So tonight was my first spinning class and I really liked it! Now, don't get me wrong, my butt is now KILLING me...a gel seat or padded bike shorts will be very important if I keep doing it but I did really like it. It was exactly what I wanted -- it was a good work out, fun music and it didn't feel like it was an hour of work. I'm definitely doing it again...
Today was a very important day as Camilla and Tom welcomed their second son, Rowan Clemente into the world this morning - I shall go meet Rowan tomorrow night and get me lots of new baby smell. It is so interesting how one group of friends has almost exclusively boys and another has almost exclusively girls...
This past weekend was in some ways incredibly magical and in some ways a toughy...but all in all a very good weekend. Friday night I got to catch up with BJ which is always a pure joy...Saturday Andy the kids and I went to the pool and then to one of his neighbour's daughter's birthday party and it was the most fun I've had in a while and in fact it was a magical night. It's strange to have some out of body experiences where you just look around you and realize how blessed you are to be exactly in that place and in that time with the people you are with. Moments like that are pure magic and they are moments I wish I had all of the time.
Sunday was spent watching kids run wild in an amusement park and haveing a blast and Monday was spent doing a 5K, running some errands and then having a bbq at one of my favourite hang outs.
I need to focus on the moments when I have the magic in my life because the magic makes it all worth it.
September 04, 2007
August 27, 2007
on the way to cape may....
That song always makes me think of Lawrence Welk -- not sure why, just does.
Spent a lovely weekend in Cape May with some of my nearest and dearest life long friends. It's amazing to me to spend a weekend with people I have known for 20 years and they are no parents with their own kids.
From a conversation I had with C & W's son Jacob:
me: Does your brother like to swim in a swimming pool? (we were talking about how his brother did not like to swim in the ocean)
J: yes
me: Does he swim in Mimi's and Grandpa's pool a lot?
J: yes, he loves that
me: me too, I loved swimming in your Mimi's and Grandpa's pool.
J: you've been there? I don't remember that
Of course you don't Jacob -- I think the last time I swam there was the day your mother found out she was pregnant with you!
It's just nice to have people who have known you forever, who accept you for exactly who you are and that being with feels like old home week!
Spent a lovely weekend in Cape May with some of my nearest and dearest life long friends. It's amazing to me to spend a weekend with people I have known for 20 years and they are no parents with their own kids.
From a conversation I had with C & W's son Jacob:
me: Does your brother like to swim in a swimming pool? (we were talking about how his brother did not like to swim in the ocean)
J: yes
me: Does he swim in Mimi's and Grandpa's pool a lot?
J: yes, he loves that
me: me too, I loved swimming in your Mimi's and Grandpa's pool.
J: you've been there? I don't remember that
Of course you don't Jacob -- I think the last time I swam there was the day your mother found out she was pregnant with you!
It's just nice to have people who have known you forever, who accept you for exactly who you are and that being with feels like old home week!
August 21, 2007
2 by 2...
The animals are collecting 2 by 2 in my little corner of Southeastern Pennsylvania - it's been raining almost non-stop since Sunday afternoon and I fear it is making me crabby. Which, of course, begs the question...why am I pondering moving to Seattle - the mythologically grayest and rainiest city in the country. Well, Pittsburgh actually has more gray days per annum than Seattle but who am I to judge? Some have suggested packing up my house and heading out there for a year just to see what happens - get a contract job and just go have an adventure and in many ways, that would be the safe way to go - not too much risk but potentially great reward.
But as I sit here today -- I wonder what I always wonder about my plans of moving to Seattle...am I running away from something or running to something? While I would hope it is the latter, my fear is that it is entirely the former.
But as I sit here today -- I wonder what I always wonder about my plans of moving to Seattle...am I running away from something or running to something? While I would hope it is the latter, my fear is that it is entirely the former.
August 06, 2007
The Boston 3Day 42 mile?
Well, it's done.
This past weekend I travelled to Boston to participate in the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer 3Day walk. To say it was an amazing experience is an understatement.
First, let me fess up, I didn't do all 60 miles. I walked about 42 miles.
