Clipping In, and Out

OK, so I've heard and read horror stories of crashes and problems with the clipless pedals on a bike. You know, the ones that allow you to not only get momentum on the down cycle of a ride, but on the up as well, actually allowing you to bike more efficiently AND work the quads and hams...I've never tried them before, but seeing as how L is a former bike race, works with teams and coaches, that's of course how he rides, and he's set up a bike for me with the cages (which I haven't used) but I was curious about the clip ones, and he had some shoes that are too small for him, and with insoles and socks, they did fit me pretty well...and of course he has a bike with the pedals...so yesterday I attempted it, and without a word on how to do it (he helped me get into the clips) I turned my foot, the way I'd heard other people describe it, and how I've seen people do it, and I clipped out...and didn't hurt myself!! Of course....I was on a trainer.....so the chances of my getting hurt were pretty much zero...but still....I did clip in (second time on my own) and out...now I might end up trying it sometime on a real bike, on a ride! L actually has a bike he just told me he's getting converted over with parts for me, that, if I so chose, I could use for a tri sometime...he's also suggesting it for some rehabbing for my issue that's been affecting my running, with some other device he was going to get to try out on me...we'll see....

Chicago Weekend Recap

Alright, finally a quick update at least of last weekend.

So as you saw from my post and picture, the team I was there supporting won and that was awesome, unfortunately the weather wasn’t great for the weekend and there were a few bad crashes, thankfully nothing for the Kelly team and I only heard of one instance of someone going off in an ambulance.

We flew to Chicago on Friday night and after our arrival at the hotel, went to get a bite to eat. Where we were staying, chain restaurant capital of the world. Seriously. If you wanted a chain restaurant, it was in this vicinity. We went driving down the road, figuring we’d go wherever looked good. Ended up at probably the only non-chain place in the area too. I had a reasonably good taco salad and raspberry beer (it was a brew pub) but no one else was impressed with what they had. Oh well. It was food. We went back to the hotel then and went to bed as it had been a long day. Unfortunately the Hilton Garden Inn we were staying at had very thin walls (now wouldn’t you think a newer hotel would be built better so as to keep noise out) and people were being loud so it was hard to get to sleep, not to mention sleeping in a double bed with two people isn’t great either, but oh well.

Saturday morning we were up and running errands and then over to the race site to set up the tent. I was helping out with the vendor tent, trying to encourage people to sign up to win a bike. We didn’t have a great turnout, but it wasn’t too bad. We had the ability to chat with people and that was fun on occasion, but unfortunately it got cold. We closed up in time to see the guys race finish, but most of the Kelly team had pulled out as they were told to avoid crashes and there was one early on and the big race was on Sunday. After the race we were back to the hotel to relax a bit, then L and I went to get a bit of food, nothing too exciting, we ended up at basically an A&W Restaurant, food was OK…

Sunday morning up earlier to be able to get out to the site for the earlier starts. (and no time for a run, which I hadn’t had time for on Friday or Saturday either, so my plans for the week of running cut from the planned 38 to only 22) More bad weather and not many people but we did our best. Closed down in time to see the last third of so of the race and it was an exciting thing to watch with the way the guys were riding. Seeing the win was awesome. We headed back to the hotel, showered off, loaded up and were on the road back to Minneapolis by 7:30 pm…it is about a 7 hour drive normally and with the rain and bad conditions we drove about 4 ½ hours and around midnight stopped for a bite and to sleep. We made the rest of the way back early on Monday morning and made it back by noon, not in enough time for the noon plans L had, but he cancelled them and we took a brief nap at my place and then he went home and I slept a bit longer, deciding not to come in for the half day I had planned, and I didn’t even run on Monday like I had wanted to. Oh well. All in all a fairly fun if not extremely busy weekend. Unfortunately I hadn’t gotten to see the friends I had planned on seeing and didn’t have numbers to call others so it wasn’t quite what I had originally planned either, but oh well. With luck I’ll be having lunch with some of them tomorrow and maybe see others on another trip.

So for the week last week running was a bust. This week, I’ve managed to get a 5 miler on Tuesday, and 9 last night, which is OK…Tuesday I was really tight by the end and last night I was really tight in the first 2 miles but loosened up, unfortunately I tired my foam roller after and I didn’t get anything loosened up the way I had wanted to. I think I need L’s help on this one.

Tonight, after work, I’m driving to meet my parents to have dinner and get their dog from them. They are going on vacation for the next two weeks and Max doesn’t get to come along…so he will be with me for the next two weeks…hopefully he’s not as naughty as he can be at times when he’s “abandoned”. At least maybe he’ll be happy that it’s only him and not another dog going to be there. He might enjoy that at least. We’ll see though. I might take him out for some runs with me. He’s a Jack Russell so lots of energy, although he’s gotten a little lazy….

National Criterium Champs

I don't have time for a big update right now, but I wanted to post this picture. It is of the Kelly Benefits Strategies Team. This is with about 12 laps (1 mile per lap) to go in the race, my first view of the team in front. It was very cool cause I was in a Kelly Jersey at the time too. I had gotten into position on the 2nd to last turn of the course and just got ready to take what I hoped would be cool pictures, not knowing that the team had made a move into the front spots and that they would pretty much stay there for the remainder of the race.

You’re Kidding Right?

OK, so I’m flying to Chicago for the weekend. Leaving today around 4:50. It’s just the weekend, and we are driving back. This all came up because the pro bike team L works for is competing in the National Criterium Championships in Downer’s Grove over the weekend and he is flying down today and driving back so suggested I should come too. I found a cheap enough ticket and thought why not, so we fly down tonight after work and then drive back on Sunday after the last race. I was going to visit friends while there and still hope to see them, but now I also got invited to work at a booth the team has up and get paid decent for it so I said sure…since the liquid ban, the times I’ve flown, I’ve checked my bags cause it was just easier…due to it just being a weekend, I thought what the heck, I’m going to carry my bag on and deal with the bag for my personal items…I knew it was a quart bag and found that I didn’t have any around, so I ran (literally, didn’t feel like driving later, needed a run of 6-7 miles and it’s about 3.5 to the grocery store) and got bags, came home, opened the box and looked at the bag. You’re kidding right? I’m allowed to carry liquids, in 3 oz or smaller containers, onto the plain as long as they are in ONE, one quart, see through, zip top bag…umm…yeah. Maybe for a boy. As a woman, and one that wears contacts, my smallest saline solution bottle is 3 oz. That takes up 1/3 of the bag. Then I need deodorant, well, thankfully I have a sample size of that to bring, but if I wanted to bring shampoo and conditioner, shaving cream, face lotion, make up (thankfully I don’t wear foundation) and any number of other things I could include, there is no way it would all fit in that bag. I have to buy gel when I get there cause I don’t have a small enough one anyway. I’m going to use the shampoo at the hotel, will buy razors and am not bringing along my body glide (which I bet I’ll regret if I get my 12 miler in this weekend like I want to, but it just won’t fit in that bag) but it still barely fit…it sucks!! And really, in the grand scheme of things, does it really prevent anything or is it just a way to appease us in thinking that our safety is being handled? And on that note, has anyone seen this?

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/20298840/site/newsweek/from/ET

The Issues Continue

Alright, so while I made mention of finishing the training week last week, one thing I didn’t mention is that my leg was still having issues. I haven’t said much about the true nature of the problem and I thought maybe blogging about it might help.

Probably about 10 years ago, maybe more, I noticed an issue with my right hip. It was a problem mainly when it comes to sleeping. I would lay on my side and it would bother me. Not so much pain as it was just “uncomfortable”. Also on long drives, particularly when I am driving, that area would bother. It was basically in my sciatic area, although it was not something easy to define. I had seen a doctor for it, and she told me it was bursitis. I lived with that for a long time. Then in 2001 I finally saw a PT. It was convenient (at the place I worked) and free…so that worked. He did a fantastic job. He worked it with an ultra/sound, he had me doing exercises and he lectured me on all kinds of “bad behavior” (like crossing legs and not having good posture on the elliptical). He also got me to start running. He kept pushing me to run, I told him it bored me on the treadmill as I liked reading on the elliptical, he suggested books on audio…I thank him much! (and wish I knew where he worked now as I would see him again even having to pay for it) I stopped seeing him unfortunately and hadn’t quite been fully healed and of course I had regression.

