Friday: no run...you know the routine at this point.
Let me preface this post with the fact that I did not watch the royal wedding this morning. Instead, I was engaged in a stand-off with Cameron who refused to eat her breakfast, then proceeded to pee in the floor when I fed Rocky his breakfast. So, that's what I was doing this morning instead of "oohing" and "aahing" over silly British hats and Kate Middleton's dress. I'm sure she doesn't spend her mornings cleaning up dog pee and running into work late. Oh, to live a life of luxury.
Now, I'll talk about something I did watch...the NFL Draft. What epitomizes the excess and pageantry that has become professional sports better than the Draft? Nothing. And the Draft has nothing to do with any of the things I love about sports: competition, excellence and heart. It's essentially a lot of really big guys walking around in suits shaking hands and hugging people - hell, I could find that at any high school class reunion. That being said, I did watch the entire first round (and there's a strong likelihood that I'll watch it again tonight).
I've watched a lot of Drafts in my time. My dad and I are avid sports fans (although we don't have a strong allegiance to any team) so the Draft was always just sort of "on" at the house, and I've heard boos before at picks, owners, etc. But I have never heard as many boos as I did last night when Roger Goodell first stepped to the mike. Seriously, I was taken aback. The boo-birds were doing some major chirping! As the picks started to come off the board, the boos diminished to a certain extent, but even as the players grinned. cried and paraded across the stage, there were still more jeers than usual.
By early April, pretty much every draft prognosticator had Cam Newton going to the Carolina Panthers at number one, and some people think this is a smart choice. Sure, Newton will fill seats, he'll more than likely be better at running the offense than Matt Moore or Jimmy Clausen, who looks like a middle school quarterback out there on the field (just trying to find the right butt to line up under), and he's a charismatic kid, but I am not convinced that he won't be a Vince Young, or worse yet, a Jamarcus Russell. I only say this because he's an athletic run first-pass second quarterback with questionable intangibles and a suspect past. Who knows? I might end up eating my words...actually I hope I do, I want to see Cam be successful (if only because he and my dog share the same name).
The rest of the top five played out as I had predicted, and we weren't treated to our first surprise until Tennessee picked Jake Locker in the number 8 slot. Locker seems like a good kid and last year at this time, he was hailed as the early favorite to be the number one pick, but after a lackluster senior season at Washington riddled with inaccuracy, he began to slide down draft boards. If I were the Titans, I think I would've picked a lock to replace Vince Young, not a guy that makes me furrow my brow. The only other real head scratcher picked int he first round (in my mind) was Christian Ponder. He's a good QB, but with Andy Dalton, Ryan Mallett and a few other good passers out there, I wouldn't have taken him until day two.
And I think it was a huge mistake not to take Andy Dalton, the fiery ginger from TCU, in the first round. He's got Drew Brees written all over him, and I wouldn't be surprised to see him hoisting the Lombardi trophy in a few years.
Oh well. I guess there's a reason why I'm not an NFL coach or team owner, so enough criticism for today (I still think I could do a better job than most of them). I've got a 16 miler this weekend, so wish me luck.
Happy running!
Friday, April 29, 2011
Thursday, April 28, 2011
I Did It!
As pictured above, I ended up staying faithful to Nike and went with their Air Pegasus 28 Breathe. If I could marry these shoes, I totally would. I'm in love!!! Nike calls the color Copa, but I call it Tiffany's blue (it is the same color as their little blue bag). One of the main reasons I'm so jazzed about these shoes is as an underpronator/supinator (only approx. 10% of runners are diagnosed as underpronators), I am always limited as far as style and color choice when it comes to buying running shoes. Finally, I have kicks as cool as me (I'm kidding).
When I walked in Pacers yesterday evening after work and saw these blue beauties staring at me from high on the shelf, I just knew I had to have them. Love at first sight. Apparently, the store had just put them on the shelf about two hours before I walked in, so without a doubt, it was meant to be. I was the first person to buy them from Pacers.
I took them for a short jog after I got home, and I immediately wanted to trash my old Nikes. Not only were those shoes religious (read: hole-y), but they no longer had the necessary padding to protect my feet when pounding the pavement. I can't wait to take them out for some long runs this weekend and see the difference. Yes, I feel like a new runner.
Happy running!
Wednesday, April 27, 2011
Gaga for Glee
Why talk about running when I can gush about my favorite show this morning?!?
Oh Glee, how I love thee! You are totally forgiven for last week's lackluster episode and reminded me why I fell in love with the show in the first place. I actually enjoyed this episode so much that I drank wine and watched it at my friend's place, then turned around and rewatched it at home on DVR before falling asleep on the couch! Yes, it was that good (I'm also that big of a Gleek).
Where do I begin?
First of all, I loved Santana's storyline. Now, I have been a faithful Santana fan from day one (I knew there was more to her character than pom poms and a bad attitude), but I've loved her character arc this season and Glee has done an excellent job developing her into more than a static character. I'm so glad that the writers haven't rushed she and Brittany together after the tearful "Landslide" performance earlier in the season (did I mention that Santana's voice rocks?) and have taken the time to give their friendship/relationship a backstory, as well as providing Santana with some excellent material. "The only straight I am is straight up bitch." Bravo! Brilliant Glee!
Second, I am so glad to see Kurt back at McKinley! Though I love the Warblers and will miss looking at Darren Criss (he is dreamy), I was getting tired of the directors finding excuses to film over at Dalton Academy. A Katy Perry cover here and there, I get, but the foam party/Neon Trees cover more than stretched an already threadbare storyline. Plus, Chris Colfer is an excellent actor, and I've missed him playing a major role in the more recent episodes.
And third, Glee really hit it out of the park with the songs last night. The reason why I felt such a strong connection to Glee in the first place was the music, and in the midst of all the complicated storylines in season two, I feel like the quality of the songs might have suffered (not that it has stopped me from downloading the vast majority of them on iTunes). From the Warbler's version of Keane's "Somewhere Only We Know" (which I have always loved) to Kurt's unbelievable "As If We Never Said Goodbye" (once again, SO glad Kurt is back with New Directions), I was blown away by the songs.
Also, I must admit that I had a Glee first for me last night. Never before have I teared up during a performance, but Rachel and Quinn's mash-up of TLC's "Unpretty" and "I Feel Pretty" from West Side Story had me all choked up. An unlikely pairing, Rachel and Quinn's voices sounded beautiful together and evoked such emotion out of the songs. They captured the insecurities of being a teenage girl perfectly...who hasn't wanted to be someone else or change the way she looks (boys, the same goes for you). And the way it was filmed gave me chills. Words do not do this performance justice. If you haven't seen their performance, you should seriously look it up on Youtube.
Okay, enough about Glee. If you're not a fan and you wasted a few minutes reading this today, I apologize. I'll be back to blogging about running tomorrow. Promise!
Happy running!
Oh Glee, how I love thee! You are totally forgiven for last week's lackluster episode and reminded me why I fell in love with the show in the first place. I actually enjoyed this episode so much that I drank wine and watched it at my friend's place, then turned around and rewatched it at home on DVR before falling asleep on the couch! Yes, it was that good (I'm also that big of a Gleek).
Where do I begin?
First of all, I loved Santana's storyline. Now, I have been a faithful Santana fan from day one (I knew there was more to her character than pom poms and a bad attitude), but I've loved her character arc this season and Glee has done an excellent job developing her into more than a static character. I'm so glad that the writers haven't rushed she and Brittany together after the tearful "Landslide" performance earlier in the season (did I mention that Santana's voice rocks?) and have taken the time to give their friendship/relationship a backstory, as well as providing Santana with some excellent material. "The only straight I am is straight up bitch." Bravo! Brilliant Glee!