Day 1 was...hot. No, it wasn't hot it was incredibly hot and humid. The rumour floating around camp is that it was 104 degrees. I only walked 17 miles that day. Yes, only. I was supposed to walk 21.5 but I had to listen to my body and know that I couldn't go any further and I'm glad I did listen because it would have been bad.
Day 2 was a bit better weather wise but it was by far the hardest day. I woke up with a pain in my right hip like I've never known. I walked about 7.5 miles and wound up getting myself bussed to lunch. After lunch I tried for 2.5 miles and was in tears through the last mile. I wanted so badly to walk the last day that I decided I needed to not kill myself. I went to the medical tent and this lovely trainer Heidi worked on my hip and performed a miracle as I was pain free when I stood up.
Day 3 was gorgeous weather wise. I was bound and determined to walk the whole thing. I paced myself, I talked to myself, I sang to myself and I walked 16.4 miles. It was almost entirely mental. I wanted to give up so many times but I wanted to finish more. It was totally mind over matter. My feet and legs were in agony but I wanted to finish and I'm SO happy I did. The last half mile was about the most incredible 10 minutes of my life. People cheering and screaming -- I was in tears by the time I was done. Everyone said that finishing was emotional but I wasn't at all prepared for what it was. It was way more than I anticipated. Throughout the weekend I kept thinking "there's no way in hell I'm doing this to myself again" and after the last 10 minutes I knew "I'm so doing this again."
I had a lot of time to think over this weekend and I figured out a lot about myself.
First and foremost, I'm tired of living in chaos. Mental, professional, emotional, physical...I'm going to work at cutting the chaos out of my life. Life is entirely too short to not spend it doing the things you love with the people you love honouring the causes you love. Love is worth fighting for. Life is worth fighting for and if I need to fight harder for some of the things I want, then I will do that. But I won't apologize anymore for being who I am. I won't feel bad about being who I am. I am me. I am lots of things, good and bad but all of them put together make me who I am and I have spent so much of my time trying to be anything but me. Not to say I may not slip into old patterns but I want more from my life and the only reason I'm going to get it is because I go for it.
I also learned to honour my body and be proud of what it can do and not be ashamed of what it can't do. I couldn't walk 60 miles this weekend but I could walk 42 and that, quite frankly, is amazing. There was a time in my life when walking up a flight of stairs was a challenge and this weekend I walked up miles and miles of stairs. Up big hills and down big hills -- over fields and roads and rivers and through the pain, I kept walking. I have fought against my body for so much of life but it felt very good to honour myself and be true.
I wish such an experience on the world around me. I wish that everyone can let the noise around them disappear and focus on what is in front of them. I wish that everyone can live life as it is meant to be lived, fully and strongly. I walked behind people this weekend with signs on their back that said "I walk because I miss my mom". How can we let ourselves forget that in a moment the things in front of us that we cherish can be gone so we need to embrace and honour them in the moment.
This past weekend I travelled to Boston to participate in the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer 3Day walk. To say it was an amazing experience is an understatement.
First, let me fess up, I didn't do all 60 miles. I walked about 42 miles.
Day 1 was...hot. No, it wasn't hot it was incredibly hot and humid. The rumour floating around camp is that it was 104 degrees. I only walked 17 miles that day. Yes, only. I was supposed to walk 21.5 but I had to listen to my body and know that I couldn't go any further and I'm glad I did listen because it would have been bad.
Day 2 was a bit better weather wise but it was by far the hardest day. I woke up with a pain in my right hip like I've never known. I walked about 7.5 miles and wound up getting myself bussed to lunch. After lunch I tried for 2.5 miles and was in tears through the last mile. I wanted so badly to walk the last day that I decided I needed to not kill myself. I went to the medical tent and this lovely trainer Heidi worked on my hip and performed a miracle as I was pain free when I stood up.
