Spicy!

Yesterday I got back on the treadmill. It sucked but I watched two episodes of "modern family" so I was able to go about 4 miles. I realized I HATE running on a treadmill, but living in New England, sometimes running outside is just not an option.

My friend spent all of January blogging about organizing. This month's issue of Oprah magazine is about organizing. I'm not usually an Oprah devotee but there were some useful tips. For example, did you know that after three years you should replace your spices? Who knew! Given that Bil and I still use spices that came in a spice rack given as a wedding gift over FIVE years ago, I figured I should chuck them and check out what else has been taking up long-term residence in the cabinet.

I found spices that explicitly expired four years ago, and others that I think one of us must have had before we met. That means these spices have gone through three moves. Yes, they have lived in at LEAST four different cabinets.

Anyway, I dumped all the expired spices, which upon closer inspection showed signs of age. Such as clingy spidery-web stuff, were crusted solid, or had changed color. After purging we were left with salt and onion powder.

I really like our spice rack, so I took the empty jars and went to our local coop where I refilled them with spices from the bulk section. Some jars I used for different spices. For example, I don't think we've EVER used marjoram, so I bought cloves instead. The whole thing cost about $14.

I feel really good about accomplishing this little task, even though I don't actually USE the spices as I don't cook.

First run in the VFFs

On Sunday I went for my first run in the VFFs! It was really weird. It felt starnge running on pavement, nearly barefoot but having it be okay. I preferred to run on the grass, which did mean that some water got into the shoes, but my feet didn't feel cold

After two miles in the VFFs I stopped at home and swapped shoes to my regular running shoes. I didn't want to hurt my feet too much due to using new muscles etc. While running, my arches felt really engaged in a good way. So I put on my regular sneaks on, and WOAH! It felt like I was running on marshmallows. And not in a good way. But I did the rest of my run (about 4 more miles) and returned home.

The next day- my calves were sore. My arches were fine. I think I should have run in the regular shoes first, but at this point, I might not run in regular shoes ever again.

Anyway, Raviv gave me his cold for his birthday so I'm keeping this post short because my head feels like it will explode. Also- I think this means no running for the next few days.

Now I remember...

The funny thing I saw yesterday was a woman in a LONG fur coat, smoking a cigarette, standing outside of the hospital in Northampton. Major cognitive dissonance.

No activity today, but yoga tomorrow and 5 miles on Sunday! Plus my shoes came and they fit!

Oh, and I served the pie, but didn't eat any. Neither did my guest on weight watchers, but the others said it was good.

Ethical Dilemma (And advice for cross training)

Yesterday we had a "snow-day" which was great. There was almost no snow, but Bil didn't have school and it was my special day off with Raviv. I got to go for a nice run outside. I jinxed myself, however, as yesterday's run felt crappy the whole time. My knee was tweaking a bit so I was glad today is an official rest day. But I need to do 40 minutes of cross training tomorrow. Any suggestions for cross training you can do at home in the winter?

Also- I have an ethical dilemma. We are having company over for dinner tomorrow night, and Bil picked out a desert he wanted me to make while he was at a meeting- a chocolate walnut pie. Let me tell you- knowing what went into the pie, there is no way I would EVER let a bite of it cross my lips (Lets just say that by volume chocolate is the least present of the ingredients, and light corn syrup is one of the highest). Can I still serve this? It kinda goes against almost everything I stand for.

And is it weird to have an organic pie crust, local butter, organic sugar, and free-range, organic eggs and corn syrup (the root of almost all evils in this country. Okay, maybe not quite as bad as HIGH FRUCTOSE corn syrup, but still...) in the same recipe?

I saw something amusing today, but I forgot what it was. So now I don't have a funny story, but it was a good day because Raviv was sent home from daycare sick. When we arrived he was really congested and coughing. But he really wasn't sick (by the time he got home he had cleared up) and I got an extra bonus day with my little guy!

Chronic bad mood

I haven't posted regularly because I am in a chronic bad mood. And I'm busy working on a project for my son's 1st birthday.

I'm really enjoying running at this point. I feel like I have enough of a "base" that I can go out and enjoy the workout without feeling like I'm going to die in the first few minutes. I'm trying to follow the training schedule, however, so that I don't overdo it and get injured.

For some reason, I have been craving fat and sugar for the last four or five days (bread, pastries, etc). I have indulged, but I'm really trying to get a grip on it.

It might be my hormones shifting that is causing these changes (mood, appetite) but I think it is more about the life issues. Things at home are challenging and work isn't fulfilling me. I'm hoping that after next week, which includes two major milestones (Raviv turns one and the anniversary of my mom's death- which I didn't address last year) I come out of my funk a bit.

I do have to say, I have the most gorgeous commute to work. I can't stand it!

AND- TWO days in a row I have seen mail trucks being towed! One was on a flatbed truck and one was a regular tow. (This pic isn't the actual truck I saw, but it serves the purpose).

