Friday, November 25, 2005

Sorta a race report

Thursday, I ran the Greenspring Valley Turkey Trot in snowy 30 degree weather. A totally relaxed race, no numbers, no timers, no mile markers, no water on the course - just show up, write a check for charity (Crohns/Colitis) and run. It was hilly, my legs felt like lead, I had the beginnings of a cold, and despite all my preparation, I was as slow as ever, but I did finish. The best things about the race were (1) I got to give Brooks Robinson a kiss before I ran, and (2) there was turkey, pie, and birthday cake afterwards.

Next up, a Jingle Bell 5K in a couple of weeks that I plan to run run run, and see where my 5K time is these days. Then maybe the Worcester Main Street Mile on NYE day, if I'm in town. The race sign-up notes it is for "serious runners only." Do I qualify if I'm laughing across the entire course?

Friday, November 18, 2005

Look Who's Turning Two!


Among the many things I will be giving thanks for on Thursday is my darling nephew, who turns two on that day (the pic above is from his first birthday party). I can't believe how fast this year has passed, and how smart and funny and loving this little boy is. When his Mom's cell phone rings, he asks for Aunt-ee. The conversation usually goes like this: "Hi Aunt-ee, Love you Aunt-ee, Miss You Aunt-ee, Auntie Rocks!" Then kisses are blown, and he says bye-bye. Of course, I can't get enough!

So, I'm heading out tomorrow for the first of his several parties, then "home" to Baltimore for the holiday, to reconnect with family and friends, and even to race a fun turkey trot. May you all have a safe, peaceful, and blessed holiday. See you in a bit . . .

Thursday, November 17, 2005

Almost Home

I saw my life this morning
Lying at the bottom of a drawer
All this stuff I'm saving
God knows what this junk is for
And whatever I believed in
This is all I have to show
What the hell were all reasons
For holding on for such dear life
Here's where I let go

I'm not running
I'm not hiding
I'm not reaching
I'm just resting in the arms of the great wide open
Gonna pull my soul in
And I'm almost home

So why is a Mary Chapin Carpenter song relevant to today? A couple of reasons, really. I was gritting my teeth through the last couple of miles of today's 7 miler, and the song popped into my head. I love the song, and started singing it, to motivate myself to get home without stopping. I was also thinking about Emma, my little kitty, who has been sick and in the hospital. After my run, I was going to be able to head to the Vet's to pick her up and bring her home. Finally, I was thinking about the week ahead and the Thanksgiving holiday. All next week I'll be "home" in Baltimore, visiting with family and friends. I haven't been back for that much time in quite a while, so I'm looking forward to it!

Tuesday, November 15, 2005

All Yoga All The Time

With apologies to my yoga friends, whom I promise to reconnect with soon

I've been a yogini since I discovered yoga during my last year of law school. I faithfully practiced for the next 4 years, taking classes at a great studio in Takoma Park, or doing my own home-based practice. When I moved to Boston in 1999, my practice slipped. I've never found a studio I liked, and the gym-based classes I took were, in a word, awful. As my practice disappeared, I got heavier, unhappier, and so much less flexible.

Yoga was the first step back for me on the path to weight loss, and physical and emotional health and strength. Yoga is known for supporting weight loss, yoga keeps me centered, yoga keeps my knees and hips from aching as I pound out more miles than ever before (18, this week!), and yoga keeps my body and my mind supple and strong. Lately however, my practice has disappeared again. I think about it all the time, but I never actually get to my mat. It is no small coincidence that as my yoga has slipped, so has my mental discipline regarding eating, training, and practice.

A wise yogi once said that the hardest part of yoga is getting on the mat. Today, I'm committing to getting on the mat every morning with at least 20 minutes of practice. No NPR, no tea, no breakfast, until I've honored my body and my mind first. 20 minutes is easy: it's 2 pushes of the snooze button; the time to check overnight emails; making a good cup of tea; or checking the weather and the traffic. It could lead to a longer and deeper practice too, if the mind is open to receive that gift.

