped in the trap that our neighbor lent us.  We are so overrun with squirrels, its insane or at least its making me go insane.  Last night I opened my front door with my 2 year old in my arms (she insists on a walk in the carriage to fall asleep) and a squirrel (at least I think it was a squirrel) jumped out of her carriage!!  The trapper comes this afternoon to set up a one way door so the squirrels get out of the hole they chewed in our soffit.  Next we plug up the holes and pray they never come back.  I do not like all this nature to close to me.

Class #2 of Sunday school went great.  I have 9 kids (one is my own kid) in class.  I feel really good about the fact that literally half of the kids (not including my own, of course) in my class have told their parents that they really like my class and the parents were nice enough to tell me.  I feel like I am definitely on the right path with the teaching.  I followed the same format as last week with a coloring page, workbook pages, then circle time, followed by talking about a saint's life with complimentary activity.  Workbook went a little long this week because I wanted to do three chapters to finish the unit but the saint activity was too short.  The kids seemed really excited for circle time.  Last week I noticed not everyone was into the singing so this week I brought in maracas.  Maracas were a big hit!  So lucky I had them left over from a birthday party.  They seemed to help the kids remember the words of the songs more.  Finally, everyone participated in "pop quiz" time where I just go over the key points of the lesson and everyone gets to yell the answer.  This week we talked about St. Francis (patron saint of animals, I think), there was a bit of an animal theme since our workbook work was "Creation of Animals" so the kids got to act out their favorite animal and we all guessed what it was.  I can't tell if I'm an awesome teacher or I just got a great group of kids.  They are so enthusiastic about everything!

Condo Living

Why do people want houses?  Why was I one of those people?

I feel like you work so hard to do things for your house and in the end I just wonder if its ever worth the time and effort and MONEY!  Its hard to feel like a house is anything more than a money pit when so much is said about the terrible economy.  Thankfully there's news of strengthening in the housing sector.  Yah!  Does that mean sell or does it mean get the new roof and windows?

The largest expense/improvement on our house was the bathroom renovation.  This morning the shower door from the renovation BROKE!  So agrevating!   I left a message with our contractor, the contractor who was against us putting the door in the first place, to please come and take a look at it.  Hopefully he calls back and its nothing big.

On to frustration #2, about a year ago we heard something scratching on the house.  I had an exterminator come and look around.  He found nothing.  Our next door neighbor had squirrels in their attic and decided to trap squirrels.  They just put a trap on a picnic table next to their house and caught all the neighborhood squirrels or at least a lot of them.  Our scratching stopped.  Then in August I saw a squirrel climb up my house (not a tree, my house) and into a hole behind the rain gutter.  I googled a few things, realized that part of the roof is the soffit.  Called the exterminators and they don't capture squirrels unless they are actually in your attic.  I called two roofers, they do the work after you have the squirrels trapped.  Ugh!  Frustration.  Cost.  For what?  Everything I already have!  Just so I can use what I have.

I am so happy that a "trapper" called me back today and is coming tomorrow.  He even repairs the holes in your house when he's done.  One stop shopping, I like.  I'm scared to know how much he's going to charge.

T-8 Weeks to Marathon

T-8 weeks, runs 4-8-4-16 miles

Pretty excited that my mom came over last night and I was able to do this week's 8 mile "medium" run, average pace 9:30.  I felt pretty good afterwards too.  8 doesn't seem so far anymore, delusional marathon thinking is starting to sink in!!!  I made plans for my mother-in-law to babysit on Friday to do the big 16 mile run.  I should be able to fit in the two little 4 milers on the treadmill at the YMCA while I drop the kids at their classes.  I can do this!!!

Reflection

Loved looking down at this leaf and seeing a "mirror image" of the sky and tree branches.

Sunday School

Some ups and downs lately.  Week 13 I miss the long run but officially registered for the Philadelphia Marathon.  Week 14 I did my longest run ever, 15 miles, but missed a 3 mile run.  Promising myself this week I will get all 4 of my runs in this week, including my 16 mile long run!

