gonna miss her & other stuff

Yesterday I went for my first acupuncture treatment in months. I felt in need of a tune up. It was really great to see my acupuncturist, Jean. She's like a friend, easy to talk to and a good listener. I will definitely miss her when we move. I always smile, usually laugh and sometimes cry, all in the span of 15 minutes, during our check-in before she begins placing the needles. In looking to see if they had a website, I discovered an article about the clinic she and her husband own, click here to read it.

The session left me feeling very tired. Apparently, I had a lot of things going on that she was able to touch. She also strongly recommended I see a physical therapist for my back. I've been having a fair amount of pain in my low, low back and haven't been able to attribute it to anything. She thinks a PT will be able to look at it and give me a routine to strengthen it. I tried a chiropractor for a few sessions but just wasn't convinced it was the right path for me. I guess we'll see what the PT has to say.

Work has been busy. We've hired someone to replace Tom. He won't start until June 2. I think this is a good thing. I'm still adjusting to the first new guy in our department. And, I've been working on the resume. I think it's just about finished. Whew! It's been a challenge though I've had lots of support to get it in shape.

This morning I went for my second run this week. It had more moments of feeling good than Monday did, but it still isn't anywhere near the length I'd like it to be. I'll get there. I have to. My clothes aren't fitting the way I'd like them to and I refuse to buy anything new right now.

I guess that's it for now.

mish mash, catch up

I've been meaning to post this link for over a week now and keep running out of time. I am putting it first so no more excuses! It's a short piece on a place of great interest to us these days. Safety counts, ya know. Thanks, Cassie! (The only thing I can't figure is why it's under weird news...)

Yesterday I took my first run with another person (other than the two "races" I've entered and one training run with Rob when I was in better shape than I am today). It was interesting and hard. She seemed challenged to go at my slow pace. Regardless, I had a hard time conversing with her and kept shooting questions her way so she had to talk and not me. The frustrating part was that she would toss questions my way that I really wanted to answer so I had to wheeze out my words.

I mentioned my slow pace, right? I don't think I could go any slower without walking. As long as I'm not talking, which I'm usually not since I go alone or with Tiika who doesn't converse with me that way, I feel fine about my pace. I think it's simply a matter of getting in better shape. I'm planning to ask my friend if she'd be willing to run with me every couple of weeks or so because I think this might be a good way for me to measure my fitness progress.

Last weekend I got a good start on my ArtFest trades, both the ones I'm doing only for my housemates and also the inchies I'm doing for general trading. I'd like to spend some time this weekend puttering on them. When I have some inchies finished, I intend to post pictures. The other ones are going to be a surprise so no pictures. I like doing things for people that will be even slightly unexpected.

I'd say that wrap things up for now. Have a great weekend!

ironic

On Monday I took my first run of the New Year. I was surprised at how great I felt! Runners high, endorphins firing, cheesy grin. I had to slow to a stop a couple of times but it was almost more a mental need than a physical one.

Then yesterday morning I woke up with a headache and a general, not-feeling-so-good body. I went back to sleep for a little bit while Rob took care of Tiika in the hopes that it would help. No go. I ended up staying home from work. It just seemed like the best idea with everything that goes around this time of year.

I spent the entire day on the couch, snuggled with Tiika, reading. I still feel sort of woozy this morning. Hopefully being vertical for a while will be enough to overcome that sensation.

It was kind of a strange, low-grade sickness. I wonder if running on Monday somehow protected me from getting hit harder. I like to think so.

Here's greater health and more regular exercise in the New Year!

one last bit on Blue Mountain Run

This will be the last time I mention the Blue Mountain Run, I promise!

On the Monday after the race I received the email below regarding my results from that day. Although I wasn't in it to win anything, it was interesting to see how I stacked up with the rest of the participants. (Can anyone explain percentiles to me? I know I probably learned something about them in math class oh-so-many years ago but can't recall any longer.)

Congratulations on finishing the Blue Mountain All Women's Run on October 06, 2007. For your records, the weather that day was overcast and cool.

There were 37 finishers in the Women 30 to 39 age group and 186 finishers in your distance. A total of 505 particpants signed up.

Your overall finish place was 87 and your age group finish place was 19. Your overall finish percentile was 47 while your age group percentile was 51. Your time of 34:27.7 gave you a 11:07 pace per mile.

And the Sunday following the race I created this journal page:


I like the picture in the upper right hand corner but I'm going to have to reprint it. I was fighting with the printer to even get that much to successfully output. I may have to mess with it in Photoshop a bit though because I really like the effect of the screwy printer.

Rob thinks I should do this event next. We'll see...

blue mountain run

This year was the last year the Blue Mountain Clinic will be running their all women only run. Next year, men will be invited to participate.

Since I started running, I have wanted to participate in this event. Two years ago would have been the best year for me as far as being physically fit. I think I could have even trained for the 10K. It didn't work out that way. Oh well. Happily, I was able to get myself in shape enough over the last month or so that I could do the 5K today without dying.



