Someone on the Weight Watchers message board was asking about barefoot running. I know, I know, the first time I heard it, I had the same reaction. I said, "Say what?" But after reading Born to Run, I get it. I don't do it but I get it. Nike apparently gets it also, in a funny way. I thought I would share this commercial. They are called Nike Free 5.0 V4.
Friday, July 31, 2009
Wednesday, July 29, 2009
Let's face it...I am a junkie
junk·ie also junk·y
n. pl. junk·ies Slang
1. A narcotics addict, especially one using heroin.
2. One who has an insatiable interest or devotion: a sports junkie.
someone who is physiologically dependent on a substance; abrupt deprivation of the substance produces withdrawal symptoms
Hi, my name is Rozette and I am a Junkie. (Heard from other's in the room, "Hi Rozette") NO, I am not a narcotic addict. I am a data junkie, a Nike+ junkie. I live to see my mini run across my desktop when my screen saver pops up. I love to see her run on my blog. And when I can't feed her I get withdrawal symptoms. I have searched the forums at Nike+ there seems to be a workaround for this. However, I think when I updated my Itunes at the same time that I was syncing my Nano, something got lost in translation. At the end of this post you will find the directions on how to find your lost runs.
So while I know I did the run, I can't prove it to mini. My legs feel it, my mind know its but my mini doesn't.
The good news is that it will encourage me to get a short run in before I go to Ladies Night at On the Run. They are going to have representatives from Brooks, Asics and Moving Comfort. It should be fun. There will be food, talk about nutrition for female runners and walkers, shoe fittings, and bra fittings. I hope I don't step on any toes because I want to try the Lunarglides+ before I try the Brooks or Asics. However, I am interested in talking to the Moving Comfort representative since I have a bone to pick with them. They have discontinued their "extended size" clothing line. Bad move. They should read my blog entry from a few days ago or watch the recent entertainment news that says Fluffy is In.
So if you ever find yourself lost of a run in your Nike+ follow the following steps. I know they work because I was able to travel out to the saved runs but I think mine was lost in a Itunes update.
Here's how to do a manual re-upload using a Mac:
1. Dock your iPod nano to your computer, and note the name of your iPod nano. It will be visible under the iPod icon on the desktop, and will most likely have a name like "Clover's iPod."
2. On your desktop, click Shift + Apple + G to generate the "go to" prompt.
3. In the command window, enter: /Volumes/Clover's iPod/iPod_Control/Device/Trainer/Workouts/Empeds/Note that you'll need to substitute your iPod's name where appropriate. Note, too, that this field is case-specific. Don't forget the underscore in "iPod_Control!"If you're unable to open the folder from the Finder, we recommend that you download and install the Invisibles program, which allows you to navigate the iPod nano's hidden files and folders. It's a free download here:http://www.versiontracker.com/dyn/moreinfo/macosx/14722
8. Once you've accessed the Empeds folder, you'll see at least one subfolder with an alphanumeric name. Users with multiple sensors will see a folder for each sensor. (Note that the folder name actually corresponds to the serial number on the back of the sensor.) Each folder contains the workout data associated with that sensor.
9. The "synced" sub-folder will likely contain the run you're missing; its filename will reflect the date it was recorded, so it should be easy to locate. When you find it, drag and drop it into the "latest" folder.
10. Eject your iPod nano and close iTunes. After a moment, re-dock your iPod nano. The file should upload automatically to the account you specified in the last session.
Here's how to do a manual re-upload on a PC:
1. Dock your iPod nano and allow iTunes to launch. If it doesn't launch automatically, please launch it from your desktop or your Start menu.
2. Select your iPod nano from the source list on the left-hand side of the screen in iTunes and scroll to the bottom of the Summary page, which should be your landing page. In the "Options" section, please make sure that "Enable disk use" is selected; if it's not, please select it and click "Apply."
3. Launch Windows Explorer (Start > All Programs > Accessories > Windows Explorer). Please note that Windows Explorer is NOT the same program as Internet Explorer, the web browser! Windows Explorer is a utility that allows you to access the files in various drives on your computer.
4. Click "Tools > Folder Options" and select the "View" tab. Make sure that "Show hidden files and folders" is selected; if it's not, please select it and click "Apply."
5. Locate your iPod nano in the source list on the left-hand column in Windows Explorer. It should have a name like "Clover's iPod," and is most likely your E or F drive. Then navigate the folders as follows: Clover's iPod > iPod_Control > Device > Trainer > Workouts > Empeds.
6. In the Empeds folder, you'll find several folders with alphanumeric names. Each of these contains the workout data associated with one of your sensors. (If you're interested, you can even match the folder with the sensor by looking at the serial number on the back of the sensor; you can also work out this information by looking at the dates on the files within each folder.)7. Identify your current sensor and open the "Synched" folder. In it, you'll find xml files, titled by date. Identify the ones that didn't upload successfully on the first try, and drag and drop them into your "Latest" folder.8. Close iTunes and eject your iPod nano. After a moment, re-dock your iPod nano; the data that you just moved should now re-upload successfully.
n. pl. junk·ies Slang
1. A narcotics addict, especially one using heroin.
2. One who has an insatiable interest or devotion: a sports junkie.
someone who is physiologically dependent on a substance; abrupt deprivation of the substance produces withdrawal symptoms
Hi, my name is Rozette and I am a Junkie. (Heard from other's in the room, "Hi Rozette") NO, I am not a narcotic addict. I am a data junkie, a Nike+ junkie. I live to see my mini run across my desktop when my screen saver pops up. I love to see her run on my blog. And when I can't feed her I get withdrawal symptoms. I have searched the forums at Nike+ there seems to be a workaround for this. However, I think when I updated my Itunes at the same time that I was syncing my Nano, something got lost in translation.
