Luck of the Irish
Today I am doing a brick workout of a bike and run. So tired from not sleeping well and having problems with my heart. I am not able to sleep on the left side of my body.
Last evening I went to an Irish pub with some people from work and listened to Irish music. My friend even was serenaded for her birthday by the band.
I ate a fortune cookie yesterday and my fortune read "Tonight will bring a romantic interest" and yes, my fortune came true. I saw the movie Dear John. I saw Step Up in the movie theater three times back in 2006 simply because of Channing Tatum. I might beat that record with this movie. He is in a military uniform most of the time and my eyes didn't have a problem with that...he is too cute for words.
Monday, February 1, 2010
Another half marathon
I ran my 20th half marathon this weekend and I've never struggled during a half marathon, not even when combined in a half ironman. It's a fairly easy distance for me. I'm not fast by any means, but it's a distance that doesn't wear me out. Till this race...My time was around what I always get, but the course was short. My Garmin at the end read 12.66 miles, so .44 short. So really, I ran slower than usual. At around mile 10, my knee gave out and so did my IT band on my left leg. Part of that was due to the Insanity video I had done a few days before and left me really sore. I did numb my legs before the race with Dr. Hoys, but it wore off and the winds picked up. The last 5K was straight into very heavy head winds and looking at my pace on my Garmin was frustrating. No matter how hard I tried, I just couldn't run faster with the wind.
A lady in my running group had a 7 minute longer time due to the winds, with a shorter course.
It's amazing what the elements can do.
The rest of the weekend was spent at a BBQ, watching a new movie and having four little girls over for a makeover party. I did their make-up and gave them manicures.
I've been so hungry lately and having heart problems. I don't know what is going on, but I really don't want to go to the doctor.
I ran my 20th half marathon this weekend and I've never struggled during a half marathon, not even when combined in a half ironman. It's a fairly easy distance for me. I'm not fast by any means, but it's a distance that doesn't wear me out. Till this race...My time was around what I always get, but the course was short. My Garmin at the end read 12.66 miles, so .44 short. So really, I ran slower than usual. At around mile 10, my knee gave out and so did my IT band on my left leg. Part of that was due to the Insanity video I had done a few days before and left me really sore. I did numb my legs before the race with Dr. Hoys, but it wore off and the winds picked up. The last 5K was straight into very heavy head winds and looking at my pace on my Garmin was frustrating. No matter how hard I tried, I just couldn't run faster with the wind.
A lady in my running group had a 7 minute longer time due to the winds, with a shorter course.
It's amazing what the elements can do.
The rest of the weekend was spent at a BBQ, watching a new movie and having four little girls over for a makeover party. I did their make-up and gave them manicures.
I've been so hungry lately and having heart problems. I don't know what is going on, but I really don't want to go to the doctor.
Friday, January 29, 2010
Groups
I joined a group on linkedin called "Ironman Finishers." I like being part of this exclusive group. It's like this special club I'm allowed to join.
I can't join the group "50 Marathons in 50 States" or "Boston Qualifiers". But I do have this and it is nice.
Discussions take place on the best Ironman courses and goodie bag swag and the expensive price tag of these races.
I have joined a number of groups on linkedin of which my favorites are the writers' groups. I learn a lot from those experienced with the written word.
This weekend I have a race, but unfortunately I did this workout video a couple of days ago called Insanity. It is the most befitting term for this form of workout. I am incredibly sore, just as I would be if I had run a marathon. Shame on me for trying a new workout days before another race.
I joined a group on linkedin called "Ironman Finishers." I like being part of this exclusive group. It's like this special club I'm allowed to join.
I can't join the group "50 Marathons in 50 States" or "Boston Qualifiers". But I do have this and it is nice.
Discussions take place on the best Ironman courses and goodie bag swag and the expensive price tag of these races.
I have joined a number of groups on linkedin of which my favorites are the writers' groups. I learn a lot from those experienced with the written word.
This weekend I have a race, but unfortunately I did this workout video a couple of days ago called Insanity. It is the most befitting term for this form of workout. I am incredibly sore, just as I would be if I had run a marathon. Shame on me for trying a new workout days before another race.
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
Karma
Karma is a real, true thing. I totally believe in it. Anything that I have done, good or bad, has always come back to me.
