Happy 2010!

I can’t believe we’re not only nearing the start of a new year, but a new decade as well!  I can’t even fathom how much my life has changed over the 00’s.  Here are just a few highlights from the 00’s:

• Graduating college, and then moving on to grad school and getting an M.F.A.
• Moving to Boston, and then twice within Boston.
• Having 4 different post-RPI jobs.  (More on this later.)
• Realizing my love for running and photography, and rediscovering my love for folk music.
• Leaving the continent several times (for the first time) for Europe and the Middle East.

This past year has been a big one for me as well.  Here is 2009: the good, bad, and ugly:

• After a 5-year long tenure at CIDC (or, GrandVirtual, from the good old days), I made the decision to quit my job there.  This was a decision that I did not make lightly.  CIDC was an
  amazing gig while it lasted.  It really just stopped being amazing, and it was time to move on.
• I worked at Nokia – for 3 1/2 months.  I call Nokia my rebound job.  I wasn’t quite ready to move on past CIDC.  I’m sure Nokia is a fine company, but we weren’t a good fit.  It’s not you; it’s me.
• I found my current job at Optaros, and I’m loving it!  This just barely made the cut for 2009.  I started at Optaros in December.
• I attempted to belly dance… and discovered that I have 2 left feet.
• I (finally) went back to Lebanon!  It had been over 8 years since my last visit there, which frankly, was way too long.  I flew over to visit my family in August and stayed about 10 days.  I flew through London on the way back and spent a couple nights there for the first time.  Both legs of my trip were completely fantastic!
• I ran about 454.8 miles over the course of this year.  I did run another 5K race this year in well under 30 minutes.  However, a 10K race just wasn’t in the cards this year.  I hurt my knee after a pretty bad fall over the summer and spent the last half of July in a knee brace.  I’m fine now, but wow did that hurt!  (As an aside, I also discovered just how easy it is to get a tan line from a knee brace.)

• I went to Falcon Ridge again this year.  The festival survived the tornado of 2008, thankfully, but it was noticeably smaller in attendance.  Still, I had a good time and bought way too much music.
• I moved… across the hall.  Really.  Easiest move ever!  I now live in a real apartment, with a separate bedroom and everything.  It’s wonderful!

I don’t really like making resolutions for the new year, but I do like planning.  It’s probably the same thing, really, but in either case, here are my plans for 2010:

• Run in a 10K race… for real this time!
• Read much more often than I have been.  (My reading habits have picked up over the past month… I’m hoping to continue the trend.)

• Learn more Arabic.  I barely know any right now and it’s embarrassing.  I don’t need to be fluent right now… just somewhat conversational.
• Travel, including: seeing my cousins in Los Angeles and Chicago; gambling, eating, and shooting in Vegas; sitting on a beach somewhere (warm) for a week.
• Start going to yoga regularly try boxing classes again.
• Meditate.
• Watch classic movies… seriously.  It’s amazing how many good, classic movies I haven’t seen.

May 2010 be happier, more peaceful, and more stable than 2009.  Happy New Year!

[Via http://jonihalabi.wordpress.com]

My 2010 Race Schedule

FOR THE FIRST HALF OF THE YEAR, ANYWAY.

When did I really become this runner?  My avatar (photo on the right sidebar) is a picture of me scuba diving, but really, should I change it to a running photo? Scuba used to be my living, but now I haven’t dove in over a year.  Running, on the other hand, I do almost daily.

I have some races picked out for the beginning of 2010. I find that always registering a race or two in advance keeps up the motivation to keep going.  Otherwise, I would find myself sleeping later in the morning and/or putting my butt down early on the sofa in the evening.

I searched Runner’s World Race Finder and Active.com for ideas, plus talked to some friends.  I wanted most the races to be fairly close by, or have a friend nearby to stay with, as traveling far distances quickly gets expensive.  Take the ING Miami Marathon, for example.  Since it’s an hour drive (not really that far) and a really early start (6:00 START), we decided to stay in Miami the night before the race.  To be close to the race start and not in a flea-bag hotel, it’s over $200 for the room.  But, it’s Matt’s first, and he says only, marathon, so I totally think it’s worth it.  I mean, I did fly to Honolulu and stay at a Hilton for my first marathon!