Second, I am so glad to see Kurt back at McKinley! Though I love the Warblers and will miss looking at Darren Criss (he is dreamy), I was getting tired of the directors finding excuses to film over at Dalton Academy. A Katy Perry cover here and there, I get, but the foam party/Neon Trees cover more than stretched an already threadbare storyline. Plus, Chris Colfer is an excellent actor, and I've missed him playing a major role in the more recent episodes.
And third, Glee really hit it out of the park with the songs last night. The reason why I felt such a strong connection to Glee in the first place was the music, and in the midst of all the complicated storylines in season two, I feel like the quality of the songs might have suffered (not that it has stopped me from downloading the vast majority of them on iTunes). From the Warbler's version of Keane's "Somewhere Only We Know" (which I have always loved) to Kurt's unbelievable "As If We Never Said Goodbye" (once again, SO glad Kurt is back with New Directions), I was blown away by the songs.
Also, I must admit that I had a Glee first for me last night. Never before have I teared up during a performance, but Rachel and Quinn's mash-up of TLC's "Unpretty" and "I Feel Pretty" from West Side Story had me all choked up. An unlikely pairing, Rachel and Quinn's voices sounded beautiful together and evoked such emotion out of the songs. They captured the insecurities of being a teenage girl perfectly...who hasn't wanted to be someone else or change the way she looks (boys, the same goes for you). And the way it was filmed gave me chills. Words do not do this performance justice. If you haven't seen their performance, you should seriously look it up on Youtube.
Okay, enough about Glee. If you're not a fan and you wasted a few minutes reading this today, I apologize. I'll be back to blogging about running tomorrow. Promise!
Happy running!
Tuesday, April 26, 2011
The Rocky and Cameron Show
Last week, I agreed to watch my friend's dog, Rocky, while he was out of town on business. Now, before you give me a "tsk, tsk" because one dog is more than enough in an apartment, you need to realize that Dan has described Rocky as a rug. Rocky is a sweet (somewhat lethargic), eight year old chocolate lab. I jumped at the opportunity to dogsit him because it would give Cam the chance to hang out with a "normal" dog.
If you haven't noticed, Cameron is anything but normal. She is about fifty pounds of puppy craziness...even after a long run, she still has the energy to play at the dog park for almost two hours. I have a lot of energy, and sometimes, I struggle keeping up with her. Hence, why I thought Rocky would be a positive influence.
I picked Rocky up from Dan's apartment after trivia last night, and he acted like we were going on a field trip. Rocky's weapon-like tail waved excitedly as he plodded out to the car for the short ride to my apartment (his tail is the fastest thing about him). The whole car ride, he looked completely comfortable and satisfied to be coming home with me.
When we walked in the door at my place, Cameron's ears perked up, and she began to paw at the gate to her crate. I could see Cam's thought process, "New friend! New friend! Let me sniff him!" The second I unlocked her crate and let her out, she was all over Rocky, sniffing him, giving him kisses and pawing at his head. I wasn't entirely sure how tolerant Rocky would be of Cam's behavior, but he just stood there and let her crawl all over him. He's a saint, I swear. Not even one growl at Cameron.
During dinner, Rocky made himself comfortable at my feet, and Cameron plopped down on top of him. She began gnawing on his ears and licking his head, and he couldn't have been less concerned. Like an older sibling, Rocky ignored Cam and sighed, putting his head on his paws. I swear he rolled his eyes. The highlight of the evening was when Cameron tried to tease Rocky with her bone, wagging it in his face and hitting him with it.
The dynamic between the two of them was hysterical, and I can't wait to see the two pups interact today when I get home. I'm planning to take them to the dog park for episode two of "The Rocky and Cameron Show." As long as they behave during Glee tonight, I'm happy.
Happy running!
If you haven't noticed, Cameron is anything but normal. She is about fifty pounds of puppy craziness...even after a long run, she still has the energy to play at the dog park for almost two hours. I have a lot of energy, and sometimes, I struggle keeping up with her. Hence, why I thought Rocky would be a positive influence.
I picked Rocky up from Dan's apartment after trivia last night, and he acted like we were going on a field trip. Rocky's weapon-like tail waved excitedly as he plodded out to the car for the short ride to my apartment (his tail is the fastest thing about him). The whole car ride, he looked completely comfortable and satisfied to be coming home with me.
When we walked in the door at my place, Cameron's ears perked up, and she began to paw at the gate to her crate. I could see Cam's thought process, "New friend! New friend! Let me sniff him!" The second I unlocked her crate and let her out, she was all over Rocky, sniffing him, giving him kisses and pawing at his head. I wasn't entirely sure how tolerant Rocky would be of Cam's behavior, but he just stood there and let her crawl all over him. He's a saint, I swear. Not even one growl at Cameron.
During dinner, Rocky made himself comfortable at my feet, and Cameron plopped down on top of him. She began gnawing on his ears and licking his head, and he couldn't have been less concerned. Like an older sibling, Rocky ignored Cam and sighed, putting his head on his paws. I swear he rolled his eyes. The highlight of the evening was when Cameron tried to tease Rocky with her bone, wagging it in his face and hitting him with it.
The dynamic between the two of them was hysterical, and I can't wait to see the two pups interact today when I get home. I'm planning to take them to the dog park for episode two of "The Rocky and Cameron Show." As long as they behave during Glee tonight, I'm happy.
Happy running!
Monday, April 25, 2011
Hot.
15 miles yesterday...yuck. My calves are sore, my hip hurts and I'm a wee bit sunburnt. Why did I agree to do this again?
Yesterday morning dawned beautiful and HOT. By the time I was on the way to the country club for Easter Brunch with my family, my car thermometer already read 83 degrees, and the temperature just continued to rise. Now, I know I should have run before brunch - that would have been the smart thing, but I was just so warm and snuggly in bed that I didn't want to get up at 7:00 AM to run.
Since I waited until after brunch to run, I had to watch closely what I ate and avoid some of my favorite things: eggs benedict, Texas brunch (some sexy potato, cheese, sour cream combination) and bacon. Instead of those delicious selections, I consumed salad, veggies and chicken...it's not fun to be good sometimes. However, I knew the combination of heat and running for an extended period of time just wouldn't work with my normal club brunch fare.
Driving down 66 back to my apartment, I glanced at my thermometer again - 87 degrees...our hottest day in D.C. so far this spring. Seriously? The day that I have to do my longest run so far it's blazing hot and humid outside. Not cool ( no pun intended there, seriously).
As I laced up my tennies and started my run, I continued to regret signing up to do the marathon, but it felt amazing to be outside with the sun on my face and shoulders. As the weather continues to get better, it will be harder to keep me inside - I love the sunshine and summer time - I wouldn't mind getting a tan either! As my eye makeup began to run in my eyes (no, it wasn't smart to leave it on for my run), I kept repeating in my head, "Running is fun. Bathing suit season. Hot abs. Nice tan."
Don't judge. Sometimes I need a little encouragement, and yep, I'm a little vain. All women are - don't let anyone tell you otherwise.
I drank water throughout the run, but I need to hit Pacers Running Store before the end of the week and grab some Gu gels or Shot Blocks for my 16 miler next weekend. I was fine for the majority of the run, but at the end, I really hit a wall and the training isn't going to get any easier from here on out. It didn't occur to me until last night when I was on the phone with my dad, but I am going to be in a state of constant training from here until Halloween.
