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Jeff vs. Car October 24, 2007

Posted by kimayars Ramblings Digg! this story! Digg! this story. , 1 comment so far

Each day that Jeff rides his bike to work, I worry that he’s going to get hit by a car.  AND TODAY IT HAPPENED.  Scared the crap out of me.  Luckily he only managed some pretty gnarly bruises and a very stiff body.  The bike survived too, but the front tire is out-of-round.  Tomorrow he’ll go see the doctor to get his foot checked out, which has some weird abnormal pain, and over the weekend he’ll probably see if the the bike frame was bent.  I’ll let him fill you in on the details on that.  Given what could have happened, I’ll take this anyday.

But more importantly, it highlights the stuggle you have when someone you love does something that they truly enjoy, but you feel is inherently dangerous.  It could have been so much worse, and I’m thankful it wasn’t.  It will take all my willpower not to discourage him. No matter how much you love someone, you can’t encase them in bubblewrap for the rest of their lives.  Although, it would be fun to always have that pop-pop-pop sound handy.

This also further reinforces my determination that I will never ride my bike on the road.  Not unless I have a steel cage and 2 other tires. Oh wait, that would be a car…

Of Treadmills and Randy Pausch October 23, 2007

Posted by kimayars Run, Ramblings Digg! this story! Digg! this story. , 1 comment so far

Yes, treadmills can be fun.  Especially when you have somebody to talk to.  Sherene and I ran together, stride for stride, breath for breath, the theme from Chariots of Fire embracing our bodies, our minds, our souls…

Okay, it wasn’t THAT great. But I would never have run today on the treadmill if it wasn’t for Sherene.  The best part of the whole run was when during a discussion of yesterday’s Oprah show.  She had two guests facing terminal cancer.  One was a professor from Carnegie Mellon named Randy Pausch. He gave an emotionally and moving last lecture in September of 2007.  In it described people as basically choosing to be a “Tigger” or a an “Eeyore”.  We talked about people we knew who were either “Tiggers” or “Eeyores”.  One particular friend, we admitted needed to find her “inner Tigger”.  I then said, “Everyone should have a little Tigger in them.  Now Piglet, that’s another story.”  Sherene, very straight-faced, quickly added, “Or Pooh.”  We both busted up into a choking laughter and nearly fell off our respective treadmills.

But seriously, if you can watch the lecture I highly recommend you do.  He has basic, simple advice that helps people achieve their childhood dreams.

We did a lot of jumping rope and hopping around last night at EZ8 and I felt it today in my calves and shins.  It made the run slow and laborious.  I just wanted to make it to 5 miles.  I didn’t care how, I just really wanted to get there.  At 4.92 miles, I accidently pulled the emergency stop clip while reaching for my towel.  “Nooooooo!” could be heard echoing through the gym. So, that’s why my run is just shy of 5 miles.  Call it a technical difficulty.

Now go watch the lecture.  You won’t regret it.

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Reaching for that 8-minute mile… October 22, 2007

Posted by kimayars General Cardio, Run, Las Vegas Half Marathon Digg! this story! Digg! this story. , 2comments

I went to my EZ8 Running class tonight and had a great time.  There’s something fun about working out with a great group of people.  Kimbrough, our coach, has an infectious enthusiasm that makes it fun.  She reminded me that the 12th annual Pumpkin Push is this Saturday.  I’m kind of tempted.  So tempted, that in the few minutes it took me to think about it, I registered. So I guess I’m doing a 5K on Saturday morning…  Jeff’s going with me, and is going to take the kids on the 2.5 mile family walk.  I think it will be lots of fun. Evidently, everyone leaves with their very own pumpkin…  Good heavens, I hope I don’t have to run with it.  Anyone want to join us?

Today was an odd day. School was cancelled for Veronica because our bus fleet was vandalized last night. (Bastards.) But I have to admit hangin’ with Veronica was fun. She was patient while I watched Sherene ground drive her horse (which was really impressive), and she was very helpful when we went grocery shopping. (”Mommy, I think you’re missing something — chocolate.”)  She was a bit confused when we had to go rescue Jeff after he broke his rear derailer/derailleur. (I asked Jeff how to spell that.  “Isn’t there a French spelling?” I asked. “Yes,” he says, “but I don’t use it.”)  Hopefully, there will be school tomorrow, but tonight Veronica was complaining of a sore throat and felt a bit warm.  It may be another stay home day again.