So while I know I did the run, I can't prove it to mini. My legs feel it, my mind know its but my mini doesn't.
The good news is that it will encourage me to get a short run in before I go to Ladies Night at On the Run. They are going to have representatives from Brooks, Asics and Moving Comfort. It should be fun. There will be food, talk about nutrition for female runners and walkers, shoe fittings, and bra fittings. I hope I don't step on any toes because I want to try the Lunarglides+ before I try the Brooks or Asics. However, I am interested in talking to the Moving Comfort representative since I have a bone to pick with them. They have discontinued their "extended size" clothing line. Bad move. They should read my blog entry from a few days ago or watch the recent entertainment news that says Fluffy is In.
So if you ever find yourself lost of a run in your Nike+ follow the following steps. I know they work because I was able to travel out to the saved runs but I think mine was lost in a Itunes update.
Here's how to do a manual re-upload using a Mac:
1. Dock your iPod nano to your computer, and note the name of your iPod nano. It will be visible under the iPod icon on the desktop, and will most likely have a name like "Clover's iPod."
2. On your desktop, click Shift + Apple + G to generate the "go to" prompt.
3. In the command window, enter: /Volumes/Clover's iPod/iPod_Control/Device/Trainer/Workouts/Empeds/Note that you'll need to substitute your iPod's name where appropriate. Note, too, that this field is case-specific. Don't forget the underscore in "iPod_Control!"If you're unable to open the folder from the Finder, we recommend that you download and install the Invisibles program, which allows you to navigate the iPod nano's hidden files and folders. It's a free download here:http://www.versiontracker.com/dyn/moreinfo/macosx/14722
8. Once you've accessed the Empeds folder, you'll see at least one subfolder with an alphanumeric name. Users with multiple sensors will see a folder for each sensor. (Note that the folder name actually corresponds to the serial number on the back of the sensor.) Each folder contains the workout data associated with that sensor.
9. The "synced" sub-folder will likely contain the run you're missing; its filename will reflect the date it was recorded, so it should be easy to locate. When you find it, drag and drop it into the "latest" folder.
10. Eject your iPod nano and close iTunes. After a moment, re-dock your iPod nano. The file should upload automatically to the account you specified in the last session.
Here's how to do a manual re-upload on a PC:
1. Dock your iPod nano and allow iTunes to launch. If it doesn't launch automatically, please launch it from your desktop or your Start menu.
2. Select your iPod nano from the source list on the left-hand side of the screen in iTunes and scroll to the bottom of the Summary page, which should be your landing page. In the "Options" section, please make sure that "Enable disk use" is selected; if it's not, please select it and click "Apply."
3. Launch Windows Explorer (Start > All Programs > Accessories > Windows Explorer). Please note that Windows Explorer is NOT the same program as Internet Explorer, the web browser! Windows Explorer is a utility that allows you to access the files in various drives on your computer.
4. Click "Tools > Folder Options" and select the "View" tab. Make sure that "Show hidden files and folders" is selected; if it's not, please select it and click "Apply."
5. Locate your iPod nano in the source list on the left-hand column in Windows Explorer. It should have a name like "Clover's iPod," and is most likely your E or F drive. Then navigate the folders as follows: Clover's iPod > iPod_Control > Device > Trainer > Workouts > Empeds.
6. In the Empeds folder, you'll find several folders with alphanumeric names. Each of these contains the workout data associated with one of your sensors. (If you're interested, you can even match the folder with the sensor by looking at the serial number on the back of the sensor; you can also work out this information by looking at the dates on the files within each folder.)7. Identify your current sensor and open the "Synched" folder. In it, you'll find xml files, titled by date. Identify the ones that didn't upload successfully on the first try, and drag and drop them into your "Latest" folder.8. Close iTunes and eject your iPod nano. After a moment, re-dock your iPod nano; the data that you just moved should now re-upload successfully.
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
W8D1 The one that got away...
Monday, July 27, 2009
Imperfect is the new Perfect
So, I am all into this fluffy thing and empowering myself to see beyond my own size. And it is all good. But I guess you become more aware of things as you begin to own them. Lifetime has a new show Drop Dead Diva, about a beautiful skinny minny that dies and comes back as a plus size attorney. It is about her coping with it. I have to be honest, I have only seen about 15 minutes of it and I liked what I saw. Fox is premiering a new show, More to Love, which is about a bachelor who is attracted to all shapes of women, even fluffy. NBC's, The Biggest Loser, has been on TV for several seasons. Ok, I am not too sure about Dance my Ass off, on Oxygen but that is just me personally.
My point is that us fluffy gals are starting to be recognized in mainstream media. Fluffy is the new gay in Hollywood. Let me explain myself. There was a time in mainstream media that being a gay was something you did in the closet. If there was a character on a show that was gay, it was only hinted to or considered their dark secret. Then with shows like Will and Grace, stars Ellen De Generes and Rosie O'donell and numerous of pop singers that are pretty open about their lifestyle, it has become pretty mainstream. Now when you see a person on a show, that happens to be gay, they are just one more character on show ....and they happen to be gay Just like some happen to be brunette or blond or male or female. I don't want to debate whether being gay is right or wrong. My point is they are recognized as just a part of mainstream society.