Since I registered for both the Missoula Marathon and the Marine Corps (Oct. 30th), I will be pounding the pavement hard for the next six months. I am going to have to make a concentrated effort to keep myself healthy and avoid injury over that time. It's a daunting task, but I better be ready.
Sorry to leave you on a sort of sour note, but I need to get my work week started.
Happy running!
Yesterday morning dawned beautiful and HOT. By the time I was on the way to the country club for Easter Brunch with my family, my car thermometer already read 83 degrees, and the temperature just continued to rise. Now, I know I should have run before brunch - that would have been the smart thing, but I was just so warm and snuggly in bed that I didn't want to get up at 7:00 AM to run.
Since I waited until after brunch to run, I had to watch closely what I ate and avoid some of my favorite things: eggs benedict, Texas brunch (some sexy potato, cheese, sour cream combination) and bacon. Instead of those delicious selections, I consumed salad, veggies and chicken...it's not fun to be good sometimes. However, I knew the combination of heat and running for an extended period of time just wouldn't work with my normal club brunch fare.
Driving down 66 back to my apartment, I glanced at my thermometer again - 87 degrees...our hottest day in D.C. so far this spring. Seriously? The day that I have to do my longest run so far it's blazing hot and humid outside. Not cool ( no pun intended there, seriously).
As I laced up my tennies and started my run, I continued to regret signing up to do the marathon, but it felt amazing to be outside with the sun on my face and shoulders. As the weather continues to get better, it will be harder to keep me inside - I love the sunshine and summer time - I wouldn't mind getting a tan either! As my eye makeup began to run in my eyes (no, it wasn't smart to leave it on for my run), I kept repeating in my head, "Running is fun. Bathing suit season. Hot abs. Nice tan."
Don't judge. Sometimes I need a little encouragement, and yep, I'm a little vain. All women are - don't let anyone tell you otherwise.
I drank water throughout the run, but I need to hit Pacers Running Store before the end of the week and grab some Gu gels or Shot Blocks for my 16 miler next weekend. I was fine for the majority of the run, but at the end, I really hit a wall and the training isn't going to get any easier from here on out. It didn't occur to me until last night when I was on the phone with my dad, but I am going to be in a state of constant training from here until Halloween.
Since I registered for both the Missoula Marathon and the Marine Corps (Oct. 30th), I will be pounding the pavement hard for the next six months. I am going to have to make a concentrated effort to keep myself healthy and avoid injury over that time. It's a daunting task, but I better be ready.
Sorry to leave you on a sort of sour note, but I need to get my work week started.
Happy running!
Friday, April 22, 2011
Peanut Butter and B Cups
Sleepy Friday...today seems like one of those days that I could just hunker down in my bed and sleep until 10:00 AM. I swear I wouldn't budge, even if I heard Cameron milling around the apartment looking for something to chew and destroy. I don't know if it's the gray weather or the fact that I coughed throughout the night (my voice finally sounds almost normal though), but I am exhausted!
As you already know, Fridays are my day off. Thank you Hal Higdon for rest days! I'm still a little sore from my eight miles earlier in the week, and I need to do some stretching and hydrating before I do my 15 mile long run this weekend. I emphasize the long part of that sentence because once you get past half marathon distance, any run seems long. But it's not just the length that makes it difficult.
I can run a half marathon carrying very little with me (keys and identification) and without making pit stops, but once I get past that distance, there are significantly more variables. For example:
1. I definitely have to wear my Power Belt to carry water with me, which makes me look like a total dork.
2. I start running out of gas and need energy (Gu gels are great - really any Gu products, Sport Beans or jelly beans, gummy bears - I even met a girl that ran with a peanut butter sandwich in her bra)...I never said runners weren't strange.
3. Pain...I usually pop an aspirin at mile 9. I medicate at miles 9 and 18 for 26.2 miles.
4. Weather. I actually have to check the forecast - I've been caught by more than a few storms hours into a run.
5. Potty breaks.
If you're not a distance runner, then I'm sure you never thought so much planning went into running. Seriously, there's a science to it. And the variables I mentioned above are a short list - layering clothes comes into play, traffic patterns (Georgetown on a Saturday after 10:30 AM is never a good idea), spring festivals (I've encountered bike races and farmer's markets), even yard sales and church barbeques can through monkey wrenches into running routes.
Oh well, I've gabbed enough. I'm looking forward to a low-key Friday night with Lost Dog take-out and maybe a bubble bath.
Happy running!
As you already know, Fridays are my day off. Thank you Hal Higdon for rest days! I'm still a little sore from my eight miles earlier in the week, and I need to do some stretching and hydrating before I do my 15 mile long run this weekend. I emphasize the long part of that sentence because once you get past half marathon distance, any run seems long. But it's not just the length that makes it difficult.
I can run a half marathon carrying very little with me (keys and identification) and without making pit stops, but once I get past that distance, there are significantly more variables. For example:
1. I definitely have to wear my Power Belt to carry water with me, which makes me look like a total dork.
2. I start running out of gas and need energy (Gu gels are great - really any Gu products, Sport Beans or jelly beans, gummy bears - I even met a girl that ran with a peanut butter sandwich in her bra)...I never said runners weren't strange.
3. Pain...I usually pop an aspirin at mile 9. I medicate at miles 9 and 18 for 26.2 miles.
4. Weather. I actually have to check the forecast - I've been caught by more than a few storms hours into a run.
5. Potty breaks.
If you're not a distance runner, then I'm sure you never thought so much planning went into running. Seriously, there's a science to it. And the variables I mentioned above are a short list - layering clothes comes into play, traffic patterns (Georgetown on a Saturday after 10:30 AM is never a good idea), spring festivals (I've encountered bike races and farmer's markets), even yard sales and church barbeques can through monkey wrenches into running routes.
Oh well, I've gabbed enough. I'm looking forward to a low-key Friday night with Lost Dog take-out and maybe a bubble bath.
Happy running!
Thursday, April 21, 2011
Running Partner
Sorry I didn't post yesterday...I've been too busy running! Well, that's a partial falsehood, but I have been logging some serious miles in my tennies. I am finally caught up with my running, and I feel great!
Tuesday was a four miler and yesterday was eight miles, and both times, I had the best running partner in the world with me, Cameron. She's just now turning 10 months old, so I figured it was about time to get her out pounding the pavement with me. Man, can she fly!!! Seriously, she loves running more than me and for some reason, enjoys dragging me behind her as she sprints down hills. Trying to keep up with her is a serious workout.
When I was looking at dogs over a year ago, one of my main reasons for getting a lab was to have a loyal running partner. I'm not always a huge fan of running with humans because they like to talk (I'm often lost in thought when I run), so running with a four legged friend is perfect for me.
The best part about running with Cam is that sometimes, mid-stride, she'll glance back at me grinning ear to ear with her tongue hanging out. I can tell she is having a blast hoofing it around D.C. and Arlington. Also, I get to pick up on her puppy attention deficit disorder by watching her ears perk up at birds, buses, beer bottles and babies. I'm not exaggerating when I say that I'm tempted to cross the street to the other sidewalk when I see a stroller because I know Cameron's nose is going straight to the baby's toes. She loves giving babies kisses (and some parents don't find her as amusing as I do).