I'm about to go pop Rodney Yee's sweet AM Yoga into the machine, and take care of myself. Won't you grab your mat (or use my extra one) and join me? It could be the best thing you do for yourself all day!

Some of my favorite yoga resources:

Video/DVD
Ali McGraw's classic, Yoga Mind & Body w/ Erich Schiffman
Rodney Yee & Patricia Walden, AM/PM Yoga for Beginners
Rodney Yee Yoga for Energy
Bryan Kest Power Yoga
And I want to try IronYoga, with Anthony Carillo

Books
Judith Lasater's 30 Essential Poses
A Woman's Book of Yoga & Health, Linda Sparrowe, Patricia Walden, Judith Lasater
Yoga Abs, Judith Lasater
Moving Towards Balance, Rodney Yee
Yoga, The Spirit and Practice of Moving Into Stillness, Erich Schiffman

Monday, November 14, 2005

Moi


Ok, I still can't figure out how to add a photo to my profile, but I'm going to try to add a pic here, in a posting. If this works, the photo is me, on the eve of my first triathlon. Note the tri-virginal flowers in my hair ;-)

Dang, where did it go? Blogger says it was uploaded successfully . . .



Second attempt: I got a pic to upload and display, but its not the one I wanted. I wonder why the other one never appeared?



Sunday, November 13, 2005

Biking Infrequency

This afternoon I went out in the reasonably warm November sun to get in an easy bike ride. I had planned on 15-20, but I was too ambitious. I did the loop around Weir pond, and then made it up to the Yacht club and back taking the shortest route possible. Total, 12 miles at just over 13 mph. OK, I didn't work too hard after yesterday's run so I'm OK with the speed, but my saddle and even more my HANDS ached well before I was done. I've got to get out there more often, and/or get a trainer. I hadn't realized how hard it would be to ride in the cooler temps. The great summer spoiled me!

One positive note, I felt aerobically fit, which is a nice reminder that the running work is doing more than helping me run further.

Starving

I fueled well before my run yesterday, and tried to fuel my recovery as well, but by later afternoon I was starving, and, as always, that's how my days fall apart. Menu:

B: 3 Egg whites scrambled w/ RF cheese; WW english w/ smart balance lite, 1T cherry jam; tea w/ skim & sugar.
Run & Post-run: 1 serving accelerade; few bites of Power bar; 1 serving endurox.
L: 1C FF ricotta w/ 2T pumpkin butter; sprinkle of walnuts; veggie sausage.
D: Too much pizza; greek salad; 1 Sam Adams light; dark chocolate.
S: Hummus & veggies; cinny puffins.

Still too much sugar, not enough fruits and veggies, and the deathly pizza and chocolate. Something really bothered my tummy after my run too -- either the endurox or the lunch. Either way, I was too dang hungry and wanting salt at dinner time. After all that food, plus the normal post-big effort water retention, plus PMS (oh yeah, that doesn't help with good food choices, either), the scale screamed at me in anger this morning. so what did I do this morning -- before the grocery store I went out to brekky, and had blueberry pancakes and bacon.

Today is a new week, and I *will* make up that poor choice later today. Heading out on my bike in a bit. . .

Saturday, November 12, 2005

Long SLOW Distance

This morning, I totally surprised myself by completing my longest run ever, of 7 miles, without walk breaks, on a hilly route, and at a slightly faster pace than my previous longest run -- last month's 10K (90+ minutes of running). I kept my HR in the 150s (upper Z3/lower Z4) and didn't worry about time, which seems to be a good strategy for me. I felt great for most of the run, then a little woozy around mile 6, and then it didn't feel like my head was connected to my arms and legs at the end, but they did manage to respond to my order to sprint the last 100 yards.

It is a beautiful crisp, clear, sunny fall day at the beach, and I started off with hat, gloves, and a thermal layer under a LS shirt, plus tights. By the end of the first mile, the gloves were gone, and a less warm hat might have been a better choice. I've finally gotten comfortable with my water bottle belt, so I carried a bottle of accelerade and a power bar, and was able to refuel at the half way point, and then towards the end of the run, until my tummy felt funky.

