I got some fantastic news today. The Depends brand now makes adult diapers in peach. Whew. True, I'm not incontinent yet, but I did just turn 37 so it's nice to know there is now another color of adult diaper available. I hope they take a cue from infant diapers and make a denim version. I'd love to rock the Daisy Duke look.
Yeah, I'm finally feeling old. Of course age is a matter of perspective. I'm seven years older than my youngest brother and when I marveled to him a couple of days before my birthday I'd be turning thirty-seven, he patted me on the shoulder, looked me in the eye and said, "you've always been old to me, K." Gotta love brothers.
And I've let myself go the past year which is the biggest reason I'm feeling old. Middle-age spread and all that. Starting my new business last spring distracted me from fitness and then traveling quite a bit over the summer added some vacation weight. I suspect the anti-depressant I started taking after a bout with post-partum depression is making it extra hard for me to shake it. I've weaned myself to a half dose, but it helps me sleep and I'd rather be a fat, happy, well-rested person than the skinny, anxious, insomniac I was 2 years ago. (I'd be lying if I said I don't miss being a size 2 though.) But, don't worry, I'm ready to start focusing on my triathlon training again. I said I wouldn't let that goal slip away and I meant it. I intend to participate in a triathlon in August 2012.
So I'm making working out and fueling my body properly a priority. I'm not eating after 7pm, drastically reducing my daily sugar intake, and doing my damnest to work veggies or fruit into every meal. I'm also going to work out 5-6 days a week. My goal is to get my 5k time back to 9minute miles by Christmas and start swimming in January. I also want to start posting at least once a week again to keep me accountable.
k
Wednesday, November 2, 2011
Friday, May 20, 2011
Life Is What Happens...
... to you while you are busy making other plans.
-John Lennon
Slight change of plans.
I am no longer aiming to complete a triathlon this year.
No worries, it's still a priority, I'm only pushing back the timeframe to make way for life.
My new business venture is going strong and hubby and I are vacationing in India for 2weeks this summer to celebrate the marriage of one of my brothers. There is a lot happening right now I didn't foresee when I first constructed a timeline. I decided not to stress about trying to fit in swimming and biking regimens. I completed a half-marathon this year and that's good enough for now.
Seriously, I am still serious about it. I have a friend competing in a triathlon this August and she invited me to train with her for next year. That's the new goal for now. I'll keep you updated as events unfold.
k
Saturday, May 14, 2011
I Earned a Medal! Sorta
Half-marathon complete.
When I crossed the finish line they gave me half a medal. No joke. Except it was funny. Sorta.
My comedian appreciated the thought and the execution, but the athlete in me was pissed off. I ran (well, jogged, but still...) 13miles! In 2.5 hours! That's an accomplishment. But, it's not a marathon. It's half a marathon so you get half a medal. See? Again, I'm torn between laughter and tears. What did the 10k folks get? In context, yes, it was a half-marathon. But out of context, it's 13 fucking miles! If you are bothering with medals, then give me a full medal rewarding the completion of my personal goal, not some snide reminder I didn't run another 13miles. That's weird, right?
Anyway, it's over, it's done and I couldn't be happier about that. I might run a half-marathon again, but not any time soon. It was grueling. I did a decent job pacing myself and, despite my lack of training, only had to walk for a short distance between miles 11 and 12 because of some muscle spasming. I really, really wanted to say I jogged the entire thing, but I also didn't want to cross the finish line in an ambulance. Speaking of which....
Around mile 8.5, close to the turnaround point, I saw a guy laid out on the side of the road with a small group of runners around him. "Poor guy," I thought, "got a cramp or maybe fainted." It was a reminder to keep carefully pacing myself, but nothing alarming. However, since he was close to the turnaround, I ran by him again a short time later and this time closer. I could see he was completely out of it and I heard an ambulance. Then I realized someone was doing chest compressions on him. That rattled me. You don't do chest compressions on someone whose heart is beating. So surreal. It was one of the few beautiful mornings we've had this year and numerous spectators lined the course cheering their friends and family on. A small, but enthusiastic (loud) group was only about 10yards up the road from the downed man. I'm sure they had no idea. Of course, I kept thinking of his family waiting for him at the finish. And waiting. And waiting. And waiting. Sickening.
However, I'm assuming he made it because I paid close attention to the news the next two days and didn't hear anything. Also, at the finish, I overheard a runner telling someone about a competitor who had a seizure and I'm thinking that was probably the man I saw. Seizures are scary, but most of the time people make a full recovery. I am praying that's what happened.
k
When I crossed the finish line they gave me half a medal. No joke. Except it was funny. Sorta.