Last night, we ran down past the Air Force Memorial, and I thought it was a good place for us to stop and take a look at the city. There was no guard to scowl at Cameron and no tourists for her to terrorize, so the brown dog and I trotted up to the memorial and sat down under the massive structure. I asked Cameron to sit beside me, and I put my arm around her and pointed out all the sights in Washington from Georgetown and the Waterfront to the Washington Monument to the Jefferson Memorial and Arlington Cemetery to our immediate left.
Not that Cameron really understood or appreciated me showing her the entire city from our vantage point, but she gave me a loving look when I finished pointing out the landmarks and licked me from my chin to my eyebrows. Best running partner ever.
Happy running!
Tuesday was a four miler and yesterday was eight miles, and both times, I had the best running partner in the world with me, Cameron. She's just now turning 10 months old, so I figured it was about time to get her out pounding the pavement with me. Man, can she fly!!! Seriously, she loves running more than me and for some reason, enjoys dragging me behind her as she sprints down hills. Trying to keep up with her is a serious workout.
When I was looking at dogs over a year ago, one of my main reasons for getting a lab was to have a loyal running partner. I'm not always a huge fan of running with humans because they like to talk (I'm often lost in thought when I run), so running with a four legged friend is perfect for me.
The best part about running with Cam is that sometimes, mid-stride, she'll glance back at me grinning ear to ear with her tongue hanging out. I can tell she is having a blast hoofing it around D.C. and Arlington. Also, I get to pick up on her puppy attention deficit disorder by watching her ears perk up at birds, buses, beer bottles and babies. I'm not exaggerating when I say that I'm tempted to cross the street to the other sidewalk when I see a stroller because I know Cameron's nose is going straight to the baby's toes. She loves giving babies kisses (and some parents don't find her as amusing as I do).
Last night, we ran down past the Air Force Memorial, and I thought it was a good place for us to stop and take a look at the city. There was no guard to scowl at Cameron and no tourists for her to terrorize, so the brown dog and I trotted up to the memorial and sat down under the massive structure. I asked Cameron to sit beside me, and I put my arm around her and pointed out all the sights in Washington from Georgetown and the Waterfront to the Washington Monument to the Jefferson Memorial and Arlington Cemetery to our immediate left.
Not that Cameron really understood or appreciated me showing her the entire city from our vantage point, but she gave me a loving look when I finished pointing out the landmarks and licked me from my chin to my eyebrows. Best running partner ever.
Happy running!
Tuesday, April 19, 2011
Random Thoughts.
Two things to be excited about today: 1. My trivia team came in fourth last night and 2. Glee is back after a totally unnecessary month-long hiatus.
Neither of these things may seem like a big deal, but my team came in fourth on a really off night. And we play in an ultra competitive league (aka we don't go there just to get drunk) - I think we were all pretty psyched to make the top five.
I felt really comfortable with the first category "Sports Movie Characters" because well, I like movies and LOVE sports. I could quote Love and Basketball or The Natural in my sleep...piece of cake, right? Wrong.
Roughly mid-way through the first round, Chad (our team savant) and I were exchanging puzzled glances across the table. Who was that drunk guy from Hoosiers? (Yes, his name was Shooter...we were right - checked Wiki this morning). Roy McAvoy? Never heard of him! (Turns out he was the main character in The Fan). Danny Noonan - who? We were left scratching our heads at the end of the round, and I felt a little disheartened at my lack of sports movie knowledge - that category should have been right in my wheel house. John Joyce would be ashamed!
I'd like to say that we made a valiant comeback and performed exceptionally in the next three rounds, but I think this week no team was firing on all cylinders. Regardless, I'll take that fourth place with pride and chalk it up as a W in my book. Plus, we do have an awesome team name: Treat 'em Like Dirt, They Stick Like Mud. That counts for something, right?
The other thing that totally has me fired up is GLEE!!! I can finally stop reading spoilers and combing the internet for leaked song lists (yes, I am that big of a fanatic and a huge dork). Hey, I never claimed to be cool.
For the next month and a half, my Tuesdays will be happy and song-filled, and I won't have to watch Glee DVDs to get my weekly fix of show tunes. In honor of the return of our favorite misfits from New Directions (say it out loud really slow...cracks me up every time), I'm throwing a little shin-dig tonight for a few other Glee fanatics. I can barely sit still in my desk chair, I'm so excited.
I'm going to make an exception and run with my iPod this afternoon with Glee blasting through my headphones. Yes, it's happening.
Happy running (and Glee watching - Fox @ 8 PM)!
Neither of these things may seem like a big deal, but my team came in fourth on a really off night. And we play in an ultra competitive league (aka we don't go there just to get drunk) - I think we were all pretty psyched to make the top five.
I felt really comfortable with the first category "Sports Movie Characters" because well, I like movies and LOVE sports. I could quote Love and Basketball or The Natural in my sleep...piece of cake, right? Wrong.
Roughly mid-way through the first round, Chad (our team savant) and I were exchanging puzzled glances across the table. Who was that drunk guy from Hoosiers? (Yes, his name was Shooter...we were right - checked Wiki this morning). Roy McAvoy? Never heard of him! (Turns out he was the main character in The Fan). Danny Noonan - who? We were left scratching our heads at the end of the round, and I felt a little disheartened at my lack of sports movie knowledge - that category should have been right in my wheel house. John Joyce would be ashamed!
I'd like to say that we made a valiant comeback and performed exceptionally in the next three rounds, but I think this week no team was firing on all cylinders. Regardless, I'll take that fourth place with pride and chalk it up as a W in my book. Plus, we do have an awesome team name: Treat 'em Like Dirt, They Stick Like Mud. That counts for something, right?
The other thing that totally has me fired up is GLEE!!! I can finally stop reading spoilers and combing the internet for leaked song lists (yes, I am that big of a fanatic and a huge dork). Hey, I never claimed to be cool.
For the next month and a half, my Tuesdays will be happy and song-filled, and I won't have to watch Glee DVDs to get my weekly fix of show tunes. In honor of the return of our favorite misfits from New Directions (say it out loud really slow...cracks me up every time), I'm throwing a little shin-dig tonight for a few other Glee fanatics. I can barely sit still in my desk chair, I'm so excited.
I'm going to make an exception and run with my iPod this afternoon with Glee blasting through my headphones. Yes, it's happening.
Happy running (and Glee watching - Fox @ 8 PM)!
Monday, April 18, 2011
Dog Tired - I now know the meaning.
It's been a little while...actually, it's been a very long while since I've posted or run. I apologize. Today is my first day back!
After being sick for two weeks, I'm starting to feel like myself again. I knew that I'd turned the corner when I was sitting in the McDonald's drive thru at 3:30 AM Sunday morning singing a duet to Glee's cover of "Defying Gravity" (since I'd offered to be the designated driver for Saturday night's club adventure). It was the latest I'd been awake in a long time, and I didn't feel completely awful. Hell, I was willing to take my hungry passengers to McDonald's instead of dropping them off at home without their greasy fix.
To let you know how I've felt the past two weeks, it's been a bit of a rollercoaster. I went from bad to better to worse to death and back to bad. Now, I'm hovering somewhere around 90% - I will take that any day! Yesterday was my first day with any real exercise (unless you count a little two-steppin' Saturday night), and I wasn't winded and barely coughed.
The weather finally broke yesterday, and it was a beautiful day for hiking. We went out to Scott's Run Park along the Potomac, and Cameron was more than excited to run along the trails kicking up leaves, playing with sticks, sniffing out a deer carcass (gross, Cam) and even doing some swimming!