So here’s the start of 2010, which I will also update on my Running page.

January 16: No Name Race 5K, Big Pine Key, FL

• Going to join an “old” group of friends in the Keys for MLK weekend and do a race before the debauchery begins. Well, it will have already begun for some.

January 30: Komen Race for the Cure 5K, West Palm Beach, FL

• Great local race and national cause.  Wouldn’t want to miss it, even though I’m doing a half marathon the next day.

January 31: ING Miami (half) Marathon, Miami, FL

• Matt will be doing his first full marathon!

March 13: Gate River Run 15K, Jacksonville, FL

• Turned on by Danielle’s experience last year.  Going to stay with her in north FL.

April 17: 7-Mile Bridge Run, Marathon to Little Duck Key, FL

• Have to get in, of course, which can be tricky.  Hopefully my local connection works out…and I’ll be staying with her too.

May 15: Keys 100 (Relay), Key Largo to Key West, FL

• If Sarah’s team will still take me.  The first year they asked me I said “no way, are you crazy?”  and then the second year I was all excited for 10 minutes when I realized I already had a commitment that weekend.  This year I’m totally in – hopefully.

Of course this plan isn’t set in stone – I’ve only registered for events through January – and races/events can always be added.  In fact, I notice February is looking empty so I may have to add the Lake Clarke Shores Loop Around the Lake 6 mile.

[Via http://whatissharondoingnow.wordpress.com]

I won the Boston Marathon last year...

…I finished with a world record shattering time of 1:59:59. The first sub-2 hour marathon in history…AND I did it in my signature Luau VFF’s.

The Highly Anticipated Luau VFF

Get yourself a pair today at www.vibramsfivefingers.com.

Okay, so no I didn’t.  I didn’t even qualify for Boston last year.  Shoot, I barely ran a sub 4-hour marathon in my first (and so far only) try. But, somewhere, and I mean that, I did it. I not only won the Boston Marathon, but I won New York, Chicago and London as well.

The coolest part?

So did you!

Of course, it didn’t happen in this universe, but if you are familiar with quantum physics (which I am – just enough to make a fool of myself) you may also be familiar with the Many Worlds Interpretation (MWI). In a nutshell, MWI states that for every decision we come to in life, both/all choices are in fact made and reality branches off in two or more directions instead of just one.

For the infinite number of choices we could have made since the beginning of time, an infinite number of not-quite-identical worlds have branched off into existence. Infinite worlds – infinite possibilities, all occupying the same space, just not the same reality.  This is not fantasy.  It is scientific theory that is actually gaining support in the scientific community.

In one of these worlds, all of the right choices have been made to turn me into a world-class marathoner. I am simply the best there was, is, and ever will be. There is also one where YOU are the number one marathoner of all time.

Looking at the glass half empty, I could ask: Why am I not in THAT reality? Why am I stuck here as just an average, every day runner?  I point this out not to tease us or make us feel bad.   No,  I choose to look at the glass as half full. This other me is still me – the other you is still you. We are connected by the fact that we are essentially the same person. So when I am out there pounding the pavement, feeling the legs tire, I can reach across the ether, mentally touch that other reality and channel the world-class me. He’s/I’m out there/right here – occupying the same space, often running the same routes.

The next time you feel yourself lagging, draw on some cross-dimensional strength. I’m sure the Olympic medalist you would be happy to lend a hand.

***I also have a best-selling book, Run Luau Run, available on Amazon and at your local bookstores.  Well, somewhere I do.

[Via http://runluaurun.wordpress.com]

A gaiola das loucas ... corridas de S. Silvestre!

A minha vinda a Lisboa, para passar o Natal com a família, leva para Londres uma história para contar.

Coisas do meu maninho! Increveu-me na corrida de S. Silvestre de Lisboa, no domingo passado, dia 27 de Dezembro de 2009, e lá fui eu.

