March 2012
13 posts
So that happened.
So today was the Honda LA Marathon! There were lots of concerns about the weather, because for days the forecast was for rain, maybe even thunderstorms. Luckily, the rain came early, making Saturday at the expo a pain. However, we had great weather for today’s event - cold, but dry, starting in the high 40s, staying in the mid-50s. I wish I had been able to run - would have been a great day...
2 hours to go!
At Dodger Stadium. Fingers crossed the rain gods will leave us alone. Pace group ready to go! Both excited and disappointed about today! Next year I am kicking this race’s butt!
Twelve hours from now...
So, twelve hours from now I will be at Dodger Stadium, in the Roadrunner reserved area - best benefit is the private access to extra bathrooms! I’ll post some pictures of the stuff I will be bringing and wearing. We hit the 99 Cent store for supplies (gloves, umbrella, etc.), as well as CVS and the supermarket.
The Expo was pretty fun, but completely soaked! There was a small brook...
Less than 48 hours to go!
Did another two mile run today, about a 9:30 pace, felt a little stiff, but overall doing well. Thinking of walking most of the marathon until near the end. We’ll see!
Better weather forecast right now! Keep your fingers crossed!
What does he know, anyway?
Yesterday I went to the local high school and ran 2 miles on the rubber-based track. I felt good overall, and ran about a 9 minutes per mile pace. The knee felt fine.
Today I went to see the doctor again. He seemed a little surprised that my knee wasn’t hurting or swollen or anything. He recommended that I run 2 miles every other day for a month, and then do 3 miles every other day for...
I supposed I better get used to this.
So I took a break from walking/running today by going back to the pool. Did my 40 minute “speed workout,” and it felt pretty good. I hadn’t been to the pool in maybe two weeks. Despite some bureaucratic nonsense when I tried to renew my card (apparently the ID card they gave me doesn’t count as an ID card), it was a good experience. There was some trouble with tiger...
Countdown!
Only six day to go until the marathon. I reported that I did 5 miles walking on Saturday, then ran the final mile of practice. Yesterday I did the PT exercises that I haven’t done for too long. It was a good workout, but I felt the fact that I missed a few workouts. Tonight I walked 4 miles, including the CA Incline, then ran 1.25 miles. I was a little bit under a ten minute per mile...
Practice makes perfect
Today was the final day of practice for the LA Roadrunners. We did 6 miles. I walked the first five with the walking group I’ve been with the past few weeks, but then I ran the last mile. Again, the body felt a little stiff at first, but I loosened up as I went along. I definitely feel like I could go farther. A couple more one-mile runs, and then I see the surgeon again for a check on the...
RUNNING!!!
So today is the six monthiversary of my knee surgery, meaning it’s been over seven months since the last time I ran. The doc said I could gradually start running again, so after I did a 4 mile walk, I ran just over a mile, and it felt GREAT! I was a little stiff, and my body was in a little bit of shock, but I felt like I was flying. I did a nice easy 9:30 or so pace. Waiting to see how...
Almost there!
I walked a quick 4 miles yesterday, working the hills as much as I could. I was faster on the hills than on the flats.
Running starts day after tomorrow - I feel like it’s Christmas, or my birthday!
Dodger Stadium!
This morning I got up at stupid o’clock and went to Dodger Stadium for Roadrunner practice. The roads and parks around the stadium have a lot of hills, so it’s great for a hill workout. We did 9 miles, starting with one 6-mile loop, and then a 3-mile loop. Great weather, great views, and great hills. I kept walking ahead of my pace group, especially when we hit the hills. The last...
Rabbits Rabbits Rabbits
Happy March 1st! This means two things: I can start running in one week, and the marathon is in 17 days. Yikes! When I run next week, the doc said to try a mile at a time, three times the first week, and then go see him again to report how it felt. I figure I’ll do it on the track at the high school for the soft rubber surface. I am really looking forward to it, and am also a little...