I started in a new job and decided to see another PT and get it adjusted. Well, this PT was awful. She just had me do resistance exercises with her and a few on my own, didn’t help much and I stopped after a few sessions as it wasn’t worth it.

Chiropractic had been suggested to me as well, but I was leery about it. I finally had a recommendation for one that insurance covered and I went to see him. He helped some, but it still didn’t quite get what the first PT had done. Then I was having some issues with my left IT Band (remember, it was my right hip/sciatic area that was the problem, which makes sense to a degree that it's the left area that has more problems, oppposites and all) and I went to see another Chiropractor who also provides active release therapy. My insurance didn’t cover him but I thought it was worth a try since he was highly recommended. He helped some, but it still didn’t fully take care of things. Last I saw him was in 2005. After Chicago I took time off, relaxed running wasn't sure about another marathon, but finally decided maybe and got more serious and into building up again.

I trained really well, really hard in early 2006 and everything felt fantastic almost EVERY run…very few bad runs and I hated rest days because things felt so great. I ran my marathon PR in June 2006. Just before my run, things were feeling a bit tight, but nothing major. I saw a massage therapist who had been recommended just a few days before my race and everything was great race day. I took a bit of rest, probably not enough though, and started up training for Marine Corp in October 2006. Goal was getting a BQ since I had been so close without actually shooting for it in June…anyway, things bothered me all that training, things were tight (all on the left side) and it just never felt great. I saw the massage therapist again and this time it wasn’t quite so great. That run was so so, but fell far short of my goals (I was 2 minutes ahead of pace at the half and then finished in 3:56).

Since October runs just haven’t been great. I run, and there are maybe a few that have been OK, but everything feels so tight most times. My glute is the biggest issue. Both sides have tightness, but the left is by far the worst and sometimes causes issues down my left leg. Shorter runs aren’t terrible, but longer runs (at least over 10 miles, the 15 this weekend was a part problem) really cause an issue of tightness all the rest of the day. I’ve had massage done on it, nothing consistent though and I just don’t know what to do about it. Another Chiro has been suggested and I’m willing to do that, but need to wait till January due to insurance things (I’m on a deductible plan again and if I’m going to be spending a lot I need to wait till I change to the lower deductible) to try it. I think getting consistency in massage work would be part of it. I might have to break down and start getting a massage on a once a week basis to try to get it loosened up...maybe more…and yes, I have someone that can help with that, unfortunately it being his regular job, I don’t feel right asking him for one. If it’s offered, I’m always willing to take him up on it, but the inconsistency in the timing of when it can be worked on, and the fact that I’m just not one to ask for help (I’m the one that if someone asks what I’m doing on Saturday and I am…oh say painting, and they ask me if I want help, I’d say sure, but if they say hey, maybe we can do something later in the day, I’d never suggest hey, if you help me, I can meet up with you sooner as it will be done sooner, just not good about asking for help as I hate to inconvenience people). I might need to find money in the budget to actually buy a massage package…but I am just trying to figure out if that will help or not. I can’t figure out what else might be different in my training from last spring that felt so great all the time and worked really well to what is going on now…what did I do…I’ve had suggested that the “injury” needs to be allowed rest (I couldn’t take a whole week off, but I did take 5 days in a row off and that didn’t help). I just can’t call it an injury as there isn’t something that caused it, it’s something I can run with, and it isn’t consistent in what is tight and/or sore and how sore and/or tight it feels all the time.

One last suggestion I had, (after yesterday stating that I might not be running the 25K that I just announced) but one person I thought could be there to watch can’t be, my bad on counting weekends and dates wrong, and the fact that I can’t do any speed work and I just know it’s not going to be a great run with the issues going on…anyway, the suggestion was to stop running and bike instead…OK, I was probably rude in the way I responded, or stubborn or what not, but I’m a runner. I’m not a biker. I don’t care much for biking. It’s harder for me to bike than it is to run (seriously, my legs hurt and I just can’t seem to go very far, 20 mile run, no problem, 20 mile bike ride, you’re kidding right?) and I just don’t get the satisfaction from it. Bike ride for enjoyment? I don’t get it…to me it’s a way to get from point A to point B without a car and faster (and less sweaty) than a run. Also, I’d have to spend twice as much time biking as I do running to burn the same amount of calories and part of my reason for running is to keep weight down and/or lose weight…I just don’t know what to do anymore…and it makes me upset. I remember great runs. I remember the euphoria, even in the most unfavorable of conditions, and I miss it. I miss it very, very much…

Training Week 1 of 5 for 25K

First training week went OK. Granted I was already in the middle of the week before I put the plan together, but I did finish it as I laid it out, well, almost. My plan called for 6 mile tempo run on Friday (4 miles at tempo pace of 8:30), unfortunately the heat was up around 93 and the dew point was around 70 and it was just too warm to do it. Not to mention I don’t think I ate well enough for the run either. I was feeling weak, like I needed fuel, but, at the same time, I was feeling nauseated and I think if I had had anything more to eat I would’ve thrown up on the run (it was definitely heat related). I got home and took a cold shower and had a nap. It was just a bit too brutal. Later I went with friends out for drinks and was up too late (already having decided to move my long run to Sunday) as I found out a band was playing near home so we went there and watched that till bar close, then I crashed out and didn’t even hear the nasty storm that came through. I was up on Saturday morning doing some cleaning and chatting with a friend before going out for some food and to run some errands. I was pretty lazy most of the day but managed a 6 mile easy run around home and then just stayed in watching movies before getting to bed around midnight. Sunday I got up and took off for a 15 miler and not wanting to delay more than I already had, I skipped breakfast which was probably not a good idea. I made it through the run but only managed a 9:46 pace, and considering I had done 17 last long run at a 9:10 pace, I definitely needed something more. I managed 35 miles for the week though, and some stretching, working the yoga in this week hopefully.

Sunday I vegged a bit at home most of the afternoon and then ended up going grocery shopping and managed to buy mostly good for me things…I tried to stay away from the middle “bad for you” aisles of processed foods. It’s unreal how expensive it is trying to eat healthy though. For one it’s hard to find bread. Wheat breads can be very dry, and I’m not a big fan of that, I like it a little more moist, but I want it healthy, and lower calories if possible (all bread seems standard at 100 calories or more a slice). However, you find lower calories and it has High Fructose Corn Syrup in it, and/or it’s low in fiber or has enriched and not whole wheat flour. Why is it everything has HFCS’ in them? I mean seriously, we know, or it’s coming out more and more that it might be a huge contributor to ADD, yet EVERY food seems to have it in. What is wrong with real sugar? Gatorade/Powerade…a runner’s friend…second ingredient is HFCS…it just sucks. I would love to get away from processed foods, I’m making an attempt at it, and trying to reduce HFCS (problem is I have a HUGE sweet tooth) but it’s so hard, not to mention it’s so expensive. It’s no wonder Americans get fatter and fatter…the cheapest way to eat is crap. I did make one new find I’m excited about though. They have a cheese that has the “good bacteria” for digestion on the market, in strips and in cubes, so I bought some to try it…if I notice a difference I’m going to decide it’s worth having once a day…until I can maybe convince myself to eat yogurt…I’m just not a fan of the texture of it…

Anyway, tonight, hopefully getting a shorter run in, but if not, that’s OK…L is back and we are going to get together. Last night he was getting into town late, I had suggested if he wanted he could come by, but it was even later than he had hoped and it just didn’t work logistically. I was a bit disappointed when I woke up and realized he wasn’t going to stop by. This weekend in Chicago should be fun though. I’m now taking off early on Friday and probably taking the full day off on Monday, but we’ll see what happens.

A New Plan – Including a Race!

