Sunday, January 29, 2006

Pushing Real Hard

Awoke this morning mildly sore from yesterday's gym workout and my 1.5 hr deep tissue massage. I should've hydrated better too!
I headed up to Nimitz trail again, and being in an adventurous mood, I veered off the beaten path and discovered a new trail ( and no, I didn't get lost this time!)
The gradual climb along the single track led to more gorgeous green pastures. While wet, the ground was in pretty decent shape the first half mile or so, then things started getting slippery. I scooted over to the farside of the trail trying to stay on the grassy parts, which seemed to work for awhile.
It was so beautiful, the sun shining and the air crisp, it was by far the best part of the run. This trail seemed to go on forever, and without my watch and my not so trusty pedometer I wasn't sure how far along I was. According to the marker on the main trail I had already gone 2 miles , (and that was before I ventured off the main trail) I checked again on the single track it showed that I had only gone 1.27. Whatever!
The trip back on the single track was interesting, as I focused primarily on not slipping.
I had zero traction in some spots and my main concern was avoiding falling into a cow patty!! lol.
I read up a little on speedwork this week, and one of the things I tried to do today was sprint on hills. Let me tell yah, it kicked my ass.
Back on the main trail, I focused on my form (no rounded shoulders!!) and attacked the short but steep hill just around mile 3. A long slow recovery proceeded until around 3.4 (according to the spray painted marker on the asphalt), where with, alot less gusto I ran as fast as I could up a much longer, though not as steep hill, I didn't get too far before needing to slow down.
I now know what it means to feel your lungs burn.....holy shit!
I continued on, passing the 4 mile marker and went just a bit further to the next cattle crossing and then turned around.
Again with the sprinting, ovey.......I was petering out fast. I stopped to walk at mile 7, and then picked up again the last 1/2 mile, cursing, out loud I might add, the last little bit of incline. I accidently hit the wrong button on my pedometer, erasing all of the , albeit dubious information......but I estimate I ran a solid 7 miles..........With speedwork....... On hills!!!
The last pedometer reading read 5.27 miles in 1:49:00 and with no watch I have no idea how long I was actually out, I'm sure it was close to 2 hrs. With the walking, stopping to get the rock outta my shoe and stashing my jacket and water bottle off the trail.
Hey, I went long to boot!
My ass is whooped.
Today, T and I celebrate our 11th anniversay. Mom will be here soon and our date will include a trip to Home Depot to check out sinks and later dinner at Sea Salt. Phase One of the remodel is complete, the new cabinetry and island configuration turned out really nice.
Phase Two will commence this week. I've changed my mind at least a dozen times regarding the counter tops. How is one suppose to come to any kind of conclusion based on those 2x2 tile samples? So far the only thing I'm sure of is the granite for the island, to cut costs we're going with Corian for the rest of the counters, plus T has worked out a trade for this with our friend Dwight, an artist/Corian installer extroidinaire.
Looking forward to Miami race reports!

Wednesday, January 25, 2006

Running on Instinct

The trails at Joaquin Miller are very pretty, but Brandy and I were a little disappointed to have to be on leash:( A few places along sunset trail or was it sequoia? (more about my getting semi-lost later) were in need of some maintenance , at one point, we came across a fallen tree and but were able to crawl through and continue on. Lot's of roots and rocks, good times, oh yeah!
Despite my efforts to eat well and get good sleep lastnight, T and I stayed up too late discussing the kitchen. My attempt at compromising backfired and well we've just decided to let me design the kitchen and he gets the rest of the house.
Anyways, I was tired at the start of this run, even after eating cereal, a banana and a gel. From the get go I told myself "this will be short no need to go long today." The trail started out hilly and only confirmed the fact that I was going to make it a short one.
You know how one trail leads to another , and another , and another........I tried sticking to one trail but it ended before I wanted to stop so I jumped onto a second trail, leaving
an arrow made of sticks to keep me on course and it worked, but once I got past my marker on the turnaround I realized none of the scenery looked familiar.
I definitely didn't remember seeing a comfort station on the way in, cuz if I had, I wouldn't of had to pee in the bushes when I first arrived. lol
I could hear the traffic on Joaquin Miller Rd. and it was 11:30 am ........No need to panic, (I kinda giggled at the thought of those diehard trail hounds, running at night w/headlamps, oh lord not something I'd be very good at) but I was tired and really didn't know where I was. The not knowing where I was, must've set off an adreneline rush cuz I ended up running for an hour.
Then I stopped, retraced my steps and headed towards the road.
Still, nothing is looking even remotely familiar.
I climb a little hill and spot my car 30 or so yrds away.
Uhh! go figure. I must've ran past the entrance on the way back.
Note to self: Stick to familiar ground when your tired.
Beautiful place to run though.
I will definitely return when rested.
I'd bring a human buddy if I had one who ran!