February 2012
12 posts
18 Miles Today - Ugh.
Today I walked 18 miles on my own. I missed the regular Roadrunner practice because we volunteered for the Film Independent Spirit Awards. It was our seventh year volunteering - always a fun and exciting time. Plus, we can walk to the awards, since they are held in a tent on the beach just down the street here in Santa Monica!
Today’s walk was tough. Jen suggested that it was because I...
Stretch!
Another yoga night, the penultimate class (got to love chances to use “penultimate”). Felt like it was tougher to do tonight - maybe I was just a little tired.
No working out tomorrow or Saturday because we will be volunteering at the tent for the Film Independent Spirit Awards, which we have been doing for years. It’s always a ton of fun working with this great organization....
A quick note!
It’s been too long since I’ve posted anything here. I spent most of this past weekend at OrcCon at the LAX Sheraton. Played many great games (7 Wonders only once, unfortunately!), won a nice game after laying my best games of Al Hambra ever, saw friends, and had a great time.
Saturday morning we did 13.1 miles. Still having problems with blisters on my pointer toes, so I need to...
Working out without walking
Since I got the bad blisters from last Saturday’s walk, I have been giving my feet some time off. On Sunday I was back in the pool aqua-running. Then Wednesday I did my PT exercises, and tonight was yoga class, which I have really been enjoying. Probably will be taking time off to go to OrcCon tmr, and then another long walk Saturday. Hopefully the toes will be ready for it!
Three days, One post
It’s been a few days since my last post. Let me explain - no, is too much. Let me sum up.
On Friday, after school I did my PT exercises. Going to have to increase some weights and resistances and reps, b/c they are getting easier to do. They take aa long time to do, though! Did I mention before that my second yoga class was last Thursday? I was apparently the only person who...
So that made five!
Yesterday was five months since my knee surgery. Knee feels fine, just a little stiff every once in a while, and a little weak on stairs, but it’s getting better. Doc wants me to wait another month before running. Le sigh. I will continue walking and doing my PT exercises to strengthen my legs. Now that February is here, the pool at the college will be open again, so I can get back to doing...
A disappointing day
So I saw the surgeon again today. He was impressed that I have been doing so much walking. He said it was a good sign that I was showing no pain in my pain.
However, he doesn’t want me to start running yet. He wants me to wait another month, meaning 6 months from the surgery. Then he said I could try a few one mile runs, and then he wants to see me to evaluate how I feel. So I see him...
Something happened on TV
But it clearly was not important. I did my PT exercises for the first time since last Sunday, but I think they went pretty well. Then we walked to Ben & Jerry’s for consolation birthday ice cream. Tomorrow I’ll practice the yoga poses from the yoga for running class, so hopefully they will feel more comfortable at this week’s class.
A Fine Day for a Walk
Boy, too bad the weather is so gorgeous out here in Santa Monica - really makes it hard to enjoy a nice walk! I got a great workout in today. I did not go to Dodger Stadium with the LA Roadrunners because I think they were going to do a route with a ton of stairs. I did my own hill workout. I walked from home to the Totem Pole, up Amalfi, through a really rich neighborhood, and then up the...
Yoga for Runners!
Just a quick note. After school I did a quick four mile walk, then tonight I had my first yoga for runners class at Santa Monoca Yoga. I enjoyed it. Good focus on flexibility and breathing, no problems with my knee, not too meditative. Looking forward to practicing some of the poses and to next week’s class.
Game night tonight
I did 5 miles yesterday, pretty much exactly at 13:30 pace. Today I was going to do my PT exercises, but was delayed by several factors. Tomorrow I will probably walk 4 miles and do my first Yoga for Runners class. Should be fun, although I am a little nervous about it.
January 2012
25 posts
Great weekend!