Com o dorsal lá fui eu correr desde a Praça D. Pedro IV até ao Rossio. Ou seja, descendo a Rua do Ouro, virando para o Cais do Sodré via Rua do Arsenal, virando para a Praça do Comércio, percorrendo a Ribeira das Naus e seguindo pela Av. Infante D. Henrique até ao Campo das Cebolas. Aí, foi virar até chegar à Rua da Alfandega e desta até à Rua da Prata. Desta segui até ao Rossio, subi a Av. da Liberdade e, fazendo inversão de marcha, desci a mesma até chegar novamente à Praça D. Pedro IV. Esta foi apenas a primeira volta.

Até aqui tudo bem, tive alguma companhia. A partir do Rossio, passei a fazer o resto do percurso; novamente a volta via Ribeira das Naus e Campo das Cebolas; sozinha. Só de corredores, mas bem acompanhada. Tive direito a escolta policial e uma ambulância só para mim, porque… fui a última das últimas! Orgulhosamente, nunca desisti e fiz os 10 km. A maioria fiz a caminhar a passo largo e veloz, mas também corri! Orgulhosamente, muitos foram os que fizeram corta-mato e desistiram ao fim da primeira volta, e eu percorri os 10 km, sem nunca cortar caminhos! Orgulhosamente cheguei ao fim de 1h33m10s, tive direito a uma e faço parte da lista de resultados (em http://www.saosilvestredelisboa.com), como última atleta a cortar a meta!

ESTOU MUITO ORGULHOSA DE MIM! PORQUE NUNCA DESISTI E DIVERTI-ME MUITO!

[Via http://runfromanthropologists.wordpress.com]

Pre-Noche Buena Run (Dec. 24)

I love group runs! I like the experience of a morning of unbridled camaraderie doing what everybody loves to do–running! More so, it’s about meeting old friends and new and getting enough inspiration, making us all aware that we runners need each other, to motivate and inspire each one. And it’s about creating memories to last a long, long while.

We all would like to find time and schedule a run with our group. I always like the idea of an LSD run and it’s mostly for the purpose of training for the marathon or half-marathon in the weeks ahead. When no races are scheduled (a rarity nowadays), we do informal runs and attach an event to it, like say in honor of a specific person, day or event (e.g. Run for Cory HERE, whale sharks, etc). There are many group runs with themes that i have joined in the past like a despedida run for a friend who immigrated abroad, a valentines run, and a halloween run, among others.

So how about a run on December 24 to celebrate Christmas? It was going to be a night of eating, drinking and partying anyway so a run that morning would soften the guilt. Abby, a takbo.ph forumer had hatched the idea and many in the group embraced the thought so, the “Pre-Noche Buena Run” came to fruition! The run was held at the U.P. grounds and runners donned either green or red running gear to signify the Christmas colors.

Christmas will always be a perfect occasion to run so, Merry Christmas and a grand Noche Buena for the coming New Year’s eve to all! (Thanks to Bryan and Pio for some of the photos)

Posing before the run

It was mostly a red, green Christmas running affair

During one of the rest breaks

With BLC winner Bryan, sitting

With Doc Eire, Lauren and Jet

The early birds

Takbo.ph group

With Marga-licious

With Jet

[Via http://jazzrunner.wordpress.com]

High School Strengths

High School Strengths

Author: Wellington W
Category: Sports & Recreation | Football
Keyword: Football,running drills,ball security,wall opponent,double teaming,football,running,drills,ball,team,players
Source: add-articles.com
Post Data: 22/05/2009 18:30:25
Word: 462

Protecting the football as you run

A team that prevents, drill
, fumbles is a team that wins, drill
, . There is nothing worse than almost getting a first down or even a touchdown and fumbling the ball, for this reason there is a great, drill
, need for ball security. A, drill
, great way to, drill
, teach, drill
, tight ball security is with four points. First grab the football with your carrying hand with the tips of the football being covered with your fingers. Second, wrap your forearm completely around the football. The third point is securing, drill
, the other point of the football with your bicep making, drill
, sure that it is right up against it. The final point is keeping the football high and tight against the ribcage. Run a couple of drills were the ball carrier runs through a pack of defenders to practice. By reducing the risk of a fumble you will increase the offensive strength in effectively driving across the field and, drill
, scoring touchdowns.