My little brown buddy brought her favorite toy, a bumper given to her by my dad, and I kept throwing it out into the water for her to retrieve. First, her tail would go crazy at the sight of the toy, and I would make her sit patiently and wait for me to throw it. At the second the bumper left my hand, she would go splashing out into the Potomac after her toy to bring it back and drop at my feet. When Cam was finally tired, she collapsed in the shallow water along the bank, a bathing beauty.
Cameron was so tired that she fell asleep in the car on the way home, and when I opened the back hatch to let her out at home, she rolled right out of the car. Luckily, I caught her before she hit the pavement, but she wasn't phased at all, still blinking sleepily at me as I held her in the parking lot (at close to 50 lbs., she's a little heavy to haul around in my arms now).
This morning, I planned on getting a workout in before coming into the office but my alarm didn't go off, so I'll squeeze in a quick run before trivia tonight. Wish me luck on my first day back!
Happy running!
After being sick for two weeks, I'm starting to feel like myself again. I knew that I'd turned the corner when I was sitting in the McDonald's drive thru at 3:30 AM Sunday morning singing a duet to Glee's cover of "Defying Gravity" (since I'd offered to be the designated driver for Saturday night's club adventure). It was the latest I'd been awake in a long time, and I didn't feel completely awful. Hell, I was willing to take my hungry passengers to McDonald's instead of dropping them off at home without their greasy fix.
To let you know how I've felt the past two weeks, it's been a bit of a rollercoaster. I went from bad to better to worse to death and back to bad. Now, I'm hovering somewhere around 90% - I will take that any day! Yesterday was my first day with any real exercise (unless you count a little two-steppin' Saturday night), and I wasn't winded and barely coughed.
The weather finally broke yesterday, and it was a beautiful day for hiking. We went out to Scott's Run Park along the Potomac, and Cameron was more than excited to run along the trails kicking up leaves, playing with sticks, sniffing out a deer carcass (gross, Cam) and even doing some swimming!
My little brown buddy brought her favorite toy, a bumper given to her by my dad, and I kept throwing it out into the water for her to retrieve. First, her tail would go crazy at the sight of the toy, and I would make her sit patiently and wait for me to throw it. At the second the bumper left my hand, she would go splashing out into the Potomac after her toy to bring it back and drop at my feet. When Cam was finally tired, she collapsed in the shallow water along the bank, a bathing beauty.
Cameron was so tired that she fell asleep in the car on the way home, and when I opened the back hatch to let her out at home, she rolled right out of the car. Luckily, I caught her before she hit the pavement, but she wasn't phased at all, still blinking sleepily at me as I held her in the parking lot (at close to 50 lbs., she's a little heavy to haul around in my arms now).
This morning, I planned on getting a workout in before coming into the office but my alarm didn't go off, so I'll squeeze in a quick run before trivia tonight. Wish me luck on my first day back!
Happy running!
Tuesday, April 12, 2011
Guilty Conscience
Don't get all 'riled up...I feel guilty about not running (nothing really juicy). I also feel a little guilty about not blogging this morning, and it's been nagging at me all day.
On the health side, I'm feeling a little better today - I HOPE I'm on the back side of my illness and will be hoofing it around town again tomorrow. I have a cough and I'm wheezing some when I breathe, but I didn't wake up with a pounding headache today or puffy cheeks. Yes, I'm painting an attractive picture of myself (I realize that). I'm eager to start running again, but I don't want to be overzealous and relapse. It seems like forever since I've run, and I know it doesn't take long to lose momentum while training.
More than anything, today I'm a little down. I haven't run, work is stressful, the weather is lousy and I'm still not healthy...essentially, I hate not operating at one hundred percent, and it's been awhile since I've felt that way. If I had to pick a color to sum up my feelings today, it would be gray.
That's why I put off blogging this morning. Even Peter King's "Tuesday Morning Quarterback" didn't come online till well after 12:00 PM. Trust me, I know. I check SI.com religiously every Monday and Tuesday morning for his column.
My uncle and I are supposed to go to the Nats/Phillies game tonight, but who knows if the weather will hold off? I know watching some baseball (regardless of the weather) and spending a little time with him will cheer me up. I just feel like I need a little pick-me-up to get me out of this "gray" mood.
Here's hoping that there's a break in the weather and in the pollen levels in Washington.
Happy running!
On the health side, I'm feeling a little better today - I HOPE I'm on the back side of my illness and will be hoofing it around town again tomorrow. I have a cough and I'm wheezing some when I breathe, but I didn't wake up with a pounding headache today or puffy cheeks. Yes, I'm painting an attractive picture of myself (I realize that). I'm eager to start running again, but I don't want to be overzealous and relapse. It seems like forever since I've run, and I know it doesn't take long to lose momentum while training.
More than anything, today I'm a little down. I haven't run, work is stressful, the weather is lousy and I'm still not healthy...essentially, I hate not operating at one hundred percent, and it's been awhile since I've felt that way. If I had to pick a color to sum up my feelings today, it would be gray.
That's why I put off blogging this morning. Even Peter King's "Tuesday Morning Quarterback" didn't come online till well after 12:00 PM. Trust me, I know. I check SI.com religiously every Monday and Tuesday morning for his column.
My uncle and I are supposed to go to the Nats/Phillies game tonight, but who knows if the weather will hold off? I know watching some baseball (regardless of the weather) and spending a little time with him will cheer me up. I just feel like I need a little pick-me-up to get me out of this "gray" mood.
Here's hoping that there's a break in the weather and in the pollen levels in Washington.
Happy running!
Monday, April 11, 2011
Sick.
And it continues.
What began as a sniffle on Tuesday has blossomed into a full-fledged allergy/sinus infection. I seriously don't feel good, and it takes a lot for me to admit that. My ears won't pop, my eyes are itchy and I'm coughing. My nose is the only thing that's doing any running (corny but I had to go there).
I'm praying that I feel better by tomorrow because not only do I need to get back to running, but the Phillies are in town and I want to see them play as much as possible this week. I'm definitely going to the game on Wednesday, and if the weather will cooperate, I'd like to go another day this week as well. If not, I'm going to see the Nats take on the Brewers this weekend with a few friends - I'm pretty psyched.
I didn't buy any shoes this weekend either. I know, I know. I pronounced this shoe-buying weekend, but it's the worst punishment to buy new shoes and not be healthy enough to run in them. I didn't want to subject myself to that kind of pain.
Though I didn't buy any running shoes, I did go to the mall and do a little shopping. Since I spent last summer in Idaho, I hadn't bought new summer clothes in two years, so I bit the bullet and bought myself a few new pairs of shorts and some tops. I love summer clothes because everything is so bright and playful, and I am so ready for some warm weather and sunshine. D.C. has been in this weird weather phase (hot one day/cold the next) for most of March and April, and I just wish the weather would make up its mind!
While at the mall, I saw "Soul Surfer" - the true story about Bethany Hamilton, who was bitten by a shark while surfing in Hawaii. It was so good! The story was inspirational and yes, I may have shed a tear or two, but the scenery was gorgeous. I'm going to mark on my bucket list that I need to run a marathon in Hawaii. It's too pretty not to give it a shot.
I'm sure this week is going to be really busy at work (since I don't feel good), so I better get to it.
Happy (and healthy) running!
What began as a sniffle on Tuesday has blossomed into a full-fledged allergy/sinus infection. I seriously don't feel good, and it takes a lot for me to admit that. My ears won't pop, my eyes are itchy and I'm coughing. My nose is the only thing that's doing any running (corny but I had to go there).
