running articles

Check!

2010-03-22T09:57:00.000+02:00

I did it. Sort of.

Originally my goal was to finish my half marathon in 2:10:00. Honestly, as my training went on (or didn’t go on at all, CaliforniavacationIholdyouresponsible), I was thinking I’d be happy if I finished the half in under 2:15:00.

2:11:28! Bam! I know that’s not that impressive to some people…in fact, the first person to finish the FULL marathon that was going on at the same time whizzed by me just before I hit the final stretch, but man, I was really happy with that time.

Mile One:Holy mackerel there were lots of people! The last time I ran a race it was locally and 126 people participated. This race had 18,000 half and full marathoners. I felt stuck and slow, but it was probably good to start out this way. The first mile took about 10:35. I was way behind!
Mile Two:Still pretty slow, still pretty crowded, but felt great. Finished mile two around 20:20 or so. Did I mention the sun wasn’t up yet?
Mile Three:I don’t remember much from this mile, but I do know that when I hit the 3rd mile marker I came in at 29:40 and that I was now on track!
Miles Four through Six:I felt really good. I came in every mile in a time that had me running faster than a 10:00 minute mile pace. The sun started to come up, and although it was cloudy and cool, that was nice. There were still people everywhere, but it was starting to break up.
Miles Six through Nine:I still felt amazingly good, even though there were some hills and such. When someone said we half marathoners hit the half way mark, my watch read 1:03:something, I was doing really well. Something about running in a crowd, plus the adrenaline and the music and spectators really made a different compared to my training runs.
Mile 10:I was getting pretty tired. I took a walk break (I had taken some short ones earlier, too). I thought I only had three miles to go, but I realized it was four, as I hadn’t reached ten yet. I was tired.
Mile 11:I kept repeating, “I can run three miles in my sleep, I can run three miles in my sleep.”
Mile 12:I kept repeating, “I can run two miles drunk, I can run two miles drunk.” Don’t ask. Also, there was a guy in front of me who was probably 70, and I figured I could at least try to stay up with him. Honestly, I was freaking tired. There were more damn hills and my legs did not want to move fast. I hit mile 12 at 11:59:and some change, and I knew making it under 2:10:00 probably wasn’t in the cards. And I was okay with that.
The last 1.1:Ugh! I knew it was almost over, there were people yelling, telling us it was almost over, but I was slloooooowwwww! I didn’t stop, but I didn’t run fast. When I came around the corner and saw the finish line I was beaming like an idiot! I crossed the finish line when the clock said something more like 2:16 or 2:17, but I had a late start because there were so many people. On the website (and my own watch) my official time was the aforementioned 2:11:28. Wahoo!

Anthony actually took a pic of me just before I crossed the finish line, and a couple of pictures of me sweaty and medaled. However, the pictures are trapped on the little magical box that is his new camera, and though I’m normally pretty tech savvy, it’s not even six in the morning and I have no idea how to transfer the photos to the computer other than hoping that the magical box can read my mind. Which apparently it can’t. So those pictures will be coming soon!

What’s Next?

I am finding that goals in the land of fitness make it so much more fun! Which is why I need to have new goals in place to keep me motivated. I definitely plan to continue running, but shorter distances: I don’t see me racing in anything longer than a 10k, ever! (Although I feel pretty darn good today, considering).

My new goal consists of adding muscle and fitting into a pair of green pants that I own.

Muscle: From what I understand, we start losing our muscle mass when we hit 30, which I turned last November. My legs are strong, but I really, really could use some help with my upper body, and I don’t want to lose the strength I’ve gained running. My goal is to add some muscle mass and tone all over, mostly by adding regular strength training to my routine. I’m doing a 7 week plan, because that’s how long I have a gym membership for, and because I need to have deadlines to get myself motivated.

Green Pants: So I am not one to hold to clothes that don’t fit/are ugly/have holes in them/are orange, but I have this one pair of green pants that I love, love, love. I can put them on. I can zip them. I can’t leave the house in them, though. They fit, but not really, know what I mean? I’d like that to change. I hate weighing myself because it makes me stupid, and I’m not really the type to diet, but I am going to continue with cardio, add weight training, and work on late night eating in hopes of getting these pants to fit properly again. Hopefully in seven weeks, but I can be flexible.

Phew, it’s time for me to get going and go lift some upper body weights!

What motivates you to stay fit?

[Via http://recipesforcreativity.wordpress.com]

The Tools of Ignorance: Saturday News - Pinstripe Alley

Running in the cold to fight a cold

2010-03-22T03:58:00.000+02:00

Temperature: 0 degrees C

Distance run/type: 11.26 (group run) + 2.19 (run home) / LSD

Clothes: Lululemon running pants, Nike base layer, Addidas top layer, Addidas coat, Lululemon hat and gloves, Asics TrailRunners.

Feeling: Too hot. I had to take off my Addidas top layer and tie it around my waist. I ended up taking off my gloves halfway through the run and holding them in my hands. I felt like I could have probably lost another top layer as well.

Despite still feeling a little off this morning, I decided to go for my LSD run and hope for the best. I knew I’d feel guilty if I missed it, and the chances of making up a missed long run on my own decrease exponentially as the day goes on. Breakfast was a mix of Kashi Go Lean and Go Lean Crunch cereal (1 cup), with natural peanut butter (1 tsp) and chopped strawberries (1/4 cup) in vanilla rice milk (3/4 cup). As always, I washed breakfast down with a few cups of warm water and lemon.

We ended up running a really nice 11.26k around Toronto – winding through the Mount Pleasant cemetery, and around Casa Loma. Once again, I passed by many condos and townhomes that I will likely never be able to afford. One can dream, right? I was happy to note that I actually felt much better halfway through the run than I did earlier that morning. After we made it back to the store, I left the group and ran back to my apartment (2.19k). Once I got back, I had a banana, some vanilla green tea yogurt, and a few other things that I found in my cupboard to tide me over until brunch.

After brunch with a friend, I did some laundry, shopping, and spent some time with my cats who are now living at my parent’s house after I decided that it wasn’t fair to them to live with me in my teeny tiny bachelor apartment. I also watched The Blind Side. I’ve always been a fan of Sandra Bullock, but now I am half in love with her. I’m really glad she won that Oscar. It was well deserved.

[Via http://fuelingforfitness.wordpress.com]

Exciting news! « Richard Wiseman's Blog

26.2 KMS!

2010-03-19T09:25:00.000+02:00

Hooray!! So we ran the race on Sunday and it went really well. We did it in 2:54:22, which was fine by me as my goal was to do it under 3hrs. We did the first half in 1:24:40, so we slowed down in the second half, but not too much.

The weather was perfect, the sun warmed us up in the morning and then it clouded over and kept it nice and cool for the full race. It was actually a really interesting experience. As this was my first real race, and there was about5,500 people participating, being with such a large group of people, all running was really interesting, and surprisingly quiet. We got finisher medals and long-sleeve t-shirts and race packs full of goodies which was nice. There are photos up here but I doubt we will shell out and buy them…they are a little expensive.

So now what? Well, Phil and I both decided that the run wasn’t THAT hard, so I wouldn’t be surprised if we did another one in the future. I don’t know about a full marathon though…that would just be sooo long. Who knows though. Right now I am going to take a bit of a break from running and try and mix up the physical activity by getting a gym membership and maybe doing some classes.

[Via http://librarianwithoutglasses.wordpress.com]

Canon 5D Mark II Firmware 2.0.3 Audio Problems. » cinema5D news

Tex-Mex and the Treadmill.

2010-03-19T03:43:00.000+02:00

I had a very busy today. It started with an early morning trip to my doctor’s office for blood work (fasting, and believe me when I say that no food is bad enough, but no coffee? Yeah, okay, just stay out of my way.). And it ended with a relaxing massage courtesy of my man Josh. In between, I tackled a lot of chores (including five loads of laundry), hit the gym to run intervals, and even managed to go out and have a lovely lunch with my friend, Jackie.

Tex-Mex is one of my biggest downfalls, and the grilled mahi mahi tacos were wonderful. As were the few chips I allowed myself, and the salsa. I didn’t, though, fall off the wagon enough to allow a prickly pear margarita into my meal. And it’s a very good thing. Because running intervals an hour after eating Tex-Mex is not something I would recommend. I wondered if the chips and salsa were going to make a reappearance more than a few times, and I’m positive a margarita would have been the deciding factor. I have made a habit of losing things on the treadmill this week – my nano, as reported in an earlier post, and, oddly enough, two navel rings. Losing my lunch would have been the icing on the cake – or rather, the Tex-Mex on the treadmill.

But I managed to hang on to everything today, and I had a nice little interval session indeed.

In the gym by myself:

Speed Intervals: 5 minute warm up @ 4 mph. Twenty minutes of intervals: 30 seconds @ 6.5, 7, 7.5, & 8 mph. with 60 second intervals @ 4 mph. Cooldown, 5 minutes @ 4 mph.

Polar Info: 30 minutes, 336 calories, 40 % fat, Max H/R 162; Avg H/R 139.

Total: 30 minutes, 2.4 miles.

[Via http://musclegirl.wordpress.com]

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Run Tonight Was Hard...

2010-03-17T09:42:00.000+02:00

Run tonight was hard… unbelievably hard… I barely kept the tears at bay. The frustration was evident. I am so terrified that if I have a break and not go back again on the weekend I will not go back at all. Maybe I am emotional today I do not know… My mind would not switch off. I was obsessing on my ability to do this, I was obsessing on the fact I am not doing a training session this weekend. Overall, I was obsessing on my life in general. I started focusing on the fact my shoulders were up around my ears and that my breathing was all over the place. I just could not seem to cut a break tonight. Nothing was working for me it was as if everything was against this run.

I am trying to tell myself I did not fail. Nevertheless, to tonight I only ran 1.99km. The elusive 1 km until I hit 1st target, seems so far away and I’m struggling. That negative voice was back “ha-ha I bet you can’t run up that hill” and I almost believe it, I almost just sat my arsed down on the pavement and hope for some damn miracle… but I ran up that freaking hill even though it felt like it was at a snail’s pace. I seem too survived tonight but saying to myself if I ran another 10 steps I would be okay, that mantra was repeated until finally I began to slowly believe it again.

It does not matter that at this moment every part of my body is throbbing, the positive is I ran.

I want to say thanks to Jodes and her constant support of me and this challenge…And for picking up the pieces tonight. She always listens and of course checks out my run maps after each attempt. She reminds me constantly that she believes in me and has no doubt in my ability to achieve the goals I have set for myself. So apart from doing this for myself, I am going to say I am also doing this for my amazing supportive cheerleader. You Rock and no I’m still not telling you the song until I reach 3km!!

[Via http://emmacastagna.wordpress.com]

NFS World closed beta begins News | MMO | Eurogamer

Food Blogger for a Day

2010-03-17T03:24:00.000+02:00

After signing up for the MMRF Race for Research 5k, I sat myself down and had a little talk…with myself. Maybe I was just feeling guilty from the 2 1/2 bowls of low-fat frozen yogurt I had eaten, or maybe I just realized it was time. I’ve plateaued for awhile now and I’ve attempted the whole, “Woe is me, I don’t know why this is happening,” blah blah, somebody call the waaaaambulance routine. The truth is, I could do better. I’ve worked really hard and gotten really far, but I know what my weaknesses are, I know where I could push myself harder and I can do better. So I started today.

I think that taking pictures of everything I eat is really tedious, but therein lies one of its benefits: it makes me think about what I’m eating, when and why. I am going to try to document my daily eats as much as possible for as long as I can before I get sick of it. Above on the left are the two tea bags I started my day with: a combination of Puuka Cleanse and Trader Joe’s brand Jasmine Green. On the right, though it’s hard to tell in the picture, I actually wore a skirt and cowboy boots to work today, and thus rode my bike in a skirt and cowboy boots. Not gonna lie, I felt badass.

I bought this box of instant oatmeal because it was on sale. I’m a sucker for sales and it shows: this oatmeal is not gluten-free. My bad. I’m still going to eat it this week, but I probably won’t buy it again to be on the safe side. For breakfast today I had a packet of the maple nut flavor.

Along with my oatmeal I had a side of Rainbow Light Digestive Enzymes. This one in particular received really good reviews. I started taking them over the weekend, so hopefully soon I will notice a difference.

For lunch I had the last of the leftover eggplant parmesan rolls with swiss chard and mint that Zac made for dinner Sunday night. This recipe is amazing and refreshing. Zac and I even agree that we like it better than tradition breaded and fried eggplant parmesan. I heated my leftovers and put it in the bowl with a couple of mixed salad greens. I was physically sad when I had finished eating.

B-a-n-a-n-a. Times this by three and please excuse my chipping nail polish. I also had one apple, one tangelo, and one clementine as snacks throughout the day. That’s…a lot of fruit. I think my problem with only bringing fruit as snacks is that it doesn’t give me any protein/fat to satiate me. Instead of so much fruit, I might try to bring say an apple and a tablespoon of almond butter to eat, because fruit might be healthy, but that doesn’t mean it’s not made with lots of calories. (Over 500 in fact for all the fruit I ate today. Yikes! :\)

Above is said apple and the third banana I ate today, around 2:30 when I also had a hankering for an iced coffee with cream. I managed to get halfway through the day without coffee, but there is just something about the 3 o’clock hour that screams, “NAP TIME!” to me.

When I got home from work I was feeling really dehydrated. I had two tablespoons of almond butter and a pinch of shredded coconut (not pictured) before working out. It is another beautiful, warm night, so I did Day 3 of Week 3 of my C25k plan. Earlier I figured out that I didn’t actually have enough weeks before the race to finish my plan as I was, so I created a workout plan for the next month so I can be sure to get all my runs in.

After I finished my run and showered, it was dinner time. I had mixed greens with an entire chopped green bell pepper, two carrots, a sprinkle of sesame seeds, and a tablespoon of Newman’s Own Light Balsamic Vinegar. I also had another enzyme tablet and some Tazo Passion iced tea that I made over the weekend. Sadly, this was all the calorie allowance I had left for dinner after eating all that fruit earlier. I’m going to plan better for tomorrow and in fact am boiling some eggs right now as I type.

G’night!

[Via http://waterbutterandwine.wordpress.com]

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New Boot Camp Dates For April!

2010-03-15T09:37:00.000+02:00

Check out the new ‘Early bird’ and the ‘Weekend Workout’ Boot Camps!

A.M Fitness Boot Camp is an outdoor group training program that offers outstanding fitness instructions with a large helping of motivation to keep you on track every step of the way!

Each session is filled with fun and energizing activities specifically put together to help you successfully achieve your fitness goals.

Choose from either the ‘Early Bird’ Boot Camp or the ‘Weekend Workout’ Boot Camp and secure your place for only £10.

NEW DATES!

‘Early Bird’ begins Monday 12th April @ 6.30am

‘Weekend Workout’ begins Saturday 17th April @ 8.00am

‘Early Bird’ Boot camps are offered every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, three days a week for a block of 4 weeks, rain or shine! Each camp lasts 45 – 60 minutes and starts at 6.30am

‘Weekend Workout’ Boot camps are offered every Saturday and Sunday, two days a week for a block of 4 weeks, rain or shine! Each camp lasts 45 – 60 minutes and starts at 8.00am

Click Here for more info and prices!

[Via http://amfitness.co.uk]

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Silver Comet 10k

2010-03-15T03:41:00.000+02:00

Yesterday I ran in the Silver Comet 10k in Mabelton. On my way there, I got to drive through the Concord Covered Bridge, one of only 16 remaining covered bridges in the state of Georgia. Who knew??!!

I got there a half hour before the start; I had to park a little farther away, but it was fine. I got my number and my chip, and it took me some time to figure out how to attach it on my shoe. Hey, it was my first experience with a timing chip! I liked it a lot, especially since I didn’t cross the start line until nearly a minute after the gun. I trotted around the shopping center that was race HQ until it was time to line up. The organizers had us line up by mile times–I stood with the 10-minute milers. I think that was a great way to do it; I had a lot less bobbing and weaving at the beginning than I did at the 5k I ran in January.

The first mile was on the road, with the remainder of the race being on the Silver Comet Trail itself. The was a small “hill” (more like a mound!) in the first mile, the only hill of the course. I had never run on the Trail before, so I didn’t know what to expect. I wasn’t really happy with what I found once we got on the trail: flat as a board and non-scenic. Since I tend to run on hills a lot, I think the “hill” muscles in my legs are a lot stronger than my “flat” muscles, so it was hard to adjust to the flat terrain. I like trail running when it’s pretty, but this one was pretty blah. We passed through a few scenic bits, but mostly it felt like I was running through a tree-lined tunnel. Because of that, it was hard for me to stay mentally engaged in the race. I was dragging through the first half, and I passed the 3-mile mark somewhere in the 28:50’s. Then I realized that I could just finish with a sub-60:00 time as long as I didn’t slow down. I gave myself a little pep talk and decided to get my head in the game and do that shit. Rawr!!!!

I passed through the 5-mile mark in the high 47’s. I instantly got a huge, cheesin’ grin on my face, and I took off for the last 1.2 miles. It was such a great feeling! I crossed the mat and hit my watch, which read 58 something (I accidentally erased it and now I can’t remember what it was, haha). The results were posted online today; my official chip time was 58:31. Woot! I grabbed some water and walked over to line up for the shuttle buses. The buses was the one really annoying thing about the race; I had to wait a half hour to get a ride, and the line behind me was so long that I know a lot of people probably had to wait an hour. There were only two school buses running back and forth between the finish and the start; definitely not enough for the amount of runners. I was lucky enough to get on the first bus. I had to stand the whole way, but whatever. I was cold and starting to feel sick to my stomach; I just wanted to grab my t-shirt back at the start area and get the hell out of there! If I run this race next year, I will definitely try to coordinate it so I have a ride waiting for me at the finish. A lot of people smarter than me had friends or family pick them up.

Overall, I’m glad I did the race. It was very empowering to get that sub-60 time! However, I didn’t love the course or the wait for the bus at the end.

[Via http://thatpalegirl.wordpress.com]

Small Business News March 12, 2010 | Small Business Trends

Disney Princess Half Marathon Race Recap

2010-03-12T15:54:00.000+02:00

I had a great time at the Princess Half Marathon, but the one thing that sucked was the wake up time. I woke up at 3:15am!

Dad and I got dressed and stumbled over to the food court to get coffee. I planned on having a banana and a Larabar but got a boxed breakfast at the All Star Sports resort. This included a bagel, granola bar, banana and a bottle of water. I ate the banana and started to munch on the bagel as we got in the line for the bus to take us to the race.

Caroline and I planned to ride the bus over together. When I got in the bus line, there was only about 50 people in line. By the time Caroline got there 5 minutes, the lobby was packed and her and her husband couldn’t find us.

Once we got to Epcot, Dad and I hung around for a bit; it was chilly, about 45°. Since I have been training in sub-freezing temperatures, this actually felt pretty nice! I left my camera with Dad, who isn’t a great photographer. Please excuse the blurry pictures!!

I was able to meet up with Caroline and Andrea before the race. We then trekked to the Start. Yes, trekked! It was about a 20 minute walk! I’m glad I had ladies to talk to and complain with!

Once we got there, we split off to go to our respected corrals. Me to A and them to E. I was so close to the Start!!!!

Blurry BB Pic of Start!

[[SIDE NOTE]] The corral placement was wacky! I was placed in corral A, even through I am not that fast and have never run a half. Leslie, who re-PRed at 1:51, was in Corral E. And she signed up early! I heard of no one in B or C. To top it off, there were walkers even in Corral A! This was my only real complaint about the race that can be fixed.

After a quick bathroom break, I lined up in the corral, had a Vanilla Gu and chatted with some of the ladies around me. Then a little after 6am, the fairy godmother came out to wish us well! And with a fireworks start, we were off!

Dad's blurry pic of fireworks at Start!

Mile 1-3

Even though I was in the first corral, I still spent the first half mile weaving through walkers and slow runners. I paced behind a woman in a coral shirt for almost 3 miles and felt great! Even though this part was on the highways, it went by quick! At the first water station, I grabbed Powerade, expecting blue and tasted GROSS lime. UGH! There was an awesome pirate ship in the middle of the highway, no picture of course!

It was also pretty neat to run through the Magic Kingdom gates, which I don’t have a picture of again….

Mile 3-6

5K split: 30:19

By Mile 4 and the Ticket Center, I saw my dad! He, however, did not see me. He had taken the monorail to the ticketing center and was looking for a place to stand. Some nice man had to chase him down as I was not about to run backwards! There was awesome Japanese drummers, who I wished could follow me. They were keeping a great beat!

Happy to have chased down Dad!!

I then entered Magic Kingdom, still keeping a great pace! In fact I sped up! We ran up Main Street…

Blurry BB pic Kind of groovy though~

through Tomorrowland and then through the castle! I loved they had trumpeters right on top of the castle entrance!

Got this taken at the castle. May buy it!

Right after we exited Magic Kingdom by Frontier Land, one of the runners next to me said ‘Here comes the boring part’ . I think that really stuck in my head the rest of the race.

Mile 6 -8

10k Split: 1:00:13

I saw my dad again at the Floridan. He saw me and was ready this time!

I always look this pained while running

Up until this point, I felt amazing. I had held about a 9:30 pace, walking through the walk stops and taking a few pit stops to take pictures! Once Dad and I parted ways, I realized there was a looonnng stretch of highway and not much to look forward too. This really played with my head. It was also starting to get warm out…

Mile 8 – 10

At about mile 8, I took a 3 minute walking break just after mile 8 to eat some Cliff Shot Blocks. Looking back, this was a bad idea. I should have just ate one every 10 minutes. The first 7 miles are a blur in my head, they went so fast! But on the open road, I start to plan mind games…

Hit the Pirate Ship again. This time there were actual pirates there! I high fived a Captain Jack Sparrow, who looked a lot like Johnny Depp!

15k Split: 1:31:53

Approaching Mile 10, I saw that we were going to have to run up an on-ramp…

This is how I felt inside....

Mile 10 -12

Since I train on a lot of hills, the actual on-ramp was not that bad. However, the idea of the on-ramp was mentally killer. I was mentally dead after the ramp. I looking in to the sun, with no sunglasses, my stomach was souring and I still had 3 miles to go… I did not want to panic or totally break down, so I started 10 minutes running and 1 minute walking. During walking, I would take some deep yoga breaths that helped significantly.

There was another ramp between mile 11 and 12 and I was not looking forward to it. As I turned the corner though, I saw the Epcot globe. It put some pep back into my step!

Right before mile 12, I was running downhill and had a shooting pain in the ball of my foot. My shoes were not tied tight enough towards the toe and I now have blisters on the underside of my toes. I seriously considered taking off my shoes and carrying the timing chip across the finish line!

Mile 12- 13.1

Mile 12 was right before Epcot. I knew I was almost finished so I sped up a bit! The out and back in Epcot was painful and I was trying to push through…

Luckily Meghann was cheering at Mile 13. She had a great sign (‘Run, Blogger, Run’) and it really gave me that last push! Thanks for the picture, Meghann!

I was able to really push through the last .1! Here’s on of me right after I crossed the finish:

If you look from a distance, I look like I am smiling!

On of the Finish Line when I finished, I am on the right. Why couldn’t the other photographer get one of me with my arms up?? Instead I got painful face above!

Finished! My Official Times:

It was great to be done and I was so happy! The princess crown medal was placed around my neck and my hair glittered! After I grabbed water and Powerade, I stepped to the side to get out of my now very painful shoes and call my dad. Then things went downhill fast….

While on the phone with Dad, my stomach started to cramp . I was barely able to walk over to meet my dad or drink/eat anything. A trip to the port-a-potties didn’t help. I sat in the middle of the parking lot for about 20 minutes while my dad went to find my uncle, who got stuck in traffic and got there after I finished

I think this was a combination of the Gu I ate before the start and the lime Powerade plus the heat and effort that made me so ill. It did ruin the accomplishment I just had.

Once I was feeling a bit better, Dad, Uncle and I hopped on a bus back to All-Star Sports to shower and get breakfast. We ate at the Bordwalk’s Kouzzina by Cat Cora and I had a delicious stacked breakfast.

The rest of the day was spent napping and getting more frozen yogurt at Menchies!

And there was a trip to downtown Disney….

Love Stich! He spited too!

The other day, I posted about the Post Race Blues. As I was thinking about it last night, it is not really ‘blues’ as much as regret. Because I got sick, I don’t have ANY post race photos. I also didn’t hang around to see how people finished or get a finishers tee. And when I see others race recaps with happy finishers photos, I get a little jealous! I think I am almost over it though

Overall, it was a great race and I learned a lot! I will definitely be signing up again! Hopefully next year my sister will race with me!

A Big Thanks to My Dad!!! Not only did he come with me, but he ran around Disney at a ridiculous hour! As he put it, it felt like the Amazing Race!!

[Via http://katemotivate.wordpress.com]

Durian » Blog Archive » News about Chaos & Evolutions

Goals: An end and a beginning

2010-03-12T03:45:00.000+02:00

I have never been what you might call a goal setter. I distinctly remember a conversation with my parents, way back in the day when I was floundering around a collegiate career, wherein my father insisted that I needed to learn to set goals; that I must focus on something and complete it. I’m not what you might have known as a “finisher.” I quit playing baseball because I couldn’t hit (more than likely because I needed glasses, which we wouldn’t find out for another couple of years) and I quit taking ballet and tap lessons and I don’t really know the reason behind that particular setback. I quit being a good student when it became more difficult and I actually had to work at it. I quit piano lessons in the 10th grade because I felt like I wasn’t being taught what I wanted to learn and I quit taking organ lessons when the church hired a director because it didn’t feel necessary. I quit college a couple or three times, but did finally manage to make it through. I’m apparently very good at quitting.

Back at the start of the year, I blogged about a number of things, one of which was my goal to run my first marathon this year. Then came SNOWMAGEDDON, the return of the SNOWPOCALYPSE. It seemed as if every day that I was scheduled for a run, there was snow in the forecast, or it had just snowed, or snow was actually falling. In addition to this climatological deterrence, the treadmill that I counted on for getting me through the cold and snowy days developed a couple of holes, a crease, and a small tear in the belt causing it to slip while I ran. Having been on the crappy end of a couple of broken ankles, I thought it best to put it out to pasture. And, as if all that were not enough, I seemed to maintain a constant sinus disturbance from mid-November straight on through ’til about 3 weeks ago. All of these things led me to the exceedingly frustrating decision not to run on April 24 in the Nashville Country Music Marathon. And, it hurt. It really hurt to make that decision because I wanted it to work. I wanted to cross that finish line and get my medal and say that I put in the time and effort necessary to run a marathon. I wanted people to see me as someone who could finish; someone who could be counted on. But, as has been the case many, many times before, I’ve settled for something less than I could accomplish with what seem like flimsy excuses. It also did not help that the financial burden of attending this marathon was not something I expected either. It was not a king’s ransom, but I could not have scraped the entry fee and hotel room out of the couch cushions. Plus, what seems the worst part of this is that after having made the decision, my body just decided that it would take advantage. I’ve run maybe 2 or 3 times since making the decision. I eat constantly, and not things that are good for my body. I had even given up soda during marathon training and now I drink them faster than I ever did before. It’s as if my body knows I gave up and is determined to take full advantage making it that much harder for me.

Now, with all the free time that I have now that I’m not training for a marathon, I’ve decided to go back to school. This shocks me just as much as it does you. With the countless words that I’ve written about how agonizing it was to finish my bachelor’s degree in the first place, the thought of graduate school should make me faint dead away. However, I find myself craving a new educational opportunity. Maybe it’s the new job, or maybe it’s just a replacement goal, but I’m at the very least committing myself to finding out more. Fortunately, with this goal, there is very little downside. I’m in a position where I’m able to attend school for the price of textbooks. It’s a master’s degree in a field that I’m very interested and excited about. So, short of the “entry fee” (the GRE exam cost, which is half the price the marathon event would’ve cost), I can only go up from here. Maybe, just maybe my father was on to something with this whole goal-setting notion. We shall see.

See you in the funny papers!

[Via http://slugger.wordpress.com]

War of Words Continues Between White House, Supreme Court ...

It runs in the family

2010-03-10T09:07:00.000+02:00

I must have inspired my eighteen year old son in some way because on Monday he asked if I wanted to go out for a run with him. Now, I was still recovering from the small matter of 55 miles on Saturday, but I didn’t want to miss a rare chance to go out running with him, so we went out for a slowish 3 miles. He was talking about maybe doing a marathon next year and I said I would help him train if he didn’t mind being seen in my company.