Powerful Blocking Strategy: Double Teaming

Football is all about strategy and fining, or making weak spots in your opponent. Use the proven technique of double teaming to get great results on the field!In essence, drill
, you take two blockers or linemen and have them go after the same person. The strategy works for putting a hole in the line of scrimmage as two easily overpowers one. The basics are simple for this technique: First, both players will need to step together, and put their hips together. They form a wall that the opponent cannot break. Concentrate on this wall so that the opponent cannot duck around or go through the double team, drill
, . Work, drill
, it fast and work it hard!

Running, drill
, will increase performance

Running drills are one of the most basic ways that you can enhance your endurance. Running drills will help you gain stamina so that you will be, drill
, able to play to your, drill
, full extent throughout the, drill
, game. Though running drills can be a big help,, drill
, drill
, to your game, many people complain the most about the running. Because in the end, the team or players that are the fastest are the ones that win the championships. Another benefit that you will not see at first,, drill
, is the ability to push yourself past your limits.

Conditioning: Quick step crossing

Reaction is as skill that players need to develop through conditioning and drills. This practice drill is intended to increase reaction speed and the ability to quickly change directions. It starts by placing players in a small four square box. The drill starts by having a player, drill
, stand, drill
, in one area or box, and has them jump diagonally, laterally,, drill
, frontwards,,, drill
, drill
, and backwards from one area to another. Changes can be made, drill
, so, drill
, that the player will only use one foot and then the other while they run the drill.

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[Via http://besthammerdrills.wordpress.com]

Conquering double digits

10 MILES

I finally did it. I ran ten miles and made them MINE. It was terribly tough, mentally and physically, but I am so relieved and happy to have accomplished that!

I can’t believe I just ran 10 miles. If you would have told me two months ago I’d be knocking out double digit runs at the end of 2009, I would have laughed in your face and told you there’s no way. I had an injured foot and couldn’t even manage two miles without limping home in pain.

Patience and rehabilitation are the key to getting back on track after an injury!

What’s up with everyone falling in the last few days? Meghan, Monica, and Jenna have all taken spills. Well, you can add my name to the list now!

I tripped over my own feet at the beginning of mile 3, but got back up and kept going because there was no blood on my hands and they just stung a little bit. But, at the beginning of mile 8 I really fell hard and hit my right knee.

I didn’t stop running. I just got up and kept going, mainly because I was embarrassed. A little old lady had watched me fall and came running. After assuring her I was okay, I just kept trucking… but my knees, which were already kind of achy from all the running, weren’t feeling so hot.

I came home and washed off my scratched up hands to find my knee looking like the above photo. Whoops! Probably should have not been stubborn and checked on my knee after the second tumble.

Here were my mile splits:

Mile 1: 9:45:2
Mile 2: 8:36:5
Mile 3: 9:58:2
Mile 4: 9:51:1
Mile 5: 9:50:1
Mile 6: 9:56:7
Mile 7: 10:03:2
Mile 8: 10:11:7
Mile 9: 10:51:8
Mile 10: 9:53:1

Total running time=1:38:59:6

Not only a personal distance record, but the longest I have ever spent running straight, without walking breaks.

Who votes I am gonna be sore tomorrow?

[Via http://chasingthenow.wordpress.com]

2010 Goals

A brand new year. It means a fresh new start, a fresh new beginning, a fresh new mindset, and new goals.

Last year was the first year I actually came up with list of goals and made commitment to follow them – or at least try to follow most of them.

I want to do the same this year but I want to go deeper, go further than last year. I really want to put myself in a bigger picture – step outside of my comforts and be active in this lively world.

I struggled to come up with a concrete, measurable, and achievable list last year. After all, you come up with goals to accomplish, not just put it on your wall and admire your ability to create them. You must be able to walk the talk. How would you know you achieved them without any measurements?

Below are my 8 goals for this year. I put a measurable indicator for each goal, so I’ll know whether I have achieved or failed at the end of 2010.