So today we won’t to the farmers’ market, then Jen and I went to Hollywood for brunch at the Hungry Cat. Yummy lobster roll. Did a few errands on the way home, including getting free frozen yogurt at Menchie’s. Gotta love peanut butter frozen yogurt with peanuts, peanut m&ms, reese’s pieces, and butterfinger bit. Jen made pasta with broccoli rabe and cheese for dinner,...
Tired, sore, but a good day
It’s hard to believe, but there are now 50 days to the LA Marathon! OMG! Today I did 13.1 miles with the RoadRunners. We really did 13, but I walked around in circles when we were finished so I could cover the half marathon distance. I walked it pretty fast, because my group started early and I had to catch up, then I got stuck in a line at a restroom and had to walk to catch up to the...
Go team!
Just a quick five mile walk tonight. I met Jen downtown to see the final film screening for the Spirit Awards. It was TAKE SHELTER, which I thought was really good.
I say “Go team!” because I saw one of my former TNT teammates running while I was walking. Keep up the great work, Susan!
Happy Birthday to me!
Yesterday’s did my PT exercises. Today, between errands and my birthday, I didn’t work out. I plan on walking 5 miles tmr, then 14 on Saturday. Yay rah!
NomNomNom!!!
I walked 4 miles tonight, ending my walk at the food trucks in Santa Monica on Main Street. Dinner was a Banh Mi (sp?) sandwich from the NomNom truck - so good! A nice treat after a fairly boring walk. I did get to see the end of a beautiful sunset, and there was lots of activity at the Cirque du Soleil tents at the pier, plus I got to walk up the California Incline, which I always, enjoy, and...
It's the PATRIOTS!
Wow, what a game. It was nerve-wracking! Who would guess the Pats would win if Brady threw no TDs and the Pats had three turnovers? OMG!
Yesterday I did twelve miles with the Roadrunners. This time I did the entire distance with them (they did 20 miles). Jen picked me up and brought me back to the start. The walk started out cold and wet, just like the marathon last year - we were all...
Off to the movies!
No workout today, because we are going out to dinner and then seeing MARGIN CALL, one of the Spirit Awards nominees. No time because of the traffic we will hit.
Last night I did my exercises, although I really did them throughout the day because Jen and I went to LACMA for a live reading of the screenplay for SHAMPOO. We enjoyed it, and now we want to see the actual movie!
A man found a squirrel in his fridge.
He asked, “What are you doing in there?”
The squirrel said, “Isn’t this a Westinghouse?”
“Yes,” the man replied.
“Well,” said the squirrel, “I’m westing!”
West day for me today, too!
Gotta love a day off
Made it easier to get a walk in. I walked 5 miles on the beach path, but I took a detour up the CA Incline to getting a big hill. I really like the hills, and I am looking forward to going up the hill to the Disney Concert Hall during the marathon, listening to the rhythmic beats of the Taiko drummers.
A day of rest, sort of.
Well, it’s been a nice, relaxing Sunday. I did do my exercises this morning. Today I did one set of every exercise, then repeated that twice. Seemed to make the time go by more quickly. Tomorrow I will take advantage of the holiday and get in a 5 mile walk, probably including some hills.
Been watching football today. I was rooting for the Texans because I think they would be easier for...
Double digits!
I walked with the LA Roadrunners this morning. They did 12 miles, but I am not up to that yet. I think I could have done it, but I did 10 miles. I plan on doing 12 miles next weekend., and I’ll increase each week by 2 miles to make sure I am ready for the marathon. The walk felt good. I averaged 13:30 minutes per mile, a pretty good pace. My feet feel good, no blisters. The weather was...
Time for sleep!
I did my PT exercises today. Actually, I did them today and tonight - it takes a while to do them, so I like to spread them out. I did some of them during my conference period today.
Tomorrow I am going to walk with the LA Roadrunnerrs again. I plan on doing 10 miles. Hopefully my toes and feet will be okay. I’m not worried about my endurance, though. I feel pretty good about that....
Umm, sorry!
For all the inadvertant typos!
