I forced myself to go to the gym after work. Why haul all this workout gear to The Office and then lug it back home unused? Usually I feel better after a workout but today I was just not into it. I went through strength class with no will to really lift the 4-lb weights I had in each hand (yes, 4lbs! I am such a lightweight). And then the crunches were achy, the lunges were unsteady, and to top it off, the music was bad today. When the music is bad, it's going to be a bad workout. So I slipped on my iPod after class with a 5K treadmill run in mind, rationalizing that at least my personal selection of tunes would motivate me. Wrong again. I quit after 1.6 miles, of which I walked probably a third of it. I switched to the stationary bike. Nothing in my legs to pedal, and after a torturous 2.65 miles of stop-go, I halted the charade.
I told C about this pathetic gym episode during the drive home.
"I have no stam," I said.
And in a genuine moment of pure geekiness, he replied: "Well you just need a blue gem."
(It's pure nerd because it's a reference to that game we play online. Certain blue gems added to armor give bonus stamina stats. Oh, I'm a nerd too! Well, they shall inherit the Earth, so the saying goes.)
Tuesday, November 27
Monday, November 26
The 20-minute workout
Back in the 80s, my sister and I used to watch the "20-minute workout" (follow the link to video for trip down memory lane. Though I just don't get what's going on from minutes 06:00-06:30!) I think it used to be on in the morning while we were getting ready for school. My Tuesday strength class instructor talks about it every once in a while too, and sometimes we do some of the cool moves. No we don't.
I was thinking about the leg warmers today when I was doing my own 20-minute workout... in three phases... !
1. 20 minutes on the treadmill. 1.7miles.
2. 20 minutes of weights. 20 reps for various arm muscles, some lunges too.
3. 20-minute ab class.
I was thinking about the leg warmers today when I was doing my own 20-minute workout... in three phases... !
1. 20 minutes on the treadmill. 1.7miles.
2. 20 minutes of weights. 20 reps for various arm muscles, some lunges too.
3. 20-minute ab class.
Wednesday, November 21
One more
Race season isn't done. I've just signed up for the local fun run to ring in the new year, same as last year. Also will be going with the same friends as last year, Yumke and R. Perhaps my cousin will join up too, while it looks like my sister will be out of the country. I unofficially PB'ed at this race last year, as the 5K event isn't a chip-timed race. The entry bonus gift for signing up this year is this nifty jacket:
Guess this might come in handy for the winter training if I'm not treadmilling it... on the way to a spring half....
Guess this might come in handy for the winter training if I'm not treadmilling it... on the way to a spring half....
Tuesday, November 20
Belated birthday thoughts
I looked back on this blog to see where I was a year ago. It was a pretty introspective post back then. I talked a lot about the running-as-lifestyle a year and a day ago but I'm not sure I've really lived up to this mantra. I haven't kept much of a regular running routine, nor have I replaced the no-running with another activity. I've lived a pretty sedantary year compared to last year I think. Yesterday I self-tested my blood with the finger-prick, something I'm supposed to do daily, for the first time in about 2-1/2 months. The reading was a bit on the high side; though I shouldn't be surprised since I haven't been as careful with my diet in recent months. And I also only intermittently "remember" to take my diabetes drugs, the one that's been in the news as of late. I should get those replaced, see my doctor, reintroduce myself to my health log. It's my birthday, I can cry if I want to.
But enough of the pity party.
Step One is recognition. And now it's time to kick myself in the butt. So I went for a belated birthday run this afternoon, a decent 6K effort. It's wrong that it's mid-November and I went sleeveless.
But enough of the pity party.
Step One is recognition. And now it's time to kick myself in the butt. So I went for a belated birthday run this afternoon, a decent 6K effort. It's wrong that it's mid-November and I went sleeveless.
Wednesday, November 14
The off-season
Next up: picking the next race.
It's like the end of the tv season and I left a cliffhanger in my last post about three weeks ago. And then I went on a bit of a hiatus.
Hi again.
I wasn't hurt, just away from blogger. It's been a bit hectic at work the past few weeks, and I've been heavily playing that online game again, but I haven't completely let all that get in the way of a good run. I ran 8K recently and saw a deer on the bike path in the valley. I don't know which one of us had more of a "deer-caught-in-the-headlights" look, me or the deer. I've also had a handful of treadmill efforts, nothing more than 5K. Today, I went outside again because it was too delicious to pass up. I finished work at 3, and I was home just before 4 and the sun was shining. I had decided on my way home that I'd change and run as soon as I got home, so as to not lose my nerve. If I waited, it'd be dark and cold. It was warm enough to wear a tshirt and capris, which is also another reason to go today. Who wants to layer? I didn't have much of a route planned, so I just ran. Ended up doing a big square -- 6K.
Anyways, in the last few weeks some decisions have been made but not exactly set in stone. It looks like the family experience is hitting the road in 2008.
Stay tuned...