1. Read 18 books but no new purchases
   - I’ve managed to read my goal of 12 books in 2009. Now I’m pushing that limit to 18 (increase of 50%) this year. I know it’ll be tough since I’ll be attending part-time graduate school, but you can always find time to read when you’re really into it. I plan to read previous-purchased books that I’ve never opened, borrow from library, or read books that I’ve read again (the good ones!). No more spending money on books this year – I’ll have very tight budget!
2. Keep weight under 175 for all year long. Keep track of weights once a week
   - This one might be really hard, but I’m going to try to monitor my weight for the entire year. Some may argue that I am not fat at all and yes I agree. In fact, I’m probably on the healthier side of 25 year old man, but I really do need to watch out my health, I feel like I’m losing a step on sports field too, maybe I need to get back in the shape so I can be competitive again.
3. Take 5 graduate school courses
   - I’m going back to school. 5 classes is my goal, but that all depends on class availability and my work schedule. If I’m in DC for the entire 2010, I think 5 courses are very doable.
4. Take two trips (at least 5 days long) outside of Mid-Atlantic region
   - Between school semesters, I’ll have about 3 weeks of school-free time. I want to take advantage by going on trips on these breaks. Not entirely 3 weeks but maybe one short break within US and one longer break outside of US would be fantastic. I’ve also set $2,500 as my travel budget, so money won’t be the excuse of not-going.
5. Save at least $1,000 a month ($12,000 year)
   - This one might be the toughest. I don’t know what’s going to happen once I move to Crystal City area soon. The rent will almost double and I’m not sure where I can cut my budget. I’m already on a pretty tight budget and I’ll need to work harder to save money. Maybe less eating out and more brown-bag lunches.
6. Attend at least 5 non-profit/charity events
   - This one has my heart and desire. I just need to find the one that fits my schedule and my expertise. There seem to be none. Maybe I need to look harder and wider – someone could use my help, right? Hopefully one that offers free Disneyland tickets.
7. Complete a half marathon
   - This one goes along with goal #2. I really want to have a reason to work out and be in shape other than look good (even that doesn’t get me girls). Marathon sounds perfect reason to workout and training. I know I’m not ready for the full-length even with one active year of training. I’ll compete for half length and maybe try for full-length within next two years.
8. Read Bible from Beginning to the End
   - Now, this is a real goal. Can you believe that I’ve been calling myself a Christian, yet I have not read the bible from the beginning to the end? What a shame. I don’t know the stories inside out. It’s like telling people I play guitar yet I can’t read the chords. This has to be the most important goal for 2010. I cannot fail this one.

Some are career related, some are more of personal interests, but nonetheless all of them will challenge me somehow and I look forward to accept those challenges. They will benefit, strengthen, and make me a better person at the end.

It wouldn’t be a total failure if I don’t get to achieve all of them in 365 day window. I just set the bar high so I can get motivated and try to hit the bar as high as I can in a given time. It will probably mean less fun, less sleep, and definitely more hardship – but I accept the mission.

Please pray that I don’t get side-tracked with my goals. I’d still have God as my priority and continue to be more like him everyday (although I fail everyday). It’ll be an interesting year for me. I’ll be turning 26 in 2010; officially a late-twenties. Perhaps, I should have included “find a girl” as one of goals too.

[Via http://jwseo.wordpress.com]

Clontarf, octopus and icecream sandwiches

Hey hey!

Just got back from my best run of the holiday (in terms of route not performance). I ran through Potts Point, down to Wooloomooloo, up to the Botanical Gardens and all the way round the harbour to the Circular Quay, around the Opera House and back. It was glorious!!! All up just over 1 hour. So many joggers and walkers out so that was great to see . I set my alarm for 6am this morning but snoozed until 6.30, oops. I was trying to beat the heat but really that was pretty futile as it was already humid, hot and sunny by 6.45am when I headed out. Oh well, that is why I cream up before every run . In terms of performance, well, I think I am running slowly at the moment. My Polar is dead so I don’t have my heart rate to hand and therefore don’t have much of a guage of how hard I am pushing it. I know I’m not pushing it that hard, probably because there are so many hills in Sydney and I am pretty much catching my breath before the next one hits and also because I don’t know the routes I’m running. Anyway, no big deal, it is nice to run and enjoy the scenery. I will get into some more racing once life settles after the holiday.