OK, today I need to get focused back on my training, my workouts and my diet. I have been floundering on the workouts and I think part of it is the lack of training plan and/or race to run so I’ve decided on a race. OK, I’m not “officially” registered for it yet, but I’m 99% sure I’m going to register for it in the next few days and will run the City of Lakes 25K this year. It is near home, it’s a nice, fairly easy course, 2 hills and you run the course 2 times so technically 4 up hills, but you also get decent down hills on both of them. I’ve actually run ¼ of the course in a race already, the 5K I did on St. Patrick’s Day was on Lake Harriet, half of the course. The course is 2 laps around Lake Harriet and Lake Calhoun, finishing at the Lake Harriet Bandshell. This course is part of the original City of Lakes Marathon, which was replaced with the Twin Cities Marathon (City of Lakes was just around the lakes and is the course that Dean Karnazes used for his 50/50/50 last fall). They wanted to keep a remnant of that race so created this 25K to be run at a time of year people are gearing up and could use it as part of a training run for fall marathons. Another plus to this race, instead of the typical cotton T-shirt, racers receive a 14 oz beer stein. I like the thought of that, too bad the race is on a Sunday as I probably won’t want to fill it all that much after the race, unlike how I would’ve if it was on a Sunday.

I actually put together a training schedule for the race already as well. With the help of the Smart Coach at Runner’s World and a little adjustment to create a bit more mileage and a few longer runs, and an adjustment on times that were provided to me, I think the schedule looks good and doable. The race is 4 weeks from this coming Sunday, but considering, other than last week, my running has been there, at least mileagewise, I should be fine. Other than the week of vacation I had in April (11 miles) and last weeks pure laziness (6 miles), my lowest week this year was 28 miles and my highest week was 50 miles (back in May) averaging 37 miles a week for this year. It’s been 2 ½ weeks since I’ve run a “long run” but that was a 17 miler and it was at a decent pace.

Now, beyond the running and getting that back on course, I need to get my eating back on track. I’ve been so bad on that lately too and I hate that. I’ve gained about 4.5 pounds when I was within 4 pounds of my goal weight, so now I’m 8.5 pounds above what I’d most like to be at and I’ve been just horrible when it comes to eating. So it’s time to make some dietary changes, getting back to what I was doing, less snacking, eating better, eating less…baby steps on that, a new change each week is probably how I’m going to have to do it. There is just too much junk going into my body and I know that has to partly be causing the problems in lack of energy that I sometimes encounter on my running…time to get back to http://www.fitday.com/ and start keeping track of everything I eat and slowly cut back on the calories and pay more attention to what I’m eating.

Finally, I need more cross-training. I’m doing zero on the strength training and zero on “real” yoga (I do some yoga moves to stretch after a run, but that’s very little), so here goes, goals for next week:

August 13 – August 19, Monday – Sunday

1. Food – keep an accurate accounting of all eating for at least 6 days of the week on http://www.fitday.com/
2. Exercise – Besides the running schedule, back to yoga, at least one session of Rodney Yee’s Strength session

Doesn’t seem like much, but baby steps to get back on track…

Hump Day

I ran…it wasn’t far, it wasn’t timed, but it felt pretty good. This was the first I had run since last Thursday. Which OK, to some that isn’t much, but considering it’s been rare for me to take 2 days off in a row, and run less than 5 days a week (and usually 6 or even 7) that is a big deal. Especially since I was really just taking the time off cause I didn’t feel like running. I’m lacking that motivation still, but at least getting out for the 4 I did last night it felt OK and I enjoyed it, even though it was pretty warm and sticky. I haven’t fully decided if I will run tonight or not, maybe, maybe not, we’ll see. If I don’t, I’m going to attempt getting in a good yoga workout and/or stretch and get some cleaning done. If I do, it probably won’t be far, but that’s OK. This weekend I’m going to attempt a longer run at some point since next weekend I will be in Chicago.

Monday didn’t end up making it to the movie as we expected to do. It was getting late after we visited the bridge area and L was hungry and didn’t really want food from Brit’s. He suggested we could go buy the movie instead and then watch it at his place. I was exhausted by the time we finally started watching it, so we ended up stopping it and going to bed, but that’s OK. It is a good movie and it can be watched another time. I had seen it already (we almost got Blood Diamond instead and I still do want to see that, but will have to wait for another time). If you’re looking for just a cute chick flick, Music and Lyrics is a good one (I think it was Dori that asked about it). And as long as I’m reviewing movies, Bourne Ultimatum is definitely worth it. We saw that on Friday and it’s an excellent movie. I think I heard someone else saying this but it seems to be accurate, each Bourne movie just got better.

A Quick Recap

I found a few connections now to the bridge disaster. One of my roommates co-workers daughters (follow that?) was on it at the time of the collapse, well, she was just getting onto it and managed to stop, she hit something and was hurt and is in the hospital, but she’s OK and is going to be OK. My brother’s girlfriend’s uncle was also on it and was in surgery but has come through…it’s unreal that the disaster you saw actually only had 5 deaths. Granted, there will be more as there are 8 still missing and cars still to be recovered, but the amount of devastation that could have come from it, we’re very lucky it wasn’t worse than it was. This in no way is meant to take away from the pain of those who have lost loved ones, but it has brought a national level of knowledge to things that could be happening and is maybe going to push people to check and prevent from potential other worse disasters that could happen.

I was a lazy, unmotivated person last week too. I haven’t been involved in strength training since I left my old job and the fitness center there. I haven’t been involved in any crosstraining since then and I haven’t done much for yoga either in that time frame. I’ve gained about 3 pounds and I was so lazy last week…my only run was on Thursday. Six miles to clear my head after Wednesday. I should run tonight but am feeling a little tired and thinking I might just go home and nap before my evening festivities…I’m such a putz…I know, maybe it’s something I needed, but I haven’t run that few of miles in a week in over a year…heck, after my last marathon I ran a 10 mile race the next weekend for “fun” with a friend…sigh…

My weekend was hectic. Friday night L and I went to see Bourne Ultimatum, after I recovered from some sadness and crabbiness I was experiencing, then Saturday I was up early and off for my family gathering. It was a lot of family time but wasn’t as bad as it might have been. Unfortunately the weather was cool and rainy, so the wave runner and pontoon weren’t really used…OK, I did take the wave runner out, they had a high end one, and it was a blast, but was chilly. We did sit around the fire for a while then too, and then I went back home and back up again the next day. I was there pretty late yesterday afternoon too so not much down time last night and I would’ve liked more. Today is hectic too. I have a friend who sells PartyLite (candles for those not familiar with them) and there is a new catalog and she’s having a party to show the product from 6-7 tonight, then if it keeps from raining, one of the bars downtown has a movie night every Monday in August and tonight Music and Lyrics is the show, so L and I are going to go see that (it’s a British pub and British themed movies, this one I suppose was picked since Hugh Grant is in it). It’s a fun thing but too bad the weather isn’t “typical” August weather right now. Also, plans are set and I’m flying to Chicago for the weekend next weekend. L is there for a bike race and he suggested I should fly down with him and drive back with him on Sunday. Gives me a chance to see friends there as well so it will be a weekend away. Should be fun, but busy. Ah so much going on and so little time really for things. And I have yet to focus on studying for the stupid GMAT. I did get a practice test done, with no studying and learning, came up with a 570…a lot of the math stuff was pure guesswork, and I didn’t really pay much attention to answers for the reading stuff either…just kind of worked through it fast to get it done. No, not smart, but oh well…I’d really like a 650-700 for a score, that should be good to get me into Carlson, so we’ll see. A 570 without any studying and rushing through is probably not too bad…and not best indication of my actual ability. I think read of people doing similar things on practice tests and ending up in the 650 or better range, so guess we’ll see.

Oh My God!

I had a dental appoinotment tonight, then made a quick run to Trader Joe's to get a few things for this weekend and heard a news report break in (thank God I listen to talk radio most of the time and they would cut in for something like that) and heard a report that a 35W bridge had collapsed. As they described it, I had to think about the area to really figure out what they were talking about...not just a bridge over it, like I had been thinking, but the big section of it that I used to drive almost everyday, that my brother does drive everyday, collapsed into the Mississippi River. This is a huge section of road, and a major traveled section. The only thankful thing is it was a lighter time of day for traffic, but at least 50 cars were involved, some still on parts of the bridge and some in the river...For those out there with beliefs, please say prayers for those involved and their families.

Motivation?