This was the kick off week of Sunday school.  I signed up my kindergartener son for Sunday school not realizing it was NOT mandatory.  I then got guilted into becoming a volunteer teacher through frequent e-mails begging for volunteers.  If I'm being honest, it was not a hard sell.  Since I do want to be a teacher this is a fabulous way to test the waters.  Plus, I do want to talk to my kids about God but I have no idea how to just start talking about God to them.  Extremely happy that I signed my kid up AND that I am teaching.  It was really fun to meet the class.  I have ten kids in the class and they all like to laugh and have plenty to say.  I think we are in for a great year (I hope!).

I had to send out a very informative e-mail about sign outs and book replacement costs, on and on with all the nitty gritty.  Then I had to come up with a lesson plan - not too difficult.  It was interesting to see how it all shakes out with the kids because even when you have a plan you have no idea what is going to take more or less time.  I was surprised at how all of them worked on the coloring page and cut out.  I thought for sure someone would quickly scribble the whole thing and want to move on to something else but no one did.  Spent extra time on the coloring and less time on the circle time I planned where we listened to music and danced.  I closed the class with reading about a saint while they worked on a complimentary activity.  This week it was St. Vincent DePaul and we talked a little bit about giving and sacrifice while the kids cut out "coupons" stating they would help mom set the table or play with a sibling.  Hopefully they got something out of it!  I know I am getting something out of it.  I find it is very affirming to think about religion, especially my own, in very simple terms.  It reminds me of where all the goodness comes from rather than agonizing over all the more complex aspects I feel conflicted over.

This was also the second week of soccer and I'm so glad I did NOT volunteer for this again.  They actually aren't having parent coaches this year, just parent managers.  Just keeping the team informed about fields and stuff along those lines.  And class mom this year, I think I got a pass!  Although I may still be asked/picked for someone's class.   All in all, I'm liking my projects for the fall a lot and my kids seem to be liking their activities!

15 Mile Long Run - DONE

Feeling very accomplished after running 15 miles today.  My Nike app decided to pause at 3.48 miles unbeknownst to me since I heard that British lady (app voice) jabbering the whole time anyway.  I don't have the confirmation or the splits.  I was assured it was a 15 mile route and regardless my butt ran for 2 hours and 22 minutes.

My original training plan was 5-6 miles 3 times a week plus a long run.  I've decided to throw out the old plan and in these last 8 weeks follow Hal Higdon's plan.  While the weekly mileage for each plan is not all that different.  Hal's mid week runs are varied in distance, say  4, 7, 3 miles.  This will work a little better for me and my schedule because I HATE THE TREADMILL!!!!  I can plan to do a 3 mile run on a treadmill day but on a babysitter day do a slightly longer run.  Plus, if I'm running 10 miles mid week perhaps I will trick myself into thinking that's not so far by race day.  We'll see.

I'm getting really pumped and thinking we REALLY need to book a hotel room pronto...

8 weeks until Marathon Madness

I officially signed up for the Philadelphia Marathon last week.  Training has been going well so I was feeling confident enough to sign up.  Sure enough, this week was so busy that I missed my long run for the first time in all the 13 weeks of training!  I'm hopeful week 14 will go better as I will attempt my longest run ever of 15 miles.

This week was my son's first soccer game of the season.  Its always fun to see who is on his team.  Very excited to see a few parents that I recognize from other activities, sometimes makes it easier to make friends with people.  Anyway, one of these acquaintance mom's is training for NY marathon.  She was at the game after running a whopping 20 miles!  Now I'm starting to wonder if my training plan is enough.  She still has another 20 mile long run before her marathon, plus she's doing 10 mile runs mid week.  I have only 15, 18, 20 mile long runs before the taper begins and my mid week runs are at most 6 miles.  Will it be enough?

I've decided to only worry about this after I see how I feel after the 15 this week.  In my original training plan it was supposed to be 16 but now I feel like I should cut back a little since I missed my 10 mile long run last week.  I'm running my long run with an experienced marathoner so hopefully she'll have some advice for me.

Butterfly Show

Back at the beach and about to take a run. Debating whether I should do 4 or 5 miles and all these butterflies dancing in this bush/tree stole my attention.

Best Summer Project EVER

Our gardening efforts...

This is the replacement tree we picked (after we took down the huge one).  It is a crab apple that has pretty pale pink blossoms in the spring and red berries in the fall.  Right now it is fighting a fungus (probably the same one my roses had that one summer).  It just needs to hang in there until next year when we can take the preventative measures in early spring.