I find myself fantasizing about another fun treadmill liaison with Sherene tomorrow. Dare I hope?…

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Did you hear that?… October 21, 2007

Posted by kimayars Run Digg! this story! Digg! this story. , 3comments

Trail running in the dark is WAY too creepy.  Beth and I set out at 6:30, thinking we’d have to run for about 15 minutes in the dark (I had a headlamp and a butt light on) before we would see the glimmers of daybreak.  Nope. It was bout 7am before we really were able to barely see things around us.  That first mile was reminiscent of The Blair Witch Project.  We were quiet, and running fast to the first road, hoping that Jason wasn’t going to jump out of the bushes with a chainsaw.  To put things in perspective, our pace for the entire run was 10:43.  We did the first mile in 8:20. Fear is an amazing motivator.

We modified our run to take us off the trail and run down North Bend Way where there were people and lights. After 2.5 miles, it was light enough to cut back over to the trail again and do our little loop into Snoqualmie and back.

Next week I think we’ll try and spend more time on the road until it gets light enough to see whatever is going to attack us.  The funny thing is, Beth’s anxiety was centered around some crazy dude coming after us. My anxiety was directed more toward mating elk deciding we were a threat to their terrority.  It’s never pretty to get gored by an elk.  ;-)

We did see some gorgeous scenery and as a bonus got to see the 50-plus-head Meadowbrook elk herd.  (Unfortunately we also heard gunfire in the background as it is hunting season.)

We also ran by the Mt. Si Golf Course.  Golfers are probably more insane than runners.  There were guys at the driving range already, using their car headlights to see where the balls went.  I think the first tee time was at 7am.  When we passed it on the way back about 30 minutes later there was a golfer at every hole along the course.

Today was also the first day that I decided to double-up on the bras.  I have a great bra that has worked really well for me, but over the past month or so it’s been rubbing to the point of bleeding.  So, last week I started looking for a lightweight bra that “wicks and breathes” to wear as a base layer.  Champion was having a sale, so I ordered one made of Coolmax with an underwire. The idea is that the Champion bra gives me the shape and support, while the Enell bra controls the bounce.  It seems to have worked well, my only complaint being that with the added elastic around my rib cage it did seem more difficult to breath the first few miles. Interestingly enough it appears that I have gone down a cup size since running.  I can’t compain about that!  It’s been a dream of mine to be able to wear one of those cutsie little crop-top bras, but they just don’t make them in a DDD. 

And once more, I was reminded that you shouldn’t have pasta in a rich cream sauce the night before a run. *burp*

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Intervals, sort of. October 18, 2007

Posted by kimayars Run Digg! this story! Digg! this story. , add a comment

I tried to do intervals on the treadmill today.  I think I was mildly successful.  Luckily I had my treadmill guru Sherene with me.  I had no IDEA there were so many features on a treadmill.  I spent the first 10 minutes wondering which fabulous workout I would choose. So many buttons to push, so little time.

I chose the HR Zone Intervals and quickly realized that it was not quite as challenging as I had hoped. But, I only had an hour so I stuck with it just to see if maybe it got better.  It didn’t.  Don’t get me wrong, I still got a good workout in.  I think I’m just so used to feeling like I’m getting the crap beat out of me that when I do have a run where I feel human afterwards I think I didn’t push it far enough.

Tomorrow I’m going to go for distance.  I’m going to try and hit the gym at dark o’clock and get in 5 miles on the treadmill. Ick.

The highlight our treadmill tryst (Sherene and I, that is) was the introduction of Cosmo’s 50 hottest bachelors on The Today Show – one from every state. Wow. Talk about inspiration.  Mr. Alaska is particularly tasty.  Unfortunately we came to the same conclusion: They all look so young.  Ouch.  I guess I’ll stick with my cute little Jefferschmuz.

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