Also- Last night I had a dream Raviv said his first word. It was "popcorn."

Greenfield 4 miler!

Today I ran in the Greenfield 4 miler road race! My colleague, his girlfriend and I all ran. It was so much fun and I needed this fun after the past week.

The past week sucked. I've been in a chronic bad mood. I don't know why. On Wed night I went to yoga, hoping it would help me snap out of it, but instead I felt even WORSE on Thursday. Which, in retrospect was a funny day- I had my car scheduled for maintenance. I had arranged to use a loaner while my car was being serviced. Unfortunately, when I got into the loaner the "check engine" light was on and so THAT car had to be serviced first. Then, at the end of my craptastic day I was on the way up to get the car and they called to tell me it would be another hour. I used that time to go up to the stream near my parent's house, which is where I feel very close to my mom. It was just what I needed, because after that visit and 2 hours of TV while home alone I felt much better on Friday.

But I didn't work out on Thursday or Friday, and I had eaten poorly. This morning I woke up feeling hung over (which can happen to me after eating a lot of white bread) and like I had a cold. Raviv had a snotty nose yesterday and a raspy voice so I was worried. BUT, I dragged myself out of bed and got on the road. Last night we had dinner with some people who like to run and it inspired me.

I was a bit nervous about this race for three reasons:
1) It was the first time I would be running in any form of a race in 3 years
2) It was 15 degrees out when I left the house. First time in about 15 years I would be running in such cold temps
3) the last place finisher last year ran the race in about 50 minutes. I've been averaging 10:30-11 minutes/mile during my runs.

The race is small (only about 50-60 people) and I figure because it is cold and a strange distance for a race, those that do run are probably "Real" runners.

I arrived and accidentally parked really far away. But it turned out okay because I was able to jog to the registration which gave me a bit more confidence running outside. The people were really nice, and no one seemed too intimidating. I met up with my friends and we were all excited.

As I was waiting in line for the bathroom I learned that the race was hilly, which didn't worry me, but I was glad to know ahead of time! By the way- I have a really bad habit of assuming people are in the bathroom if the door is closed, and often don't check. Today I thought someone was in the stall, but nope. empty. In "waiting" for the stall to be free a 6 person-deep line formed. Oops.

Anyway, the race was really fun. I finished 40th out of 50+ runners, but ran 9:30 min miles, which was great! The race started on a downhill and everyone was chatty, but as we made the first turn, for a climb of about 1.5 miles people stopped talking. I got passed, but I also passed people. Most of the time I was running on my own. But the course was a loop, and there were lots of people directing us around turns so it wasn't lonely.

I finished strong and felt like I could have kept running! (Not that I wanted to go faster, just farther). I am now re-energized about running. I can see how racing is important for this purpose.

Also- my shoes arrived the day after I placed my order! way to go City Sports! but they were a bit too small. City Sports was awesome in helping track down a pair in the new size, and I should be getting the new ones this week. My colleague did get his and they fit, and he wore them in the race today. He got a lot of attention for them, and he said he really liked them.

I have a blog topic in mind- "Running with Fear" but I will save it for another day.

Amazing day!

Today has been a fun day! (OK, I got nearly nothing done at work but aside from that it was great). First, I'll start with the funny stuff:

1) I saw not one, but TWO cars with boots on them in Amherst. One on my way to work, and one on my way home. I don't know why, but I always get a laugh out of a good booted car. I think this originates from my time at Hampshire when a friend's car was booted.

2) I got the BEST SCAM MAIL EVER! I got a notice from paypal that there was fishy stuff going on with my account. I suspected it was scam mail, so I logged into paypal and called the company. Sure enough there was no fraud, but I found out that I have had $150 sitting there since JUNE 2008 that I never claimed. It must have been from selling a bridesmaids dress after her wedding (funny enough, the friend that got married was also a part of the Hampshire booting incident- though not her car).

I just read the most inspiring book, Born to Run by Christopher McDougall. The book really captures the spirit of long distance running. The book isn't the most well written book I've ever read, but there are several things I really enjoyed about it.

1) The characters. He tells the story of several of the worlds best ultra runners (people who will do 100 miles at a time just for fun). These people LOVE to run and it is really inspiring.

2) He builds a case for why humans are born to run long distances (marathons +). Not only this, but it is because we can do this we are human. Really incredible stuff about the architecture of the human body. I did a quick search and found a summary of his argument here.

3) He also builds a case for why the advent of the modern day running shoe (circa 1970) has ruined running for so many. It is because of the shoe that so many people suffer from running injuries. There is a movement for barefoot running, which I may be joining- once it isn't icy and snowy outside. I'm not sure how to build the muscles in my foot up so that I can run safely (running shoes basically lead to the atrophy the muscles that are critical for running, as they change the bio mechanics of the foot). I am interested in trying these shoes:

but want to try them on first and they don't sell them locally. As for now, I'm just going to continue on schedule with my training in my current shoes.