Added 11 miles to my weekly mileage today, making my grand total for this week...11 miles. Hey, it's only Tuesday, gimme a break.
I ran almost to Sausalito and back, and then looped around the roads here for a few more miles. Started off rough - lots of small aches and pains - ankles, knees, shins, right hip and left shoulder were all bitching at once - that gradually went away when they realized I was only going to ignore them. I also walked for about 45 seconds somewhere near the 8 mile mark, so I suck for that but whatever.
That's it. That's my life.
I gotta find a job and some friends before I die of boredom.
Showing posts with label running. Show all posts
Showing posts with label running. Show all posts
Goodmorning everyone.
That's Chris Marten on the left, and Mick Dawson on the right. We went to hear them talk last night at the Marin Rowing Club. Those two totally normal looking dudes just sat their asses in a small boat and rowed their way, unsupported, to San Francisco from Japan. How freaking cool is that?!? I know zilch about rowing and I loved their story! Chris kept a blog while they were at sea for 190 days - you can check out their awesome story here.
Also been having great runs, great improvements at the climbing gym, and started a small weight lifting routine. Still not sure how far I'm going (FOR THE LOVE OF GOD, SOMEONE GET ME A GARMIN!!) but I'm guessing it's pretty far, and I'm able to run (slowly) for a few hours without feeling like I'm gonna die if I take one more step.
And, I'm not the only one running! Einstein is back! Woo hoo!!!!!!
In anticipation of a nasty hangover tomorrow morning, I decided to switch up my schedule and get my long run in this morning. I'd now like to proudly announce that due to having zero knowledge of this area and super craptacular mapmyrun skills, I have apparently set a new world record by running 31.3 miles in a little over an hour. Take that, Meb!
Line for autographs forms to the left, people. No need to push.
So, ummm...it turns out that Edgewood Lane and Edgewood Avenue are two totally different streets that just happen to live within half a centimeter of each other on google maps. Who knew? I never bothered to fix the slight mapping error, so I can't say for sure, but it's entirely possible that I didn't run 31.3 miles this morning.
But I did leave my mark on the Dipsea Trail by puking all over it. Yeah, I'm a pretty classy girl. I figured since I didn't really know where I was and wasn't sure how to get back to where we're staying it might actually help me if something happened and CSI: Mill Valley had to come looking for me. They could start tracing my route from the snot rocket near the slide at the park, to the one out front of Balboa Cafe...after that they might be a little confused for awhile but if they happen to be runners they'd most likely figure that I'd loop around the mill...another snot rocket at the Eileen Fisher store, then the puke on the Dipsea steps...really, I'm all about personal safety.
So, enough about me. Let's talk about...ME! What? You were expecting some witty political commentary or something? Is this your first time here? As far as I know there are about 3 people who read this thing, which means I don't feel obligated to put much work into coming up with witty prose, and that suits me just fine. Anyway...
Finally talked to my parents. They're fine, thanks for asking. I was back in the U.S. for approximately 5.3 minutes before I received the eagerly anticipated, "Welcome home, now go find a job" email from my mom, and I think it was less than his record 3.7 seconds into the conversation with my dad when he blurted out, "WHY CAN'T YOU JUST SETTLE DOWN?!?!?" I immediately went into EMERGENCY SWITCH THE TOPIC MODE by mentioning something about my brothers, thereby sparing the dreaded, "When I was your age, I was blah, blah, blah..." stories. Overall, it was quite painless. It's much easier now that he's retired, and not always being bombarded with stories about people I went to high school with.
"So-and-so stopped by the store today...she's having a baby, you know."
"She's been having babies pretty regularly since she was 14. Is that the life you always wanted for your only daughter?"
"Well...at least she's settled down!"
It has occurred to me that I should probably ask him what his definition of "settled down" is, but I'm afraid it would just make my ears bleed.
As for Einstein, he's not up and running yet, but I have been to visit him several times and lovingly decorated him by drawing hearts in all the dust he's covered in. The problem is I have to get him registered and insured. Fair enough. Except my driver's license is totally MIA. So, instead of cruising around in the cutest car ever, I am stranded in a beautiful house with a never ending supply of fantastic food, surrounded by enormous ancient Redwood trees and only a few minutes walking distance from the awesome Dipsea trail, Muir Woods, and Mt. Tam trails. Yup, stuck here because I can't remember where I safely stored my license, which I need for insurance and registration. Sigh. WILL THE PROBLEMS OF THE FIRST WORLD NEVER END?!?!?
Alright, time for me to sign off. Now that I've dumped all the bacon out of my stomach, I need to go fill it up again.
