tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-69679168827833869552024-02-07T22:30:05.321-05:00I Run on WaterAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17777181873452677048noreply@blogger.comBlogger71125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6967916882783386955.post-73132025472338099692013-07-03T22:20:00.001-04:002013-07-03T22:20:47.203-04:00It's moving day!<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Well friends, the time has come for me to pack up my .gifs and .jpgs and hit the dusty trail.</span><div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Am I quitting blogging?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Heck no!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">After one year here at my blogger site, and feeling icky about how it looked, I thought it was high time that I took the plunge and moved to snazzier (I hope) pastures.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">PLUS, now that I'm training for the Goofy Race and a Half Challenge, I'm going to have a LOT to say.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And so, I direct you to my new and improved blog at Wordpress:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://irunonwater.net/">I Run on Water 2: the reckoning.</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Ok, it's just "I Run on Water", too. But still. It's new!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I'm still getting used to how things work over there, but I hope you'll find it worth hitting 'like' or 'subscribe' or what-have-you.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I'm also super open to constructive advice from other experienced blogophiles.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Thanks for reading, as always, and I hope to see you over at Wordpress!</span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17777181873452677048noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6967916882783386955.post-9185704080183019552013-06-26T14:19:00.002-04:002013-06-26T14:19:47.614-04:00Chicago Women's Half Marathon - Race Report<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This report is a few days delayed, owing to a delayed flight to Toronto which brought me home to a very sick Scooter. After</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> a trip to the emergency vet clinic, I was up for over 24 hours from waking up on race morning to finally getting to bed. Greg took Scooter into the living room and slept on the couch with the poor, restless guy.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But, with Scooter resting (seemingly) comfortably beside me, I can now delve into the happy memories from the Chicago Women's Half Marathon.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Thanks to an airline credit of about $500 (and an additional $200 in taxes and rebooking fees - holy expensive, Air Canada) I had a good excuse to zip down to Chicago for this race.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And when I say "zip", I mean it. As much as I love Chicago, we will only be at home for about 3 weeks between contracts, and I wanted to spend as much time as possible at home. That meant I'd be spending just over 24 hours in Chicago.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I landed in Chicago around 10:30 am, took the CTA into the city and walked from the Loop up to my hotel (W Hotel - Lakeshore). My progress up Michigan was held up by the drawbridge.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWM4RMkWvB7eCizaw-NVWJSYulD-6fVr27jsu65GC3h627wTPjuFRyJScgl6o7nmO50ncLHVPv_PHU215o-Sv7JXtxtD8Xy-qdP15oFMT3T9kBDfkVl6Q5TaBZpRgmxf2uuWpeOlQN_ap4/s1600/2013-06-22+11.51.03.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWM4RMkWvB7eCizaw-NVWJSYulD-6fVr27jsu65GC3h627wTPjuFRyJScgl6o7nmO50ncLHVPv_PHU215o-Sv7JXtxtD8Xy-qdP15oFMT3T9kBDfkVl6Q5TaBZpRgmxf2uuWpeOlQN_ap4/s320/2013-06-22+11.51.03.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A different kind of gridlock.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZS2TGjvEZgNpg1grTLEX2x0F0chEr2dNnRAZ4XuZ5kYnsSvU-KkTirGu6YJshwCJvitdMZdlMCKpUjdtT1Oy7WLhIo_URv271WmqragsX6vbpeP9zWKUrO1_jiCQ8yijSgTOvuFMuJknF/s1600/2013-06-22+11.52.36.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZS2TGjvEZgNpg1grTLEX2x0F0chEr2dNnRAZ4XuZ5kYnsSvU-KkTirGu6YJshwCJvitdMZdlMCKpUjdtT1Oy7WLhIo_URv271WmqragsX6vbpeP9zWKUrO1_jiCQ8yijSgTOvuFMuJknF/s320/2013-06-22+11.52.36.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">All this fuss for one little sailboat.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOj5X4PRzlXYeDhBwNSoAAKl2oY1GStXBvdOZeT2mYEdBSxyNPpzTZbypvZa4IYxaSP2FYkINKtE5M4ak6ZTAVvNX-vcrRFsVkrHUobJwO4phAyKvc0heNCcDNNnKlK_v8m4zgbNwBpTuX/s1600/2013-06-22+11.55.21.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOj5X4PRzlXYeDhBwNSoAAKl2oY1GStXBvdOZeT2mYEdBSxyNPpzTZbypvZa4IYxaSP2FYkINKtE5M4ak6ZTAVvNX-vcrRFsVkrHUobJwO4phAyKvc0heNCcDNNnKlK_v8m4zgbNwBpTuX/s320/2013-06-22+11.55.21.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A little Manifest Destiny art.<br />Boy, that angel and soldier sure are protecting those helpless settlers against those terrifying Native Americans.<br />Yeah, this isn't biased.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I finally moseyed my way to the hotel, and got checked in. The W Hotel - Lakeshore is alright, I suppose. A very small lobby/check-in area and they seemed to be super-busy. From what I could tell, there were groups checking in, and a wedding getting settled. Add to that the busload of NHL players that arrived while I was heading out to pick up my race kit (Game 6 of the Stanley Cup was taking place that night in Chicago) and you've got a ram-jammed hotel.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh90cMPUOelIXgjqZKWh2A7tTNLoNMKtbD1qzAPlF2dWgX3jC3sbaWjC6dQQEtyjBBbf2ZrU6CtEeshJekluhgwFtI6GG7ODyB5DOFo0MOF4-hYO4KSFAyh-8txqGdZz3Yi-iUhy2kAwHMX/s1600/2013-06-22+12.24.32.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh90cMPUOelIXgjqZKWh2A7tTNLoNMKtbD1qzAPlF2dWgX3jC3sbaWjC6dQQEtyjBBbf2ZrU6CtEeshJekluhgwFtI6GG7ODyB5DOFo0MOF4-hYO4KSFAyh-8txqGdZz3Yi-iUhy2kAwHMX/s320/2013-06-22+12.24.32.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My room at the W Hotel - Lakeshore.<br />Do you think the wall looks like 70's panelling? Me too.<br />Also, it sounded like that's all the wall was made of.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Fortunately a room was ready immediately, and I headed up to get unpacked. I decided to lay out my race-day attire before I left to pick up my race kit, just in case I forgot to pack something. That way, I'd have a chance to pick up any missing items while I was at Fleet Feet.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhahIosXdpS9cw5OkrsBOHSPAjhCMEnTbUT-azTkevSdAb5no7MBs1xirN_XnuQQJBRFZ0TxEUnxxtRm9mQPrJv6kg1ggP6HLeTcEiVfU7sbrSUxZFRwQkcxVKE3lCySPJglyfW2h_D6O8G/s1600/2013-06-22+12.34.19.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhahIosXdpS9cw5OkrsBOHSPAjhCMEnTbUT-azTkevSdAb5no7MBs1xirN_XnuQQJBRFZ0TxEUnxxtRm9mQPrJv6kg1ggP6HLeTcEiVfU7sbrSUxZFRwQkcxVKE3lCySPJglyfW2h_D6O8G/s320/2013-06-22+12.34.19.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nope! Got it all, and then some!</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Packet pickup was a breeze. I went to the Fleet Feet Old Town location (they had also done packet pick up at another location for 2 days), and was greeted by a table full of enthusiastic volunteers who looked up my confirmation for my bib number and got me my bib and shirt in no time flat!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I put on some blinders to push myself past the sale bins that Fleet Feet had strategically placed in the women's section, and made my way out of the store to get something to eat, finally.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I headed to a place nearby that a friend had introduced to me a couple of years earlier. I wanted some nice carb-y pancakes, so I headed to Elly's.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyF9LHMjQ9piKgZvqmYRCbxuDuPdFwQ6LciGaN894OHMSIcQ9EhWUw9Y77NkqTZmlkQgyrR4ap4dXvS00GLR1MjxKgkTFoKfFVqJ7q-1cFiAB32mM1WzyYoD59H449DKv_XjpSva4JK-wg/s1600/2013-06-22+14.04.12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyF9LHMjQ9piKgZvqmYRCbxuDuPdFwQ6LciGaN894OHMSIcQ9EhWUw9Y77NkqTZmlkQgyrR4ap4dXvS00GLR1MjxKgkTFoKfFVqJ7q-1cFiAB32mM1WzyYoD59H449DKv_XjpSva4JK-wg/s320/2013-06-22+14.04.12.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It's almost healthy!<br />Buckwheat pancakes, turkey sausage and scrambled egg whites with a glass of orange juice.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I opted to walk back to my hotel, and have a little nap in the nice cool room.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1fm9LHygipt06DzuvS-5O0ggthyzYVMTm-eVjGO9JYypp73q6vH4lDqRs2hcRHW4cuJfxlF97K9QSjj6zVoCGgwYIbPqgu3G9tJv6sHKm0JYw1hwqhA5kTRkc9B5K3XCCtijnbqHcaeoM/s1600/2013-06-22+15.37.04.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1fm9LHygipt06DzuvS-5O0ggthyzYVMTm-eVjGO9JYypp73q6vH4lDqRs2hcRHW4cuJfxlF97K9QSjj6zVoCGgwYIbPqgu3G9tJv6sHKm0JYw1hwqhA5kTRkc9B5K3XCCtijnbqHcaeoM/s320/2013-06-22+15.37.04.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The beautiful Chicago lakeshore trail. A perfect place for runners and cyclists.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I got back to the hotel and asked if I could be moved to another room, since I could hear my neighbours so very clearly when they were just talking at a normal conversational level. My plan was to go to bed at 8, and I knew that if I was woken up by a room full of late night partiers, I was NOT going to be happy. The best the hotel could offer was to have security talk to the girls in the next room and ask them to be quiet. Not fun.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In the end, they did wake me up when they came back to their room at around midnight, as did the family in the hallway who enjoyed letting their children run up and down the hallway. Not the best soundproofing. Not the best pro-active response to an inevitable problem. Not my favourite W Hotel. I don't think I'd stay there again.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Before I tucked in for the night, I went to Trader Joe's, got a sandwich, some Fage Yogurt, a pretzel roll and some coconut water for after the race. I also grabbed some Gatorade and a banana from a 7-11 on the way back to the hotel, and polished off the Gatorade before bed to compensate for all the walking around in the hot sun I'd been doing that day.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Race day looked like it'd be a doozy.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjchnCW2Kn_yznfcN3Mx_EgydDroaGrBtiNGH38XjGjh4BtvlU4dPBCicJfVbM_LbDV2ahkVymh0c31GO1iBAZqMuLminGB14saYV8zbSwm-ctlrWTH9hvhgDCJbhhtZeexpGAULD4lRkww/s1600/2013-06-22+21.35.28.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjchnCW2Kn_yznfcN3Mx_EgydDroaGrBtiNGH38XjGjh4BtvlU4dPBCicJfVbM_LbDV2ahkVymh0c31GO1iBAZqMuLminGB14saYV8zbSwm-ctlrWTH9hvhgDCJbhhtZeexpGAULD4lRkww/s320/2013-06-22+21.35.28.png" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Did I mention I don't do well in the heat?</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Despite the several disturbances through the night, I still managed to wake up reasonably refreshed at 4:30, and got all my things together. I was glad I laid everything out, and left myself the note "coconut water" on my skirt, reminding me to grab the coconut water from the fridge before I made my way to the elevator and down to the lobby.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And then back up to the room. Forgot my hydration belt!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Then back down to the lobby. I was asked immediately if I needed a cab, and I replied that I would in a minute, but that I was going to run to Starbucks and get a coffee first (I also planned on getting a breakfast sandwich). I was pointed in the direction of the free coffee in the lobby, so I grabbed a cup and hopped in the waiting cab. I hoped that my pretzel roll, greek yogurt and banana would be enough.