I don’t know what has happened to me this summer but I’m suddenly feeling so lazy. I haven’t run the last two days and tonight might not happen either since I’m seeing the dentist at 5:30 to have a filling replaced, which I think is totally unfair and sucks, why do I have to go be drilled on when I don’t have a cavity? I’ve been doing all things right, but since the thing is over 20 years old and is an old metal one, it needs to be replaced…sigh…oh well. I haven’t been under the drill in a really long time…I don’t know if this dentist is big on use of Novocain or gas or both either….hopefully more on gas. I hate Novocain. But I digress….I’m not sure if a run will happen after the dentist or not. We’ll see how I feel. I also need to run a few errands and might do that after the dentist. Namely I have to get to Trader Joe’s for a few things and tonight might be as good a night as any to do that. Or is it an excuse again to not run? I know part of ramping up a training plan is you need a focus race to ramp up, and I haven’t chosen one of those (although might do the City of Lakes 25K in September). It’s a month away, I have plenty of time to even get some speed work in…but I’ve still got the hamstring/glute problem going on and I don’t feel the motivation to deal with that. I don’t mind the running, but it has been so lackluster. I can get out and do it, but since I don’t get that “wow, I can run forever and why don’t I?” feeling from it anymore, or at least I haven’t in quite a long time, there doesn’t seem to be much point to it anyway. I go out, I run my 4-5 and that’s that. It’s mainly to keep from gaining weight anymore that I do it either and I’ve noticed my running dropping too. I need something…anything…to help me out…I didn’t even have the ambition to do that half this Saturday that I have done before and enjoy…I’m so tired of this and I’m gaining weight because of it too.

I also need to get focusing on the GMAT. I really do feel the interest and motivation to start classes. And I don’t want to wait a year on taking classes. Which means applying for and getting accepted (which is not a guarantee) for Spring Semester. This means application being filled out and sent in by October 1. This means taking the GMAT within the next month, month and a half at the latest to get scores in by then (that shouldn’t be too big of a problem since scores can immediately be sent to schools and I think are then sent in a paper format within a few weeks). They also apparently take later applications as I saw something about late acceptance for this fall, so I’m probably not horribly stuck on that deadline…maybe I should start on my essays at least. It’s funny, as I was home over the weekend and talking to my mom a bit about the GMAT. I mentioned how I was pretty bad with grammar and that was a section…she said she was good at it…I showed her the examples from one of my books…she could see my frustration then! I think it’s almost all luck in getting good scores on that thing honestly!

My last week was pretty OK. I was home over the weekend as I mentioned. My aunt and uncle were home from Alaska. They come home once a year and it was nice to get to see and visit with them. The family went out to dinner on Friday night to a nice little dive kind of restaurant/steakhouse that has excellent food and good prices (8 ounce really good filet mignon, potato and salad for $16.95), froze sweet corn (long process for those not familiar with it by blanching and then cutting the corn off the cob and putting it in the freezer for scalloped corn…so yummy!), and then had dinner, courtesy of my aunt and uncle, salmon shark, halibut and salmon…I’m not a seafood person, but was conned into trying it all and had to admit it wasn’t too bad. Sunday I was on the road back to the metro and then Monday L was back from his race out east so I picked him up at the airport and we had dinner and hung out that night. Nothing major. I hadn’t seen him in a week though.

This weekend I have a big family thing again. My dad’s mom turned 90 last December, they are having a family reunion kind of thing (just the siblings and their families) at a cabin on a lake just outside the city (about an hour drive I’ve been told) and at first significant others weren’t invited but now it’s been deemed OK, so I invited L, this is scary because it’s pretty much all the immediate family on my dad’s side…we’re talking probably 30-35 people, give or take a few…he has met my parents and briefly met my sister and her boyfriend, but that’s it. Unfortunately with some other races coming up and his being out of town for them, and needing to do business related construction work, it’s likely he won’t be able to make it. Which is disappointing but what do you do? Unfortunately looks like another year of wanting to camp is gone as well as weekends have just disappeared…I might just have to head out on my own if I really want to go camping again ever. I’ve said that before and had people talk me out of it because they were going to come with…guess what, that never seems to happen! Ah well.

Doping?

Normally I haven’t really followed much in the Tour de France. I’m a runner, not a cyclist. Butt I have always at least seen when things are coming to a finale, and have been usually aware of the winner. This year I’m dating someone who is very involved in cycling. As he said it (for a way for me to get it), this is his “super bowl”…so I’ve been watching it, sometimes with him, sometimes just on my own, and paying attention, at least a bit, to what is going on in it.

This year has been insane. The scandals are rampant, you have an early favorite who tested positive for a blood transfusion and his entire team withdrew, then just yesterday, the man in yellow, the man who had a very good shot at winning it all, ended up pulled, not because he tested positively, but because of failing to be available for a random test prior to the race starting, and having lied about his whereabouts. And his entire team pulled out as well.

Having become closer to the sport, and knowing someone very close to the sport, I’ve been informing that yeah, most of them do…and that makes me very sad. Of course he also pointed out to me that anyone at the top of these endurance level sports (yes, running included) is probably doing it…and that makes it even worse. What happened to the joy of the sport? Of course you look at the dollars that can come to the winners, marathon purses. The money for just a stage win in the tour. The endorsements from sports companies. We’re talking big bucks and who do you blame for it? What would a lot of people do for the right amount of money? But it still is sad and ruins the integrity of the sport for the fans that love it. I do have to say that I like the fact that the teams are taking responsibility and not just “looking the other way” and it’s the whole team being punished for it. Maybe it will make it become a team effort to keep each other off the doping. The thing is, it really sets a precedence too. Can you imagine a playoff bound football or baseball team pulling out because they find a few of their players are “doping”?

Beyond ruining the integrity, setting a bad example for the up and comers, it’s also plain dangerous. Using steroids, other drugs that are out there to enhance things, blood transfusions (adding MORE blood into the system than we normally have, this one floored me) and anything else they do is dangerous. It can kill…and these athletes don’t seem to care. This is sad…is money really more important than your health and well being? And knowing that you won, because you are the best, not because you used the right combination of drugs to make yourself the best?

Twins Win!

I’m not a big fan of baseball, but my mom is, and she loves her Twins and through my work we have sets, so I was able to get 4 tickets and use them for the game on Saturday night. My dad hadn’t been to a Twins game since the old Met Stadium (for those not from MN that’s where the Mall of America, which most have heard of, now stands) so it’s been a long time. It also seemed to be about the time for L to meet my parents. He’s been in the picture a while, he’s becoming more and more important in my life and I thought, well, let’s make that step. It seemed to have gone well. Dad asked him when he was coming to my home town, so we’ll have to make a trip at some point. Not for a bit yet though, lots of family things over the next couple of weekends. Here are how good the seats were and a few neat shots I got.

I just found the Sepia setting on my camera...this turned out quite cool.

Home run for Tori.

Our side arm pitcher...quite interesting to watch!

With a tie of 2/2, and a count of 3/2 (only 1 out) Mauer hits an in field home run at the bottom of the 8th with 2 runners on.

And the Twins win!

Rest of the weekend wasn’t too bad. I ran 17 miles on Saturday morning and another 4 on Sunday I managed 40 miles for the week. I’d like to maintain that for the next few weeks (except maybe lighter next week if I run the half I’m considering) and just see where I get to. I maybe got a bit spoiled on that last long run, due to a miscommunication on Friday night (that was thankfully resolved well) L didn’t help me with the long run on Saturday and I missed having someone to look forward to seeing every few miles (not to mention someone with an icy bottle of water and some Powerade) and he told me he was actually bummed about it too as he had a lot of fun helping me on my run last time, so next one will hopefully be with aid! Sunday I had to drop L at the airport kind of early as he is out east for a bike race this week that the team he works for is participating in, he comes back on Monday and I should also be able to pick him up. Sunday I got to catch up with a friend though, and that was nice. We hadn’t see each other in about 2 ½ months I think and she’s been through some stuff and seems like things are coming around and she’s finding herself, which is awesome. I like to see my friends getting to happier places and figuring out their lives and things they need to help them get happy.