The pumpkin is growing fast.  I just moved a bunch of the annuals that were planted near it so the vine could spread out.  I showed my kids a video of still shots of a pumpkin growing.  Now my 4 year old knows that we planted pumpkin seeds, we go out every morning to check out the pumpkin flowers but somehow not until she saw that video did she understand we are growing our own pumpkin for halloween!  She was thrilled.

The bees LOVE our garden.

We really have very little full sun spots to plant in our yard.  When we took that tree down in the front we finally saw a full sun spot, the hell strip.  The hell strip is the strip between the curb and the street.  I highly recommend it as a gardening spot if you want to meet all your neighbors.  Since everyone walks by and admires our work although I have to admit still don't remember peoples' names.  Today's most loverly surprise is the white flower growing out of this plant with pink leaves that I think is called Caladium.

Managed to find new homes for the annual along the walk.

The Kid With the Fish Had Enough

While on vacation I was really trying to think about "enough" and what it means in my life.  I happened to go to church without the kids which means, I got to go to church and listen.  The reading was about Jesus' miracle of multiplying the fish and bread in order to feed a crowd that came to hear him speak.  Remember this one?

A crowd of thousands comes to hear Jesus' sermon and then get hungry.  The apostles can only round up a few fish and some bread from a kid.  They tell Jesus we don't have enough to feed the crowd.  They suggest that Jesus send everyone home.  Then Jesus tells them to bring the food they have to him and he performs a miracle by multiplying the food to feed the crowd with tons left over.

Anyway, I had heard it before and the notable take aways from the scripture are usually (1) Jesus rocks because he takes care of his flock even if it takes a miracle, etc.  (2) Apostles often seem kind of bumbling in this story as they could only round up a few fish and few loaves from a kid and encourage Jesus to send everyone home.  The priest usually draws parallels between us and the apostles, aren't we so short sighted, we should always leave things in God's hands, etc.  This time the priest focused on the kid with the fish!!

The kid with the fish had ENOUGH.  No one knew it was enough for a crowd BUT he offered it up to God and it was multiplied.  The priest reminded all of us that God has given all of us through our talents, time, what ever more than enough, we just have to offer it up and it'll be multiplied.

Pumpkin!

Creating Enough

I feel like I'm in such a good place in my life.  Lately, I've been using the mantra from the Secrets "I am the creator of my experience" when I get stressed out.  I find it empowering to think of life this way.  I still lose it when something outrageous happens with the kids like today I found my almost 2 year old covered in my lipstick, head to toe, and the upholstered chair she was sitting on.  I have my outburst of anger but then it quickly dissipates.

I'm feeling much less interested in my weight.  I officially unsubscribed from WW.  I still think it was a worthwhile experience BUT its really hard for me to keep tabs on my food in that manor.  I have actually taken to not weighing myself at all.  Since I've been reading Secrets its making me think that weight gain/loss, the dreaded number what ever it is, is such a small way to look at things.  My cardiologist told me my weight was fine (despite the fact that my BMI is 27).  So if they tell me I'm healthy why obsess over a number?  I should be thinking of bigger things, like creating happiness or enjoying the happiness that's already around me.  If I live like an unselfish cell like Chopra describes in the book, I'd curb any over eating.  Right? Normally, I'd think this is crazy but I feel like its working.  For now, I'll just enjoy my clothes fitting the way I like (not too tight) and that will be enough.

Feeling, Thinking, Action, Being

More notes from the Book of Secrets by Deepak Chopra...


What you seek you already are.


Feeling  points the way when ever you experience and express love.  Love of self and family merge into love of humanity.

Thinking points the way when your mind stops being restless.  You silence your internal dialogue in order to find clarity and stillness.  Clarity for your mind to see it does not have to be so driven.  Thinking -->Knowledge-->Wisdom (personal questions fade)

Action Whenever you surrender by acting selflessly.  At beginning it is inescapable that you will be acting for yourself because, even if you try to be completely selfless, you will be earning self satisfaction.  In time action detaches from ego.  Doing becomes motivated by an outside force - Dharma


Being when ever you cultivate a self beyond ego.

Achilles Tendonitis Update

Ran an easy 4 miles yesterday and then iced my ankles. I felt good during the run but started to feel a slight pain during mile 3. Looked back at my splits and sure enough that was my fastest mile at 8:34. I'm guessing this is an intensity issue.