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I was dropped off at Michigan and Balbo, and walked my way with the many other women towards the race site. Tents were still setting up, music was pumping, an announcer was reminding us that the EAS status of the race was Red (potentially dangerous), and to be careful.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I crouched down to eat my breakfast, finish my coffee and stretch my achilles tendons all at the same time. I got organized and dropped my bag off at bag check - very easy, no line! Then the pre-race pacing began. I headed over to the portopotties, there were a good number of them, and the line moved quickly. Once that was settled, I ran a few short warmups and did a little stretching, ate a Clif Shot, took some tylenol and Enduorlytes and tried to focus.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I noticed that my tank top was on inside out, but decided to leave it. I'd already pinned on my bib and wrapped the cord for my headphones around the strap of my tank to get it out of the way, so it seemed like too much trouble to correct the shirt.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc_fpuEZ7hTf7Or-4-7lzzmzRTdg2pHLQFNNklev_p5XgtVn2MCAbuITH_m2TToqf0N0KK1Syo1FX-M8zlWkNRNF07Y9Z1lgVtYjk6DzVLxeN40Fb1g_7tV2bcxa7zhVYDL2qGvEBAFNzf/s1600/2013-06-23+07.13.31.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc_fpuEZ7hTf7Or-4-7lzzmzRTdg2pHLQFNNklev_p5XgtVn2MCAbuITH_m2TToqf0N0KK1Syo1FX-M8zlWkNRNF07Y9Z1lgVtYjk6DzVLxeN40Fb1g_7tV2bcxa7zhVYDL2qGvEBAFNzf/s320/2013-06-23+07.13.31.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lots of portopotties!</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Suddenly I realized I should probably make my way to the race start. There were no corrals, just pace signs. I was not at all surprised to find that I'd be in the back of the pack. I still wasn't sure how I was going to tackle today. I knew I wanted to try and get as many miles in at a quick pace as I could before the sun got too hot. In a perfect world, I'd run a 2:45 - which would be a significant PR for me.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">That's when I spotted this:</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfXphEwByI5wpgZe6SXuX6OeNZjMUCBwvcsMg7TWX24kzG4kRHwr9DgRlgalseoWyQlfyEMGnxVlgIP9WO00jvdyImn_EvrkVkakjbikfQdnRoC2pVq3r-VaHl75t8sxtKRPb5UqVA25C0/s1600/2013-06-23+06.23.21.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfXphEwByI5wpgZe6SXuX6OeNZjMUCBwvcsMg7TWX24kzG4kRHwr9DgRlgalseoWyQlfyEMGnxVlgIP9WO00jvdyImn_EvrkVkakjbikfQdnRoC2pVq3r-VaHl75t8sxtKRPb5UqVA25C0/s320/2013-06-23+06.23.21.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A run/walk pace group with a 2:45 goal? Yes please!</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I spoke to the very sweet pace group leader who told me they were doing 5/1 run/walk with a pace of 12:30/mile. Well, I've never attempted a 5/1, and 12:30 sounded ambitious for me... I figured I'd stay with them as long as I could in keeping with my "get as far as you can before it gets hot" strategy.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Before we knew it, it was go time. Pear HRM, on! Garmin, Go!</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYuaOEEL0O7i6YhxT3bLbee88aea4y6Iuttcab3RTY2IOrNuIUo3EFZy2iix1Q-x2zlZVGFvunHsXpv5BPcC7jnPcyvsME_vUHtg_Y3-4mrEEhSfJ8LC44GyAukG3ITbbcohMVqntpTOSd/s1600/2013-06-23+06.38.54.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYuaOEEL0O7i6YhxT3bLbee88aea4y6Iuttcab3RTY2IOrNuIUo3EFZy2iix1Q-x2zlZVGFvunHsXpv5BPcC7jnPcyvsME_vUHtg_Y3-4mrEEhSfJ8LC44GyAukG3ITbbcohMVqntpTOSd/s320/2013-06-23+06.38.54.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We started running up Columbus Drive, towards Wacker.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We headed into a tunnel pretty early. There goes my satellite signal...</span><br /><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9wUUf6KqxB1CYQ0Rau2lVUcHshLwHuhQdQYADF6-sfGKJFzYgXN_ZHqtlWBg934p0JZWUTXl28FC_Sdfv64FndQSZTp6OguDz530h2aZ1jzL6h8LDftenTK7Gs1pKQvzs3CKmRrHlgLJY/s1600/2013-06-23+06.45.44.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9wUUf6KqxB1CYQ0Rau2lVUcHshLwHuhQdQYADF6-sfGKJFzYgXN_ZHqtlWBg934p0JZWUTXl28FC_Sdfv64FndQSZTp6OguDz530h2aZ1jzL6h8LDftenTK7Gs1pKQvzs3CKmRrHlgLJY/s320/2013-06-23+06.45.44.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is my first attempt at taking mile marker photos.<br />There's a reason why Greg usually handles this.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Once we exited the tunnel, we started running along the lake in Grant Park. Seeing the boats in the marina reminded me of Toronto. And Bermuda. And the fact that everywhere that I run seems to be on or alongside water and boats.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJn1Jq9kF-OhTQ6rH5ZjlAFx7A_H0VWyMwULGS_xsRFST2lEK_fa9zT-W_Ct-j21q4v0A54qHnT17kyqHfIKJm8jr2Pma8FAls9LToC1YxSF_Ovy1l4kOxty4hoKboXT1Kx-YdY_3UGm0B/s1600/2013-06-23+06.58.17.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJn1Jq9kF-OhTQ6rH5ZjlAFx7A_H0VWyMwULGS_xsRFST2lEK_fa9zT-W_Ct-j21q4v0A54qHnT17kyqHfIKJm8jr2Pma8FAls9LToC1YxSF_Ovy1l4kOxty4hoKboXT1Kx-YdY_3UGm0B/s320/2013-06-23+06.58.17.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mile 2</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As we ran, I was relieved to find that the 5/1 intervals were turning out to be easy for me, and I frequently positioned myself behind runners who would hold me back from running out ahead of the pace group. It was a beautiful morning, it wan't too hot yet, my legs felt great and I wanted to RUN!</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV5MFGVJqt-g6v2AOlElVgMDa2i4O5PNwU2BgeMTF9tMZ2QeajYlUXjYPOExJvP1eGNRodbrdn528-G4a7b3MF2Rmcu485RjK_I0JJprA-gAp9_o6k016lS6hWkTl7ui1fXipvixhugTaL/s1600/2013-06-23+07.08.23.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV5MFGVJqt-g6v2AOlElVgMDa2i4O5PNwU2BgeMTF9tMZ2QeajYlUXjYPOExJvP1eGNRodbrdn528-G4a7b3MF2Rmcu485RjK_I0JJprA-gAp9_o6k016lS6hWkTl7ui1fXipvixhugTaL/s320/2013-06-23+07.08.23.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A view of Chicago from the Shedd Aquarium.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTNsQZMlYq0Tt132i5NyIJkgREoRUgyn-iX3BhgNfKM37aQyScln3QWncOwQst3btzSxnNNHQSh1PkvcFzdzYcl7fR4By8LNKIXGLY5TytGq8ydvHopRCGEIsLlwKqrdA8B9UkfW877pil/s1600/2013-06-23+07.10.48.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTNsQZMlYq0Tt132i5NyIJkgREoRUgyn-iX3BhgNfKM37aQyScln3QWncOwQst3btzSxnNNHQSh1PkvcFzdzYcl7fR4By8LNKIXGLY5TytGq8ydvHopRCGEIsLlwKqrdA8B9UkfW877pil/s320/2013-06-23+07.10.48.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mile 3: still going strong.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">After the first 5k, I started to wonder if I should stick with the pace group, or try and get ahead. My brain kept telling me to "run your own race". The pace was feeling slow to me, despite it being pretty much a perfect 12:30. I decided to stick with them for the first 6 miles and re-evaluate at that point.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRMJuplUOT-VonVs3KP3wRjCxDuanD9ewmkGLAHyhaBtP-XE3r02Rqxohigoypg8-wnYNa1HDCkqh3Hl2CL8ttGO3fXFJF8qdT6r3Jbs3nC0sfnOyDURCHAwZbVBW-uDdalVrZJXS0Fx0D/s1600/2013-06-23+07.23.07.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRMJuplUOT-VonVs3KP3wRjCxDuanD9ewmkGLAHyhaBtP-XE3r02Rqxohigoypg8-wnYNa1HDCkqh3Hl2CL8ttGO3fXFJF8qdT6r3Jbs3nC0sfnOyDURCHAwZbVBW-uDdalVrZJXS0Fx0D/s320/2013-06-23+07.23.07.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9RP6R2jv02zHsWp7PSiiOGViaCGUhlOOR6RpkdvvWz6tMd8uVduTscJaieHp6y81AOwdebxCIzBZv5wfxMyxuUFrj0s81o05ubtCK077cPpRb9ItiDVXkGzxM5gRYiKGYA7teUPdPhd0Y/s1600/2013-06-23+07.35.36.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9RP6R2jv02zHsWp7PSiiOGViaCGUhlOOR6RpkdvvWz6tMd8uVduTscJaieHp6y81AOwdebxCIzBZv5wfxMyxuUFrj0s81o05ubtCK077cPpRb9ItiDVXkGzxM5gRYiKGYA7teUPdPhd0Y/s320/2013-06-23+07.35.36.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlyoDhsCAhy8z9hLmOdTEQdiVqpxZnI-z0SuwdDwafkdOSUukk-7MRzFT14EMzGRjY8An2SZu7WeKoRGe-k5lq3mwoz-LtSdA3rX7HWyXI-htSudbqyYPfV3Lf1vp2xmPo_2C2CsEkKl9T/s1600/2013-06-23+07.47.51.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlyoDhsCAhy8z9hLmOdTEQdiVqpxZnI-z0SuwdDwafkdOSUukk-7MRzFT14EMzGRjY8An2SZu7WeKoRGe-k5lq3mwoz-LtSdA3rX7HWyXI-htSudbqyYPfV3Lf1vp2xmPo_2C2CsEkKl9T/s320/2013-06-23+07.47.51.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This was supposed to be the Mile 6 marker.<br />Again, Greg is a better photographer.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>10K Split: 1:17:30 </b>- that's only a minute and a half slower than the 10K I ran in August 2012!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Here's where I started running into a little trouble. I passed by a restroom when I shouldn't have. A quarter of a mile later, I had to pee so badly that I had to keep slowing to a walk. So frustrating! The pace group kept getting farther and farther ahead of me, and I kept telling myself that I could still catch up.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">By the time I got to the portopotty at around 8.5 miles, they were long gone. I hit the lap button on my Garmin and got started with my pre-programmed 2/1 intervals for lack of a better plan.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOIOoyzopK5_0VDIEAvnzx_7y553R5OXaHP0po55Lmpjqiw7KtXDHaItJ8HSzBsKKco1y2wsP46RKvlEh-jeE7pHqmsrW7W7ZirAszPEAOxO_euo0P4bQVx9iDcQd-c9bVh-OwnB9sE6CF/s1600/2013-06-23+08.26.41.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOIOoyzopK5_0VDIEAvnzx_7y553R5OXaHP0po55Lmpjqiw7KtXDHaItJ8HSzBsKKco1y2wsP46RKvlEh-jeE7pHqmsrW7W7ZirAszPEAOxO_euo0P4bQVx9iDcQd-c9bVh-OwnB9sE6CF/s320/2013-06-23+08.26.41.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">From here on, I slowed down. It was getting HOT. I was getting dizzy. I was very grateful that I'd been running in Bermuda to acclimatize to heat a little bit. I took another Clif Shot and some more Endurolyte tabs. When I hit water stations I took Gatorate and water and mixed them together and took a few gulps.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Everywhere around me were signs of fatigue and heat wearing on people. I watched 2 ambulances hurry to and away from situations.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I stopped obeying my Garmin and started obeying my body. Which meant a lot more walking.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUVf5Lfagqym8quhiCpJr9GrM34q3YZz3Y2thgkDax5a581cfR1gFKaQ3VHcqbsLCb6VMRhWNDubJjVgglmEzTJ6mdQlSJb83JqDqnxl-drTiTWkJJoptVyYAUc18oZO90VstSiCzzHx8R/s1600/2013-06-23+08.40.29.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUVf5Lfagqym8quhiCpJr9GrM34q3YZz3Y2thgkDax5a581cfR1gFKaQ3VHcqbsLCb6VMRhWNDubJjVgglmEzTJ6mdQlSJb83JqDqnxl-drTiTWkJJoptVyYAUc18oZO90VstSiCzzHx8R/s320/2013-06-23+08.40.29.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8uWjdg775ITyZG17UFZflT3Z1DMk3Wn_q0NNXtOdFImIPMyfHh6xVInbZ13R0ypECtb50CFKEDT62s0lCDuieHTdbXk0UvdSfVmdqfiKPtNLooq-GHYw4Jgi7AUtw_ShFkgL33yYqbNsK/s1600/2013-06-23+08.54.11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8uWjdg775ITyZG17UFZflT3Z1DMk3Wn_q0NNXtOdFImIPMyfHh6xVInbZ13R0ypECtb50CFKEDT62s0lCDuieHTdbXk0UvdSfVmdqfiKPtNLooq-GHYw4Jgi7AUtw_ShFkgL33yYqbNsK/s320/2013-06-23+08.54.11.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8pJ7BRra-oTcO5y5z_YZcU6xVcgS9NHIqLDpe-YYbeZQcOOQiwE5V-HK3ebVmxqXBS3uFguh_2RIr-HdJuNyDC2NilUrzKjYcNFF_n3u8f8-lrb8ba_S3y-K__yQbG9FWrm2rZCObsA3a/s1600/2013-06-23+09.02.42.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8pJ7BRra-oTcO5y5z_YZcU6xVcgS9NHIqLDpe-YYbeZQcOOQiwE5V-HK3ebVmxqXBS3uFguh_2RIr-HdJuNyDC2NilUrzKjYcNFF_n3u8f8-lrb8ba_S3y-K__yQbG9FWrm2rZCObsA3a/s320/2013-06-23+09.02.42.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hey look - Soldier field!</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVHvvf6HI6tnGirUlwfXd63SzVUta7s34UozcWFE2UILN0Lhl7N7X9qb7KQ0BxFZBZONQ_eTo6PZOZKBrZmp0q1ZhmuawB5IkYy6B8jPfUsxX7xvK5BQuX_pAi1MDqvGQxS88_J-G01Wi7/s1600/2013-06-23+09.08.08.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVHvvf6HI6tnGirUlwfXd63SzVUta7s34UozcWFE2UILN0Lhl7N7X9qb7KQ0BxFZBZONQ_eTo6PZOZKBrZmp0q1ZhmuawB5IkYy6B8jPfUsxX7xvK5BQuX_pAi1MDqvGQxS88_J-G01Wi7/s320/2013-06-23+09.08.08.