Line for autographs forms to the left, people. No need to push.
So, ummm...it turns out that Edgewood Lane and Edgewood Avenue are two totally different streets that just happen to live within half a centimeter of each other on google maps. Who knew? I never bothered to fix the slight mapping error, so I can't say for sure, but it's entirely possible that I didn't run 31.3 miles this morning.
But I did leave my mark on the Dipsea Trail by puking all over it. Yeah, I'm a pretty classy girl. I figured since I didn't really know where I was and wasn't sure how to get back to where we're staying it might actually help me if something happened and CSI: Mill Valley had to come looking for me. They could start tracing my route from the snot rocket near the slide at the park, to the one out front of Balboa Cafe...after that they might be a little confused for awhile but if they happen to be runners they'd most likely figure that I'd loop around the mill...another snot rocket at the Eileen Fisher store, then the puke on the Dipsea steps...really, I'm all about personal safety.
So, enough about me. Let's talk about...ME! What? You were expecting some witty political commentary or something? Is this your first time here? As far as I know there are about 3 people who read this thing, which means I don't feel obligated to put much work into coming up with witty prose, and that suits me just fine. Anyway...
Finally talked to my parents. They're fine, thanks for asking. I was back in the U.S. for approximately 5.3 minutes before I received the eagerly anticipated, "Welcome home, now go find a job" email from my mom, and I think it was less than his record 3.7 seconds into the conversation with my dad when he blurted out, "WHY CAN'T YOU JUST SETTLE DOWN?!?!?" I immediately went into EMERGENCY SWITCH THE TOPIC MODE by mentioning something about my brothers, thereby sparing the dreaded, "When I was your age, I was blah, blah, blah..." stories. Overall, it was quite painless. It's much easier now that he's retired, and not always being bombarded with stories about people I went to high school with.
"So-and-so stopped by the store today...she's having a baby, you know."
"She's been having babies pretty regularly since she was 14. Is that the life you always wanted for your only daughter?"
"Well...at least she's settled down!"
It has occurred to me that I should probably ask him what his definition of "settled down" is, but I'm afraid it would just make my ears bleed.
As for Einstein, he's not up and running yet, but I have been to visit him several times and lovingly decorated him by drawing hearts in all the dust he's covered in. The problem is I have to get him registered and insured. Fair enough. Except my driver's license is totally MIA. So, instead of cruising around in the cutest car ever, I am stranded in a beautiful house with a never ending supply of fantastic food, surrounded by enormous ancient Redwood trees and only a few minutes walking distance from the awesome Dipsea trail, Muir Woods, and Mt. Tam trails. Yup, stuck here because I can't remember where I safely stored my license, which I need for insurance and registration. Sigh. WILL THE PROBLEMS OF THE FIRST WORLD NEVER END?!?!?
Alright, time for me to sign off. Now that I've dumped all the bacon out of my stomach, I need to go fill it up again.
I normally wake up around 5 and try to haul my ass out of bed before 5:30, so when I say I got up retardedly early for my run today, it ain't no joke.
Map My Run says I logged a good 6.8 miles. I just know I ran until I didn't feel so fucking nuts anymore, then went home. Apparently, I've been hauling around 6.8 miles worth of crap bouncing around in my brain, mostly centering on not wanting to be where I am vs. trying to suck it up and just *be* where I am.
It was a gorgeous morning, and running so early meant there was actually some breathing room in the normally crowded streets of Seoul. I took advantage of the extra room and let not one, not two, but...SEVEN (!!!) snot rockets fly!
Map My Run says I logged a good 6.8 miles. I just know I ran until I didn't feel so fucking nuts anymore, then went home. Apparently, I've been hauling around 6.8 miles worth of crap bouncing around in my brain, mostly centering on not wanting to be where I am vs. trying to suck it up and just *be* where I am.
It was a gorgeous morning, and running so early meant there was actually some breathing room in the normally crowded streets of Seoul. I took advantage of the extra room and let not one, not two, but...SEVEN (!!!) snot rockets fly!
“Nature does not hurry,
Yet everything
Is accomplished.”
-Lao Tzu
Yet everything
Is accomplished.”
-Lao Tzu
I have always loved this quote, and lately more than ever before I find that it really applies to my running. Certainly, nobody who has seen me on any of my recent runs around town would think I was in a hurry to get anywhere. I am slow. Very steady, but slow. I know there are points during every single run I have where I could push myself harder, make my legs churn faster, my arms pump quicker, make it up that hill before the dude with the walker, but I don’t. I guess at this time of my life I prefer a steady, balanced pace as opposed to constant stops and starts, even if it does mean that it will no doubt take me longer to get to where I need to be.
