Back on Land

Back On Land

Well...just to let everyone know - I am back; just in time to save my plants and finally get some running in. Alaska was beautiful, but running on a boat while it is moving is not good for the stomach. I did manage to get a lot of stationary bike in (in between the 8,000 meals that are served a day), but treadmills just aren't my thing. There was an outdoor track around the top of the boat too, but the wind was so strong, I could barely walk up there! I guess they probably get more use out of that when they sail to the Caribbean.

One success however - David gave us some good swimming tips! We were pretty excited about the lap pool on board, but of course it broke the first day we were there, and was out of commission for the rest of the week. Oh well, I can't complain - I had a great time!

Forgotten undergarments

Yes, top and bottom both were forgotten today. Its a hazard of not having my house unpacked yet. I think I attempted to find those two items wherever they may have been packed, but somehow got distracted last night. Oh well, a tank w/ shelf bra and a reuse on the bottom had to suffice.

On another note - Kung Fu Fighting is stuck in my head!

Run home to the S'Side

Ran home from the office to my new place - 22 minutes! [Faster than the bus?]

Chicago 2007

Just put it on my calendar...in addition to all the great people we normally run with, I've got some others lined up to run it - Heather Lievens (my brother's girlfriend), Matt & Krystal Hawkins, maybe we can convince Carlynn and Erica to do it again??, AND Nathan????

Across the Stateline

I ran all the way to Lansing, IL today! (You may be thinking Lansing, MI, but no - that would be way across the stateline.) Sounds like a big feat, but it was only 15 minutes to get there, which was a perfect place to turn around to then complete my 30 minute tempo.

Actually, I take back the words I implied about it not really being a big feat...the heat and humidity makes anything outside of the comfort of A/C a VERY large feat!

10k Training Schedule

http://www.halhigdon.com/10ktraining/10kadv.htm

Alright - I think I need to get back on some type of schedule for running with a goal in mind because I've been pretty sporadic and quite wimpy in the runs I have done lately. I'm leaning towards this Hal Higdon one for the Great Race. It would start two weeks from now, so I may just do weeks 7 & 8 two times in a row. I'll be in Chicago/really Indiana next week, so it would be a hard commute to run w/ you guys, but hopefully when I get back I can jump into meeting up a few times a week. A swim in the river is sounding good today...

Rain definitely preferable

SO this morning I went for my first non-city of pittsburgh run. It was nice to be able to explore some new neighborhoods and be so close to the trails at Frick Park...but it was kinda lonely and not as much fun. ANd not to mention that it was one big hazy fog. It NEEDS to rain. It is getting VERY nasty outside.

Rain Preferable

Of the two days I ran out here in Indiana, both of them rained. I sort of planned the first day, but today was not planned. I didn't even realize it was raining until I saw a big flash of lightning and heard thunder rumbling in the distance as I was lacing up my shoes. I thought, eh, what the heck, it will be fine. I got outside and it was POURING down rain, so much so that my contacts were falling out of my eyes and I pretty much had to keep them closed. It was very refreshing though and it let up a little towards the end to where it was just a light shower.

I got back into the hotel and the guy at the front desk thought that it was hilarious that I would like running in the rain (which he assumed I did since I had done it two days that he saw). Gotta love the friendly Hampton employees!

Solidarity

Yesterday was the ultimate test. It was my first run in a LONG TIME in the city of Pittsburgh without Lisa or Megan! It was kind of hard, especially to get out of bed, but I did it. Now, the real test will be if I can do that on a regular basis. I miss not working out with you guys all the time. At least I did get to see Lisa Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday mornings. That helped. :) What will we do to fill the gap? Plan evening runs?

The 'burgh is hazy today and makes my hair a pouf ball. I look like a dead poodle! Sans the curl.

Talk to you chickadees later.

A Rainy Run in Indiana

Feel like its busy season again...sitting in a hotel, writing about my lastest running escapade. Well, I am in Munster, IN - very small town, mid-Western feel to it. Got up for a run this morning and it was pouring. Running in the rain is always pretty cool, though, so I headed out for a short jaunt.

Deja Vu II

So...today I met Geoff and Rusty at Max & Erma's...and (not surprisingly) I saw the trainer from the Y as well...It just really throws you off when you see people out of their normal context....

So new idea - everyone move in with Lisa so we can all run together in the morning and drive to spinning together again...it's too sad to do it solo 100% of the time...

Nonexistent Water Stop

Remember how we used to stop at the Get Go down near the 40th Street Bridge during some of our long runs? Well it is all boarded up! Don't know if its just being renovated or what happened, but don't plan on stopping there anytime soon!

First Official No-Lisa Run

It was a sad day in Three Rivers City...our first real run when Lisa doesn't live in Shadyside anymore.

Results - Brentwood Firecracker 5k

http://runhigh.com/2006%20Results/2006%20Results%20A/R070406AB.html

Everday Mojo

"The pain of discipline is less than the
pain of regret."

Es Usted Rapido?

Don't mean to go crazy w/ the posts to the blog , but I am trying to keep up/catch up w/ all the fun stuff that's been going on!

I read this article in Outside magazine:

Learn Spanish and other languages while you train w/ this smarter-than-average spinning class

Do you break out in a cold sweat at the thought of language lessons? Here's an even better reason to perspire. San Francisco-based Connect18 is launching spin classes that promise to tone your gray matter as well as your glutes. While riding a stationary bike, you'll take virtual tours of countries like Mexico and Italy via a big-screen, cycle-centric travel documentary...

A Delayed Blogpost [last year's Firecracker 5k]

For the sake of those who missed this last year (you would not have even THOUGHT of doing this today) and in honor of one of our fave running buddies/cheerleaders

Brentwood Firecracker 5k

So the Brentwood Firecracker 5k was a fizzle this year. Well, it was still super fun, but there was lots of rain involved and it was tough to stick around shivering for the door prize drawings (which none of us won), let alone the parade. We had 2 supporters too - Kathryn and Noah!

Oh well, there is always next year, as it is becoming a tradition embedded in celebrating the Fourth of July. (This was Nathan and my 5th year!)

YMCA staff and Max & Erma's waitress

I went to lunch at M&E's today and who was our waitress, but the very tall girl that works upstairs at the Y. It was a weird double-take-out-of-context situation.

Damien Rice and The Buggles

John's hint - Condoleezza

Megan's hint - anytime he plays it, he asks who it is and the girl who normally gets it right wasn't there today

Answer - Damien Rice

[The other one I had to ask Nathan...and then I verified it on iTunes.]

Two Days in a Row with Matt

Matt and Krystal were in town over the weekend and I got to do two fantastic runs - (1) Saturday morning the group consisted of Matt and myself, along with Krystal and Lisa and we went up Beechwood, did the trail loop in Frick Park and then came back down Shady and (2) Matt and I headed up to Highland Park and actually ran around the reservoir.

It could happen to anyone...

...well, maybe not. I totally forgot about a small event during the Rachel Carson Trail Challenge. I don't remember what mile marker or leg we were at - it might have been the last 8 but definitely the last 16. Amber and I were running through the woods (well Amber was, I was doing some kind of "fast" movement) and all of the sudden my klutzy tired feet hit a root and I went sprawling across the woods floor!!!! But I do have to say, out of all my falls (we're up to three now) this one was the best and softest...I could've laid there the rest of the day! So my streak of being the only one to trip and fall reigns and grows....Oh yeah, and today I was walking in the Strip and tripped with my left foot and the back of my right knee that has been aching since the hike was subjected to shooting pain....I think I need to retire. But no! since I've been determined by all my coworkers to be NUTS I have to keep up my reputation!