Day 3 was gorgeous weather wise. I was bound and determined to walk the whole thing. I paced myself, I talked to myself, I sang to myself and I walked 16.4 miles. It was almost entirely mental. I wanted to give up so many times but I wanted to finish more. It was totally mind over matter. My feet and legs were in agony but I wanted to finish and I'm SO happy I did. The last half mile was about the most incredible 10 minutes of my life. People cheering and screaming -- I was in tears by the time I was done. Everyone said that finishing was emotional but I wasn't at all prepared for what it was. It was way more than I anticipated. Throughout the weekend I kept thinking "there's no way in hell I'm doing this to myself again" and after the last 10 minutes I knew "I'm so doing this again."
I had a lot of time to think over this weekend and I figured out a lot about myself.
First and foremost, I'm tired of living in chaos. Mental, professional, emotional, physical...I'm going to work at cutting the chaos out of my life. Life is entirely too short to not spend it doing the things you love with the people you love honouring the causes you love. Love is worth fighting for. Life is worth fighting for and if I need to fight harder for some of the things I want, then I will do that. But I won't apologize anymore for being who I am. I won't feel bad about being who I am. I am me. I am lots of things, good and bad but all of them put together make me who I am and I have spent so much of my time trying to be anything but me. Not to say I may not slip into old patterns but I want more from my life and the only reason I'm going to get it is because I go for it.
I also learned to honour my body and be proud of what it can do and not be ashamed of what it can't do. I couldn't walk 60 miles this weekend but I could walk 42 and that, quite frankly, is amazing. There was a time in my life when walking up a flight of stairs was a challenge and this weekend I walked up miles and miles of stairs. Up big hills and down big hills -- over fields and roads and rivers and through the pain, I kept walking. I have fought against my body for so much of life but it felt very good to honour myself and be true.
I wish such an experience on the world around me. I wish that everyone can let the noise around them disappear and focus on what is in front of them. I wish that everyone can live life as it is meant to be lived, fully and strongly. I walked behind people this weekend with signs on their back that said "I walk because I miss my mom". How can we let ourselves forget that in a moment the things in front of us that we cherish can be gone so we need to embrace and honour them in the moment.
August 02, 2007
These boots are made for walkin...
This weekend I will be walking 60 miles in Boston...details when I return but let's hope for good weather and flat roads :)
July 24, 2007
July 22, 2007
been a long time
i've been quiet the past few weeks, i know. sorry carrie!
work has been busy as hell and i am in desperate need of a vacation which i am trying like hell to plan.
my 3day walk is in less than 2 weeks...actually 2 weeks from tonight i'll be finished!
i have been slacking on the exercise -- the work life has taken way too much of my time but i'm going to get back into the saddle -- or out of it as the case may be because i have places to go and people to see and things to accomplish.
work has been busy as hell and i am in desperate need of a vacation which i am trying like hell to plan.
my 3day walk is in less than 2 weeks...actually 2 weeks from tonight i'll be finished!
i have been slacking on the exercise -- the work life has taken way too much of my time but i'm going to get back into the saddle -- or out of it as the case may be because i have places to go and people to see and things to accomplish.
July 11, 2007
I just happened to be nowhere near your neighborhood.
Can you name the movie from which that quote comes?
No?
Does the quote below help?
Club Interviewer: Talking here with Cliff Poncier. Cliff, any comments on the "Seattle Sound" and Citizen Dick's place in it?
Cliff Poncier: Well, I don't like to reduce us to just being part of the "Seattle Sound." I'd like to think of us as expanding more. Like, we're huge in Europe right now. I mean, we've got records... uh, a big record just broke in Belgium.
Club Interviewer: Now, a song like "Touch Me, I'm Dick" is about... what?
Cliff Poncier: Well, I think "Touch Me, I'm Dick," in essence, speaks for itself, you know. I think that, you know, that's basically what the song is, um... about... is about, you know... I-I think a lot of people might think it's actually about, you know,"My name is Dick, and, you know, you can touch me," but, I think, you know, it can be seen either way.
Cliff Poncier: Well, I don't like to reduce us to just being part of the "Seattle Sound." I'd like to think of us as expanding more. Like, we're huge in Europe right now. I mean, we've got records... uh, a big record just broke in Belgium.