I’m OK with that. I’m OK with being slow because I have realized that at the end of each and every run I go on, what needed to be accomplished has been accomplished. Even things I didn’t set out to do, or didn’t even know had to be done. At the end of every run, I find that the stresses I was not able to withdraw from have instead withdrawn from me. I find that I am physically stronger, and my senses are sharper. I am able to really listen, instead of just hear. Instead of wanting to close my eyes and make it all go away, I see nothing but beauty in this concrete jungle that at times seems more like an imprisonment than a living situation I chose to put myself in. And my voice is, without doubt, louder, clearer (though still lispy), and – foul language and all – totally my own. The other voice that takes all too much joy in reminding me of my insecurities, faults, illness, and past mistakes is silent, finally recognizing that there is a force within me that it just cannot stand up to.
I’d be lying if I didn’t admit that I sometimes wish I were naturally faster – so much so that more than once I have worked out elaborate training plans designed to increase my speed, and I could probably quote from memory every workout described in almost every “RUN YOUR FASTEST 5K/10K/HALF/FULL MARATHON EVER!!” article. But then I hear someone mention the date and comment on how it will soon be getting cold, and I realize that I know this not because of the date on the calendar, but because of the two golden leaves that appeared overnight on the tree I run by every day. I know exactly how much progress they are making on the bike path they’re installing near our apartment - not because I saw the newspaper article or cruised by in a taxi, but because I run past there so often that the workers have actually waited for me during rainy weather to tell me that even though it wasn’t open yet, I could run on the finished part of the track in order to avoid the muddy conditions of the area surrounding it. I know, during those rare moments when the sky is visible through all the pollution, exactly where to look to see the first star of the evening, because at my speed you certainly don’t make it home before dark. If I were too focused on shaving seconds off my time, speeding ahead as fast as I could go, running would still have offered me these gifts, but I would not have noticed them.
Running in the slow lane will never get me Nike sponsorships and trophies or the ability to run alongside Kara Goucher and tell her personally how fucking cool I think she is (even if I did meet her, I could never keep up), but it has given me the gift of getting to know - and really like - myself again, and of learning to accept progress one slow step at a time.
So, Thursday night I got back from what might be the best run I've ever had. I was having so much fun at the park that I went 3.5 miles farther than I had planned, which made it longer than my long run of the week. When I got home, I saw that not only was I red-faced and dripping with sweat, but I had little dead bugs clinging to my neck and face. So, of course I took a picture for you guys. Only, as I moved my head towards the camera I got sweat in my eye. OUCH! So, instead of dead bugs, you get my, "OMG! THERE'S SWEAT IN MY EYE!!! AAARRRGGGHHH!!!" face.
We're off to the mountains now. Catch you in a few days - be good!
We're off to the mountains now. Catch you in a few days - be good!
I know I promised you guys some pictures of monkeys and haven't delivered yet - I've been a bit busy. I'm very busy and important over here, you know.
Ran last night, and it really sucked. My body just wasn't in the groove it needed to be to complete the miles, and even with Rockzilla I was bored. Boredom is my kryptonite. It just kills me! But, I finished the planned run anyway and then headed to the gym to do a bit of weights. I was feeling a bit down by the small amount of weight I was lifting. I kept thinking, "I know I'm stronger than this!! Why am I so freaking weak today? I don't even feel tired! OMG, what if I'm sick again? I was soooo weak when I was diagnosed..." And then I remembered that the weights are in kgs instead of lbs. Haha. Makes a bit of a difference. Geez, I'm a moron. But, I'm a fairly strong moron, so at least I've got something going for me!!
So...here's what I'm thinking about my bike situation (I promise I'll shut up about it soon), and please feel free to weigh in. I was gonna just go and buy a bike similar to Tara - relatively cheap, cruiser style - because when we leave here in a few months I'll just have to basically find someone to give it to or ditch it somewhere. Which means I will have to get yet another bike when we move to wherever we move to next (What's that? There are apartments for rent in Manitou Springs, CO? Hmmm...did you hear that, Ant?!?). That will be the 5th bike I've paid for in 3 years (although one was a gift so that doesn't really count).