My comedian appreciated the thought and the execution, but the athlete in me was pissed off. I ran (well, jogged, but still...) 13miles! In 2.5 hours! That's an accomplishment. But, it's not a marathon. It's half a marathon so you get half a medal. See? Again, I'm torn between laughter and tears. What did the 10k folks get? In context, yes, it was a half-marathon. But out of context, it's 13 fucking miles! If you are bothering with medals, then give me a full medal rewarding the completion of my personal goal, not some snide reminder I didn't run another 13miles. That's weird, right?
Anyway, it's over, it's done and I couldn't be happier about that. I might run a half-marathon again, but not any time soon. It was grueling. I did a decent job pacing myself and, despite my lack of training, only had to walk for a short distance between miles 11 and 12 because of some muscle spasming. I really, really wanted to say I jogged the entire thing, but I also didn't want to cross the finish line in an ambulance. Speaking of which....
Around mile 8.5, close to the turnaround point, I saw a guy laid out on the side of the road with a small group of runners around him. "Poor guy," I thought, "got a cramp or maybe fainted." It was a reminder to keep carefully pacing myself, but nothing alarming. However, since he was close to the turnaround, I ran by him again a short time later and this time closer. I could see he was completely out of it and I heard an ambulance. Then I realized someone was doing chest compressions on him. That rattled me. You don't do chest compressions on someone whose heart is beating. So surreal. It was one of the few beautiful mornings we've had this year and numerous spectators lined the course cheering their friends and family on. A small, but enthusiastic (loud) group was only about 10yards up the road from the downed man. I'm sure they had no idea. Of course, I kept thinking of his family waiting for him at the finish. And waiting. And waiting. And waiting. Sickening.
However, I'm assuming he made it because I paid close attention to the news the next two days and didn't hear anything. Also, at the finish, I overheard a runner telling someone about a competitor who had a seizure and I'm thinking that was probably the man I saw. Seizures are scary, but most of the time people make a full recovery. I am praying that's what happened.
k
Wednesday, April 20, 2011
Are We Having Fun Yet?
No.
I ran 10 miles yesterday. It was a beautiful day, perfect running weather, but it still sucked. Really, wasn't pleasurable in the least. I earned one brief runner's high, but it wasn't intense or long-lasting enough to make the other 9.7 miles worth it. Maybe it has to do with how accelerated my training regime has been, I know I'm forcing it, or maybe 10k is my optimum distance, but I'm still regretting have signed up for this thing. Just really want it to be over at this point. And my times haven't been anything to brag about either.
You know what got me through it? Have you seen 127 Hours yet? I have. If you live in a cave or Egypt then the following my be a spoiler for you so considered yourself warned.
*********************************************************************************
The dude cuts his arm off. With a small multipurpose tool. Using his non-dominant hand. After 5 days stuck in a ravine with almost no food or water. And THEN he hikes out of the canyon, even rappelling at points. And THEN he climbs on to a rescue chopper of his own volition. At least that's what happens in the movie. I haven't read his book, a true story, but I hear the movie is faithful.
So whenever I started feeling sorry for myself while running I would repeat over and over in my head, "dude cut his arm off, dude cut his arm off, dude cut his arm off and then hiked out of a canyon." It wasn't necessarily an empowering mantra, but it would shame me into not stopping.. I mean, the dude cut his arm off. His own arm. I think I can suck it up and run a few miles.
I did see one interesting thing during my 90minutes of running (told you my times suck); a man scolding a screaming parrot. He was walking along a popular local path with the parrot sitting on his hand and it was screaming obnoxiously and he was yelling back at it, "no! No! You don't do that! Stop that!" Had it been later in my run, I may have thought "hallucination," but I was only 3 miles in and quite lucid. Plus, I don't know if a hallucination would have been that bizarre.
Anyway, back on topic, for better or worse it will be all over by 10:30ish PST, Sunday May 1st.
k
I ran 10 miles yesterday. It was a beautiful day, perfect running weather, but it still sucked. Really, wasn't pleasurable in the least. I earned one brief runner's high, but it wasn't intense or long-lasting enough to make the other 9.7 miles worth it. Maybe it has to do with how accelerated my training regime has been, I know I'm forcing it, or maybe 10k is my optimum distance, but I'm still regretting have signed up for this thing. Just really want it to be over at this point. And my times haven't been anything to brag about either.
You know what got me through it? Have you seen 127 Hours yet? I have. If you live in a cave or Egypt then the following my be a spoiler for you so considered yourself warned.
*********************************************************************************
The dude cuts his arm off. With a small multipurpose tool. Using his non-dominant hand. After 5 days stuck in a ravine with almost no food or water. And THEN he hikes out of the canyon, even rappelling at points. And THEN he climbs on to a rescue chopper of his own volition. At least that's what happens in the movie. I haven't read his book, a true story, but I hear the movie is faithful.