Club Interviewer: Now, a song like "Touch Me, I'm Dick" is about... what?
Cliff Poncier: Well, I think "Touch Me, I'm Dick," in essence, speaks for itself, you know. I think that, you know, that's basically what the song is, um... about... is about, you know... I-I think a lot of people might think it's actually about, you know,"My name is Dick, and, you know, you can touch me," but, I think, you know, it can be seen either way.
Still at a loss?
It's the movie Singles and it is one of my favourites. And it takes place in Seattle - which is where I sit today.
God, I love this city. It feels like home to me in a way that very few other places feel like home. I love the bustle of the city, I love the peeks of water you get as you walk block to block downtown, I love the unending supply of Devil Duckies, I love that one of the 3 most important people in my life (other than my parents) lives here and I love that I know my way around better than many people who live here. Running on Monday afternoon through downtown I was thinking to myself - why don't I just move here? I'd have a friend network as the aforementioned friend lives here and through him I've met a bunch of people. I know a lot of people in the recruiting world who could help me get a job -- I wouldn't be able to live in the size place I do now but I could make a great home here.
And then I think of all I'd leave behind if I lived here. I'd gain something wonderful but I'd lose a lot of wonderful things too. I'd miss out on spending time with my parents, with my closest friends, with their children. I'd miss Philadelphia and all it has to offer. I'd miss my home but god it is tempting.
I remember the first time I landed in Seattle in 1996 and the feeling I had of "home" even at icky SeaTac and I have been here at least 20 times and everytime I'm here, I fall more in love with the city. Maybe I just need to take comfort in the fact that for $300, I can be here anytime!
we're running with the shadows of the night....
So this is how my day began...sort of:
This has been an active week here in Seattle -- a LOT of hard work but a lot of exercise as well which for the most part has felt great. Now if only the scale would move! I'm anxious to weigh myself when I get home to see if I've moved at all -- I really hope so, I'm so sick of this plateau.
This has been an active week here in Seattle -- a LOT of hard work but a lot of exercise as well which for the most part has felt great. Now if only the scale would move! I'm anxious to weigh myself when I get home to see if I've moved at all -- I really hope so, I'm so sick of this plateau.
July 06, 2007
June 26, 2007
ah....mason and julia....
there used to be a soap opera called "santa barbara" and for years, it was my favourite! typical soap drama...rich girl (eden) loves bad boy cop (cruz), jealous sister (kelly - played by robin wright penn) and big brother mason....and his love julia. mason and julia NEVER had it easy -- life always got in the way of their romance...it was great stuff for my 12 year old romance obsessed self!
but mason and julia had a song...dan hill's "never thought" -- hearing the first few notes to this day brings me back to my living room in collegeville, watching the 2 of them, hoping and wishing they'd make it and that i'd make it too....
for some odd reason, "never thought" came flooding into my head on my flight to chicago last night...
but mason and julia had a song...dan hill's "never thought" -- hearing the first few notes to this day brings me back to my living room in collegeville, watching the 2 of them, hoping and wishing they'd make it and that i'd make it too....
for some odd reason, "never thought" came flooding into my head on my flight to chicago last night...
Can I touch you?
I cant believe that you are real
How did I ever find you?
You are the dream that saved my life
You are the reason I survived
Baby...I never thought that I could love
Someone as much as I love you
I know its crazy but its true
I never thought that I could need
Someone as much as I need you
I love you...
Can I hold you?
Girl your smile lights up the sky
You are too beautiful for the human eye
You are the dream that never dies
You are the fire that burns inside
Baby...I never thought that I could love
Someone as much as I love you
I know its crazy but its true
I never thought that I could need
Someone as much as I need you
I love you...
You are the sinshine in the sky
You are the sparkle in my eyes
I never thought that I could love
Someone as much as I need you
I know its crazy but its true
I never thought that I could need
Someone as much as I need you
I love you.