I was planning a surprise trip to Hong Kong for Ant and I for our upcoming anniversary, then he surprised me by saying he was going back home during that time (and didn't surprise me at all by saying that he didn't even know we had an anniversary - stupid boys), so I have some extra money that in my mind and budget was already spent. I was gonna use the cash to just take myself somewhere (why, hello, Saipan, you're looking lovely this time of year!) but now I'm thinking that maybe I should use that money plus a little extra and just buy a decent bike. I'll have the added expense of shipping it to wherever we go to next, but it might still work out better in the long run.
And if we end up going to a place where I can't use it right away (hello, beaches of Indonesia!) I can just ship it to PA, because what are parents for if not to store their adult children's stuff? Kidding, mom (sort of) (not really).
In other news - 2 more days of work and then a month of vaca! Off to the mountains for 3 days (Songnisan National Park), and then over to Surgao (I totally spelled that wrong - sorry, JoyRun!) for a few weeks of sun, sand, and surf! Man, I love my life!
Alright, enough of my incessant rambling. How are you guys?
Ran last night, and it really sucked. My body just wasn't in the groove it needed to be to complete the miles, and even with Rockzilla I was bored. Boredom is my kryptonite. It just kills me! But, I finished the planned run anyway and then headed to the gym to do a bit of weights. I was feeling a bit down by the small amount of weight I was lifting. I kept thinking, "I know I'm stronger than this!! Why am I so freaking weak today? I don't even feel tired! OMG, what if I'm sick again? I was soooo weak when I was diagnosed..." And then I remembered that the weights are in kgs instead of lbs. Haha. Makes a bit of a difference. Geez, I'm a moron. But, I'm a fairly strong moron, so at least I've got something going for me!!
So...here's what I'm thinking about my bike situation (I promise I'll shut up about it soon), and please feel free to weigh in. I was gonna just go and buy a bike similar to Tara - relatively cheap, cruiser style - because when we leave here in a few months I'll just have to basically find someone to give it to or ditch it somewhere. Which means I will have to get yet another bike when we move to wherever we move to next (What's that? There are apartments for rent in Manitou Springs, CO? Hmmm...did you hear that, Ant?!?). That will be the 5th bike I've paid for in 3 years (although one was a gift so that doesn't really count).
I was planning a surprise trip to Hong Kong for Ant and I for our upcoming anniversary, then he surprised me by saying he was going back home during that time (and didn't surprise me at all by saying that he didn't even know we had an anniversary - stupid boys), so I have some extra money that in my mind and budget was already spent. I was gonna use the cash to just take myself somewhere (why, hello, Saipan, you're looking lovely this time of year!) but now I'm thinking that maybe I should use that money plus a little extra and just buy a decent bike. I'll have the added expense of shipping it to wherever we go to next, but it might still work out better in the long run.
And if we end up going to a place where I can't use it right away (hello, beaches of Indonesia!) I can just ship it to PA, because what are parents for if not to store their adult children's stuff? Kidding, mom (sort of) (not really).
In other news - 2 more days of work and then a month of vaca! Off to the mountains for 3 days (Songnisan National Park), and then over to Surgao (I totally spelled that wrong - sorry, JoyRun!) for a few weeks of sun, sand, and surf! Man, I love my life!
Alright, enough of my incessant rambling. How are you guys?
Since some douchebag decided he could take anything he wanted even if it very clearly belonged to someone else I no longer have a bike. Poor Tara. She must be so scared. I hope they spray painted her a decent color, at least.
It totally pisses me off that there were, no kidding, 8 (!!!!) UNLOCKED bikes lying next to Tara, who WAS locked, and they didn't touch even one of those. It's not that I wish someone else's bike had been stolen, it's just that I really, really wish mine hadn't been. Ant (who can remain upbeat about it because he still has a bike) says it's because my bike was the best one there, and he's right - IT WAS THE BEST BIKE EVER!!!! It had fenders, and a huge basket, and it looked skinny and light but actually weighed a freakin' ton - just like me!!! It's because I'm made of Quantonium, like the ultra strong chick in that movie, Monsters vs. Aliens. Seriously.
I had sort of decided without really thinking about it that I wouldn't be able to get another bike while here in Korea. I really can't afford it, and since we're transients here I'd only be able to ride it for a few more months before it would be too cold and icy, and we'll be gone before it warms up again. But just one day of hoofing it and having to take taxis to places that Tara usually took me has me thinking differently. It still seems like a waste of money, but I don't care. I'll probably make it back in saved subway, bus, and taxi fare anyway.
GRRR!!!!
In other news, long run Sunday (long for me, anyway) and it sucked but I powered through. Last night I did 34 minutes (the plan I'm following called for a 30 minute run) while Ant skateboarded along. Well, actually, he skateboarded ahead, then waited for me to catch up, then skateboarded ahead...you get the idea. I'm still enjoying it, but man oh man am I slow. How do you speedy speedsters do it?!?