So here's another instance of karma:
On Monday I was at the mall in Sandy, Utah and found a purse in the bathroom. I decided to bring it to guest services. I swear I walked the entire mall looking for guest services. I'd follow the maze of signs pointing me in one direction only to find out I'm on the wrong floor. Then every directory I checked had it listed on different floors. I would swear an engineer created this map. I eventually found it and then when I went up to the employee, I was treated rudely--all for trying to be a good citizen. But I said, I am doing this for karma. Someday myself or someone I know will lose something and it will be found.
Two days later I get an email from my dad that he lost a hard drive with substantial personal info such as social security numbers, addresses, tax info on it. I thought to myself...karma will return this hard drive. It will come back! And someone actually found it and returned it.
What goes around comes around.
Karma is a real, true thing. I totally believe in it. Anything that I have done, good or bad, has always come back to me.
So here's another instance of karma:
On Monday I was at the mall in Sandy, Utah and found a purse in the bathroom. I decided to bring it to guest services. I swear I walked the entire mall looking for guest services. I'd follow the maze of signs pointing me in one direction only to find out I'm on the wrong floor. Then every directory I checked had it listed on different floors. I would swear an engineer created this map. I eventually found it and then when I went up to the employee, I was treated rudely--all for trying to be a good citizen. But I said, I am doing this for karma. Someday myself or someone I know will lose something and it will be found.
Two days later I get an email from my dad that he lost a hard drive with substantial personal info such as social security numbers, addresses, tax info on it. I thought to myself...karma will return this hard drive. It will come back! And someone actually found it and returned it.
What goes around comes around.
Sundance Film Festival
I spent the weekend in Utah, a noble feat considering it is January. But I love to attend the Sundance Film Festival, so headed to the Wasatch Front armed with ski gear, my wool coat with faux fur and the thickest gloves I could find. It reminded me of when I was there just two years ago shopping for the Antarctica marathon. All my gear for that trip was bought in Park City while attending Sundance.
When I checked in for my flight on Friday morning, I thought my flight was at 9:40am. I checked in diligently at 9:40am for a seat in the A group, only to find out I'm B2. What? My flight was at 9:10am instead. How did that happen? Where did I get 9:40 from? Turns out I arrive back at 9:40pm on Monday. Oops. My bad. Normally, this wouldn't be a big deal, but I am flying to Salt Lake, the land of families...and families on Southwest board right after the A group. So B is more like the C group.
But such is life and it is not the worst thing in the world...but here comes the bad news. I got my rental car and immediately headed to Park City in the mountains. The weather got worse and worse the higher I went to the point I couldn't see anything--zero visibility. Everyone is driving with their hazard lights on and pulling off to the side of the road. I'm in an economy rental and no doubt has no snow tires on it. I pull off to the side and turn on my hazard lights (at least I think it was the side of the road; I couldn't see anything). I then attempt to drive back onto the freeway, as I have to keep going; there's nowhere to turn around at this point. I head downhill as I was at the summit and my brakes are non-existent...no brakes at all. I try pumping them; I try everything, but the car will not stop or slow down. I immediately call my dad because apparently in guy school they teach you how to fix things and deal with a driving crisis. He tells me to put it into the lowest gear and just coast. So I do, only to see a semi-truck so close to my rear end that I can't even see its headlights. I panic. Then another semi is in front of me. All I am thinking at this point is..."I don't want to die in Utah." Of all the places to die, I don't want it to be in a rental car up a canyon in a blizzard.
I finally find an exit down the canyon and my car completely freezes up, no brakes, no gas. I restart the car and head back the other way to Salt Lake City. No Sundance for me today. I lost an entire day.
I call the rental company and say the car smells of an electrical problem and I barely have any brakes. So they say take it back; they have plenty of cars. So I do. Only to find out they only have huge long caravans to rent. Soccer mom cars? How can I look cool? The man at the rental car company said, "this should drive better in the snow." Oh yeah? Any car would drive better in the snow.
I nickname my rental Old Betsy. It is the longest car in the world. In fact, I couldn't even see out the back window it was so far away. Plus, for the life of me, I couldn't figure out how to move the driver's seat back. So I am driving on top of the steering wheel in the longest car ever, but can't move back. I just started laughing so hard I was crying.