Don't get me wrong, I love my size 2 or 4 or 6 gals on TV and in real life. But the average size women in America is a size 14. So shouldn't the average size women in the ads on TV and characters on TV be average sized? Ok, maybe we, as a society, won't accept it. But what about a good mix of all sizes. A mix so varied in sizes that it would be difficult to describe one of the characters on the show as "ya know that big girl." You wouldn't be able to single them out just on that one trait because that one trait would not apply to just one character.
So where am I going with this? Last week while trying to win a pair of Lunarglide+ on Twitter, I was sent to an article about Nike+ Human Race 10K on October 24, 2009 and their requests for Ambassadors. I am applying. We have to answer why we want to run the race. I have many reasons to run this race, my daughter, my family, those people that look at me funny when I say I am a runner, those gals who tell me that they don't think they can run because of their size. I want to prove to myself and to them that yes, I am a runner. Yes, I love to run. Yes, I am running the Human Race...we humans come in all shapes and sizes. There are soo many other reasons why Nike can choose not to pick me, but I don't want one of those reasons to be because I am fluffy.
So, I didn't win a pair of Lunarglide+ from Nike promo last week. However, one of my favorite bloggers, Cyndi, won a pair. WUU HUU.
My point is that us fluffy gals are starting to be recognized in mainstream media. Fluffy is the new gay in Hollywood. Let me explain myself. There was a time in mainstream media that being a gay was something you did in the closet. If there was a character on a show that was gay, it was only hinted to or considered their dark secret. Then with shows like Will and Grace, stars Ellen De Generes and Rosie O'donell and numerous of pop singers that are pretty open about their lifestyle, it has become pretty mainstream. Now when you see a person on a show, that happens to be gay, they are just one more character on show ....and they happen to be gay Just like some happen to be brunette or blond or male or female. I don't want to debate whether being gay is right or wrong. My point is they are recognized as just a part of mainstream society.
Don't get me wrong, I love my size 2 or 4 or 6 gals on TV and in real life. But the average size women in America is a size 14. So shouldn't the average size women in the ads on TV and characters on TV be average sized? Ok, maybe we, as a society, won't accept it. But what about a good mix of all sizes. A mix so varied in sizes that it would be difficult to describe one of the characters on the show as "ya know that big girl." You wouldn't be able to single them out just on that one trait because that one trait would not apply to just one character.
So where am I going with this? Last week while trying to win a pair of Lunarglide+ on Twitter, I was sent to an article about Nike+ Human Race 10K on October 24, 2009 and their requests for Ambassadors. I am applying. We have to answer why we want to run the race. I have many reasons to run this race, my daughter, my family, those people that look at me funny when I say I am a runner, those gals who tell me that they don't think they can run because of their size. I want to prove to myself and to them that yes, I am a runner. Yes, I love to run. Yes, I am running the Human Race...we humans come in all shapes and sizes. There are soo many other reasons why Nike can choose not to pick me, but I don't want one of those reasons to be because I am fluffy.
So, I didn't win a pair of Lunarglide+ from Nike promo last week. However, one of my favorite bloggers, Cyndi, won a pair. WUU HUU.
Thursday, July 23, 2009
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
W7D2...how do I do it?
Well, I am back on the Couch to 5K program. Yesterday my stomach was a bit upset so I skipped going to the gym with my family and just sat on the couch to watch TV. I wasn't feeling 100%, so that was ok. Or was it? I guess not because 40 minutes after my family showed up at the gym, I walked in.
My run was uneventful. I had Everyone Loves Raymond on the TV in front of me and hit the treadmill. I found that I have to push through the first 8-10 minutes then it seems easier. At about minute 15 or 16 I get into a rhythm then about mile 20, I want to quit. I know, I know. Four to five minutes of real stride? But it is worth it to get that feeling that I am in the groove. I start singing the songs on my Ipod....outloud. I am sure it is weird to the other people in the gym. The largest gal in the gym, running on a treadmill, longer than anyone else, her flab bouncing everywhere, smiling and singing Womanizer or Did you miss me or Army Cadence. Who cares!
My day has been uneventful. However, it has been nice. I sat on the phone with my best friend today and we talked about running. We updated eachother on how are last runs went. We talked about 5Ks we want to sign up to do. It is nice to have my bestfriend, Julissa, having the same new passion, running, as me.
My run was uneventful. I had Everyone Loves Raymond on the TV in front of me and hit the treadmill. I found that I have to push through the first 8-10 minutes then it seems easier. At about minute 15 or 16 I get into a rhythm then about mile 20, I want to quit. I know, I know. Four to five minutes of real stride? But it is worth it to get that feeling that I am in the groove. I start singing the songs on my Ipod....outloud. I am sure it is weird to the other people in the gym. The largest gal in the gym, running on a treadmill, longer than anyone else, her flab bouncing everywhere, smiling and singing Womanizer or Did you miss me or Army Cadence. Who cares!
My day has been uneventful. However, it has been nice. I sat on the phone with my best friend today and we talked about running. We updated eachother on how are last runs went. We talked about 5Ks we want to sign up to do. It is nice to have my bestfriend, Julissa, having the same new passion, running, as me.
Saturday, July 18, 2009
I finished my first 5K and lost to a three year old.