Tonight I came in after a short run at a slowish pace which was all I wanted since I’m still in recovery mode, and I got a phone call about 20 past 7.

G: “Hi, it’s me. I just thought I would let you know where I was so you wouldn’t worry”.

Ma (now worried, he’s never bothered before) : “So where are you then?”

G (sounding a bit breathless): “Near Ratho, I’ve just run here and I’m on my way back”.

Ma (thinking my hearing isn’t what it used to be): “Did you say Ratho? It’s about 6 miles … and it’s dark”

G : “I’ve got a head torch, I think I’ll be about an hour before I get home”

Ma : “You’re running back from Ratho … in the dark … when you’ve never run that far before. What on earth were you thinking, that’s just crazy!”

(then relenting a bit … he is my favourite son … actually he’s my only son)

“Do you want one of us to come and meet you?”

G : “No, it’s OK, I’ll be OK …it would be nice if you did though”.

So Bill and I changed back into running gear (we had only just changed out of it), grabbed headtorches, phones and a spare thermal top and headed out along the canal towards Ratho. Now the last time I was on the towpath in the dark was Saturday night, and I hadn’t really planned to repeat the experience quite so soon; nor had I planned a second run tonight but I felt partly responsible. After all half his genes come from me (the rest are Bill’s but that was never going to endow him with much sense either).

We finally saw him just coming under the Calder Road Bridge, in a sleeveless vest, barely a glimmer shining from his headtorch, completely knackered, no food, water or bus fare and proclaiming he hadn’t meant to go as far as Ratho. I had a job finding a big enough Compeed to cover the blister on his foot and he fell asleep almost as soon as he’d swallowed the last bite of dinner.

He says he’ll never do that again … but then we’ve all said that before; I think he has the makings of an ultra runner

[Via http://karinsmiles.wordpress.com]

Report: ABC News faked at least one part of runaway Toyota report ...

Bad News/Good News

2010-03-10T03:54:00.000+02:00

So they posted the results for the Arnold Sectional WOD that Dan and I did on Friday and as it turns out I didn’t even place. I shouldn’t be surprised. I’m terrible at burpees. At least I finished the WOD and did the dead lifts unbroken. I am still a little sore from it, so I’m honestly glad I didn’t go harder. Oh well; it’s not like I have a shot at Regionals anyway, and even if I did, I am not an elite Crossfitter; I am barely even an intermediate Crossfitter.

I did a very good OHS today, 5×5 at 65-75-80-85-90. Days I do 90×5 are good days. I got great depth with no wobble. I then went on to a mediocre front squat of:

45×5 (warm up)

95×5 (warm up)

115×3

125×3

135×3

135×3

135×3

I finished up with a re-attempt at my mile run and PR’d(!), taking 32 seconds off of my time and making the Level II benchmark (see, I told you I was intermediate) of 7:00. So that’s a win in any case.

[Via http://coughingsparks.wordpress.com]

Eric Massa: Democrats ousted me over health care - Tim Grieve ...

Exercisangles - The first cut is the deepest

2010-03-08T09:34:00.000+02:00

Baby I know…

There’s a concept floating around the blog world right now about how a little bit can go a long way. In particular, I was reading a recent post on Shedding It & Getting It where Rachel talked about how “just a bit can get you fit.” I totally believe in that concept, because I experience it on a regular basis. If you’ve read my blog you’ll know that Consistency and I haven’t become friends yet, but I do go through cycles of routine behaviour…until I fall off the wagon.

After about 2 months of not running, I finally got out there the other night and the runner’s high I got really motivated me to get out there again soon. I went out on Thursday night on a whim. I was feeling restless and wanted to clear my head. I hear about runners who say running helps them clear their heads and gives them time to think. Well, I’m not at that point yet. All I can think about is not giving in to my gasping breath and pounding heart and pushing myself to run one more minute before taking a walking break. But I like the idea of being a zen runner. (I do my clear headed thinking in the pool.) In any case, I managed to get myself out the door, which is usually 3/4 of the battle for me.

Once out there, I struggled through a run/walk workout (the cold night air was quite a shock to my system) and when I got home and gmapped my route, I found I’d done 5k! It took me 40 mins to do it, not the best time, but I figure I’ve got over 2 months before the Toronto Women’s Run 5K race May 30 to improve it.

The main thing was that the route I chose was doable and I never would have guessed it was 5k. Struggling through that first jog was exactly what I needed to spur me on. This week I’m planning on following the 8 week training plan from the race website. For the first time, I feel like I can actually do it.

And to use the analogy of the first cut being the deepest, getting through the challenge of that first run motivated me to go to the gym for the first time since December. I had actually planned to use the pool since I was going to be missing my usual swim, but the school gym’s pool was closed when I got there, so I decided to do a strength workout instead. I haven’t done one of those since I hurt my back, but it’s feeling almost normal so I went for it.

I ended up doing a total body workout:

-Squats with a weighted bar on a bosu (3 sets of 12-15)

-Lunges with biceps curls (1 set of 20 on each leg with 10 lb. weights)

-Ab curls on a stability ball (1 set of 25)

-Ab pull-up and push up on stability ball (2 sets of 15)

-Glute exercises – kick back, fire hydrant, wrap around tree (20 of each on each leg)

-Leg lifts on a stability ball for outer thigh (60 on each leg)

-Biceps curls (3 sets of 6 with 10 lbs.)

-Chest press (2 sets of 12 with 10 lbs.)

-12 lb. medicine ball biceps curl, shoulder press, triceps extension (2 sets of 20)

-20 push ups (10 elbows wide for chest, 10 elbows back for triceps)

-Stability ball inner thigh squeeze with triceps push back (2 sets of 10 with 10 lbs.)

-Standing dumbbell row (12 wide elbows, 12 elbows close to body)

I think those were all the exercises I did. I was only planning on doing 30 mins, but once I started, I ended up doing a full hour and got a lot done. It’s been so long since I’ve done weights, I’ve forgotten that sore muscle feeling. Nowadays, I only experience slight soreness, but after that workout, I’m feeling the pain. Particularly in my arms and chest. It really hurts to straighten my arms!!

So, although that first cut is the deepest, I’m glad I got it over with, because I know the more I go the less pain I’ll feel. And the sense of accomplishment is sooo worth it! I can’t wait to go back

[Via http://rubysangles.wordpress.com]

'News From the Car Industry' - Laugh Lines Blog - NYTimes.com

ONE STEP CLOSER

2010-03-08T03:56:00.000+02:00

Make that 3.1 miles closer!

Today, I ran my first 5K since 2002. Back before I had kids, when Jorge and I were free-spirited, go-to-the-movies-on-a-Tuesday, sleep until noon, type of people, I ran. I ran about 20 miles a week – roughly 3-4 miles 5x a week. I loved it. I was in great shape — the best shape of my life.

I remember that first race so well. It was a memorial race for a firefighter who had died while in rescue on 9/11. The information on the website said, “Registration begins at 7:45am; race at 9:30am”. Even though I had pre-registered, I showed up at 7:30am. I showed up even before the race organizers did. Jorge and his brother, Pedro, were up with me and ended up sitting on a sidewalk for nearly 3 hours on that morning. I did end up finishing, and somewhere in a print (yes, people, this is pre-digital camera) is a picture of me finishing at 32:00. I was so proud – I had stayed at a 10-minute mile and felt strong!

Nearly 8 years later, and well over 50 lbs later, I finished my next 5K. Learning from lessons of my past, I showed up at 9:00am for the 9:30am start time. In tow, my two little girls and the well-wishing support of my hubby (who was stuck at home with our sick baby). I felt nervous. I just wanted to finish. And, it’d certainly love if I could finish in a respectable time. For me, that respectable time was “any time before the race officials packed up and left.”

When I embarked on the Marathon B4 Mastectomy, I blogged about how I wasn’t going to run this for anyone but myself. But, last night, I decided to run this in honor of Becky Matthew. Becky is Richard’s wife. And, while our prayers for Richard’s strength have been offered over the past 1 1/2 years, I can’t take my mind off of Becky this week. In the last few years, Becky has become the mother of a child with cancer and the wife of a man with cancer. All this in addition to the usual pressure we all feel as women, moms, providers, care takers, professionals, and the multiple other roles we play in our lives. She has struggled to make decisions to save her child’s sight, and just last week came to peace with the decision to call hospice for her husband. This week, Becky has had to make decisions about Richard’s funeral arrangements, how to emotionally box up his belongings, and sitting with the quiet in her home. While there are beautiful moments of Richard’s passing, the peace he now has, stories his relatives have of “knowing” Richard had passed and such, a new journey is beginning for Becky. She’ll use different strengths now.

And, I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention Becky and Richard also have a daughter. While I never could admit this prior to having my own daughters and son, there is a difference. I’m finding myself engaging in some tough conversations with my older daughter about her body, self-esteem, confidence, school, hair, friends — you know, the usual. Even without these conversations, I know for sure that Becky has given her daughter one of the most precious gifts; her daughter has seen her mother be strong, tender, vulnerable, kind, accepting, and faithful.

It was important for me to have my girls there. My son, I doubt he’ll ever remember this period in my life, our life, his life. But, my girls, I wanted them to see me. As I was heading to the start line, my younger daughter insisted that she was going to run with me. My older daughter had to hold her back.

I had plenty of time on my run to think. Over the 3.1 miles, I thought about the start of my mastectomy journey. When I had trouble breathing, I thought about Becky and what she must be doing right now. When I took the time to look at the houses, the trees, and to say “hello” to the people getting their morning newspapers off of their driveways, I thought of Richard. When I had to walk on the many uphills, I thought of myself and the significance of this journey. And, when I attempted to sprint in the home stretch, I thought of my girls. I thought of whether or not they would have to embark on their own mastectomy journey in the future. And, I wanted them to see that I was strong.

I ran with my friend, Chuck, for the first mile, and as he quickly pulled away I found myself alone. Runner after runner passed me. I was tempted to turn on my iPhone and listen to music, but instead, I wanted to listen to my body. I didn’t want to be distracted by Kanye or Diddy. Didn’t want to get lost in the dance beats of Missy Elliot or Beyonce. I didn’t want to sing along with the cast of Glee. I wanted to hear my footsteps, feel both my breath and my breathlessness, and listen to the silence of aloneness. The benefit of being at the back of the pack meant no one could hear me say aloud, “One step closer. One step closer.” But, what was I one-step-closer to?

As my body was about to give up, I turned the corner and saw the finish line. I could hear the cheering of the small gathering of people along the end of the route. After all, I was nearly the last one to cross, and the supporters had all gone inside with their loved ones. Though my breathing was already shallow, I knew I needed to end strong. I ran with whatever strength I had left, and crossed the finish line at approximately 38 minutes — a full 2 minutes faster than I planned. As I ran into the ribbon area, a woman turned to me and said, “You’ve got someone following you.” Before I could turn around, I felt tiny little hands grab my pant leg. The familiar little hands were my younger daughter. She’s mini-me. We look alike. We sound alike. We have the same long toes, light skin, and bossy attitudes. While the odds are 50/50, I pray that we do not have the cancer gene in common.

“You did it, Mommy! You did it!” said my younger daughter.

“I sure did, Jada. Now, watch out. I think I’m gonna puke.”

“That’s okay, Mommy. But, first can I have your iPhone? I want to play a game.”

My older daughter must have seen my “what did you just say??” look on my face. She’s terrifically keen in social situations. “Good job, Mommy. That was pretty cool,” in an effort to return some self-esteem back to me.

“Thanks, Jo. Do you think you can join me next time?”

While I’m looking forward to Jo joining me in a run, we already have begun a long journey together. I already know that I passed the VHL gene to her. And, when she’s 21, we’ll find out whether or not she has inherited the BRCA gene from me, too. She’s been through a lot, more than I can ever imagine.

I’m really thankful that I’m one step closer to decreasing my risk of cancer. There have been a lot of milestones along the way — losing weight, running regularly, getting over this never ending sinus cold, weaning my son from breast feeding, and now this 5K. I’m about 4 months away from my mastectomy. In just a few weeks, I’ll be having my mammogram — the first medical test in preparation for the surgery. It’s here. It’s real. It’s going to happen.

Each day is one step closer to my surgery; one step closer to a reduced risk of cancer.

Peace, love, and baby steps,

Liza

[Via http://marathonb4mastectomy.wordpress.com]

xNews v1.67 BETA - News Module goes Clonable - Modules - XOOPS ...

Issue two of re:new

2010-03-05T09:47:00.000+02:00

We’ve submitted copy for issue three of our final magazine project and will start designing it next Wednesday (hopefully). First we have to make it through issue two’s post mortem today… the joy of having your work pulled to pieces in front of 30 people…

[Via http://ribbonandrope.wordpress.com]

Big Adam Lambert News! | Adam Lambert | News | MTV UK

Explanation; Mishmashery

2010-03-05T03:54:00.000+02:00

Lemme clarify how I feel about legal writing.

Legal writing as a common noun is just fine. Minus the pressure, I enjoy the moments when I feel like my law review note is coming together. I also enjoy writing summaries for The Judge and his clerks. Here’s what’s not fine (and Rachael, I am sorry because I know you’ve heard me vent about this incessantly): my school’s legal writing program.

My beefs with the program could go on for a post that no one would read, but what rankles me is that it’s not always graded on actual writing skill. In every section I’ve been in thus far (we have three semesters when I think one would suffice), the grade is based on whether we know a secret and magical checklist. Every assignment I get has been returned with comments that I write very well and that I didn’t find the secret checklist points THAT WE AREN’T TAUGHT. It is frustrating (yet also pretty humorous) to be a law review editor and know that your worst grade in law school is in legal writing.

Wow, did I make anyone run away? Here’s how I feel about the class (third and final semester, thank God!) in a couple of pictures:

I'm the green shirt in the background.

Why so sad, Croatian folk dancer?

I'm such a whiner!

OK, that’s actually from a recent bar crawl (my college girlfriends and I made shirts and did this for the hell of it). Some random guy spilled a shot on me. That’s worse than legal writing, I guess.

Trick picture:

My pretty sister pets a cat.

Hi, Randy!

Mishmash time — what have I been up to?

*Judge stuff — he is taking me to “Take a Law Student to Lunch Day,” which is cool considering the woman I had to go with last year was rather unpleasant.

*7 mile run today; rest yesterday; 10 the day before; 6 the day before that

*I’m having some medical issues. Think good thoughts for me if you can spare ‘em. They aren’t serious, but they are affecting my daily life. But I promise I’m not complaining — I’m just being pro-active. NOTHING is like what my mom went through as a cancer survivor. I’m very blessed that these minor things are all I have to contend with right now.

*I’ve had some great conversations with first year law students recently. It’s really a privilege to get to interact with so many neat people at my school.

*I have enjoyed a lot of laughs. That’s worthy of a bullet point.

*I’m eating teriyaki-themed things — teriyaki sweet potatoes, squash, oatmeal (yep). GOOD.

*My sister and I have been contemplating a Passover-themed photo shoot for her cats. Don’t ask.

*I’m spending a lot of time with Elton John. That’s what I’m about to do now — listen to “This Train Don’t Stop Here Anymore” and head to bed. ‘Night!

[Via http://eggplantexecutrix.wordpress.com]

News to know: Apple-HTC; Novell; RSA; IBM; TiVo; Steve Ballmer ...

Half Marathon Training - Day 42

2010-03-03T15:54:00.000+02:00

Last night turned out NOT to be a run night. Oops and dangit. Around midnight, when I realized that I still had all of my Finance homework to do and the coffee wasn’t taking effect, I succumbed to the fact that it would not be a run night. But that’s okay. Because I’m going to do it tonight instead!

The Caspian Cafe was really good. If you live in Colorado Springs, save up and go there just once. They have a belly dancer Fri and Sat! I didn’t find out until after I got there that I was actually paying for it lol. But the food was great and I got to spend time with my twin, Alicia, so that was fun. We split a mussels appetizer (TO DIE FOR!) and the Chilean Sea Bass “Special”. The sea bass had a lightly flaky crust, and it was topped with 3 shrimp coated in a chili powder that was spicier than actual chili powder, but not too spicy. I liked it. Oh and it was served with a sweet sauce. It was just awesome. I want more! While the entire thing was amazing, we neglected to ask what the PRICE of this marvelous “special” was… $30 btw. And everything else on the menu was like $15-20. Didn’t see that one coming. Oops and dangit once again! Thank goodness we split it because our check with gratuity was $56. Oh, but the bathroom was cute. Well, the doors on the stalls were. I know, I know, I’m strange! Get over it.

So since today is a RUN day…… Today’s run: 1.8 miles

Dinner tonight: Artichoke and Sun-Dried Tomato Stuffed Chicken Breast. It’s okay to be jealous Not sure what I want to pair with it. I’m thinking asparagus and a caramelized onion and olive bruschetta.

Oooh. I found the recipe I’m thinking of. I think I’ll serve this alongside our dinner. Mmmm.

Caramelized Onion Toasts courtesy of Tyler Florence. I have tried this toast before- it’s not pretty to look at but it’s amazing and so flavorful.

[Via http://chileanmermaid.wordpress.com]

Street Fighter IV now Game on Demand News | Xbox 360 | Eurogamer

holding the line

2010-03-03T03:56:00.000+02:00

“One morning in Boston, it was snowing so hard that I didn’t think anybody would be going training, but I went down to the track anyway. Billy Smith was there, though. He opened the door and said: ‘the road to Mexico is out there’”. -David Hemery – who won the 400 meter hurdles at Mexico City in 1968

I’ve always loved this piece! Can’t you just visualize it? I sure can…

Today, Tuesday, was group run day at the office. If you saw my last post, you will notice that 8 people joined me last week. Major Success! Well, when I looked at the weather report a few days ago, I saw that Tuesday would be the worst day; cold w/ snow flurries. In Atlanta. More snow. WOW. And it’s gonna be high 60’s by the weekend. Naturally, I thought it was gonna be interesting to see if anyone showed up to run. Even myself. I had good runs over weekend, but the weather forecast surely wasn’t making it easy to stay motivated to go outside after a long work day. But, I held the line. Inside, I feel like I have a responsibility to ‘hold the line’ of the group; to not miss a day, to not have any excuse to not be there. Usually, every Friday and Monday, I send an email about the run (as a reminder). I did the same thing this week so they would know I would be there, regardless of weather. By noon today, it was apparent that no one was joining me. Of course when I realized I would be going solo, I had thoughts of letting myself off the hook for the day or even just go run on treadmill. It was 37 degrees and snow flurries still coming.

I had been in the office all day and went out for coffee around 2pm. The little jaunt to Starbucks was actually refreshing since I had felt so cooped up all day. Decision Made. The run outside is on. Holding the line. Whether anyone was there with me or not. It’s perfectly understandable that people would opt out…for weather reasons or for whatever they’ve got going on. No problem. I will be there. I will be there again, next Tuesday at 5:15pm.

‘Cause for me…the road to LA MARATHON (and beyond) is out there!

TRAIN HARD. TRAIN SMART. BE BRAVE!

[Via http://afuntanilla.wordpress.com]

Steve Ott agrees to four-year contract extension | Dallas Stars ...

Small goals = big confidence

2010-03-01T21:46:00.000+02:00

The trails along Town Lake are a great place to start running in Austin.

photo by: Donnie Hogan

I am not a running expert. I don’t have a decorated race resume and I don’t consider myself or my daily habits to be models of what a prototypical runner should be. I’m just a regular guy.

That being said, I have come across several strategies to running that have helped me hate it less and boost my confidence level after every run.

Today I want to suggest setting small goals.

Running is not the easiest hobby to pick up. Too many people make a conscious effort to get in shape by running, but try to do too much too quickly, burning out themselves and their bodies. Rather than spontaneously attempting to train for a marathon by running randomly until your legs fall off, start slow. Time yourself and set modest goals for each run.

Start with one mile, 2-3 times a week. Very quickly, you’ll see your finish times decrease as your build up strength and stamina. Then you can increase your runs to two miles, three miles, etc. Town lake in Austin is a great place to start because there are mileage markers to help you track your progress (bottom right).

Take advantage of the mileage markers around Town Lake to monitor your progress.

For example, my fiance and I decided to run together in this year’s Capital 10K (discussed by Hannah in a previous post). In order to train, we started slow, running from Auditorium Shores to the Lamar Bridge and back, about 1.56 miles. Then we increase our run to the Mopac bridge and back, about 4.55 miles and yesterday for the first time ran from I-35 to Mopac and back, about 7.12 miles.

The point is you don’t have to be a phenomenal athlete to participate in runs like the Capital 10K. Start slow. Set modest goals. Gain confidence when you meet your goals and gradually increase the bar you set for each run.

If you do this, I promise running will become more gratifying and you’ll begin to hate it less while gaining confidence with each run.

[Via http://activelyaustin.wordpress.com]

Mafia Wars Autoplay

Monday Run

2010-03-01T15:54:00.000+02:00

The Monday run is always the most difficult even though it’s an easy 30 mins. I think my legs just feel a bit tired after the sunday long run.

It’s been a beautiful day today – lots of sunshine and spring is coming through

To the stats:

Distance – 5.86km

Time – 31.38

Pace – 5:23 min/km

Calories – 422

My non-running days need some thinking about now. Currently I’m doing a bit of walking but not much else. I have a singlespeed Charge Plug bike that I adore. I punctured it a couple of weeks ago and have been a complete lazy arse and haven’t fixed it. This weekend I promise! I have missed cycling so much and I think it would be ideal cross-training. The feeling of freedom that comes with riding a bike can’t be matched – not even by running.

[Via http://nonameexists.wordpress.com]

News 'grazers' welcome: Platform ready: The Swamp

Courir une journée pieds nus pour vaincre la famine

2010-02-26T09:37:00.000+02:00

Voici une intéressante initiative, de l’auteur du blog “Distance Minimally“, que je soutiens avec plaisir :

One day run without shoes to fight hunger

Next month, beginning on the morning of Saturday 20 March 2010, I will be running for 24 hours at the Pacific Rim One Day Run raising money to fight hunger.

I will be toeing the line barefoot, and will run the whole race without shoes. I hope to run 100 miles, and raise $10 per mile. Contributions will go to the Oregon Food Bank through Firstgiving.

Can you sponsor one or more miles to help me reach my goal of raising $1000 for the hungry in our communities?

Visit One Day Run For Hunger at http://www.firstgiving.com/onedayrunforhunger Thanks!

Source : http://www.distanceminimally.com/post/410312094/onedayrunforhunger

[Via http://sportiseverywhere.wordpress.com]

AMERICAblog News: House passed bill to repeal health insurance ...

I May Be Broke, But At Least I Look Cute.

2010-02-26T03:50:00.000+02:00

I’m pretty poor so being able to spend a lot of money on gym clothes isn’t an option. I don’t get to shop at Lulu Lemon like all of the other girls at my gym, but I still want to look cute! So here are some of the items I recommend:

Yoga shorts from PINK by Victoria’s Secret. They are the most perfect things ever. Fit perfect without being too tight. And the cutest length!

Yoga pants from Victoria’s Secret. Only cost $24.50 to mid-calf length and then the pants come in different lengths so they fit if you are short, medium or tall and are only $29.50! Plus they have a bunch of different colors. The ones with a different color waist make your butt look awesome.. they make you look skinny too! They don’t cause camel toe and they come up high enough to hold in my fupa. Get a size smaller than you normally would though. They are stretchy. And wash them in cold water so they don’t fade.

I wear the Champion sports bras from Target with the tiny straps. They come in cute colors like pink, purple and green and look cuter with the tank tops I wear. They’re between $13 and $17 and hold up for a really long time.

The tanks I wear are cheapies from H&M. You can find them anywhere though. Just little tank tops with spaghetti straps that cost $7. I have them in all different colors and they’re so cheap that I am okay with throwing them out when they get icky from all the sweat. I can throw them in the dryer too without having to worry about them shrinking which is convenient. And I’d much rather wear tanks than t’s because what’s the fun of having smoking hot guns if you can’t show them off?

As for shoes, I recommend, especially for runners, to get fitted for shoes. Everyone runs differently and shoes are made for different running styles. I used to have major foot pain from running in the wrong shoes. The cute ones by Lacoste aren’t going to be the ones you should wear to the gym. There’s a lot of styles out there that an expert can help you choose from. That’s the one area I will splurge because I know it’s going to have a major impact on how I perform.

If you want to look good why stop at the gym? Mix it up with lots of colors and lots of different outfits that complement your body, and you don’t have to spend a fortune. And if you wanna be JUST LIKE the Get In Shape Girl, you’ll always wear a ribbon in that pony tail for added girlieness and cuteness! Just remember, it’s that hard work that you put into your body that make those clothes look good.. not the money you spend.

Kyra Williams

The Get In Shape Girl

[Via http://thegetinshapegirl.wordpress.com]

Facebook Granted Patent on the News Feed - This Could Be Very Big

I miei buoni propositi per il 2010...

2010-02-24T09:28:00.000+02:00

Ecco cosa bolle nella mia personale pentola:

CorriFerrara Half Marathon – (21k, Road), obiettivo finirla con un tempo migliore del 2:17 fatto alla Rune Tune Up nel 2009; –> Fatto!
TCE – Traversata dei Colli Euganei (45k, Off-Road), obiettivo finirla nel tempo limite;
PDP – Porte di Pietra (75k, Off-Road), obiettivo finirla nel tempo limite;
LUT – Lavaredo Ultra Trail (98k, Off-Road), obiettivo finirla nel tempo limite;
CCC – Courmayeur Champex Chamonix (98k, Off-Road), obiettivo finirla nel tempo limite;
Triathlon olimpico delle Nazioni (1,5k nuoto, 40k bici, 10k corsa), obiettivo finirlo nel tempo limite;
Reggio Emilia Marathon – (42k, Road), obiettivo finirla con un tempo migliore del 4h:53′ ottenuto nel 2009.

A queste gare aggiungerò sicuramente dell’altro ma visto che questo blog lo legge anche la moglie del sottoscritto è meglio non esporsi troppo in anticipo

Stay Tuned!

[Via http://fabiobianco.wordpress.com]

UK charts: AVP is the new leader News | Eurogamer

MY NEW GOAL!

2010-02-24T03:46:00.000+02:00

this is going to be mine, well the 2011 version!

If you don’t know what/how to earn that sweet Goofy medal, its very simple…

You run a half marathon and earn the donald medal then…

you run a marathon the next day and earn the mickey medal!

Shouldn’t be too hard right!??!?!?!?!?!!??!?!?!!? Well, even if it is…. I’m gonna do it!

For now because I am quasi-injured I’m going to do CrossFit Endurance as much as possible until my knee feels better. I’ve been having a lot of problems with it lately and so I haven’t done any running at all! I’m gonna get back on the saddle soon and train for my goal!

[Via http://jtijerina.wordpress.com]

Juggalo News | MetaFilter

Week 23: learning as I go and fitting in training

2010-02-22T09:42:00.000+02:00

This last week has been a test of my endurance. I have just finished a physio course this weekend and managed to get all my training in for the week. When I have a course on all weekend I can not take my time with my training or rest afterwards. I know I have another 3 weekends of courses before the ironman and it does not do my head any good thinking about what those weeks will involve with training and work.

In the last two weeks I have had little things happen as I have been traning and each time I am learning how to fix the problems. On a three-hour ride the crank and pedal came loose. I stopped at a bike shop in Putney and it was fixed with an 8mm Alan key so I bought one in case this happens in the future. The light on my bike fell onto the road as I rode over bumps and now I know to check it is on properly before I ride. The levers that secure my wheel to my bike came loose and so I do a bike check before I ride to Richmond Park.

There are many things that happen when training and it continues to change every week. Being adaptable and flexible is a key to making life manageable with training. I tell myself I must stop taking on social events and from now until July my weeks and weekends have been planned. I like my weekends being free of commitments to rest from training, work and recovering for my long bike rides.

I spoke to Fran (Coach) and he has is now worried about my running as I have not run outside since my injuries. This week I did run to Battersea Park and I discovered the track around the Park had flat surfaces. When the surfaces are sloped it irritates my ITB friction syndrome. Good to know I can run on good surface and it is close to work.

My body is adapting to the training. I can ride up the hills in Richmond Park seated on the bike and breathing easily. It was great to run outside and this will be my focus to improve. It freaks me out a little knowing how many weeks I have remaining before the event. Time to put in harder training.

[Via http://physicaledgeuk.wordpress.com]

AMERICAblog News: Newsweek Poll: Public opposes Obama health care ...

What the What?