Once back at the hotel, I had some water and went up to the gym to do some legs, arms and abs:

• 50 squats
• 100 plies
• 20 lunges each leg

(no weights)

• Tracey Anderson Self arm workout with 1kg weights
• 10 minutes of abs
• few yoga poses to stretch
• more stretching

Done and done!

But anyway, I need to recap on yesterday so I better get to it. We met up with my family up at Clontarf, a gorgeous little harbour bay in northern suburbs of Sydney.

   

While at Clontarf, for lunch I had 2 multigrain corn thins with Hummos, 1/2 a can of John West Light Tuna and cherry toms. Plus an unpictured apricot.

I also had a few crackers with hummos afterwards and a little later I snacked on one of these new breakfast bars I picked up at Woolies.

 

The stats are pretty good and compared to the Be Natural Cranberry or the Crunchola they are way way better (texture, taste, firmness, fat and fibre content). They are also 40g which is a bit bigger than your standard muesli bar so a bit more filling. They clock in at approximately 145 cals so are higher than say a Freedom Bar but they are much better value (9 pack) and since nobody on this earth seems to stock Freedom Bars anymore this may be my new substitute.

Not to shabby.

Morning and afternoon nibbles were cottage cheese and cherries (not together). I ate a lot of cherries yesterday. They are just to tasty!

Last night we went to our friends Saul and Cath’s place for dinner. They made us the yummiest seafood feast! Thanks guys!!

To start they had set out wasabi peas and marinated feta with olive tapenade. The wasabi peas were awesome, I’ve loved those things ever since Adam and I tried them in Hong Kong years ago. These were super wasabi and I had a good handful. I also had 2 crackers with feta. Mmmmmmmmmmmmm.

Saul BBQ’d teryaki salmon, octopus and prawns. So tasty!

We also had a green salad and corn!

Love the bamboo bowl too .

My plate. Plus 2 small glasses of white wine.

See those little orange corn cobb holders, aren’t they cute!

We were in charge of dessert so we picked up these interesting looking icecream sandwiches from the deli opposite Edgecliff Harris Farm market.

The lady in the store said that once people buy these they keep coming back to buy more. I understand why. They were completely DELICIOUS!!! Try and get your hands on these babies if you see them anywhere.

The iceream was a super rich vanilla and the cookie lace… sticky, gooey and sweet. So good! We spent a lot of the night trawling through the Good Food and Wine Guide 2010 as, like us, Saul and Cath are big foodies and were giving us tips on Sydney eating .

Obviously we rolled out of their apartment.

Breakfast = Vogels. I love you. Welcome back.

Not sure of our plans for today. My parents are arriving this morning and my gran, aunt and uncle and cousin and her family all arrived from Perth yesterday, so everybody is now here for Christmas tomorrow.

I have to do some present wrapping too and we are musing over whether to try to get a booking at The Boathouse in Glebe for lunch as we are running out of days to fit in all the restaurants we had planned to go to .

[Via http://whatisforbreakfast.wordpress.com]

Jet Lag is FUN

Hellllo! VIVA LAS VEGAS! I am now blogging from Sin City, which obvi means I’ surrounded by scantily clad cocktail waitresses and performing tigers right now.

Psyche!

I’m home with the parents in L.V. , in some gorgeous sunshine and mid 50 degree weather. But let’s back up, k?

I had a classic NYC farewell dinner Monday night after a great gym sesh before saying sayonara to NYC.

ignore my chipped polish, por favor.

Yup, pizza. Sicilian, to be exact, from L & B Spumoni Gardens.

Figured it would be the only suitable foodie sendoff from this fine city.

I spent 1.5 hours in the security line of JFK yesterday morning, and haaangry. And yes, I do in fact mean one and a half HOURS. Good times. Then they cancelled our flights twice, but just pretend because we all know how airlines love pulling a good joke during the holidays.

landing in vegas, baby.

McCarran Intl Airport in LV.