Tuesday, January 24, 2006

Cuz I'm feeling hella good!

Had my 1st run of the year over at Caesar chavez this am. The weather is so great right now it's got me in a spring mood. I believe I'm developing a bit of... Dare I say...Discipline. I didn't necessarily feel like running today cause I'd like to go for a longer run on my day off tomorrow, but I'm pushing myself harder these days in prep for my 10k. My theory is that if I can push on days when I don't feel like running I'll build endurance for when the going gets rough. The trick is not to push too hard on those days, so this morning just 3.52 in 33:38 with some good stretching, nothing crazy. Tonight we'll have chicken and whole wheat pasta, I'll get good sleep and take on Joaquin Miller tomorrow.
I answered an e-mail from a mommy running grp. leader, the last time one of these moms contacted me asking for pace info...I apparently was too fast and she begged off.......me too fast ha!!! I guess it's all relative. Hopefully I can find some local gals to run with, on the weekends I've noticed a grp. of women leaving as I arrive up at the Nimitz trail.......I have thought about getting an earlier start to check them out but haven't so far. I'm not an introvert exactly but it's not easy for me to introduce myself to other runners. So weird I know.
Day 2 of the remodel and things are looking good...Luckily the half of the kitchen with stove is accessible so cooking is doable.
Have a great day.

Monday, January 23, 2006

So, the kitchen remodel has officially begun. This is our first home and the only thing we've done thus far is the foundation, suffice it to say this is a more interesting improvement, aesthetically speaking. I moved the computer into the living room and the sewing machine is back in the dining room along with most of my kitchen. On Wednesday we go look at counter top surfaces, we're thinking granite and/or corian.
No doubt this isn't very interesting especially w/o pictures (I'm working on that by the way) but as I've found journaling my progress with running and sewing helpful (for motivation and stress relief!) I'm hoping the same will be true for the remodel.
T and I have had HUGE fights over this remodel for months long before anything ever got started. This project has been on and off for over a year and I didn't know until last week that we were actually going through with it. In fact T and the contractor played phone tag all weekend and we only found out lastnight that he would be starting today, so we spent most of the evening clearing out the kitchen. The lines of communication definitely breakdown when we're tired and while my man can juggle many many irons at a time, he often fails to keep me informed and it doesn't sit well as I HATE surprises.
So, I'm a bit of control freak. I like timeliness and lists. I want to know who's coming and who's not coming. I can wing it if I have to and I consider myself a fairly flexible person, but not in the morning before I've had coffee, which is exactly the time T mentioned that he would not be here when the contractor came this morning cuz he had to take his mom to the dentist. (such a good son, i'm a bad wife!) So, I dealt with the contractor, nothing too technical but man I gotta cool out. In retrospect (see why I need write this?) I can see what a turd I was this morning. I'd go for a run if I wasn't so darn tired.
Heavy sigh :(

Sunday, January 22, 2006

yuck, I've discovered an even grosser gel.....cola buzz cliff shot...truly the worse. this run is not getting off to a good start. first of all. I got cramps....hhhmph need I say more. Than my flax seed waffles got freezer burn and now this nasty ass gel. I'm taking brandy up to strawberry canyon, hopefully it's not too muddy.