June 23, 2007
25 or 6 to 4
for some god awful reason, this song has been in my head all day.
well, i did it.
i finished a 5k in under 45 minutes...hell, i finished it in under 44 minutes.
it was a great course - very flat.
it was a beautiful morning -- about 64 degrees and totally not humid.
it was a small group -- like 92 or 93?
it was 2 laps around the same course and when i finished the first lap at 22:31 i realized i could do it in under 45 minutes so i really pushed myself. ran a lot more of this than normally. but it felt great and really empowering.
this was the first race i've done without andy either doing it too or being there and while i missed him a lot (and he was my first call when it was done) it was nice for me to know that i'm doing this for ME and not because he is making me or anything like that. i want to find a few more to do this summer and then he and i talked tonight about doing a bunch in the fall. i really like running a race, with a group - it motivates me to push harder. plus when someone laps you at 12 minutes...that makes you realize you have a long way to go but that's ok. i've already come a long way, right?
well, i did it.
i finished a 5k in under 45 minutes...hell, i finished it in under 44 minutes.
it was a great course - very flat.
it was a beautiful morning -- about 64 degrees and totally not humid.
it was a small group -- like 92 or 93?
it was 2 laps around the same course and when i finished the first lap at 22:31 i realized i could do it in under 45 minutes so i really pushed myself. ran a lot more of this than normally. but it felt great and really empowering.
this was the first race i've done without andy either doing it too or being there and while i missed him a lot (and he was my first call when it was done) it was nice for me to know that i'm doing this for ME and not because he is making me or anything like that. i want to find a few more to do this summer and then he and i talked tonight about doing a bunch in the fall. i really like running a race, with a group - it motivates me to push harder. plus when someone laps you at 12 minutes...that makes you realize you have a long way to go but that's ok. i've already come a long way, right?
June 18, 2007
lil bit of push and pull....
i had a really hectic day at work which flew by -- didn't leave until almost 6:30 but i still made it to the gym - did a few minutes (well, 10) of the eliptical and then weight work. i have something to do tomorrow night but i'm again going to try to get up in the morning and walk/run. i need to do this. i NEED to do this.
i have my plan for marathon training all laid out and it's supposed to start next week but i think i'm going to just begin it this week which means tonight was strength work and then tomorrow is 3 miles so if i get up and out by 5:30, i can be home by 6:30 and get ready to go to work.
so who wants to make sure i get out of bed in time to do this?
i have my plan for marathon training all laid out and it's supposed to start next week but i think i'm going to just begin it this week which means tonight was strength work and then tomorrow is 3 miles so if i get up and out by 5:30, i can be home by 6:30 and get ready to go to work.
so who wants to make sure i get out of bed in time to do this?
June 17, 2007
the winner takes it all....
hey -- any blog post that starts with Abba is good, right?
i beat Andy in a 5k
i beat Andy in a 5k
ok, we don't HAVE to go into the details that lead me to beating him....we don't have to include that he'd run a 5 mile run the night before in great time, we don't have to include the fact that he was tired, we don't have to include the fact that as we went into the finishing chute he said "ladies first" regardless, when you look at the finishing stats....Amanda *******, some other guy, Andrew *****....HA!
ok, now to be serious for a second, i have been doing a lot of thinking this weekend about goals and what i want and what i want to do and what i want to accomplish.
i am amazingly hard on myself. i don't have nearly enough faith in myself and i don't give myself credit for my accomplishments. i have a good job, a nice home, friends, family and yet because i'm not in great shape and the prettiest girl around, i feel like a failure and it's really annoying me. i am a very kind person and i take very good care of the people in my life but i don't take very good care of myself. so tryng this running thing seems to be a way to take care of myself. now, i feel the need to be clear because i don't really run, i trot a smidge but mostly walk quickly. i can't seem to get past the hump of being able to run and it really bums me out. it makes me very frustrated and very sad and means that i say really horrible things to myself which isn't a good thing to do either.
i went walking this morning in VF park -- not sure how far i went but i walked for an hour and if i'd had more time, i would have done more -- didn't run any off it, just walked...if i'm going to do this half marathon, i really need to kick it into high gear so i'm going to focus on that. stop focusing on what i'm missing or failing or how i continue to worry that if i disappeared tomorrow, no one would notice.