It totally pisses me off that there were, no kidding, 8 (!!!!) UNLOCKED bikes lying next to Tara, who WAS locked, and they didn't touch even one of those. It's not that I wish someone else's bike had been stolen, it's just that I really, really wish mine hadn't been. Ant (who can remain upbeat about it because he still has a bike) says it's because my bike was the best one there, and he's right - IT WAS THE BEST BIKE EVER!!!! It had fenders, and a huge basket, and it looked skinny and light but actually weighed a freakin' ton - just like me!!! It's because I'm made of Quantonium, like the ultra strong chick in that movie, Monsters vs. Aliens. Seriously.
I had sort of decided without really thinking about it that I wouldn't be able to get another bike while here in Korea. I really can't afford it, and since we're transients here I'd only be able to ride it for a few more months before it would be too cold and icy, and we'll be gone before it warms up again. But just one day of hoofing it and having to take taxis to places that Tara usually took me has me thinking differently. It still seems like a waste of money, but I don't care. I'll probably make it back in saved subway, bus, and taxi fare anyway.
GRRR!!!!
In other news, long run Sunday (long for me, anyway) and it sucked but I powered through. Last night I did 34 minutes (the plan I'm following called for a 30 minute run) while Ant skateboarded along. Well, actually, he skateboarded ahead, then waited for me to catch up, then skateboarded ahead...you get the idea. I'm still enjoying it, but man oh man am I slow. How do you speedy speedsters do it?!?
Saturday was the hike, and that plus a tiny bit of stretching was enough exercise for me that day.
Sunday I headed out early for a run, and did just over 4 miles (4.38 according to mapmyrun) on the bike path by the river. It had flooded in several spots, and there were crews everywhere working their butts off to clear the water and mud off the path. I love that park so much that I made sure to thank each and every crew member I ran past!
Yesterday I did an easy 3 miler and also threw in a shoulder and back workout at the gym, as well as a butt load of sit ups. Then, I rode my bike to work.
I'm contemplating trying to run from Wolgye to Hwarangdae this evening. Hmmm...I'm more worried about getting lost than I am about finishing it, because I can always just walk if I need to...as long as I can find my way to Seokgye I can cut down to the bike path, and from there I can make it home with my eyes shut.
Sunday I headed out early for a run, and did just over 4 miles (4.38 according to mapmyrun) on the bike path by the river. It had flooded in several spots, and there were crews everywhere working their butts off to clear the water and mud off the path. I love that park so much that I made sure to thank each and every crew member I ran past!
Yesterday I did an easy 3 miler and also threw in a shoulder and back workout at the gym, as well as a butt load of sit ups. Then, I rode my bike to work.
I'm contemplating trying to run from Wolgye to Hwarangdae this evening. Hmmm...I'm more worried about getting lost than I am about finishing it, because I can always just walk if I need to...as long as I can find my way to Seokgye I can cut down to the bike path, and from there I can make it home with my eyes shut.
I've been feeling unusually motivated when it comes to exercise lately - especially running. It's a nice feeling to actually look forward to doing a run, instead of trying everything I can think of to trick my feet into getting out the door. For the longest time I'd get to Brown Hill and nearly cry at the sight of those steps just going up, up, up - but now I get there and I'm like, "That's all you got?!? Bring it on!" And then I bounce up them, singing proudly along with Rockzilla, while the Koreans look at me in amazement yet STILL REFUSE TO GET OUT OF MY DAMN WAY!!!!
The extra activity has been a welcome addition to my physical and mental health - I'm feeling better all around. I'm noticing tons of changes in my body - new muscles appearing, old muscles waking up. I haven't been on a scale in ages, but I can tell from looking at me that some of the chubbiness Ant had to pretend not to notice is totally gone. I'm still definitely not at that healthy point where my body actually craves vegetables, but I'm trying to cram more of them down my cramhole anyway. When there's actually room in my cramhole left from all the ice cream and M&M's, I mean.
So yesterday I couldn't run, and I was bummed. I actually missed it. I still got in some exercise - biked to and from work, 45 minutes of Bikram (I skip those stupid breathing poses at the beginning), and a Crossfit workout I've modified to suit my measly arm muscles. Crossfit calls it the "21." I've renamed my version the "11." But, I had a great run planned for after work and I was really excited about it.