What a rush! I never had a moment that I didn't want to do this. I just wanted to get it over and wow what an amazing experience. I don't know if I ever shared but I am not a morning person so not only was this my first 5K but I was running earlier than I ever had in the past. My daughter ran this with me. If you ever read my very first post, this is why I am doing this. I want to build memories with her. After years of pushing her in a stroller when I went walking, years of having her next to me while I did walking on a treadmill, in these teenage years, I had become unfit and couldn't run to my neighbor's house. I had to change that. She was becoming a runner and I am too big for a stroller, so I had to get moving.
When we get to the Johnson Space Center we meet up with our friends from Bible Study, Dianne and her husband Kelly. They give us some more tips. We are runners in completely differently leagues. This is my first 5K and they have qualified and run the Boston Marathon. So I really value the time and attention they have given me and their words of encouragement. I get teary eyed just thinking about how wonderful they have been.
While they were doing a 20 minute warm up, I hear my name being called. My best friend in the world,Julissa,was there. She started running about 2-3 months ago. She started doing 5Ks about two months ago. So we are both new runners but she jumped in before me. I was so glad she was there. We have never run together. I have a confession. Some people have drinking buddies. People that for whatever reason, when they gather, they drink. Well she was my eating buddy. When we got together, it was an eating experience. For years it was Johnny Tamales. They knew us coming in the door and probably knew our order before we did. When she moved out of the area, we made it a point to find a new place to eat and chat. We knew we had a problem when my daughter became Pavlov's dog. As soon as she saw Julissa, she was hungry. We have decided to meet on the weekends, for 5Ks. Speak it into your life and act if you do, even when you don't and it will happen. We said that for years and here we were today at a 5K and in two weeks we will do another one.
So I didn't do a warm up walk and I should have. People were running as they past the Start line. I forgot that this was a race. I kept a pretty even pace. My goal: make sure there is someone always behind you and I succeeded. There were 70 year old women and another girl like me, fluffy that were behind me. I think for the first mile and half, there were 15 people behind me but at mile 2 this group of seniors passed me and the EMT guys were riding along side of me. Seriously, they rode next to me for all of mile 2. But none of that mattered. What mattered was the three year old that I spotted in the middle of mile two.
There he was walking along side his father. So cute, so young, so much my nemesis. You have got to be kidding me!?!?! He has been ahead of me this whole time? Oh no, I am picking up the pace. And that is how mile two and three went. I didn't focus on the seniors passing me or the water people shutting down near me. I focused on him. When he sped up, so did I. When he slowed down, I thanked God and slowed down. And then the unthinkable happened. His daddy picked him up and put him on his shoulders. Not fair!!! No one was here to pick me up and give me a rest. For 10 yards his father carried him. Sure it was only 10 yards but apparently that was all he needed because when his father put him down, he took off. And in a matter of minutes he was fleeting speck in front of me until I couldn't see them anymore.
So I was left to my own devices to push on. I listened to Lose Yourself about 4 times to push through the last mile. About 1/4 of mile from the finish I saw my daughter coming back for me. I wanted to cry but I learned from W5D3 that crying takes my breath away and I needed all the oxygen I could get. She smiled and stayed back. Somehow she knew that I loved the support but this was something that I needed to do alone. In one of the pictures, you see me in the tunnel and she is hanging back. As I rounded through the tunnel to the finish, they were all there: Dianne, Kelly, Julissa, Jan (her boyfriend) and my husband. As I passed them, I yelled, "If this was an endurance race....I would be the winner!!!
I have truly been bitten by the running bug. I can't wait to do my next one. Well, there is one in two weeks on the trails in front of my house but August is the hottest month for us. Julissa says she is doing it and that if I don't, I'll have to make breakfast for them. As much as I love food, I hate to cook. So looks like I am running. So my goal, find that three year old and beat him!! LOL
One a side note: The 1/2 mary here in January is closed. It hit max within hours of opening the registration. So we are thinking of doing the 1/2 mary in Austin....hills. hmmmm
Addedum to original post:
These are things I fogot to mention in my original post:
- I find it very hard to drink from a cup while I am running. Most of the water ended up on my shirt.
- I hate litter so I found it even harder to throw my cup down onto the ground after trying to drink from it
- Tuesday was the firt time I ever walked/run 5K, on Saturday, during my 5K in the heat, outside, Joan Benoit Samuelson came over my Nike plus to congratulate me on my fasted mile ever!! so I recorded my best pace time...Can you believe it?
Friday, July 17, 2009
How are you doing?
I don't even know how to answer that one. I am excited about my 5K tomorrow and I am scared. Will I finish? Will I finish last? Will I even wake up in time for the race? All these questions and more. Where do I pin my number, on the front or the back? Do I carry a water bottle? Do I want my IPod? I don't know, I don't know, I don't know? Encino, Encino with long hair....oh wait that was My Big Fat Greek Wedding, not My Big Fat Self Running. LOL
I think I am over prepared. I don't want to look like a newbie but I will probably stand out. You know the people who try to look cool by trying to look like they are not trying to look cool? Yeah that will be me. A friend of mine is running in the 5K. Yeah, she did the Boston Marathon. She said when she finishes, she will come back and run with me. Well I didn't want her to run an additional 6K, so I told her to grab something eat, cool down, chat with my husband and her husband then come meet me. I should be halfway done by then.
