A Perfect Run

I left the house before the sun was up this morning with a longish run planned. If I leave here and head towards the downtown area, I will be running almost all downhill. It's not a scenic route, there are many stoplights, lots of traffic, but very few pedestrians, so I can have the sidewalk all to myself, especially at 6am.

One of my shoes felt a little tight and I debated stopping to re-lace it, but decided not to, and I finally just forgot about it. I think it was one of those mental run delays that can go on and on if you let them. Oh - I just realized today (after reading about it in Runner's World) that my Asics have an off-center lacing pattern. Not the sharpest knife in the drawer here.

The route I chose takes me past the college, the psych hospital, two shopping malls, and two coffee shops. I'm not sure why I have never taken cash to stop for coffee at my half way point, but I might start doing that occasionally. I feel like I'm cheating myself if I stop though.

Some days I use my Nike+ sports music tracks on my iPod to do intervals for endurance or speed, but this morning I played HipHop (mostly.) It's mindless music that has a good beat for me and it made the time pass quickly. This is the playlist:

Right Now - Akon
Circus - Britney Spears
American Boy - Estelle
Burnin' Up - Jonas Bros.
All Summer Long - Kid Rock
When I Grow Up - Pussy Cat Dolls
Disturbia - Rhianna
Cinderella Under the Umbrella - Rhianna (and that skank Chris Brown)
Cry for You - September
Corona and Lime - Schwaze
Crank Dat - Soulja Boy
Dangerous - Akon and Kardinal Offishal
Don't Cha - Pussy Cat Dolls
Move Ya Body - Nina Sky
Love Lockdown - Kanye West
Go Hard - DJ Khaled
Wait a Minute - Pussy Cat Dolls
Belly Dancer - Akon
Shut Up and Let Me Go - Ting Tings

I admit to not being able to run the entire hill back home - I took one minute walk breaks when my heart rate got too high, but I think it will only be a few weeks before I can conquer it. I haven't been doing many hills over the winter.

It's a bright sunny day - I feel fantastic - and life is good.

Engine 2 Diet

Those of you who know me know that I am a practicing vegan with a weight problem. One of my twitter buddies just blogged about a new plant-based diet book written by some firefighters - name - The Engine 2 Diet. You can read more about it here:

http://blog.2big.org/2009/02/engine-2-diet-with-giveaway.html

I'm not keen on any food plan that starts with a 28 day quick start, and I'm not sure that this will convert many meat-eaters, but I'll not pass judgement until the book is released on February 25 and I can have a look for myself.

All I'm sayin' is that it's possible to train and be healthy eating only plants.

Stay tuned for more info.

25 (Boring) Things about me.

This seems to be the latest trend around the net - come up with 25 things about yourself that other people may not know. I've ruminated on this for a few weeks, and have decided to give it a try.

1. It drives me crazy that I am mentally incapable of controlling my weight. My mind is my only interference - I'm physically doing everything I need to do.

2. I have had totally silver hair since I was 35.

3. I was terrified of high school - even though I hung out with a popular crowd I was always afraid they would find out I was a fraud.

4. I married my first husband for fear of being old and single. (I was 22)

5. I left my first husband because I didn't want my daughter to see me become old and miserable.

6. I would like to go back to school and learn everything there is to know about computers and technology.

7. I have published a book of erotic poems. (Approximate Value of Love)

8. I am a fiercely loyal friend.

9. I am afraid of my brother.

10. I have learned more about my father since he passed at age 52, than I ever knew about him while he was alive.

11. I love all animals and can't ever imagine eating one - although I understand why people do and don't fault them for it.

12. My partner is my best friend and confidante, and I should have found him first.

13. I don't lust after material things and nothing that I own matters to me beyond being convenience.

14. I was a terrible mother (at times) but I'm a fantastic grandparent.

15. I wasted way too many years drinking too much wine and looking for escape in a bottle.

16. I'm a hard worker, and put my all into anything I do.

17. I don't like to cook.

18. If I let myself, I could live on corn chips, candy, and bread.

19. I have run a half marathon, and I will run a marathon before I'm 65.

20. Finding exercise has saved me from sinking into the sewer of depression.

21. I admire my sister and wish I could be more like her.

22. I really enjoy 'connecting' with people online - if were as easy to bring so many interesting people into daily life I would do it - but I think we'll have to wait for time travel to do that.

23. My musical tastes move forward - I hate being stuck in a musical rut.

24. I'm addicted to apples. (hate red delicious - all others fair game)

25. I am constantly trying to improve myself through meditation, exercise, reading, blah blah blah - you get the idea.

That wasn't so difficult. Not sure that any of it is relevant - but there you have it.

A Visit to Seaforth

I recently spent 4 days with my grandchildren. They live about 60 miles north of here, but at this time of year it might as well be 1000 miles north - the difference in the weather is that extreme.

My daughter and her husband went to Mexico on a well-deserved vacation with my son-in-law's company. I looked forward to having the children to myself to do what we wanted to do with no parental nay-saying - know whatta mean?

The first day was a PD day, but the kids went to daycare as usual, and I wandered around town, thinking about going for a run, and generally wasting time. One of my duties as house-sitter, child visitor and fire-keeper was to trek out to the barn each day and feed and water the dogs. I have never been a fan of having dogs that aren't allowed in the house, but I respect that others don't feel the way I do, so I was happy to do the job. I did it last year - no problems - in fact, the boys came with me each time we went out there, and we had fun doing it.

Things were a bit different this year. We have had more snow this year than in the last 10 years combined. The snow in the field between the house and the barn was up to my knees and sometimes thighs, and what should have been a 5 minute walk, turned into 20. If you think I'm exaggerating - take a look:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Odvx4fsj-9o

The movie was made on the first day while the sun was still out. The wind was wicked and biting cold, and it got worse from there. Friday and Saturday it was snowing so hard I could barely see the barn as I set out, and all my tracks filled in as quickly as I made them. I kept thinking that if I fell and broke a leg nobody would know I was there and nobody would find me. Ok - call me drama queen, but that's how it was - I swear!

Enough whining about that. The boys and I had a wonderful time together. We played games, watched movies, and Noah learned how to rinse the dishes off before they went into the dishwasher. He made it into a science experiment and is looking forward to getting paid for the job.

Hunter heard the words to Barrett's Privateers, and went into hysterics thinking it was about private parts. I've never seen him laugh that hard.

Noah lost his first tooth, and had a visit from the tooth fairy. I'm so happy that she was able to find the tooth without help from his parents. That could have been a disaster.

We ate lots of popcorn, drank lots of fancy hot drinks - hot chocolate, chai tea latte, espresso - thanks Tassimo!

I broke the fireplace fan and had to get it replaced. I bought fireplace logs because I couldn't hack any more wood from the woodpile. I cheated - and I'm proud!

I slipped in the sunroom with a scoop full of cat food and sent it flying all over the room. They'll be sweeping it up until summer.

All in all it was a wonderful time spent with two little boys that I love to bits. I wish I could spend more time with them - but maybe it wouldn't be so special if I could.