Looks like some steamy times coming up, but that’s fine…I can still run, even when it’s 90 degrees and 70% humidity (yes, these are the tropics!) I just might be getting up earlier this week and running before work…

Running Like it Should Be

Last night was a perfect night for a run. The humidity had broken, although maybe that’s not the right way to state it. It was raining, relieving the air of the heavy feel that too much moisture can cause. When I put on my running shoes and headed out the door, it was a light rain, steady, but not a downpour. The clouds were coming through and there was a little thunder (but no visible lightning other than one streak I saw walking out of the house, and yes, I know, if there is thunder there is definitely lightning) but just a light rain. And it wasn’t that dark and gray of an overcast, rainy day. There were areas around the metro that were clear, and/or the rain hadn’t come through yet, so there was sun around the edges, making it seem necessary for sunglasses, although I never actually wore them (the rain would’ve been a deterrent to that, although I wish I had worn a hat), they were on top of my head the whole run. I was going to run 4. But since it was cooler, and the rain was falling, and at one point (probably mile 4) it started to pour, so I was not getting any wetter, I decided to stay out till it stopped…6 miles later I was home, clothes were dripping, shoes were drenched, socks could be wrung out, but I felt good. Not a great run, but at least it was a fun one. As soon as I figured out it was raining, it made me want to get out in it. Now in the early spring and later fall, that’s not so much the reaction, but when it’s summer, it’s warm out, you have been sweating on runs and feeling gross, it’s nice to have a refreshing rain to run in. Especially when it’s not as dark and grey as it could be, and the sun is even slightly poking through…

I even made it to bed kind of early, expecting to wake up, as usual, around 5, and get out of bed to run...but with no alarm for that early, I didn't wake up, so will have to try to get one in tonight, maybe after dinner. L and I are going on a "date" tonight, dinner somewhere (I have to make the decision, I'm thinking one of the little places along the river) and then possibly going for a run...I have to say, I like having a boyfriend that runs. And actually suggests it on occasion himself or really likes the idea when it is mentioned.

Steamy 8 Miles

Ah, the hot and steamy tropics of MN…oh wait, we only think we live in the tropics, it gets quite cold here too. As we are reminded each October…

Last night I had a showing at my condo (yay, they even took a flier, this is only the 2nd time someone took one, but they didn’t take a disclosure sheet, so probably not that interested…sigh…) from 6-7. So I came home, took a short nap/rest time and then threw on running clothes and headed out into the steamy MN evening. It wasn’t so terrible. I opted to run around a nearby nature reserve with biking and walking trails around it. There is a water fountain and it’s mostly shaded, a 2 mile path, so I ran to it (a little over a mile) around it 2 times and then back, having added on at a few other places (I skipped my Garmin) I did approximately 8 miles. I was drenched when I got home. And the power was off. Yeah, that was fun. I NEEDED a shower sooooo badly…so showering in the dark. And it’s amazing how much we have learned behaviors. Walk into a room, turn on the light…even though you know the power is off! Ah well.

What’s funny is we had a power outage at work on Monday. It was off for about 3 hours…so I ended up going and doing a bit of shopping on Monday on an extended lunch. I needed new work clothes and it is summer clearance time, 2 skirts and 2 tops later, and only $45 out of my pocket, I didn’t think I did too badly…

It’s another steamy one tonight. I was going to shoot for a quick 4 as L and I were going to meet up, we haven’t gotten together since Sunday and he does claim he misses me, still not sure why on that, but he seems to, and I do enjoy spending time with him, and we didn’t get much quality time this weekend, so I was looking forward to seeing him as well, but he has something going on later now tonight, so I might just run a bit longer (in the steamy evening again) and then relax at home…have a nice salad and sandwich for dinner so I don’t have to cook and heat up the house….maybe I’ll go out for a beer later. I have people missing me as I haven’t been to my hang out in forever…

Lifetime Fitness Triathlon

This weekend I volunteered at the Lifetime Fitness Triathlon. A very big event in the world of Tri’s, drawing the top of the sport athletes due to the $60K that goes to the men and women’s winner and due to it being part of a series, which the male winner of this race won on Saturday, netting him $120K total for winning Saturday and the series. It’s a huge event. They have Olympic distance for the pros and elite amateurs, along with anyone else that wants to attempt that distance (1.5K swim, 40K bike and 10K run) and there is an option of a sprint distance (.5 mile swim, 12 mile bike ride and 5K run). It drew around 3200 athletes, and 1000 volunteers. I volunteered to help out at the finish line, which was actually nice in many ways because I didn’t have to be there at 4:30 in the morning the way the body marking people did, we didn’t have to do anything at the beginning so that left for being able to go watch the start and the transition from swim to bike and again from bike to run. Our job was to collect the timing chips. Easy enough, they are velcroed onto the athletes ankle, just have to grab it and pull….pay attention to if anyone needed medical and just enjoy the day. I had good conversations with a number of people, found jealousy in looking at some of the women athletes there (and it made me regret the bagel and doughnuts I had eaten from the volunteers tent, along with some of the candy, but not enough to regret the beer I had when I was given an access pass to the hospitality tent) and just in general enjoyed being able to be part of an event. I have trouble volunteering at running races, because I always feel like I need to be there running it, so this is a good option, helping at races that aren’t something I intend on doing (although I guess I haven’t fully ruled it out, but tris are so expensive, you might need a wet suit, you need access to a pool to be able to swim, road bikes are so expensive…).

Anyway, I managed to even take some pictures…you can see it was early, with the sun rising over the crowd when I pulled up, and some had been there as early as 5 am. Pro start time was 7, the pro women 3 minutes behind, the elite amateurs were 10 minutes behind the women and then heats from there of the rest of the field. I didn’t get to see much of the swim, but I got a few snaps of athletes running up the beach, then getting to the bike area. Then again when they changed from the bike back to run…and finally of the winner. I would’ve taken more but unfortunately I hadn’t checked my camera battery before leaving home and it was dying…so this was all I managed.

I got a few runs in over the weekend…nothing fantastic, but nothing hurting either. My mileage was lower last week than I had thought I had been at, somehow I was adding wrong while I was doing some of the runs…I managed 33, I want to get back up to regularly in the 40s, but I just can’t seem to get motivated. And with things not feeling great…if it’s really a sacro problem I’m having, which is what L has been thinking, I think I need to work more on that without a chiro at least at first (partly due to my health insurance isn't so great anymore on the coverage of chiro, I have a deductible and not just co-pay, stupid health insurance), so I’m back to using my sacro wedgie to see if that helps me at all. I haven’t been using it at all lately and maybe between that, some good massages, and yoga maybe I can work it all out and start feeling better. I’m hoping to get 17 miles in this weekend…I want to go out on Friday night, Saturday night I’m going out as well, so I might be trying to force my butt out of bed really early on Friday (or running after work before going out) and see if I can get it in…maybe I can get up and run 7 and then work and then come home and run another 10 as an option too…we’ll see.

Friday the 13th

Oh, another busy week…and apparently I’m feeling exhausted. Last night I got home from work, went for a run, started out around 5:15, was done just before 6:30, I went 8 miles…I got home, I did a couple small things around the house, tried to get some GMAT studying in and was asleep by 8:30…umm…yeah…