Monday, October 22
Anniversary run
Happy Anniversary to the Chicago Marathon, class of 2006!
I celebrated with a buttery croissant and coffee at 10AM, but was thinking about my first meal of the day a year ago, eating -- more like forcing down == oatmeal with brown sugar at 5AM, with a Gatorade on the side. Reminisced with Frankie and Yumke via email around 8:30AM. Congratulated Frankie around 12:30, just before lunch today, for finishing the marathon a year ago. At this time, I would've been past the halfway mark, with another 2 hours to go! Proceeded to have an ice cream cone mid-afternoon to toast my own accomplishment one year ago. Kind of silly but true.
With all the treats today, there was no way I wouldn't be hauling my butt outside for the first time in a week. 5K around the neighborhood on a gorgeous early evening. Nice night to just think about stuff.
Next up: picking the next race.
I celebrated with a buttery croissant and coffee at 10AM, but was thinking about my first meal of the day a year ago, eating -- more like forcing down == oatmeal with brown sugar at 5AM, with a Gatorade on the side. Reminisced with Frankie and Yumke via email around 8:30AM. Congratulated Frankie around 12:30, just before lunch today, for finishing the marathon a year ago. At this time, I would've been past the halfway mark, with another 2 hours to go! Proceeded to have an ice cream cone mid-afternoon to toast my own accomplishment one year ago. Kind of silly but true.
With all the treats today, there was no way I wouldn't be hauling my butt outside for the first time in a week. 5K around the neighborhood on a gorgeous early evening. Nice night to just think about stuff.
Next up: picking the next race.
Saturday, October 13
Zoo Tour: race report
Team Family does it again!
My sister, having caught the racing bug following her first road race in the spring, chose the Zoo Run as her fall race goal not long (probably hours) after the spring race (got to love how the runner's high induces you to action). We all didn't train together like we'd hoped. My sister and I had a quiet evening last night. We ate a delicious pasta dinner -- whole wheat pasta with roasted tomatoes and garlic. Then we kicked up our feet, watched Stranger Than Fiction, and wondered how Team Member 3, our cousin, was doing (she went to a concert). I was in bed by about midnight.
I was eating toast, one slice with Nutella, the other with peanut butter, and orange juice by 7AM. I surfed the internet for a while and then revved up the ZooBus. I picked up my sister, then Yumke (nearly had a car accident in front of his parent's house... I had stopped to consider making a left hand turn into the driveway on this quiet sidestreet and I guess the guy coming up behind me didn't think I was going to turn. So when I started to turn, all I could see was this little Volkswagen coming at me. He was on the wrong side of the road. I may or may not have been signalling. There are arguments that could be made for either side if there was a crash. Anyways, there was no crash. Good, because that would be more drama that necessary before a race, thanks.). We picked up my cousin without incident. We arrived at the Zoo about 35 minutes before start time. It was cold (about 6C) and blustery. Not unlike conditions at the Chicago Marathon last year. Today I opted for the same sleeveless shirt as I wore for the half, but wore a windbreaker too. And my yellow race cap.
There were long lines at the portopotties. We girls cursed Yumke for having the ... right equipment ... to be able to ditch the potty line and find a tree with about 10 minutes before start time. Still, we managed to get to the start line on time. It took us about two minutes to cross the start line and activate our chips.
First 2K
I love start lines. There is always an electricity in the air. I gave a quick hug to my sister and cousin, and some words of encouragement. The route began in the parking lot and wound its way around the perimeter of the zoo before actually entering the grounds. Twenty days ago, my sister didn't think she'd make it through this portion. We chuckled about that.
Inside the Zoo
Cousin tried to keep pace with us, but it seemed she was always a few steps ahead. This would later stretch out into minutes. The field of participants started to spread out a little bit by the time we got on zoo grounds. I no longer felt like there were other runners nipping at my ankles and I could run in a fairly straight line without having to dodge as many for position. The first water station seemed to come really early. We walked through it sipping our drinks. I think it was shortly after we reached this point that we saw some of the elites nearly at the end of their race. We continued. I paced my sister for most of it except for the few moments when I stopped to marvel at the rhinos, the elephants, the lion, the hippo, the ape, tigers, a cheetah. I ran past the mongolian horses, an assortment of monkeys, giraffe, reindeer. Although we were welcome to stay after the race to take closer looks at the animals, and I had intentions to do so, I now figured my grumbling belly was going to win out. Best to take this whirlwind tour of the zoo now. I didn't find the hills as challenging as expected. Even the big steep one about halfway through the course that had stairs at the top! Stairs! Who has stairs in the middle of a race? Weird. The rest of the course was uneventful. My breathing was even the whole time. My sister asked me if she was holding me back around 7K. I guess I could've run faster but I didn't want to, nor did it occur to me to pick up the pace. I wasn't racing -- as evidenced by the many stops to gawk at the animals. I was just enjoying the environment, the exercise, and making sure my sister kept her smile throughout the course. I think we'd lost sight of Cousin by now. She was motoring.