2010-02-22T03:55:00.000+02:00

Please, someone tell me that you watched the brother-sister ice dancer duo who did the “I’ve Been Everywhere, Man” number and ended it in a very non-sibling-appropriate body position. TCL and I both screamed at the TV in horror and woke up the puppy, who had previously been enjoying his evening sleeping with a toy in his mouth:

Why yes, that is a faux ficus in the corner.

Well, now I want to watch Blades of Glory and shriek with laughter at Will Farrell and Jon Heder skating to “I Don’t Want To Miss a Thing.” Hold the thought, EE.

Sundays are really decadent days, aren’t they? For me, they’re enjoyable because I get to spend time in this gorgeous sanctuary:

Religious studies major. I like churches!

On that note, I was raised United Methodist, took a long hiatus from attending church, and have been attending an Episcopal church since about December. I really like it. The choir is phenomenal!

The rest of the day was just me being EE: napping, working on a paper, doing some other school work, and buying veggies and other foodstuffs. I also did my 12 mile run. But if we’re talking running, I’m not the hero today (*note: I am never a hero; I just do my thing). Congrats to my fabulous southern belle on her first half marathon today!

Dinner with our “couple-friends” the Ms was fun last night, too. TCL and I both feel really lucky to have maintained quality friendships with people from our respective schools. We’re hoping to plan a summer camping trip (yeah, me camping is pretty hilarious because I’m a klutz, but I enjoyed it last summer!). Mrs. Hoosier, are you guys in?

And one more thing to illustrate TCL — I had asked him to take a picture of the platter-sized enchilada dinner he gets at Abuelo’s, but we both forgot. But he apparently had some more when I went to bed, and he thought, “I’ll take a picture!” Yep, he definitely combines everything together so it looks like dog food (not like I should talk). It’s the thought that counts. Yum?

Yeah, definitely not attractive. I'm sorry.

Tomorrow’s Monday. You’ll learn to love that I love Mondays. Or you’ll silently curse me.

[Via http://eggplantexecutrix.wordpress.com]

@pc2010: Sporting News To Charge For Online Content | paidContent

The 5th.

2010-02-19T09:55:00.000+02:00

I think this is about the fifth blog I’ve ever started – not including the proper ones at Section Five Records and Raging Death Films – and I’ve never managed to get past one or two posts on any of them, so in the spirit of it being another new year and a time for change and all that I’m going to give it another go. At the very least I can use it as an exercise to better my writing, which you will realise is full of lazy sentence structures and a limited vocabulary.

So what’s up? Well for those who don’t know me my name is Alan. I do a bunch of stuff with my time, but mostly I work. The rest you’ll probably find out over time. Those two links I posted in the first paragraph are definitely worth checking out as (I run them, and) they are things that are important to me – music and films.

In other news I had my birthday at the start of the month where I realised I was getting old and needed to sort myself out, so to achieve this lofty goal I have decided to take up running. Realistically I’ll perhaps start off with a mild jog, but running is the intended result.

As a way to set this into motion that didn’t begin with me being completely unprepared I have bought myself some running trainers. I don’t know about how you find it, but I found the experience of buying running trainers less than easy. Seriously I’m not a professional by any stretch of the imagination, I’m a normal guy who in a fit of desperation decided ‘going for a run’ might be neat. I needed something that I can run in, that’s all. They have descriptions for different kinds of shoe; “stability sounds good” I thought, “I don’t want to be falling over all the time” but it really means ‘get these if you have normal feet’, not if you’re flat-footed or something.

Anyway, I found a nice pair that were normal and not too expensive so I made the purchase and am duly waiting for them to arrive. Then the fun begins.

So until they do arrive and the fun has begun I’ll stop talking about running. I can’t see my anticipation is going to reach a heady climax in the next day or two. Thanks for reading, we should do this again sometime.

PS. You can also follow me on twitter – @alansuspect and pester me to write more blog posts. Or alternatively, less.

[Via http://alansuspect.wordpress.com]

Yahoo! Search Blog » Blog Archive » News about our Search Alliance ...

Feb 19, 2010 - Friday: Running in Gurgaon

2010-02-19T03:34:00.000+02:00

Ran ~10k in ~1 hour+ here at Gurgaon. Ran from the hotel to the Tau Devi Lal Cricket Stadium and ran inside the ground. Tried to do some interval training, but didn’t exactly work out that way, unless you call slow-crawl-slow as interval training .

Hotel to the stadium: http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=3484483

Running inside the stadium was not so great because of the thick grass, dew, uneven surface and it was very dark and I could hardly see where I was running. But it was still different and so good. I understand that this was the same place where the ICL matches were held. The ground does not seem that big! It was quite small actually. I ran 8 laps inside the track when I noticed some boys who came in and started running on the outside perimeter where there was a concrete ‘track’ all around the ground. So, I ran another 3 laps with them and then ran back.

Not a great running day but good to be back in business.

[Via http://smokingrunners.wordpress.com]

The Real News: Yemen: The Real Conflict

Wednesday thoughts

2010-02-17T09:06:00.000+02:00

True rewards are those you have to work hard to earn. To be given something for free, it means nothing.

Slow progress yields true and lasting satisfaction. Build a house by laying down one brick at a time. Must not expect too much out of a workout.

After a day off, I’m back to training again. Weather is still blazing hot in the city. No goal race in the near future, but I’ll be ready when one comes up. Most likely I will do a half next.

I’m lowering my weekly mileage and hoping that my foot will heal for good. Of course, most runners are never 100% healthy. Just the way life is never 100% perfect. It’s supposed to be that way. We deal with problems.

[Via http://aeroppon.wordpress.com]

Atari announces revenue decline | News

on publicity & marketing

2010-02-17T03:49:00.000+02:00

I admit that I am known within the running community in the country through this blog and from the newly-published Front Runner Magazine and I did not spend much except for my yearly URL fee for WordPress. My advocacies are well-known to everybody and many runners as well as ordinary citizens have benefited from them. Despite these undertakings, the Bald Runner had never been featured in any broadsheets’ lifestyle & sports sections. Even if I know personally some writers, they don’t dare to write about me without them asking permission from me. In short, I don’t need publicity and shy away from public relations outfits as they ask some exhorbitant fees for them to give you a good image and “market” you as a good product. I would like to state it once again, that I am not running for an elective office/position or I am not trying to transform myself into a politician. I just love to run and inspire others to adhere to a healthy and active lifestyle.

Many runners had been asking me why the Bald Runner is not featured in the TBR Magazine; Men’s Health; or Multi-Sport Magazines and even the annual takbo.ph publication last year after they have published and featured their “stars” in the running community. These runners should ask the publishers of these magazines why they are not featuring me. I am glad my friend & ultra runner, Jonel, published the first running magazine in the country, The Front Runner Magazine!

As I said, this blog is already a good platform for people to know what the Bald Runner is doing to promote running and at the same time sustain its advocacies. I have also projects being the President of the Philippine Association of Ultrarunners (PAU) in promoting the sports of ultramarathon in the country. And the most significant project of this Association is the conduct of the yearly Bataan Death March 102K Ultramarathon Race, simply called “BDM 102″.

In my personal point of view, ultramarathon is still an “underground” running sports event in the country. It is better known by “word of mouth” from one runner to another. The lesser the number of runners, the better as most average runners would not dare to challenge themselves to go beyond their endurance limits. In short, ultramarathons are for those who are “crazy, have the “balls” & hardcore” in running.

So, if a media or PR outfit would ask me to be an Official Media/PR partner for the BDM 102, I would say “NO”, most especially if the media outfit would ask me material things in return for their services of advertising and covering the event. I believe that these media outfits should be the one who should be giving material things, like support funds/sponsorship funds/banners, for the event and support for the advocacy of the running event.

The Marketing Staff of RunnerSpeak approached me on the early part of January 2010 and made a schedule to meet me for two occassions but their staff would not make it and had these meetings re-scheduled until the meeting was put on hold. Instead, the Marketing Staff of RunnerSpeak sent me an e-mail on their proposal/offer to cover the BDM 102. Below is an excerpt of a proposal from RunnerSpeak of Q TV to advertise, promote & cover 2010 BDM 102.

RunnerSpeak will assure that BDM 102KM will receive the following mileage:

A full exposure and coverage for BDM 102KM
Placement of event announcement and updates on the show
Interview of representatives and organizers
Extra media values:
- Inclusion of updates and links in our sites eg: Facebook, Website
- Bumper and CBB

In exchange for this, RunnerSpeak is requesting the following:

Inclusion of the show’s LOGO as Official TV Partner
Install banners on race day (max. of 3 banners)
Singlets/ Shirts for the team (at least 10pcs)
Complimentary registration of at least 2 participants for the race
RunnerSpeak to be acknowledged as the Television Partner

Okey, they are requesting me for such & such but definitely, my answer is “NO”. I am not a marketing-trained “son of a gun” but just for curiosity sake, I just want to know if this is the “protocol” in advertising/marketing. I have the impression that whatever this media outfit would cover in the BDM 102 event and have it shown in Q TV, they will be paid for every second & minute in their TV program. Am I right or wrong?

Or it would be better if the media outfit would pay the Race Organizer (Director & Producer) and the runners (Actors & Actresses) as we are their “talents”?

To all the BDM 102 runners, good luck!

[Via http://baldrunner.com]

A Daily Dose of Architecture: Breaking News! Barbie NOT an Architect!

CamSur Marathon on September 2010

2010-02-15T09:33:00.000+02:00

The First CamSur Marathon is scheduled on September 26, 2010. Registration will start on March 1. However, no details yet regarding the registration fees and the registration sites.

Check Takbo.ph for updates on the schedule and details on the CamSur Marathon.

News Camsur Marathon on July 2010?

Calendar Camsur Marathon 3/5/10/21/42K

For complete list of races , news and updates about running in the Philippines please visit www.takbo.ph.

[Via http://takboph.wordpress.com]

Terry Krepel: Dana Perino, Fox News' Press Secretary in Exile

This Week's Recap (2/8 to 2/14)

2010-02-15T03:40:00.000+02:00

I dove back into training this week and feel much better. I was surprised to realize that I’m now only 15 weeks away from my marathon! It’ll be here before I know it.

Monday – Rest day

Tuesday – Rest day

Wednesday – 4.02 miles on the treadmill (1.5% incline) in 40:58 (10:11/mile). This was my first morning run ever and it was great! It was so difficult to drag myself out of bed. It’s so nice and warm under the covers and oh so cold when you get out from underneath them. I’d been trying to do morning runs for a while, but had never managed to get past turning off the alarm. So on Tuesday night I wrote myself a very cheesy note (10 reasons why I want to get out of bed and run), and left it sitting next to the bed. When the alarm went off, I got up and went for it. Hooray! It was so nice to have the run out of the way for the rest of the day. I got to work earlier, I was more awake, and I didn’t have it hanging over my head when I got home and just wanted to relax. I will definitely be continuing with morning runs.

Thursday – 7.02 miles on the treadmill (1.5% incline) in 1:17:10 (10:59/mile). An evening run (I only need to do morning runs on Mondays and Wednesdays when I have crazy work days). Everything felt good. No problems. Nothing amazing either.

Friday – Rest day

Saturday – Yoga with my friend. I am a huge yoga fan. The girl who does our class is phenomenal. I almost fall asleep every time for the ending meditation. It’s so relaxing.

Sunday – 15.02 miles on the treadmill (1.5% incline) in 2:40:44 (10:42/mile). This was my longest run to date and overall it felt pretty good. I took one quick bathroom break at mile 6, but other than that, it was straight through. My knees got a little tight at mile 13, but I managed to keep going and picked up the pace quite a bit for the last mile. My foam roller does wonders working out sore knees/quads/hamstrings/calves/backs (I love that thing). I continued with my Friends DVDs. It seems to work great! Luckily I’m still on season 1 and have 9 more to go! I’ll have to find a new show to watch after I finish all 10 seasons. My sister has suggested Lost. I’m wondering if I’ll be able to follow it through the treadmill noise…

[Via http://geonerdette.wordpress.com]

Romantic Tales from the News Feed | Facebook

Je dois courir: Or, Without Running I Don't Know How Much I'd Do On a Daily Basis

2010-02-12T09:45:00.000+02:00

Really, life is starting to get busier. I have class every day of the week — well, not this Friday because of weird scheduling conflicts, but that’s a fluke — and homework assignments and paper work to fill out for the French Government, so I’m doing things.

But nothing is incredibly pressing. Nothing is sitting here on my desk calling for me immediately, demanding that I get going right away. I have due dates and deadlines and suggested end times, but nothing really pushes me on a daily basis. Except, of course, the desire to avoid spending piles of money, which is becoming increasingly easier as the Euro continues to sink, thanks to the financial situation in Greece that worsens daily. I’m holding out for a complete collapse of the Euro — think of how cheap everything will be!

So, I fill my time with running. Granted, I’m not running incredibly long distances or training for a marathon or anything like that. I’m just running. When I get home from class and look at the hours between just then and the time when I might feel like preparing my delicious yet solitary dinner for one, I realize that the best thing I can do is go for a run.

So I run. True, I’d probably run even if I had to fight to fit it into my schedule — I’ve done that in the past, and I’m planning on doing it again in the future. Running is a daily need; without running I don’t sleep well, I don’t eat as much, I don’t feel as awake and lively as I could.

I vary my runs — sometimes along the canal, sometimes up the hill to my favorite park — but the important thing is that I run. It gets me out of the house and out of the neighborhood and into the world around me. It makes me feel like I did something significant that day. It makes dinner taste better.

It keeps me going.

[Via http://nicktheandersen.wordpress.com]

Ice Hockey: Injuries causing Games nightmares - AFP News ...

Ironman Training Week 11 - Thursday

2010-02-12T03:48:00.000+02:00

I slept through my morning swim this morning. What a slacker. I’m really having trouble with 4:30am lately. We’re really not on friendly terms. Anyway, after work I headed over to Fort Boise to do a 7.5 mile trail run. A little number called “Wandering Frontrunner” (link below).

http://www.usatf.org/routes/view.asp?rID=334416

It’s a nice hilly route, but not too long or extreme for a weeknight run. I’d taken my headlamp just in case I ran out of daylight. The temperature was really nice, high 40s and overcast. However, as I gained the ridge above Fort Boise, there was a strong wind out of the north which cooled things off a little more.

There were only a few other runners out and one small pack of mountain bikers heading up for a night ride. I did ok on the climb up to the apex of the route at the junction of Three Bears and Shane’s Trail. I paused there to snap a pic of the city below, but it was on my Blackberry, which doesn’t do justice to the view. It looked amazing and was a nice place to be at that time of evening.

View of Boise from junction of Shane's and Three Bears

I headed down Shane’s to Central Ridge and onto Bucktail Trail. I had a bone to pick with Bucktail. Two Saturdays ago, I had my ass handed to me on our run and had to walk portions of Bucktail. This was particularly sad because Bucktail is a rolly, but relatively flat trail. There was no walking anything tonight, so I felt somewhat redeemed.

As I reached the far west end of the trail, I heard a sudden burst of gun fire. I very nearly pissed my pants before I realized that just downhill from that portion of the trail is a police firing range. I knew it was there, but I’ve never been around when it was in use. I really think my heart rate spiked to an unhealthy level for a minute!

I finished my run just before dark, so I didn’t need that headlamp afterall. Nice to see the days getting longer!

Now to make up my missed swim tomorrow morning when I otherwise woulda been sleeping in. As they say, play now, pay later…

[Via http://fitseek.wordpress.com]

Gamefly files $50m IPO | News

My, Oh, Brownie

2010-02-10T15:45:00.000+02:00

Somethings words cannot describe.

The Wow Baking Company Chocolate Brownie

Like really big brownies. I was planning on saving this one from The Wow Baking Company for Cookie Friday, but I just couldn’t wait. Is it ironic that I was also watching The Biggest Loser at the time? I didn’t feel too bad because it was all about Olympic athletes and fueling! And I love chocolate fuel.

The Wow Baking Company Chocolate Brownie

Like the name says, “wow”. I popped this brownie in the microwave to get warm and melty. The texture was superb! So fudgy I thought the sweetness was a bit “off”. It was definitely sweet(how could it not be with so much sugar?) but needed something to balance that sweetness. I really couldn’t complain…

Gluten-Free Chocolate Brownie

Check out that fudge factor! And, of course, being from Wow, it was gluten free. I fel like that’s not so much a problem with brownies, though, since the first ingredients are always chocolate, eggs, sugar, and butter. For homemade gluten free brownies, check out my recipe here.

Oatmeal With Smart Balance Peanut Butter

I thought all those generally empty calories would have left me starving, but I was actually more or less in a sugar coma and just wanted to get to bed early for my long run. Still, I figured I might want a little more so I wouldn’t be starving when I got up and made a bowl of oatmeal. There was a good blob of peanut butter but sticking it back in the microwave “enrobed” it with oats; doesn’t that sound tempting?

Running Stats

The oatmeal must have worked because this morning I woke up refreshed and ready to tackle my “long run” of the week. I wasn’t sure how it’d be after yesterday’s unplanned 8-miler. Well, for one, it certainly felt like a long run–difficult and painfully long at times. That being said, I enjoyed it and finished 9 miles in 80:53. And in that time I was able to catch to much of The Today Show on the Olympics! I can’t wait for them to really start! Breakfast was very “themed”

Tierra Farm's Organic Crystallized Ginger

I found this product from Tierra Farm I had yet to even open. I think yesterday’s Kombucha turned me on to a ginger kick!

Breakfast

Pumpkin Oatmeal With Walnut Butter And Crystallized Ginger

Vanilla Chobani With 2 Goji Ginger Walnut Cookies

Like I said, very themed. I topped the vanilla Chobani with 2 of the ginger walnut cookies from Goji Gourmet; gotta get my superfood in after a good run! Since I liked the idea of the ginger and walnut so much, I topped my pumpkin oats with Artisana brand walnut butter and the organic crystallized ginger. The ginger wasn’t quite as strong as I’d have liked; I’ve had some ginger in the past that’s just knocked my socks off and this wasn’t at that spice-level.

And on my way back from the gym it started snowing!! Obviously, the East is getting pummeled today, and it’s finally hitting New England; we’re supposed to get 6-10 inches! There’s also a great chance my only class will be cancelled, so I went ahead and put on lazy sweat pants, and now need to think of what to do for today. Obviously, there’s a little homework. Beyond that, I’ve just got an email about next year’s housing which has me thinking. I really lucked out this year. I got into the perfect dorm for me and got paired with a great roommate and we respect each other well. For higher years, however, it’s done a little more differently; there’s a bit of play involved. I could partner up with a group of 6–if I could find 6–and have us go into the “housing lottery” for a suite, go in completely solo and throw myself to chance, or a number of things in between. My dream would probably be a solo in the dorm I live in now(Wayland). That’s not very likely, though, for a Sophomore. If anything, the top preference on my list would be to live in the same building at least as this year; I lived in one house my whole life so clearly, when I settle somewhere, I like to settle. There’s always hoping, right?

[Via http://foodmakesfunfuel.com]

News to know: Google Buzz, smartphones; Rhapsody; Win7; Adobe ...

I Thought I Was There!

2010-02-10T03:50:00.000+02:00

Hey y’all! Hope you had a good Tuesday! Mine was pretty good. Right now, Bentley Scratchy Pants and I are hanging out watching the The Millionaire Matchmaker.

Guys! Can I just say that I totally thought I was there…like my hip was finally healing and so much better and thought I would run strong. I was going to start with just one mile today. And I did to it, but it wasn’t smooth like it should be and it was a little painful. I kind of paid for it afterwards…I did ice a little afterward. Super frustrating when you want to do something so bad, but your body won’t allow it. I’m going to do some more icing and stretching later. I want to keep positive, but I’ve already signed up for Gasparilla and all I can think about is not being about to run it or if I do, sucking badly. What to do, what to do…

Anyway, let’s talk about happier things…like today’s eats!

I did wake up early to hit the gym. I was really excited about running that mile though.

Workout:

Warm-up 10 min on treadmill
1 mile run at 6.0 then to 6.5
Cool down – 10 min walking
Stationary Bike – 15 min – alternating lvl 3 and 4

Breakfast: mini banana bread muffins x2 (50 cals)

1 egg + 1 egg white, 2 pcs Turkey Bacon, 1.5 Tbsp Hummus (164.50 cals)

Eggs + Turkey Bacon

Snack: 1 cup Almond Milk w/ vanilla extract and 2 splenda (40 cals)

Vanilla Almond Milk

Celery sticks + 2 Tbsp Hummus (60 cals)

Hummus + Celery

Tall Skinny Vanilla Latte (90 cals)

Yummy Latte

Lunch: 2.5 Veggie Lovers Pizza – thin crust and w/ NO cheese (375 cals)

Thin Crust Pizza

Dinner: 1/3 cup Chana Masala (85 cals) + 3/4 cup roasted veggies (approx 50 cals) – broccoli + cauliflower (veggies tossed w/ olive oil & roasted @ 400 degrees for about 20 mins) + 1.5 Tbsp Avocado – not pictured (30 cals)

Chana Masala + Roasted Veggies

I had 2 PB cookies after dinner – yummy!!! (approx 250 cals)

Peanut Butter Cookies

I also had a 3 pcs of chocolate (55 cals).

Total Calories: 1249.5 calories

[Via http://vicioussweettooth.com]

AMERICAblog News: Largest gay rights group in NJ stops donating to ...

Broken bones

2010-02-08T09:49:00.000+02:00

“Heather,” my mom told me sternly this afternoon. “You owe me an update. Think of all those people who read your blog. They want to know how you’re doing.”

I sighed in response and said something to the effect that no one was reading my blog these days. She looked even more sternly at me and said emphatically,

“I read your blog.”

I cast my eyes downward. Point taken.

Where do I begin? If it’s all the same to you, I’d like to start with what happened today.

Today I reached an important milestone in what I have lovingly begun to call The Great Comeback of 2010. You see, today I ran 13.5 miles. Thirteen point five miles! All at once. Tears burned in my eyes at mile 12 and my throat ached with emotion. When I turned the corner on to the final stretch a grin spread over my face. Wow. I had forgotten how great it is to finish a long run on a Sunday morning.

Now normally I wouldn’t consider 13.5 miles a very long run. However, my running life has been so transformed in these past months I hardly recognize it. The 13. miles I completed this morning is the longest distance I’ve run since September. The fact that I ran it a perky 8:20 min/mile is tasty frosting on this runner’s cake.

There have been no marathons, no races and no fun runs in my life since September. Not even a track practice. That strained tendon in my foot that I blogged about all those months ago? It sidelined me bigtime. I suspect the strain was really a stress fracture and that whatever the problem was, it was more serious than I let on. While I could walk without difficulty, running was a painful and arduous experience. I was forced to throw out all my running goals for the fall/winter. My shoes stayed in my closet, the blog went stale and my weekly mileage plummeted. It was a dark and dreary time.

In November things got a bit better. I put in a few miles. Without my former speed, strength and endurance I felt pathetic. It was like I was convinced that if I couldn’t pick up from where I left off then I didn’t want to run at all. What a terrible attitude. I wanted desperately to be the runner I used to be, not a runner with a weak foot and low mileage. In December I had some harsh talks with myself, adjusted my attitude and ran slowly. Oh, so very slowly. But you know, at least i was running and at least it seemed like my foot might finally be better.

Then on January 6th I was hit by a car.

I was riding my bike to work when a truck failed to signal or look to see if anyone was in the bike lane. He turned right. We collided instantly. It is an awful feeling to know that you’re going to be hit and that there is nothing you can do to avoid it. My bike was either run over or dragged into the wheel well, I’m not sure. I ricocheted off the truck and fell to the ground. The driver got out of the truck, saw me crying, saw me clutching my left arm and then promptly got back into his truck and fled the scene of the accident.

I was taken to the ER. I broke my left hand. Here is a picture

Broken hand, my right hand next to it for comparison, days after the crash

Here is a picture of some of the bruising.

Bruising on the palm

Besides the broken hand and some severe abrasions I was extremely lucky. Let’s not even think about how much worse it could have been, OK?

Since the crash I’ve had to deal with a temporary cast, a not-at-all sexy arm brace and very limited mobility. I could hardly type, sign my name (I’m left-handed) tie my shoes, wash my hair, shave my right armpit or button my pants. Every morning before work I played a game I invented called “Will it Fit?” It involved pulling out a long sleeve shirt and seeing if it would fit over the cast/brace. Sadly, much of my warddrobe did not win “Will it Fit.”

Despite the injuries I decided to continue running. I ran on a treadmill - for weeks. It was mind-numbingly boring. My arm ached with the blood that rushed into my fingers. The brace took on a “unique” odor and my hand would hit the console every so often and send shockwaves of discomfort into my broken wrist. But you know what? Not once did my foot hurt!

So this weekend, with the OK from the doctor, I ran outside for the first time in over a month. It was an amazing feeling. Somewhere deep inside me I feel like I might finally be coming back.

[Via http://heatherdaniel.org]

PostSecret: PostSecret News

Strep Again!

2010-02-08T03:43:00.000+02:00

If you can believe it, I got strep again on Tuesday. So this week, I neglected writing since there hasn’t been much to write about in the way of running. I lost 3 days, although one of them was a planned rest day anyway. This post I’m going to try to wrap up the whole week.

Monday I managed to do an hour on the treadmill at my marathon pace, 8.2 miles with an incline of 1.5. Things felt great during.

Tuesday, I woke up and felt like total crap. I went to work and decided to skip running at the gym because I felt I was getting sick. The previous Sunday my daughter got a stomach flu and it turned out she still had Strep despite just coming off an antibiotic – she got strep too a week ago. Then two days later, Tuesday, I’m feeling sick and I leave work early that day.

Wednesday I have all the same symptoms as when I had strep a month ago. I go to the urgent care office for another antibiotic and the nurse practitioner doesn’t seem to want to listen to why I know I have strep throat. She points to the “rapid test”, the same one I posted a picture of when I had strep last month, and states “but it’s clearly negative”. Those test are notoriously inaccurate I remind her. She huffs and says, “Well, if you want me to send in a throat culture I will. And in two days, we’ll have an answer and if it’s positive we can give you an anti-biotic.” At this point my blood began to boil and I told her give me the antibiotic and if in two days its not positive, call me and I stop taking it. After rolling her eyes she agrees. Wow.

At the pharmacy, while I waited for my prescription, I remembered I have a lot of flex spending cash left over from 2009 burning a hole in my pocket which I’ll lose if I don’t spend by March. So, on a whim I bought a cholesterol monitor, a bunch of tests, and a blood pressure monitor. I’m actually pretty happy about this in some nerdy kind of way. It was a bit fun testing myself and my wife, and I seriously need to get my blood pressure down; I’m prehypertension.. no surprise there actually.

Total : 172

HDL : 61

LDL : 86

TRI : 125

BP : 130/80

Also I picked up some glucose tablets. I guess they’re for diabetics or hypoglycemics. I figured they’re a cheaper alternative to gels and much more appetizing. I honestly can’t stand gels. Most brands, especially power bar gels, taste horrible. Gu’s, I can get down but I’m starting to suspect they might be responsible for the stomach upset I’ve coincidentally had every time I’ve taken them. Plus, I’d rather not have all the sodium.

The glucose tablets are basically no frills glucose, taste good and are meant to spike your blood sugar fast, which is exactly what you want from a gel when running. I generally don’t take gels, or any fuel, during long runs, (just races) but I tried them out today before doing 18.6 miles. They seem to work well. And are easy to carry. More on that later.

Thursday the antibiotic was already kicking in and I felt well enough to go back to work. While there, I got a call from the urgent care office informing me my throat culture came back positive for strep and that the nurse practitioner who I saw wants me to continue taking the antibiotic. You know, this actually pissed me off? I felt like responding “no shit, sherlock”. Instead, I just mumbled thanks and let her know the antibiotic is already helping.

Friday, all I could think about was running again. During my lunch hour back on the treadmill. 8.4 miles in an hour on a 1.5 incline. It should have felt easy, and it did mostly, but I was exhausted by the end.

Saturday, I wanted to run long, but due to time constraints I was only able to do 10. Family duties called, but it was great to be outdoors. Lots of snow was predicted, but thankfully none of it came. I was really beginning to fear having to drag out another 20 on the treadmill. So it didn’t matter how cold it was, I was happy to be on the road. Things felt great mostly, but by the time 10 miles was over, I was sort of beat and happy to be done.

