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Oh Forerunner, I have missed thee… January 13, 2008

Posted by kimayars Run Digg! this story! Digg! this story. , 2comments

Beth and I went out for our first run of the year together and guess what? It wasn’t raining! We had a really nice easy run, and it was so nice to catch up with her. I had forgotten one of the major reasons for running with her was social.

It was also cool to “gear up” (I got this amazing jacket from my parents for Christmas). But it really hit home that I was ready to get back into running regularly when I strapped on the Forerunner. Oh, how I love the Forerunner. It’s metrics and motivation wrapped up into one small yet chunky electronic device.

Our goal was to do 4 miles, but I hit “noodle legs” at about 3 miles, so we called it good just inside the development and walked the hill. I’m sure next week we’ll probably start running that sucker again. (*groan*)

The weather is absolutely beautiful today, and I can’t wait to go riding in a few hours. Definitely a day to be outside before the rain comes back!

Workout:

Good Advice… January 12, 2008

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

Don’t you love it when a friend gives you advice and it turns out to be AWESOME advice? Such is the case with Sherene and Muck Boots. In the Pacific Northwest, rain is our staple for winter. And with rain, comes mud. Add three horses to the equation and you get muck. I’ve been picking my way around the deep muck, wearing my semi-waterproof paddock boots (the same ones I ride in). Inevitably, my feet would get wet, and then they would get cold. “Get some Muck Boots,” she said. “Naw, I’m fine,” I replied. Finally, after a particularly cold and wet day, I decided to give it a try.

They are AMAZING. I can’t believe I went so long without them. They are my new favorite thing.

I’m going on a run with Beth tomorrow. Part of me is excited, part of me is a little worried. It’s been a long time.

And Shrene is *seriously* considering the Kirkland Half-Marathon. I’m pretty excited!

AIR! I need AIR! January 10, 2008

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The word for today is:

Main Entry: gasp
Pronunciation: \ˈgasp\
Function: verb
Etymology: Middle English; akin to Old Norse geispa to yawn
Date: 14th century intransitive verb
1 : to catch the breath convulsively and audibly (as with shock)
2 : to breathe laboriously

Poor Sherene had to listen to definition #1 today. I probably should have ramped the speed back on the treadmill, but I’m stubborn.

The good news is, I feel much better today than I did Monday. The bad news is I can’t help feeling like 3 miles is such a cop out. I can rationalize it by saying that I didn’t have enough time (Samantha’s gymnastics next door start at 10:00, and I drop Veronica off at school at 8:45) but I spent a good 20 minutes futzing with the incline, “warming up”, and searching for my lost sweat rag (which was in the car). One thing that I am excellent at: procrastination.

Workout:

Ahhh… It’s good to be back (I think). January 7, 2008

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I decided to blow off the “ramp up slowly” approach and went for 4 miles at a 10min/mile pace.  The first 2 miles felt good. The last two were another story…  I’m so glad Sherene was there at the gym.  If she wasn’t there I probably would have quit.  So I guess I have her to thank for my sore and aching muscles…  :-)

It was a little sad — I don’t feel like 4 miles is easy anymore. But I guess it gives me something to work for.  Hopefully it won’t take long for it to come back.

Workout:

I LOVE MY HORSE! January 6, 2008

Posted by kimayars Arena Work (Horse) Digg! this story! Digg! this story. , add a comment

Ah, I had a wonderful ride today.  We didn’t find a cure for cancer or magically know how to half-pass, but we had a great ride where we made progress and was fun.  EVEN when the loud back-firing dirt bike tore around on the road behind the barn…  (”Mom! Are you sure it’s okay? Are you sure? Huh? Huh? Huh?…”)

Today we worked some more on the leg yield. This is a bit harder than I originally thought because I tend to be a bit physically challenged in this area.  Every time I try something new that requires me to focus on many different things, I tend to revert back to the fetal position.  That’s really not recommended for riding.  But one thing I’m learning is that Scout/Ray/Gorbag/Hochnarr is very tolerant and patient when I’m trying to figure out which body parts go where.  The only time he does get frustrated is when I hang on his face, and VERY rarely do I do that now.

We started with suppling, mostly using counter-bend on the circle to get him reaching under himself.  Then I tried a small experiment by doing some transitions within the gait.  Think of it as shifting from 2nd to 3rd in the trot, but keeping the tempo the same. Since he has a tendancy to race, it didn’t go so well, or have the desired effect.  I’ll have to wait for some guidance on that from my instructor. So, we abandoned that for transitions between gaits (walk/trot) and that helped me to get him to sit a bit better.

Then we tried the leg yield…

The general practice when riding is that your hips should be parallel to the horse’s hips, and your shoulders should be parallel to the horse’s shoulders. Your legs should be long, you should be tall in the saddle, and there should be a slight flexion to the inside.  Thorse is straight, but traveling at an angle, producing cross-over in the front legs and rear legs.  He does great.  I on the other hand, collapse right so bad that I get a cramp in my calf.  I know I do it, so I correct it. But as soon as my focus changes (to something like using the reins) that leg goes shooting up into my underarm.  *sigh*

I know it takes time to retrain the body to overcome something like that, but it is frustrating. My previous instructor called it “conscious incomptetence”.  I think that sums it up quite nicely.

The good news is that I am finally getting some independence with my inside and outside reins.  Today I was able to give more on the outside rein and he responded beautifully, reaching forward and taking the outside rein.  My instructor used a phrase last week that really struck home, “Keep him soft behind the ears.”  Today I felt we made some nice steps toward that.

So today was good.  I would take a ride like that any day.

Foot is still good, although I haven’t run on it since Thursday.  I’m generally thinking that it’s fine.

Still looking for a new name…  “Squeedo” came up today.  Help me…