My running has been lackluster lately. I’ve been very frustrated by it and I don’t know what to do about it. Justrun summed it up in her blog today pretty much exactly the way I feel. I have been able to get out and plod along, I sometimes wear a watch, but most times lately haven’t. Regardless, the run almost never feels ‘great’ and sometimes I think “why am I doing this” other than the obvious one of wanting to still lose a couple of pounds and not gain back where I’ve made the headway. The main thing is, I’m not doing it because I want to run some races and/or because I’m training for something. And I really don’t care and/or don’t feel like I want to train for anything either. I have been considering a fall marathon, it’s still been on my radar, but man, now I just don’t know. I don’t have the energy/motivation to run hard. And to get my goal time I have to run hard. Every run goes out about the same time frame…anywhere in the 8:45-9:15 (9:30 for my 15 miler on Saturday, but that was a longer run and it was hot and if I took into account full running time, it would be much slower than that as I had a few stop points for water and discussions on where I was running next). I hate this feeling of not even being out enjoying it. I don’t HAVE to run and I still just don’t seem to care and/or like what I’m doing and I hate that. It’s in part due to the glute/hamstring issue I’ve been dealing with, oh, probably close to a year now. It’s tight, it never feels 100%, runs never feel “great” (although that run in the rain last week was nice), and I just don’t know what to do about it. I feel, at least partly sometimes, like I’m not fueled enough. I know my eating has been bad and I haven’t been as diligent about eating a nice afternoon snack to get energy going. I also haven’t been eating the same time frame and same types of things I used to eat when at my last job. I’m still working on getting a new schedule going, but not having my eggs and toast everyday that I was used to, and then a later lunch, has caused problems that I know I need to remedy either by getting up and running in the morning, or eating something in the afternoon to fuel for that time. I just want to feel good about running again. I want to enjoy it and not do it cause I “have to”…I want back the feelings I had last spring when every run felt great, I enjoyed training, I was nailing the tempos, had great times on my intervals and the long runs were almost always great too (OK, a few were bad, but not many). I maintained that for almost 6 months and I ran my 3:42:54 that June…I just don’t know what is different now, what I had then that I’m lacking…I actually am less busy too. I don’t have a 2nd job now, I had more free time…


Just so it’s not such a downer post, I’m including some pics and a few fun things from the last two weeks. Lack Harriet bandshell, where I watched the guitar players with a friend and then had ice cream after. A sunset over Lake of the Isles (one of the chain of lakes that are a great place to run in the metro), downtown from Lake of the Isles and finally this license plate that I found hysterical for whatever reason and since I had my camera…

Tomorrow I'm up early as I'm helping out with the Lifetime Fitness Triathlon, a really big Tri that goes on not far from home. I'm volunteering at the finish line so that should be fun. It's even broadcast on NBC, so watch Saturday night, you might see me out there among the volunteers, although I have been informed we are not allowed anywhere near certain areas when the pros are finishing...and I'm not one holding the tape, darnit...it should be exciting though and I haven't volunteered for a while so helping L at the one a couple weeks ago and doing this one this week, I'm giving back. Even if it's not actually at a road race, but hey, tris aren't something I do, so I don't feel the "why am I not running this race since I'm here" thing that I sometimes feel at road races.

Happiness is...

A boyfriend nice enough to follow you out on a long run and carry the water and powerade so you don’t have to wear the fuel belt you hate…

and hands it to you at regular intervals cause he knows you should drink it even if you aren’t wanting it at that time…

and bikes on ahead so you have something to watch and look forward to further on the run…

and tells you how good you are doing, and how proud he is of the fact that you finished the 15 miles in the heat and humidity (even though it got even hotter later but you didn’t get going quite as early as you would’ve liked to) even though you know it wasn’t a great run…

oh, and made your breakfast for you prior to the run and forced a recovery drink on you after…

Ah yes…he might be right, I might be a little spoiled…

A rainy run…

It’s been so long since I had the joy of running in the rain and on Tuesday night, 2 ½ miles into the planned 5-6 miler I was going to do, it started to sprinkle a bit, then it turned into a gushing downpour and it was fantastic! I was soaked in about 5 minutes but it felt so good and I didn’t care. I turned the run into 7 just because it felt so good and was so much fun…I probably would’ve gone even further but the rain was kind of stopping and I did have things I needed to do. But man, why can’t there be more runs like that. The thunder that happened a bit later didn’t phase me (seriously, I have rubber soles on my shoes, not much to worry about right?), and it just feels so good when you are being refreshed by a summer shower as you are slogging through a warmer day (it wasn’t terribly warm that day, but warm enough and it’s getting hotter this weekend!).

After the run I went to my “friends”…OK, I suppose I can officially say it’s more. Massage guy we’ll call him, has pretty much become my boyfriend. We’ve been seeing each other 2 months now, I guess it was time to finally maybe use that label? Anyway, went to his place and he, I and his two neighbors went and saw Transformers. Yes, I grew up in the 80s, and I LOVED the Transformers. The movie had incredible special effects and I really did like it for the most part, although it really did feel more like a “builder” point for two years down the road when Transformers 2 comes out. Two of the guys that I was with (the neighbors) were total geeks on it. We dissected it later, and even they liked most of it, although didn’t like a few of the teases that were in, one was that they didn’t remain true to the forms that were used in the original cartoons, but Optimus was the same, even the same voice. Anyway, after the movie, we had a few beers and then went to bed. I stayed downtown with L and the next day we went for lunch (although I had wanted breakfast, and I could’ve had it where we did end up, I chose a taco salad instead) at a marketplace that is geared toward ethnic foods. Mostly Asian and Mexican. It was good. More authentic Mexican than typical “Tex-Mex”. After food we were going to go to the 4th Celebration across the river, but ended up watching some movies (at least bits of movies) and taking a bike ride over to get some beer…then we went up on the roof of the building to watch fireworks, but since this is a shorter building we weren’t quite able to see them as well as we might have otherwise, but that’s OK. A late night slice of pizza so I’d be able to feel OK for work the next day and an almost fight with a couple of drunk idiots that didn’t know how to keep their mouths shut (and only shot them off when they were “safe” meaning the security at the bar, or a cop outside, gotta love people that come out, start shooting off their mouths and acting stupid and then go running to the cops when a move is made on them) but oh well. All in all a nice 4th of July…

4th of July

Well a few minutes to kill before I head out for the day. I’ve got some thoughts I was going to post about, but not sure I have the time to get into them right now so I guess I’ll just share a few basics for catch up purposes. The weekend was good, but quite busy. Friday night I went to the band shell for the music. It was good and quite enjoyable to sit outside on the lawn and just listen and chat. We got Sebastien Joe’s ice cream after for a snack and then I went to my “friend’s” and crashed, although I was unable to sleep, feel really bad for him on that since he had to be up early and work the next day, I just had to hang out. I spent Saturday morning at a Triathlon though, sprint tri, and it was quite enjoyable. My friend and a person who contract’s through is studio were doing the massages for those at the end of the race and I spent the morning signing people up and keeping things moving. It was nice to chat with athletes and watch the race. I even figured I could’ve probably handled doing that one pretty easily. (no, no thoughts on doing a tri!) After we were done, my “friend” and I went for lunch and then a long nap at his place. Ended up watching a movie and then I headed home to clean up and head out to watch a band play with some co-workers. It was an enjoyable night and I made a pinky swear with someone for studying for and taking the GMAT this summer…we’ll see if that holds up! Sunday I cooked ribs…I slow cooked them…they were so good…my “friend” was over to eat them as well and we ended up renting the British version of The Office and watching some of that before crashing early.

For this week, I’m heading to my “friend’s” place tonight to maybe see a movie and go out for drinks, tomorrow evening we plan to watch the fireworks from his place, we are going up on the roof of the building to watch them, it’s a 4th story of a building in downtown Minneapolis and should give us a nice view of the ones over the river so that should be a nice evening. Other than that, just hanging out and who knows what tomorrow. Everyone have a fun and safe 4th of July and I’ll hopefully get some pictures from the 4th and also from the tri last weekend up later this week.

The Week in Recap

I have been meaning to and trying to update this all week, but didn’t have the pictures wanted to include them in the first post…so hence, a wait, but they might be worth it!

Last Friday I was down at the 3rd (well 4th if you could the time trial that had happened that morning) stage of the Nature Valley race series. Big bike race around the mid-Western region of Minnesota. It started with a speed trial in downtown St. Paul last Wednesday, a road race in Canon Falls on Thursday, time trial and then speed race in downtown Minneapolis on Friday night, another road race on Saturday in Mankato and finishing with I think another speed race on Sunday in Stillwater. I saw the race on Wednesday night and then went with a couple of friends to the race on Friday night. It was quite cool seeing the bikes going through (top speeds of 39 mph) on the roads of downtown Minneapolis. The team my friend works with were there and I managed to get this cool picture, totally on a fluke, of one of the members of his team (I just put my camera out and snapped a picture, had no idea who or what it might take a picture of). The other picture is getting into some of the last few laps of the race and while the bikers were more toward the far side of the lane for most of it, this last part they spread out and we could’ve almost touched some of them! After the race we headed (myself and my two friends) to our local hangout and had a few drinks. Then it was home as we were all kind of exhausted after long days.