To be continued......

Strawberry canyon with a cherry on top!

The last couple of times up at strawberry I got as far the first short hill just beyond the 3.5 marker ( before the turn around) Today I got to the tip top that stops at the rd.
I think this is Grizzly Peak Rd.
And I got there in 49 minutes, oh yeah!
I really pushed up big Bertha too, it usually takes me 4 minutes to scale her,
today I did it 2 minutes, yeah that's right, you heard me.
The view was incredible, I could see the golden gate bridge so clearly. I couldn't hold back and Brandy and I barreled down to the parking lot, despite some really muddy spots, it was just too much fun. I got to yacking to a woman about the Joaquin Miller trails once I got to the parking lot and forgot to check my total run time, I'm pretty sure I covered 7 plus miles in 80 minutes.
My right knee wasn't complaining actually, more like muttering under it's breath......On a scale of 1 to 10 it was a 2, but something to keep an eye on I suppose.
This was a great run, I'm still buzzed!
And no more cramps!!!

Saturday, January 21, 2006

aahhh that's better. Just got back from the gym 20 minute rolling hills stirringly session and than all major muscle grps. that makes 2 lift sessions this wk. i'm branching out w/my repetroir and experimenting more with lower body machines. my lunges are getting lower and easier and best of all no joint pain whatsoever!!!!!!
yesterday's run was nice according to the nifty map maker susie posted i'm running further than i thought....i'm still a bit dubious though and will want triple check before boasting.

Wednesday, January 18, 2006

My plans for a leisurely lunch time run were slightly thwarted by a mtg. So, in true dedicated
"I'm a real runner now" fashion I went for a shorter run around my facility instead of my usual drive to the nicer canal trail . Let's just say, it was a soso 30 minute run, stinky cars and too noisy.
Until now I haven't mentioned much about my physical appearance on this blog.
I'm 5'3 (barely) and 157 lbs. (there's a 3-4 lb. variance depending on which scale I refer too) People never believe me when I tell them this. I'm pretty solid.
My body is beginning to change.
I don't cringe as much when stand in front of the full length mirror.
And I'm noticing the signs of firmer hamstrings, that nice little cut on the back of the upper thigh.....It's NOT totally defined but I see it there below the surface.
I'm in a weird place with clothing at the moment. I'm in transition, so I've opted for elastic waistbands and wear some form of drawstring pants everyday.
When I went from a size 14 to a 12, I dropped $80 on a luxurious pair of Patagonia pants. They were great for about 3 wks, and then they got too baggy and I've had to pin them along with the rest of my pants. Depending on the brand, I'm somewhere between a 12 and 10.
Suffice it to say clothes shopping sucks!. (which may explain my recent indulgences at the fabric store and Barnes and Noble) I've even contimplate wearing SCRUBS to work until I'm at my ideal weight (whatever that is).
My dtr. Reminded me that our focus should be on what our bodies can do rather than on appearances......So true so true.
But oh how I long for firm thighs and a smaller butt.
I'm not trying to be a waif, hell I'm a 42 year Puerto Rican.....I've got an ass and that's never going to change, but a smaller firmer version of what's back there would fine.

In proportion to my lower half, I'm small up top. It's always been that way, even when I was pregnant. I was getting fitted for a bra not long ago, and was surprised to learn I'm a "barely A!!" I'm in slight denial over this still, though bought 2 barely A's that fit fine. But so does the barely B by Maidenform...So again, depends on the brand.
Besides, I need big boobs like I need a hole in the head. No offense to the busty babes out there. But with all the trouble I have dressing my lower half, I'm glad I don't have to search for proper boob containage.
M is right, focus on what I can do with this body rather than on how it looks, or how to dress it!

Food preferences are beginning to change too, or rather my body is reacting differently to foods that I usually like. We had burritos, not long ago, and the pork filling I love just doesn't sit well anymore. I ate my turkey sandwich at the mtg. While everyone else ate pizza..........But before long I ate a little pizza too....Again it didn't sit well ( I only had a few bites ).
So, I'm seeing this as the beginnings of change in the food dept. My brain needs to catch up with my body. I still want the not so great stuff, but my body isn't excepting it like it did before. This is a good thing, as I respond well to immediate feedback, as oppose to waiting.