i wonder sometimes if i should go about my life not worrying about that so much - i try so hard to not be a bother that i think i wind up being one. wow, weird catch 22.
ok, wow, where did this blog post go...certainly not where i thought it would when i started typing. but back to my goals...i want to just be able to run more and more and make it not so hard on me. i want to get back into the weightloss scheme, get off this plateau and feel like at the end of the day that when Andy tells me how proud he is of me, i feel that pride too.
i beat Andy in a 5k
i beat Andy in a 5k
ok, we don't HAVE to go into the details that lead me to beating him....we don't have to include that he'd run a 5 mile run the night before in great time, we don't have to include the fact that he was tired, we don't have to include the fact that as we went into the finishing chute he said "ladies first" regardless, when you look at the finishing stats....Amanda *******, some other guy, Andrew *****....HA!
ok, now to be serious for a second, i have been doing a lot of thinking this weekend about goals and what i want and what i want to do and what i want to accomplish.
i am amazingly hard on myself. i don't have nearly enough faith in myself and i don't give myself credit for my accomplishments. i have a good job, a nice home, friends, family and yet because i'm not in great shape and the prettiest girl around, i feel like a failure and it's really annoying me. i am a very kind person and i take very good care of the people in my life but i don't take very good care of myself. so tryng this running thing seems to be a way to take care of myself. now, i feel the need to be clear because i don't really run, i trot a smidge but mostly walk quickly. i can't seem to get past the hump of being able to run and it really bums me out. it makes me very frustrated and very sad and means that i say really horrible things to myself which isn't a good thing to do either.
i went walking this morning in VF park -- not sure how far i went but i walked for an hour and if i'd had more time, i would have done more -- didn't run any off it, just walked...if i'm going to do this half marathon, i really need to kick it into high gear so i'm going to focus on that. stop focusing on what i'm missing or failing or how i continue to worry that if i disappeared tomorrow, no one would notice.
i wonder sometimes if i should go about my life not worrying about that so much - i try so hard to not be a bother that i think i wind up being one. wow, weird catch 22.
ok, wow, where did this blog post go...certainly not where i thought it would when i started typing. but back to my goals...i want to just be able to run more and more and make it not so hard on me. i want to get back into the weightloss scheme, get off this plateau and feel like at the end of the day that when Andy tells me how proud he is of me, i feel that pride too.
June 15, 2007
ouchy ouch ouch?
so wednesday night i had this team building thing for work and we did a high ropes course. i've done them before but not since i went to camp which is coming up on *gulp* 20 years ago.
i did an element that looked like this
only imagine that 35 feet in the air.
for those who have met me and i can't imagine someone is reading this who *hasn't* met me -- you know i'm not the most graceful person on the planet but there i was 35 feet in the air and i did a split that i had no clue i was capable of doing. maybe i should use that as a way to get dates? :)
and i have bruises on my right arm that look like track marks. gorgeous!
tomorrow is another 5k -- this one WITH andy as opposed to having him just cheer for me at the end. i'm glad we are doing this together - it's fun for both of us...well, if by fun we mean 45 minutes of hard work for me.
i don't have my usual sunday morning walking partner as kathleen is in VA visiting her dad for father's day so maybe i'll put a few episodes of 'this american life' on my ipod and do ridley creek myself early in the morning before it gets too hot. we shall see!
i did an element that looked like this
only imagine that 35 feet in the air.for those who have met me and i can't imagine someone is reading this who *hasn't* met me -- you know i'm not the most graceful person on the planet but there i was 35 feet in the air and i did a split that i had no clue i was capable of doing. maybe i should use that as a way to get dates? :)
and i have bruises on my right arm that look like track marks. gorgeous!
tomorrow is another 5k -- this one WITH andy as opposed to having him just cheer for me at the end. i'm glad we are doing this together - it's fun for both of us...well, if by fun we mean 45 minutes of hard work for me.
i don't have my usual sunday morning walking partner as kathleen is in VA visiting her dad for father's day so maybe i'll put a few episodes of 'this american life' on my ipod and do ridley creek myself early in the morning before it gets too hot. we shall see!