I love this route -- its a 3.5 mile loop that starts with a short down hill, a steep hill straight over Atlantic HIll, then a long steady down which takes you to Stoney Beach. It winds along the beach and those houses for a bit, then at the end of the beach, turns off through a beautiful neighborhood that surrounds a large tidal pond which is mostly flat, but has a few gentle rises. It finishes along the second road into my town, with a gradual uphill on the back side of Atlantic Hill, a short down towards the ocean again, and then back up the hill to my house.

By the end of next month, three full loops!

Blah

Yesterday I didn't journal, didn't train, and didn't get enough sleep. I wonder if there is a connection between the events.

I had a doc appt late morning, and somehow, lost all focus and concentration thereafter. Went out for a pumpkin latte (tall, NF, no whip only), and Starbucks was closed, which threw me for a loop. After driving around in circles I came home, had lunch, and hung out and read for much ofthe rest of the day.

Approx. menu:

B: RF ricotta, pumpkin butter, sprinkle walnuts, veggie sausage.
L: WW couscous, Pinjur w/ FF yogurt.
D: More couscous and pinjur mix.
S: Triscuits, blue cheese, chocolate, hummus, mini pitas, and I think I had a vita top and some skim, somewhere during the day.

The pinjur gave me some veggies, but there is zero fruit. What is *up* with that? Maybe I'm eating too much sugar, and so not needing/wanting the fruit. If so, I should cut my sugar way back, and see if that changes my appetites a bit.

Today is another chance to do better, and I'm going to head out for a run as soon as I finish my tea.

One note from the doctor's office. 15 months after my last visit, I am 30 pounds lighter. Slow progress, but its progress, so I'll take it. The challenge for me will be to see how much lighter I can get before my next visit!

Thursday, November 10, 2005

Busy Thursday

Today was a busy day - up early to work out, then into Boston for a day of meetings and networking. Eating was OK, not great, but not awful. Ended up using 5 flexies, with 15 left for Friday/Sat.

Menu:

B: Egg white/Laughing cow wedge/v. sausage on WW english; tea w/ skim & sugar.
L: 1C miso; small spicy tuna roll; small spicy shrimp roll.
D: WW pasta w/ crumbled boca, 1C red pepper sauce, lots of broccoli rabe, and 2T parm.
S: vita, 1C skim, triscuits, too much chocolate.

Exercise: 3 mile walk at HR in the 130s, but wanted to go faster at the end.

Wednesday, November 09, 2005

Re-Gripped

I'm doing a challenge with my WW friends, to get back on the losing track. I have pledge to do the following, for the next 6 weeks:

1. Journal every day (and stay within my points)

2. Exercise at least 5x per week.

3. Make an effort to get in my fruits and veggies every day. All of a suddent, salads and fruits aren't so appealing, so I've got to work them back into the equation.

Here's yesterday's menu, which was within my daily points (28), and the APs I earned on my 5 mile run (10-12, based on my HRM):

B: Egg whites/english muffin/1 happy vache/1 veggie sausage.
J: 1C Mater soup; Boca/RF cheddar/wheat bun.
D: 6 oz Roasted salmon w/ dijon; 1 Tater w/ herbs; broccolini steamed in chix broth; 1C peaches.
S: Accelerade; 1/2 C FF ricotta w/ 1T punkin buttah; 7 RF triscuits w/ 1 happy cow.

Sunday, November 06, 2005

Getting back on Track

I've been away from the blog, and haven't been successful at losing weight lately, so I'm committing to get BACK ON TRACK. PERIOD.

I'll eat well, limit sugars and alcohol, fill up on fruits and veggies, and get in my training/exercise.

Here's my plan for the week:

Sunday (in CT): Rest day
Monday (travel day): Walk w/ M&J&T, yoga at home
Tuesday: Long run (5)
Wednesday: Bike and weights/yoga
Thursday: Intervals (2-3 mi)
Friday: Rest or yoga or swim
Saturday: Long run (5-7)

If I go to NYC, the weekend plan will have to be modified, but I think I can still get in a run somewhere.