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The race organizers very wisely added another water station at 12.5 miles. Also very appreciated on the course were the multiple misters. Even the ones that were out of water at least provided a big fan.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This was a frustrating several miles, admittedly. But even with the frustration came the joy of knowing that my legs and my head still wanted to - still COULD - run. The only thing stopping me was my body's reaction to the soaring temperature and stifling humidity. I wasn't walking because I was tired. Not by a long shot.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And as I approached the corner leading me to the finish line, my iPod Shuffle did the most amazing thing. It started playing "Stronger" by Kelly Clarkson.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">That was the halfway point song at the Princess Half Marathon - my first half marathon - and it holds a special place in my heart because when I heard that song, and knew I was half way, I knew I was going to be able to finish. My legs were strong enough. I was strong enough.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">To be reminded of that while I looked at this sight: so very special</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-CNhBxQIyS2fuiF7duj3VhpESC9RNJHrD0-2RoKtNHu7cU0njKAxSNUSqtnXAD7wSOMAnBW5LwtoYc-Hs7G0h39KJdOltkbJSJT7rJ7rGRbJ98bwMYGuRuCQAuXr3miltXvhzaGQ4S950/s1600/2013-06-23+09.22.28.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-CNhBxQIyS2fuiF7duj3VhpESC9RNJHrD0-2RoKtNHu7cU0njKAxSNUSqtnXAD7wSOMAnBW5LwtoYc-Hs7G0h39KJdOltkbJSJT7rJ7rGRbJ98bwMYGuRuCQAuXr3miltXvhzaGQ4S950/s320/2013-06-23+09.22.28.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">What an amazing city.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY-XzEmoYsQYRRDpxOl5MnV6PqXyW0zGRCrCztw71zYBp6nnftNMMhUUVqlaJVw7dq59AlZ3g4ZpAoMD5JbPuX28ubE3z_7C3S8WEOmQA-Q0XcJLBCLidU3RpossFPQIjGgfB9I1K64LIo/s1600/2013-06-23+09.22.45.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY-XzEmoYsQYRRDpxOl5MnV6PqXyW0zGRCrCztw71zYBp6nnftNMMhUUVqlaJVw7dq59AlZ3g4ZpAoMD5JbPuX28ubE3z_7C3S8WEOmQA-Q0XcJLBCLidU3RpossFPQIjGgfB9I1K64LIo/s320/2013-06-23+09.22.45.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">What a welcome Mile Marker!</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In true "not good with a camera" form, I thought I turned on my iPhone's video camera and taped my final .1 mile run to the finish line.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Apparently, I did no such thing. So my finish line photo will show me holding up my iPhone like a goofball.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I happily accepted a bottle of water from one volunteer, and an ice towel from another (right onto my head, thank you very much!) before making my way to have my medal placed around my neck.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I grabbed a banana and a bagel (which I devoured immediately) bypassed the very long line to take photos in front of the backdrop (thought I'd come back later when the line was shorter - smart move, cause it was!) and made my way to the celebration.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHGRf6i1YlBe9x45ICV4zY_ldmmnSGxIEJYzA-QKUfG6RiZ1vSAjHhriYaTQEfSmL4ds_gkCWnyQYaucKNACcBKxAHKJxr_RCX7GkJRuliCgDFy8mupVpteFkF3qQ6eLOjH3t8Ap3QG82p/s1600/2013-06-23+09.26.03.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHGRf6i1YlBe9x45ICV4zY_ldmmnSGxIEJYzA-QKUfG6RiZ1vSAjHhriYaTQEfSmL4ds_gkCWnyQYaucKNACcBKxAHKJxr_RCX7GkJRuliCgDFy8mupVpteFkF3qQ6eLOjH3t8Ap3QG82p/s320/2013-06-23+09.26.03.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi87facoGQ_g5sgAaRWZvXimu-yuPJINfPiya9KCjotPJQciGR1Lt4wLvlFRH7jsf7KvEW59R-u1JjRkh0OAx7kzp5ENcw0M8vsFHromWM_vaO4P7l60a5qTk1a-1qsnLniWw6oJ2V04qtV/s1600/2013-06-23+09.26.10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi87facoGQ_g5sgAaRWZvXimu-yuPJINfPiya9KCjotPJQciGR1Lt4wLvlFRH7jsf7KvEW59R-u1JjRkh0OAx7kzp5ENcw0M8vsFHromWM_vaO4P7l60a5qTk1a-1qsnLniWw6oJ2V04qtV/s320/2013-06-23+09.26.10.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A look back through the finish line chute.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs5hRYhj1wPTOzb5GSn0PXn9iaE3g7ZnsWWIpaRxv5ubZD045aHJRmEZO8Jo7AgRTd4tgFjgzSXBGaDuWi-l9K-kQOiqCKhzishSH7Q_UvR8odSra4x119i7Z5xvr_f2jjGz7L9bg-G_ax/s1600/2013-06-23+09.48.29.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs5hRYhj1wPTOzb5GSn0PXn9iaE3g7ZnsWWIpaRxv5ubZD045aHJRmEZO8Jo7AgRTd4tgFjgzSXBGaDuWi-l9K-kQOiqCKhzishSH7Q_UvR8odSra4x119i7Z5xvr_f2jjGz7L9bg-G_ax/s320/2013-06-23+09.48.29.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Best move I made for this photo? Taking off my Fuel Belt.<br />Slimming!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0ENaeIBqEk2iO6bftKbXM4s0gPoeUe7AYGV1IrAIu8VDMPI7JMVdtDrqo9L5RaQNAiBSG4JojKnz6yPngJ7mJBpZ0ZMLZasqRbYybqsS-fr912CcKk-Zau7jp_meAnq_PC6viw4N-8C6C/s1600/2013-06-23+09.54.43.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="69" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0ENaeIBqEk2iO6bftKbXM4s0gPoeUe7AYGV1IrAIu8VDMPI7JMVdtDrqo9L5RaQNAiBSG4JojKnz6yPngJ7mJBpZ0ZMLZasqRbYybqsS-fr912CcKk-Zau7jp_meAnq_PC6viw4N-8C6C/s320/2013-06-23+09.54.43.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A panoramic view of the park.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisHiVRNIczyBTgLLkc85vRI73V5kv33jHdUbzucng0nFNfFdHLQIXpaQZbH1b8Nff4cYrwioOg58W4TnYFB5VdmmXGm-LkfoynmJEkW-l2hUUZPQx_Gi3lyet7M0cS-dlFXcpM68wmYIu3/s1600/2013-06-23+10.21.05.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisHiVRNIczyBTgLLkc85vRI73V5kv33jHdUbzucng0nFNfFdHLQIXpaQZbH1b8Nff4cYrwioOg58W4TnYFB5VdmmXGm-LkfoynmJEkW-l2hUUZPQx_Gi3lyet7M0cS-dlFXcpM68wmYIu3/s320/2013-06-23+10.21.05.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My first 8.5 miles, achieved while running with the pace group.<br />Those pacers knew their stuff!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgql8Px9vfl5e1S_SxTwxMziPJFZKsEp75guQCjHlQQqktgOggcOCH3_pZC9_er6CEF4cIW8kLSjSPVQynSfSS0wR77VDFKWP_87ab2igRhHSDSSSCcBC7xe98wBa8bVnepTGqtm6fNZe8L/s1600/2013-06-23+10.29.52.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgql8Px9vfl5e1S_SxTwxMziPJFZKsEp75guQCjHlQQqktgOggcOCH3_pZC9_er6CEF4cIW8kLSjSPVQynSfSS0wR77VDFKWP_87ab2igRhHSDSSSCcBC7xe98wBa8bVnepTGqtm6fNZe8L/s320/2013-06-23+10.29.52.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Muscle Milk recovery tent was popular.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I was so happy to see the Muscle Milk recovery tent - we always drink Muscle Milk after our P90X workouts and long runs, so my body was ready, willing and able to handle the bottle that I gulped down.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">They also had yoga mats down with foam rollers, which people seemed to be very grateful for!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The only thing that bummed me out was that my Pear HRM ate my run. And by that, I mean that when I stopped my run, it vanished. I have no record of it at all on my iPhone app.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">That was very frustrating, I really wanted to have a look at what my heart rate had been doing.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9Pip2_ZdFstttgd8Jj9IHWDTHSaqpmXN6pRBozgs7wat2p2y3w0hdoskiDRFWng2SumlGhx0FPrQQonshVPuLePWPRrxXmZ2iS_21Sag5_vyKxNd1asA_MjhnTV3834MKJz2hdAY9xE5L/s1600/2013-06-23+10.30.18.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9Pip2_ZdFstttgd8Jj9IHWDTHSaqpmXN6pRBozgs7wat2p2y3w0hdoskiDRFWng2SumlGhx0FPrQQonshVPuLePWPRrxXmZ2iS_21Sag5_vyKxNd1asA_MjhnTV3834MKJz2hdAY9xE5L/s320/2013-06-23+10.30.18.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrNqmxcqy-tROH11rwBtVt1MnGZtJDsMgSKRwTm0GPKaZ315ZGtU89i71OE35DdK0wZaH4kYrCSZEQVbGQz99tXbgwQsGnJVMs9YlbVD1lSGXa0_pG7toD99_wHmgZZDCHGTzIyajbRn5L/s1600/2013-06-23+11.08.59.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrNqmxcqy-tROH11rwBtVt1MnGZtJDsMgSKRwTm0GPKaZ315ZGtU89i71OE35DdK0wZaH4kYrCSZEQVbGQz99tXbgwQsGnJVMs9YlbVD1lSGXa0_pG7toD99_wHmgZZDCHGTzIyajbRn5L/s320/2013-06-23+11.08.59.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This DJ was amazing.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2nwfUT6ColWqaC6ioUFGh7pH4dKQ8GAaKN4zRibrX-Szwp5j1mQkE9SnCImvmh0QzmL_PYfAF4D7T45GmFSp8l_AxM_eun5sX26Vv6VAbA5hDkMizAO_i3cQZL4gENaDbxxVpij-v0IpP/s1600/2013-06-23+11.27.56.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2nwfUT6ColWqaC6ioUFGh7pH4dKQ8GAaKN4zRibrX-Szwp5j1mQkE9SnCImvmh0QzmL_PYfAF4D7T45GmFSp8l_AxM_eun5sX26Vv6VAbA5hDkMizAO_i3cQZL4gENaDbxxVpij-v0IpP/s320/2013-06-23+11.27.56.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The best thing to do after running 13.1 miles?<br />The Cupid Shuffle, of course!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq7G5b-fbcuyU3mHIv02hEBI3ajag6pqzWHg3sp_YBmZ6x2qbhYzRd50-a4RnFnuK2ELVRRwunpKiRm3b1Zd2ZnjUUTscxlPD15xIaVXgNdD_H84Vjn_u99AuU_YQXmEpK2Dj9lOWsG4FY/s1600/2013-06-23+11.10.19.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq7G5b-fbcuyU3mHIv02hEBI3ajag6pqzWHg3sp_YBmZ6x2qbhYzRd50-a4RnFnuK2ELVRRwunpKiRm3b1Zd2ZnjUUTscxlPD15xIaVXgNdD_H84Vjn_u99AuU_YQXmEpK2Dj9lOWsG4FY/s320/2013-06-23+11.10.19.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Brooks sponsored ice cream!</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I ended up getting my medal engraved. I wasn't going to initially, but I figured I earned the PR - or at least I assumed it was a PR. I still had no idea of my official time.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">When I got the medal back, I was happy with what I saw: 2:50:56</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I headed back to the hotel, filled the tub with cold water, called for a bucket of ice (note: next time I will stress "lots" of ice. One little mini-bar's ice bucket didn't do much for my bath.) and had a quick ice-ish bath, and a warm shower before packing my things, resting for 20 minutes and checking out at noon.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">When I finally did get to the airport, I saw I had at least a 2 hour delay. So dinner became this:</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw5-6-sV-GTGZ2j2plbdGLcS86_N1e_WZnOXBmtmfuF8Hqf459jAzInCGIR-Ei6zuo_IPQugKo-q9-kp2YVdklsgaYXBkbh6tZtq_vrRPCNgZz_o0Fi3mmfbZR0DrSXcLTQskHXrxz5R-b/s1600/2013-06-23+20.01.41.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw5-6-sV-GTGZ2j2plbdGLcS86_N1e_WZnOXBmtmfuF8Hqf459jAzInCGIR-Ei6zuo_IPQugKo-q9-kp2YVdklsgaYXBkbh6tZtq_vrRPCNgZz_o0Fi3mmfbZR0DrSXcLTQskHXrxz5R-b/s320/2013-06-23+20.01.41.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I need carbs, right?</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I had a great time at this race. It was only my second time racing alone, and I liked that part of it, too. I love running with family and friends, but there is also something to be said for the quiet contemplation and personal satisfaction you gain from doing it for yourself, by yourself.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I also liked the support for this race a lot. The race kit wasn't some big bag of "stuff", it was simply the race shirt (very nice Brooks shirt), a race-specific Sweaty Band, and the race program (and the bib, of course). They also had a basket of mini-Luna bars at packet pick up, so you could grab one of those if you wanted.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">On course, there was a Luna Cheer Station at Mile 3.7 and 11 which gave a much needed boost (and some more mini-Luna bars) as well as the Clif Energy Zone at Mile 7.7 where I grabbed a Vanilla shot (I brought my own Mocha, but it seemed a little heavy for my taste in that heat). Once you include the 8 aid stations on course (7 planned, 1 added at the last minute), and some water fountains dotted along the course, you've got a well planned event that was more than ready for the weather.