And then, I started projectile vomiting with little warning. How fucking sexy is that?!? I was fine all day, and then halfway through my meeting I was like, "Something ain't right here." Out of nowhere! I made it to the Gireum station, but had to rest for quite awhile there. Made it to Nowon, where I have to transfer trains, and it took about as much energy as climbing Everest. Made it to Taerung, which I normally just walk home from to avoid another transfer, but instead I took a nap like a bum on one of the benches while waiting for the brown train. It took me 2 hours to puke my way through what should have been about 30 minutes of travel time. By the time Ant got home from the climbing gym, I was tossing and turning on the bathroom floor, sitting up only to puke my guts out every few minutes. And Ant, who can sometimes be a bit stingy with the compliments, held my hair and rubbed my back while I barfed some more, and said, "I like your outfit. I bet you looked really pretty today - before you started puking, I mean." What is it with men and timing?!?
Today finds me back at work, still feeling yucky but not even close to how yucky I felt last night. Hopefully, I can get some food in me and get a run in tonight - I had planned for some speedwork, but I may end up just doing a few miles around town at an easy pace.
The extra activity has been a welcome addition to my physical and mental health - I'm feeling better all around. I'm noticing tons of changes in my body - new muscles appearing, old muscles waking up. I haven't been on a scale in ages, but I can tell from looking at me that some of the chubbiness Ant had to pretend not to notice is totally gone. I'm still definitely not at that healthy point where my body actually craves vegetables, but I'm trying to cram more of them down my cramhole anyway. When there's actually room in my cramhole left from all the ice cream and M&M's, I mean.
So yesterday I couldn't run, and I was bummed. I actually missed it. I still got in some exercise - biked to and from work, 45 minutes of Bikram (I skip those stupid breathing poses at the beginning), and a Crossfit workout I've modified to suit my measly arm muscles. Crossfit calls it the "21." I've renamed my version the "11." But, I had a great run planned for after work and I was really excited about it.
And then, I started projectile vomiting with little warning. How fucking sexy is that?!? I was fine all day, and then halfway through my meeting I was like, "Something ain't right here." Out of nowhere! I made it to the Gireum station, but had to rest for quite awhile there. Made it to Nowon, where I have to transfer trains, and it took about as much energy as climbing Everest. Made it to Taerung, which I normally just walk home from to avoid another transfer, but instead I took a nap like a bum on one of the benches while waiting for the brown train. It took me 2 hours to puke my way through what should have been about 30 minutes of travel time. By the time Ant got home from the climbing gym, I was tossing and turning on the bathroom floor, sitting up only to puke my guts out every few minutes. And Ant, who can sometimes be a bit stingy with the compliments, held my hair and rubbed my back while I barfed some more, and said, "I like your outfit. I bet you looked really pretty today - before you started puking, I mean." What is it with men and timing?!?
Today finds me back at work, still feeling yucky but not even close to how yucky I felt last night. Hopefully, I can get some food in me and get a run in tonight - I had planned for some speedwork, but I may end up just doing a few miles around town at an easy pace.
Had a great run last night - even if it was on the dreaded dreadmill. Seriously, if this crazy monsoon doesn't let up soon I'm gonna KILL someone!
So, the run was a bit longer than I had expected. I get bored running indoors quick, so I never expect much more than a warm-up from treadmill running. I put Rockzilla in charge, because you all know how important it is to occasionally let the men in your lives feel like they're in charge. I told him we would run together for about 20 songs, and as long as he stayed away from Christmas music, he could pick the songs we ran to. Everything was going along fine, until he and the treadmill got into some kind of argument. I was ready to stop - I was BORED, and the only available treadmill at the gym was DIRECTLY in front of a full length mirror. Blech. Running towards yourself for 40 minutes is not pleasurable, and I'm such a klutz that if I don't look straight ahead, I veer off towards wherever I'm looking and end up falling off the treadmill. So, after staring at myself bouncing up and down, getting redder and redder in the face, not going anywhere, I was so bored I wanted to cry, and ready to go.
And Rockzilla was all like, "Oh yeah?!? Well, here's a Chris Cornell song! You won't stop running while Chris Cornell is playing!"
Damn him, he knows me so well!
When the song finished, I was really done, but the treadmill was like, "48:37!! Why would you stop now? A measly 83 seconds and you can say you ran 50 minutes! That's way better than saying you ran 40-some minutes!"
Stupid treadmill. It had a point.
So everytime Rockzilla would agree to let me stop, the stupid treadmill said no, and vice versa, until finally my legs told them both where to go, and I hopped off. Ended up running over an hour, which for me is pretty freaking awesome!