Today, Sunday, I still had 20 written into my plan. It was 19F with 33 predicted so I waited around for it to warm up. By 11am it was still only 25 so I went out to the Rockys. I felt a lot of fatigue in my legs. The 10 yesterday was a bit fast, but it didn’t explain why I was so tired. Nonetheless, I tried a few of the glucose tablets and I really believe they gave me a bit of pep. Things got easier. Up until 13 miles I was able to hold it well, and then the hills got to me – I would have liked to have had another glucose tab to see if it really made a difference. Anyway, things were slow from there on, and I think I just wanted to stop by 15. At that point, I was headed back and began to think about someone’s recent blog post about struggling with long runs and the response I wrote. Ironic that my long run now just fizzled out and came to a crawl by the end. Ending with 18.25 total.

Later today, by chance, I found a some debate online about antibiotics and fatigue…. who knew? :|

[Via http://law-of-inertia.com]

Explosion At Plant Kills At Least 2 - Connecticut News Story ...

Exercise galore!

2010-02-05T09:28:00.000+02:00

With my slight tendencies towards ADHD I need a lot of exercise to keep me happy and content. Today I got more than my fair share of that.. Got to work for 10am, did my meetings and all other things i had lined up before heading to my Yogalates class. Enjoyed 45 minutes of core strengthening and arm exercises before heading back home and out for a 30min run around Finsbury Park. Absolutely fantastic feeling!

I also ate fairly well all day yesterday. Had a yoghurt to start the day with, followed by a protein bar on the way in to work. My lunch consisted of some carrot sticks with a dip based on low fat creme fraiche, along a bowl of chicken mulligatawny soup.

I only had one cup of green tea at work though, which is not really as much as I have usually, and I am lacking in drinking enough water. So that needs to be corrected.

My post run dinner consisted of an omelette with spinach accompanied by a mixed salad, delicious! Had some berries and a yogurt for dessert as well to round off the meal and went to bed feeling content, but not overly full. Excellent!

[Via http://lalindafinlandesa.wordpress.com]

Adobe CTO: Flash is 'ready' for iPhone, iPad | iLounge News

Smitty is the Shizz!

2010-02-05T03:48:00.000+02:00

Check out my new running kicks Robert bought me today! Total surprise! Such a good husband……

I usually run in New Balance, but I gave these a test run tonight, and they were more flexible than they look, and I looked super cute, soo thumbs up Nike!

Kick ass, right?

Dayglow inside too!

Check out the other funky color combinations of the Nike Lunarglide+

http://store.nike.com/index.jsp?country=US&lang_locale=en_US#l=shop,pdp,ctr-inline/cid-1/pid-239441/pgid-239442

THANK YOU SITUATION!!!

[Via http://vivalablogtard.wordpress.com]

The Blurry Lines of Animated 'News' | Pamela Boykoff | Voices ...

Bye Bye Dirty Dog

2010-02-03T15:35:00.000+02:00

This weekend, other than being the Superbowl party, I was supposed to have a race. The Dirty Dog 10k Trail Run. I was very excited for it, because it’s not one of those race where I’d try to set a PR, but really it was all about enjoying the frozen forest, the trails and the landscape. Breath in the cold air in the nature where city noises can’t reach… Well I just found out (totally my fault) that it is 1 hour and a half away from here. And I don’t have a car. So bye bye trail race in the mud/snow/forest, I’ll have to find a closer one. Which is most likely to be just a regular on the road race… I’ll still go on a long run this saturday in the frozen winter landscapes… sigh…

[Via http://threegreenleaves.wordpress.com]

The Blurry Lines of Animated 'News' | Pamela Boykoff | Voices ...

Two Things I Need

2010-02-03T03:50:00.000+02:00

As a law student who runs and tries to do the whole “healthy living” gig, I have a long list of things I consider “must-haves.” Right now, I’m going to feature two of these fantastic things: shoes and friends.

If you read my Law Street Journal article, you probably figured out that I love (love, and love some more) high-heeled shoes. In college, I was also that moron who wore open-toed shoes in the snow. I can also offer up the dubious defense that I wasn’t a runner then. Just buy it, all right?

When I first started running, I was convinced that I needed motion control shoes. WHYYYYYYYYY? Oh, probably because a local running store did my gait analysis incorrectly. I forgive them; I just don’t shop there anymore. The truth is, I supinate after years of ballet and always trying not to “roll” my feet inward. Too bad it took a stress fracture to figure out that wearing pronator-geared shoes when you supinate is just bad news bears.

Blessed be the shoe that saved me: the cushiony-wonder Saucony Triumphs.

Don't ever leave me.

Barring any other freak injury, I think I’m married to these shoes. Thanks, Saucony, for helping me feel like I’m running on pillows. And thanks to the very smart people at The Running Company for helping me find my “sole mate.” Oh, my puns are dreadful.

Here’s another thing I need: friends. And tonight I’m going to write a little ode to someone who has her own blogtag and has made my law school experience brighter by her very awesomeness.

A couple of semesters ago, I was busy clackety-clacking away on my laptop to come up with gems like this in Property class:

Ellen, are you loving this?

Wow, that’s exciting just to reread (I’m kidding). Anyway, during Property, I sat behind someone who looked at much more interesting Internet sites than I did during lecture lulls. She didn’t know it then, but she introduced me to the world of etsy. I’m still wondering why I waited until second semester Criminal Law to walk up and very awkwardly ask, “Hey, want to go to BodyPump with me?” Well, at least I didn’t wait forever. Rachael and I were pretty much instant friends from our first Starbucks chat.

OK, I realize I could really be creeping Rachael out right now, but I just want to say what I’d tell her anyway: she’s a wonderful friend. I do love law school, but it can be a little daunting if you don’t have someone who accepts you as you are, listens, and makes the days slightly more fun. Rachael does all of these things and more. For instance, she kindly agrees to go to one of the only veg restaurants we have around here with me. She also introduced me to Chinese foot massage (well, she didn’t do the massage — let’s be perfectly clear here) and motivated me to sign up for my recent baby triathlon. More importantly, she is a great reality check for me when I’m freaking out about something ridiculous, and she doesn’t seem to mind that I can be pretty “forceful with my opinions” (that’s my inner ENTJ rearing its ugly head). I enjoy that we find the same things hilarious and that I am free to unleash my inner nerd when we’re camped out somewhere at school.

I mean, let’s be honest. We all need good friends. So Rachael, thank you for being a friend (yes, I am indeed thinking of The Golden Girls theme song). I’ve met a lot of great people the past couple of years, but you deserve some major props.

To ease the sappiness — or perhaps make it worse — before I go, I just want to throw it out there that my husband is watching Celtic Woman on TV. This is not an isolated occurrence.

[Via http://eggplantexecutrix.wordpress.com]

Obama's Director Of Citizen Participation Patents Displaying News ...

Review: Dead Set

2010-02-01T09:50:00.000+02:00

p>I don’t know if I’ve made this clear in the past but I’m quite the fan of Zombie films. I’m not sure why. There’s just something mildly appealing about being one of the few last members of a doomed species surrounded by the undead who want nothing more than to consume your flesh. That may seem odd but who wouldn’t want to be one of those survivors, no more of the drudgery of everyday life, going to work and earning a wage but fighting back the shambling hordes just so you could say you survived. Yeah, for me the Zombie Apocalypse is escapism.

There’s also a fantastic sense of hopelessness in zombie films. In the best ones it seems as though once the infection has begun to spread then the fight is already over. The zombies have already won simply through sheer numbers. The infection often seems to be global and it seems as though it’s only a matter of time before the remaining survivors succumb to either a natural or unnatural end. This is why my favourite zombie films are the original Day and Dawn of the Dead. It’s made very clear in those films that the undead dominance is practically total. The same is also true of the absolutely fantastic piece of Zombie-related televisual entertainment I’ll be looking at today, Dead Set.

Now, let’s get one thing out of the way right at the outset. Dead Set’s zombies are the runners that are becoming more and more prominent throughout zombie fiction. Whilst still being a zombie purist and preferring the shambling, rotting kind who are no real threat on their own but amass in huge numbers causing survivors to become trapped and ideally turn on each other, I will admit that, when used correctly, the runners can be effective. This was perhaps best demonstrated recently in ‘Zombieland’. Running zombies were perfect for that film because the survivors didn’t spend most of their time trapped in one location. It was essentially a road movie and in that kind of film I can see why the runners would be more effective than the traditional Romero variety.

In Dead Set, the running zombies are effective but for different reasons that Charlie Brooker, the writer of this and all-around genius, has stated himself in response to friendly criticism he received from Simon Pegg, well known slow zombie advocate. Basically the runners are used due to budgetary constraints restricting the number of crowd shots, the need to differentiate itself from Pegg’s own ‘Shaun of the Dead’, and the fact that infection needed to spread quick enough to stop an evacuation of the studio being possible. That last one will make more sense once I get into the actual review which I seem to be having some difficulty in doing. Anyway, to sum up these are all fair enough reasons.

Right, to the synopsis then. ‘Dead Set’ starts off during an eviction night for the reality series Big Brother. Throughout the day there have been reports of massive riots or some such thing occurring throughout Britain but despite the possible ramifications of this, the producer decides to take Big Brother to air as normal. During the eviction, however, something horrific happens and before long the only people left alive are those inside the Big Brother house, unaware of what’s happening outside, a show runner, the producer and the evicted contestant. There are a couple of other survivors but the main focus is really on these and, later on, the show runners boyfriend who is trying to make his way to the Big Brother house.

The show runner, Kelly, soon finds out that the outside world is pretty much devoid of life and decides to make her way into the Big Brother house, what with it being possibly the safest place in the world right now. When she makes it inside the house mates think that she’s a new contestant, albeit a fairly crazy one. When a zombie manages to get in and bites one of them, however, they soon realise the situation they are in.

And that’s pretty much where I’m going to leave the synopsis. I’ll say right now that this really is a must watch. It’s available in all of it’s fantastic five part glory through Channel 4’s YouTube page here. My apologies to people outside the UK. I know how these things often work so I wouldn’t be surprised if you find some kind of content restriction message. You can always buy the region 2 DVD, which I would recommend for anyone if I’m honest. It’s always nicer to have a physical copy of something. There are of course other methods you could employ which I will no way endorse here.

So what makes Dead Set so pants-wettingly brilliant? Well, everything really. The very idea of taking Big Brother and putting a zombie apocalypse around it, is in itself a wonderfully simple idea and allows for all the satire and commentary that the best zombie films are known for. In this case it’s reality TV that’s on the chopping block, obviously, and the culture that surrounds it. All of the contestants are the kinds of twattish stereotypes that Big Brother and it’s generally twattish audience thrive on. From blonde bimbo to flamboyantly gay transvestite, all the archetypes are covered. There’s even that one who’s a little bit stupid but likeable enough that he’d probably never actually win. From what I’ve seen of Big Brother those are generally regarded as background characters who never get much screen time because they aren’t as twattish as their housemates. I need to stop using the word twattish.

What’s interesting is that most of the characters, whilst still retaining may of their stereotypical charactersitics, manage to undergo major developments. For example Veronica, the blonde bimbo character, upon finding out about the zombie apocalypse enquires “Does this mean we’re not on the telly anymore?” but by the end she’s able to come up with a plan in order to take down a zombie lose in the garden. It manages to take what should be a relatively unlikeable cast of people and make you care about them and what happens to them in a way that I imagine Big Brother itself would have trouble doing in two months of programming.

It’s also quite clear that a large portion of the zombies are drawn to the Big Brother house, something which makes sense because most of the people there probably where fans of the show who were turned on the night of the eviction and one of the contestants even muses that they the house was almost like a temple to them in life. This echoes Romero’s ‘Dawn of the Dead’ where it is theorised that the zombies come to the mall due to some fading half-memory of their former life in which they considered it to be an important place for them. In this case the people used to come here to feed on the micro-fame of the people inside the house and now they’re back to feed on them once more, only this time in a much more literal sense.

Of course, you could talk about the satire and social commentary in zombie films until the cows come home and I’m sure people will continue to do so until the inevitable real life Zombie Apocalypse. The most important thing is how is this invasion of the undead portrayed on screen and all I’ll say is that Dead Set does not disappoint. It is exquisitely gory, revelling in the dismemberment of people by the ravenous monsters. Seriously, for a TV mini-series it seems as though absolutely no punches were pulled. You get to see a zombie get it’s head smashed in with a fire extinguisher, a zombie being carved up for bait and British television ‘favourite’ Davina McCall getting her throat bitten out. The whole thing is enhanced by the fucking fantastic sound effects, each squelch and stab being presented in sickeningly, crisp detail. Awesome. Speaking of sounds, I should also say that setting the initial zombie outbreak to Mika’s ‘Grace Kelly’ was an ingenious idea.

Right, I think I’ve spoken enough about this now. If you haven’t watched it yet, find a way to do so and do it now! Five pints out of five. I‘ll be back tomorrow with either a new list, a review of ‘Antichrist’ or the remake of ‘Dawn of the Dead’ which I‘ve decided to rewatch after my softening on the whole running zombie thing. Laterz.

[Via http://cinepub.wordpress.com]

Greek Bailout News (1) | afoe | A Fistful of Euros | European Opinion

Forthcoming, February 2010

2010-02-01T03:53:00.000+02:00

As I whined about a few days, I am in the midst of grading. I have 18 papers left, and, dear reader, my eyes literally hurt. My fingers are numb. My brain has rebelled. The essays are mostly fine, so at least I don’t have constant ogida. The stress is mostly all of the other stuff I need to do (finish writing several projects; lecture/class prep; search committee business; working on my college’s blog–I’m an editor–etc etc etc).

I did manage to do other things this weekend (a department gathering at a local pub; running both mornings; chores; lunch with the hubby at yet another local pub).

So, this is a placeholder posting, identifying more for myself than for anyone else what postings are potentially forthcoming next month:

Mary McCarthy’s 1963 best selling novel, The Group, has been reprinted by Virago Press: I’ve been reading the latest re-views and recently reread the novel, and I have oodles of reflection: who would have thunk it?
I finally started using the little Nike/Ipod thingy that tracks my distance and speed when running. It’s no GPS device, so it’s undoubtedly not entirely accurate, but I’ve got to say that I’m even more motivated to run each morning than even when I was only mildly obsessed pre-Nike/Ipod thingy (note: I actually do not wear Nike running shoes–so this posting will also be a review of the many pouches available to the anti-establishment running shoe wearers).
Amazon has made Kindle software available to PC users: I’ve downloaded a slew of “free” e-books (Alcott, Austen, etc) to test out on my Netbook.
The trials, tribulations, and joys of teaching Chopin’s The Awakening in a general ed. survey class where male students outnumber women students (a novel that is on a dream high school reading list that Dr. Crazy has started, but not on very many actual high school reading lists, like Quills, mostly because it’s a beautiful novel about SEX).

[Via http://annieem.wordpress.com]

Books, Inq. — The Epilogue: Very sad news ...

Ran x (Courir + Correr) =

2010-01-29T09:29:00.000+02:00

Representing the official PROSPECTgear!

[Via http://ranjiao.wordpress.com]

Shakesville: Breaking News

getting on base

2010-01-29T03:37:00.000+02:00

And so we go from football to baseball in my post titles. Funny thing, as I am typing this, on ESPN Classic is the infamous 1986 World Series Game 6…the one that broke the Sawx’s hearts…hehe.

So the title kinda refers to what I will be doing the next month or 2…base-building. My PT is helping me with a game plan…nothing really crazy, still only running 3 days a week for the next few weeks, still with 1-2 strength train days in there. Throw in the 2 short races this month…we’ll see how that goes. Oh-and will also be getting a VO2 max test next week…will be very interesting to see what the results are. I still use my HRM to train, but I’m sure right now, my max heart rate is no longer 188 (achieved at the end of a 5K last year.) So my ranges may need to change…

What else…oh yeah, found out another social media faux pas…never, ever friend a company bigwig on Facebook and then play Farmville during business hours! I’m innocent tho…I blocked that app!! (in addition to Mafia Wars.) And a meeting earlier this week…all I can say is I don’t know how some people can sleep at night. (or maybe they don’t.)

so yeah, crazy week. thankfully good weekend…friend’s bday drinks tomorrow and then Saturday is my favorite event of the year-the Flyers awards gala!! And again, more fun and more drama than the Oscars and the MTV awards combined. Who will rock the red carpet? Will someone pull a Kanye West during the awards presentation? The excitement is mounting

[Via http://nyflygirl.wordpress.com]

Public Policy Polling: Fox leads for trust

Sandal Sepatu - Tarahumara Kuno Suku Mengajar Kami Tentang Running Shoes

2010-01-27T09:48:00.000+02:00

sepatu vans

Tarahumara mitos suku terkenal tidak hanya bagi mereka yang tak henti-hentinya lari jarak jauh keterampilan tetapi juga untuk bagaimana mereka melakukannya di huarache sandal. Sandal pada dasarnya rumah terbuat dari sepatu vans irisan memotong-up ban karet.

Mengapa dengan semua kemajuan dalam pembuatan alas kaki di negara maju tidak ada pengurangan yang signifikan pelari luka

Sepatu baru dirilis beberapa kali dalam setahun dan dengan label harga yang mencerminkan teknologi yang diinvestasikan untuk menemukan solusi optimal. Ada mikroprosesor yang menganalisa dan bantalan kaki menyesuaikan dengan setiap langkah. Meskipun demikian belum ada pengurangan keluhan nyeri plantar fasciitis dan Achilles tendon penyakit sebenarnya lebih tinggi American Academy of Podiatric Olahraga .

Namun dalam kebanyakan maraton penghargaan tertinggi pergi ke pelari dari Kenya yang dikenal untuk berlari bertelanjang kaki dan suku Sepatu Bola dengan Tarahumara buatan Huaraches. Tidak mahal alas kaki dan hampir tidak jumlah berjalan cedera. Penyelidikan perbedaan lahir dari frustrasi dengan semua teknologi mengapa tidak berjalan luka yang dikurangi apa yang sedang merindukan

Anggun Tarahumara pelari yang menunjukkan bagaimana mereka berlari itu tidak terlalu bergantung pada alas kaki tetapi dengan cara mereka menginjakkan kaki Sepatu Murah ke permukaan. Sekarang berlari pelatih merangkul gagasan bahwa berjalan mekanika adalah apa Sepatu Lukis yang bersalah. Taharumara sebenarnya yang berjalan di depan kaki bukan tumit. Kaki menyerap kejutan bukan sepatu.

Pelari yang pada dasarnya tertatih-tatih dengan berjalan kaki sakit telah melihat peningkatan menggunakan teknik berjalan ini antara dampak mengarahkan dan minimal memakai sepatu lari mereka senang karena bisa amp membuat dan menjalankan amp .

Ada kecil untuk perusahaan menengah membuat sepatu dan sandal yang terbuat dari karet mereka juga disebut vegan sepatu atau kaki berkelanjutan pakai. Sepatu Wanita Cukup mudah Toko Sepatu ke Google dan banyak ide-ide inovatif. Pelari seperti ide tentang amp minimal sepatu amp .

Jangan khawatir bisnis besar adalah penangkapan dengan cepat. Mereka Jual Sepatu memiliki sepatu yang sepatu vans dirancang dengan cerdas tampaknya hampir seperti yang bertelanjang kaki. Jadi kecuali untuk logo perusahaan pada kaki Anda dan tagihan kartu kredit Anda sebagai lincah sebagai pria dalam sandal terbuat dari karet strip. Cerdas bukan

[Via http://sepatuvans.wordpress.com]

AMERICAblog News: Bob Herbert asks: 'Who is Barack Obama?'

Half a year later

2010-01-27T03:52:00.000+02:00

184.6.

I couldn’t believe what my fancy electronic scale read. I wanted to be like Garfield, furrow my brows, and call this stupid machine a liar. This past half a year has been a disaster for my health. Ever since I started my new project in New York, I’ve forgotten all about the semi-fit lifestyle I had before, and gained 10 pounds.

My MBA applications started in August and are just finished last Tuesday in January. This was a horrible joke of an excuse of not exercising for nearly half a year. However, my evil conscience did have a point: workout was a burden when all I could think about is how this time could benefit my applications. This ridiculous full year application ordeal is finally over with, and besides preparing for any interviews, it’s out of my hands.

So I made a plan to lose weight and get fit. I vow to follow through my plans for half a year to get even. My new health regime is based on 3 constructs:

1. Workout – my weight loss has been historically associated with running and smoothies. To be specific, smoothie + running in the morning = fitness and happiness. Therefore, this will continue. About a year ago, I tried to run long distance with Hal Hidgon’s 10K plan. It failed miserably. The Excel print-out of the plan followed me around in a unfavored jacket and bag pocket for about a few weeks until it started to disintegrate. I eventually threw it away as scrap. But my desire to run long distance has not changed, so this would be a good time for it. Therefore, construct 1 – running as main workout, with a plan to run a half marathon in under 23 months.

2. Alton Brown Diet – one of my favorite chefs, an idol and role model lost 50 pounds. I decided to follow what is now called the Alton Brown Diet. He claims that it is a non-diet, but it really is. The core component of the diet is a list of food that you must eat daily, 3 times weekly, and NEVER. Here it is: (hereafter called the AB LIST!):

Daily

- Fruits

- Whole Grains

- Leafy Greens

- Nuts

- Carrots

- Green Tea

3 times a week

- Oily Fish

- Yogurt

- Broccoli

- Sweet Potato

- Avocado

Once a week

- Red meat

- Pasta

- Dessert

- Alcohol

NEVER!

- Fast Food

- Soda

- Processed meals/frozen dinners

- Canned soup

- “Diet” anything

I can’t promise not drinking diet soda, but that’s a small alternation, right?

3. Lose It! iPhone calorie counter. This is one great app, and my alternation to Alton’s diet. Besides obeying THE AB LIST, I need to watch my calorie count. It makes me log my food intake, which can only add up to be 1345 calories daily. It logs my exercise, which gives me a credit on calories. Simple: the more I work out, the more I can eat. Other than that, no food is off limits. I can eat anything else I want, but I need to understand its calorie limits and see whether I want to trade off my other foods.

So thats it. This effort started Jan 20. I weighed in today at 181.4. I’ve been working out, and my appetite just got HUGE, and sticking to THE AB LIST and the calorie limit has been difficult but I committed to it. The morning smoothie is delicious, and I’ve got 2 recipes, which I will share at a later post. I love the fact that I get to eat steak/burger once a week (and took full advantage of that). Keep focused, keep happy, and keep going!

[Via http://alicerain.wordpress.com]

News From Across The Pond: Robert Pattinson Offered a Record Deal ...

...hurrah for my first 6...

2010-01-25T09:20:00.000+02:00

I stirred in my bed and looked around my room. It was still quite dark. I reached for my cellphone and squinted on the screen. I still have to wait an hour before my alarm will buzz off. I tried to go back to sleep and find it impossible so I got up. I heard my stomach growling. Of all the time to be hungry. I made myself some instant cereal drink. As I was sipping it, I debated over taking a shower at once ( after I’m done drinking ) or wait for my alarm. After I washed the mug, I took a shower. It always felt good to be in one. I towel myself dry then dressed. I had my usual coffee and took time in imbibing it. I was thinking of having another cup then I remembered what I read about consuming so much caffeine.

At exactly four o’clock, I stepped outside and headed toward the track. Thankfully, there were no dog walkers around along the way. I was walking briskly to get there as quickly as possible.

After doing the routine stretching ( actually I just did some shoulder rolls), I was off running at once. I had an untarnished view of the dawn sky, filled with stars, in all its glittering glory. You see, this is the sort of thing that’s worth waking up early, aside from running, of course.

I had it in mind to just run for three miles which is what I have done for the past few days. But after three miles, I was still feeling okay. I continued running for another mile and then decided to add another one. After five miles, while I stopped to drink some water, a thought suddenly come to me. Since I have egged myself to run six miles, why not try now?

Without giving myself a chance to change my mind, I went back to running and managed to shoot for another mile. I’m happy I did it. My legs were sore but then that’s part of the deal.

I had a very awesome run this morning. Add to the fact that I finally reached the distance that I was gradually aiming for. Sure, I did not tackle the six miles in continuous running. I stopped at every mile but only to have a short walk break and a couple of gulps of water.

It seemed to me that finally, I’m now getting used to this thing called “running”. Never mind those previous months in which I eagerly throw myself in just to be called a “runner”. I met pain and all sorts of stuff but I suck it all up and hang on. And I realized that it’s a good thing I did because I would have miss this “awesome” experience.

Wobble on Panda.

[Via http://livelife21.wordpress.com]

Brad Pitt Photos & Pics | BREAKING NEWS - BRAD PITT AND ANGELINA ...

sunday funday: 10.8 blustery, drizzily miles & turkey chili

2010-01-25T03:17:00.000+02:00

when i first started this blog, i intended it to be a venue for me to share stories about healthy eating and running in hopes that the two would combine forces and result in weight loss. in reality, it’s turned in to a place for me to demonstrate my penchant for self-deprecating humor, to reveal myself as a drunken mess, and to occasionally share a story or two about how i avoided cheese fries and jogged a few miles (and i give you exhibit A of my penchant for self-deprecating humor.) don’t get me wrong, i’ve had a glorious time complaining about crappy treadmills, exploring my deep-seeded psychological addiction to cake, and talking about vajayjay sweat, but i’d eventually like this to be a place that people can go for sound running advice, healthy recipes and a much-needed dose of crass sarcasm.

so today, i’ll be giving you the first of many of my masterful (see also: i didn’t set something or someone on fire) recipes that are also healthy, whole-food-based, and in my culinary opinion, fucking tasty. but first, let me talk about my 10.8 miles, wherein you might also receive that dose of crass sarcasm i mentioned.

so of course, today is sunday funday, meaning long run day in preparation for the scenic city half marathon. i wanted to do 10 miles since i’ve been putting my 10 miler off for two weeks. i wish i could say i had some great excuse like shin splints, a sudden bout of fibromyalgia, for christ’s sake i’d even take crabs at this point. but in reality, i’ve been: too drunk, followed by too hungover, followed to by too lazy, followed by too-anything-that-will-prevent-me-from-running. but today i got out the door.

chicago has been experiencing what i would like to call “the great january heat wave of 2010.” now that i’ve formally named this phenomenon, we’ll be hit by sub-zero temps and at least a foot of snow tomorrow. you can all thank me later when you’re struggling to get your rear-wheel drive vehicle out of a 6 inch snow bank. anyways, this heat wave…it was about 40 degrees today, so i had to get outside! sure it was raining with 11-20 mph winds out of the west, but it was also downright balmy. i wanted to try out drinking gatorade during my run since my stomach is, shall we say…finicky when it comes to consuming anything other than water (and even then my bowels are touch and go for a bit.) so i mapped a 5 mile loop that allowed me to stop by our driveway to grab some gatorade at my halfway point. after the first 5 mile loop i was totes bored so i decided to kind of wing-it. i figured i was running about 9 minutes per mile so i just headed wherever and told myself i would stop at 90 minutes. too bad i was actually running 8:25 minutes per mile, which would explain why i felt as though i had been hit by an errant CTA bus by about 70 minutes. but i pushed through to my 90 minute goal and ended up with a sunday funday run of 10.78 miles…not too shabby!

after my run i was pretty much dead to the world, which might explain why i still haven’t showered, and also why i have a thin layer of salt covering my face and neck, oh! and why i smell like total shit. yes, i feel completely disgusting, which makes me feel a little bit better (because if i smelled like total shit, did nothing about it and felt ok about myself that would be way more abnormal than smelling like shit, feeling disgusting, and making the conscious decision to continue to sit around in my own filth.)

after a short nap i felt my like a person again, which brought me the motivation to make my famous (see also: the fiance loves it!) turkey chili for dinner. and there was the segway to my first attempt at providing healthy eating advice as opposed to making fun of myself and further solidifying the fact that i am going to hell (if i even believed that hell existed, haha a loophole!) but seriously, the turkey chili:

what you’ll need:

non-stick cooking spray

1 tsp canola oil (i always use vegetable oil because that’s what i have on hand)

1 small onion, chopped

2 medium garlic cloves, minced

1 lb. extra lean ground turkey (i use perdue fit & easy 99% lean)

1 small tomato, diced

1 15oz can kidney beans

1 15oz can black beans

2 tbsp chili powder

1 tbsp paprika

1 1/2 tsp red pepper flakes

1 tsp ground cumin

1 1/2 tbsp apple cider vinegar

1-1 1/2 C tomato sauce (depending on how watery you like your chili)

1/2-1 C fat-free, low sodium chicken broth (again, depending on how watery you like your chili)

how to make it:

i like to start by getting all of my spices (chili powder, paprika, red pepper flakes & cumin) measured and pulling out all of my necessary pantry items (tomato sauce, chicken broth & apple cider vinegar.) once everything gets going, you’ll need these items quickly. so having them pre-measured and set to the side will help curb any mid-recipe cooking-anxiety (weird, i’m the only one that suffers from this? interesting.)

next, i suggest chopping all of the vegetables (onion, garlic & tomato.) this is the fiance, he recently took an interest in triathlons and tries to get as much use as possible out of his new gear. here, he’s using his goggles as way to prevent onion-induced sobbing. he’s also been wearing his bike helmet to take out the garbage and hanging around in his speedo to check email (i’ll spare you the photos.)

once you’ve chopped your veggies:

coat a large pot with non-stick spray, add your teaspoon of oil, place pot over medium heat & add chopped onion. cook onion until it is soft (about 5-7 minutes.) once onion is soft, add minced garlic. cook garlic until it is soft, about 1 minute. add ground turkey, breaking up lumps with a wood/plastic spoon. cook turkey until is just starting to brown, about 5 minutes.

while the turkey is browning, remember to drain and rinse your beans. once the turkey is browned, add your spices, beans, diced tomato, apple cider vinegar, tomato sauce & chicken broth to the pot. it should look something like this:

after mixing, right before boiling

mix everything together and bring the mixture to a boil. once it boils, cover the pot, reduce the heat and simmer the mixture for 35-45 minutes. be sure to occasionally stir during the simmering…then serve (preferably with cheese & a glass (or bottle) of viognier.)

we always eat our chili with some ronzoni smart taste pasta (and tonight with a corn muffin-recipe to come later!) but some have been known to eat chili with tortilla chips, crackers, or just on its own, whatever you choose, enjoy!

ok, i’m off to the tub. i’m going on almost 9 hours of not showering after a long run. you don’t even have to tell me…i’m a sexy bitch. good night!