I then decide because my day of Sundance was over before it event started, I went to visit my grandparents. I surprise them, as they didn't know I was in town, and I walk in to find my grandmother...I swear this on my life...was watching....a marathon of the Real Housewives of Orange County. Is this backwards day??? I thought, okay, I have a hip grandma. Rock on.
I visited my cousins and went to dinner with them. We then watched a marathon of shows on hulu, one of which scared me. So, their three-year-old son brought me his action figures to make me less scared. "Superman will save you. Now you won't be scared," he told me proudly. So cute! I guess that is why people have children--never-ending amusement.
Sunday, I made it up to Sundance and had a blast. Saw celebrities, some documentaries and found the perfect hot chocolate of absolute creaminess and sweetness.
Monday, I saw more movies and had lunch with some ladies I used to work with and it was so wonderful catching up with them. Always good to keep in touch.
Salt Lake wasn't too cold for me. It was actually rather pleasant, except for when it snowed Saturday night. But much better than in December when I was there.
I spent the weekend in Utah, a noble feat considering it is January. But I love to attend the Sundance Film Festival, so headed to the Wasatch Front armed with ski gear, my wool coat with faux fur and the thickest gloves I could find. It reminded me of when I was there just two years ago shopping for the Antarctica marathon. All my gear for that trip was bought in Park City while attending Sundance.
When I checked in for my flight on Friday morning, I thought my flight was at 9:40am. I checked in diligently at 9:40am for a seat in the A group, only to find out I'm B2. What? My flight was at 9:10am instead. How did that happen? Where did I get 9:40 from? Turns out I arrive back at 9:40pm on Monday. Oops. My bad. Normally, this wouldn't be a big deal, but I am flying to Salt Lake, the land of families...and families on Southwest board right after the A group. So B is more like the C group.
But such is life and it is not the worst thing in the world...but here comes the bad news. I got my rental car and immediately headed to Park City in the mountains. The weather got worse and worse the higher I went to the point I couldn't see anything--zero visibility. Everyone is driving with their hazard lights on and pulling off to the side of the road. I'm in an economy rental and no doubt has no snow tires on it. I pull off to the side and turn on my hazard lights (at least I think it was the side of the road; I couldn't see anything). I then attempt to drive back onto the freeway, as I have to keep going; there's nowhere to turn around at this point. I head downhill as I was at the summit and my brakes are non-existent...no brakes at all. I try pumping them; I try everything, but the car will not stop or slow down. I immediately call my dad because apparently in guy school they teach you how to fix things and deal with a driving crisis. He tells me to put it into the lowest gear and just coast. So I do, only to see a semi-truck so close to my rear end that I can't even see its headlights. I panic. Then another semi is in front of me. All I am thinking at this point is..."I don't want to die in Utah." Of all the places to die, I don't want it to be in a rental car up a canyon in a blizzard.
I finally find an exit down the canyon and my car completely freezes up, no brakes, no gas. I restart the car and head back the other way to Salt Lake City. No Sundance for me today. I lost an entire day.
I call the rental company and say the car smells of an electrical problem and I barely have any brakes. So they say take it back; they have plenty of cars. So I do. Only to find out they only have huge long caravans to rent. Soccer mom cars? How can I look cool? The man at the rental car company said, "this should drive better in the snow." Oh yeah? Any car would drive better in the snow.
I nickname my rental Old Betsy. It is the longest car in the world. In fact, I couldn't even see out the back window it was so far away. Plus, for the life of me, I couldn't figure out how to move the driver's seat back. So I am driving on top of the steering wheel in the longest car ever, but can't move back. I just started laughing so hard I was crying.
I then decide because my day of Sundance was over before it event started, I went to visit my grandparents. I surprise them, as they didn't know I was in town, and I walk in to find my grandmother...I swear this on my life...was watching....a marathon of the Real Housewives of Orange County. Is this backwards day??? I thought, okay, I have a hip grandma. Rock on.
I visited my cousins and went to dinner with them. We then watched a marathon of shows on hulu, one of which scared me. So, their three-year-old son brought me his action figures to make me less scared. "Superman will save you. Now you won't be scared," he told me proudly. So cute! I guess that is why people have children--never-ending amusement.