Nonetheless I am happy with the improvement I'm feeling from icing so I will continue to do so. Today I decided to do my long run of 7 miles since it wasn't crazy hot. It actually rained as in downpour during the run which was sort of heavenly in a refreshing but squishy sneaker sort of way.

Rest, More Important Than One Realizes

17th in my age group out of over 100 women! Feeling very happy with my effort, finished 5 miles in just over 42 minutes.  The course was certified 5 miles and yet my GPS measured 5.25 miles, must investigate.  I think this is a common issue with devices.  I was hopeful for my 40 minute goal when I saw my pace was in the low 8 minute range but the actual pace was more like 8:30.  Despite this, I'm happy because I really feel like I pushed myself to go a little harder than normal and I definitely did.

I ran an easy 3 miles the next day to complete week 4 of training!  My left ankle/heel was bothering me though.  I read about what this could be and I think its achilles tendonitis.  Rest and ice are the only things to do for it.  Rest is easy on vacation which I am.  I found an old Hal Higdon book about marathon training and just read about how rest is more important than most runners realize.  Hopefully after 3 days of rest, I'll be OK for todays's 4 mile easy run. Bring on Week 5!!

On Your Mark, Get Set, Go!

I signed up for a 5 mile race on Saturday.  I'm kind of excited for it.  My times have been pretty amazing for me.  I do think my GPS is screwing something up or maybe I should be trying out for the olympics.  I think its more likely a GPS issue.  Anyway, my pace (I think) has been in the low eight minute/mile range.  

I did a 4 mile race a month ago but I was not prepared for it.  I haven't done a shorter distance and been prepared in a long while.  Last week I ran 5 miles in under 40 minutes according to my phone but mile 4 time was less than 6 minutes which I know is not possible for me.  I have run this race before, its flat but very sunny and crowded.  I am hoping to finish as close to 40 minutes as I can.

Creating my Perception

More notes/excerpts from pages 34-36ish of Deepak Chopra's Book of Secrets 


Perception is the world; the world is perception.  The only personal stake worth having is the ability to create freely with full awareness of how reality making works.  Being a creator is more important than the whole world.

Pure Consciousness, because it underlies everything, is pure potential for all creation.  Do I want to be a victim of the 5 senses or a co-creator?  Eventually someone has to ask "Who am I who is doing all this thinking?"  That question leads to pure awareness.  Awareness is all that changes in the journey from separation to one reality.

On the Hunt for Calamine Lotion and Poison Ivy

I'm still itchy but I decided to educate myself on what the heck to look for in my yard that could be some rash inducing plant.  I used this website's tips on identifying poison ivy http://www.electricant.net/projects/poisonivy/

Went outside to look for leaves of three and saw them all over but mostly in my neighbor's yard.

  Leaves of 3 but I'm not so sure.

Leaves of 3 and I'm thinking this is poison ivy.  Do I mention it to my neighbor?

I think this is it and the exact one I may have gotten my rash from because I yanked a bunch of weeds out of this area near my roses.  Its not actually in my yard, so I guess I deserve it.  How my neighbor has not pointed this out to me is beyond me since they know what poison ivy looks like AND its directly in front of their house.  I'm gardening all the time they could just say I saw some and I'm gonna spray it or something, right?

 This is upsetting.  This too looks like poison ivy BUT its in MY garden right underneath 

my elephant ear!

Another view of the same suspect plant, now how to get rid of it?

Another possible poison ivy plant although I can't really tell yet.

Plus I see it in various spots along our fence with the neighbor.  Next google search, how to get rid of poison ivy without killing your plants!

Beware of Gardening

I can't sleep.  I'm too itchy.  I've been itchy for several days actually.  I figured I had poison ivy but I wasn't sure since I've never had it before.  Plus shouldn't it be subsiding by now?  I've been itchy for about 2 weeks and it just seems to be getting worse.  Tonight since I can't go to sleep I googled "itchy red skin rash"  I scared the crap out of myself.  Were there mites somewhere?   Do I have shingles (my grandma had them back in May)?  I had no idea so many things could cause a skin rash.  After more searching and looking at my rash, which is a few tiny blister like bumps on my fingers and then a red rash on my sides, I have self diagnosed myself as having poison oak.  I figure that I weeded it out, hence touching the plant, direct contact is the blisters on my fingers.  I likely rested my hands on my hips/sides and got the toxic itchy stuff on my clothes!  The rash appears in your thicker skin later so it really is getting worse but probably still from the original exposure.  This could last up to 6 weeks!!!  I can think of several suspect plants in the yard most of which are in my neighbor's "garden" (more like weed garden) behind my rose bushes.  I suppose I could say they warned me BUT they could also get it out of their yard.  There is so much irony in the fact that I've been gardening so much to avoid using the computer and then I end up using the computer to diagnose my gardening poison exposure.  I'll ponder that while I itch.