The finish
Yumke from the sidelines with about 400 meters to go spotted my yellow hat (and this is why I wear it... it is a beacon in a crowd). He told us he'd PB'ed and I was so happy for him. His intense training is really paying off. He jogged 300m with us, and snapped this photo. I encouraged my sister to pick up the pace a little bit, to look for that last kick. She found something. The race announcer called her name and said we'd both came through the finish line strongly, and with smiles. We got through the chute, met up with Yumke and Cousin, then we were off for a slightly different post-race meal -- we went Chinese styles and had a hearty dish of smoky noodles, a big bowl of congee with fried dough on the side, some chilifried turnip patties, and lots of cups of green tea.
Final chip time: 1:14:37.9
Pace: 7:38/km
My sister, having caught the racing bug following her first road race in the spring, chose the Zoo Run as her fall race goal not long (probably hours) after the spring race (got to love how the runner's high induces you to action). We all didn't train together like we'd hoped. My sister and I had a quiet evening last night. We ate a delicious pasta dinner -- whole wheat pasta with roasted tomatoes and garlic. Then we kicked up our feet, watched Stranger Than Fiction, and wondered how Team Member 3, our cousin, was doing (she went to a concert). I was in bed by about midnight.
I was eating toast, one slice with Nutella, the other with peanut butter, and orange juice by 7AM. I surfed the internet for a while and then revved up the ZooBus. I picked up my sister, then Yumke (nearly had a car accident in front of his parent's house... I had stopped to consider making a left hand turn into the driveway on this quiet sidestreet and I guess the guy coming up behind me didn't think I was going to turn. So when I started to turn, all I could see was this little Volkswagen coming at me. He was on the wrong side of the road. I may or may not have been signalling. There are arguments that could be made for either side if there was a crash. Anyways, there was no crash. Good, because that would be more drama that necessary before a race, thanks.). We picked up my cousin without incident. We arrived at the Zoo about 35 minutes before start time. It was cold (about 6C) and blustery. Not unlike conditions at the Chicago Marathon last year. Today I opted for the same sleeveless shirt as I wore for the half, but wore a windbreaker too. And my yellow race cap.
There were long lines at the portopotties. We girls cursed Yumke for having the ... right equipment ... to be able to ditch the potty line and find a tree with about 10 minutes before start time. Still, we managed to get to the start line on time. It took us about two minutes to cross the start line and activate our chips.
First 2K
I love start lines. There is always an electricity in the air. I gave a quick hug to my sister and cousin, and some words of encouragement. The route began in the parking lot and wound its way around the perimeter of the zoo before actually entering the grounds. Twenty days ago, my sister didn't think she'd make it through this portion. We chuckled about that.
Inside the Zoo
Cousin tried to keep pace with us, but it seemed she was always a few steps ahead. This would later stretch out into minutes. The field of participants started to spread out a little bit by the time we got on zoo grounds. I no longer felt like there were other runners nipping at my ankles and I could run in a fairly straight line without having to dodge as many for position. The first water station seemed to come really early. We walked through it sipping our drinks. I think it was shortly after we reached this point that we saw some of the elites nearly at the end of their race. We continued. I paced my sister for most of it except for the few moments when I stopped to marvel at the rhinos, the elephants, the lion, the hippo, the ape, tigers, a cheetah. I ran past the mongolian horses, an assortment of monkeys, giraffe, reindeer. Although we were welcome to stay after the race to take closer looks at the animals, and I had intentions to do so, I now figured my grumbling belly was going to win out. Best to take this whirlwind tour of the zoo now. I didn't find the hills as challenging as expected. Even the big steep one about halfway through the course that had stairs at the top! Stairs! Who has stairs in the middle of a race? Weird. The rest of the course was uneventful. My breathing was even the whole time. My sister asked me if she was holding me back around 7K. I guess I could've run faster but I didn't want to, nor did it occur to me to pick up the pace. I wasn't racing -- as evidenced by the many stops to gawk at the animals. I was just enjoying the environment, the exercise, and making sure my sister kept her smile throughout the course. I think we'd lost sight of Cousin by now. She was motoring.
The finish
Yumke from the sidelines with about 400 meters to go spotted my yellow hat (and this is why I wear it... it is a beacon in a crowd). He told us he'd PB'ed and I was so happy for him. His intense training is really paying off. He jogged 300m with us, and snapped this photo. I encouraged my sister to pick up the pace a little bit, to look for that last kick. She found something. The race announcer called her name and said we'd both came through the finish line strongly, and with smiles. We got through the chute, met up with Yumke and Cousin, then we were off for a slightly different post-race meal -- we went Chinese styles and had a hearty dish of smoky noodles, a big bowl of congee with fried dough on the side, some chilifried turnip patties, and lots of cups of green tea.
Final chip time: 1:14:37.9
Pace: 7:38/km
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