So Nice

to be around a group of people who don't have any real interest in my grades, or whether I made the mock trial cuts.

Yes, I got to run with the Stanton Park group again this morning.

Slowly around the mall - though I cut off part and walked a bit with someone who wasn't feeling well.

And, I got to re-hash the Ravens's loss in detail: all before the sun came up.

Well, at least I got about 5 1/2 miles in.

Aqua Jogging

Hehehehehe. My influence is extending. Somehow, I found myself with a aqua jog companion FOR THE WHOLE TIME!

Peace Corps said that she just didn't really want to work out on Sunday.

But I think it's because I've been selling this whole aqua jogging thing like it's candy: candy that you eat to slim down.

Non-diet diet candy. Watch! Eat this 3 times a day and see the pounds melt from your body! No need to count calories or try out those awful exercise machines!

Heh.

It went MUCH faster with a partner the whole time. About 45-50 minutes of it. Distance: about 6 feet, over and over again.

Killer for Kites

Though a bit chilly for shorts......

Wind whipping around me, I went out to do my penance miles.

Speedy Blonde - those were for you. About 5 miles.

5 SLOOOOOOW miles!

I double-checked, just to make sure. I could have sworn that it was 6!

On the Mall......

Saddling Up

I should be used to it by now.

But it still smarts, every time.

That other people, people who might not have tried as hard or thought about it as much, are better than me.

It comes time, though, to just SUCK IT UP.

And go biking. Which I did.

There may even be time for a jog today.

A jog: where other people, who are running, pass me.

Learning.

I keep expecting those slot machines to drop to 7-7-7, though. Even against all this learning.

Embracing mediocrity. It's not that bad, right? Lots of people seem to love it.

Why else would P.F. Chang's be a successful chain?

The Doldrums

It's true, sometimes, that a body is just too busy for exercise.

But only sometimes.

Rarely, even.

Because, at least for me, I seem to be more productive when I get that run in - especially in the winter.

Maybe because activity banishes those winter tv-watching, feeling-sorry-for-yourself-for-no-good-reason, being lazy doldrums?

Certainly, last night was spectacularly unproductive for me. Unless you deem watching Downton Abbey and reading a novel productive.

Which, in these circumstances of too-much-to-do-for-my-future-to-watch-stupid-Masterpiece-Theatre, I do not.
Wish I were here:

Or here:

Plus, forced inactivity gives me too much time to think about depressing crud like this. Humph.

I am anti.

I Don't Usually Bet

Unless It's a Sure Thing.

Just ask Suave how much money he owes me.

But I couldn't resist a runner's bet To Badwater suggested that the Speedy Blonde and I try out. Plus, how could the Ravens possibly lose against the Patriots?!

After all, Tom Brady comes pretty darn close to having jerk hair.

Exhibit A: Spoelestra (growing into his jerk hair: this is an early photo of his head-coach-dom)

And then Brady (he's the one on the left):

THE BET: whichever person's team loses, that person has to run the points differential in mileage. She gets a week to do so, and the limit on miles is 20. I would be allowed to break up the 20 and, also, to do some as aqua-jogging "miles".

I didn't get as much homework done during this part of the train ride back to DC as I probably should have.

I was too busy following ESPN GAMECAST and cursing.

A missed FG sealed my fate.

I've got to run 3 for the Ravens this week.

Like a good sport, I would normally do my miles after my invectives dried up: about 6:30am this morning.

But, due to major cramping, I'm sidelined this morning. But, Speedy Blonde, I will do the miles.

Stupid Patriots.

Good to Know

Apparently, I haven't been swimming properly. Else my lats wouldn't be sore today.

Or my inner thighs.

Also, apparently, I am really enthusiastic about my workouts when I've missed a day.

Saturday, you see, was a wash because of snow. Stupid health concerns and people afraid I was going to trip, slip and fall on the ice hidden underneath.

I mean, really: what would give you the idea that I'm klutzy?! Hah

Finally, doing lots of jumps and high knees without shoes makes one's feet tired.

I found a way to make the Boot Camp video actually feel like something, though!

Just make sure to get out-of-shape and do no real arm work, then try to do it as hard as possible.

What's Your Mileage?