Finished with a pretty hard-core shoulder and back workout (need to be able to hold my own when paddling through those waves in the Philippines), then went home and had a lovely dinner of ice cream and peanut butter and jelly sammiches while chatting with my dad.
So far the rain has held off today (I even rode my bike to school!) so maybe I can run outside tonight!
So, the run was a bit longer than I had expected. I get bored running indoors quick, so I never expect much more than a warm-up from treadmill running. I put Rockzilla in charge, because you all know how important it is to occasionally let the men in your lives feel like they're in charge. I told him we would run together for about 20 songs, and as long as he stayed away from Christmas music, he could pick the songs we ran to. Everything was going along fine, until he and the treadmill got into some kind of argument. I was ready to stop - I was BORED, and the only available treadmill at the gym was DIRECTLY in front of a full length mirror. Blech. Running towards yourself for 40 minutes is not pleasurable, and I'm such a klutz that if I don't look straight ahead, I veer off towards wherever I'm looking and end up falling off the treadmill. So, after staring at myself bouncing up and down, getting redder and redder in the face, not going anywhere, I was so bored I wanted to cry, and ready to go.
And Rockzilla was all like, "Oh yeah?!? Well, here's a Chris Cornell song! You won't stop running while Chris Cornell is playing!"
Damn him, he knows me so well!
When the song finished, I was really done, but the treadmill was like, "48:37!! Why would you stop now? A measly 83 seconds and you can say you ran 50 minutes! That's way better than saying you ran 40-some minutes!"
Stupid treadmill. It had a point.
So everytime Rockzilla would agree to let me stop, the stupid treadmill said no, and vice versa, until finally my legs told them both where to go, and I hopped off. Ended up running over an hour, which for me is pretty freaking awesome!
Finished with a pretty hard-core shoulder and back workout (need to be able to hold my own when paddling through those waves in the Philippines), then went home and had a lovely dinner of ice cream and peanut butter and jelly sammiches while chatting with my dad.
So far the rain has held off today (I even rode my bike to school!) so maybe I can run outside tonight!
This was a picture of my coach, who made me take down the half-nekkid pic of him drinking beer on the corner while timing my speed workout for me. Sorry ladies, and boys at Bliss - you'll have to use your imaginations. I ran a few miles around Hwarangdae first, including a jaunt up Brown Hill, then did a bunch of sprints. Yay me.
As for this week, it's been pretty good. Sunday it poured rain all day. Ant had things to do, but I was bored out of my mind, which means I pretty much drove him crazy all day.
"WANNA WATCH A MOVIE?!?"
"Can't. I have to finish this."
5 minutes later....
"WANNA WATCH A MOVIE NOW?!?"
"Can't. I have to finish this."
5 minutes later...
"WANNA WATCH A MOVIE WHEN THE BIG HAND IS ON THE 12 AND THE LITTLE HAND IS ON THE 1?"
"That's in 3 minutes."
"SO?"
Finally, around 6 or so the rain let up a bit and I threw on my snazzy purple running shoes and got outside. I figured I'd run towards Taerung, then cut down to the bike path for a bit, but it was all locked up since the path is flooded. Oh well. Stayed on the roads, stomped in some puddles, and worked out some of my cabin fever.
By the time I got back home, Ant was finished with whatever it was that was sooooo important, so I convinced him to play Scrabble with me. Usually I kick his butt, but I'm incredibly sad to say that this time I lost by a mere 3 points. It was a crushing defeat. I'm still not over it. When I realized it might take more than the 7 tiles I had (all vowels, btw - ugh) to beat him, I tried my best to cheat but he wasn't having it.
"You can't use U.S. It's an abbreviation."
"It's not U.S. It's 'us.' "
"Us? Never heard of it. Sure it's a word?"
3 stinking points. GRRRRRRR!!!!!!!
Anyway, how have yunz guys been?
As for this week, it's been pretty good. Sunday it poured rain all day. Ant had things to do, but I was bored out of my mind, which means I pretty much drove him crazy all day.
"WANNA WATCH A MOVIE?!?"
"Can't. I have to finish this."
5 minutes later....
"WANNA WATCH A MOVIE NOW?!?"
"Can't. I have to finish this."
5 minutes later...
"WANNA WATCH A MOVIE WHEN THE BIG HAND IS ON THE 12 AND THE LITTLE HAND IS ON THE 1?"
"That's in 3 minutes."
"SO?"
Finally, around 6 or so the rain let up a bit and I threw on my snazzy purple running shoes and got outside. I figured I'd run towards Taerung, then cut down to the bike path for a bit, but it was all locked up since the path is flooded. Oh well. Stayed on the roads, stomped in some puddles, and worked out some of my cabin fever.