Saturday I got up and actually went for a long run. In fact the run was 13.25 miles in length…longest I’ve done in quite some time and it felt good. I averaged a 9:21 pace which wasn’t bad considering it was a bit warmer out by the end of it (I didn’t get running till 11). My parents were in town and I met up with them for a drink at my uncle’s legion for a street dance and fireworks later that evening and then called it an early night.

My plan on Sunday was the Pride parade and then a work happy hour/meet and greet of the international sales team and then the end of the race series party my friend was having, which was convenient since all events were in downtown Minneapolis. Unfortunately last minute had back outs of people going to the parade so I didn’t make it to that, instead I had a run, did some cleaning and just relaxed for part of the afternoon at Lake Calhoun before going home, getting cleaned up and heading to Brit’s for the party. It was nice to get to meet some of the people there, and we ended up doing some Lawn Bowling and then I said I was going to the party and others wanted to join me, so we walked over and had some beer. It was a nice night, but I was again quite exhausted so ended up home in bed by 1.

This week so far my running is way off. I had 42 miles last week but this week I’m only at 15 and it’s Friday. I’m planning between 6 and 8 tonight, but don’t know when or if I’ll get a run in the rest of the weekend as it’s kind of packed. I’m meeting a friend at my place after she’s done with work and going to Lake Harriet band shell for music tonight, then it’s another friends birthday so I’ll probably meet her for a drink, my “friend” is meeting us maybe at the band shell and then I’ll be crashing at his place tonight as he sponsor’s a triathlon every year and goes down and does massage at it and asked me if I wanted to come along. I’ll be there helping get people signed up for massage etc…this will go to early afternoon I’m sure, then maybe a nap by Calhoun and/or stopping to see some friends since we are up close to their place for the tri…tomorrow night the people still in town for the meeting are planning an outing to see a band play and I said I’d be joining them, so most likely I’ll be heading out for that and maybe staying at my sister’s place if I opt to have a few drinks…we’ll see how tired I am though! Sunday I think I need to relax! I might grill up some ribs and hopefully will find time for a run then, since tomorrow I might not get one. It was kind of nice this week though, on Wednesday I was downtown to see a band play and met up with my “friend” there and then he and I went for a run. I haven’t run with someone in so long and it was kind of fun doing that again. And I have never really run with someone that I’m actually dating…so that was even more fun actually. We’ll see how things continue to play out.

Still no buyer’s for my condo. There is a good and bad to that. On the good, I have more money to throw at bills and things for right now (but maybe I should be saving up for more toward a downpayment), and there are plenty of things on the market I like and would consider buying, so hopefully it stays that way, mine sells (I’d love it if I could have a sale to close maybe October, move end of October/early November, but you can’t ever guarantee something like that). I know it will eventually sell, and I’m sure I’ll find something I deem perfect for me at the time, but the unknown is kind of a pain. I’d almost take it off the market and just stay where I am, but I just have so many “wants” that I need more space for (like my exercise room, I’ve determined I’m buying some bowflex changeable weights ones I have space to have that kind of stuff)!

Thursday Run

It’s been a while since I’ve just written about a run. Sure I’ve made mention of what I’ve been doing in passing with other updates, but there really haven’t been any stand out runs. Everything all kind of blends together. I have run a number of them without watch (mostly wearing HRM though just trying to get a feel for numbers before I work out the mins and maxs). I’ve even had a few runs without anything but my MP3 and they have ranged from bad to OK or average but something yesterday hit me. Maybe it was the early afternoon chocolate chocolate chip muffin, or the Pizza Hut Express breadsticks so I’d have the energy to run without having to wait till I made dinner, had it eaten and then rested it off…Anyway, last night I could’ve gone further, I only ran 7 (had planned 5 or 6) and wish I had done at least 8. The first mile stat I’m not sure of, but I know it was slow due to stopping to say hi to a neighbor and pet her dog, but then I was off and most of the miles fell right around 8:35 pace, and HR stayed around what it has been most runs. I’ve been averaging maybe seeing a high of 167-175 (but that’s usually coming up the last hills), and most of the run has tended toward being in the mid-150s, which none of this means much yet since I only know my min and not my max HR yet. But I’m guessing this is going to come close to the average range that most runs should be in (65-75% effort I think). It was so nice to have finally achieved a good run though. Final run time had me at an average of 8:38, which it's been a while since I've effortlessly hit those paces. Maybe it was the slightly cooler weather last night that helped too. The run on Wednesday was only 4 miles and that one I almost bagged because it just didn’t feel good, legs felt dead (and I had only done 7.25 the night before) so I just don’t know. I’m still not sure about a fall marathon either, but it’s that time to start building mileage up, looking at a training schedule and getting something going soon if I’m going to even consider doing one…I’m still kind of playing it out to see what happens and if I can get into Twin Cities yet.

Wednesday night I went and checked out a bike race. First time I had ever been to one, at least in that capacity. It’s a pro race series going on in the area right now. Mostly within the metro with a couple of trips about an hour away. It was fun and Jelly Belly was there handing out sport beans, as was Nature Valley (which makes sense since it’s the Nature Valley Grand Prix) handing out granola bars. The race was a sprint in downtown St. Paul. Just a short circuit for an hour. There is another leg of it tonight in Minneapolis and me and a couple of friends are going to go watch and have a few beers to celebrate Friday. Should be a nice evening. That is if the rain holds off!! Tomorrow my parents are in town so I'll probably see them and I might be crashing a wedding, we'll see if I feel up to it or not. Sunday is the Pride Festival parade and I always enjoy checking out the festivities in the park during Pride so I'm hoping to make it down there too. I have yet to actually get to see the parade!

Stone Arch Art Festival

Every Father’s day weekend the city of Minneapolis has an art fair that I enjoy checking out when I can. I used to live a mere 2 blocks from the activities and I so miss that time and that area…but oh well. At least I can make visits over to the area. The Stone Arch Bridge is a pedestrian bridge over the Mississippi, just down from the locks and dam and new dam set up that is being used as a power source as well. There is a new park area that you can walk out and basically be in the middle of the Mississippi as well and it’s kind of neat to see the rushing water, the downtown views and the bridges. Anyway, a “friend” of mine (namely the guy I’ve been seeing as of late) lives walking distance to the area and suggested going on Saturday afternoon. I drove to his place and we made a quick run to the Farmer’s market first so I could

get some fruits and veggies. Then we went over to the art fair and checked out some great stuff from local and even not so local artists. I didn’t even up buying anything at this time, but saw a lot of things I would’ve loved. Next year, when I’ve sold my house and am in something new I

swear I’m getting something!! We wandered, ate some bad for you food (OK, actually I didn’t really eat there, but my friend did) we stopped to sit and talk, wandered some more, saw some baby ducks, ended up sitting by the river for a while chatting, then back to the art fair and actually sat down at one of the restaurants for

dinner and a beer, which turned into 3 and then decided to get some beer and go sit on the roof at his place…well, we didn’t quite make it to the roof as his neighbors were watching Apocolypto and we got sucked into it, and ended up watching the part we missed (continuing into the part we had already seen) shortly after we finished the first run. More beer and movie finally gets over and I was feeling hungry. Luckily we are in downtown and there is a late night pizza place just a couple of blocks away so we went and got a couple of slices and then went back and crashed.

I got home on Sunday, called my dad then tried touching base with a couple of friends that I had already made plans with for the art fair and one of them decided it would be fun so she came and we went back and wandered some more. My “friend” called to see where we were and ended up meeting up with us for a bit later. As we wandered, looking at the old cars that go on display down there as well, we ran across my uncle’s car and later ended up sitting by it, having a beer…saw my uncle finally a bit later and, as usual, he had won first for his car (he has a mint condition 55 Thunderbird). Chatted with him for a bit and then ended up going home where I just vegged the rest of the night.

Bad weekend in that I didn’t do any running. I only had 28 miles in last week…oh well. I got up and did 6 miles this morning. It was a bit muggy but not too terrible. I so need to get back into a better and regular plan and eating habit. My weight is getting away from me again! Ah well.