And whats up with my heightened sense of smell?
I swear if I didn't know better, I'd think I was pregnant! I've developed an acute sense of smell. Some women at work were frying up Lumpias, the Filipino version of an eggroll. The smell of the oil was noxious. I remember a year ago, there was a very athletic women in our dept., she was super picky about food and smells, I thought she was wack. Now look at me!

Before I ran to eat, now I can honestly say I'm eating to run.

ADDENDUM:
It's 11:15 and I just finished handsewing the binding of baby quilt #1. This is the second quilt I've ever made, the first being a 40x40 wall hanging this is more like 30x40 roman stripes in bright spring colors. I need to figure out how to post pics, i'm more motivated to post pictures of my work, than of myself!
I was too tired to run so I went to the gym this morning. I warmed up for 10 minutes on the stairmaster and did several different leg exercises. I also got a bit arms in during the lunges using 10# dumbells 3x15. My legs are stiff and sore from the workout and from sitting so long finishing the quilt.
I'm up way past my bedtime:(

Sunday, January 15, 2006

I couldn't get to the Nimitz trail fast enough this spectacular Sunday morning.
Out the door a little past 8am, stop for coffee and gas (Aaarg!) Up up up Marin Ave (rivals any steep hill in San Fracisco!) to Tilden. Saved a few minutes getting to Inspiration point by cutting over to Grizzly Peak. Finally, after a few minutes warming up, I hit the trail, this time keeping to the single track dirt trail as much as possible, except where it was too soggy after yesterdays downpour.
I don't know but I'm guessing faster times come with familiarity, cuz today I shaved 8 minutes from last weeks time. That's right 8 miles in 1:22:19 oh yeah!!
I'm thinking I might just finish my 10k in an hour! (or better) I'm a little superstitious though and feel a kinda weird putting it out for all to see.
Friday was an easy maybe 3 miles w/and a 30 minute gym workout; emphasis on lowerebody.

On the quilting front, I've cut all my strips for baby quilt #1 and plan to get all 36 Roman stripe blocks finished today. This quilt has to be done by 3/10.

Thursday, January 12, 2006

I registered for the Marin Trails 10K @ China Camp. 3/11

Impulsively, I might add.

Having a race on the horizon should help focus my training more.

Stumbling into my first race was both and blessing and a curse.

A blessing because I didn't have time to get freaked out.

A curse due to my lack of racing experience.

The next race was planned, went much better and gave me a taste for it.
(It happened to be a trail race too.)

Running my own race is a definite race goal for 2006. And figuring out how calibrate my damn pedometer!

China Camp is one of those beautiful gems tucked away only an hour or so outside the bayarea. I've never seen it before. Nor had I ever been to the Presidio and I'm a native!
Races in cool relatively close venues work well for the family time too. It's very cool how my running is taking me and my family to beautiful places..........
that we never seem to get our butts to on our own!!!

It's the same reason I became a girlscout leader, to get my kid out in nature. With T's allergys hikes in the redwoods are rare. He really loves nature and it's evident in his paintings, but the poor guy is cursed with freakishly bad pollen allergies.

So now, I need to go to bed. I'm trying to get there by 9:30 - 10:00 everynight.








Running my own race ranks high on this runner's wish list.