[Via http://sizequeen.wordpress.com]

News From Across The Pond: Rihanna and Beyonce sing for Haiti ...

Core Challenge Extended!

2010-01-22T15:53:00.000+02:00

Get a Strong Core!

Last Friday, I started the “Race Day Challenge Series” with a Core challenge. Success? Marie rocked it with over 500 crunches. I did about 320. Since we all need stronger and more defined abs (it’s never enough, is it?) I decided to keep this as an ongoing challenge. This week’s goal: 1000 crunches (turned in before next Thursday, Jan. 28th 11:59PM). I know Marie’s up for it, and I know I am! So join the ab-party(Hah!) and bring in anyone you want! Click the Green Apple to see the updated scores!

Here are a couple reasons why you want a stronger core:

It just looks great!
Enhances running performance (better posture, less pressure on the joints, stronger stride, etc.)
Enhances swimming, biking, and most sports performance
Helps maintain a good posture (a good posture is always very well perceived by your peers and coworkers!)
For those trying to lose weight, a tighter midsection decreases the health risks of Diabetes, heart conditions, high blood pressure, etc.

Join in the Core Challenge for the second week, and all you have to do is your best! It is a friendly competition, and YOU are your biggest competitor! So get on the mat and prove to yourself that you can do it!

I know there are a lot more moves out there, then just crunches, so use common sense to count it

- Kloé

[Via http://threegreenleaves.wordpress.com]

AMERICAblog News: Obama finally pushing Volcker's ideas

Treadmills : My love-hate relationship

2010-01-22T03:52:00.000+02:00

Today it was raining all day long. I have always said when it comes to running, I can do rain or I can do cold, but I cannot do cold rain. So today I was bound to my frenemy, the treadmill.

I had 4 miles on the agenda today but I only managed to get through 3 of them. I was tired, achy and just frustrated and bored. It really made me realize that my attitude toward treadmills is still all wrong.

Here are my stats:

Distance: 3.0 miles
Time: 33:28
Pace: 11:09 / mile

I walked until the clock read 40 minutes to cool down. I also did some light stretching. As I sit here my knees are really hurting me. I can’t wait to get back outside. Oh yeah, back to my attitude.

Yes, the treadmill is different. I used to be more friendly toward it; in fact I did many of my training runs for my first half marathon (2008) on the treadmill. But I got away from it for so long that it’s been a process I have not embraced again just yet.

I’ve started to learn again that I need to go slower on the treadmill and worry more about distance than time, at least with longer runs; I can do speed work on the treadmill if I’m just doing a mile or two. I also need to start taking a towel with me.

Since I don’t have any scenery to look at, I need to plan for distractions to keep me from realizing what’s going on, to not feel like a hamster on a wheel. This might be music, television, or perhaps just covering up the screen with a piece of paper. I certainly don’t track myself like this outside, I just sort of go with the flow.

I read a really great article earlier this week about treadmills called The Upside of Running Inside and I think it is no coincidence. This hit home, especially today: “10 minutes per mile is a happy conversational run outside, but an insufferable slog on the mill.” Ha.

I really need to figure out how to make treadmills a positive part of my training. I will likely only have to use them once or twice a week at the most, less when the weather is more tolerable. So what’s the big deal?

How about you? Treadmills : love ‘em or hate ‘em?

[Via http://rivercityfitness.wordpress.com]

GTA tops the list, and other game news

Powering through

2010-01-20T09:09:00.000+02:00

I’ve been super productive today! 5 job applications done and sent off, a workout, viewed 4 apartments and went for extra walk because I got booted out of the apartment by the cleaners!

I set off for my run this morning and had no luck finding the trail . Boo. The run wasn’t much fun again! I can’t help but think while I’m running on these streets, that I’d rather be on a treadmill… Of course, once I’m done and home I experience the usual post run euphoria and tell myself it was fine. But honestly, today’s run was stinky (sewerage, cigarettes, dog pee, bins, car exhaust) and again I had to weave in an out of road works.

My thinking at the moment to avoid this issue is:

run on a treadmill twice a week
do the Peak hill walk twice a week
yoga
gym classes??
try and race as much as possible (at least the races are in decent locations)
find those damn trails everyone keeps talking about and run them on weekends as they are obviously not close to the apartment, that or I’m just blind). It could be that!

Post 30 minute run (all I could handle), I did:

Whittle my Middle
20 lunges each leg
50 squats
100 plies
stretching

Morning snacks were a mandarin and an Alpen bar plus I picked up a skinny capp takeaway on my way to meet the agent.

I trekked to 4 different apartments today all over the Midlevels. The stairs are killer but it’s such great exercise that I don’t care! I love all the incidental exercise everyone does in Hong Kong!

Lunch was a slice of wholemeal bread, goats cheese and a tomato with baby carrots.

While I was out dawdling around waiting for the cleaners to finish I stumbled upon the Orla Kylie shop . I restrained myself and didn’t go in, that could have ended in trouble…

Later, I broke from my applications to have this yummy afternoon snacky. Fage, a Fugi apple and the last of the bluebs.

Look how different the Fugi apples are here! And the skin has a completely different texture, but they taste the same. Strange!

They are SO tasty too! Love them.

I’m off to have another wander, meet Adam and the agent and then we are going to look at 2 apartments that I saw today which have the potential to be the winners! Yip yip! I’m a little over looking at apartments LOL.

[Via http://whatisforbreakfast.wordpress.com]

Dan Dorfman: Who Says the Bad News Is Over

Ready for Bed

2010-01-20T03:39:00.000+02:00

It had been a busy day! Goliath woke me up at 2AM to go out. I then slept in until 6:20 and made it into work by 7:30.

My supervisor brought me a medium non-fat chai latte from Starbucks this morning! How nice! I drank about half of it. Since I couldn’t take my camera into the building there’s no picture of this or the Krispy Kreme doughnut I ate, either. Don’t know why I ate it. I don’t like KK doughnuts, I’m more of a DD girl.

For breakfast I had a bowl of Multigrain Cheerios with skim milk. (Old Picture)

For lunch I had leftover lasagna with a spinach, romaine, and grape tomato salad.

I had some leftover dressing from Wendy’s on the salad and two Clementines for a snack later in the day.

When I got home from work around 4:15 I needed a snack that would hold me over until dinner, which I knew wouldn’t be ready until 7:30 or so. I had a peanut butter and cranberry apple butter sandwich on whole wheat bread with a glass of skim milk.

This did the trick and even held me over through the 2 miles Loreta and I ran. We didn’t have time for strength training, but no worries, I’ll go to a Body Pump class tomorrow.

After our run I got busy on the barbecue sauce for the Dr. Pepper Baby Back Ribs from the “Cook This, Not This” cookbook. The recipe called for them to be baked for two hours and then grilled for about 15-20 minutes. They got a little extra crispy on the grill, but I would DEFINITELY make this again. It was tasty. On the side were some green beans and biscuits (also extra crispy).

After dinner I had to rush out and pick Kim and Keenan up from the airport. They spent the last week apartment shopping in Knoxville where Kim got a new job. I’m happy for them, but will be sad to see them leave.

Now, I’m off to bed. I’ve spent the last hour trying to convince Goliath to “do his business” to no avail. I guess I’ll just have to resign myself to being woken up at 2AM.

Have a good one!

[Via http://lovinlosing.com]

Revision3 to Conan: Our Offer is on the Table

5K is OK by me!

2010-01-18T09:07:00.000+02:00

Well I am pleased to announce that Willem and I made the commitment to run in a 5K this April. We’ve really been enjoying our runs. As you probably have noted with my recent posts. Willem said, doing something new like running is more worthwhile if you make a commitment towards a goal like a race. In the beginning, for me, it was to get healthier and to help ease the tension of no nicotine in my system. Now after a month or more I think I am ready for the challenge. Willem believes that at the end of our 12 week training we should be able to do more than a 5K. However, we are doing a slow climb to running consistently. I believe we will be fit for it but I am more concerned about maintaining the pace without wanting a break to walk. So even if we are beyond the 5k training point I think this is a good start for amateurs. Now of course everyone is telling me I will get the bug and want to do a marathon. We will see.

[Via http://susanscribes.wordpress.com]

Breaking news: Bears DE Adams dies - Big Blue View

This Week's Workout Recap (1/11 to 1/17)

2010-01-18T03:50:00.000+02:00

Monday - No run today. Mondays are my day off. Instead I worked around the house like a crazy person, so that was kind of like a partial workout.

Tuesday - 4 miles on the treadmill (1.5% incline) in 41:34 (10:20 min/mile pace). I was foolish and tried to go out faster than I could handle (~ 9:00 min/mile). At about mile 2, my knees stiffened up and I ran out of gas. So I slowed it down and finished out my 4 miles for the day. Mental note – don’t go out that fast yet! I attempted to do my run during the day while my husband was at work, but the puppy FREAKED OUT so I had to wait until he got home. Because of this, I wasn’t able to do my P90X plyometrics later that night (see previous P90X Plyo post). I guess I’ll have to YET AGAIN, shift it back a day. That’s alright. It’s a learning experience with the dog. I don’t know how he’s going to handle different situations yet.

Wednesday – 5 miles on the treadmill (1.5% incline). I’m not even going to post the time because it was so slow. For some reason, it was just an AWFUL run. I was sluggish, tired, achy, tight muscles… all that fun stuff. I couldn’t get into a rhythm or get comfortable at all. I pushed through it, but there were SO MANY times I wanted to just stop. I tried to get my mind somewhere else, but just couldn’t do it. There’s been runs where I’ve been tired and achy and managed to get past it eventually, but today I lost the mental battle and just plugged through it. Once again, I could not get the P90X stuff in with the dogs around me all day and night. This is going to be interesting carving out time for it. It will be much easier once my husband is mobile again. Which is in THREE WEEKS. ACK.

Thursday – I decided to take tonight off and rest. I’ve been so exhausted lately and I think that has a lot to do with how crappy my last two runs have been. Between taking care of gimpy and the dogs and running, I’m beat. Thursday was time for some R&R.

Friday - No run tonight. Fridays are my other night off. Instead I went to my BFF’s (haha) house and made jewelry, ate cookies, and worked on our wedding albums. All in all, a good night.

Saturday – Spent the night up to my elbows in wedding pictures, DVDs (burning copies of the pictures for people), and photo paper. Didn’t get done with that little project until well after 10pm and was in no mood to go down to the basement after that. This has been a pretty off week. I suppose they happen, and I’m not going to beat myself up about it. I think I needed a little mental (and physical!) break. We’ll see if this helps for my long run tomorrow.

Sunday - 1.97 miles with the puppy in 21:56 (11:07/mile). Granted, that’s including the sniffing and bathroom stops, so our pace was probably closer to 10 min/mile.

Later that night, I did my scheduled run of 13.12 miles on the treadmill (1.5% incline) in 2:20:58 (10:44 min/mile). Wohoo! This was my first “half marathon” and I am so proud of myself. I’m really glad I took the last two days off because I definitely needed a mental and physical break. It wasn’t all good though. Around mile 7, my IT band got REALLY uncomfortable and started to make my whole leg ache up to my hip. From then until the end of my run I had to stop every mile (and near the end, every half mile!) to massage it for about 30 seconds. It was ROUGH. But I made it.

Wohoo!

[Via http://geonerdette.wordpress.com]

Unauthorized iPhone News Readers Hit App Store, Stir Concern

Running Shoes as Bad as Heels?

2010-01-15T15:49:00.000+02:00

How much did you spend on your last pair of running shoes?

Me? $150.

Absurd. I know.

Especially considering the fact that they consistently give me blisters on the bottoms of my feet, and strain my knee so bad to the point that sometimes I can hardly walk after running anything over 4 miles.

But, I continue to wear them.

Why?

Because they’re Saukony’s! They’re the best shoe out there! They’re expensive, and therefore, great!

Besides, look how cool I look in them:

See?

Right.

Well, new studies are showing that high-tech running shoes can be as bad as wearing high heels, and in fact, bare feet are the best if you plan on running.

Well, yeah. People aren’t born with sneakers on their feet. Obviously the Evolution Gods knew what they were doing when they made us humans into 2-legged creatures with 5 toes.

Unfortunately, the roads and running trails of today aren’t exactly barefoot-friendly.

Unless, of course, you’re willing to risk stepping on a disease-ridden needle or shard of glass. Which, if you’re a risk taker, by all means go right ahead.

But for your safety-conscious, right-minded folks out there, let me offer you a few alternatives. Check out Vibram FiveFinger Shoes:

They're like gloves for your feet!

They may look ridiculous, but if you have any prayer of straightening out your gait and avoiding joint strain in the future, you may want to check them out.

Nike Frees are another lightweight shoe out there that simulates barefoot running without the hazards of actually being barefoot.

I’ll be investing in a pair as soon as my Saukony’s get too worn out for running.

What?? I paid $150 for them!

I might as well get some use out of them, blisters and all.

No pain, no gain, right?

[Via http://lindsayhutton.wordpress.com]

Diane Dimond: Good News for a Change!

Tetanus Shot Fun

2010-01-15T03:45:00.000+02:00

Yesterday I had a regular doctor’s check up and everything was going great until my doctor asked the dreaded shot question…”When was the last time you had a tetanus shot?”. I’ve been out of high school for 10 years in June and I realized that I couldn’t remember the last time I got the shot. So I said “I have no idea”…the next thing I knew I was pulling up my sleeve to receive this wonderful shot. I had already gotten the flu and the H1N1 vaccine this winter so what can one more do to me? I knew this shot hurt but I thought it was when you received the injection that it hurt…boy was I wrong! I felt great until driving home last night and that’s when I felt it. It felt as though I had gotten punched in the arm. This morning I couldn’t raise my arm higher than my shoulder without some discomfort. I have a red hard bump over the injection site. I’m guessing this is what they say when getting a tetanus shot hurts.

My run this morning was really difficult with the pain I felt in my arm. Every step I took and swing I made of my arm caused a little shot of pain in my shoulder area. Needless to say I completed my 4 mile run with walk breaks included to help ease the discomfort. I’m hoping things will be better by Saturday…I have 5 miles planned.

On a higher note…dinner tonight was a success!

Meal: Shrimp Scampi (I got the recipe from Cooking Light)

Result: 3.5 stars out of 5 starts

Ingredients

2 teaspoons olive oil
28 large shrimp, peeled and deveined (about 1 1/2 pounds)
3 garlic cloves, minced
1/3 cup Sauvignon Blanc or other dry white wine
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1/4 cup chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice

Directions

Heat oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add shrimp; sauté 1 minute. Add garlic; sauté 1 minute. Stir in wine, salt, and pepper; bring mixture to a boil. Reduce heat to medium; cook 30 seconds. Add parsley and juice; toss well to coat. Cook 1 minute or until shrimp are done

Result

Next time add more lemon juice and garlic.

Well I have a few things to finish up before bed…but I’m curious have any of you gotten a tetanus shot recently and was your experience the same as mine?

[Via http://peachesnkate.wordpress.com]

Ex-NBA Star Olden Polynice Agonizes, Waits for News from Haiti ...

A quick update

2010-01-13T09:39:00.000+02:00

A big hello to you all from Edinburgh HQ!

Wanted to give a quick update on what has been happening in the last week or so.

1. The charity gig evening (Friday 5th Feb at Maggies Chamber above the Three Sisters in Edinburgh) is looking like being a fantastic evening with wonderful prizes on offer, so you better buy a few raffle tickets on the night! £1.50 each. Also a compilation CD will be on sale with 3 tracks from each of the 4 bands playing on the night for £5, bargain! Entry £6, contact mark@runwithmark.com for tickets.

2. As for my training, it is now fully back on track after the freeze and now it is time to get the head down and hammer it on this home straight.

3. A big thank you from me to……

Edinburgh Spotlight for their continued support.

Max Rushden from Soccer AM for his generosity.

All the bands playing at the charity gig night.

Donal at Maggies Chamber for supporting our event.

The Big Partnership and Mens Health for speaking with me.

The Scottish Sun, Edinburgh Evening News, Running Free and Runners World for the coverage to date.

Anthony Bibby for his continued support and logo design.

Dugald McGarry at Restaurant Blue for his kind donation.

Julia at My Big Ears for her offer of help.

Edinburgh Leisure for their involvement.

Lee Monat for her help, thank you.

David Scott at Sandbaggers for his continued support.

Craig Ali for his ongoing training regime.

Mhairi Freil at Stride Orthotics for her ongoing help.

Dr Andrew Murray for his offer to help.

Mark Beaumont for backing my trip, good luck Mark!

Jacqueline Murray for keeping my legs alive with your sports massages.

James Matthew and all the staff at Westwoods Health Club for their ongoing support.

Pam at Leith FM for continuing to promote the trip and put up with me on her show.

Moira Millar at Forth One for offering to promote my events.

Sarah McGregor at Real Radio for offering us a slot on Real Action.

To my employers, DLA Piper, your support has been unbelievable, I cannot thank you enough.

To Scottish Life and John Menzies for your wonderful donations at a very difficult time, thank you!

To the man who came up to me in a bar to wish me luck even know you did not know me.

To Fiona Wilson for believing in my challenge and offering to help me obtain my dream.

A very special thank you…..

To my friends and family, you know who you are, you keep me firmly on the ground and focused and for this I thank you and I am forever grateful to you.

To all the people who have kindly sponsored me, you are key in our efforts to fundraise and I hope you gave yourself a pat on the back as you deserve it!

Thank you Ferelith for dealing with my stress outs and panics about the whole thing, you are wise beyond your years.

Finally, thank you to The Edinburgh Headway Group for your continued efforts to improve the lives of others, you are the real Heroes in all of this, Jean, Bill, Avril and all the team, I hope I can achieve my goal and give you all that I have promised.

If I have forgotten anyone then it is only because I have been offered so much and I thank you fully!

Thanks

Mark

mark@runwithmark.com

www.runwithmark.com

[Via http://runwithmark.wordpress.com]

Sarah Palin joins Fox news : In Entertainment

Freedom!

2010-01-13T03:32:00.000+02:00

I think that running is one of those activities that lends itself well to routine. Sometimes it’s almost too easy to get stuck in a rut. When I have a rut, it’s mainly a result of doing the same route too many times in a row. For some reason, I don’t often think of running wildly across campus in any direction. There’s really not a reason for this; I have a GPS unit that will tell me how far my run was no matter where I go. I guess it’s easier not to think about how far I’ve gone when I know all the mile markers for a given route. Service Road is my go-to starting point for after-work runs and my go-to ending point for lunchtime runs.

Today, I could no longer stand Service Road. Service Road is very important in my life; it allows me to cross to the other side of campus with minimal student/car traffic. It’s the easiest way to get over to Hagadorn and then out to Lake Lansing. I run on Service Road 4 or 5 days a week. This afternoon I carefully planned out a route that would give me about 5 miles. The only condition was that I needed to end back at work so Jack could pick me up.

When I got outside, I realized that I was sick to death of Service Road and could not bring myself to turn in that direction. Instead, I headed down to Trowbridge and cut in to campus. I rarely just “cut in” to campus; I get this dreadful feeling that I’ll reach Grand River and only have gone a mile or something ridiculous like that. But then I realized how pretty it was out and how I could even ignore the stupid clouds. Those clouds—they’re out to get me. All the while that I’m at my desk, the sun is out, the sky is blue, everything’s wonderful. As soon as I leave to run, the clouds roll in. Bah.

This afternoon, to h with the clouds, I ran all through the center of campus. I stopped and climbed through a mini snowbank to touch the toe of the Sparty statue and swung by Beaumont Tower (no bells, but I like it anyway). It was nice to be near people. Does anyone else get the feeling that they’re running through the background of the movie that is someone else’s life? Personally, I think it would be awesome to be an extra in a movie. You know, the person drinking coffee while the main character waits for his drink order or something like that. Secretly, I like being an extra in the background of campus. I’m almost positive that people have filmed projects or things more than once as I’ve gone running by.

The 2 mile mark happened somewhere along Grand River, and I took Michigan Ave to the river trail. I haven’t been running on that trail all winter. I kind of burned myself out running on it from May to August, but today it was a nice change. As I went down the street toward Brody a runner swung out from campus and stayed in front of me. A minute later I passed a girl who’d been slightly ahead on the sidewalk. It was kind of cool to be running in kind of a row. At Harrison the person in front stopped—some younger guy, I think—and I caught up for a second. He also went on the river trail. The girl behind me didn’t last; when I got past Brody, she was walking again. I have no idea who the guy was, and we never ran together, but I saw his black shirt up ahead until I got back to Harrison. It was less lonely that way, you know what I mean?

My time today wasn’t remarkable in any way, but I felt like I was going faster. I enjoyed it a little more than usual. I’ll have to remind myself of this the next time I don’t feel like running: sometimes it’s totally cool to take a different and winding route and see where it goes.

[Via http://entryblank.wordpress.com]

The Daily Politics - NY Daily News

Run for the hills?

2010-01-11T09:50:00.000+02:00

Many non-affiliated runners this year may be considering joining one of the many local running clubs in order to gain valuable support and knowledge for races later in the year. So what can social and sports psychologists tell us about the benefits/costs of joining a running club (or any other sports club or group)?

One of the main areas of interest for both sport (Widmeyer et al., 1992) and social psychologists (Forsyth, 1999) is group/team dynamics and cohesion. Research has identified a number of important factors that can influence the level or type of cohesion (e.g. task or social) and its effect on performance. These include: group size, propinquity (physical proximity between members), joining costs, leadership style(s) of the group, in-group competition and group success and similarity (Bray and Whaley, 2001). However what it is still unclear from the research, is to what extent these determinants encourage cohesiveness or indeed inhibit group development and performance. For example, research by Janis (1982) found that group similarity had a negative effect on performance.

For those who are contemplating joining a running or sports club it may prove more beneficial to shop around by attending a few (normally free) taster sessions to gain an insight into the club/group structure and dynamics and how that may effect their future running performance.

Joining a running club

Group cohesiveness

Group structure

[Via http://socialpsychologyeye.wordpress.com]

New Government Study Has Good News, Bad News, for Senate Democrats ...

Kale Chips!

2010-01-11T03:53:00.000+02:00

Hey all you lovely people! Hope everyone had a great week-end! I’m sure glad it’s over, I’m pretty sure I’m the only one saying that right now but it’s now MY week-end! I’m really needing it! Works been a little nutty lately. Anyways Saturday night where I left off, I went to my momma’s for dinner with the fam. We do a family dinner every saturday, it’s really the only time we see each other during the week so it’s nice to all get together and eat some food! Sadly I forgot my stupid camera that was charging and couldn’t even take pictures (i’m a bad blogger!). My Mom made Salmon, rice, garlic bread, and corn, it was delish.

Before I went to my Mom’s I went for a 5k run, since I’m doing two 5k’s in the next 3 weeks I’m trying to work on my speed, I’ve never really been very fast so that’s one thing I’m really trying to work on, anyway i ran the 3.1 miles in 28:17 not bad.

After my green monster in a bowl yesterday I wasn’t hungry at all until dinner! It held me over forever!! I did have a few bites of this corn bread I couldn’t resist!

This morning I got to sleep in an hour later woo hoo! Sometimes one extra hour really helps! I woke up feeling parched so I drank some lemon water.

I also had Kashi H2H cereal with almond milk and an organic honey crisp apple with maranatha PB.

I need to switch up my breakfast more! I feel like I had this everyday this week!! It’s just so damn good..

After work I was starving to death and craving veggies hardcore. So I made a gigantic salad and I ate it like it was my last meal ever.

-Spinach

-Avocado

-Broccoli

-Cauliflower

-chickpeas

-Tbs Newman’s Own Light Honey Mustard Dressing

The only thing this salad was missing was my beloved carrots. My stupid fridge decided to freeze them, nothing else was frozen, just the carrots.

I snacked on some Trader Joe’s trail mix. I love the dried pineapple in this and i find myself digging for it so I get more in my handful..

Next up was dinner. I had some of the leftover chili with sweet potatos on the side.

There was a casualty when cutting the sweet potatos

This is my sad tired face..not to be confused with my normal face..

I also tried something that I’ve never tried before…kale chips! I keep hearing about how good they are so I decided tonight was THE night. I drizzled them with a tbs of EVOO and sprinkled some salt put them in the oven on 375 for 15 min and I burned them! It was sad, but I still ate them. They totally do taste like chips! They have a great crunch to them, I will be making more of these in the future!

After dinner I popped in this dvd with Valerie Bertenili for a good 45 min. strength session and here we are! My husband is watching Jurassic Park and I think I’m gonna go join him nothin’ like a good dino movie for the 90’s.

[Via http://theladylovestoeat.wordpress.com]

Special CES Giveaway: iLounge Limited Edition Cases + More ...

Groundhog Day...yippee!

2010-01-08T09:30:00.000+02:00

Here goes with my first blog/post/rant/comment J I hope that everyone is enjoying the Bryanston Bombers site that Iano has set up as much as I am.

Iano asked that I post some thoughts to the site, so here goes. I thought I would share with you a funny experience and insight during this first ‘real’ week of training for Comrades.

As you may know, in order to better juggle running schedules with my superathlete (Runners World’s version of a supermodel) wife, I started running on Wednesday evenings with a group of experienced Comrades runners (of mixed ability, but generally all Bill Rowan or much, much better). I ran with this group in the build up to Comrades 2009 and found it enormously helpful to my running, although did battle with a hard run on Wednesday night followed by a tempo session on Thursday morning! More on that in a later post (I really am starting to sound like a real ‘blogger’!)

I think that the most helpful aspect, other than of course the run itself, was the support that I received from the group. I don’t know these guys other than by first name and don’t see them apart from an hour or two each Wednesday, but the encouragement I took from their own and our shared experiences between Feb and May last year really helped me. (As an aside: the first time I ran with them I knew I was in deep pooh when one turned to another and said ‘I love these recovery sessions’. I nearly tripped over my tongue – we were running faster than my race pace and I was busting a gut hanging on to their shirt tails to keep up!)

Anyway, on arriving at RAC this Wednesday evening I entered the change room to get dressed for the run and found a couple of the regulars there already. We said hi, and laughed at the groans of ‘here we go again’ and ‘only 21 more of these runs to go’! Someone made a comment about how it was like the movie Groundhog Day, when the same thing keeps coming round again and again – there we were, gearing up for another Comrades training season, when it felt like just yesterday that I was cramping on the side of Fields swearing to never, ever lace up my Asics again!

But the point I really want to get to was that it was so exciting to be starting the journey again. Even though there were moans and groans, and even though it is indeed a massively daunting task to prepare for this race, doing it with a decent bunch of people who share your enthusiasm and excitement for the challenge is a fantastic privilege. I am as excited about all of their and your races in May as I am about my own, and the truth is that I had been looking forward to that first run all December!

When I consider that there were nearly 20 Bryanston Bombers at BMC on Tuesday this week, ready to do tempo at 5am when most people are still on the beach, in bed or partying from the night before, I realize that I am not the only one rearing to get started…again!

I love Groundhog Day…didn’t I tell you that yesterday?