Just an Update

Nothing too terribly exciting to update or state. My weekend was actually pretty quiet. I went to the local hangout on Friday (it’s summer, might be time to try something new, my roommate and I are in a rut, it’s what we do on Friday night, without even discussing what we are going to do), was there a bit later than planned, came home, watched TV a bit and crashed. Woke up too early on Saturday, got up, went for a 4 mile relaxed run then spent the afternoon at Lake Calhoun because it was nice…OK, upper 80s might not feel nice to some people, but the humidity is still really low all things considered so it was nice, even a breeze and a weird rain (no clouds, all sun but rain was coming down, go figure). I stopped and bought a few more plants to put in my pots on my balcony (might have to get a few taken and posted) and that was the excitement of my Saturday. I talked to a friend on the phone, hung out on my balcony and read a book and went to bed kind of early. Oh, and I had done a second run in the evening of 5 miles…so a total of 9 for Saturday.

Sunday was more relaxing really. I got up early and talked to my parents, then went for a run, then went to lunch. After lunch I went and bought a rose bush to have on my balcony and with any luck can transplant to the ground if my house ever sells! It looks quite pretty, it’s called a double delight, red and white and yellowish looks…the most fragrant one I found too. I love the way it smells. So now everyday, provided something is blooming, I can “stop and smell the roses”…right outside my door. After buying roses, I made a stop at Calhoun again for more sun. I think I’m finally a decent color…granted my skin is very pale to begin with and only in Hawaii do I get dark, and I know it’s bad for me, but I so love the sun…and what better way to spend a nice Sunday than laying by a lake, people watching and reading?

Work is still going along. I’m still working and learning and trying to get up to speed as quickly as I can. My new work group is great. I like all of the people I’m working with so far, all of them have been here for at least 15 years I think too…Soon I’ll be in my permanent cube too, over by the rest of the group. That will be nice.

I’m starting to study for the GMAT too. Math is where I know I’m going to need the most help, so it’s the areas I should start with…and I should get a couple of practice tests and things going soon so I’m all set to take it, hopefully the beginning of August since application deadline for Spring 2008 is October 1. If I don’t get it in by then, I will have to wait till Fall 2008 for entrance, although if I got accepted, I might be able to start in the summer…we’ll see. My boss is well aware that grad school is on my mind and as soon as I’m ready, he is ready to work with me on the getting enrolled etc and it might even go on my work goals etc for my review for next year, which would be kind of cool (although scary, how much will it hurt me if I don’t get in?). There really is only one school I’m even considering. There is one other I might consider, but Carlson School of Management, where my undergrad is from, is the only ranked school in the area. We’ll see what happens though.

New Job, Great Benefits

A quick update and hopefully a longer one over the weekend…maybe some pictures too. Although I don’t know of what!

My first week is almost over and I survived. I came in Monday and had orientation, a few videos, etc. Then I was shown my cube (temporarily in the executive area by the executive kitchen, convenient!) where I have a nice 20” flat screen monitor, the 17” at home now seems so tiny…I’ve spent the week doing training modules that are required by the company, and talking with my boss as time permits, working through documentation of required things, learning about other things that are and are not allowed and actually doing a couple of reviews of actual terms and conditions (what will be the bulk of my job). I also found out about the parent companies tuition reimbursement deals…umm…can you say fantastic? At my old job, I know there was an option, but it was very tough to get. It had to be in the budget, it had to have specifications met on how it related to your job and just was overall a pain to try to deal with. While I wanted to consider getting my MBA, it wasn’t affordable and seemed a huge hassle. I’ve also had tuition reimbursement before, usually tuition covered, you pay it first, they reimburse you if you get at least a C, you cover fees and books…not here. 100% of tuition is paid by the company to the school, you don’t have to worry about it. You can purchase textbooks via an intercompany website through B&N or another source and have the company pay for them up front too. The company covers the cost of taking the GMAT or any other test (I wonder if they would pay for a GMAT class…I’m guessing probably yes, but I think I will try studying on my own first) as well. That thing isn’t cheap to pay. They also pay application fees to the schools…again those can be not so cheap…when you are taking classes, you are allowed up to 3 hours each week for study time that is paid…and finally, when you finish a degree program, master’s, doctorate or anything, the company rewards you with stock and/or stock options….and it DOES NOT have to be related to your actual job. If I wanted to get an advanced degree in underwater basket weaving, they would pay for it. Unbelievable. Needless to say, last night was spent in part at B&N buying GMAT prep books which I will be putting to use over the summer, hopefully taking the GMAT in the next two months (as soon as I feel confident I’ve refreshed my math skills sufficiently to hit a high 600-low 700 score) and applying to an MBA program to start either Spring or Summer 2008.

In other news. Hmm…running has been OK. I think I’m run down or something. I started trying a heart rate monitor and I don’t know what is going on. The friend that got it to me is going to help me look at the data I’m collecting and have been collecting for the last week and see what we need to do and what I should be focusing on, then getting low and high settings going. I need to get another low reading as I know you should take an average over a few days and I haven’t managed to do that at all. Maybe I’ll take a nap after work and see if I can get a low then…and tomorrow morning, and Sunday as well. Then it’s just getting the high. I haven’t decided on any new races. Grandma’s is out. Twin Cities is most likely going to be my focus. I know it’s full at this point, but in July I know another way in and I’m going to most likely use that in and attempt a BQ off it. We’ll see what happens. That all depends on my friend that may potentially also “coach” me, as much as I am coachable that is…he knows I would be difficult, but mainly its because he wants me to cut back on mileage and my best run so far has been with higher mileage…so that leaves me wondering!! Anyway, we shall see.

Nothing really planned for the weekend. Maybe a trip to the local place tonight, tomorrow is supposed to be nice so happy place visit and maybe to dinner with a friend out on a lake area bar/restaurant if she’s game for it. But we’ll see. Some GMAT prep/studying of course and cleaning and organizing around home, cleaning up the car, the garage and maybe getting some more plants out, but that’s about it. I’m actually even getting to get out a bit early today as my boss likes to leave early on Friday as well and encourages in early and out early!! Yay!!

Nerves...

Well, maybe not nerves, but something...I suppose I should be feeling something, but I'm not sure what. It's the day before my first day of my new job. Kind of a scary thing, like going to school for the first time again...

I have had a few days off from work over the past couple of days. It's been kind of nice.

Tuesday
My last day at the old job was sad, but I made my goodbyes, then met up with a friend for lunch. Later went out to my hangout and chatted with some friends and then went home to bed, as my dad was in town and I wanted to meet him for breakfast the next day.

Wednesday
I took my dad to breakfast to a place we hadn't been forever, not since I was a child and we used to go visiting my aunt and uncle that lived near the place. Then I got home, did some errands and a few things then met up with a friend and had a few drinks at his place, got some dinner then went to see GB Leighton at their regular gig, which was fun. My friend lives only a few blocks so we walked there and back and had a few beers along the way home too.

Thursday
Woke up with a slight hangover, but went to breakfast, hit the farmer's market (miss the farmer's market on Thursday's downtown, only thing I miss about working downtown) and then I headed home and got my oil changed. Later, the friend came over and we grilled out and went to Cold Stone...OK, so this friend is a guy I've been kind of dating lately...maybe I'll have to give some more info on him...

Friday
My friend was heading out of town for the week but he had a heart rate monitor that he was going to loan me to try out as I've never trained with one and we've discussed training a bit...again more on that later, anyway, I went and got it from him. Got home and my roommate and I went out to dinner with a friend of hers and then another friend called, she was in town, and we went out and met her for a drink, which ended up being a late night.

Saturday
Relaxed after Friday night and then just decided to stay in after running a few errands. It was a nice laid back night.

Sunday
Went to Grand old day with my roommate, another friend and a friend of hers. It was nice, relaxed. Ate a bunch of fat bad for you food, watched some bands and had a nice afternoon even though the weather was bad. I thought about going for a run this evening but am just kind of relaxing. I did run this morning, which I guess helps...I should go figure out what I'm wearing on my first day at the new job...and get something rounded up for lunch tomorrow...