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The course was picturesque, going through Grant Park along the water for much of it, and passing Shedd Aquarium and Soldier Field, it also seemed to be easy to access for the many cheering supporters. Although the course wasn't closed to public (so you'd get the odd non-race runner or cyclist coming through) it didn't seem like a big deal. Some people don't like an out-and-back route, but I like them. I like the perspective and the context you have when you're in the later miles and suffering from "runner's brain".</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The course did seem a little narrow for the field at times, and there were the ubiquitous runners who don't have the best runner's etiquette, but if you've run a runDisney event, you're well prepared for those eventualities.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This was a very happy, well organized, supportive environment. I didn't see very many male runners - although those who were there were welcomed and appreciated. My favourites were a pair of guys running in yellow cheerleader outfits. Fun times.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A well run race like this, in one of my favourite cities? I'll absolutely consider running this race again.</span><br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17777181873452677048noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6967916882783386955.post-25222448064334779802013-06-23T13:36:00.001-04:002013-06-23T13:36:21.101-04:00Chicago Women's Half Marathon mini-updateI didn't get the 2:45 that I was hoping for, but considering the temperature, and the amount of walking I had to do to fight off dizziness, I'll take my 2:50:56.<div><br></div><div>Full report to come.</div><div><br></div><div>(I had a GREAT time)</div><div><br></div><div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3oEEQMxv39nbDk96jaVs8inJitMFGhDVDiq927iHx5mU2CHaqeFWvLiMzAsmGKvxlZFDzIcBajtth1DM4WcllEuwVxfQvCSFYG6J7Q9wb8ADYyNbEATfOgBOh0pWAOx6GSvf0FOPW-bZt/s640/blogger-image--44380285.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3oEEQMxv39nbDk96jaVs8inJitMFGhDVDiq927iHx5mU2CHaqeFWvLiMzAsmGKvxlZFDzIcBajtth1DM4WcllEuwVxfQvCSFYG6J7Q9wb8ADYyNbEATfOgBOh0pWAOx6GSvf0FOPW-bZt/s640/blogger-image--44380285.jpg"></a></div></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17777181873452677048noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6967916882783386955.post-50104998184744850102013-06-22T21:45:00.001-04:002013-06-22T21:45:47.869-04:00Hot Time in the Old TownThe word is out. It'll be hot tomorrow. The advisory from the Event Alert System has the event listed as red - potentially dangerous. They're advising people not to attempt a PR.<div><br></div><div>But I WANT a PR!</div><div><br></div><div>I mean, of course I will be safe, and listen to my body, but can it really be that bad?</div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh69hjF5PAJvriJX1slTrsr0t_0owITdtiiirymgU-gPOI9AQEEFvWpPBKsyNS3KwQZ8hXrfrELMJoTMpTC67JKiqggIWZBAnUJfgwf41s4IyyZyxMlQZfsFOlWsybKjeGsH5w0hKpomLAO/s640/blogger-image-219174346.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh69hjF5PAJvriJX1slTrsr0t_0owITdtiiirymgU-gPOI9AQEEFvWpPBKsyNS3KwQZ8hXrfrELMJoTMpTC67JKiqggIWZBAnUJfgwf41s4IyyZyxMlQZfsFOlWsybKjeGsH5w0hKpomLAO/s640/blogger-image-219174346.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div>Feels like 100?</div><div><br></div><div>Yeah, it's that bad.</div><div><br></div><div>Now, if its anything like today (hot, but overcast and breezy) it'll be fine. There were times today when that Windy City wind had me chilly. Surely that'll be the case tomorrow. Right?</div><div><br></div><div>Ugh.</div><div><br></div><div>Time to polish off my Gatorade and get a little shut-eye (and hope my neighbors come home quietly).</div><div><br></div><div>Tomorrow's the big day!<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLxpW21n8hoMc2zAZyXz9aTEaXtO3HVUFPhTSB8trmuVN189nS8UpL-Xw3r_s_Rnk5Od47OP9e4QMeivkP1_ACsw2tMoRskEKKPq-3qbh4QP8B93BKMM99WaiXl_WL2gD_Y-Su974upEOj/s640/blogger-image-1611122308.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLxpW21n8hoMc2zAZyXz9aTEaXtO3HVUFPhTSB8trmuVN189nS8UpL-Xw3r_s_Rnk5Od47OP9e4QMeivkP1_ACsw2tMoRskEKKPq-3qbh4QP8B93BKMM99WaiXl_WL2gD_Y-Su974upEOj/s640/blogger-image-1611122308.jpg"></a></div></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17777181873452677048noreply@blogger.com0Near North Side Chicago41.893847 -87.6182tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6967916882783386955.post-38966831921229513192013-06-21T13:21:00.000-04:002013-06-21T13:21:17.739-04:00Packing, and Carbo Loading and Hydrating, oh MY!<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It's here. It's time.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Tomorrow morning I leave for Chicago to run the <a href="http://www.womenshalfchicago.com/">Chicago Women's Half Marathon</a>, which means I have today to get ready for my trip.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I'm currently flip-flopping on what to wear for the race. The forecast calls for totally icky weather. Icky for me, anyway. I'm not great with heat, and that's what we're looking at. Heat! It'll feel like 82 degrees by 8 AM. Humidity to swim through.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So I'll definitely be packing my hydration belt!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As a matter of fact, in that heat, I'll probably want to wear one of my SparkleSkirts.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Since my lovely Dolotech seems to have an uncomfortable seam for running in an *ahem* unfortunate place (it's been relegated to golf only), It looks like I'll be running in my Minnie Mouse print skirt. Which is light and comfortable, but it'll be an interesting colour combo with my new pink/purple FuelBelt! Add in my grey and neon yellow shoes, and I'll be quite the sight.</span><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPt2Lk9CGF5hBUWoV8IO3yYLzw6pqzdTxwtkoilCo8PFHhyphenhyphenF2ZnCHrR4Xrn4OU6Hc6HkJF3PBeQ0lNH0Hih6ZTL0OBil_UFf2FrK-taNjCKRpFWxoYTK1AlhziCIO3drSN4UcRci_0q0Jq/s1600/BabyMinTech.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPt2Lk9CGF5hBUWoV8IO3yYLzw6pqzdTxwtkoilCo8PFHhyphenhyphenF2ZnCHrR4Xrn4OU6Hc6HkJF3PBeQ0lNH0Hih6ZTL0OBil_UFf2FrK-taNjCKRpFWxoYTK1AlhziCIO3drSN4UcRci_0q0Jq/s1600/BabyMinTech.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Source: <a href="http://www.sparkleskirts.com/sparkletech/sparkletech-solid-colors/sparkletech-baby-minnietech/">SparkleSkirts</a></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKHI-ph8Urh0SA7UKIILeUv19XtJ6PEbzS9VF2jQMtOP_c2_p43Tqyd5MyGKGpakYfveGXdzZ5ig28kqTb-wLn7hKaGlP8QverxX8WH3-kybVrX1ELeWSz0zRjZalsxKQ9tbkds-LvMdGM/s1600/IM_revenge_r3o_purplepink_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="208" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKHI-ph8Urh0SA7UKIILeUv19XtJ6PEbzS9VF2jQMtOP_c2_p43Tqyd5MyGKGpakYfveGXdzZ5ig28kqTb-wLn7hKaGlP8QverxX8WH3-kybVrX1ELeWSz0zRjZalsxKQ9tbkds-LvMdGM/s320/IM_revenge_r3o_purplepink_1.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Source: <a href="http://www.fuelbelt.com/s.nl/it.A/id.1550/.f?sc=23&category=-123">FuelBelt</a> (What can I say, it was $15 at Marshall's)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhosnEGAYn-KU20br1svsN1ZZXM5vR3tRNmVvOzpQJuZdmfs6Qf4UJ5fqkD4_EYsQWIRzBstiDmxSrExDAZ5K7gfd3MWfRo7rM13GqrvNufVQRl66fHUhsdykZzZsTsuoOBg1qihREg2S-N/s1600/Nike-Zoom-Structure-16-Womens-Running-Shoe-536974_003_A.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="228" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhosnEGAYn-KU20br1svsN1ZZXM5vR3tRNmVvOzpQJuZdmfs6Qf4UJ5fqkD4_EYsQWIRzBstiDmxSrExDAZ5K7gfd3MWfRo7rM13GqrvNufVQRl66fHUhsdykZzZsTsuoOBg1qihREg2S-N/s320/Nike-Zoom-Structure-16-Womens-Running-Shoe-536974_003_A.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Source: <a href="http://images.nike.com/is/image/emea/NIKE_PDP_FTWR/Nike-Zoom-Structure-16-Womens-Running-Shoe-536974_003_A.jpg">Nike</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Not the most co-ordinated, admittedly. I'll temper the whole thing with my grey Lululemon grey Run: Swiftly racerback tank. You know, throw a neutral in there.</span><div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Also going in my runDisney rolling duffle for my overnight stay:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">KT Tape</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">KT adhesive spray</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">CEP Compression Sleeves</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://store.haloheadband.com/elastic-sport-headband-p/hp.htm">Halo Headband</a></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.hammernutrition.com/products/endurolytes.elt.html">Endurolyte Tabs</a></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Clif Shots</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Honey Stingers</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Tylenol</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Sunscreen</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Sunglasses</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Balega Socks</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Compression (Recovery) Socks</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">PEAR heart rate monitor</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">iPhone, headphones, armband & charger</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">SpiBelt with race bib dongley-doos (not the official name, I'm sure)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Contact Lens case, solution & spare pair</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Body Glide</span></li>
</ul>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Today I'm focussing on hydrating and carbo loading. Again, with the heat and flying the day before the race, I'm behind the 8-ball with hydration. I don't want a repeat of my Disneyland Half Marathon <a href="http://irunonwater.blogspot.ca/2012/09/disneyland-half-marathon-race-report.html">shenanigans</a>. Plus I want to get those glycogen stores up where they need to be so I don't hit a wall.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I'm found a good Runner's World <a href="http://www.runnersworld.com/nutrition-runners/fill-er?page=single">article</a> on Carbo-Loading, so I'm working with that advice and planning a good night's sleep before tomorrow's 9:40 am flight.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Which reminds me. Time for a glass of water...</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17777181873452677048noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6967916882783386955.post-51653046511405844222013-06-19T10:52:00.004-04:002013-06-19T10:58:38.229-04:00What have I done?<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Oh boy. Oh boy.... In January of 2014 at the Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend, not only am I running the inaugural Minnie Mouse 10K, but I'll also be running my <b>first marathon</b> as a part of <a href="http://www.rundisney.com/disneyworld-marathon/">this</a>:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsQHBsCtVF_4Gu6MN8Eh_zk6Pw1LLjT6dsFrq414LoTEuBPOeAgToCG3G4aAOmmpiROjbfiD2Vs9IIQpgaM7tDWA647Ah7cNxd5FxW8V6I91o_F_Tt9JxPiMp9gTM2WR7W97AfrDZeIsWJ/s1600/goofy_challenge_logo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsQHBsCtVF_4Gu6MN8Eh_zk6Pw1LLjT6dsFrq414LoTEuBPOeAgToCG3G4aAOmmpiROjbfiD2Vs9IIQpgaM7tDWA647Ah7cNxd5FxW8V6I91o_F_Tt9JxPiMp9gTM2WR7W97AfrDZeIsWJ/s1600/goofy_challenge_logo.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Source:<a href="http://www.wdwforgrownups.com/sites/default/files/images/goofy_challenge_logo.jpg">here</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So for those keeping track at home, that's 10K on Friday, a Half Marathon on Saturday and a Full Marathon on Sunday.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My husband is calling it a "Gopey". Halfway between a Goofy and a Dopey. All I'm missing is the 5K - but if I get into the Marathon Weekend Meetup, I'll practically be there.