Doug

[Via http://bryanstonbombers.wordpress.com]

Liberals See Problems With Some Elements Of Senate Health Bill ...

Climbing to new heights

2010-01-08T03:32:00.000+02:00

Ok, blatant title, but the McScoots had their first climbing experience yesterday….and I can barely type this post. Climb Nashville is literally blocks away in the Sylvan Park area, yet we’ve always found excuses not to go(okay, mainly Lucas found reasons not to go). Though nervous at first, we went out and gave it the ol’ college try and had a blast!

Clinging to a 5.7

Please stop trying to look like a murderer!

Our legs were already shot from Sam’s great trainer/roller workouts that morning, but we had made a commitment to Lucas’ former neighbor Stacey and her expert climbing beau to meet them at the gym after work. After signing in, we were ushered over to the ‘Bunny Rocks’ and given our belaying lessons and safety checks to make sure we didn’t do anything retarded. We survived with only minor injuries sustained: Lucas’ trying to repel with his face over a lip and serious harness-up-in-crotch burn(which could be solved with a little ‘buddy slack’ but I consistently forgot every time Lucas came down from a rock).

Lucas crying after his last climb

Just a recap to ensure I don’t forget everything we learned, especially after we anticipate on purchasing every piece of climbing equipment out there to feed our new addiction, here’s the beginner’s climbing lesson(assuming you are in a gym and not scaling an unprepared rock):

1. Once you put on the diaper device, double back all of your loops and tuck away excess. Make sure your harness is snug but not cutting off circulation or tearing into your choad.

2. Don’t pick your nose, always scratch your belly with your carabiner.

3. Do a buddy check and state”Buddy Check” while doing it so everyone who has any experience can know to watch out for you.

4. Climber states, “On Belay?”

5. Belayer states, “Belay on!”

6. Belayer then repeats the Meet up high, Pull, Meet down low techinue-all with dominate hand facing down on the rope beneath the carabiner.

7. Once Climber has ascended and is ready to come down, scream “Take!” *Climb with feet and barely grip rocks-very much like cycling.

8. Belayer says, “?”(I forgot but something along the lines of gotcha)

9. Climber places both hands on the rope and repels with your feet against the rocks(or in Lucas’ case, with your face if you’re that strong).

10. Belayer holds dominate hand away from body and allows rope to feed through.

11. And for Christ’s sake, cut some Buddy Slack!

Stacey and Josh-Instructors and Motivational Speakers

Next time, I’m gunning for that 5.8 again and maybe Lucas can finish that 5.7:) Definitely would like to do this again–but got to build mtb bikes first!

Stremph

Recounting the week in reverse, it’s been a whirlwind at work. Outdoor Retailer is now 2 weeks away and I’ve been a booking agent, planner, public relations coordinator, copywriter, sales and ISR leader, and designer. I’m freakin’ tired. Lucas’ has been equally as busy, having to walk home in the snow and ice to boot! I accidentally forgot I dropped him off this morning and worked really late. Ooops!! If you read this and see him, buy him a cookie and tell him it’s going to be ok.

Training wise, we’ve been riding and riding a lot; however, sometimes getting out of the house away from everything is a necessity retain the slightest bit of sanity after work. That’s why I desperately needed to go for a run–to run away from stress, life and laundry. Though in the teens, we dressed appropriately for our 1 hour adventure on Tuesday evening. And we even broke a sweat.

Click pic for route

Going back as far as Saturday, the McScoots partnered with the now Schmiller’s for some brews at Melrose Place and a little KY basketball. Jess just happens to be an avid KY fan…and a loud one.

The Schmillers

The McScoots

And yes, our unspoken yet abided by theme was indeed hats. Not wanted to discontinue the party, we headed back to our humble abode and played the game we saw on Inglorious Bastards the other night. It actually was a lot of fun. Rusty and MA came by to partake in the festivities. Oh, and Jess brought Docker too!

I'm not being American or overstating when I say this was the best dog ever.

Lucas either had a little too much fun or he was dancing to entirely too much earlier 2000s techno and rap because shortly after he went comatose.

Looking forward to the weekend, with free Yazoo Brewery Tours tomorrow. Would you believe it’s a work trip?? Can’t imbibe too terribly much as 6 am comes early. Working a tri-expo Saturday morning–which reminds me, I’ve got to pack up my car tomorrow before leaving work! Now, off to finish the rest of The Lost Symbol!

[Via http://rucasmcscoots.wordpress.com]

Cheney Family Values | NEWS JUNKIE POST

Financial Report: Rizal Day Run

2010-01-06T09:14:00.000+02:00

I started doing this accountability and transparency “thing” since the 1st MASTERS Run held last September 6, 2009. For being consistent in our race events, I am posting a financial report on the conduct of the Rizal Day Run last December 30, 2009. We gained more than One Thousand Pesos during our 1st MASTERS Run but it was fun seeing the support of our friends and participants. This was a running event where we “first” awarded the “Baldie” Medal to every finisher and a significant event to introduce cold beer and ice cream at the Finish Line.

The following is the financial report for the Rizal Day Run. A total of 372 runners registered for the run.

Collection From Registration Fees P 111,600.00 EXPENSES: Commemorative T-Shirts P 27,900.00 Race Bibs P4,500.00 Gatorade, Foods/Groceries P 3,700.00 Purchase of Additional Water P 1,000.00 Rentals For Tables P 500.00 Water Cups P 2,000.00 Bond Papers P 400.00 Brown Envelopes P 470.00 Wrist Bands P 1, 200.00 Certificates of Achievement P 1, 000.00 POL & Gasoline Expenses P 3, 000.00 Foods For Marshals P 1, 600.00 Tarpaulin/Banners P 1, 300.00 Garbage Bags P 600.00 Rent For PATAFA Race Clock P 7,000.00 Safety Pins P 300.00 Finisher’s Medals P 32, 100.00 Winners’ Medals P 1, 200.00 TOTAL EXPENSES P 89, 770.00 TOTAL GAINS FROM THE RACE P 21, 830.00

In this run, I did not pay for the permit to use the camp and the marshals were not given any fees since the gains for the said race will be used for the training of the members of the Elite Team Bald Runner. All the members of the Elite Team acted as Marshals; Pacers; and Aid Station personnel.

Once again, my sincerest thanks to Jonel & Team Hardcore/FrontRunner Magazine; HINGS Running Club; GHQ & HSC Command; Tintin F aka Timothy; Carrey-Isko-Eugene Group; Reinier Pacific; Takbo.ph; and to all the runners for their support to this run.

[Via http://baldrunner.com]

News Corp. Unloads Rotten Tomatoes Onto Flixster

Happy New Year!

2010-01-06T03:40:00.000+02:00

Well another year has come and gone. In many ways it was a great year both for my family and I. Things continue to move in a positive direction even during these tough economic times so we are counting our blessings, especially given how hard hit our home state has been. We are taking nothing for granted, that is for sure. Our holiday season was both festive and filled with good cheer, mainly because it was spent with family. My family has settled into some very fun traditions, while each year adding a few new things to liven things up. Santa even supported my cause by filling my stocking with lots of needed running items!

On to what brings us together, my quest to GetGoofy! Here is the latest information. I had gotten into the swing of things and was starting to make real progress on both my dedication to running as well as the number of miles I was running. Things were looking up when I am sure you can guess what happened next. Yep, I got a flu that kicked my butt harder than anything Patrick Swayze dished out in Roadhouse! (You will find that I love most things pop culture and I tend to go there for my analogies or examples.) Any way, down I went for a week, then it took me another week to get my strength back. By that time the holidays were in full force and my training schedule become a Ghost in my life. (Not sure why I am on Swayze movies tonight.) So, little or no training got accomplished in December.

For those of you playing along at home, I now have only one year to prepare myself to Get Goofy. It is really hitting home and my dedication this New Year has shown it. Maybe it was all the loot at Christmas, or the new whiz-bang toy I got (more on that in another post) but for the first time in quite a while, my passion to succeed is really kicking in. I have been waiting for this and it has finally arrived much to my surprise, as well as to my relief. I was beginning to wonder if I had lost my kahuna, and I was going to let my negative inner voices succeed.

So here is what is different. Even though it has been so cold outside, I have successfully begun running again. I am going to join a local gym later this week to begin building back the muscles to stabilize my knee. I have a clear purpose once again, and I am following through on the commitments to workout that I have made to myself. It is going to take a monster effort to Get Goofy, and for the first time since I have started writing this blog, I am fully committed to putting myself in position to run 13.1 miles one Saturday next January, followed up by 26.2 miles the next day.

I really believe that in each of there comes a “put up or shut up moment” in everything big that we attempt to do. It’s how you handle those moments that can define your entire life and how you (and others) see you. It’s funny, in talking with many of my friends about how see ourselves (my last blog) they also still see me as the distance runner that I once was, and not as the remnants of one that I let myself become. With each met commitment, with each mile run, I am making the reality begin to match this perception of who I am. You can do it too but it has to come from a place of passion (though anger works well too) so that it can drive you forward.

So to end things tonight, I hope that you will have a wonderful year this year. One filled with self-awareness, positive mojo and vibes, and of course drive and dedication that carries you to your 2010 goals! Whatever they may be, attack them hard and put yourself in position to succeed. Find how you want to GetGoofy and make it happen in 2010. I know I plan to!

Good night.

[Via http://getgoofy.wordpress.com]

NEWS FLASH: Rush Limbaugh Endorses Health Reform! - Swampland ...

...first 2010 morning run...

2010-01-04T09:05:00.000+02:00

the road least traversed

I woke up at 4 AM last Saturday. Initially, I planned to run on January 1st, to kicked off the start of the year. Unfortunately, the weather that time did not cooperate. It rained the whole day and I did not want the risk of catching a cold. I told my sister ( who’s been my companion during my runs) that if it will not rain the next day, we’ll head out. True enough, there was no rain although the pavement was still wet from the previous day’s downpour.

Goosebumps appeared all over my body while I took a shower. The water was freaking cold, especially at dawn. Funny though, I’ve grown to like it already. I was done in a jiffy.

I forgot to measure the exact distance of this loop. Anyway, I tried to run ( or to put it more correctly, run in part) longer than the 5K distance. I was able to logged 3.27 miles. After almost an hour, I had to cut short my run because it started raining again. And headed home.

my reward

I have mentioned in my earlier post my penchant for watching the sky change colors when the sun is about to go up. This may sound like an overused cliché, but nothing work wonders for me after every run( of course, don’t forget water ), and that is to watch the sky, hinting the start of a new day.

Wobble on Panda.

[Via http://livelife21.wordpress.com]

Dallas Cowboys Blog | Sports News | News for Dallas, Texas ...

Update on my ultra aspirations...

2010-01-04T03:48:00.000+02:00

The past couple of months haven’t gone according to plan. I expected my Achilles/calf muscle problem to go away with rest and some light daily stretching – but such is not the case. I’ve started running again in moderation, but I’m still having the same problem with soreness in those areas.

I did see an orthopedist recently and had an Xray, but unfortunately it showed nothing out of the ordinary with my foot & lower leg bone structure. The doctor suggested that my calf muscle pain could be compartment syndrom but since my Achilles is also sore I’m unconvinced. Since I’m not really interested in any kind of “exploratory” surgical remedy – I’ve chosen to keep with the status quo (stretching) while adding some miles to my base to see if it gets better or worse.

Given my lack of training, I’m doubtful of being ready to run a 50k by Feb 20 (bummer), but I’m going to try and ramp my miles up some anyway.

[Via http://bunchgrasser.wordpress.com]

Stabroek News - The poetry of war

Happy New Year (and Pre-Training Day 26)

2010-01-01T09:21:00.000+02:00

Happy New Year everybody.

I managed to do the full set of intervals this morning. Since I was sticking to a fixed beat to run to, I discovered if I shorten my stride it naturally slows me down whilst still keeping the same cadence (duh!). Which meant I was able to take it slower and not just explode half way through, like on wednesday. The workout was good, but I really felt the impact in my joints again, I really do need to lose a lot more weight before it will be comfortable for me to run long periods, I think. I still have a few weeks before I am running for more than a few minutes at a time though, so I should hopefully be way down the 19’s by then.

Yesterday was a rest day, just did a bit of stretching and then walked into town, it was nice to do something whilst I am not at work, I had kind of been missing my walks to and from work.

[Via http://22stonerunner.wordpress.com]

Barack Obama gets an 'F' for protecting Americans – Telegraph Blogs

Getting back to it

2010-01-01T03:35:00.000+02:00

The stats: 10K (6.25 miles) in 39 minutes

The story: I really did not want to run today, but my next race (Pemberton Trail 50K) is in 6 weeks. I have now had 2 extended breaks in an effort to heal my hamstring. I set today as the start of my training. I decided on a 10K. Things went well. I kept a nice steady pace with no fade. Next run will be a 10 miler, then I may hit the Pemberton Trail for a single loop (15.5 miles) on Sunday or Monday.

[Via http://runtodeath.wordpress.com]

The Jets Stream - NY Daily News

2009 Chairman's Report

2009-12-30T09:50:00.000+02:00

It is pleasing to note that the work carried out in the last 18 months or so to enable the Club to become more energy efficient has had a positive effect in that we have stabilised our costs that, in turn, has helped our overall financial position and we have recorded a reasonable profit on our accounts this year which, given the difficult financial climate, must be seen as a very positive result. On your behalf the management committee strive to reduce our overheads and we have introduced some minor changes to cleaning and bar arrangements during the quieter winter period that will help our financial stability.

Generally, it has been a good year on the sporting front for the Club and membership levels remain healthy in all sections. In particular, I would like to highlight the excellent work undertaken by the squash section in bringing the first ever national Squash Masters tournament to the club which was a resounding success and thanks go to Keith Gristwood for his excellent work in organising such a prestigious event. The cricket section have also had further acknowledgement for the condition of the ground which has been in pristine condition throughout the year – well done to all concerned.

Members can be rest assured that the management committee will continue to work tirelessly on their behalf to ensure that facilities remain of a high standard and continue to be at a reasonable cost. My thanks go again to all members of the management committee who, without their help, the club could not function as effectively and efficiently as it presently does.

John Glendinning

Chairman

[Via http://dumfriessportsclub.co.uk]

Nvidia delays Fermi to March 2010; AMD to launch new GPU in ...

this week is casual week

2009-12-30T03:33:00.000+02:00

Where I work, there’s a sort of informal agreement that Friday is casual day. The rules aren’t particularly strong. If you turned up looking like this, you might be looked at strangely, but that’s about it.

On non-casual days I wear what amounts to a uniform – black shoes, black “work” pants and a business shirt. I wear the suit jacket only when I have a big meeting, and a tie only for job interviews.

On casual days I just swap the shoes for sneakers, work pants for jeans and the business shirt for a t-shirt. Everyone’s happy.

This week, otherwise known as Out-of-office Email Week, I’ve decided it’s going to be casual Friday every day. Also, seeing as it’s a bit hot outside, I’m wearing shorts. Shorts!

The world hasn’t come to an end. There have been no complaints, even from impressionable women, forced to share the lift with my unsightly, hairy, stubby calfs.

Perhaps this is my resolution for 2010: a casual year. Sounds good.

Running

A reasonable run this morning, before it got too hot. Reasonable, not good, but that’s a lot better than most of my recent runs. It was 13km from the city, up towards Brunswick and back via Royal Park. I was pretty sweaty there by the end, but in a good way. Here it is on mapmyrun.com.

Incidentally, AJH – you’ll see by that map where my work is (at the start and end of the run). Just opposite there in Lonsdale Street is that woman I was telling you about yesterday.

[Via http://jruns.wordpress.com]

News Ticker: John Mellencamp, Gene Simmons, Pussycat Dolls ...

Do you dreams become more strange when you are ill??

2009-12-28T09:24:00.000+02:00

After an 11 hour sleep due to an incoming cold and a raging hangover I have had so many dreams last night, more so that I am actually more tired than I should be. I always think that if your ill or hung over you have far more dreams thank usual with some really weird content included. They say dreams are a part of you subconscious which works away through the day and picks up on things you may have seen or thought about without you realising you have done so. Sometimes I know this is true (for example, when watching a scary movie you see that exact same monster in your dream) but then I wonder “why the hell was I thinking about that/them”! It started like this….

Main points of last nights Dream(s)

Running. Lots.
Pregnancy
My Interview with ITV
WH Smiths in Charles Street
Man in Black Car
Same Man in Changing Room
My Car by Kebab House

Explanation of Points

Running in my dream was immense. I have no idea why it was that bad, but it kept me awake most of the night. It was like the video game Worms. There were different levels and I kept running back and forth all the time delivering certain things. It was absolutely exhausting and lasted about 6 hours up until 4am this morning. I thought I was going mad and I nearly got up as it was really frustrating having the same motions going through my head. I lay in bed and thought to myself “please relax and have a nice dream” which then led to the pregnancy.

The pregnancy and I can only assume is an attribute of my longing for a child of my own one day and also because I watched Dangerous Liaisons yesterday and Uma Thurman gets pregnant by John Malkovich (errghh). My dream was almost in the same periodical setting and I think (but am not sure) that I lost it. There was a hazy part of the dream where somebody pushed me over onto the floor and then I switched to my next dream.

I was in the ITV Studio and someone pushed a microphone into my hand and said you need to be a Reporter! I started panicking because the teleprompter in front of me was too small and I couldn’t read the writing so I had to go down a flight os stairs and get closer to it. The room was all pine and it had deep red sofas which were uncomfortable to sit on. The teleprompter became a TV and it had an old-fashioned aerial on top and an alarm clock that didn’t work. I did my piece and then ran away only to be told that I had to do another bit and that I didn’t get the job! VERY very weird. I am not the most confident of people when it comes to speaking in front of others and this most likely proves it when I was panicking in my dream. I went with my tail between my legs and went back to my day job which was disappointing.

WH Smiths (a book store) was opening in Charles Street (a very dilapidated shopping area in Milford Haven) and for some reason I was waiting there for a man who I had met who was driving a black Golf. The man was good-looking and had some sort of resemblance to someone who I like! He said to me to wait in the shop and he would come back. I waited there for 3 hours but no sign of him! When I went outside it became a changing room in a High School and he came up behind me and pushed me into a cubicle (all romantic like!) and then a Teacher came round the corner and he freaked out so ran away! This then led to me going down the road and spotting my car parked next to the Kebab House. It was in all its resplendent colour of bright orange and some lads I know were with me and they commented on it saying how nice the car was. They helped me with some shopping (no idea where it came from) then I turned around and spotted myself in a group of singers dressed in black training with a Teacher!

It then ended with getting in a bus and the man was in there but he had become fat and ugly and totally unattractive.

Then I woke up.

[Via http://nottiesdreams.wordpress.com]

Dave Barry's Blog: HOLIDAY NEWS ROUNDUP

The Police might not be your Friends

2009-12-28T03:41:00.000+02:00

Yesterday’s post about being shot at when running kind of sank into my head today as I went on my scheduled 12 mile run…which I stretched into 13.1.

It was a beautiful day for a Half Marathon…50 degrees and sunny.

As a follow-up, a reporter for the local paper called my cell phone today asking about the incident.

She wouldn’t tell me how she obtained my phone number, but I did give it to the patrol office after I reported the shooting. It is NOT published anywhere.

She asked questions like she really knew what happened. And her information was accurate…even my cell phone number.

There is no doubt in my mind that she obtained my cell phone number from the police department and that is really SHITTY.

If the police want people to report things that they witness and be helpful members of society, then why would they do this to someone helpful?

I lied to her and told her I didn’t know what she was talking about…that she should check her source a little better. She had MY name right (I answer my work phone with my name and it was going to be hard to deny) but must have been mistaken on the facts. I let her know that we had a window shot out about a year ago, but that was our only gun incident in the neighborhood.

She asked for details about that and I declined.

I do not feel bad at all about lying to her. I didn’t want my name associated with any story or possible conviction. There are no charges for shooting at me…it really can’t be proven. But the discharging a firearm (shell casings outside) in public and the possession of the unregistered weapons are charges enough for me.

[Via http://morethananelectrician.wordpress.com]

Breaking News – « Lolcats 'n' Funny Pictures of Cats – I Can Has ...

Smoked out

2009-12-25T21:47:00.000+02:00

Despite running today, I wasn’t going to blog. That’s changed due to the fire deciding to belch smoke into the sitting room instead of up the flue.

Guess i’ll be visiting the chimney pot stockist for a plain flue pretty shortly to see if that sorts things.

Until then, I can report my 2.6 mile loop around the lane, across the field and past Tesco does just the job a brief outing on Christmas afternoon should.

Ok then, back to smoke…

Hope everyone’s enjoyed the day. New year will be along soon.

[Via http://iliketocount.wordpress.com]

AMERICAblog News: Yawn...another investigation into Wall Street ...

Learning to be a loser to win.

2009-12-23T08:55:00.000+02:00

>> December 21 Project. What did you start this year that you’re proud of?

I always seem to be wanting to do something. I set goals or landmarks for myself – auditions, achievements – and I go for them. The length of time I go for them is debatable as when it comes to personal projects my follow-through leaves something to be desired, but I always make a valiant effort at least at first.

My Best Project of 2009 is something that I went after and got.

I’ve been a runner since I was in single-digits and running has always been a love-hate activity for me. I love winning, I hate losing. I used to hate losing more than I liked winning. Hated losing so much that even though I served for two years as the captain of both the Track and Cross Country teams for my school and continued my career into college, I never quite learned how to take a loss for what it was – a mere hiccup, part of a bigger picture.

A lot of this stems from my complete inability to properly internalize failure, but losing is hard for me. I don’t scream or cry in public (because the last thing I want to do is draw attention to the disappointment) but I re-hash and dwell and list what I could have done differently.

This year, after being less than satisfied with my career and personal trajectory, I committed myself to competing again. This, I knew, could have backfired in a few ways:

> If I couldn’t get back to a point where I could even be competitive, I would be disappointed.

> If I entered a race and lost miserably, there was no guarantee that I would keep going.

> With nothing really on the line but my own knowledge of my achievement (no state championships, no name in the newspaper) would I be able to really push myself the way I needed to?

NOTE: I know these aren’t healthy approaches to competition. I know. But like I said, I like winning.

So I signed up for a few 5Ks and watched something weird happened.

I ran. Like, ran in a way that I hadn’t since I was 17. It made me happy even when it hurt. I felt weird if I missed a day. I inadvertently woke something up in me that I lost my sophomore year of college. And it was good.

My project had great side effects: I lost weight, felt better, focused more and collected a few 1st place in my age groups (and a few 2nd and 3rd, which became OK) along the way.

Unlike many other projects that I’ve started in the past and let go of just before I’d be tested (to avoid the possible failure), my commitment to being a “runner” again went…swimmingly.

It wasn’t a professional project or one that changed my life dramatically, but it taught me a lesson in winning and not winning. Not losing, just not winning.

[Via http://soflobojo.wordpress.com]

News Ticker: Lady Gaga, Johnny Cash, Frankie Muniz, Pete Doherty ...

My Brain is HUNGRY!

2009-12-23T03:31:00.000+02:00

Nothing makes you thankful for an early morning run like getting stuck in the office 4 hours later than you expected. Tough Chic invited me to a 4 mile quikie run this morning and I am soooo glad I joined her. This was our last run together until 2011. I’m sure we’ll figure out some way to run together virtually. I wonder if the Y has wireless access. We’re both new bloggers so that will give us an extra way to keep in touch while she’s living abroad.

The title of this post is referring to the incredible hunger I am experiencing tonight. I think the 13 hour workday has caused my brain to burn an extrodinary number of calories and thus I am home at 10pm and ready to eat a Five Guys burger! (the small not the two patty variety) Leftover sausage balls will have to sufice. Christmas sausage balls made an appearance today! We had “goodie day” at work today and Hubby was nice enough to whip up some Christmas sausage balls. He changed the song though, only 1.5 cups of bisquik now.

The run went really well this morning. I forgot to start my Garmin, again, so I don’t have HR data or anything like that. Its better that way. It allowed me to focus on a great run with my buddy. You will truly be missed Tough Chic.

[Via http://parismountainstriding.com]

15 Painfully Annoying News Personalities

21 December 09

2009-12-21T21:49:00.000+02:00

Workout notes 2200 yard swim; 500 of back/free, 500 of side/free, 500 of drill/swim (fins). Then I tried some 100s on the 2: 4 in 1:39, last in 1:42. I just “didn’t have it”. Then 200 cool down.

Next, weights (no squats; still sore); dumbbells: curls: 2 x 10 with 25, military 10 with 35, 8 with 40, bench press: 10 with 50, 8 with 55. Then lat pulls (2 sets), pull ups (5 reps, two sets).

Then 12 minutes running on the treadmill (1.2 miles), 12 minutes AMT (1 mile), 10 minutes elliptical (1.15), 10 minutes stairmaster (1.05).

I also did some light stretching and yoga.

I can’t make too many excuses as Sunday’s swim was faster; the weights went ok though, as did the run. My blood volume is still down from the donation; I can tell because my hands get cold easily.

Injury wise: I was stiff after the run section but the AMT loosened it up.

Other Stuff

Those who know me and have known me probably remember this:

(background: go here)

Well, the person behind this didn’t bother me further but ran into trouble with the law. First, he was taken to Chicago to face federal charges (for intimidation of a juror in the Matthew Hale case); those charges were eventually dropped. He then was taken to Roanoke, Virgina to face other charges.

You can read the whole series of articles here. None of this involved me.

Well, this time a jury found him guilty of 4 of seven counts:

Done in by his own words, Internet hatemonger William A. White was convicted Friday of threatening people from Virginia Beach to Canada.

The verdict, however, was not a total repudiation of White’s assertion that the First Amendment should protect his incendiary speech. Of seven counts against White, the federal jury acquitted him of three.

White, who will be sentenced later, could face up to 35 years in prison. [...]

From the defendant’s e-mails, letters, telephone calls and online postings, the jury heard time and time again the graphic and racist rhetoric that spewed from the 32-year-old’s home computer and cellphone.

Dressed in the same black, three-piece suit that he had worn throughout the trial, White showed no emotion as the verdicts were read.

At least for now, the convictions will silence a man called “possibly the loudest and most obnoxious neo-Nazi leader in America ” by the Southern Poverty Law Center, which monitors hate groups.

They also were met with “a sigh of relief” from a community that has been dealing with White’s campaign of harassment since 2004, said Brenda Hale, president of Roanoke’s NAACP chapter.

“At last, justice has been served,” said Hale, whom White once referred to as a “n—-r in need of lynching.”

In closing arguments to the jury, Justice Department attorney John Richmond spent more than an hour recounting the personal attacks and death wishes that White leveled against a bank employee from Missouri, a nationally syndicated columnist from Maryland, a university administrator from Delaware, a small-town mayor from New Jersey, a human rights lawyer from Canada and two tenants of an apartment complex in Virginia Beach.

“Defendant White does not get the last word,” Richmond told the jury. You all do. And the last word is guilty.”

However, White was found not guilty of making threats against Leonard Pitts, a Pulitzer Prize-winning columnist for the Miami Herald, and Charles Tyson, the former mayor of South Harrison township in New Jersey. [...]

The third count that White was acquitted of was a charge of threatening a bank employee with the intent to extort. While the jury convicted White of threatening Citibank employee Jennifer Petsche, it found the evidence lacking on a second charge alleging he did so to resolve a dispute with the bank over his credit card account.

During the eight-day trial in U.S. District Court in Roanoke, the jury heard testimony about six incidents that fit the following pattern: White would learn of a controversy that involved race in the news, look up the telephone numbers and addresses of the people involved, and then send them e-mails with hateful commentary calling for their demise in one way or another.

He often followed up by posting the information on overthrow.com, a Web site with a following of like-minded racists.

For example, when White became enraged about a diversity awareness program at the University of Delaware, he called the office of an administrator and identified himself as the commander of the American National Socialist Workers Party. He them told the assistant who answered the phone that anyone who thinks the way Kathleen Kerr did should be shot, and that he would hunt her down.

And when black residents of a Virginia Beach apartment complex filed a housing discrimination lawsuit against their white landlord, White waded into the dispute with a letter to the residents addressed to “Whiny Section 8 n—-rs.”

“You may get one over on your landlord this time, and you may not,” he wrote. “But know that the white community has noticed you, and we know that you are and never will be anything other than a dirty parasite — and that our patience with you and the government that coddles you runs thin.”

One resident of the apartment complex testified that White’s comments frightened her so badly that she packed her belongings in 15 minutes and fled her home.

Interestingly enough, it appeared to me that the jury took into account the reaction of the victims more than what the defendant actually did; that is why the conviction on the apartment complex issue surprised me a bit.