I just realized, looking at some other peoples' blogs, that I have never added up the miles I've run during a year.

Even when I keep track of the miles/week, which has been too depressing to do lately, I've never bothered to see what they might add up to.

What are your mileage marks for the past year?

A Full Day

But it was great to get up and run, anyway.

This time, we went around the new Nationals Stadium.

Neat how the neighborhood is changing and filling out.

I'd type more but, after 3 classes, I'm really tired.

And I've still got hours of homework.

My cat looks soooo comfortable....Maybe I should join her for a moment......



about 6 1/2 miles today

A Fun Walk?

I do not have fun walking.

I endure walking. As a way to get somewhere. I try to go as fast as I can.

Or, I put my music up really high and totally zone out.

The gym was closed: MLK doesn't appreciate exercise, it seems.

So Peace Corps and I went walking.

I picked a destination: that way, we could be walking TO something.

It is essential on a Monday afternoon to go have coffee in Georgetown, passing about 25 coffee shops along the way, apparently!

"The Cutest Cafe in Georgetown"

No, not the one pictured. That is where we were going. But the line was too long.

The cafe we went to was NOT the Cutest Cafe in Georgetown, despite the sign.

But it was a good advertising gimmick! Got us to go in. I won't go back, though.

In the bathroom upstairs, there were what looked like some dead cockroaches in the bathtub. I didn't look too closely.

Luckily, I have an iron stomach. My crepe stayed down just fine.

After going by the funny card store - handmade cards are awesome: I wish I were able to draw better - we walked back.

It was cold. But still fun. Almost 6 miles, too!

Engagement Stories

I hate cold weather. Really.

Seriously.

Who needs seasons if you've got sunshine and balmy breezes?

Hawaii would be fantastic.

But, I struggled over to meet people at Stanton Park this morning, regardless. Even though it was 25 degrees and a bit windy.

Because people had promised they'd tell different engagement stories - whether theirs, or someone else's - on the run today.

And I'm a sucker for a good engagement story.

I don't want to be engaged, myself. But I love how people get all teary and excited while recounting it.

I heard several awesome ones today. I told Party Girl's engagement story, though the telling lost something as I had to explain what a Liar's Puzzle was.

History knew.

We plodded up the MBT again today, though not all the way to the end.

Then, to be reasonable, I separated from them at the end and ran back home.

Some cramping but not too bad.

And I heard some great stories.

About 6 (very chilly) miles

Reading, Reading, and more Reading

Luckily, I love to read. Because that is what today was all about.

Reading while biking for an hour in the morning.

Weight-lifting - that did NOT involve reading. Just some cursing.

Then, homework reading before going to Baltimore. Reading on the train to Baltimore.

Reading for homework while in Baltimore. And on the train back.

Then, some reading for pleasure. I hadn't finished the homework but had run out of stamina.

Lots of reading.

Playing Catch-Up

You'd think, given that I didn't have to be anywhere until 1:30pm, that Friday would have been a whirl of productivity.

I barely managed to get to the AT&T store before going to campus.

I still can't get a new phone, so I'll be living on the edge with the possibility of glass shards coming off of my shattered screen.

I think they've stopped falling out. Safe enough.

So yesterday and today are catch-up days. Which would work better if I weren't also going to my parents' today.

Between cleaning and trying to work, I did fit in a run yesterday. The MBT trail was a welcome distraction. They've put up new artwork near Rhode Island Avenue since the forever since I have been up there.
I would have stopped to take a picture but that would have just been an excuse to stop moving.
(Interestingly, I can't seem to find any photos online, either.)
A bit under 5 1/2 miles. The hill at Union Station was interesting. First time in a while I actually got a bit out of breath.
Now, I need to get on the bike before going to my parents' house.

Where to fit all this homework in, is the problem.

That, and how to organize all my books that my colleague helpfully brought over last night......

I hate piles. And I've got a lot of them right now.

Early Morning at the Pool

If only my camera were waterproof!

The newly fixed lights in the pool made my legs look really pasty and cool while churning underwater.

History rocked her sprint laps while I just trundled away - mostly on slow laps but some on high-rpm aqua jogging.

About 50 minutes.