Below is a Google map of the course. Most of it was in the equestrian park so was quite nice (no cars and soft but firm ground). If you click on the "Hyb" tab in the upper right corner you can actually see the ground we ran.


View Larger Map

Rob and Tiika came with me and lent their full-on support.

Tiika was very helpful and gave me her tips for running the distance: "Like this Mama!"













Here I'm anxiously listening to the directions, waiting for the signal to start.















Can you find me in the crowd? "Where's Jenn?"
Whew! The finish line. I made it in 34:38. Not bad. It's actually a little bit better than my time earlier this week so I'm ok with it.
And radiating joy from completion!! Woohoo!!


Thank you Rob for the support to train for this and for being the photographer recording the images of the morning.

not much new

There's not much new here right now. Just a lot of unpacking and picking up it seems. Oh, and some laundry and grocery shopping thrown in for good measure. Ordinary life stuff.

On the running front, I've run the 5K distance twice this week. This is good news. The first time I had to walk a piece but yesterday I pushed through and ran the whole distance. Felt pretty good, too. I've started compiling a playlist to use on my Shuffle for Saturday's event. According to my co-worker, Tom, tomorrow I should go short but intense in preparation. Now that I know I can do the distance, I am looking forward to participating. It will be on a course I've never run before and rarely drive to, either. If I get a chance, I'll make a map and post it.

100 calories

I had an excellent run on Friday. I increased the distance by a half mile and still felt great when I got back to the office. The last little bit was a mental challenge to keep running and not slow to a walk but I did it. Yahoo!

I did something different on both of these runs than my norm. You see, I'm not a great first-thing-in-the-morning breakfast person. On weekdays I usually have a cup of English Breakfast tea with smidge of half 'n half and honey. Then I'll add a newton (fig or raspberry) so I can take my vitamins. This is all between 4:30 and 5:00 AM. I am then good to go until about 8 AM when I have my Food for Life muffin smeared with peanut butter and apple butter.

I read something in my Health Magazine (thanks Mom!) recently that got me to thinking maybe I should have something more to eat before heading out. On Wednesday I tested the theory by eating half of a "power" bar (about 100 calories) 20-30 minutes before I left to run. What a difference. I had energy for the whole thing and felt super when I was finished. I think I've stumbled onto something here. It seems to help physically and mentally.

The other thing is good music. The better my selection of tunes as I move, the better my motivation to keep going. I love my Shuffle for this purpose. It's been a great investment for my running attire. I wonder how I'll do next weekend without it...

running check-in

I had a great run yesterday. It was the first time I was able to run my chosen course without pausing to walk. When I go out tomorrow, I will add some distance to my course. I am building up to 5 k (3 mi.) because I have signed up to do the final Blue Mountain All Women's Run on October 6. This is an event I have wanted to do for a few years now. A couple of years ago, I even thought I'd be in shape to run the 10 k. Alas, my training went by the wayside and now I'll be happy to finish the 5 k without falling over in a heap at the end.

I wanted to post a really cool map of my course that I created in Google Maps but now I'm feeling kind of squicky about it. If friends or family want to see it, email me and I'll send you the link.

smoky again

Rob just poked his head outside. Apparently it's smoky out there again. The relief from the other day's rain has come to an end. We'll evaluate again in just a bit but it looks like we might be heading for the hills to camp for the night and just lay around breathing clean air. Maybe I'll bring my running shoes and go for a jog since I haven't been out since last Monday.

movie: FairyTale A True Story

On Monday night we watched a sweet little movie, FairyTale: A True Story. We both enjoyed it. It's about two little girls in the English countryside toward the end of WWI. They lived on a beautiful property that was simply enchanting for them. In fact, it was so magical they were able to take pictures of themselves with fairies! Somehow Sir Arthur Conan Doyle ("Precisely, Holmes!") came across the photos and ... well, you'll have to watch the movie to find out the rest. There is a better description here if you're interested. It stars Harvey Keitel and Peter O'Toole and was made in 1997. We both thought the two little girls were outstanding in their roles.

Mandy M - I think your kids would like it. Caitlyn might be a little young but perhaps not with big brother or mommy by her side.

Bob & Valerie - Rob thinks you two would especially enjoy it.

Let us know if you check it out.

PS I ran as planned this morning. It went better than Monday even though about half way through it started to smell smoky. My lungs hurt for a bit this morning either from that or the cold air. Depending on the smoke levels, I'm shooting for a third run on Friday.

rain!

Yippee! I woke up this morning to a delicious downpour of rain bouncing off our metal roof. What a lovely sound. By the time Tiika finished her breakfast, it had abated enough that we ventured out into a lighter shower. Ahh, I like walking in rain like that...and to know that it must be helping all those firefighters out there to douse the flames, even better.

PS I did get in a short run yesterday. Man, oh, man is it hard after not running for a while. I walked more than I wished. At least I was out there. I intend to go at it again tomorrow.