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Suddenly I'm running the <a href="http://www.womenshalfchicago.com/">Chicago Women's Half Marathon</a> this weekend to try and get a better corral placement for Goofy.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I think I just threw up in my mouth a little bit.</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17777181873452677048noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6967916882783386955.post-8834281884505556342013-06-16T15:23:00.001-04:002013-06-16T15:23:16.105-04:00Boston, still strongAlthough we have walked past the sites of the Boston Marathon bombings many times in our travels through the city, running errands, finding free wifi, scarfing "non-ship" food, we had not yet taken the time yet to visit the memorial.<div><br></div><div>It never felt right to stop and spend the time when that time would be spent thinking of what we may have missed on a "to-do" list, or nervously looking at our iPhones for the time.</div><div><br></div><div>Today, however, it was important to me to stop.</div><div><br></div><div>Today is Father's Day, and there three mourning fathers.</div><div>Today we leave Boston and go home.</div><div>One week from today is my half marathon in Chicago, where Boston will inevitably be on my mind.</div><div><br></div><div>As a runner and as a human, it felt important to pay respect and draw strength from this spot. Not the other spots. The sites of the explosions.</div><div><br></div><div>"They" chose those spots.</div><div><br></div><div>"We" chose this one.</div><div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDmrZF1UCgSSbL1MLigzmvnE7CEw2VWKqhbt76cX8v7_yJmvQXEiqv1CyhnygzG43RlkuhO7ImJjnINcbAaiLFVc5phyphenhyphen5w8JvBOL8UsZEXfK1NZH1MGdFOkpRpRr59bxIpTyEUAv_zLj2i/s640/blogger-image--465377299.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDmrZF1UCgSSbL1MLigzmvnE7CEw2VWKqhbt76cX8v7_yJmvQXEiqv1CyhnygzG43RlkuhO7ImJjnINcbAaiLFVc5phyphenhyphen5w8JvBOL8UsZEXfK1NZH1MGdFOkpRpRr59bxIpTyEUAv_zLj2i/s640/blogger-image--465377299.jpg"></a></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Thank you, Boston.</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17777181873452677048noreply@blogger.com0Copley Square Boston42.349951 -71.078304tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6967916882783386955.post-4248507471858533662013-06-11T13:19:00.000-04:002013-06-11T13:20:50.813-04:0010 Miles in Bermuda<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This week we added a little more sight-seeing in our run.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There used to be a railway that ran almost all the way from one end of the island to the other, connecting people and goods along the 22 mile span of the colonial paradise.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The railway is long gone, but the Bermudans made good use of the path it left behind. They made a trail for the use and enjoyment of Bermudans and visitors alike. You can ride bikes, horses, walk or run this trail.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We opted to run.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Once we got to Somerset, we found the trial head and chugged our own way along the Railway Trail, taking in the scenic vistas and quiet back roads.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">If we had thought of it sooner, we would have made more use of these trails. They're lovely. The tourism booths generally have maps explaining where the trails are, how long each section is, and what highlights you find in each.</span></div>
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<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhBLVPDxA4g2xPRPHNcz1dBqHrjwvbJgRwsRQkozccs3sCU0JTikQC5PRFH6nhSgV4z2n9Szz2OLxfR3mDvuyxfmpLkcx4M_nshdBAtSD7YzFzOEPdcyDgPIfZ2UpVMx-ldg-vVw43zhvd/s1600/Bermuda.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhBLVPDxA4g2xPRPHNcz1dBqHrjwvbJgRwsRQkozccs3sCU0JTikQC5PRFH6nhSgV4z2n9Szz2OLxfR3mDvuyxfmpLkcx4M_nshdBAtSD7YzFzOEPdcyDgPIfZ2UpVMx-ldg-vVw43zhvd/s320/Bermuda.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;">I cannot, for the life of me, figure out why this is so smooshed.</td></tr>
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<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I will say this about running in Bermuda. The roads are narrow, and sidewalks are a luxury, plus the traffic runs in the "British style", aka "the wrong side of the road" to us. It's worth keeping the earphones out while you get used to that, but also because there are so many birds and chirping tree frogs, it's also its own reward.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Also its own reward? A VERY COLD beer after your 10 mile run. We had ours at a local sports bar before walking back to the ship.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I admit, we looked a little weird. When we paused our run for a moment to explore some steps down to the water, the locals we encountered fishing told us we looked futuristic. We were pretty geared up with our CEP compression socks, new FuelBelt hydration belts (in crazy colours) and my iPhone strapped to my arm.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But hey, we were visible. And on those Bermuda roads, that's important.</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;">Soooo cold!</td></tr>
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<iframe frameborder="0" height="548" src="http://connect.garmin.com:80/activity/embed/326363810" width="465"></iframe><br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17777181873452677048noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6967916882783386955.post-67723111573323200532013-06-04T13:55:00.001-04:002013-06-04T13:55:56.512-04:00The Bitter Pill<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As a ship dweller, we have little control over the quality of food that we eat. Yes, there is a salad bar, but there are truly only so many days you can eat lettuce, tomato and cucumber and call it a 'salad'.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So this brings me to the idea of vitamins.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I know I should be taking them. I really do. I even splurged on a GNC Vitapak, the very vibrant and athletic (albeit, redundant) sounding "Women's Ultra Mega Active".</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">ULTRA! MEGA!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I would use a different descriptive.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">GROSS!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Greg doesn't understand why I "act like a 5 year old" when it's time to take my vitamins, but honestly, they smell so, so, soooo bad. I put them in my mouth and immediately gag from the smell-taste. We tried a different version of the Vitapak, hoping it wouldn't smell so bad.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It did.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So now I have a nice big ziplock bag in the fridge of various vitamins that I will never take unless harassed and mocked.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Then I tried the shake version of the vitamins. I like shakes! Well, the shakes were worse. They tasted fine, but they made me feel like my stomach was going to drop out of my bum. Gassy? MEGA ULTRA!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So now I just take some fast acting Glucosamine/Chondroitin, which I can handle, and I pretend that I'm getting enough of everything else.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So tell me - what vitamins do you take? And do they smell like an Ogre's behind?</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17777181873452677048noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6967916882783386955.post-39066081292638260192013-06-02T14:44:00.000-04:002013-06-02T14:44:06.206-04:00A New Page<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This week marks a new chapter in my quest for fitness.</span><div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Wait, this looks better...</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My </span><span style="color: purple; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><b>Quest for Fitness</b></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Last week, after 90 days of sweat, frustration and eventually something resembling 'pride', we bid a fond farewell to Tony Horton and his Merry Band of Sadists (Shut UP, Dreya. No one cares how you come out of your lunge.) and this week we begin anew.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This week we said "hello" to Shaun T. and his raging lunatics. (Side note: Why Shaun T? Why not a full name? What is Shaun trying to hide? Must investigate.)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Insanity, here we come.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We did our Fitness Test yesterday and despite my expectations I did not crumble into a heap of lowered expectations. So that's something.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Today is a 4 mile training run and then something called Plyometric Cardio Circuit. Now, 90 days ago, I would never have attempted this, but I've already done a 4 mile run followed by P90X Plyometrics. I think I've got this.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Famous last words.</span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17777181873452677048noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6967916882783386955.post-21372278108078249622013-05-28T13:25:00.001-04:002013-05-28T13:25:04.840-04:008 Mile run in Bermuda<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This was a challenging run, thanks to a very aggressive (for me) pair of midweek runs and some enthusiastic P90X workouts (why, Legs and Back, WHY?).</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Still, the weather was beautiful, the scenery, luscious and the scents in the air, heavenly.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihQilordKDvA-Wl1_3JeyYuED1Wq0WSq2AU-Vlib6zXnRm5ABWE0fJARZ6dJ97qTwhlonYtr326IqLIIKCJ97tt0NdxZ3vM1pKMnDIxttxO-J1QssUaxbjY4Vwf1j2aw7w20z0B1yqHHu0/s1600/photo+copy+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihQilordKDvA-Wl1_3JeyYuED1Wq0WSq2AU-Vlib6zXnRm5ABWE0fJARZ6dJ97qTwhlonYtr326IqLIIKCJ97tt0NdxZ3vM1pKMnDIxttxO-J1QssUaxbjY4Vwf1j2aw7w20z0B1yqHHu0/s320/photo+copy+2.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Greg on Tween Walls Road</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI3BI33nR0C0dBiycGTo0iEUc1SOeQGJ4YmYWySz0S9XX06WjQ8E4-cfZwiI8LXq61-S37Es-OyO8OellIMBtXbtu9JvrcTDNnymIFD2Z2HuVrT1M9tbbIKN9CdPBk9Ry25PYHlL5GO_PV/s1600/photo+copy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI3BI33nR0C0dBiycGTo0iEUc1SOeQGJ4YmYWySz0S9XX06WjQ8E4-cfZwiI8LXq61-S37Es-OyO8OellIMBtXbtu9JvrcTDNnymIFD2Z2HuVrT1M9tbbIKN9CdPBk9Ry25PYHlL5GO_PV/s320/photo+copy.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bermudan Boats</td></tr>
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</div><iframe frameborder="0" height="548" src="http://connect.garmin.com:80/activity/embed/319428634" width="465"></iframe><br />
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<a href="http://connect.garmin.com/activity/319428634#.UaTk_gkqZNk.blogger">Untitled by tabwells at Garmin Connect - Details</a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17777181873452677048noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6967916882783386955.post-9572938059605350032013-05-17T19:42:00.001-04:002013-05-17T19:42:30.801-04:00My Training PartnerWhen I am running on the ship, this is my treadmill. On the end, so at worst only one person can be beside me. Positioned "just so" so the stupid overhead light doesn't glare and give me a headache.<div>Facing in a port/starboard direction so the common side-to-side waves feel like hills, rather than joint-twisting jostling when I'm facing fore/aft in side-to-side waves.</div><div><br></div><div>We're pals.</div><div><br></div><div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWbBW26s8ZuxC-sFy7lxNK8iK3oO3zUG90I0n0jRxVE3bUbUKiSFSp3OWKYnoM72iuYF0uYiuiFOmpegM75YuapvFpvPjO1Fl7fNFIgeh9KzyqMS54AWop5ZaiC-nq6bKRGMWAM9op8aNr/s640/blogger-image-2109376170.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWbBW26s8ZuxC-sFy7lxNK8iK3oO3zUG90I0n0jRxVE3bUbUKiSFSp3OWKYnoM72iuYF0uYiuiFOmpegM75YuapvFpvPjO1Fl7fNFIgeh9KzyqMS54AWop5ZaiC-nq6bKRGMWAM9op8aNr/s640/blogger-image-2109376170.jpg"></a></div></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17777181873452677048noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6967916882783386955.post-80358058092499142462013-05-13T13:10:00.001-04:002013-05-13T13:10:37.053-04:006 miles in Bermuda<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This is what 6 miles in Bermuda looked like yesterday. We made it from the Dockyard to Somerset and back.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Lots of wind, but <b>beautiful</b> scenery.</span><br />