June 12, 2007
step by step
and no, i don't mean the hideous tv show with suzanne somers and patrick duffy...
i mean step aerobics class. i don't think i'm a girl meant to step, i'm WAY to uncoordinated for that.
but otherwise, since the 5k that almost killed me, i've been good.
the times were finally posted on the web for race for the cure and running of the monk and man, i gotta admit, i got a bit of a charge out of seeing my name there, even if the times were dismal. they'll get better because i'll keep working on it.
sunday though was a bonanza of exercising fun. i went walking with holly and makenna in the morning - we did the 6.6 mile loop in valley forge park and then went to the gym with andy and the swimming with him and the kidlets. and then ate way too much for dinner. good times. oh well, it was one of the lovliest sundays i've had in eons and eons, so you won't hear a complaint out of me!
i have been thinking though over the last few days - i struggle with being assertive. i need to work on that for myself...at work, with my friends....i'm really reluctant to express my needs/desires/ideas because i'm afraid of the results of that expression. there's another project to work on.
tomorrow i am going to do a high ropes course as a team building exercise with work and then thursday night i'll make sure i get to the gym before movie night. friday night i'll get myself to the gym to do something physical and then saturday morning andy and i have another 5k. after that i'm all out of races so i need to find some more to sign up for.
i mean step aerobics class. i don't think i'm a girl meant to step, i'm WAY to uncoordinated for that.
but otherwise, since the 5k that almost killed me, i've been good.
the times were finally posted on the web for race for the cure and running of the monk and man, i gotta admit, i got a bit of a charge out of seeing my name there, even if the times were dismal. they'll get better because i'll keep working on it.
sunday though was a bonanza of exercising fun. i went walking with holly and makenna in the morning - we did the 6.6 mile loop in valley forge park and then went to the gym with andy and the swimming with him and the kidlets. and then ate way too much for dinner. good times. oh well, it was one of the lovliest sundays i've had in eons and eons, so you won't hear a complaint out of me!
i have been thinking though over the last few days - i struggle with being assertive. i need to work on that for myself...at work, with my friends....i'm really reluctant to express my needs/desires/ideas because i'm afraid of the results of that expression. there's another project to work on.
tomorrow i am going to do a high ropes course as a team building exercise with work and then thursday night i'll make sure i get to the gym before movie night. friday night i'll get myself to the gym to do something physical and then saturday morning andy and i have another 5k. after that i'm all out of races so i need to find some more to sign up for.
June 09, 2007
running up that hill....
- Be running up that road,
- Be running up that hill,
- Be running up that building,
- Say, if I only could, oh...
- ~Kate Bush
I am sure there were a ton of people looking at me thinking "what the hell is she doing?" but every time I do this...ok, the 2 times I've done this it definitely inspires me to take better care of myself and do better because I don't want that to be that hard. I want to do this one again next year and not finish the last hill and turn and be completely sure I was going to pass out (because for about 1 minute there, I thought I was going down) - I want to RUN more of this than I walk.
It's interesting because there were times during this my body was totally cooperating and I was running and it felt great -- it felt amazingly freeing and powerful to just run like that but then there were times with my body was like "yo lady, pipe down up there, you are carrying about 50 pounds more than I'm comfortable carrying, don't forget that" and those moments SUCKED! But I can keep working at this and keep trying to do better. Training for this half marathon is going to kick my butt but it's going to really push me forward. Mostly I just don't want to feel as bad at the end of the half marathon as I felt last night.
Then again, no matter how bad I felt or looked -- I had a very cute guy bring me water, beers and hot dogs -- what could be so bad about that?
June 08, 2007
girl i'm gonna make you sweat....
or the song goes something like that?
who knows and who cares.
i'm doing another 5k this evening and it's going to be a sweat-tastic sweatfest of sweating. good times.