Sunday, I made it up to Sundance and had a blast. Saw celebrities, some documentaries and found the perfect hot chocolate of absolute creaminess and sweetness.
Monday, I saw more movies and had lunch with some ladies I used to work with and it was so wonderful catching up with them. Always good to keep in touch.
Salt Lake wasn't too cold for me. It was actually rather pleasant, except for when it snowed Saturday night. But much better than in December when I was there.
Friday, January 22, 2010
Triathlons and training
It has been 2 months now since Ironman and I didn't go through the typical depression after a big-time race. I went through a euphoria for two weeks, then back to normal. I am always planning the next race and don't want to stop training, so I don't usually go through a down phase after crossing a major finish line.
However, with that being said, I have gone through major, major difficulties in stamina. My endurance isn't what it was before Ironman when I was doing 5 hour bike rides followed the next day by a 15-20 mile run and swim. Now, I have a hard time mustering 13 miles of running. I did 15 miles last weekend and could barely muster the energy past mile 12. I have planned on doing a marathon on Valentine's day (as I thought that is the perfect way to spend a silly holiday), but now not so sure. I should run 20 miles this weekend and see. If I don't make it, I'll switch to a half marathon on Feb. 14th and complete a full in the spring... maybe 2 fulls in the spring when I'm hoping my stamina level is back and 20 miles is a walk in the park like it used to be pre-Ironman.
I am also planning my international marathon and very excited at where I will be heading. I will also find out if I won the lottery into the NYC marathon.
Plus, triathlon season is just around the corner. Unfortunately, I do not hear the pool calling my name. I can, though, hear my goggles yelling "don't touch, don't touch." Hmmm...
It has been 2 months now since Ironman and I didn't go through the typical depression after a big-time race. I went through a euphoria for two weeks, then back to normal. I am always planning the next race and don't want to stop training, so I don't usually go through a down phase after crossing a major finish line.
However, with that being said, I have gone through major, major difficulties in stamina. My endurance isn't what it was before Ironman when I was doing 5 hour bike rides followed the next day by a 15-20 mile run and swim. Now, I have a hard time mustering 13 miles of running. I did 15 miles last weekend and could barely muster the energy past mile 12. I have planned on doing a marathon on Valentine's day (as I thought that is the perfect way to spend a silly holiday), but now not so sure. I should run 20 miles this weekend and see. If I don't make it, I'll switch to a half marathon on Feb. 14th and complete a full in the spring... maybe 2 fulls in the spring when I'm hoping my stamina level is back and 20 miles is a walk in the park like it used to be pre-Ironman.
I am also planning my international marathon and very excited at where I will be heading. I will also find out if I won the lottery into the NYC marathon.
Plus, triathlon season is just around the corner. Unfortunately, I do not hear the pool calling my name. I can, though, hear my goggles yelling "don't touch, don't touch." Hmmm...
Thursday, January 21, 2010
Wimp
I have become a weather wimp. I grew up in Seattle for 20 years and had rain almost every single day. Now it has been raining and I can't stand it. Use a treadmill? Blah. Wear closed toe shoes? I can't find any in my closet. Umbrella? Do I even own one? I think I gave mine away at a white elephant gift exchange.
It takes forever to drive in rain because no one knows how. They are shutting down the airport. Shutting it down! If they shut down the Sea Tac airport because of rain, no one would ever get into the Puget Sound area.
But the rain will go away and it really isn't a big deal, even though everyone is making it out to be. I lose my cable when it rains so I read and my house stays quiet for the evening. So I'll curl up with a good book tonight. Too bad I will miss Burn Notice and the Real Housewives of OC.
I have become a weather wimp. I grew up in Seattle for 20 years and had rain almost every single day. Now it has been raining and I can't stand it. Use a treadmill? Blah. Wear closed toe shoes? I can't find any in my closet. Umbrella? Do I even own one? I think I gave mine away at a white elephant gift exchange.
It takes forever to drive in rain because no one knows how. They are shutting down the airport. Shutting it down! If they shut down the Sea Tac airport because of rain, no one would ever get into the Puget Sound area.
But the rain will go away and it really isn't a big deal, even though everyone is making it out to be. I lose my cable when it rains so I read and my house stays quiet for the evening. So I'll curl up with a good book tonight. Too bad I will miss Burn Notice and the Real Housewives of OC.
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