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</span> <br />
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<iframe frameborder="0" height="548" src="http://connect.garmin.com:80/activity/embed/312271887" width="465"></iframe><br />
<br />
<a href="http://connect.garmin.com/activity/312271887#.UZEeBP2GIPo.blogger">Untitled by tabwells at Garmin Connect - Details</a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17777181873452677048noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6967916882783386955.post-54496110229085599192013-05-12T13:12:00.001-04:002013-05-12T13:12:42.138-04:00Back on the Training Wagon<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As my last <a href="http://irunonwater.blogspot.com/2013/05/2013-chicago-womens-half-marathon.html">post</a> so mentioned (with great subtlety), I officially bit the stress-bullet and signed up for the<a href="http://www.womenshalfchicago.com/"> Chicago Women's Half Marathon</a> (June 23). So that leaves me about 6 weeks to get trained up.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Gulp.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Did I mention I haven't been running a ton?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I've got my plan worked out to get me up to 10 miles in advance of the race, including step-back weeks and a taper, so I think I'll be ok. I've done more with less, plus I really think that P90X has made a big difference in my overall conditioning</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So today, I start in earnest, with an easy 6 miles. Best part is? It'll be on LAND! We're in Bermuda today, so a few of us are going to go out for a light run this afternoon. It's 70 degrees today, and windy so I'm hoping the lack of a hydration belt won't feel like that big of a deal today.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Later on, when things heat up? My tune may change and my short-sighted packing may bite me in the butt.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Either way, I'm just glad I have a goal again.</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17777181873452677048noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6967916882783386955.post-90181851103006630932013-05-10T12:00:00.001-04:002013-05-10T12:35:18.288-04:002013 Chicago Women's Half Marathon<a href="http://www.signmeup.com/CP2VGJ7#.UY0Zf5-s_AI.blogger">2013 Chicago Women's Half Marathon</a><br />
<br />
It's on.<br />
<br />
I'm in.<br />
<br />
Let's do this.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17777181873452677048noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6967916882783386955.post-26128738949579298172013-05-06T11:40:00.001-04:002013-05-06T11:41:26.778-04:00Art. Gender. Running.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">She doesn't know it, but my sister has another guest post this week.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This is a project she did showing gender issues through comic books.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">She'd nitpick about it, but I think it's fantastic.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdPvUlkRcqlhCHdggAn69jSBPm3-QEkBjc_QjgQFbP-hx1jAgUDLPIdwDJ0H-KxcAJQv_bl2qh2sOJFFV5vwEaLMHX8nXVTRFvNNLb9ey19vYzhT64C01NVL8PxtjvAFe8ZzEWWa-86MV-/s1600/tumblr_mmcxmdPfvM1rattylo1_1280.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdPvUlkRcqlhCHdggAn69jSBPm3-QEkBjc_QjgQFbP-hx1jAgUDLPIdwDJ0H-KxcAJQv_bl2qh2sOJFFV5vwEaLMHX8nXVTRFvNNLb9ey19vYzhT64C01NVL8PxtjvAFe8ZzEWWa-86MV-/s320/tumblr_mmcxmdPfvM1rattylo1_1280.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNrPn-9l0LuTwzhJy1kDGVC0Ct5b8T7T-Dg2FWGglAAhErX6EJrP5RK0x-0hk0cEivluUDLyG4ZiuFsYyRTWjh3XvtbCTEbOiPElC5ChbT8mInaPfPAd0LkZdDXx1VgwN9oImoW1aJC67S/s1600/tumblr_mmcxmdPfvM1rattylo2_500.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNrPn-9l0LuTwzhJy1kDGVC0Ct5b8T7T-Dg2FWGglAAhErX6EJrP5RK0x-0hk0cEivluUDLyG4ZiuFsYyRTWjh3XvtbCTEbOiPElC5ChbT8mInaPfPAd0LkZdDXx1VgwN9oImoW1aJC67S/s320/tumblr_mmcxmdPfvM1rattylo2_500.jpg" width="212" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">You can follow Rachael on her<a href="http://rachaelwellsart.tumblr.com/"> tumblr</a> page.</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17777181873452677048noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6967916882783386955.post-35121074009046337312013-04-28T13:42:00.001-04:002013-04-28T13:42:44.557-04:00Guest Post: Toronto Yonge St. 10K Race Report<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>This week's post comes courtesy of my sister, Rachael, who ran the Toronto Yonge Street 10K last Sunday... I will not comment on her crushing my own 10K PR...</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Package pick-up</b></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 10px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">When I arrived at the hotel, there were plenty of well-informed volunteers to direct traffic up to the second floor conference room. When I got to that room, the lines for the kits were tangled up with the lines to pick up the race shirts, but no sooner had I noticed this, a volunteer was there directing traffic and separating the lines and getting everyone sorted out. Easy as pie. I got my kit and I got one of the special bibs the race organizers had done up for Runners United for Boston for us to wear on our backs, and got it all done within my lunch hour.</span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Race Day</b></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 10px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Let me start off by saying I like to run in costume. I ran my first two races in regular clothes and my third one in costume, and I’ll probably wear costumes from now on. I’m a nerd, and it adds some fun to the day, along with a little extra energy from the spectators. I chose She-Hulk for this race. OK, so she’s not a very well-known character so nobody knew who I was supposed to be. I had thought that at least the green skin and purple shorts would have at least been a clue. Comic book civilians. </span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 10px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Anyway, my hair took way longer and was way less thoroughly green than I’d hoped for. And I spent so much time on it that I got a late start on the day and ended up running out the front door in a panic to try to catch public transit to the start line. Got a block and a half from the house and realized that I’d left my camera at home, and absolutely did not have time to go back for it, so there are no race photos for me. Boo.</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 10px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Met another runner at the bus stop and we had a nice chat on the way up. There were actually quite a few people on that bus carrying their Yonge Street 10K bag-check bags.</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 10px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Speaking of bag-check, this was such an easy and organized bag check! Each set of race bib numbers had their own table and I was in an out of the bag check in a pop, after a brief debate with myself about whether or not I would keep my jacket with me or check it in my bag.</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 10px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Race day was cold. It was only 3 degrees out (35 if you speak Fahrenheit). But I checked my jacket anyway. For a while it was OK, I found a spot in the sun and out of the wind to wait until I had to go into my corral. Then it was time for all the runners to go into their corrals and get the race started.</span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I’m not a fast runner so I was in the very last corral, quite a distance from the start line. I heard some loudspeaker announcements way in the distance, but nobody way back in Purple Corral could really hear what was going on. Which is too bad, because I think they were making some speeches and having a moment of silence for Boston. But then it was time for the elite runners in the Red corral to start running, and for us to wait for 20 minutes until it was our turn to run. </span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So I spent 20 minutes hopping back and forth and stretching and generally trying to keep warm. My Garmin kept going into standby mode, so when the corral ahead of ours started, I started my timer in “warmup” mode. Finally, it was our turn to run, and we were off!</span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Yonge Street 10K is a really fast course, mostly all downhill (the number of people who said “it’s all downhill from here” was amusing, if repetitive). So once I started moving my Garmin started chirping at me to slow down. I thought about it for a second or two and decided to ignore it, even though the pace was set a little faster than what I’d been comfortably able to maintain in my training runs, and just listen to my body and let the Garmin tell me when my run/walk interval changes were. I ended up slowing down a little bit after the first 20 minutes, but not too much.</span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So I ran, and I counted my “in-two-three, out-two-three” breathing. And focused on keeping my legs relaxed and my toes flat. And I ran. And I waved back at cheering people, and made “Hulk Smash!” faces for the photographers.</span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And pretty soon I didn’t notice the cold any more. </span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There were a bunch of people with happy cheerful signs on the bridge over Yonge Street near Mt Pleasant, and they waved and cheered us all on, and then we were at the 4K water station with lots of cheerful volunteers all bundled up and handing out water and Gatorade. </span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Before I knew it we were cruising past the half-way point at Yonge & Bloor and the first of the four entertainment centres on the route (the other three were at intersections where we had to turn, at Yonge & Richmond, at Richmond and Peter, and at Front & Bathurst). Kudos to all the entertainers for hanging in there on a cold day and keeping our spirits up!</span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I noticed the clock tower at Yonge & College and thought it was odd, because according to that I had done 6 km in a little over a half hour. </span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Then it was time for the 7km water stop with another group of happy volunteers, some of whom couldn’t have been more than 10 or 11 years old. Thanks for volunteering, kids! I was happy to have some Gatorade by then, and a little pause. I’d been sick and coughing non-stop for a couple of weeks before the race and my chest was starting to hurt.</span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Most of the way down Yonge Street there were four or five people that I would pass while they were on a walk break, and they would pass me while I was on one.