I'm praying that I feel better by tomorrow because not only do I need to get back to running, but the Phillies are in town and I want to see them play as much as possible this week. I'm definitely going to the game on Wednesday, and if the weather will cooperate, I'd like to go another day this week as well. If not, I'm going to see the Nats take on the Brewers this weekend with a few friends - I'm pretty psyched.
I didn't buy any shoes this weekend either. I know, I know. I pronounced this shoe-buying weekend, but it's the worst punishment to buy new shoes and not be healthy enough to run in them. I didn't want to subject myself to that kind of pain.
Though I didn't buy any running shoes, I did go to the mall and do a little shopping. Since I spent last summer in Idaho, I hadn't bought new summer clothes in two years, so I bit the bullet and bought myself a few new pairs of shorts and some tops. I love summer clothes because everything is so bright and playful, and I am so ready for some warm weather and sunshine. D.C. has been in this weird weather phase (hot one day/cold the next) for most of March and April, and I just wish the weather would make up its mind!
While at the mall, I saw "Soul Surfer" - the true story about Bethany Hamilton, who was bitten by a shark while surfing in Hawaii. It was so good! The story was inspirational and yes, I may have shed a tear or two, but the scenery was gorgeous. I'm going to mark on my bucket list that I need to run a marathon in Hawaii. It's too pretty not to give it a shot.
I'm sure this week is going to be really busy at work (since I don't feel good), so I better get to it.
Happy (and healthy) running!
Friday, April 8, 2011
Roadblocks
Today: no run.
After this week, when my running has been sporadic at best, I can't say I really needed Friday off. Still, I wanted to get back on track with my training and rededicate myself to this whole marathon gig. Between my Arabic final and allergies acting up, this week has thrown several roadblocks into my training. Not to be cliched, but this is a marathon not a race!
I'm not particularly worried about skimping on the running this week. As long as I conquer the long runs this weekend and run every day next week, I will be fine. As with anything, training for a marathon takes a lot of dedication and time, and there are bound to be weeks that running just isn't my first priority.
Yesterday, I wrote a long post about diet/nutrition for runners, so I promise I won't bore you like that again, But today, I was thinking about running shoes.
I remember when I first started playing sports as a kid, and the best part of a new season was picking out new tennis shoes and/or cleats. There was nothing like buying new shoes and wearing them right out of the store. I just couldn't help myself. Now, I've never been very good at tying my shoes - I'll confess (sometimes, my fine motor skills are just a little lacking), but I loved the way the laces felt in my hand, the smell of new leather and the squeak of the sneakers on the floor.
To this day, I still feel the same way. When it's time to get new shoes, I can barely focus on anything else. I spend all my spare time researching new fads in running shoes, reviews in Runner's World and other fitness magazines and browsing my favorite running specialty stores in Northern Virginia and D.C.. What do I want? What do I need? What shoe is best for under-pronators? There are a million questions to ask.
When I ran the Baltimore Marathon and Frederick Half-Marathon about two years ago, I ran in Nikes. A lot of people hate on Nikes as running shoes, but I finished, the shoes held up, I didn't lose any toenails and my feet were in overall good condition after the races. So, I've run in Nikes ever since. The big question I'm asking now, is whether I want to run in Nikes again for this race or give another brand a shot. On one hand, I don't want to mess with a good thing, but on the other, I'm ready for a change - new shoes are always an adventure.
Well, I'll be buying the new shoes this weekend, so I'll let you know what I end up purchasing. I am a creature of habit, but any wagers on whether I'll be pounding the pavement in Nikes or another brand?
Happy running!
After this week, when my running has been sporadic at best, I can't say I really needed Friday off. Still, I wanted to get back on track with my training and rededicate myself to this whole marathon gig. Between my Arabic final and allergies acting up, this week has thrown several roadblocks into my training. Not to be cliched, but this is a marathon not a race!
I'm not particularly worried about skimping on the running this week. As long as I conquer the long runs this weekend and run every day next week, I will be fine. As with anything, training for a marathon takes a lot of dedication and time, and there are bound to be weeks that running just isn't my first priority.
Yesterday, I wrote a long post about diet/nutrition for runners, so I promise I won't bore you like that again, But today, I was thinking about running shoes.
I remember when I first started playing sports as a kid, and the best part of a new season was picking out new tennis shoes and/or cleats. There was nothing like buying new shoes and wearing them right out of the store. I just couldn't help myself. Now, I've never been very good at tying my shoes - I'll confess (sometimes, my fine motor skills are just a little lacking), but I loved the way the laces felt in my hand, the smell of new leather and the squeak of the sneakers on the floor.
To this day, I still feel the same way. When it's time to get new shoes, I can barely focus on anything else. I spend all my spare time researching new fads in running shoes, reviews in Runner's World and other fitness magazines and browsing my favorite running specialty stores in Northern Virginia and D.C.. What do I want? What do I need? What shoe is best for under-pronators? There are a million questions to ask.
When I ran the Baltimore Marathon and Frederick Half-Marathon about two years ago, I ran in Nikes. A lot of people hate on Nikes as running shoes, but I finished, the shoes held up, I didn't lose any toenails and my feet were in overall good condition after the races. So, I've run in Nikes ever since. The big question I'm asking now, is whether I want to run in Nikes again for this race or give another brand a shot. On one hand, I don't want to mess with a good thing, but on the other, I'm ready for a change - new shoes are always an adventure.
Well, I'll be buying the new shoes this weekend, so I'll let you know what I end up purchasing. I am a creature of habit, but any wagers on whether I'll be pounding the pavement in Nikes or another brand?
Happy running!
Thursday, April 7, 2011
Whew!
I am so glad my final is over! I feel like a huge weight has been lifted from my shoulders now - and I actually think I did well (especially on the conversational part)!
This morning when I laced up my tennies, it felt so good to be running again. When I get in the habit of running hard every day, it really affects me when I take a few days off. Even though Cameron was sick and cried throughout the night, I managed to pry myself out of bed to run this morning. I concluded, during my run, that I am in dire need of new running shoes, so one of my weekend goals is to trot down to Pacers and pick up some new kicks.
I typically switch to new shoes around 350 miles, but I've made this pair last a little longer. I bought them in December, and I've pounded a little over 400 miles in them. They have holes in the toes and the soles are peeling away from the heels of the shoes. Some would look at them and scoff, but I like to say that they have character. If my tennies could talk (probably a good thing they can't)!
Yesterday, I promised that I would include a diet plan for runners...well, that was a partial falsehood. I'm just going to throw a little basic marathon diet and nutrition out there and see if it sticks. And I'll be honest, I DO NOT always eat this way - I have been known to consume a chili dog at a baseball game, a glass of wine too many, or wings at my favorite dive bar. However, I am making a concentrated effort to eat foods that are beneficial to my body and adequate fuel for training.
I think everyone is well aware of the importance of eating fresh produce and getting the right combination of protein, grains and fruit and vegetables every day. Salads and raw vegetables are especially beneficial because they have not lost any nutrients in cooking. I will never pretend to be a vegetarian or have the desire to become one - I love meat and so do many runners. However, in my research, I found that many nutritionists recommend having a 'herbivore' day at least once a week (actually, the diet plans said vegetarian, but it's more fun to say herbivore). It makes me feel kind of like a dinosaur...don't ask.
