Dear Blogger,
I fear it may be time for us to part. I’ve found a new distraction that wastes my time and fills my brain with trivial and useless information. Its name is FaceBook.
FaceBook is fun and new and flashy. It connects me with old friends and new friends, family and co-workers. It lets me put short cryptic messages everywhere and allows me to post pictures of my children in what I think is a more secure way. And Blogger, I can chat on FaceBook. Ah, the possibilities!
But Blogger, I must admit that I miss you. You allow me to ramble on about useless nonsense and you suffer silently through my complete self-absorption. With you, my content is my own instead of belonging to some remote company in perpetuity. You connect me to other triathletes who share my interests and verbosity.
You even allow me to use the word triathlete in reference to myself when we both know there’s no basis in reality any more.
Could there be room for both of you in my life? I’d like to try if you would. Please, Blogger, give me another chance.
Love,
Tri-Di
.
Thursday, February 19, 2009
Thursday, February 12, 2009
Virginia is for Lovers
For those of you who are participating in the 14k and 1.4 mile race at Virginia Beach this weekend like Annnn, I want to offer my heartfelt appreciation.
I just found out that the event is in honor of Team Kainer.
John Kainer and my brother-in-law have been close friends since they were kids. John recently died after a long and valiant struggle with brain cancer. His story is amazing.
I wish I had known - that would be an event worth skipping school for.
Next year.
.
I just found out that the event is in honor of Team Kainer.
John Kainer and my brother-in-law have been close friends since they were kids. John recently died after a long and valiant struggle with brain cancer. His story is amazing.
I wish I had known - that would be an event worth skipping school for.
Next year.
.
Sunday, February 1, 2009
Catching Up (again...)
OMG I can't believe how long it's been since I posted... Jennifer, are you still there? Jodi? Anyone???
The last month has been very stressful and while I've thought about my poor semi-abandoned blog, I really haven't had much to say that would be worth hearing. Just ask anyone who has seen me during this time! Things are getting better as at least my stark fear of losing my job is alleviated for the immediate future. School is busy but interesting. I'm in the last semester and really enjoy the topics this time around - emerging technology, digital economy, large scale implementations. Sounds scintillating to all of you, right? Right?!?!?!? Okay I never said I'm not a geek.
Adding to my pathetic mental state is the fact that I can't figure out when to exercise anymore. It's been bad since Sept and worsened after I wrecked my bike and got out of the habit of getting up early to lift weights during the recovery. Now it's so dark in the morning - I haven't even attempted to haul my fat ass out of bed.
I'm the least fit that I've been in the last 10 years right now, including the times I was pregnant. It's very discouraging.
Today though, I had the opportunity to run in absolutely gorgeous weather. We're in the mountains this weekend, so I knew I had a tough route ahead of me exacerbated by the fact that I haven't run in two weeks. But I did it!
My route up here starts with a lovely 3/4 mile uphill. As I pant like a locomotive, I remind myself of Richard's long ago advice that the first mile is always the hardest. Now he's run marathons and I really don't believe him at that distance, but it works for me.
The next 3/4 mile is rolling hills and ends with a short, steep uphill. During this stretch, I am tempted to make this an out-and-back three mile run. Then I remind myself of Marrrrgo's first run after a break which was five miles and fast. So I turn left to hit the hell loop instead.
This stretch of 1 1/2 miles starts with a downhill so steep that it scares me, then levels off for a few seconds before some steep rolling hills and a loooonnnng gradual and sometimes steep uphill. This is where I wish I hadn't decided to run at all or at least had the sense to turn around earlier. I think about all my girls training for IronMan and poor Deanna who would love to run but can't because of injury. I turn up my music. Today, I had Rainbow's iPod because I forgot to bring mine so I jammed to a lovely selection of Hannah Montana and Corbin Bleu. Which I actually really like. As well as some of my non-R rated songs that she likes too.
As I hit the big hill at the end of this section, my mental talk is working overtime. I can do it, I tell myself. I'm not breathing any harder than I was on the first section, if not less. Run to the next street sign and then evaluate the hill. As my mind is telling me to move forward, my feet inexplicably slow to a walk. My mind quickly acquiesces. So I walk for a few minutes before restarting my slow uphill shuffle. I berate myself for being a total lame ass.