Bottom line: there is a line between making threats and free speech. What the defendant did to me (passing out flyers) was clearly free speech; after all, I do much the same thing when I work on a political campaign (though I hope that what I pass out isn’t full of lies and falsehoods, as this flyer was.)

In case you are wondering what the line is, here is the set of instructions from the judge to the jury:

Jury instructions for true threat definition:

For you to find the defendant guilty of each count, you must find that the communication issued in that count contains true threat. The First Amendment does not protect true threat. Whether a communication in fact contains a true threat, is determined in accordance with the interpretation of a reasonable recipient familiar with the context of the communication.

The government does not have to prove that the defendant subjectively intended for the recipients to understand the communication as a threat. The speaker need not have intended to carry out the threat or have the ability to carry out the threat. The government does not have to prove that the person who received the threat was actually placed in fear of harm.

On the other hand, a statement does not become a true threat simply because it instills fear in the listener. You may, however, consider the reaction of any recipient in determining whether a reasonable person would consider the message a true threat. A true threat is a serious expression of an intent to injure the person of another or to commit an act of unlawful violence against a particular individual or a group. A true threat is a serious threat as opposed to mere idle or careless talk, exaggeration or something said in a joking matter.

A true threat is more than mere political hyperbole or vehement caustic and unpleasantly sharp political attacks or crude offensive and abusive methods of stating political opposition. Identifying and providing personal information on a Web site standing alone, while it may be offensive or disturbing to those listed, is protected by the First Amendment. The mere advocacy of the use of force or violence does not remove speech from the protection of the First Amendment. To be a true threat the communication does not need to be directed at inciting or producing imminent lawless action.

You may find that a particular statement is a true threat if you find that the statement was made under such circumstances that an ordinary reasonable person who was familiar with the context of the communication would interpret it as an expression of an intent to injure the recipient or injure another person.

[Via http://blueollie.wordpress.com]

News from around the state « New Mexico Independent

How your exercise program may be slowly killing you

2009-12-21T03:48:00.000+02:00

Why focusing on your spare tire can be detrimental to your health

Subcutaneous fat. See it. Feel it.

For most of us, carrying around a little extra padding or blubber is an ongoing struggle. We run, we walk, we lift, we swim. We do a number of things to try and reduce the spare tire around our midsection or the extra padding on our legs, hips, and arms. And while we all want that slim, sleek, sexy rockstar body, our focus on looking good may just kill us.

Not all body fat was created equal

There are essentially two types of body fat: subcutaneous and visceral. Subcutaneous fat is the stuff that we see and feel right below our skin. It’s the fat that trainers and fitness specialists measure with calipers. It’s the easiest fat to lose. And it’s the least harmful type of fat on our body.

Visceral fat: the hidden assassin

Visceral fat, on the other hand, is the fat that gathers around the internal organs like the liver in the adominal cavity and is much more perilous to our health. This deep belly fat contributes heavily to elevated triglycerides (blood fat) levels, insulin resistance (causing Type II Diabetes) caused by continuous metabolizing of fatty acids by the liver, glucose intolerance and hypertension. Left untreated or to continue to accumulate, the results are much more dire: heart disease, stroke, depression, and even cancer. Starting to get the picture?

As scary as the health implications are of carrying around too much visceral fat, more frightening still is how little we as a society know about this stuff. To most of us, body fat is body fat and we slave away in the gym trying to burn fat just so we can look better. But our misplaced focus and ignorance could cost us our lives in the long run.

Visceral fat accumulates under the radar

When we gain weight in the form of fat, the easiest to detect is added subcutaneous fatty deposits. This fat is generally what makes us jiggle when we walk, wiggle when we wave, or bounce when we run. We can see it and we can feel it, so we know it’s there.

Insulin resistance leads to Diabetes

What we don’t see, however, are the layers upon layers of visceral fatty deposits developing deep inside us. Visceral fat creeps between vital organs, secreting harmful hormones and enzymes that circulate through the bloodstream, contributing to a constant state of bodily inflammation. Realistically, visceral fat levels can only be accurately measured via CT scans, but that doesn’t mean we can’t focus on losing it even if we can’t see it.

It won’t come as a shock to anyone to find out that the key factors in excess visceral fat are poor diet, a sedentary lifestyle, smoking or other tobacco use. But changing your diet alone won’t reverse the amounts or effects of visceral fat. In fact—and here’s another revelation—diet combined with intense exercise seems to be the appropriate course of action to shed visceral fat. Researchers at Duke University found that exercise alone could actually have a substantial impact on the levels of visceral fat we store, with a test group of highly active individuals shedding 7% of both visceral fat and subcutaneous fat over the course of six months.

High intensity is still the way to go

It’s amazing, with all this information available, that people still go to the gym, run on a treadmill for 30 minutes at 4-5 mph and call it “working out.” Fitness professionals of all stripes—even if they’ve been recommending it for the wrong reasons—have been harping for eons on varying workout routines, adding resistance training, and creating extra work for your body to cause it to burn fat. Now they’re recommendations are validated.

High intensity workouts like kettlebells are most effective

To accomplish this, I’ve turned to kettlebell training since it accomplishes so many objectives in such a short amount of time. If high intensity aerobic exercise is the key to mobilizing visceral fat (it’s highly vascular given it’s proximity to large vascular organs), then I’ve yet to find any exercise that gets my heart racing and my breathing kicked into higher gear than interval training with kettlebells. And if burning subcutaneous fat is accomplished mainly by building fat-burning lean muscle, then the muscle-searing, hypertrophy-inducing kettlebell workouts are the perfect remedy for me.

Intense running can work too. Just DO SOMETHING

Get off your ass, save your life

Maybe kettlebell training isn’t your thing. Maybe big-time old-fashioned weight lifting isn’t either. That’s okay because the most important thing here is that you do something. Walking briskly six times a week, interval running (30 second sprints with 2 minute jogging), even an aerobic step class—as emasculating as it is—can get you jump started on ridding yourself of an invisible killer. None of these exercises will necessarily get you that lean, long, rock hard superhero body, but it may just save your life.

[Via http://fromfatness2fitness.wordpress.com]

News Round-Up: The Tools of Ignorance - Pinstripe Alley

the tuesday update on a friday

2009-12-18T09:26:00.000+02:00

Humble apologies avid readers, I’ve been terribly slack in my blog updating but let me make up for that now.

On Tuesday I had a novel experience, I went out running with another person! A guy from work offered to accompany me on my saunter down to the Aberdeen beach. It was good, the chatting made the time pass so much quicker. The pace was decent and the wind wasn’t too crazy so all in all an enjoyable little run. He’s done the Great North Run a few times and if need be can run at a faster pace so I might have to push myself a little more towards May.

Of course I have no music related news to tell you about, sorry about that I’m sure you’re bitterly disappointed.

Its been a busy old week with exercise, on Wednesday I played squash for the first time in about 6 months, got beat 3 times but it was a very good workout and made a pleasant change from pounding the pavements.

Last night was a belter of a night at the 5 aside football. Snow had hit Glenrothes meaning only 6 of us hardy souls braved the weather. 3 aside on a snowy pitch, with more snow falling down is not a pleasant playing experience. On the plus side we did play with a yellow ball!

[Via http://thehooley.wordpress.com]

New Pirates OTC kits for LittleBigPlanet News | PS3 | Eurogamer

Answered – The Final Round

2009-12-18T03:22:00.000+02:00

Omygaaahhhh!!!! The weekend is almost here!! Hell has frozen over, pigs are taking over the skies, because I have a weekend off. I predict it will be amazing

But enough about the future, let’s live in the past for a little bit. I couldn’t decide between waffles, pancakes or french toast for breakfast – so I combined two of them.

French toast waffles. I defrosted a couple Nature’s Path pomegranate plus waffles in the microwave and dredged them in egg whites. Dipped in a maple syrup/almond butter mix. Did you know Thursday was National Maple Syrup Day? I didn’t! But I’m Canadian, I have it every day anyways

Long after breakfast was digested, I braved the –28 C (-18 F) windchill to run at the gym. I don’t know what I was thinking when I said I wanted to run outside this winter. I want my runs to be fun, not spent getting frostbite or falling on the ice.

Skipped my usual 5-mile speed run for a 5-mile tempo run. Basically, I slowly increased my speed as time went on, then brought it down slightly. I find running fast on a treadmill is easier than trying to jog on it!

I waited too long after breakfast to go to the gym though, I was staaaarving before I even finished stretching! Came home and whipped up a fast one.

Turkey and hummus pita. Surprisingly, the best part of this pita were the pickles on it. I swear I’m not pregnant, but I’ve been loving the pickles lately.

Worked 2-10pm again today. Hit up Subway again for a veggie sub.

Doctored up with my own mini-can of tomato & onion tuna. The people at Subway thought I was a weirdo for sure after ordering a dry veggie sub. They asked me if I wanted cheese three times.

Noooow it’s time for the fourth and final round of Q&As!

Hallie, Said:

Oh another question, do you ever feel pressure to blog on a certain schedule or about certain things? What do the people in your “real life” think about your blog, given that you talk about some pretty personal stuff on it.

First, I never feel pressure to blog about certain things. One of the reasons why I love blogging so much is that I make it what I want it to be. Some days I have tons of food photos I want to share, but not much content. Other days I have boring food, but some words I just need to get off my chest!! Although, there are days when I have absolutely nothing. That’s usually when I’ll provide links to more interesting articles or posts

As for my posting schedule, I do sometimes feel a slight pressure to post every evening. What I’ve started doing is writing up posts when I get the chance during the day (like right now!), then just publishing before I go to bed at night. Some days I just can’t get anything out, and I won’t publish at all. I like having regularity to my blog though, and I miss it when I skip a post!

So far the feedback from my family and friends has been positive about the blog. I think it’s allowed them to learn a lot more about me, and perhaps even strengthened our relationships because of it. I try not to publish anything personal relating to other people. So while my life may be an open book, if it involves someone else, it’s a no-go zone.

holly Said:

besides journalism and fitness, what career path would you like to pursue?

I still want to open my own cafe someday! But that’s a long way down the road. You need money to open a store, and that’s not something I’m going to have for a very loooong time Nor am I stable at the moment, I’ll likely be moving at least a couple times over the next several years. The cafe will have to be something I do when I’m finally settled a few decades from now

Nowadays though, I’m trying not to think too much about the future. Mostly because the idea of choosing a career path scares the crap out of me. I’m just trying to do what makes sense and makes me happy in the moment (and, ahem, pays the bills).

Bekah Said:

My question- from a fellow embarrassed muncher to another: When you munch, what are your munch foods?

Anything small and in a box Cereal, chocolate chips, raisins, dates, crackers, nuts. I actually munched my way through a whole box of Kashi Cinnamon Harvest! I do most of my munching when I go out the door to work out. Usually because I go into a workout with a semi-empty tummy and my mouth doesn’t want to wait till after a workout to have a meal! Or when I first come in the door hungry. I’m pretty bad for munching while I prepare dinner. At the same time though, having a few chocolate chips here and there keep me from having crazy chocolate cravings. So while munching isn’t always the greatest, there are worse things

fightingwithfood Said:

Here’s my question for you – If you could, with no consequences, throw the “Great Balancing Act” out of the window for 24 hours, what would you eat and do?

I believe this is called “New Year’s Eve” Seriously, that is one of the few days a year where I throw it all out the window. Fortunately, the blog was created just days after New Years last year, so there is no blog evidence of the damage that was done There was a lot of whiskey consumed (the only liquor I really drink). Multiple chicken wings, chips, cookies, mozza sticks, etc. And there may have been some drunken dancing to old Rancid songs in a stranger’s living room.

So to answer your question, I would drink and eat with abandon and have a blast

ellie Said:

How are you liking your coworkers? Overall…the job? Good/bad? Ugly?

I hate to say this, but being back at Starbucks has made me realize just how much my old job was slowly killing me on the inside. Everything just feels so easy at the cafe. People will sometimes complain about having to do the smallest tasks, while all I can think about was the time I had to be the first to report three teenagers drowned in the river. That, was hard. Having to wipe out the milk fridge is a cake walk compared to that.

The only thing that I’m kinda “meh” about is the drama that always comes with service based jobs. I am a no-drama zone. And already my coworkers are trying to pull me in! I’m just not taking any of it seriously, and I’m not sweating the small stuff

That was fun!!! I’ll have to remember to do these more often. As always, you know you can ask me anything at any time. Be it a comment or e-mail. I always try to be active and prompt in responding to comments and e-mails. One of the best things about blogging is that I get to communicate with so many wonderful people out there

And with that, I’m hitting the hay! Just closed the cafe, only to open it in 8.5 hours time. I’m thinkin’ an extra shot of espresso may be needed in the morn’. Night night!!

Question of the day: If you could, what career path besides your current one would you want to pursue?

[Via http://thegreatbalancingact.com]

Sony, News Corp. Collaborate on Exclusive E-Reader Content | Peter ...

Hydrapak Gel-Bot

2009-12-16T15:29:00.000+02:00

If you’re a long distance runner, you’re probably familiar with energy gels. If not, energy gels deliver simple and complex carbohydrates to runners in an efficient, easy to use way. When I run long distances, I use energy gels as quick fuel to ward off fatigue and replenish some nutrients. The Hyropak Gel-Bot combines a water bottle with a gel dispenser, so that runners can get the water, and fuel, that they need from a single bottle.

From the Gel-Bot website:

No more sticky fingers. No more wrestling with foil packs. Gel-Bot delivers your two performance essentials in one easy-access bottle. Load the chamber with energy gel, fill the bottle with water. Gel-Bot’s patent-pending technology lets you fuel or hydrate without slowing down.

The Gel-Bot holds 24fl. oz. of liquid and 3.2 oz. of gel.

Hydropak originally made the Gel-Bot for cyclists, and due to its popularity, now also produce a bottle specifically for runners (pictured here) that comes with a hand strap.

The Gel-Bot could be a great Holiday gift for any endurance athletes that you know.

Gel-Bot Run | $19.99

[Via http://doublelifegear.wordpress.com]

News from around the state: Bummer edition « New Mexico Independent

December 15th - Keeping the Momentum

2009-12-16T03:43:00.000+02:00

I am really excited about this week. I went to bed early last night and woke up this morning feeling great. I had an awesome breakfast. I made some really tasty pita bread last night and had some with honey for breakfast, yum. I had a great day at work, no particular reason I just really like my job and had a great day. After work I headed to the gym and had a great time there as well. I set out with the same mile and a half goal as yesterday and attained it just as easily as yesterday. I am going to start gradually increasing my mileage every day until I get back to three miles a day.

[Via http://runningfromaddiction.com]

Good News/Bad News/Good News For Disenfranchised Dealers - The Car ...

Movie Mania Continues

2009-12-14T15:33:00.000+02:00

Weekend Recap

Saturday: Cold Weather Weekend Warrior

Sunday: Not Such a Warrior

Happy Monday. I can’t believe it’s here already. My weekend didn’t fly by as fast as usual, but they are always too short to begin with anyway. I can’t believe it’s already mid-December!

As I mentioned, on Sunday morning I was supposed to go for a fun run with some local bloggers, but I wasn’t feeling great and didn’t want to chance making it worse. So I went back to bed and slept until about 9:30. Then I got up and had a breakfast of oatmeal with apples, pumpkin butter and cinnamon with a side of orange juice and cold medicine. Lovely.

After breakfast I popped out to the store and picked up some ingredients to make sugar cookies. I’ll be bringing these to our holiday potluck on the 21st, but I wanted to make them now and freeze them until the night before. I used my mom’s recipe:

Sugar Cookies

1/2 cup butter (softened)

1/4 cup Crisco – regular or butter flavor (softened)

1 cup sugar

1 tsp. vanilla

2 eggs

2 1/2 cups flour

1 tsp. baking powder

1/2 tsp. salt

Mix together Crisco, butter, sugar and vanilla. Add egg, beat till light and fluffy. Add dry ingredients and blend into creamed mixture. Divide dough in half, wrap in glad wrap and chill for 1 hour.

On lightly floured surface, roll to 1/8 inch thickness, cut in desired shapes and bake on cookie sheet at 375 for approx. 6 to 8 minutes. Cool slightly and remove. Cool completely before frosting.

For frosting the cookies: confectioners sugar, a pinch of salt and milk.

I was so busy baking that I didn’t really stop for lunch. So when the baking was done, this was my “lunch.”

Dinner was much better than lunch. I was craving soup, so I tried Amy’s Tuscan Bean and Rice soup and it might just be my new favorite. It was so yummy. I also had a side salad with romaine lettuce, grape tomatoes, goat cheese and walnuts with balsamic drizzled over it.

Finally, I needed something sweet to end my night, but I also wanted something that might help thwart an impending cold. I had half a grapefruit with one packet of Truvia sprinkled over it.

The best part of my Sunday was when Bill arrived home earlier than expected and we decided to watch another movie together. We’ve sort of been on a movie kick lately. I think we’re subconsciously trying to get the most out of our Netflix subscription.

Last night we ended up watching “Notorious.” I know what you’re thinking – it must have been awful. But actually, I was somewhat surprised with how decent this movie was. It was a solid 2 hours, but it didn’t feel like it was dragging and it never became too much about rap. I mean, it definitely was about rap, but I was never overwhelmed. I thought the actor who played Biggie was absolutely great and the little boy who played the child biggie was really good as well. Come to find out, he’s actually Biggie’s son! The resemblance was uncanny.

Anyway – I wouldn’t rank ”Notorious” as a favorite by any means, but it certainly was a decent, different kind of movie. If you’re looking for something to mix up your movie line-up a bit, I would recommend it.

My final comment: the guy who played Puffy looked nothing like the real Puffy. For the first few minutes he was in the movie I kept telling Bill there was no way that this “Puffy” character they were talking about was supposed to be Sean Combs. The casting on that one was way off.

Have a good Monday everyone!

[Via http://eatreadrun.com]

Bungie.net : Welcome to Reach : 12/12/2009 11:47 PM PST

New Shoes!

2009-12-14T03:39:00.000+02:00

A new goal deserves a pair of running shoes that haven't been worn into submission.

I’ve set a goal for myself: run the Kansas City half-marathon next October. I figured that if I’m going to train for a race, I need a pair of running shoes I haven’t been wearing for the past year and a half. *Cringe*

So, ran a mile and walked a mile today to break them in. So far, so good. I must say, the arch support is rather sublime. Saucony Grid Omni 8s, I think I love you.

[Via http://megs81.wordpress.com]

College Sports Blog | Sports News | News from Dallas, Texas ...

What to Look For When Shopping For Running Shoes

2009-12-11T09:40:00.000+02:00

These days running shoes can be purchased online or in person at a store that specializes in athletic shoes and equipment. A good running shoe salesman will be able to look at your old running shoes and determine your individual biometrics and recommend the right type of running shoe for you. There is no one best shoe for everybody. It is very much an individual choice based upon whether you are flat footed, have a high arch, run on the inside of your foot, or run on the outside of your foot.

When shopping for running shoes the first thing you must do is determine your foot type. This is very easy to do with a simple ‘wet test’. Simply wet your foot and step onto concrete or a paper towel so you can see the wet outline of your foot.

A footprint with a slight curve is made if your foot is normal or average. If you have normal feet then you should choose a running shoe that has good cushioning and offers moderate stability on the medial side of the shoe. These shoes are often classified as Stability shoes and Neutral-Cushioned shoes.

A wet footprint that shows nearly all of the bottom surface of the foot is called a flat footprint. If you have flat feet, you should shop for running shoes that provide maximum support to the inner-side of the foot or to both sides, as in the case of Motion Control shoes. Choose a stiffer midsole that provides moderate cushioning and good stability.

A wet footprint that just shows a sliver of the foot is called a high arched foot. If you have a footprint like this, you should shop for running shoes that have generous cushioning and flexibility. You should not need additional support to the inner (medial) side of the foot.

Running shoes are placed into three main categories, stability shoes, cushioned shoes, and motion control shoes, based upon their function. They are further categorized according to their use such as racing shoes, trail running shoes, and performance shoes.

Motion control running shoes prevent the inward rotation of the foot, which commonly occurs with flat-footed runners. This shoe helps prevent injury by being rigid due to the insertion of a medial (and sometimes lateral) post on the inner side of the shoe. These shoes tend to be stiff, bulky and heavy.

Cushioned running shoes are made to provide balanced shock absorption without additional stability devices. They can encourage the inward rotation motion that is lacking in a runner with high arches. These shoes are also very flexible. Neutral-Cushioned shoes can be a good choice for runners with neutral gaits who like a lighter more flexible shoe than Stability shoes provide.

Stability running shoes offer features found in both of the other types of shoes but to a lesser extent. They offer some cushioning and motion control and provide stability to those with a medium arch or normal foot.

When shopping for running shoes, measure both of your feet and go with the size of the largest foot. It may be necessary to buy a running shoe that is a half or full size larger than your street shoes. It is also a good idea to shop late in the day when your feet are tired and swollen. Be sure to wear the socks you usually wear when running.

Choose the type of running shoe that is best for the shape of your foot. The purpose of a running shoe is to provide the cushioning and stability that is right for you. You shouldn’t need to break in your running shoes, they should be ready to use right away. Test them thoroughly by wearing them in the store and running on a treadmill with them if the shoe store allows it.

Friends Link : shoes for cheaps

[Via http://laurenazalack.wordpress.com]

Life on the lattice: Old News

Bustin Out the Workouts!

2009-12-11T03:47:00.000+02:00

Whew! What a day! Since I missed my run yesterday, I wanted to fit it in first thing this morning. So I headed to the gym since I got up a little late and needed to get in and out ASAP!

Workout: This morning I hit the gym first thing to make up for my run yesterday.

Warm-up – 10 mins walking speed 3.5-4.0
Run – 40 mins speed 5.5-6.2
Cool down – 10 mins walking speed 4.0-3.0

Todays Eats…..

Breakfast -

Breakfast Smoothie

1 cup of Greenwise Organic Light Vanilla Soy Milk
1 cup of Spinach
1/2 cup frozen blueberries
1/2 banana
2 Tbsp Living Harvest Hemp Protein Powder
1.5 tsp Hershey’s Cocoa Powder

Snack:

1/2 Banana (Unpictured)

1 Kashi Roll Bar (part lunch – part snack)

Kashi Bar

I’ve never tried this bar before and it was a little harder and chewier than I thought, but it was very good - stats were good too – 12 grams of protein!

Lunch – Today I went with a pita sandwich!

1/2 whole wheat pita bread
Canned Tuna
Some goat cheese crumbles
Diced cucumber
Chopped fresh spinach

Pita Sandwich

Dinner:

Pita Pizza – I love these – Here’s what all was on here

1 whole wheat pita bread
3 Tbsp homemade tomato sauce
4 green olives
1 shredded chicken tender – cooked over night in the crockpot with onions, bell pepper, tomatoes, garlic, coriander, cumin, salt and pepper
goat cheese – raw and crumbles
1/2 roma tomato
cucumber
sautéed mushrooms

I also roasted some cauliflower – 3/4 head of cauliflower, chopped up, tossed 1 Tbsp olive oil, garlic powder, salt and pepper. I threw all of this into a ceramic dish and roasted on 400 degrees for about 25 mins. Than I put a little pat of earth balance spread in here for just a touch more of flavor.

Pita Pizza & Roasted Cauliflower

Dinner was so yummy!

2nd Workout: After work, Julie and I headed to my gym to crank out another tough circuit training session. Here’s what I did:

Circuit 1

Dumbbell Back Row – 8lbs – 15 reps
Static Lunges – 25 each leg
1 min cardio – treadmill – level 10 incline; 5.5 speed

Circuit 2

Dumbbell Row – 8lbs – 15 reps

Hamstring Curl – 15 reps
Step Ups – 20 reps each leg
1 min cardio – Ran up 6 flights of stairs

Circuit 3

Crabwalk 10 steps forward; Reverse plank – 10 leg lifts; Crabwalk backwards; Reverse plank – 10 leg lifts
Superman – 20 reps
I min Cardio – treadmill – level 10 incline; 5.5 speed

Circuit 4

Pendulum Lunges w/ Hammer Curls 10 reps – lunge forward w/ Right leg, lunge backward with right leg – repeat on left side – this equals 1 rep
Static Lunges
1 min Cardio – Jump Rope 1 min

Circuit 5

Pelvic Thrust w/ Leg up – 10 per side
Toe Touch Crunches – 20 reps
Ab – Suit case – 30 secs

Yesterday, Julie gave me this sheet to kind of check off my various food groups based on the American Diabetic Association (ADA): Starch, Fruit, Veggies, Milk, Protein, Fats. It’s supposed to take the place of counting all of the calories because the portion sizes and the number of items in the groups should all add up to 1200. I found a good list of the exchange items and portion sizes here. I think this might be a little easier to keep me accountable, just as long as I recognize what an actual serving is, which most people, including myself, often under count. So, well see if this works for me in controlling what I eat.

Peace Out.

Well, I’m watching a little

[Via http://vicioussweettooth.com]

Tom Brady & Gisele Bündchen Baby News! at The Insider

Shift Workers Exercise - Do You Ever Have Fights With Your Running Shoes?

2009-12-09T09:40:00.000+02:00

Now if you’re a shift worker then you may or may not be familiar with a shift workers exercise program. Just the word ‘exercise” can send chills down your spine purely because it can be the bane of our existence.

In simple terms ‘exercise’ can be a Forbidden Word in a shift worker’s vocabulary.

So if you’re like me then you probably have fights with your running shoes all of the time – anything to avoid doing some exercise.

Perhaps your conversation goes something like this… “No! I just don’t want to go!!” or “Leave me alone… I don’t feel like taking you out for a walk today!” or heaven for bid… a run?

Well I’ve figured a way to help stop all of the fighting so that both you and your running shoes remain happy – and get some exercise.

You see, just like you – your shoes need exercise.

It’s important that you undertake some form of shift workers exercise program because it will help you to boost your energy, increase your metabolism and improve your overall well being. So, it goes without saying that you should also take good care of your running shoes and help them do what they’re designed to do – exercise.

So to reduce any fights with my shoes – I set myself up a little “Exercise Pack” the night before. I put my running shoes (well I must admit mine only walk) – t-shirt, shorts, hat and I-Pod all on a chair so that it’s the FIRST thing that I see when I get up, and it’s all there ready and waiting to go.

So now I have no excuse for neglecting my running shoes and for not undertaking a shift workers exercise program. PLUS – it stops any fighting between me and my shoes!! After all – I did pluck these shoes off the shelf at the department store so I have a personal responsibility to look after them.

So how about your running shoes? Are you forever having fights with them? Are they being neglected in your closet and gathering dust?

Well it’s time to dig them out of your closet and give them some exercise – after all, you will both benefit from it enormously!

Need more help with designing a shift workers exercise program? Do you struggle with stress, have a low immune system or you’d just like to know how to get some more zing back into your life, then I recommend you sit down and read – “Why Shift Workers Are So Tired, Unhealthy & Unhappy- And What YOU Can Do to Fix It!”

This Free Report is a hands on report written from one shift worker to another and it’s going to open your eyes to a completely different way of coping with Shift Work. Click Here For Instant Access to Your Shift Worker Report.

Recommend : shoes for cheaps

[Via http://laurenazalack.wordpress.com]

Fox News Sunday in the News « FOX News Sunday

Gecko shoes!

2009-12-09T03:50:00.000+02:00

It’s a fresh week, and I am off to a good start even though today didn’t agree with me. I was eating breakfast peacefully when I glanced at the clock (8:20am) and realized I was supposed to catch a ride to a division meeting five minutes ago downtown. Fortunately the meeting was at the Horticulture Center in West Park, so I biked there. Not a good foot to start the day on. Tonight I hung around after work for about an hour waiting to go to the Art Museum steps for a Fairmount Running Club workout… only to discover at 6:05pm that I didn’t have a sports bra with me. 0 for 2… However maybe these events were blessing in disguise; I had to carry some groceries home, so I took the trolley home and later ran back to work (3 miles) to pick up my bike. The goal of picking up my bike got me out the door, and I wore the Vibram Five Fingers!

I think I looked like a monster from the blue lagoon, though. I wore black leggings and my new black Philadelphia Marathon mock shirt with my grey LDS shorts and orange PADA shirt over for visibility, a CUltimate hat (harking back to college Ultimate) which has a pompom on the top, a waist bag holding extra pants to put on for the bike ride home, gloves, and my gecko shoes. The only bits of skin showing were my face and the tops of my feet. Fortunately I have mastered the ability to confidently wear ridiculous looking workout clothes which keep me comfortable (although I have not mastered the ability to wear spandex without shorts over them… that might be something best left alone). And I don’t relish running in the cold.