For those of you carnivores out there, fish and chicken are better to eat than red meat. Additionally, whey and soy products are good substitute for animal protein. Your goal as a runner is to make sure you eat the best combination of foods to maintain a healthy body.
Now, for the no-nonsense things. While training, avoid fast food as much as possible. It's bad for you anyway, but the amount of saturated fat and low quality carbs found in fast foods are not beneficial to marathon training or your overall health. You should be consuming a higher number of carbohydrates than usual (if you're like me and try to watch your figure), which typically means 50-65% of your daily calories should come from complex carbohydrates, 15-25% calories from unsaturated fats and 20-25% from protein.
Obviously, I am not a nutritionist or dietician. These numbers could vary a lot depending both on serving sizes and other factors, such as weight, activity level and gender. A 5K runner should not be consuming the same amount of daily calories as an ultra-marathoner. When in doubt, use your heads, people!
Not to be the fun police, but there are other things that can be detrimental to training. I happen to love both of them: coffee and wine.
Luckily, I drink more coffee than fermented grape juice, but I've made a concentrated effort to curb my 2/3 cups a day to only one. If I think I need a cup of coffee to get through a long meeting, I try to get fresh air right before the meeting begins and stay engaged. If I'm actively participating in a meeting, then I am much less likely to drift off to the land of unicorns and rainbows.
As far as wine goes, just be smart about it. A glass of red wine a day is a good thing - a bottle is not. The same goes with training. It is awfully hard to get out of bed and run with a hangover, so just don't do it.
Lastly, drink lots of water!!! This simple rule seems like a no-brainer, but how many of us honestly drink our required eight glasses of water a day? I'm a camel, so I drink water all day (I'm not literally a camel, but you get the picture). Most people fall far short of eight glasses, and in training, it is of utmost importance that you are well-hydrated at all times.
Sorry for the long post - I was blessed with the gift of gab.
Happy running!
This morning when I laced up my tennies, it felt so good to be running again. When I get in the habit of running hard every day, it really affects me when I take a few days off. Even though Cameron was sick and cried throughout the night, I managed to pry myself out of bed to run this morning. I concluded, during my run, that I am in dire need of new running shoes, so one of my weekend goals is to trot down to Pacers and pick up some new kicks.
I typically switch to new shoes around 350 miles, but I've made this pair last a little longer. I bought them in December, and I've pounded a little over 400 miles in them. They have holes in the toes and the soles are peeling away from the heels of the shoes. Some would look at them and scoff, but I like to say that they have character. If my tennies could talk (probably a good thing they can't)!
Yesterday, I promised that I would include a diet plan for runners...well, that was a partial falsehood. I'm just going to throw a little basic marathon diet and nutrition out there and see if it sticks. And I'll be honest, I DO NOT always eat this way - I have been known to consume a chili dog at a baseball game, a glass of wine too many, or wings at my favorite dive bar. However, I am making a concentrated effort to eat foods that are beneficial to my body and adequate fuel for training.
I think everyone is well aware of the importance of eating fresh produce and getting the right combination of protein, grains and fruit and vegetables every day. Salads and raw vegetables are especially beneficial because they have not lost any nutrients in cooking. I will never pretend to be a vegetarian or have the desire to become one - I love meat and so do many runners. However, in my research, I found that many nutritionists recommend having a 'herbivore' day at least once a week (actually, the diet plans said vegetarian, but it's more fun to say herbivore). It makes me feel kind of like a dinosaur...don't ask.
For those of you carnivores out there, fish and chicken are better to eat than red meat. Additionally, whey and soy products are good substitute for animal protein. Your goal as a runner is to make sure you eat the best combination of foods to maintain a healthy body.
Now, for the no-nonsense things. While training, avoid fast food as much as possible. It's bad for you anyway, but the amount of saturated fat and low quality carbs found in fast foods are not beneficial to marathon training or your overall health. You should be consuming a higher number of carbohydrates than usual (if you're like me and try to watch your figure), which typically means 50-65% of your daily calories should come from complex carbohydrates, 15-25% calories from unsaturated fats and 20-25% from protein.
Obviously, I am not a nutritionist or dietician. These numbers could vary a lot depending both on serving sizes and other factors, such as weight, activity level and gender. A 5K runner should not be consuming the same amount of daily calories as an ultra-marathoner. When in doubt, use your heads, people!
Not to be the fun police, but there are other things that can be detrimental to training. I happen to love both of them: coffee and wine.
Luckily, I drink more coffee than fermented grape juice, but I've made a concentrated effort to curb my 2/3 cups a day to only one. If I think I need a cup of coffee to get through a long meeting, I try to get fresh air right before the meeting begins and stay engaged. If I'm actively participating in a meeting, then I am much less likely to drift off to the land of unicorns and rainbows.
As far as wine goes, just be smart about it. A glass of red wine a day is a good thing - a bottle is not. The same goes with training. It is awfully hard to get out of bed and run with a hangover, so just don't do it.
Lastly, drink lots of water!!! This simple rule seems like a no-brainer, but how many of us honestly drink our required eight glasses of water a day? I'm a camel, so I drink water all day (I'm not literally a camel, but you get the picture). Most people fall far short of eight glasses, and in training, it is of utmost importance that you are well-hydrated at all times.
Sorry for the long post - I was blessed with the gift of gab.
Happy running!
Wednesday, April 6, 2011
Stressed to the Max
Annnnnnnnnd I'm back...
This week has not been a good week for running.
Yesterday, I wasn't feeling quite up to par (golf terminology since the Masters start tomorrow), so I called in sick to work. I'll be honest - I hate sick days. You should be taking the whole day to rest and heal, but you spend the majority of your day answering e-mails on your Blackberry or worrying about what you might be missing at the office. There's no fun in that. And no, yesterday was not a beautiful day like Monday, so don't think I was outside running or playing with Cameron in the sun.
My whole day was spent sniffling in the library, pouring over Arabic material for my final tonight. I feelgood OK about most of the material that will be covered on the final, but I am really concerned about the dictation and the conversation section. Arabic script is quite difficult. It is commonly called "worm" and is written right to left on the page, instead of left to right like in English/Spanish/French, but I have a good handle on my characters and Arabic alphabet. However, my pronunciation and conversational skills leave something to be desired. Oh well.
Between anxiety over my final, exhaustion because I didn't sleep well and the mounds of work I missed yesterday, my stress level has increased to a fever pitch. I will be so glad when this week is over, and I can work out all my frustration on my 12 mile run. I need to pound the pavement really hard.
Btw, I want to dedicate a blog this week to a good runner's diet. so look for that to be the focus of a blog in the next few days.
Cross your fingers, pray for me, wiggle your nose, whatever you do...because I'm going to need it on my final tonight!
Happy running!
This week has not been a good week for running.
Yesterday, I wasn't feeling quite up to par (golf terminology since the Masters start tomorrow), so I called in sick to work. I'll be honest - I hate sick days. You should be taking the whole day to rest and heal, but you spend the majority of your day answering e-mails on your Blackberry or worrying about what you might be missing at the office. There's no fun in that. And no, yesterday was not a beautiful day like Monday, so don't think I was outside running or playing with Cameron in the sun.
My whole day was spent sniffling in the library, pouring over Arabic material for my final tonight. I feel
Between anxiety over my final, exhaustion because I didn't sleep well and the mounds of work I missed yesterday, my stress level has increased to a fever pitch. I will be so glad when this week is over, and I can work out all my frustration on my 12 mile run. I need to pound the pavement really hard.