I should be sleeping but I am too jazzed up. I hope it rains tomorrow morning instead of just waiting to rain. That would mean hot, muggy air. Just let the water fall and relieve us during our run. My understanding is that it is all on streets through NASA and between buildings, which means we won't feel the breeze from the nearby lake. Darn.
Some weight watcher buddies are running this weekend. Here is a shout out to Kris, Christina, Lisa and Valerie. You go girls. Show the rest of the runners what we are made of!!!! Woo Woo woo!!!
I think I am over prepared. I don't want to look like a newbie but I will probably stand out. You know the people who try to look cool by trying to look like they are not trying to look cool? Yeah that will be me. A friend of mine is running in the 5K. Yeah, she did the Boston Marathon. She said when she finishes, she will come back and run with me. Well I didn't want her to run an additional 6K, so I told her to grab something eat, cool down, chat with my husband and her husband then come meet me. I should be halfway done by then.
I should be sleeping but I am too jazzed up. I hope it rains tomorrow morning instead of just waiting to rain. That would mean hot, muggy air. Just let the water fall and relieve us during our run. My understanding is that it is all on streets through NASA and between buildings, which means we won't feel the breeze from the nearby lake. Darn.
Some weight watcher buddies are running this weekend. Here is a shout out to Kris, Christina, Lisa and Valerie. You go girls. Show the rest of the runners what we are made of!!!! Woo Woo woo!!!
Thursday, July 16, 2009
100 days and my first 5K
I just picked up my packet for the Lunar Rendezvous 5k. I can't wait. I picked up my shirt and it is really big. I ordered the 2XL because I figures they were made for skinny mini runners and ran small. Boy was I wrong. It is huge but I don't care because it is mine. It is suppose to thunderstorm on Saturday. It figures. We go 80 days no rain and now we expect rain on the day of my first 5K. I guess I should be glad since lately the heat index is triple digits. This should cool it down a bit.
And yes, today is 100 days from the Muddy Buddy. Once I finish Couch to 5K, I will start really focusing on the biking. And yes, continue with the running. I love the running. I love saying, "I am a runner". Say it with me..."I am a runner!" Isn't it empowering?
And yes, today is 100 days from the Muddy Buddy. Once I finish Couch to 5K, I will start really focusing on the biking. And yes, continue with the running. I love the running. I love saying, "I am a runner". Say it with me..."I am a runner!" Isn't it empowering?
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
Wordless Wednesday
In my other cyberworld, scrapbooking, we have this thing called Wordless Wednesday. It means every Wednesday we post a picture of a great photograph we took, a page that we are proud of completing or altered art we want to show off. So I thought I would start doing that in my fitness world. So today, yes I know this is not wordless, I am posting pictures of the trail. It is a trail that passes in front of my neighborhood and ends at a public beach about 2 miles away. Whenever I mention the trails in my post, this is what I am talking about. These are pictures are near the end of the trail when it hits Pine Gully Park. It is about 2.15 miles from my doorstep. So we turn around and head home and get 4.3 miles in for the day. Remember the beauty I spoke about? This is the beauty at the end of my beast. If I didn't bike or run, I wouldn't be able to feel the joy of seeing the water each day (once it gets cool again). Sure I could drive to the water, but I wouldn't appreciate it as much because it took little effort. What is your beauty at the end of your beast?
Saturday, July 11, 2009
Beauty and the Beast
I would love to start this post by saying I was up at 6:30 am and was on the trail by 7:00 am but alas that is not my story. That is not how my journey began. It begins with my husband nudging me to turn off my alarm that has been playing for an hour and me looking for every reason why I shouldn’t go running. It is too hot already. No one wants to go with me. I can do it later on the treadmill. I just want to sleep.
But at 8:16 am I walked out the door with my daughter. I was like Get Smart with all my gadgets, my Nano and my Polar F6. We walked towards the 10K trail that passes in front of our neighborhood and I see all these skinny mini runners running past my neighborhood entrance. All I could think was, “Oh Lord, please don’t make me the only fluffy out here this hot morning.”
And like a combination of Aphrodite, the Greek Goddess of beauty, and Athena, the Greek Goddess of wisdom and war, she rode past me on the trail. She was wearing spandex riding shorts, a tight biking shirt and a helmet as she rode past me on her bike. She looked strong. She looked confident. She looked beautiful and she looked like me, fluffy. How ironic that we fluffy gals always worry about what others are thinking when we display ourselves in tight fitting workout clothes. We think, “I hope no one I know will see me.” Or “Here comes someone towards me, I better tug at my shirt and try to hide everything I can. They are probably disgusted by me. Can they see my flab flopping while I run? Are they grossed out by how big my rear is in these tight shorts?” I am amazed at how easily we will say things about ourselves that we would never think or say about anyone else. Instead of being our best cheerleader, we become our own walking Debbie Downer. So I wonder if this Aphrodite, this Athena, knew that someone was watching her and that she was beautiful and strong. I wonder if she knew she was encouraging someone else to dig deep and find that confidence that somehow, sometime ago, went into hiding and only made rare appearances every now and then. No, she probably didn’t and I don’t know if she cared. But I did. I was glad that she past in front of my neighborhood when she did.
I continued on my run with more confidence. Was it easy? Heck no. I didn’t like holding my bottle of water in my hand. Whoever invented bottle water holders on treadmills was a genius. When I run on the treadmill, I concentrate on keeping my hands relaxed and not waste any energy by tensing my hands into fists. However, one hand is in constant tension when you are holding a bottle of water. But it was hot and only 3 water fountains on the trail and since Hurricane Ike, I don’t trust them yet. They have repaired the bathrooms along the trails, well actually they tore down the old ones because Ike destroyed them…some were just missing after the hurricane. They were completely gone, but I digress. They had fixed or rebuilt the bathrooms but the water fountains look the same, untouched, so I don’t use them.