Eventually I made it home (with all my luggage, thank God), and was jet lagged/starving/out of sorts til I hit my bed that night. Luckily I arose to this caffeinated bfast.

mixed up with pb.

Oatmeal with some coffee mixed in! I used 1/3 cup black coffee and 1/3 cup unsweetened vanilla almond milk, and it was perfection. Seroiusly. Give it a shot.. I think maybe it even gave me an extra jolt for the morning, despite my plane hangover. Or maybe it’s in my imagination, but either way… I digree- this bowl also had a spoonful of pb, sliced banana, and some blueberries.

Good to be home kids, let me tell ya.

I also got a quick run in at my dad’s gym- just short of 3 miles, plus almost half a mile of walking. I’d have run longer but

a. I was sleepy/not feeling it, and running should be ENJOYABLE when you do it, andddd

b. i had to jet to my haircut appointment!

Why yes, I had an awkward photo shoot in the car. My hair is SHORT. I handed my stylist a photo of Katie Holmes from some mag, and here’s what I ended up with. It’s growing on me.. I’m not sure how sold i am yet, but I have to get used to it. She cut almost 10 inches off! (I’m donating it.)

Oh, and after this I went to one of my fav stores EVER.

Trader Joe’s!!

You didn’t think I meant a clothing store, did you??

And proof I’m in Las Vegas-

Random man in shorts strolling out of TJ’s, the day before Christmas Eve.

And yeah, I was that creepy and paparazzi’d him.

Okay loverbees- have a great night! I’m off to spend some quality time with my grandma who just arrived, and start baking up some Christmas goodies. I see cookies in my future.

[Via http://joelygolightly.wordpress.com]

The Horrible Hills of Lafayette Reservoir

Yikes. It was just One Of Those Days.

After last week’s great 15 mile run, it was only fitting to follow it up with an extremely challenging and not-so-fun one. That’s just how karma works, right?

I came up to visit my parents for the holidays and we happened to be in the Bay Area for my grandfather’s 81st birthday. I hadn’t had a chance to run the previous three days so I was desperate to get back on the road. However, being semi-unfamiliar with the area and needing a long run, I wanted a looping route that I could mindlessly breeze through. Well, I got the looping route but it was no route I could mindlessly breeze through.

Yikes.

You can’t tell from this Google Maps image but for a (beginner) runner, this trail is hell. For someone out for a stroll, or perhaps a lap or two of it’s 2.7 rolling green hills, it’s fantastic.

Don’t be deceived.

Even though the trail is 2.7 miles, there are about 15 hills of varying degrees. Admittedly, I wasn’t ready for it, even though I thought I could do it. What compounded the problem is running the trail multiple times meant running the hills multiple times. And the hills got the best of me.

The flatter hills were doable, but the longer, steeper ones really did a number on my body. Additionally, downhill paths, I find, are much more difficult than uphill, especially the ones with a longer grade. As someone who hasn’t done too much hill work, I could feel that it takes a whole new set of muscles to control a downhill stride. It’s so easy to accidentally overextend your stride when running down hill, not to mention the extra impact caused by gravity on your feet. It really takes some effort to control. For me, the only challenge with running uphill is muscle strength. Downhill requires practice.

I needed to do 16 miles, which meant 6 loops. I only got to 13 miles, but it was no farther than loop 3 that I was hurting. My hips and knees on both my legs were aching and hurting. I had never felt anything like it. At one point, I tried to simply loop one mile intervals but even within that one mile the hills were unbearable at that point. At that point, I just cut my run short.

These ducks were laughing at me, I’m sure of it.
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In the end, I’m thankful for the run. It was a great training run, especially considering there will be hills during the marathon. But it was not fun. However, it does help mentally to know that I’ve done a run with massive, unconquerable hills. I know it will be useful come race day. Looking back I’m glad I did it, but at the time, it was terrible.

Distance: 13 miles
Time: 122:58
Pace: 9:27 mile

The words “hill” and “hell” are separated by only one letter… Think about that!

In the holiday spirit.
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Even GU Chomps couldn’t save me.
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Gorgeous day, gorgeous scenery, hellish run.
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