RIP Purple K-Swiss

Falling

During my 3 mile "easy" run on Tuesday I wiped out on the sidewalk. I usually run a different route where I run on the street but in the pursuit of a more shady route I changed it up. As I ran down Main Street, I see an old lady with a cane walking. I was thinking, "I hope I don't scare her by coming up so quickly from behind, poor old lady looks like she can't even turn around." Then splat! Apparently she couldn't turn around because she didn't look to see what the THUD was behind her (thud being the sound my body made hitting the sidewalk). Bloody knees and all I completed my run even though I was injured at 0.5 miles into the run.

I definitely sprained my wrist too. So today I'm walking in my same running sneakers and I fell AGAIN! Reopened the scab on my knee. This time I fell while carrying my 21 month old baby. Took me a little time to check on myself and baby. She was totally fine since I took the brunt of the fall.

I feel really beat up right now. Pretty sure I'm throwing out the sneakers.

How it all fits together

Nature just amazes me when I take the time to admire it.

Everyone is a Creator.

The Book of Secrets by Deepak Chopra is amazing and I'm only 55 pages into the book!  It says right on the cover "Unlocking the hidden dimensions of your life" and I have to say if I can really implement any of the secrets it could be nothing less than opening a new dimension from within.  Only read about 4 of the 15 secrets but I am hopeful that the next 11 will be just as intriguing as the first 4.

Each night I get into bed and try my best to read 5-10 pages.  I have to keep notes.  Deepak uses such interesting examples to discuss things but I don't want to lose sight of the main thought or fact to consider and meditate on.  There are actual exercises in meditation at the end of each chapter but I have not really done those yet.

I will be posting some or all of my notes/quotes from the book that I find interesting or I'm still pondering.

Roughly around page 22...
Everyone is a creator.  The mystery of how it (everyone's own creation/life/reality) meshes together is the very thing that makes people seek spiritual answers.  As creators we generate the good and bad of our experience.

Marathon Motivation

About 8 minutes after finishing the half marathon back in May a friend suggested going for a full and I immediately said "YES!"  I don't know why I can't drop this dream or bucket list item.  Its so much time and so demanding on your body.  I just have so much respect for anyone that can complete a marathon.  I mean "WOW!" running 26.2 miles, holy cow!  Rock star!

I want it and I'm going for it.  I said this would be the year for the full marathon and so all I can do is try.  I have started the 22 week training plan AGAIN.  I started it back in December aiming for a May marathon but my IT band was acting up and I needed to take a couple weeks off and a couple more going easy.  Now, my sights are set on the Philadelphia Marathon November 18th.  I just completed week 2 of training and I'm feeling good.

Disappointment

Just received a letter from the school I applied to that they may not be running the program if they don't have enough students.  I'm researching other programs.

Joy of Gardening

Always the most amazing sight - my roses with their first of the season blooms.

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These are two of the many new bulbs we planted this season.  The bloom lasts only one day but then another bud appears, in all five blooms with each bulb.  Definitely beautiful but I wish I had planted them in more of a cluster so I will be moving them in the fall.

Of all the new bulbs, this is the surprise favorite, elephant ear.  Its been really fun to watch it grow with the kids.  We're all taken with how the leaves manage to balance water each morning and make it look like a glass marble on top of the leaf.

Working on Progress

For the last few days we've been visiting my in-laws, so its been pretty easy to cut down on snacking and computer use.  Its also really easy to fit in my runs since there are other grown ups to watch the kids.  Feel like I'm making progress on all the fronts.

I went to the library last week and decided on Deepak Chopra's "Book of Secrets."  I'm only 20 pages in but the book is giving me a lot to think about.  I really like it but I find I reread things several times to really let it sink in.