The trails are nice. I saw squirrels, cranes, and these nasty little nat bugs that flew in my mouth. But the inclines were hard. I am glad I used my treadmill at 2% incline during my runs because I don’t think I could have done it outside without that. The sun was just beating down on me when I wasn’t under the shade. The good news is that when you live close to the water, you get a little bit of a breeze so the 94 degrees that felt like 104 in the humidity only felt like 98 because of the breeze. But when I had shade there was relief from the sun but it also blocked the breeze so I don’t know which I preferred.
I can’t believe how easy the first 10-15 minutes felt. I had a rhythm going. Sure it was hot and I was tired but there was no doubt in my mind that I was going to finish. And when I hit minute 18 of my run well hot dog…..I was on a slight decline. Thank you Jesus! And at minute 20, I stopped on the trail as it turned to go towards the water, and turned around. Only now the decline became an incline and instead of praising Jesus, I was begging for strength and cursing the devil. LOL I started my mantra…So much better I’m for you…from a Janet Jackson song. And then a military cadence song started playing on my Ipod and well, those always help with my pace. I finished my run and not a minute too soon. It was hot and I was really feeling it. My daughter was tired also. I walked home from there.
When I turned the corner to my street and saw my house, my skin was burning and I had a wonderful idea. I was going to jump into the garden tub and only turn on the cold water. If you have never tried that after a hot, hard run…I highly recommend it. I just layed there and felt the cool water just permeate every inch of me. Not one area was left untouched by the coolness of the water. I even felt the difference on my scalp between my hair follicles. I just closed my eyes and tried to get as flat as possible in the tub as the water began to spill over me. I was so hot that the water seemed to warm up because of my body temperature. Because us fluffy gals tend to float a bit, my back was not flat against the bottom of the tub and I could feel the heat radiating off my back, hitting the tub and bouncing back to me. What an exhilarating feeling. I could even feel the coolness between my toes. I closed my eyes, turned on the jets and enjoyed every minute of it.
Earlier during the week, I was listening to Zig Ziglar speech called “How to get what you want”. I first listened to it in my twenties and every once and awhile I listen to it again. It had been years since I heard it and had forgotten about his analogy about goal setting and using running and weight loss as his example. He said after months of running and feeling like he was sacrificing something to get back into shape, one day he was running on a college campus, on a beautiful day, and realized he was not sacrificing to get into shape, he was reaping the rewards. I finally understand that. If you read this and run to your tub and just turn on the cold water and step in…you will be miserable. It will seem cold and unwelcoming. But if you run first, in the sun and give the run all you have and then some, then come in and take a cold bath….oh what an amazing reward. Not including that you will feel more alive after the run, you will be healthier and have more energy.
The beauty and the beast belong together. The beast, those moments that you tell yourself you are too tired, it is too hard, is something to get mad at and beat. It is mental. Get mad at it during your run. Focus your energy on overcoming it. Then enjoy the beauty of it. Enjoy being alive and being able to run, whether it is for 1 minute, 10 minutes, 20 minutes or two hours. Enjoy meeting new people on the trails, the new found energy and say hello to your long lost friend, confidence. She has been waiting for you to call her. She knows you are beautiful. She knows you are strong. She was just waiting for you to realize it.
But at 8:16 am I walked out the door with my daughter. I was like Get Smart with all my gadgets, my Nano and my Polar F6. We walked towards the 10K trail that passes in front of our neighborhood and I see all these skinny mini runners running past my neighborhood entrance. All I could think was, “Oh Lord, please don’t make me the only fluffy out here this hot morning.”
And like a combination of Aphrodite, the Greek Goddess of beauty, and Athena, the Greek Goddess of wisdom and war, she rode past me on the trail. She was wearing spandex riding shorts, a tight biking shirt and a helmet as she rode past me on her bike. She looked strong. She looked confident. She looked beautiful and she looked like me, fluffy. How ironic that we fluffy gals always worry about what others are thinking when we display ourselves in tight fitting workout clothes. We think, “I hope no one I know will see me.” Or “Here comes someone towards me, I better tug at my shirt and try to hide everything I can. They are probably disgusted by me. Can they see my flab flopping while I run? Are they grossed out by how big my rear is in these tight shorts?” I am amazed at how easily we will say things about ourselves that we would never think or say about anyone else. Instead of being our best cheerleader, we become our own walking Debbie Downer. So I wonder if this Aphrodite, this Athena, knew that someone was watching her and that she was beautiful and strong. I wonder if she knew she was encouraging someone else to dig deep and find that confidence that somehow, sometime ago, went into hiding and only made rare appearances every now and then. No, she probably didn’t and I don’t know if she cared. But I did. I was glad that she past in front of my neighborhood when she did.
I continued on my run with more confidence. Was it easy? Heck no. I didn’t like holding my bottle of water in my hand. Whoever invented bottle water holders on treadmills was a genius. When I run on the treadmill, I concentrate on keeping my hands relaxed and not waste any energy by tensing my hands into fists. However, one hand is in constant tension when you are holding a bottle of water. But it was hot and only 3 water fountains on the trail and since Hurricane Ike, I don’t trust them yet. They have repaired the bathrooms along the trails, well actually they tore down the old ones because Ike destroyed them…some were just missing after the hurricane. They were completely gone, but I digress. They had fixed or rebuilt the bathrooms but the water fountains look the same, untouched, so I don’t use them.