By the time I got back home, Ant was finished with whatever it was that was sooooo important, so I convinced him to play Scrabble with me. Usually I kick his butt, but I'm incredibly sad to say that this time I lost by a mere 3 points. It was a crushing defeat. I'm still not over it. When I realized it might take more than the 7 tiles I had (all vowels, btw - ugh) to beat him, I tried my best to cheat but he wasn't having it.
"You can't use U.S. It's an abbreviation."
"It's not U.S. It's 'us.' "
"Us? Never heard of it. Sure it's a word?"
3 stinking points. GRRRRRRR!!!!!!!
Anyway, how have yunz guys been?
This morning, about halfway through my second cup of coffee, I finished "What I Talk About When I Talk About Running," by Haruki Murakami. It's been out for awhile, so many of you have probably read it, but if you haven't you should think about picking it up. It's a quick, enjoyable read with lots of profound statements to get you really thinking.
Kind of like this blog. HA!
Kind of like this blog. HA!
First, the dull stuff:
1. Ran (yesterday) for 3 miles on the dreadmill at the gym, average pace being 8.6 km/hr. Yeah, it's slow and short, but shut up. Had an AWESOME leg workout using all their shiny new equipment, then went back to the dreadmill and did another 2.5 miles, this time averaging 9 km/hr. Yeah, still pretty slow and short, but shut up.
2. I'm seriously ready for the Monsoon to make it's way outta Seoul. Our beloved bike path is under water, my shoes are always wet, and this constant grayness is pissing me off. As long as it doesn't leave here and head to the section of the Philippines we're going to. Maybe it could go bother someone else for awhile?
3. Got my bathing suits, and I love them - all of them! That's quite an unusual feeling, as usually when I combine my body and tiny little pieces of fabric the first word that comes to mind is certainly not 'love.' I think I'm much more forgiving of my body now that I can shrug and say, "Whatev. I'm in my 30's."
4. Since trying said bathing suits on, I have eaten a dinner consisting entirely of fritos and beer, scarfed down ice cream right before bed on numerous occasions, and had a ridiculous amount of fried chicken. I may not love those bathing suits so much the next time I put them on. Whatev. I'm in my 30's.
1. Ran (yesterday) for 3 miles on the dreadmill at the gym, average pace being 8.6 km/hr. Yeah, it's slow and short, but shut up. Had an AWESOME leg workout using all their shiny new equipment, then went back to the dreadmill and did another 2.5 miles, this time averaging 9 km/hr. Yeah, still pretty slow and short, but shut up.
2. I'm seriously ready for the Monsoon to make it's way outta Seoul. Our beloved bike path is under water, my shoes are always wet, and this constant grayness is pissing me off. As long as it doesn't leave here and head to the section of the Philippines we're going to. Maybe it could go bother someone else for awhile?
3. Got my bathing suits, and I love them - all of them! That's quite an unusual feeling, as usually when I combine my body and tiny little pieces of fabric the first word that comes to mind is certainly not 'love.' I think I'm much more forgiving of my body now that I can shrug and say, "Whatev. I'm in my 30's."
4. Since trying said bathing suits on, I have eaten a dinner consisting entirely of fritos and beer, scarfed down ice cream right before bed on numerous occasions, and had a ridiculous amount of fried chicken. I may not love those bathing suits so much the next time I put them on. Whatev. I'm in my 30's.
And now, some fun stuff:
Friday night Ant and I headed to Seokgye for dinner (dak galbi - yumyumyumyumyum!) and then we walked around for a bit before deciding to stop into some random bar for a beer or two. Maybe 45 minutes or so after we got there, my coworkers showed up. Pretty strange coincidence, indeed, but made for a really fun night.
Friday night Ant and I headed to Seokgye for dinner (dak galbi - yumyumyumyumyum!) and then we walked around for a bit before deciding to stop into some random bar for a beer or two. Maybe 45 minutes or so after we got there, my coworkers showed up. Pretty strange coincidence, indeed, but made for a really fun night.
Wanna take a moment to wish my wanker big brother Brownie good luck this weekend. He's running some race that's supposed to be pretty hard or something. Whatever. Who can't run 100 miles at altitude these days???
Just got back from my run (seriously, I'm still panting) and I gotta say, it was freaking awesome! I wish I could have taken all of you with me, cause you would've loved it! The Dear Leader could've dropped the big one while I was out there, and I would've melted into the happiest little pile of ooze you've ever seen.
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