Walking accomplished!
Well, I didn’t blog yesterday. I did the PT exercises recommended by the doc and my PT. I had to do some of them at school b/c I knew I wouldn’t have time after school before I met my friends for games last night. It was made more complicated by the need to run some errands - dumb dogs and their need to eat food! Anyway, it was a good workout.
Tonight I walked five miles. I went...
Round and round
Between doc appointment and cleaning up for the cleaning lady tomorrow (does everybody do that?), I got out later than I planned. I ended up doing 4 miles in 54 minutes, an adage of 13.5 minutes per mile. Not a bad walking pace. I went to the high school track and walked around it, watching the lacrosse practice and the LA Track Club members work out. Strong feelings of envy again, but that is...
No go today
Back to work today. It was amazing that by the middle of the morning, I felt as if vacation hadn’t happened at all! Other than period 4, though, the day went pretty well.
I didn’t walk today because we went to a free screening of MY WEEK WITH MARILYN at LACMA tonight. The movie was enjoyable with great performances. Traffic getting there was actually bearable. After the movie there...
Less is harder!
So Jen agrees with me - our physical therapist tells us we can do fewer reps of our exercises, but we have to do them the right way! For example, I was doing side leg lifts to strengthen my hip abductors, but I was doing them incorrectly. Doing them the right way is more effective, but harder!
Tomorrow we are going to see a Film Independent screening, so tomorrow might be my rest day because I...
Roadrunner, that coyote's after you!
Too bad the Texans beat the Bengals - now the Pats will face whoever wins tomorrow’s game between the Steelers and the Denver Tebows. Hate to admit it, but I have to root for Denver to win.
Went back to the roadrunners practice today for the first time this year. I figured that I can walk with them as I build up distance. They did 16 miles today, so I went out with them for 4 and turned...
Two to go
Well, vacation is pretty much officially over. I still have the weekend before school starts up again, but Monday is coming - there’s no stopping it! Argh! At least it’s been a fun, relaxing break, other than the colds Jen and I caught this week. Movies, food, friends, gifts - a merry holiday season, indeed.
I rode the bike today. I think it was about 10 miles. Felt like a good...
Another Project Done
One of the advantages of getting three weeks off for Xmas is that I get the chance to do some major projects around the house for which I usually don’t normally have the time. Today I repainted the ceiling of our bathroom. Real excitement, I know, but it had to be done. Looks pretty good, like I actually knew what I was doing!
After that there were some errands (the Costco parking lot is...
Feeling better!
Well, between time and meds, I am beginning to feel better. Hopefully I will be able to sleep tonight, and get completely over this cold.
I did my cross-training exercises today: pushups, abs, leg lifts, stretching, situps, free weights, etc. Nothing too heavy. I might need to do a shorter routine more often - doing all the exercises at once takes a long time! Tomorrow I plan on hitting the...
Still sick - meh
But I did get out there for a 5 mile walk, including the California Incline and about 1/3 of a mile in the soft sand to strengthen and toughen my feet. I felt the best I did for a couple days - the exercise made it easier to breathe. It was a little warm - I was wearing a long-sleeve t-shirt because I thought I would get out earlier than I did.
One thing I have to start doing when I walk is...
Sick
Figures - got to get sick during vacation. No exercise, but I did some flexibility work and foam rolling. Sick or not, walking 4 or 5 miles tomorrow.
New Year, Same Goals
Did a six-mile walk this morning. Saw a ton of people who are here for the Rose Bowl,dressed in Oregon green or Wisconsin red. Lots of Rose Bowl visitors seem to visit Santa Monica. Must be the beach and the gorgeous weather. The walk went well - I tried to keep moving quickly. My feet feel okay, albeit a little tender on the balls of my feet. Will probably cross-train tomorrow to let the...
Happy new year!
Took today off to give my feet a break, help the blisters get better. But I plan on doing 6 miles tomorrow!