The trails are nice. I saw squirrels, cranes, and these nasty little nat bugs that flew in my mouth. But the inclines were hard. I am glad I used my treadmill at 2% incline during my runs because I don’t think I could have done it outside without that. The sun was just beating down on me when I wasn’t under the shade. The good news is that when you live close to the water, you get a little bit of a breeze so the 94 degrees that felt like 104 in the humidity only felt like 98 because of the breeze. But when I had shade there was relief from the sun but it also blocked the breeze so I don’t know which I preferred.
I can’t believe how easy the first 10-15 minutes felt. I had a rhythm going. Sure it was hot and I was tired but there was no doubt in my mind that I was going to finish. And when I hit minute 18 of my run well hot dog…..I was on a slight decline. Thank you Jesus! And at minute 20, I stopped on the trail as it turned to go towards the water, and turned around. Only now the decline became an incline and instead of praising Jesus, I was begging for strength and cursing the devil. LOL I started my mantra…So much better I’m for you…from a Janet Jackson song. And then a military cadence song started playing on my Ipod and well, those always help with my pace. I finished my run and not a minute too soon. It was hot and I was really feeling it. My daughter was tired also. I walked home from there.
When I turned the corner to my street and saw my house, my skin was burning and I had a wonderful idea. I was going to jump into the garden tub and only turn on the cold water. If you have never tried that after a hot, hard run…I highly recommend it. I just layed there and felt the cool water just permeate every inch of me. Not one area was left untouched by the coolness of the water. I even felt the difference on my scalp between my hair follicles. I just closed my eyes and tried to get as flat as possible in the tub as the water began to spill over me. I was so hot that the water seemed to warm up because of my body temperature. Because us fluffy gals tend to float a bit, my back was not flat against the bottom of the tub and I could feel the heat radiating off my back, hitting the tub and bouncing back to me. What an exhilarating feeling. I could even feel the coolness between my toes. I closed my eyes, turned on the jets and enjoyed every minute of it.
Earlier during the week, I was listening to Zig Ziglar speech called “How to get what you want”. I first listened to it in my twenties and every once and awhile I listen to it again. It had been years since I heard it and had forgotten about his analogy about goal setting and using running and weight loss as his example. He said after months of running and feeling like he was sacrificing something to get back into shape, one day he was running on a college campus, on a beautiful day, and realized he was not sacrificing to get into shape, he was reaping the rewards. I finally understand that. If you read this and run to your tub and just turn on the cold water and step in…you will be miserable. It will seem cold and unwelcoming. But if you run first, in the sun and give the run all you have and then some, then come in and take a cold bath….oh what an amazing reward. Not including that you will feel more alive after the run, you will be healthier and have more energy.
The beauty and the beast belong together. The beast, those moments that you tell yourself you are too tired, it is too hard, is something to get mad at and beat. It is mental. Get mad at it during your run. Focus your energy on overcoming it. Then enjoy the beauty of it. Enjoy being alive and being able to run, whether it is for 1 minute, 10 minutes, 20 minutes or two hours. Enjoy meeting new people on the trails, the new found energy and say hello to your long lost friend, confidence. She has been waiting for you to call her. She knows you are beautiful. She knows you are strong. She was just waiting for you to realize it.
Friday, July 10, 2009
New Runner MIA.... Reward if found
I have no idea what is up with me. I would like to say I have been really busy this week but that wouldn't be true. I could say I was sick but then I would be lying. I could say I injured myself on my last run...but again... a lie.
So why haven't I run all week? Why is my mini giving me smack? I am not going to make any excuses. Lazy... maybe. Scared? Perhaps. I have a 5K coming up next Saturday and I have not run outside in a long time. So I told myself I would start getting up early and run outside for Week 7 and Week 8. But I am not a morning person, so by the time I get up and see the time, I feel defeated and end up not running at all.
It's all mental. And I have to snap out of it. Get up in the morning and if I don't run anyway. Prove to myself that I can do this....I mean I have come this far and I can do this. I have a habit of starting things and not completing them. Not because I can't because I won't. Even with work projects, the last 5% of any project is a mental game with me. It isn't that I am tired or mentally drained or confused. I don't know what it is but it won't win this time. I have put safety nets all around me. I am prepared and I will finish.
You guys are one of my safety nets as well as my buddies on Weight Watchers and Nike plus. Thank you for all your wonderful comments. Kick me in the rear, if you feel I need it. I don't mind. :)
So why haven't I run all week? Why is my mini giving me smack? I am not going to make any excuses. Lazy... maybe. Scared? Perhaps. I have a 5K coming up next Saturday and I have not run outside in a long time. So I told myself I would start getting up early and run outside for Week 7 and Week 8. But I am not a morning person, so by the time I get up and see the time, I feel defeated and end up not running at all.
It's all mental. And I have to snap out of it. Get up in the morning and if I don't run anyway. Prove to myself that I can do this....I mean I have come this far and I can do this. I have a habit of starting things and not completing them. Not because I can't because I won't. Even with work projects, the last 5% of any project is a mental game with me. It isn't that I am tired or mentally drained or confused. I don't know what it is but it won't win this time. I have put safety nets all around me. I am prepared and I will finish.