Wednesday, January 11, 2006

Firstly, I gotta come clean, my run on Sunday took more like 90 mins vs 77mins. I started at 8:40 and finished at 10:00 , so 8 miles in 1.5 hrs! I'm not sure how I miscalculated that one, I blame it on the cows! Still I gloat..That's the farthest and the longest I've ever run .
Seems our dry spell has run it's course as we gear up here in the bayarea for more rain. It's my day off today but I gotta hang around home between 1-5 for the Sears repair guy to come fix the fridge......It became "incontinent" over the holiday and there's been a constant stream trickling across the kitchen floor. So, in order to get an early start (6:30am) I gave M. specific instructions to make her bed, eat breakfast and get her backpack together while I headed over to the gym for a treadmill run: 4miles in 38:58. A quick stretch afterwards than home to take M to school. Brandy got a short walk afterwards up in the Berkeley hills, and along the way I found 3 perfectly good ceramic pots...Berkeley is famous for it's free piles.
It's a perfect day for quilting, I need trim and even up all my blocks before assembling the quilt top and maybe go to New Pieces for fabric to add side sashes and the border.

Friday, January 06, 2006

Well I can see I'm not gonna get away with NOT setting some kind of goals for 2006. Catching up w/posts,so many thoughtful and motivated bloggers! How can I not take time to plan,dream, conquer,breakthrough...........

Brown Socks really summed it up for me with developing a healthier relationship with running. I've been very focused this past year overcoming that 10 week wall!! I guess I needed to obsess for awhile, to get solid with this running thang!! I feel fully committed but now it's time to reintroduce some other interests of mine into the mix..Namely quilting.....Don't laugh!
Quilting is a bit like running a marathon, completely daunting overwhelming in fact if you focus only on the finished product. And then there are those times when you are in the zone and the creative juices get going it's almost magical! I recently pulled out some blocks I started for a twin sized quilt for Miranda 3 years ago....I have to make five more pinwheels and side sashes to finish the quilt top.

The goals:

#1 Finish this quilt and 2 baby quilts by May.

#2 watch less HGTV.....True, while I am inspired by all that organizing and redecorating, I also
feel more critical of my home as a result....Goal #1 ties in nicely with my need to create
beauty for myself and others.
#3 X-train more, do more biking and lifting. (and maybe learn to swim)
#4 Do well in a 10K by Spring.
#5 Last but not least, continue to strive for BALANCE (this will be my word/theme for the
year, thanks Susie!)

This weeks recap:
Wednesday: 50 minute run along various urban trails and total body workout at gym.
Friday: an easy 3.5 outdoors yeah!
Saturday: Total body workout at the gym (w/my sweetie!) was careful not to overdo the legs, in anticipation of Sundays long run....Nevertheless my legs and arms were sore!
Sunday: Incredible breakthrough for me!
I ran 8 miles in 77 minutes. Nimitz trail in Tilden is a hilly asphalt trail that winds it way through eucalyptus trees and open cattle fields the first 4 miles. So gorgeous this am w/fog drifting across the trail . On the turn around a family of cows, mammas and 2 babies lumbered along in single file........not exactly running with the bulls but no less exhilarating!!

ps: I finished the last 5 blocks of Miranda's quilt top too!

Thursday, January 05, 2006

Happy New Year...
Apparently I've been having "unsafe" internet use cuz the computer crashed big time on Christmas Day......One download too many....the computer had 7 viruses!! Plus my spyware software expired....blah blah blah.....I admit practical things continuously elude me....But it's a new year and I've go a clean slate and a clean computer.

No, I did not get an ipod for Christmas. However, a sweet friend at work gave me a mini AM/FM radio the size of my palm and it's pink!!
I had a totally awesome 75 min run last Sunday morning on the Bayside trail..It's off a frontage road that runs parallel to HWY 80 depending on the direction you take beautiful bay on one side ugly noisy HWY 80 on the other, so the radio was the perfect solution......kfog's 104.5 FM acoustic sunrise is the perfect station for long Sunday runs........I swear at the 65 minute mark the lyrics "Lord I get so tired, but that's when I know what I've got to do is ramble on and sing my song" from Trains cover of Led Zepplin's "Ramble On" got my tired butt home.

The new year is off to a good start, my schedule at work is back on track (yeah). Rain has been an issue until recently, the last 2 days have been amazing, and one day last week the sunset was so beautiful I actually hurried home so I could run after work!!!
Yesterdays run was equally sweet, 50 mins and a full workout at the gym.
Life is good.