The sun didn't peek out over the top of the windows until the very end of the workout.

Thinking about how to get caught up on my crosswords.

I'm finally into December.

My brain isn't working so well right now, though, so they are harder for me to finish.

Group Run!!!!!!

That gets extra exclamation points. It's been a LONG TIME since I've been on a group run.

I pulled that butt muscle that took FOREVER to heal.

Then, I was nervous about going outside to run - thanks, doctors! - so I tried to just aqua jog and treadmill.

I liked aqua jogging better than the treadmill. That says something.

Then, I was out of town and trying to run by myself.

Wow, was it nice to work out with people who are not involved in anything else I do during the day.

Running to the meet-up, I felt good. Great, actually, in comparison to Sunday, when I met up with History. Not having run two days in a row made a big difference, I think.

During the run down to RFK Stadium and back up to Stanton Park also felt great. I didn't get many cramps, except a light side cramp and then a couple of mild abdominal cramps during the last part of the run.

The doctor says to stop after those start happening. So I ran home. I can't tack on extra any more: it's hard for me to get past 6 miles these days.

Every time I read about someone who is doing 10, 15, 20+ miles and who is in a similar situation, I just am amazed.

Maybe if I hadn't had that muscle pull......

I'm torn, though, about the group run. On the one hand, we were going really slowly. On the other hand, we were going really slowly.

I could have gone faster, and wanted to, in parts.

Then again, no real cramping problems and certainly I wasn't out of breath. Really at all. Which is good and bad.

I need to think about this: group run slowly, where I can chat? Or some other type of exercise, like the pool?

I also almost tripped twice in the dark at the beginning of the run.

If I keep doing these, I'll have to work on that. A bit scarier than I'd have liked.

A bit over 6 miles today.

A Come-Uppance

"Swimming will be just like I never left!" I enthused to myself, having already pushed the start time back 1/2 an hour.
Sometimes, early in the morning, I can trick myself with fake excitement.
Well, not only was the excitement fake but that statement was a lie. A big lie.

After 2 laps, I felt so out of breath that I had to stop for a moment so I wouldn't inhale water and possibly drown.

The lifeguard on the other side of the pool was busily reading the paper. Help would come from that venue only if I somehow managed to drown noisily.

So I paused. And started again. But it was as if all of the fall hadn't happened. I was even slower, if that is possible!

Wow. And I certainly haven't been doing my arm exercises like I should. Swimming told me that pretty quickly.

Humbling. But helpful.

After struggling through about 20 back-and-forth laps, I switched to aqua jogging.

I actually kept my leg rotations pretty high for that, perhaps to make up for my dismal swimming.

Peace Corps and I managed to stay in the pool for about an hour.

Now to figure out how to get those goggles to stop hurting my eye sockets!

2 Days in a Row

History and I went running this morning.

I knew it would be rough when I ran out to meet her. Going up the slight incline on Massachusetts near Union Station, my right leg - especially my right quad - felt really sore and almost strained.

And this just because I had run the day before and hadn't had a full rest day since Tuesday.

My, how the proud have fallen.......

5 miles the day before will do this?!

But History was really nice and stayed with me, running super super slowly, around Eastern Market and to the Nay Yards before coming back to Stanton Park.

She even gave me a ride home for that whole whopping 1 mile back.

With the run there, I did about 5 3/4 today.

Helpful to get that positive in before all-day classes.

I am now so freaked out about the future and how I will manage life and school that I keep hyperventilating.

Maybe some (more) eating therapy is in order.

And I think I should lay off exercise tomorrow. My quad started feeling tired enough at the end that I accepted that ride. I'm not usually weenie enough to do that and I should remember to pay attention to signals like those.

Meanwhile, To Badwater just ran 2 consecutive marathons this weekend. Wow. A big difference in fitness levels!

I Just Couldn't Resist

I couldn't get company.

And I have a ton of work that I haven't yet started.

But I just couldn't resist the shorts and t-shirt.

I had to do it.

Around the Mall.

A bit less than 5 miles.

SHORTS AND A T-SHIRT!!!!!!!! In January!

Now to find another route. The Mall is kinda boring after a while. Not enough houses to cast one's eyes into.

Video Games

They now make stationary bikes with built-in video games.