Making Goal List Shorter by Accomplishing

Another half marathon accomplished in under two hours!  Despite the hilly course and extra 15lbs that I can't seem to lose, I got a personal best of 1 hour 58 minutes!  I had so much momentum going into this race.  I felt like I'd been training for so long.  My times were looking good.  I felt great finishing and loved feeling so prepared for the race itself.  While running the halfer, I was thinking, "This is perfect.  This is challenging and enough.  I don't need to do a full."  Then I crossed the finish line and within minutes some one mentioned doing a full marathon and I volunteered to train with them.  Monday I start training for the Philadelphia Marathon in November.  Ahh!!!  I had the same feeling as the last half marathon, that the training meant more to me than the race.  I proved to myself that I could work through some issues/injuries and disappointment (13.1 not 26.2 miles).

The half marathon was May 20th and then I proceeded to take a break from running.  I did one little race in town that I was secretly hoping back when I was regularly training for the half marathon to finish in the top 10 for my age group.  Running after not doing any thing for 3 weeks was awful!  I felt terrible running it.  Luckily, one of my mommy friends motivated me and I managed to stay close to her.  I miraculously finished 10th in my age group!  I was more excited about that than the half marathon results.  Go figure!

Anyway, instead of running this last month I've been doing lots of gardening.  Its been so great.  The kids are so involved and interested in what's growing.  I love it!   I feel like I've been doing a lot of thinking about technology and how it ends up sucking time away from productive things or just thinking. I mean for a stay at home mom I look at the computer a lot in the day yet I don't feel very informed about much.  What the heck am I wasting my time looking at a screen?  I really need to stick to some tasks that must be accomplished and specific places to read my news and just get off and stay off the computer.  Chances are I won't miss anything.  Gardening has been a wonderful way to keep myself away from checking my phone or looking online.  I hate my bad habits and worse they are so hard to get rid of!  This week I'm going to start shutting down the computer instead of it just being left on.

My poor eating habits have really caught up with me in the form of a very unflattering Facebook picture posted by my husband, no less!!!  What was he thinking!?  Anyway, I realize I could just take the tag off but I'm leaving it on as a punishment/motivation to myself to get going on losing the 15lbs already!  WW has not been doing it for me.  I sometimes go to the meetings where I don't find the leader motivating (I miss my retired old leader).  I have not done any of the points stuff or tracking.  I'm still a believer in WW its just that you have to actually work the plan.  I'm thinking about just doing the online version and getting my own scale, perhaps this week.

Drum roll, please.  The really big news....  I finished my application for school in the fall to become a Montessori teacher.  I still have to mail or e-mail all the different parts but its all filled out.  I sent out all my requests for recommendations and transcripts and I wrote up my personal statement.  It feels really good to have that done.  Really good.

Springing into Spring 2012

How is that I sit down to write and it seems so much yet nothing is going on?

Let's see the HOUSE... just removed a huge tree and had the rest pruned.  I had such angst over it.  I've been getting estimates for about one year.  So many of these tree people didn't call back or dealing with town hall to get a permit stymied the process, plus it was mixed as to whether the tree was sick or not.  Finally yesterday, the tree was removed.  It was a commotion on the block, small children came to watch as well as old timers marvel at the huge tree coming down piece by piece.  It was sad for some while others looked on in glee.  My one treeless neighbor asked for a few more branches to be trimmed which kind of annoyed me that she approached the tree man rather than me directly.  I heard a story about one neighbor taking down a tree while another neighbor said, "You should move to Staten Island if you hate trees so much!"  Ahh, the suburbs where a person is normal only until they feel like showing you their craziness.   With the last cut into the stump all my angst vanished with the sight of the huge carpenter ant hole at the base of the tree.  The tree was leaning towards the house so with the hole in the base who knows when it would have struck the house.  Good decision made and now I'm researching tree replacements.  What will the next major house project be?  Window replacements or driveway repaving, maybe new kitchen, plenty of options or perhaps we'll just move and abandon this house.

MOVING... As always no decision is made.  I thought moving to Atlanta was done and off the table.  We weren't as excited about it after our second visit down there in February.  Nothing specifically was different but what once was a pro -- newer house in established neighborhood -- turned into a con when we started really looking closely and realized there's still a lot that needs to turn over.  Alas I think our thinking was also colored by losing lots of money on this house.  The market has since "picked up" so now we're thinking we may have over estimated our potential loss.  Atlanta is not completely off the table yet.  We're still watching our home town too.  We're still paying tuition as if we're staying so who the heck knows?!