So whenever I started feeling sorry for myself while running I would repeat over and over in my head, "dude cut his arm off, dude cut his arm off, dude cut his arm off and then hiked out of a canyon." It wasn't necessarily an empowering mantra, but it would shame me into not stopping.. I mean, the dude cut his arm off. His own arm. I think I can suck it up and run a few miles.
I did see one interesting thing during my 90minutes of running (told you my times suck); a man scolding a screaming parrot. He was walking along a popular local path with the parrot sitting on his hand and it was screaming obnoxiously and he was yelling back at it, "no! No! You don't do that! Stop that!" Had it been later in my run, I may have thought "hallucination," but I was only 3 miles in and quite lucid. Plus, I don't know if a hallucination would have been that bizarre.
Anyway, back on topic, for better or worse it will be all over by 10:30ish PST, Sunday May 1st.
k
Wednesday, April 13, 2011
WTF Did I Sign Up For?
Holy hell, 13 miles is fa... as in "fa, a long, long way to run."
I was cocky after completing that 10k in September. What's another 7 miles, I thought? I've already run half of that, how hard can it be?
Turns out, pretty fucking hard.
Damn you, endorphins! You got me into this mess.
I finally got around to mapping out (not running, driving) 13 miles the other day and I wanted to cry when the odometer hit 6.5 and I realized how far away from my house I was. When it finally clicked over to 13 at the top of my street, I about had a panic attack. And I've only got 14 days more to train since I'm not going to run the two days before. On Monday I ran just over 7.5 miles. Today I did 10 miles on the elliptical. I'd like to run the entire distance at least twice before my race (and, yes, I'm already registered so if I back out now that's $65 down the drain), but that's hard to imagine right now.
Wish me luck.
k
I was cocky after completing that 10k in September. What's another 7 miles, I thought? I've already run half of that, how hard can it be?
Turns out, pretty fucking hard.
Damn you, endorphins! You got me into this mess.
I finally got around to mapping out (not running, driving) 13 miles the other day and I wanted to cry when the odometer hit 6.5 and I realized how far away from my house I was. When it finally clicked over to 13 at the top of my street, I about had a panic attack. And I've only got 14 days more to train since I'm not going to run the two days before. On Monday I ran just over 7.5 miles. Today I did 10 miles on the elliptical. I'd like to run the entire distance at least twice before my race (and, yes, I'm already registered so if I back out now that's $65 down the drain), but that's hard to imagine right now.
Wish me luck.
k
Sunday, April 3, 2011
What Happened to Dolly?
I published, I thought, a post about why I love Dolly Parton. Where oh where did it go? Did anyone see it? It was long. I'm pissed.
k
k
Thursday, March 17, 2011
I Am Prefect
Finish every day and be done with it. You have done what you could.
Some blunders and absurdities no doubt crept in; forget them as soon as you can.
-Ralph Waldo Emerson
I vividly remember a time in my high school theater class when we were doing one of those dramatic exercises where you pretend to be crazy things like popping corn or sizzling bacon. I'd been active in drama for years before this class and had done this exercise dozens of times and always been uncomfortable with it. It's hard to look cool (as if I ever looked cool) while blooming like a flower under a ray of sunshine. However, on this particular occasion I happened to look around at the other kids and realized the only ones who actually looked uncool were the ones trying not to by refusing to participate or self-consciously half-assing it like myself. The kids who just went for it looked ridiculous in all the right ways and were having a blast doing it. At that moment I realized the coolest thing to do is not give a flying eff what anyone else thinks and I flopped to the ground and sizzled my little heart out. Theater got a lot more fun after that.
Recently, I realized I was once again trying to look cool and putting a lot of pressure on myself to do something perfectly. Well, guess what? I did it and it wasn't perfect. Surprise, surprise. And you know what? I lived. And not only that, but the feedback I received was positive not only in spite of my imperfections, but because of my imperfections. Turns out coming across as less than perfect makes you relatable and likeable.
Next time you are pressuring yourself to be perfect remember how well that turned out for Nina in Black Swan. Then take a deep breath and lighten up.
Recently, I realized I was once again trying to look cool and putting a lot of pressure on myself to do something perfectly. Well, guess what? I did it and it wasn't perfect. Surprise, surprise. And you know what? I lived. And not only that, but the feedback I received was positive not only in spite of my imperfections, but because of my imperfections. Turns out coming across as less than perfect makes you relatable and likeable.
Next time you are pressuring yourself to be perfect remember how well that turned out for Nina in Black Swan. Then take a deep breath and lighten up.
k
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