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">When I hit the 8 km mark, I still had energy, and started speeding up. Not a lot, but I was cruising along and passing more people than passed me. I just kept running, and even skipped a few of my walk breaks between the 8</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><sup>th</sup></span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"> and 9</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><sup>th</sup></span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"> kilometer.</span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My training runs have mostly involved at least some hill work, and one of my regular routes has a pretty significant incline at about mile 4 or 5. So when I heard some of the other runners talking before the race about the “killer hill” near the finish line, I was ready for it. Then I was cruising along, and heard the runners around (and now behind) me talking about how hard the hill was. We were on the incline, and I didn’t even know it. </span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Then it was the finish chute, along Fort York Blvd. And I just poured it all in and ran. My chest hurt, and I just growled “Grahr!” (I was in character, ok?) and kept running. I saw people ahead of me. I caught up with them. I passed them. I saw the finish line timer, and the clock said that it was an hour and a half, gun time, so I was pretty sure I’d set a new PR. I crossed the finish line with one hand over my heart for Boston, and one in the air for me.</span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Then I chugged along to the exit, and remembered my Garmin was still going. So I stopped the timer and was all “Yah! 1:16 No, wait… I started my Garmin five minutes before I started running. Wait, what?”</span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I went over to the very clearly-marked bag check area where all the bags were on school busses with bib number signs in the windows. I went up to the window with my bib number range on it, and got my checked bag, easy peasy in and out in a pop again. Which was good because by now I was starting to notice the cold and I was happy to have my jacket back.</span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There was lots and lots of food, the usual stuff, bagels and bananas and apples, and cookies. I ate up my food and wandered around for a while. I found where the race results were posted, but I couldn’t find my time. I started with the slowest times, and checked all the names with times over 1:12 because I couldn’t have gone faster than that, right?</span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Except I did. When I got home , I looked up my chip time and I’d done the race in 1:09. I’d beat my previous record (which was from a test run of the approximately same route a couple of weeks earlier) by 11 minutes. I had to do the math twice, because I didn’t believe it. </span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Hulk Smash P.R.</span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I would totally do this race again. And next time, I won’t be in the very last corral.</span></span></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgfxQxemeDwN6XTepGhxJVCS3UgeUo7wHiHu7JMWm8tSm65xT4dCj0u94C1HybjFW546bOFwIW0FAoz5_cQrj_fk61BN_xEjRHWSq1zpQTF6nx8-fkvsj_MnyV-3vo6VekNT6tngM1Dsuw/s1600/Rachael+Hulk.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgfxQxemeDwN6XTepGhxJVCS3UgeUo7wHiHu7JMWm8tSm65xT4dCj0u94C1HybjFW546bOFwIW0FAoz5_cQrj_fk61BN_xEjRHWSq1zpQTF6nx8-fkvsj_MnyV-3vo6VekNT6tngM1Dsuw/s320/Rachael+Hulk.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hulk smash PR.<br />Also, isn't Scooter cute?</td></tr>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17777181873452677048noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6967916882783386955.post-76929064974114956912013-04-19T15:54:00.000-04:002013-04-19T15:54:53.410-04:00Boston Strong<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I've held off a long time on writing this post. Like everyone, I was shocked and appalled by the cowardly actions by two brothers in Boston.</span><div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A lot has already been said, and a lot more will be said to come. There is a lot of hurt, a lot of misconception and a lot of anger. Not to mention the endless flow of conclusion-jumping, right or wrong.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My feelings are this.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Those boys messed up. Big time.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">They thought they could terrorize Boston and by extension, America. But they misunderstood. They didn't strike fear, they poked the bear.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Boston's not scared. Boston's pissed off. This is a city which has grimly but quietly mourned their own losses from the attacks on the World Trade Centre. They never forgot that the flights originated from Logan. They never forgot their citizens on board those planes. Heck, this city hasn't released their hold on the pride they feel for being the birthplace of the American Revolution - you think they're going to let go of anything?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And to attack on Marathon Monday. Here's one thing I know about runners, and especially Marathon runners. They are a breed apart. If there's anything marathoners are good at, it's endurance. They run through weather, injury, pain... These are not people who give up easily. So much so that their own determination isn't enough, they often choose to be determined on behalf of other people. Other causes. The attacks took place when the Mere Mortals of Marathoning (albeit Boston Qualifying Mortals, another breed apart) were finishing. The weekend warriors. The people who run "on behalf". These are not people who break easily.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">To place the bombs in the Stands... even more cowardly. They killed two women. A Child. Supporters. These are people who come out for various reasons. To cheer on a family member or a friend who they have watched work so very hard to make it to this moment. To be inspired by the triumph of strangers. To be a community celebrating a common goal. These are not victims. These are people who have proven that they are part of something bigger than themselves. To have no direct personal stake, but to stand out and watch people accomplish something and say "I support you", or to help the runners find the crucial strength to take those final few steps to cross the finish line. Community.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And not even just an American community. A global community. This is bigger than just "America". It is Us. And We are not scared.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Runners around the world are out this week, "Running for Boston". Races will go on this weekend, and despite what Tom Ridge opined on Andrea Mitchell this morning, that there may be "fewer runners", my guess is that there will actually be MORE.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">No, I think these young men gravely underestimated their target. They misunderstood the impact of their attack. Those explosions backfired on them.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I stand with you, Boston.</span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17777181873452677048noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6967916882783386955.post-71053271589258944362013-04-14T14:32:00.000-04:002013-04-14T14:32:12.009-04:00REVIEW: Pear Heart Rate Monitor<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Know this: I am a gadget geek.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">If it's a piece of technology designed to help you get in shape, lose weight or keep track of something, I'm on board. And while I know these devices don't do the work FOR you, they can help make the work seem a little less onerous.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I like to keep track. I like to see the statistics. I like checking boxes and crossing dates off calendars.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So as a result, I've worked my way through a number of doo-dads and gee-gaws, be they GPS watches, pedometers or even the BodyMedia armbands, but far and away (aside from my Garmin) my favourite bit of health-nut equipment has to be a good Heart Rate Monitor.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I mean, you can have an idea of how hard you're working and you can estimate how many calories you're burning, but if you're anything like me (and I hope for your sake, you're not) you'd be grossly off the mark. Then you'd be one of those folks who walk for 10 minutes on a treadmill and then have a cupcake.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Specificity. Yes please.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I'd been using a pretty decent Polar Heart Rate Monitor for a couple of years, but it had been getting a bit spotty, not reading properly, losing signal. It probably needed a new battery for the HRM strap. But I wasn't entirely happy with it. Plus it felt ridiculous to use one thing for my P90X workouts, then have to add another device for my runs (my Garmin).</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This is where a trip to the Apple Store comes in.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I noticed the <a href="http://pearsports.com/pear-mobile-gear">Pear Mobile Heart Rate Monitor</a> and was immediately intrigued.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In the box is a Heart Rate Monitor and a set of Pear Stride Headphones (which are GREAT) plus a little storage bag. That's it.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">From there, you download the Pear iPhone App, and you're off and running - the HRM communicates with your iPhone 4s or 5 via Bluetooth and gives you live feedback on the go.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Once you're set up, the App will walk you through a calibration run so that it can get a read on your personal heart rate zones, which will in turn help when you pick a training plan to follow. That's right, the App has a BUNCH of training programs to choose from including plans fro Matt Fitzgerald and Jenny Hadfield. Some are included, free of charge, and others are available at a fee.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So that's some of the nitty-gritty. How's it working, I hear you ask.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I love it. I really do. I like that I can use it for my P90X workouts (it has an open workout setting for non-running workouts, which is exactly what I needed) and then just plug my earphones in, pop it into my arm band and use it for a run as well - using my own music through the App.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I like the interface as well.<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWvkniFhUrIlGWYAjlnrX-RMmTWEsGTZuFLZ4BngFV0lYQVeHG0X3rc9g8J_SZznfMVph_Yr0ZRC12aWfHF4EZNERdpEtYIXtV_xxgSylO71IcaU2PKHvEcOqDIOInQMQmizVnSPnNfFLl/s1600/Pear+Page+1.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWvkniFhUrIlGWYAjlnrX-RMmTWEsGTZuFLZ4BngFV0lYQVeHG0X3rc9g8J_SZznfMVph_Yr0ZRC12aWfHF4EZNERdpEtYIXtV_xxgSylO71IcaU2PKHvEcOqDIOInQMQmizVnSPnNfFLl/s320/Pear+Page+1.png" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pear is very polite. "Good Afternoon"!</td></tr>