Btw, I want to dedicate a blog this week to a good runner's diet. so look for that to be the focus of a blog in the next few days.
Cross your fingers, pray for me, wiggle your nose, whatever you do...because I'm going to need it on my final tonight!
Happy running!
Monday, April 4, 2011
You can stand under my umbrella...
Yesterday, I did my first mid-distance run: 11 miles. I ran it quickly too - at least for me (1:37). I wanted to wait until today to post because I wasn't sure if I'd be super sore or not...I'm not!
I feel a little stiff, and my hips are sore (nothing new), but on the whole, I'm feeling great today. After watching the new Focus Pictures version of Jane Eyre last night, which I highly recommend, and catching a late dinner, I fell asleep when my head hit the pillow and slept like a baby through the night. That's what a good long run will do to you. I haven't slept that well in months!
Today, the weather is gorgeous! I saw my first lightning storm of the season last night and knew the weather was turning, but I didn't predict a day as nice as this one. There is going to be a high of 76 degrees today and plenty of sunshine. Wish I'd called out sick and taken Cameron for a long hike...sure beats sitting in an office.
Went to my first baseball game of the season on Saturday, and man, was it a doozy! I don't know that I've ever experienced worse weather during a game (or cared less). After arriving to the game early and playing corn hole for an hour or so, we went through the gates, and it started pouring...buckets of rain. We holed up in the gift shop until the rain subsided and took our seats - four rows up in left field. SO AWESOME!
During the game, there was a tornado warning in D.C., sunshine, cold, wind, drizzle and hail. And yes, I still had a good time. I think it's impossible to have a bad time at a baseball game no matter how badly the Nationals play or the state of the weather. If you have good company and a rain jacket, you can deal with anything!
My Phillies have started out the season hot at 3-0 and look to be the team to best in the NL East despite injuries throughout the lineup. If the Phillies can keep their rotation healthy, they should be able to ride their arms to a pennant. I don't know that I've ever seen a better set of starting pitchers.
On another subject, my final exam for Arabic is Wednesday evening. Pray for me, seriously. I will be spending the majority of the next few days cramming for my big test. Although I've really enjoyed the class, I'm very excited it will be over after this week. I'm planning on taking the next level of Arabic in the summer when the days are longer, and work has (hopefully) slowed down a bit.
Happy running!
I feel a little stiff, and my hips are sore (nothing new), but on the whole, I'm feeling great today. After watching the new Focus Pictures version of Jane Eyre last night, which I highly recommend, and catching a late dinner, I fell asleep when my head hit the pillow and slept like a baby through the night. That's what a good long run will do to you. I haven't slept that well in months!
Today, the weather is gorgeous! I saw my first lightning storm of the season last night and knew the weather was turning, but I didn't predict a day as nice as this one. There is going to be a high of 76 degrees today and plenty of sunshine. Wish I'd called out sick and taken Cameron for a long hike...sure beats sitting in an office.
Went to my first baseball game of the season on Saturday, and man, was it a doozy! I don't know that I've ever experienced worse weather during a game (or cared less). After arriving to the game early and playing corn hole for an hour or so, we went through the gates, and it started pouring...buckets of rain. We holed up in the gift shop until the rain subsided and took our seats - four rows up in left field. SO AWESOME!
During the game, there was a tornado warning in D.C., sunshine, cold, wind, drizzle and hail. And yes, I still had a good time. I think it's impossible to have a bad time at a baseball game no matter how badly the Nationals play or the state of the weather. If you have good company and a rain jacket, you can deal with anything!
My Phillies have started out the season hot at 3-0 and look to be the team to best in the NL East despite injuries throughout the lineup. If the Phillies can keep their rotation healthy, they should be able to ride their arms to a pennant. I don't know that I've ever seen a better set of starting pitchers.
On another subject, my final exam for Arabic is Wednesday evening. Pray for me, seriously. I will be spending the majority of the next few days cramming for my big test. Although I've really enjoyed the class, I'm very excited it will be over after this week. I'm planning on taking the next level of Arabic in the summer when the days are longer, and work has (hopefully) slowed down a bit.
Happy running!
Friday, April 1, 2011
Yalla Biina!!!
I think that phrase sums up how I feel today...yalla biina ("let's go" in Arabic)! I'm just so excited to be off today and have the day free to do what I want. And I'm super pumped for the weekend - yes, I've probably had a pot of Sumatra coffee, so I'm a little hyper!
I woke up today with every intention of doing my long 11 mile run, since it's my day off. Instead, I slept late, ate a totally unhealthy breakfast, played with Cam and now, I'm downloading new music to my iPod. It is cold and gray outside, and technically, I'm not supposed to do my run until Sunday - today is actually scheduled to be my day off my feet, resting. Hence, I'm postponing the long run until the weather is a little more promising. No complaints here. Seriously, my day has been perfect.
As a special request for my long-distance running partner, Shawna, I'm listing the songs I've downloaded recently. I've gotten in the habit of finding obscure songs and new artists, expanding my musical selection and trying new things, since I am running inside more often than I would like. So, here goes nothing:
Ben's Brother Beauty Queen
MoZella More of You
Katie Herzig Jack and Jill
Andrew Belle All Those Pretty Lights
Love Grenades Genius of Fun
2am Club Make you Mine
Fay Wolf Your Love
Kate Nash Pumpkin Soup
Iron & Wine Jezebel
Friendly Fires Jump in the Pool
The Shins Pink Bullets
Vampire Weekend Giving up the Gun
Arcade Fire The Well and the Lighthouse
Metric Gold Guns Girls
2 Door Cinema Club I Can Talk
Phoenix Lasso
Tokyo Police Club Your English is Good
Now, if that list doesn't set you off to iTunes in a heartbeat, you better check your pulse! I'm kidding. I know it's a random assortment of songs, but that's what I'm listening to right now.
Well, I'm off to pick up my guitar from the repair shop...can't wait to learn some new songs for summer!
Happy running!
I woke up today with every intention of doing my long 11 mile run, since it's my day off. Instead, I slept late, ate a totally unhealthy breakfast, played with Cam and now, I'm downloading new music to my iPod. It is cold and gray outside, and technically, I'm not supposed to do my run until Sunday - today is actually scheduled to be my day off my feet, resting. Hence, I'm postponing the long run until the weather is a little more promising. No complaints here. Seriously, my day has been perfect.
As a special request for my long-distance running partner, Shawna, I'm listing the songs I've downloaded recently. I've gotten in the habit of finding obscure songs and new artists, expanding my musical selection and trying new things, since I am running inside more often than I would like. So, here goes nothing:
Ben's Brother Beauty Queen
MoZella More of You
Katie Herzig Jack and Jill
Andrew Belle All Those Pretty Lights
Love Grenades Genius of Fun
2am Club Make you Mine
Fay Wolf Your Love
Kate Nash Pumpkin Soup
Iron & Wine Jezebel
Friendly Fires Jump in the Pool
The Shins Pink Bullets
Vampire Weekend Giving up the Gun
Arcade Fire The Well and the Lighthouse
Metric Gold Guns Girls
2 Door Cinema Club I Can Talk
Phoenix Lasso
Tokyo Police Club Your English is Good
Now, if that list doesn't set you off to iTunes in a heartbeat, you better check your pulse! I'm kidding. I know it's a random assortment of songs, but that's what I'm listening to right now.
Well, I'm off to pick up my guitar from the repair shop...can't wait to learn some new songs for summer!
Happy running!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)