I hit the stop sign and force myself to go left to make up for the walking, and then I turn around to hit the last 3/4 mile stretch on the downhill side to head back home. I notice flat sections and even slight uphills that didn't exist when I was running the other way.
One of my favorite songs comes on Rainbow's iPod ("I don't feel like dancing" by the Scissor Sisters) and I try to crank the tunes up more. I finally realize that it isn't getting any louder because I have limited the volume on her iPod. I'm disappointed but I also give myself a rare parental pat on the back for keeping my baby girl's eardrums intact for a little while longer.
At some point on this stretch, I feel like a runner. I see my house and am vaguely disappointed that my run is over. I realize that's what a downhill finish will do for me. And I suppose that's why I will do it again.
In two weeks. Maybe.
.
The last month has been very stressful and while I've thought about my poor semi-abandoned blog, I really haven't had much to say that would be worth hearing. Just ask anyone who has seen me during this time! Things are getting better as at least my stark fear of losing my job is alleviated for the immediate future. School is busy but interesting. I'm in the last semester and really enjoy the topics this time around - emerging technology, digital economy, large scale implementations. Sounds scintillating to all of you, right? Right?!?!?!? Okay I never said I'm not a geek.
Adding to my pathetic mental state is the fact that I can't figure out when to exercise anymore. It's been bad since Sept and worsened after I wrecked my bike and got out of the habit of getting up early to lift weights during the recovery. Now it's so dark in the morning - I haven't even attempted to haul my fat ass out of bed.
I'm the least fit that I've been in the last 10 years right now, including the times I was pregnant. It's very discouraging.
Today though, I had the opportunity to run in absolutely gorgeous weather. We're in the mountains this weekend, so I knew I had a tough route ahead of me exacerbated by the fact that I haven't run in two weeks. But I did it!
My route up here starts with a lovely 3/4 mile uphill. As I pant like a locomotive, I remind myself of Richard's long ago advice that the first mile is always the hardest. Now he's run marathons and I really don't believe him at that distance, but it works for me.
The next 3/4 mile is rolling hills and ends with a short, steep uphill. During this stretch, I am tempted to make this an out-and-back three mile run. Then I remind myself of Marrrrgo's first run after a break which was five miles and fast. So I turn left to hit the hell loop instead.
This stretch of 1 1/2 miles starts with a downhill so steep that it scares me, then levels off for a few seconds before some steep rolling hills and a loooonnnng gradual and sometimes steep uphill. This is where I wish I hadn't decided to run at all or at least had the sense to turn around earlier. I think about all my girls training for IronMan and poor Deanna who would love to run but can't because of injury. I turn up my music. Today, I had Rainbow's iPod because I forgot to bring mine so I jammed to a lovely selection of Hannah Montana and Corbin Bleu. Which I actually really like. As well as some of my non-R rated songs that she likes too.
As I hit the big hill at the end of this section, my mental talk is working overtime. I can do it, I tell myself. I'm not breathing any harder than I was on the first section, if not less. Run to the next street sign and then evaluate the hill. As my mind is telling me to move forward, my feet inexplicably slow to a walk. My mind quickly acquiesces. So I walk for a few minutes before restarting my slow uphill shuffle. I berate myself for being a total lame ass.
I hit the stop sign and force myself to go left to make up for the walking, and then I turn around to hit the last 3/4 mile stretch on the downhill side to head back home. I notice flat sections and even slight uphills that didn't exist when I was running the other way.
One of my favorite songs comes on Rainbow's iPod ("I don't feel like dancing" by the Scissor Sisters) and I try to crank the tunes up more. I finally realize that it isn't getting any louder because I have limited the volume on her iPod. I'm disappointed but I also give myself a rare parental pat on the back for keeping my baby girl's eardrums intact for a little while longer.
At some point on this stretch, I feel like a runner. I see my house and am vaguely disappointed that my run is over. I realize that's what a downhill finish will do for me. And I suppose that's why I will do it again.
In two weeks. Maybe.
.
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