HUSBAND... we stayed overnight in NYC sans kids.  I love these occasional nights where we can get away and be alone.  Really gives you time to reconnect since our normal conversations are usually interrupted and fragmented.  As usual we couldn't decide on where to go.  I was put in charge of getting us a room and essentially deciding where to stay on the day of check in no less.  Found a great app called "Hotel Tonight" and booked a room at the Smyth in Tribeca.  They upgraded us to a king suite.  I loved it, definitely the best hotel I've staying in NYC (I'm sold on a good hotel bar).  My husband was in charge of booking dinner and he also had a great pick in Megu.  Really fun night.

We also got a second car.  A real "dad car" so my husband can avoid commuting on NJ Transit.  I need to learn to drive a manual, he assures me its "more fun."  Anyway, its been working out quite nicely during the week with him leaving extra early but getting to the gym at work yet he still gets home in the evening about the same time.  Plus its been nice for me too since sometimes we need to be in two different places on the weekends.

KIDS... just had teachers conferences and the two big kids are doing great.  I finally got to reap the rewards of being class mom and go on the class trip to the planetarium.  It was really cute.  I also planned the St Pat's presentation for my son's class where we showed everyone how to Irish Step dance.  Everybody liked it!  My son and daughter have both been taking lessons and I was thrilled when my son got up to show everyone his steps.  While standing in the hallway I happen to see my 3 year old daughter's teacher who told me my daughter shared her dancing with her class.  My heart nearly burst with pride that she at 3 years old would have that kind of poise to share her dancing with 28 other kids!  The baby's language is exploding as she continues to shock me by speaking in complete sentences at merely 18 months!  Kids are doing great and I need to figure out summer activities and a birthday party and vacation asap.

ME...  Well, I had to put my marathon training on hold while I saw the physical therapist and rested my IT band.  Taking three weeks off from training and then another few weeks to get me back to where I was means that I will not be able to do the May full marathon I was originally training for.  It also means that I have to wait until the fall if I want to do a full one.  I have resumed training and I'm hoping to do a half marathon in May.  I have no idea if I can keep up the momentum until the fall to get the full marathon in this year.  I was really hoping to complete that goal this year.  We'll see.  The half training has been going steadily.  I've just changed my training plan by opting for a run 3 days a week with a cross training (swim) day rather than running 4 days a week.  It's been going well and I really do feel like I get a lot more out of the run physically and mentally by running outside rather than the treadmill, plus I really enjoy the swim day.  I would like to complete the half in less than two hours but I don't hold out much hope since I did a course preview run and its far from flat.  I've also joined Weight Watchers again because I've gained like 15lbs!  I'm not totally into it yet but I know once I truly commit to it, I'll get the results I want.

Socially, I feel like I'm making more friends.  Thank God, since we have been living here 4 years and I don't think my husband and I are social mutants.  My husband and I have even been out twice for dinner with other parent friends.  Perhaps there's hope for us to become more connected to here and not move.  My neighbor and I have decided to start a wine and cheese play date on Friday afternoons.  Looking forward to Friday already!

Book Review: Water for Elephants

Cute book.  I liked it.  I liked that I was able to read it quickly because I enjoyed the story.  It wasn't so good I couldn't put it down in my usual obsessive way with a great book.  Wonder what the movie was like?  Final review:  Good, not great.

Bump in the Marathon Road

I should be in Week 10 of training.  Week 8's highlight was getting over the soreness from Week 7's long run (9 miles).  I blamed the increased soreness on the treadmill since I normally do my long runs outside.  I completed the Week 8 training and long run (10 miles, stats in previous post) but the soreness was so strong last week that I didn't loosen up on two shorter runs I attempted in Week 9, I rested the rest of Week 9.  It was hurting to walk.  The pain was mostly in my hip which is a major concern to me since last time I trained for a marathon (9 years ago) I got a stress fracture in my hip.

Week 9 went like this Monday 3 miles, Tuesday 4 miles but felt really heavy and tight.   Rested Wednesday. Rested Thursday.  There go my two rest days and still hurting.  Finally Friday, the tenderness moved down my leg a little and while it still was causing me pain, it was not in my hip or while walking as much.  The tenderness sort of moved down the back of my leg and now it's mostly on the outside of my knee, sort of just above the knee.  There goes my training plan!

