Chicago, Daylight Savings Time, and Happy Birthday

I just celebrated another birthday.    It was a good one.  I went to Chicago for the weekend.  I didn’t bother taking any pics, so I have none to share.  You can knock yourself out with Chicago pics on Flickr, ‘tho.    I saw the funniest musical called, “Spelling Bee,” ate at a fancy, overrated restaurant called, “The Capital Grille,”  went to a few museums and missed my flight coming back to San Francisco.  Yes, I was one of those who screwed up due to daylight savings time.  Ironically, I remembered reminding myself to change the clocks on Friday and Saturday, but I woke up Sunday and didn’t even remember to do it.  Duuuh!!  Nevertheless, I blame Bush for this one.  What the heck is up with extending it, anyway?  The original purpose and intent for having daylight savings time no longer exists and it’s just one of those traditions that keep on keeping on without anyone stopping to question its purpose and relevancy as it applies to our current conditions and needs.  Ok, I digress.  I got a cool iPod shuffle. That thing is seriously cool.  It’s so tiny and cute.  I can’t wait to break it in on one of my runs.  Speaking of which, spring is just around the corner and I am so, so, SO looking forward to hiking, biking, sailing and all things outdoors!  I’m thinking about training for another run, too.  I probably won’t do another half marathon, ‘tho.  Those are too easy now.  ;) Ha ha…Just kidding!  I am thinking about a few 5K or 10Ks and then maybe, just maybe, the big FULL marathon later in the year.  The thought makes me anxious and nervous.  My eyes are set on Hawaii but I need to see if I’ve got it in me to commit to another training routine.  It takes so much discipline and time, both of which I have little or none of!   

Cheers, everyone!  Hope all is well!

My Run

Ok, this is going to be quick.

I am super busy with quarter end stuff at work.  I’ve barely had time to breathe since I got back from Anaheim.

I drove up with Irma, her husband and son, and two of our other friends on Friday evening.  I stayed with my cousin that weekend while Irma (my co-worker) stayed at a hotel near the park.  I never did get to see her in the morning before the run.  We did manage a quick phone call around 5AM, but it was around that time that they were having us enter our corrals and most of the runners were around so it didn’t make sense to try and find each other in the huge crowd of people.  Also, due to me changing fundraising groups midway through training, I ended up being assigned to corral D.  She was in corral C.

Anyway, I finished my run about 2 minutes ahead of my Miami run, which was still a little under 3 hours.  I seriously need to figure out how to train to get a better time, but that will be a run/goal for another time, I guess.  I was very happy about finishing ahead of my Miami time, even if it was only by about 2 minutes.

My Run Stats

2006 Disneyland Inaugural Half Marathon 

Start time:  6:08:23AM

5K:  48:39

10 Mile: 2:22:13

Finish:  2:52:38 

Chip time:  2:52:38

Clock: 3:02:12

Pace:  13:10

Placement Overall:  6610

Gender:  3636

Division:  578

Run RM Run!

Well, folks.  I’m super busy.  I am in the middle of quarter end at work and haven’t really had a chance to breathe. 

I’ve spent the last two nights with MN and NE planning our European adventure trip.  It’s a lot of work ironing out all the details!  There are hotel confirmations to be made, rental car bookings, train schedules to figure out, geography and sites to pick out, and the craziest part of it all is getting concensus among the 3 of us gals.  Most of the details are figured out for Prague and these small towns called Czesky Krumlov and Brno.  We still need to figure out our Budapest and Vienna hotels.  I’m super excited about our decision to add Vienna to our plans! 

I haven’t even had a chance to get in any maintenance runs before the big event on Sunday.  Oh, well…I figure there’s a tradeoff and I’m not going to stress over it at this point.  I’m so busy that I decided to forego my flight out to Anaheim on Thursday evening and will drive out on Friday afternoon instead.  My co-worker was already planning to drive so I am just going to tag along.  Wish me luck, and thanks for all the well-wishes!

Hmm….too many other things going on.  For now, I am surviving on 4 or 5 hours of sleep and just stressed beyond belief and haven’t slept too well lately.  I’ll explain more about this later too.

Be well!

15 Miles!

Last weekend was the peak of my training schedule.

I won’t go into the long ordeal and the disappointment I experienced with the way the SF AIDS Foundation has treated me since I opted to fundraise for the Special Olympics. What was supposed to be a “celebration run” with my SFAF team, ended up with me running the 15 miles on my own.

My co-worker, Irma, who is training with me, hurt her ankle in the last training run so she also missed the big run and instead, walked the first 4 miles with me on Sat. When she left I ended up running the other 11 miles on my own. Boy, I gotta tell you, it is SO hard to keep your mental brain from dragging you down. It didn’t help that I was running a 1.25 loop over and over again to get in my mileage. Usually we run through various streets and neighborhoods so the scenery is constantly changing which means there are new things to keep your mind occupied. This loop I ran, however, got really old after about my 9th lap. Physically I was fine. I didn’t feel any aches, no soreness, nothing, not even the next day, which I think is amazing!

It was kind of funny, ‘tho, because I passed by many of the same people who were out fishing or sitting by the lake multiple times. Around mile 9 some guy made a good-natured comment about passing him (again), and I was amazed at how this one simple remark could boost my spirits. If he wasn’t there I don’t now how I would have made it through the last 3 laps.