Seriously.

And steering. I was nervous about the steering. I usually find myself backwards and in a wall in those driving games.

But this steering was easier.

I might need to slay something next time I try them.

But it made stationary biking not so bad for 45 minutes.

Stupid pool being closed!

Now, to find a way to make my rear less numb on the seat.

Maybe if I stand up more......

The High Line, Revisited

You've never been on the Highline?!

Really?!

Suave and I had walked the High Line, including the new extension, the day before.

Since I had gotten the Vivacious Redhead to come all the way out to Manhattan to run withme, I was feeling the pressure to deliver a "wow" run.

And I knew it wouldn't be because of the pace! I kept huffing away behind her.

But after running over to the West Side and running up to 50th, I knew what I could add to get that extra zing: the High Line.

The bird feeder near 20th is pretty out-of-this-world.

And the sun and the building cut-troughs managed to make the Vivacious Redhead smile-if only for a few beats. Success!

Of all of Manhattan, though, we are collectively least familiar with Soho, where I was staying.

From the Museum of New York, from yesterday, I can tell you that it is hard to navigate, in part, because it is pre-grid-of-1810. That, and we never used to run through it because there are too many tourists to dodge.

So we added on a little extra before finding our way back to Thompson Street. About 7 miles.

It can be so much easier to run when you have company-especially such good company.

Miss you!

My Phone Says 43!

Dude, your phone lies. Unless water stays frozen in the sun at 43 degrees F.

And the wind. I had forgotten about the New York wind.

That is something I don't miss.

But walking around the city, seeing friends, going to zany museums and eating delicious Szechuan food-those are all things I do miss about New York.

Staying in Manhattan, you can walk 8-9 miles. And not even go past the bottom of the park!

Suave was a good sport. Plus, he was excited bout his new coat. So he can along. Because what else would you do in NYC when it doesn't hit 30 F? In the sun?

Walk all day, of course. Then, see the Speedy Blonde and Gorgeous, among others.

Whee!

Walking can be harder than running on the hips and knees, I've found.

But it makes that Ma Po Tofu from Grand Sichuan all the better.



Mmmmmmmmm

Against My Usual Habits

I will post some New Years resolutions.

Like presents on major holidays, new year's resolutions are not something I take as seriously as that random gift on a Tuesday, or that resolve that comes up after lunch one day and somehow sticks around.

But, the timing was right for me. I need some motivation and some goals.

I don't usually do this publicly, though. But I thought I might get some good advice as to how best to achieve some of these goals were I to do so.

And, of course, I always like to have some staggered goals.

Goal #1: show up!

2. Lose about 40 pounds by August.

3. Be in shape to run a marathon by late summer.

4. Be in the top half of my class.

5. Be in the top 20% of my class.

6. Break 3:20 again in a marathon - this might have to wait until next year.

7. Stop eating candy and sweets after the beginning of March.

8. Get everyone in my family to eat more healthily.

9. Be a more thoughtful person.

10. Tell my friends how important they are to me.



Ok. Gonna stop now. Starting to sound like one of those dreaded Hallmark cards.

Oh-do more art stuff.

I'm sure I'll think of more but I will keep those to myself.

The Biggest Loser and NYC

I might get arrested. Otherwise, I'd drop and do 20 right here.

Watching the Biggest Loser always gets me so pumped!

The Biggest is what I am right now. But, hopefully, I will add the Loser part to my own moniker in a few months.

Meanwhile, I will just struggle to keep some element of fitness.

And not make as many excuses as I have been making.

After 20 minutes of whining and procrastinating yesterday, I went running. 5 miles is a fair amount for me now.


I can't wait until I can say that 5 miles is my short run!

Oh, and I really wish that Antone had won the Biggest Loaer. He was such a gracious contestant.

Harpy New Yep!

Everything was vibrating. Everything.

"My nose is vibrating!" Megan screamed into my ear.

I had no idea what she said until later, when she reiterated the point.

But dancing in heels is awesome!

My thighs hurt from the unaccustomed effort this morning.

And I was tired. But it was New Year's Day. Not a good day to miss a workout.

Out came the exercise video. Lame but at least it was something!

Now for a walk........