I went to see the physical therapist yesterday and was given some exercises for strengthening the IT band and loosening the hip flexors.  Things that potentially contributed to my injury:
(1) Running my base (and shorter runs) on the treadmill yet doing the long runs outside, perhaps some muscles are not built up enough on the treadmill but then I am consecutively pounding them on the long runs
(2)  I always run with the traffic.  I thought that was the safest way and probably is for not getting injured by a car but not necessarily true for injuring yourself.   Apparently the slope of the road (or any uneven surface) is more taxing on one side of your body so it is important to alternate sides of the road and run in the middle when you can.  Who knew?
(3) I'm slightly misaligned which I don't know exactly what that means.

I've read a little about the injury and perhaps my marathon hopes/plans/dreams are not dead yet!  Must rest and do the exercises for the rest of the week perhaps do some cardio, either the bike or swimming.  Hoping that one more week of no running and keeping the cardio up will ensure that when I start running things will be well on the road to recovery.  I'm already telling myself that while these may not be the most taxing weeks running-wise, this is my marathon test.  Do I want it? YES! How bad?  Willing to do what it takes to MAKE IT HAPPEN (without injury, of course).  I will MAKE IT HAPPEN.  Must write this on a note and stick on my mirror as positive reinforcement!

Marathon Training Week 8 Long Run

Date: 01/28/2012 Type: Run Distance: 10 miles Time: 1 hr 36 min 33 secs Average pace: 9:39 min/miles Route: 2012-01-24 at 11 AM Calories: 1264

Thoughts on Moving

Moving is something my husband and I talk about nearly everyday but in the last month we took a break from our relocation thoughts.  The break was nice since often I feel like our conversations just seem to take us in a circle.  However it took only one snowfall for our conversation to turn back to moving to Atlanta.

We're in a starter home and in the near future we will be bursting out of the house.  There are three options:
(1) Add on to the house which was our original hope when we bought this house
(2) Move to a completely new place with better weather/less snow among other pros, Atlanta area is likely but we cross no city off the list
(3) Move to our hometown where we have lots of family around but wouldn't be that different in terms of our lifestyle from our current NJ town since we only live about a half hour drive away from said hometown.

What to do?

Week 7 Long Run Complete

I did the 9 miles and the treadmill is my new best friend, NOT!

I did it mostly at a 7.0 mi/hr pace and I'm sore now (24 hours later).  While running on the treadmill is so boring, it definitely relieves me of the water dilemma and the bitter cold.  All in all not so bad but I can't see spending more than 80 minutes on a treadmill ever.  Even the treadmill makes you stop after 60 minutes and start it up again.  I was waiting for the someone in the gym to ask me to get off the treadmill for the last 30 minutes or so since there is a 30 minute max but no one was waiting.  Plus I noticed someone else doing the exact same thing (running a really long time and restarting the machine only to run some more).  So glad its over because today I came down with a cold.

Marathon Training Week 7 - Water Dilemma

Things have been going really well with the training.  When I run on the treadmill my pace is low 8 min/mile and outside runs usually 9:30ish pace (crazy hills in my neighborhood plus cold equals slower pace).  Last week I survived my 8 mile long run and today I have a 9 mile long run planned.  Very nervous because it is bitter cold!

I'm feeling like I should plan to drink a little water at some point during my run.  I've read and spoken to lots of people suggesting that you drive around and leave water for yourself in the necessary random place. I think this is so weird and can't get comfortable with this idea.  Lots of runners apparently do this.  Huh?  I don't get it, how do I know someone walking a dog didn't let the animal pee on it or tamper with it in some other way.  I suppose I could just buy a belt with small water bottles that attach or a backpack water thing but those must be annoying to wear (and frankly when I see people wearing especially the backpack I think they are nuts).  For right now, I am going to leave water in front of my own house and just do loops.  Perhaps, I'll invest in some other water drinking equipment to run with but since I just purchased new sneakers and sports bras plus I still have to pay the registration for the marathon, I'm feeling like my inexpensive hobby is costing me too much money this month.

So planned babysitter had to cancel, could I possibly run 9 miles on the treadmill today?  I may try...