I started my run around 9AM and finished around 11:30AM. That’s about a 10 minute mile, including the walking of the first 4 miles. Pretty good, huh? I outlasted 7 fishermen that day and 2 other runners. Physically I felt like I could run more, but mentally I was pooped out. I am constantly in awe of people who have run full marathons, and once again, I have such an appreciation for the human body and all the things that it can do.

I should also add that all the days leading up to the run I ate a very healthy diet. Lots of veggies, fruits, and water, milk and juice, and the night before I loaded up on carbs with a spaghetti and meat sauce dinner. I really think all of these choices made a big difference. In fact, I slacked on my maintenance runs and that didn’t seem to negatively affect my performance at all. Whew!

There’s a full marathon that Irma wants to run in December, and after this week’s great run, I’m actually considering it. Only 3 weeks to go until Disneyland! First things first, then we’ll see about the next marathon!

This week I’ll be heading to Sports Basement to get new running shoes and socks. I might replace the coolmax jersey and sports bra I’ve got too. Heck, I might as well look for a new runner’s cap and buy a new pair of sunglasses while I’m at it. LOL!! I want to break in all my new gear before the big run!

Yay! I’m so excited!

Next week: An easy, breezy, 6-mile recovery run!

6 Miles

This week I skipped Sat’s group run in Golden Gate Park.  I decided to run tonight on my own instead.  I mean, only 6 miles. Piece of cake, right?  Man, it was a doozy!

I don’t understand why some days running is a breeze but others, like tonight, was really difficult.  I really struggled for most of the run.  Tonight made me a bit nervous about next Sat’s 14 mile run.

I get that our bodies are machines and are only as good as the stuff we put into it, so I went to the grocery store and loaded up on all things healthy.  I’m still struggling with the lifestyle and discipline of eating healthy and being active.  I’m just not ready to give up ALL the sodas, the burgers, the chocolate and desserts.  Everything in moderation, I guess.  For this week at least, in preparation for next Sat’s long run, I plan to eat more veggies and chicken.  I also plan to drink lots of water every day and to snack on fruits.  It’s going to be a long week.  LOL.

Anyway, tonight’s run I ran into an old friend of mine on the trail.  I hadn’t seen MO in months, probably since before Thanksgiving.  It was very random.  We ran 3 miles together and caught up, so that was a nice surprise.  It really helped with my run.

Next week:  14 miles.  Wish me luck!

All About The Fundraising

* Pic uploaded from Special Olympics of Southern California website, meaning I have no idea who these people are, so don’t ask! 

If you will all kindly note, I have changed my sidebar widget.  I am still running the Disneyland Half Marathon, but I am now fundraising for the Special Olympics of Southern California.  The reason behind this is a series of complicated events that I avoided posting about, but I’m going to highlight them as simply as I can now.

Regarding fundraising, I think the $2,200 minimum was kind of a crazy amount to raise for a run that is so close to home (San Francisco – Anaheim).  I’m actually surprised I was able to raise $3,000 for my Miami run back in January.  SOSC actually has no requirement for the fundraising and they’ve been more than gracious in all of their help to transfer my entry from the San Francisco AIDS Foundation.  SOSC does ask that we try to raise ~500.00 for the cause, which is a very ‘doable’ amount.  With my company matching, I’d only have to raise 250.00, and that can easily be reached.

Segue…Do any of you know anything about non-profits?  If I’m not required to fundraise for them, then what’s in it for the charity?  Do they get more grant money if they can claim another headcount in their participant numbers?  I’m just curious.  How does that work?  Please enlighten me if you know the answer!

Buddy, Can You Spare A Dime?

                    “You can never expect too much of yourself in the
                      matter of giving yourself to others.”
                                                              -Theodore C. Speers

In case you haven’t noticed, I added a side widget on the right that lists worthy causes I’m helping to promote. 

I’m hoping you readers out there-old, new, and random hitters-might take a moment to consider donating to these causes.  If you’d like to help, but would rather not donate online, drop me an email and we’ll figure something out.

If you’ve got a charity organization you’d like me to list, please let me know.  I’d be glad to add a link for you. 

Thanks so much!

Your consideration and generosity are very much appreciated!

email:  ramblingmuseblog@yahoo.com

Banana Saturation Point

I knew this day would come, and come it did.  I just didn’t expect it to happen so soon.

I’ve had my last banana.

Before my maintenance run last Thursday I took two bites of a banana and my body practically went into shock.  I had to spit it out and tossed the rest in the garbage.

I am SO over bananas.

i can’t even wear my favorite banana-yellow jacket without feeling like puking.

Anyone know of other good sources of potassium?

12 Miles!

Today’s group run we ran from Chrissy Field, to Golden Gate Bridge, through the Presidio, up and around the Exploratorium, down to Fisherman’s Wharf, up to the Ferry Building and then ending back at Chrissy Field. If you take a look at a map, you can see it was a doozy of a run! 

It was completely effortless, no aches, no pains, no major problems at all!  I was super happy! 

The last run I did I experience the onset of cramping in my right leg and had to walked the last 2 miles of my 10 mile training run.  This time I really prepared myself.  On Thurs and Fri I purposely avoided caffeine and really forced myself to drink lots of liquids during those two days.  I also ate a pasta dinner on Fri and went to bed at a decent hour.  All of this really paid off!

I completed the 12 miles without breaking a sweat.  At the end I actually felt like running more!

My feet feel are a bit swollen but that’s expected.  No knee pains, no back aches, nada!  

Yay! 

I’m so, so, SO looking forward to the event!

Next week:  an easy, breezy, 6-mile recovery run!