It took 13 minutes for me to warm up. The gecko shoes were weird but not uncomfortable during the run. Do you ever misinturperate where the bottom of your shoes will go and end up scraping the ground? That happened way more than I expected considering the soles aree very thin. I think this might happen because my feet were tricked by the tightness of the shoe. My shins and calves felt like they were absorbing extra force. When I got to my office to pick up my bike helmet I changed out of the gecko shoes and the soles of my feet were throbbing slightly. It was a combination of the feeling you get in your extremities when they warm up too fast and the prickling of running on concrete (feels a bit like the gravel in the concrete permanantly indented your skin).

Tomorrow I will run in the sneakers. I’ll give the gecko shoes another go on Thursday.

[Via http://bluebianchichallenge.wordpress.com]

Fox "News" reports on 'Stop the Chamber' campaign - Democratic ...

The Health Risks Of Running

2009-12-07T09:40:00.000+02:00

Running is without doubt one of the most strenuous forms of exercise and can take a heavy toll on your body unless your are aware of some of the risks and take preventative action. This article explores some of the health risks associated with running and suggests some practical steps to help prevent serious injury.

1. Shin splints (Medial Tibial Stress Syndrome)

These are a very common health risk for runners. It sends shooting pains up your shins and occurs most frequently in those who have recently taking up running. Essentially it is a slight weakness in the muscles that attach your foot to the lower part of your leg.

Preventative action:

- Stretch well before and after running to strengthen the muscles in that area. Over time you should notice the problem disappear as you build up muscle tone.

- If it is painful after running apply ice to your shins and make sure you rest well.

- Try running on softer surfaces like grass rather than concrete until you build some muscle tone, as grass is more cushioned to run on.

2. Joint problems

When you run you have the potential to place the equivalent load of a baby elephant on your joints. These joints are compressed with every step you take and overuse can cause them to become inflamed, painful and sore. This can lead to serious long term joint disorders unless you look after them.

Preventative measures: It is impossible to stop all of the compression experienced by joints when running but you can reduce it significantly by taking some of the following simple measures:

- Buying the right running shoes will absorb some of the strain on your joints by acting as a shock absorber cushioning some of the impact your feet experiences as it hits the ground. Be willing to spend plenty on a top of the range pair of shoes as it will make a difference.

- At the end of a period of running your muscles will have shortened and can sometimes be on the verge of spasm. Take time to stretch for 20-30 minutes as this will help the muscles and tendons to return to their full length and also ease joint pain as compressed joints are stretched out.

3. Lower back problems.

The lower back has to deal with significant pressure both from the surface you are running on and also from the effort of keeping you moving whilst you run. Fell runners and Cross country specialists can suffer significant lower back problems due to the undulating nature of the terrain and constant readjustments being made by the back to compensate, but this is also true of road runners.

Preventative measure:

- Stretch well before AND after a race. Stretching will lengthen the spine and separate the vertebrate, releasing some of the compression caused during running.

- Personally I find Yoga a brilliant form of exercise for lower back problems. Pilates is also good as both forms work on lengthening and strengthening the spine and improving the range of movement available in your lower back. I have found that since taking up Yoga my back and joints have hurt much less after running.

4. Heart Attack

It is certainly true that your risk of suffering a heart attack increases with running for some individuals.

This is because running places huge demands on your cardio vascular system, which requires increased levels of oxygen to keep muscles supplied to enable you to keep running. If you have clogged or restricted arteries, caused by high fat diets, your body can’t keep up the oxygen supply to the heart, causing the heart to stop pumping, leading to a heart attack.

Even healthy individuals can suffer from a heart attack whilst running because of a previously unknown heart condition.

Preventative measures:

- Before you take up running, not matter how well you feel, ensure you have a medical to ensure that you haven’t got any underlying heart problems.

- Eating a low fat diet will reduce furring of the arteries, caused by fat clinging to them that ultimately leads to them becoming restricted.

- Gradually build up your running miles over time to prevent a sudden strain on your cardio vascular system especially if your body is not used to it. Build up in multiples of 2 miles.

7. Muscle tears

Runners are more prone to muscle tears because of the frequency and nature of the stresses that they place on their muscles. Lactic acid, which is caused by a failure of your body to get sufficient oxygen to your muscles, builds up and attacks muscles. Muscles that haven’t been warmed up or down properly may be more susceptible to tears as the lactic acid attacks them.

Preventative measure: Ensure you stretch before and after running to give your muscles maximum flexibility and reduce risk of tears. Shortened muscles are always more prone to tearing or getting pulled.

8. Dehydration

As a runner you need to ensure that your body is well hydrated as dehydration increases muscle fatigue and exhaustion. Most people should drink 2.5 litres of water a day, but if you are running you should consider as much as 5 litres, to replace lost nutrients during a race or long distance run.

Summary

This article has examined some of the health risks faced by runners. It has to be remembered however that there are many more health benefits of running and whilst reading through this article, you may feel daunted by the number of issues raised. As long as you take some of the preventative measures detailed, you should have few worries after all there is always a risk to doing anything!

My Links : shoes for cheaps

[Via http://laurenazalack.wordpress.com]

Rebellion "disappointed" with Australia's banning of AvP // News

Rock Canyon Half Marathon Part I

2009-12-07T03:33:00.000+02:00

E and I have been talking about running a half marathon for a long time. Such a long time, in fact, that I posted several times about potential races, and even THE chosen half for the fall. THE chosen one did not quite pan out as planned. The flight to run THE chosen one was going to cost us an arm and a leg and our first born. Which would have made the race interesting without one arm and one leg. And even more interesting since neither of us have a first born, nor are we thinking about having a first born. So, instead of paying about $1000 per person, with the flight, hotel, car rental, food, etc, we had to swallow the fact that we had already registered and we’d need to eat that cost. $96.85 does not taste good. You live and learn.

Back to the racing calendar, we decided to look for something a little closer to home. About the only half we could find that was within a few hours driving time was the Rock Canyon Half Marathon in Pueblo, Colorado. This would be a short 2 hour jaunt south of where we live. E and I propositioned the B’s about joining us (B.Matt and B.Ri), though I’m sure they were hoping for a different KIND of proposition that involves two hot girls. Neither were committal. Fine, fine.

We made our own plans to potentially drive down to P-town the Friday night before the race. When Friday came, E and I were both suddenly being bombarded by texts and voicemails from B.Matt, wondering if we were still going and if he could come along. What?! We’ve been talking about this for WEEKS! You’re just telling us NOW that you want to come?! Men. I know you’re smirking as you read this, B.Matt. E and I had some afternoon activities planned that included running and attending a massive warehouse sale at GoLite. By that time, it was already around 6pm, we still hadn’t eaten dinner, and the prospect of driving 2 hours to sleep between skeezy, smelly, dirty, hotel sheets didn’t sound too appealing. Better to sleep in my own bed. With my own pillow. And in my own smelliness. Which is actually a delightful smell, truth be told. We told B.Matt to meet at my house at 5:45am. We called B.Ri to give him another chance to join us in the morning. He had an “ugly sweater” party to attend and was only 60% sure that he would make it in the morning. Hahahahaha! Okay. We considered him to be “out.”

5:20am and my iPhone is ringing. I turn it around to see this mug staring back at me:

B.Ri: Good morning sleepyhead! Did I wake you?!

C: Mmmhmm.

B.Ri: Good thing I called or you’d still be sleeping!

C: Mmmhmm.

B.Ri: Shouldn’t you be awake?! Are you still racing?! Are you still leaving at 5:45?!

C: Yeah. You coming?

B.Ri: I’ve only slept for 2 hours! I’m driving home from Lo’s house! I have to go home and feed Maeva! Can you wait 15 minutes for me?!

(You should know, that I’m adding exclamation points after everything B.Ri says because although he wasn’t yelling at me, he did sound a little too peppy for it being 5:20am and I having just awoken. Also, you should know that B.Ri does ask a lot of questions. Most of them rhetorical.)

C: Sure.

B.Ri. No way! Oh my gosh! Is that E?! It is! That’s E! What is she doing over here?! I can’t believe this! E is RIGHT NEXT TO ME!

(During B.Ri’s rant, E sends a text that says she’s stopping for gas and that she just pulled up beside B.Ri)

C: (I cut him off because I can’t handle any more peppiness) Okay, we’ll wait.

I hang up the phone and get my routine going. I grind beans for a pot of coffee. I know B.Ri will want some, and E and I want to experiment with drinking coffee before a race. Something we’ve seen plenty of people do, but never done it for ourselves. Why not try it on a random half marathon that we’re calling a “training run?”

B.Matt arrives at the house at a prompt 5:45 and slightly grimaces when I tell him that B.Ri asked us to wait to leave until he could arrive at 6am. “We’ll be cuttin’ it close. Cuttin’ it close.” E has a lead foot, I remind him. He predicts they’ll arrive at 6:15.

At 6:15, E and B.Ri arrive together, as E had picked him up. We fill up our coffee mugs (we’re green like that), load up the CRV, and begin the trek to Pueblo.

The boys conk out after a bit. B.Ri, with his classic open-mouthed look, as seen above. E and I call it his “o-face.” A little over an hour into the drive, E discovers that by swerving her car back and forth, B.Ri’s o-faced head will also move back and forth. HILARIOUS. She continues. We are laughing ourselves to tears! This doesn’t sound nearly as funny as it really was. It was probably only because we had been up so early. Sigh. The boys wake up.

We arrive in Pueblo at 8:00am. Race is at 9:00am. We still need to register. AND IT IS FREAKING COLD!

[Via http://copiaverborum.wordpress.com]

Rebellion rises against Australia AVP ban News | Eurogamer

Barefoot Running - Is it For You?

2009-12-04T09:40:00.000+02:00

In an age of high priced athletic shoes and broken glass on streets, barefoot running is a rare sight. But, more coaches and trainers are turning to barefoot training for their runners and now recreational athletes, tired of expensive shoes and lower extremities injuries, are picking up on this new trend. It is actually not so new, as people have been running barefoot for hundreds of years. Zola Budd made barefoot running famous by breaking the women’s 5000 meter world record in 1984, running barefoot. So, why are we all paying high dollar for cloth and rubber to surround our feet? Are shoes the problem or the solution? Many are not in agreement about barefoot running and the debate between barefoot proponents, coaches, trainers, runners and podiatrists is in full swing.

Proponents

Barefoot proponents claim that the shod foot (foot enclosed in a shoe) becomes weak over time when it is constricted. They also claim that the body is unable to sense the ground and adapt appropriately. This inability to sense and adapt appropriately leads to injury. The body spends more energy when running in a shoe, than when running barefoot. Some runners claim that the few scratches on their feet were much less painful than the blisters they normally have to deal with after a half or full marathon.

Research

The scientific evidence supporting barefoot running is lacking. A few small studies have supported barefoot running. One study in the Internal Journal of Sports Medicine found that there is actually less impact on the feet while running barefoot because of the way the body adjusts to the impact. Another study found that the body uses about 4% more energy while running in shoes as compared to running barefoot. In underdeveloped countries with both shod and unshod feet, comparisons have shown a higher rate of injuries in the shod foot.

Opposition

Opponents don’t find these studies convincing and claim that these studies were too small or not carried out properly. They point to the fact that the study in underdeveloped countries and point out that this tells us very little about injuries and performance in developed countries.

Those opposing barefoot running do so for many reasons. Podiatrists, in general, are some of the more vocal in opposition to barefoot running. The biggest reason for opposition is foot protection. Puncture wounds are the greatest concern for those running without any protective shoe gear. Many podiatrists feel that blisters and injury are due to ill-fitting shoes, not all shoes.

Many argue that since our ancestors did their walking and running barefoot, we should too. But, the surfaces we walk on today are much more rigid and less forgiving than the grass, dirt and even stone roads our ancestors walked on. Glass and metal shards are common on roads and were not a major concern even a few hundred years ago.

There are different types of feet. Some people have very high arch feet and some people have very low arch feet. Some foot types may adapt well to barefoot running, but that doesn’t mean all foot types will. The mechanics of the foot are extremely complicated. Individuals who overpronate (rotate in) and have a flexible and flat foot type, typically need a more supportive shoe and sometimes a custom made orthotic. Individuals with a very rigid, high arch foot type, place a tremendous amount of pressure on the outside of their feet and may need a shoe or insert to help even this pressure out. Both of these individuals would most likely end up with injuries if they attempted to run barefoot.

The general rule is that if you aren’t having any problems with injuries or performance in your current running shoes, don’t change anything. If, on the other hand, your feet fall somewhere in between a high and a low arch and you have bought every expensive shoe and insert on the market, but continue to get injured, you might consider trying barefoot running. If barefoot running is something you would like to try, make sure to gradually work into it. Puncture wounds, scraps, cuts and bruises are likely unless you choose your surface wisely. Start on grass or a soft surface. Consider sand at the beach or even going to the track. Start gradually and slowly.

A Word About Shoes

An ill-fitting shoe can be the cause of many lower extremity injuries. A shoe can put your foot at the wrong angle to your knee and hip, leading to potential injury. A shoe that is too tight can cause blisters at the toes and toenail problems. A shoe that is too loose may lead to tendonitis or cause blistering at the heel. A shoe that is too flexible may contribute to the development of plantar fasciitis (heel and arch pain). A good shoe does not need to be expensive. When looking for a running shoe, make sure the midsole is supportive. Test this by grabbing the toe area and the heel area and try to bend the shoe in half. If it folds in the middle of the shoe, it is too flexible and will not support the foot. Make sure there is enough room at the toe box. Check the heel counter and make sure the heel counter is stiff enough to hold the heel in place to avoid blisters. Above all, make sure that the shoe is comfortable. Wear them around the house, on the carpet, before going out for a run.

Summary

There are probably a few individuals who could improve their performance and decrease their rate of injury by running barefoot. But, before you toss your shoes in the garbage can and head out for a run with naked feet, consider a better fitting shoe. Barefoot running is not recommended for individuals with a high arch, a very low arch, those who overpronate or those with diabetes. If you do decide to give barefoot running a try, choose the running surface carefully and be aware of puncture wounds.

Visit : shoes for cheaps

[Via http://laurenazalack.wordpress.com]

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Coming clean

2009-12-04T03:42:00.000+02:00

I have a confession to make.

I do not exercise. *hangs head in shame as rotten tomatoes and other rancid foods are thrown at me*

I played tennis all four years of high school, pretty much year-round, but I honestly could have done a lot better if I had tried harder. When I’m at school sometimes I’ll go to a class at the gym and get so worn out I’ll vow never to do it again.

Looking at me, you wouldn’t exactly guess that I need to exercise. I suppose you could say I have a slimmer build than average, but I’m not going to always be able to enjoy that if I don’t take care of my body. Therefore, I’ve decided to start the Couch-to-5k Running Plan.

I hate running. Hate it. But this plan doesn’t make it seem so terrifying, so I’m going to give it a whirl, starting Monday. I’ll do it Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays I’ll do some yoga or pilates, and Sundays I’ll rest. I’ve been feeling kind of…”off” lately, and I hope this will turn that around. I’m a completely novice runner (my 7th grade cross country season doesn’t count – I only did it because my friend did), so this should be very interesting. I’m nervous, but I know this will be beneficial if I stick with it.

Anyway, I know this was a short and pretty bland post, but my next post will probably be a lot more exciting. I just wanted to share this

[Via http://elizbee.wordpress.com]

Organizing for America | Cloe Axelson's Blog: Morning News

What You Should Know About the Asus Eee PC 1005HA 10.1-Inch Netbook

2009-12-02T09:30:00.000+02:00

It is a known fact that Asus make some of the best netbook models in the market, at least in terms of features and performance. The Asus Eee PC 1005HA is currently one of the most advanced and well priced netbook in the market, with powerful specs and lots of features.

This model has a 1.66Ghz processor, a new sleek design and an amazing battery life (lasting 10.5 hours on a single charge). As far as netbooks go, Asus has also had a pretty flawless track record as they were one of the first companies to come up with this sub-genre laptop.

With all that said and done, it is important to note that the Asus Eee PC 1005HA does have its weakness and faults. Although Asus is slowly becoming a mainstream player when it comes to laptops, it is a baby compared to more established companies such as Apple, Toshiba or Sony. Companies like Toshiba and Sony have decades of experience in manufacturing laptops and as a result may have higher R&D and QC standards.

It is no doubt that the Asus Eee PC 1005HA is a fabulous laptop, when it works. From the looks of the various customer reviews on the internet, there is quite a number of netbooks that are defective when delivered. Some of the common problems include faulty power adapters and unexplained shutdowns. Other problems include broken web cams and microphones.

Despite all that, it is important to note that those are not inherent problems with the netbooks but rather faults in the production like. If you happen to receive a faulty unit, just send the netbook back to get a new one. Trust me, the Asus Eee PC 1005HA will be worth the trouble. When you receive a unit in perfect working condition, the Asus 10005HA works very well and you will easily see why it is often touted as the best netbook in the market.

My Links : Acer Aspire

[Via http://aceraspireonexp.wordpress.com]

Charles Gibson leaving ABC's 'World News' Dec. 18 - From Inside ...

First track workout.

2009-12-02T03:50:00.000+02:00

I don’t normally like running on the track because it’s sort of boring, but tonight was a good night. My pace here is considerably slower than when I was running at sea level and I find myself gasping for more oxygen. It’s getting better, but it’s certainly not easy. I felt good tonight after our track workout because I ran well. We did a warm up, 800m easy jog then timed 1600m at tempo pace, 800m at a slower pace, and then a 400m race pace. Then we did 800m cool down and some core work. It was awesome. This is going to be a challenging training season for me, but I’m looking forward to it!

I also want say thank you to generous friends who have donated on my TNT website and also on my Etsy online fundraiser. So far with your help I’m up to $315. My goal is to reach $1715 by January 12th, so it’s looking good! Thank you all so much! Please spread the word and for those of you who haven’t donated, remember, every little bit counts! Local fundraisers are in the works too. Thank you all and I’ll post another update after our training workout this coming Saturday. Tomorrow I’ll be doing some yoga and Thursday I’ll be running again. XO

[Via http://chocokathalfmarathon.wordpress.com]

Mr. Murdoch (and the Rest of News Corp.) Go to Washington | Peter ...

Running Rugby is Still Possible!

2009-11-30T15:12:00.000+02:00

If anyone watched the All Blacks or Wallabies play on the weekend, they probably noticed something markedly different than what took place in most internationals this year – very little kicking, and lots of ball-in-hand running! It’s still possible, and very rewarding when you try it!

I hope everyone takes a lesson from this, realising that running rugby is indeed possible, and rewarding, under new Law realities. Rather than play ‘kick and hope’ negative rugby, teams should realise that winning your own ball at a ruck is not an impossibility with the tackler-hands-in clarification so long as ball carriers hold their feet and support is present and tenacious. What I also noticed was very little of the short pass to a static pod 5m from the last ruck – I hate this ‘tactic.’ I realise it’s meant to move things along and disrupt the defence from the last static ruck, but it rarely serves that purpose. What the Kiwis and Aussies showed was something I thought we all considered when defences got more organised – you have to get away from the clutter and attack the space out wide. I felt giddy watching forwards making deft passes and hitting spaces rather than faces out wide – especially from my new hero, Benn Robinson. Then the rest of the front row set up Pocock’s try playing ’scrum half’ and ‘fly half’! I joked that if Giteau got hurt, Deans wouldn’t have to worry as their whole front row had all the skills to replace him. And I think that’s an important aspect that Australians and New Zealanders haven’t forgot – that rugby is best played when every player has the full range of skills to be a productive member on the field in any situation.

Alas, I don’t think even some of the other top 10 nations, let alone us minnows, can (or at least have the will to) keep up, as their players just don’t have the skills. This should have alarm bells ringing that we need to focus on creating skilled players, not physically imposing monsters. Having watched England the last few weeks, the likes of 6′7″ wing Matt Banahan and human cannonball centre Dan Hipkiss have demonstrated that many international backs don’t even have the full range of passing and awareness skills! That said, I fully believe England has the personnel available to them – the likes of Ben Foden, Mathew Tait, Dominic Waldouck – but Johnno and the lads simply won’t pick them for whatever reason. As the criticisms have been fast and furioius the past few weeks – on many nations, not just England – I hope change is a comin’ soon. I think many of the critics, including some of the old guard who are still playing, like Simon Shaw, are right in saying that the modern professional player tends to be a ‘gym monkey’ and not a fully skilled and dynamic ‘rugby player.’ I hope the lessons taught to them by the All Blacks and Wallabies will reverse the paradigm shift from the time when everyone wanted to find their ‘Lomu’ – harking back to an era when the smaller, skilled back was the ideal, but also combining that with a more modern one where even forwards are expected to do the right thing in an attacking situation. It’ll be interesting to see what the Six Nations adopt in the new year as a result of the lessons the Aussies and Kiwis taught them … and even from the Boks, whose woeful performances were simply a result of their misguided ‘kick everything’ policy. Hopefully they make the right adjustments for the sake of not only the fan who wants to see an exciting game, but also viewers who (often misguidedly) adopt international / professional styles of play at the amateur level.

[Via http://conversationalrugby.wordpress.com]

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NaNoWriMo Day 29, 50,570 Words and Post-NaNoWrimo Victory Update.

2009-11-30T03:21:00.000+02:00

The first thing I did this morning was 15 minutes of Write or Die Desktop Edition, and quickly knocked out 448 words for the novel. I added a sentence here or there later in the morning, for a total of 535 more words for the novel. Since I WON NANOWRIMO YESTERDAY, the pressure is off, and I had a bunch of other things I wanted/needed to do today. Here, in no particular order, are some of the things that occupied my time today besides working on my novel:

Ran 6.39 miles very slowly (1:04:04). It was my first run since Nov. 17, and my longest since Oct. 25. I lost a lot of speed (and muscle) in the month spent in front of the computer every waking moment, and it will take a little while to get it back.
Read a little of the Sunday New York Times for the first time in mumble mumble.
Worked. I’ve got a lot going on at the office (and out of town) between now and Christmas.
Went to lunch with the Siren and the kids at the diner for the first time in weeks.
Played Sorry with the kids while the Siren went to the supermarket to buy more butter, flour, and sugar for NaCoBakMo.
Went to the supermarket after the Sorry game to pick up the dishwasher detergent that the Siren forgot so she could focus on baking cookies.
Worked some more.
Listened to Christmas music. The Hanukkah music comes later, closer to the holiday itself, because there isn’t as much of it that I like.
Ate some cookies before dinner.
Listened to the first episode of The Cinnamon Bear with the family during dinner.
Ate some more cookies for dessert.
Got the kids to bed.
Worked more.
Had one last cookie.
Paid our property taxes.
Told the kids to go back to bed.

As much as I enjoyed NaNoWriMo, and I did, it’s good to be able to do a few other things, too.

IMPORTANT: You may have noticed my references to NaCoBakMo and eating cookies, lots of delicious cookies. The love of my life, the Green-Eyed Siren, has started the first ever National Cookie Baking Month to raise money for our neighborhood anti-hunger charity, the Irving Park Community Food Pantry. You can read about Day 1 here, and Day 2 here. She’s baking cookies every day from now through Christmas Eve, and will send a batch to everyone who donates $25 to the IPCFP before then and emails her the receipt. Please participate so that I don’t end up eating all of these cookies myself. To encourage you further (although if you’ve ever tasted the Siren’s cooking, you would need no further incentive), we’ll match the first $500 in donations. Get off my blog and over to hers to read the details and see pictures of the delectable dainties as she makes them.

FINALLY, I leave you with The NaNoWriMo Song, because it’s awesome:

[Via http://theunfocusedlife.com]

autosport.com - F1 News: Canadian GP secures new deal

My solemn Christmas vows

2009-11-27T15:45:00.000+02:00

– I vow that my total viewings of “A Christmas Story” – the greatest Christmas movie every made in which a leg lamp plays a prominent role — will exceed the total number of miles I run in the month of December. And I plan to run a lot.

– Mo and I were named Volunteers of the Month for our tireless efforts to scare the bejeezies out of elderly people by driving them around town. At first I was quite proud, but later found out that it’s only because I had turned in one of my reports in Farsi, and they were fearful of a terrorist attack. Oh, well. I’m keeping my certificate anyhow. I vow never to turn in another report using Farsi.

– I vow not to eat mangos. Or to dress up like Mango.

– I vow never again to say “You too” to a 7-11 clerk who tells me to have a nice day. In the first place, I don’t think it’s their place to evaluate me in 10 seconds and deem that I should be having a nice day. I enjoy being cranky and I don’t appreciate their advice. In the second place, I really, really DON’T want them to have a nice day. They’re charging me a buck twenty nine for a Big Gulp? I want them to suffer.

– I vow to be a nicer person. (Damn. I think I already blew it.)

[Via http://ilikemargarine.wordpress.com]

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4 Miles and 50k...

2009-11-27T03:46:00.000+02:00

And I raced past the finish line last night. Now all that’s left is the official confirmation from the NaNoWriMo site that I actually have the 50k to win the challenge. Tomorrow I’m going to do the upload, get the good news and claim my badge. It’s been a good f*cking Thanksgiving day. I’m sitting on my laurels of reaching that 50k and I’m also celebrating the fact that I accomplished another goal I had secretly tucked away. Today I ran the section. Yep all of it. I didn’t stop once. For those who do not know a section is 4 miles. Never did I think I would be running again. But I am. I guess I never would have guessed I would be writing like a maniac either, but I am. I know longer can imagine existing without writing. I crave it. Some days nothing comes from writing, but other days the words slide out and fill the page. I love those days. I guess on this fine Thanksgiving Holiday I had an epiphany. Maybe it was because I was in totally oxygen debt but I am ready to claim the title of Writer. I am a writer. No I am not published…YET…but I am still a writer.

[Via http://drizl.wordpress.com]

Iwata: Mario Wii is a true "game for everyone" // News

Road to Camsur 2010: For the AVERAGE PINOY

2009-11-25T09:40:00.000+02:00

If you are like me who works 8 hours plus a day, got a wife, kids plus other activities and hobbies but truly interested in joining next years Ironman 70.3 Philippines next year…you may want to check this out.

This program is based on my years of experience in the sport, and my life as an ordinary working-family man in consideration of the many responsibilities (personal and professional) that somehow, the need to accomplish a feat comes close to priority 1-must need to! Moreover, this is in response to the many emails and text messages from friends and readers of my site wanting to join IM Phil with little or no experience in triathlons. For the naysayers and dickheads, I would like to reiterate that I am no expert nor champion but merely an average age-grouper a few pounds overweight with blisters and corn in every crevice of my body.

For starters, I would like to emphasize that this program is meant for those who have a considerable amount of fitness. Meaning, those who can swim, bike and run (not consecutively) in a moderate manner. I highly suggest to consult your doctor or physician before getting into this program or any physical activity for that matter. I cannot guarantee that undergoing this program will give you “uber” supernatural strength and finish the race below cut off time.

As an average pinoy, my limited budget dictates that I do not have the luxury of a heart rate monitor, gps system or cyclometer with cadence. Hence, i am going old school with this training program like the early days of Dave Scott and Molina. If by chance that your are blessed with cash, do partake in proper equipment such as those mentioned earlier. Nothing beats technology nowadays.

Ok here we go…

This training program begins December of this year, wherein this is called the Adaptation phase. Like any well written speech, this given you an eye opener what to expect in the next few months of training. The intensity is fairly low but some may find it a too strenuous to begin with. Ergo, go easy at first. Adpatation will last exactly 4 weeks before 2009 ends.

Guidelines

PE or Perceived exertion, 1 little effort and 5 being 100% effort.
Swim means pick any of the previous swim programs I have posted in the past.
Don’t fret if you missed a workout. Its fine, we are human. Just go on and continue the next day
Leave 1 day for total rest
Speed is not as important as consistency.
Easy workouts every 4th Week called active recovery
Listen to your body, DO NOT OVERTRAIN – go easy if you have to.
This is time based to prevent serious injuries.
BRICK: Means bike and run immediately – dont forget your shoes

Adaptation Week 1-4 Dec 2009

Monday Easy Run 30min

Tuesday BRICK: Bike 60 min trainer w intervals. PE 4, BRICK: Run 20 min intense PE 4

Wednesday Swim, Bike: 60min steady. Light recovery High Cadence

Thursday Rest

Friday Swim, Run: Easy Run 30min PE 2-3

Saturday Bike: Long 90 min PE 3-4

Sunday Run: Long Run 60min PE 3

Be safe and train wisely. Next Build Phase.

[Via http://karlosports.wordpress.com]

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