94 degree with 32890438290482309% humidity.
at least i'm drinking buckets of water now, right?
who knows and who cares.
i'm doing another 5k this evening and it's going to be a sweat-tastic sweatfest of sweating. good times.
94 degree with 32890438290482309% humidity.
at least i'm drinking buckets of water now, right?
June 05, 2007
i guess that's why they call it the blues....
Man, I am in a bad mood today.
Not really sure what that’s about – I don’t often tend to be in “bad” moods – sad, stressy, worried? Sure. Bad? Not often but I am today.
Doesn’t make a lot of sense because I got a good night of sleep last night which is often a trigger for a bad day to follow.
Work is really busy right now and kind of frustrating – which is part of why I am SO excited to get the coaching thing moving. I have tried to see if I can get it reimbursed by my company so that’d be fantastic.
Tonight Meredith and I are going walking (weather permitting) and then to lay out our training plan for the distance run – maybe an evening with Meredith will help me mood – it usually does.
I need a vacation though – BADLY. I could go to SF and wine country with my mom and her friends over Labour Day weekend this year but I’m not sure I want to do that. I mean I do but I’m not sure the funds will work out. I do want to go to Nova Scotia at some point this fall – plus I got a thing from Marriott today to go to St. Thomas for a week for $299! That’s quite tempting too but won’t happen.
I think I’m bothered by the limbo – being at the start of so many great things but not fully engaged in them yet. But maybe I’m supposed to enjoy the limbo instead of cursing it.
Not really sure what that’s about – I don’t often tend to be in “bad” moods – sad, stressy, worried? Sure. Bad? Not often but I am today.
Doesn’t make a lot of sense because I got a good night of sleep last night which is often a trigger for a bad day to follow.
Work is really busy right now and kind of frustrating – which is part of why I am SO excited to get the coaching thing moving. I have tried to see if I can get it reimbursed by my company so that’d be fantastic.
Tonight Meredith and I are going walking (weather permitting) and then to lay out our training plan for the distance run – maybe an evening with Meredith will help me mood – it usually does.
I need a vacation though – BADLY. I could go to SF and wine country with my mom and her friends over Labour Day weekend this year but I’m not sure I want to do that. I mean I do but I’m not sure the funds will work out. I do want to go to Nova Scotia at some point this fall – plus I got a thing from Marriott today to go to St. Thomas for a week for $299! That’s quite tempting too but won’t happen.
I think I’m bothered by the limbo – being at the start of so many great things but not fully engaged in them yet. But maybe I’m supposed to enjoy the limbo instead of cursing it.
June 03, 2007
at what point do we call someone crazy?
People throw the term "crazy" around a lot. People describe other people as crazy way too much - but right now I'm feeling a bit like a crazy person.
Last week I was posting on a message board with a bunch of friends and some were encouraging me to come to Maui to run the Maui Marathon on 9/16 -- and as appealing as being in Maui sounds...
So after some searching and some suggestions by friends....
I'm going to do the Philadelphia Distance Run.
It's a half marathon.
For those of you playing at home, that is 13.1 miles. I have to finish it in less than 4 hours which makes it very possible. Meredith had brought the idea up to me a few weeks ago and I basically ignored it but we're going to do this. I need to register for it. Tuesday Meredith and I are going to put together a training schedule.
I'm going to run a half marathon.
That, my friends, makes me crazy.
Last week I was posting on a message board with a bunch of friends and some were encouraging me to come to Maui to run the Maui Marathon on 9/16 -- and as appealing as being in Maui sounds...
- running a marathon is a BIT unrealistic
- I don't really have to cashola to go to Hawaii
- have i mentioned running a marathon is a bit unrealistic?
So after some searching and some suggestions by friends....
I'm going to do the Philadelphia Distance Run.
It's a half marathon.
For those of you playing at home, that is 13.1 miles. I have to finish it in less than 4 hours which makes it very possible. Meredith had brought the idea up to me a few weeks ago and I basically ignored it but we're going to do this. I need to register for it. Tuesday Meredith and I are going to put together a training schedule.
I'm going to run a half marathon.
That, my friends, makes me crazy.
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