You guys are one of my safety nets as well as my buddies on Weight Watchers and Nike plus. Thank you for all your wonderful comments. Kick me in the rear, if you feel I need it. I don't mind. :)
Tuesday, July 7, 2009
Week 6 D3
Let me start by saying, I missed the Michael Jackson Memorial. I hear it was beautiful and I have caught bits and pieces on CNN. His children are beautiful. It is so easy to forget that to them, he was just a father. He was daddy. They probably have memories with him like we have with our fathers. Laughing, playing, and just passing time. May he finally have peace.
Well I did Week 6 Day 3 last night while I watched track and field on Universal Sports. Was it easy? Heck no!!! I wanted to stop at 5 minutes, 11 minutes, 14 minutes, 16 minutes, 19 minutes, 22 minutes and 24 minutes...and probably every minute in between. There were times that I really had to talk myself through it. I would say, "Come on.....do it.....come on....come on....don't stop." My husband must have thought I was crazy. I would review in my mind my first weeks of this program. I would review how I cried in week 2, wanted to quit in week three and how I wanted to quit now. But now I know, I can't listen to my mind. Sometimes it will lie to me.
I am reading Born to Run and I am really loving it. Well, when I say I am reading it, I mean I am listening to the audio book. The author mentions a female Ultra Runner who calls the pain and mental anguish she goes through during her runs, the Beast. She says she loves the Beast and loves when it appears because each time she finds new and better ways to deal with him. Good analogy. I like it and will think about it when I run.
It felt good to go against my beast and win. I was drenched in sweat and felt alive. However, on a side note... I have to figure out a different way to wash my bras. They are fine until they are drenched and then they just smell funky. I tried washing in hot water, cold water and just soaking them and still....funkified. Any suggestions?
Well I did Week 6 Day 3 last night while I watched track and field on Universal Sports. Was it easy? Heck no!!! I wanted to stop at 5 minutes, 11 minutes, 14 minutes, 16 minutes, 19 minutes, 22 minutes and 24 minutes...and probably every minute in between. There were times that I really had to talk myself through it. I would say, "Come on.....do it.....come on....come on....don't stop." My husband must have thought I was crazy. I would review in my mind my first weeks of this program. I would review how I cried in week 2, wanted to quit in week three and how I wanted to quit now. But now I know, I can't listen to my mind. Sometimes it will lie to me.
I am reading Born to Run and I am really loving it. Well, when I say I am reading it, I mean I am listening to the audio book. The author mentions a female Ultra Runner who calls the pain and mental anguish she goes through during her runs, the Beast. She says she loves the Beast and loves when it appears because each time she finds new and better ways to deal with him. Good analogy. I like it and will think about it when I run.
It felt good to go against my beast and win. I was drenched in sweat and felt alive. However, on a side note... I have to figure out a different way to wash my bras. They are fine until they are drenched and then they just smell funky. I tried washing in hot water, cold water and just soaking them and still....funkified. Any suggestions?
Wednesday, July 1, 2009
W6D2 and the IPhone 3GS
So, I ran W6D2 yesterday. It was pretty uneventful. I must say, it is harder to run on my treadmill than it is to run anywhere else, including outside. I also realized I am looking forward to W6D3 because it is a straight run. Say what?!?!?! Yes, you read it right. I like getting into a rhythm and and just going. I don't want to start and stop. It is hard to get going again.
But this week and last week my thinking is kinda skewed. I am "squeezing" time to work out. Funny how I don't think I am squeezing time to brush my teeth or take a shower or watch Rate My Space. I don't want to lose my momentum. They say the busiest weeks at a gym are the first six weeks of a new year. People, trying to fulfill New Year's Resolutions, will usually stop after six weeks.
That is why I am glad I have all my online running friends, wonderful blogs to inspire me, my Nike + and my Polar F6. I am surrounded by motivation and encouragement.
But the best news, drum roll please, the new IPhone 3GS has Nike+ built in software. Yes, you read that right. If you run outside and like to use the Nike + but also like to carry your phone, now you can do both... in one device. That is right, apparently they saw my review of the Nike + and hating that it was not compatible with my Iphone and the acted immediately. I am kidding. But I am sure there are many Nike + users celebrating. Now if I can just convince my husband that a new IPhone is beneficial to my health and safety.
Nike also launched their new running site. I haven't played with it much but you can be sure that I will share any information that I can.
But this week and last week my thinking is kinda skewed. I am "squeezing" time to work out. Funny how I don't think I am squeezing time to brush my teeth or take a shower or watch Rate My Space. I don't want to lose my momentum. They say the busiest weeks at a gym are the first six weeks of a new year. People, trying to fulfill New Year's Resolutions, will usually stop after six weeks.
That is why I am glad I have all my online running friends, wonderful blogs to inspire me, my Nike + and my Polar F6. I am surrounded by motivation and encouragement.
But the best news, drum roll please, the new IPhone 3GS has Nike+ built in software. Yes, you read that right. If you run outside and like to use the Nike + but also like to carry your phone, now you can do both... in one device. That is right, apparently they saw my review of the Nike + and hating that it was not compatible with my Iphone and the acted immediately. I am kidding. But I am sure there are many Nike + users celebrating. Now if I can just convince my husband that a new IPhone is beneficial to my health and safety.
Nike also launched their new running site. I haven't played with it much but you can be sure that I will share any information that I can.
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