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</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> Pear is very friendly, when you open it up it greets you with a cheery message.</span><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4qzlDTL7_CQ28MohU7RM3mMav40Yz6CAZPk7nO5ijOqZKS5WaypxY-7SDYXJ2md7CBxkaxLOVttQFnfyAB-3FOhPGaxy4P3D7_aq_9rURsh7gFcs2-cuQNyFmtxi8LrZIfMs_k7o5G9iN/s1600/Pear+Page+2.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4qzlDTL7_CQ28MohU7RM3mMav40Yz6CAZPk7nO5ijOqZKS5WaypxY-7SDYXJ2md7CBxkaxLOVttQFnfyAB-3FOhPGaxy4P3D7_aq_9rURsh7gFcs2-cuQNyFmtxi8LrZIfMs_k7o5G9iN/s320/Pear+Page+2.png" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">From here, you choose your plan for the day.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Once you decide what kind of workout you'll be doing, it's off to the races. You can add Training Plans from the Plan Store to your schedule here, as well. Since they're all distance based (more on that later) I always go for the Free Format Workout, whether I'm running or not.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There are also plans for Spinning, Treadmill, Core & Strength, Power Walking and Stretching. Something for everyone.</span><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRJCiDMwHnWvyRvrA_fP-TKaAuiqUtgZf5H3eKnTTP6U5uy-43QVawHkosp-c8gE4HtUyI-74Uag4cqe_WUDcNtJA-m8eDg-wqpxfDFpqrpM5bAE-9BiA_aUdkC37crn-TjOUjN0NMNyx4/s1600/Pear+Page+3.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRJCiDMwHnWvyRvrA_fP-TKaAuiqUtgZf5H3eKnTTP6U5uy-43QVawHkosp-c8gE4HtUyI-74Uag4cqe_WUDcNtJA-m8eDg-wqpxfDFpqrpM5bAE-9BiA_aUdkC37crn-TjOUjN0NMNyx4/s320/Pear+Page+3.png" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">In the workout itself.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">While you're working out, you can get feedback on your time, distance, heart rate, pace, current heart rate zone, target heart rate zone and your calorie burn - and you're able to customize which, if any, of these stats you want to hear regularly and on demand.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Once you're done your workout, you just hit "Done", turn your phone sideways and you're met with this beauty:</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7Sy3Tbd7WahGDGW6fS9l4ixnMV9_dowkwnvKrvYRso84KX4fyysELPs17YnRZrCbFzrldtf3LWaSx5SlF4_R7RwXqVg7ZFMwb-cA3UY03H4GyuuXiDiYG2bpOYWFKnsPXz6NsCp5aBxtO/s1600/photo.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7Sy3Tbd7WahGDGW6fS9l4ixnMV9_dowkwnvKrvYRso84KX4fyysELPs17YnRZrCbFzrldtf3LWaSx5SlF4_R7RwXqVg7ZFMwb-cA3UY03H4GyuuXiDiYG2bpOYWFKnsPXz6NsCp5aBxtO/s320/photo.PNG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Look at those spikes!</span></td></tr>
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<br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So not only do you know exactly how many calories you've burned, but you can also see where you were working hard and where you were dogging it.</span><div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Plus, Pear keeps everything in a nice, orderly history for you, so if you can't remember how you did last time you trotted out KenpoX, you can just go back and look.</span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj97iBathAjkuNgB3WPaTU9JrEMWhPrTBxKJtH8YjIA2lQkxig6B8Y5nXMtbEorYbCf_se-Qpdw1MoXCwq1Ooz8erq98vbi38G5FFtagui3rQHOK48GIrXDVBXxGSR7fA_BLbi6kko2bHnW/s1600/Pear+Page+4.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj97iBathAjkuNgB3WPaTU9JrEMWhPrTBxKJtH8YjIA2lQkxig6B8Y5nXMtbEorYbCf_se-Qpdw1MoXCwq1Ooz8erq98vbi38G5FFtagui3rQHOK48GIrXDVBXxGSR7fA_BLbi6kko2bHnW/s320/Pear+Page+4.png" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Clearly, I'm a Free Format kind of gal.</span></td></tr>
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<br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Overall, as I said, I've been very happy with my Pear Heart Rate Monitor system. I think the only things I might change about it may not be things that are possible to change - like, I would add an accelerometer to the App so that people who work out on treadmills (I have no choice) can have the benefit of pace and distance included in their reading. At present, I'm still using my Garmin/footpod combo to figure that out, then just add the Pear into the mix for Heart Rate, calories and music. It's really no big deal, and at least it's not adding another thing to wear or use since I'd be using my iPhone for music anyway.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I'd also add an edit function, so you could title your work-outs, plus add distance if you're doing a Treadmill run.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I'm actually really looking forward to getting a chance to use the Pear on land so I can dig a little deeper into the Training Plans. I've done a couple of runs using the Intro to High Intensity Intervals and love those, plus I did a non-distance based training run that was part of the 10K running program that was very helpful - I like the idea of training based on your heart rate, so the feedback was informative.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As far as customer service goes, I have to give Pear a double thumbs up and a gold star. After my first few workouts, I had some sort of a glitch. I wasn't sure if it was a missed update, a function problem with the App or with the actual device itself. I shot a quick email to Pear Support and hoped for the best.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I got an answer back in less than an hour, and they carried on a regular and friendly communication with me while we tried to trouble-shoot the problem and figure out what the culprit was.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In the end, they offered to just send me a new HRM and FedExed me a replacement right away. The replacement has worked flawlessly.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">All in all, I'm very happy with how multifaceted this device is, and I as useful as it is now, I can only see myself growing into it more and more as I develop in my fitness regimens.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">DISCLAIMER: I purchased the Pear Heart Rate Monitor from an Apple Store. I am in no way affiliated with either Pear Sports or Apple.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17777181873452677048noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6967916882783386955.post-85942121787785310422013-04-09T16:00:00.001-04:002013-04-09T16:01:38.204-04:00runDisney Marathon Weekend Registration is OPEN!<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I'm hitting the pause button on my Pear Heart Rate Monitor review one more time because I have new race news!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Now, you know I love me some runDisney events, and this year they've sweetened their already super-sweet Marathon Weekend pot o'goodness with a new race distance (10K!) and a new mega-challenge (The Dopey). How could we refuse?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The addition of the Dopey is a clear response to runDisney fans everywhere who had already been running their own "unofficial" Dopey Challenge - meaning, 5K on Friday, Half Marathon on Saturday, Full Marathon on Sunday - but Disney doesn't do anything small. They've added the 10K race into that mix. So one could say that this is a "Race and a Half... and a Half..."</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Now, it's not cheap, this mega-challenge. The price tag is almost $500, but... you get 6 medals... 5K, 10K, Half, Full, Goofy and Dopey. Plus 6 shirts. That's right. SIX WHOLE SHIRTS!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">They're also responding to the ongoing outcry from all us lady runners, and they're finally offering race shirts in women's sizes! Hooray!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I'm also glad to see that they're taking the overcrowding on the course more seriously, by trimming back the number of participants in the half and full marathons, plus putting stricter controls on the corral placements. Hopefully that'll make the course a bit more enjoyable. I left my Half Marathon experience last year not being entirely sure that I wanted to attempt it again. It was frustrating to not have room to run, or MOVE for that matter.</span></div>
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<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Initially, we weren't going to register at all. We're Disney Vacation Club members and we could have signed up for the races a few days ago... but, being on the ship, you don't always notice dates, and you try not to think to far ahead because who knows where we'll be in January?</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But then today, while trying to download Game of Thrones in Roatan, Honduras, my sister emailed to see what our Marathon Weekend plans might be. I was non-committal. Until I saw that the 10K was 80% sold out!</span></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH9PXbSDqbOSkMbtPPrccb6W1e8jD6s4ny5Ckv2bMB91yE7SiC-mSHZ2g-5SrKue6QOz3t2wWXFbjSkflZE8vCZpsJRiU9jAtIqFG9emKNSPf7Zc749KmmthhEhHD4hJt5frUcd6oZTwc-/s1600/Marathon+weekend.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="196" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH9PXbSDqbOSkMbtPPrccb6W1e8jD6s4ny5Ckv2bMB91yE7SiC-mSHZ2g-5SrKue6QOz3t2wWXFbjSkflZE8vCZpsJRiU9jAtIqFG9emKNSPf7Zc749KmmthhEhHD4hJt5frUcd6oZTwc-/s320/Marathon+weekend.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Say WHAT?</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Didn't registration just open to the public this morning?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Yeah, let's get signed up for that. Now if I could just get the DVC Member website to open so I can make room reservations...</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We figure 10k is a nice, civilized distance to do this year, and we can probably get a couple of rounds of golf in while we're down there.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And how can you say no to a Minnie Mouse medal? You can't. Don't even try.</span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17777181873452677048noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6967916882783386955.post-42746384084334632072013-04-02T16:17:00.000-04:002013-04-02T16:17:14.490-04:00Why you scruffy looking... nerf-herder!<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I know I said my next blog post would be a review of my new Heart Rate Monitor by Pear, but something has popped up. And that something is a race.</span><div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A virtual race, to be exact. Well, two virtual races, to be super-exact.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">To the uninitiated (including myself, up till now) a virtual race is, as far as I can tell, a relatively new thing. It's pretty much what it sounds like. You're running a race, but you're not. You don't have to travel anywhere, you don't have to get up early, you don't have to rush somewhere for packet pick-up. You just run, log your miles and submit proof of time to the Race Director and bing-bang-boom... Medal in the mail.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This works perfectly for people in areas where there aren't a lot of races, for people who are worried about course's pace limits, or for people who aren't that in to crowds, I suppose. I fit into that first category currently. Let's be honest. There aren't a lot of races on a ship. Like, none.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As I mentioned in my last post, there was a Star Wars themed virtual race challenge that my sister brought to my attention, but I dropped the ball on registering. Well, turns out they opened up some more spots, and my sister registered both me and Greg for the 2 race challenge. If you want to know more about the race (which benefits St. Jude's Hospital), check out the organizer's blog at <a href="http://running-with-a-stroller.com/">Running-with-a-stroller.com</a> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Why Star Wars? Well, May 4th is coming up, and to all Star Wars fans, "May the Fourth be with you" is the nerdiest, but most awesome date-related pun, like, ever.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And the challenge is awesome. Do the 5K, and then a 10K within that week, and earn both of these medals:</span></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD_0W1e1XdJHJ0oEYi3xG-6n91_nh-bdbnqtH5ChiqyxJnip_0qZWhDTOe_ovuWfr617-ny4Fz9lGn1o71iZs9XAtpEirEc0d_mLMpfO5_1wryILvdqO-aygLTwkuu6AtFEZ4bit8Zn8X4/s1600/4150947-artproof.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD_0W1e1XdJHJ0oEYi3xG-6n91_nh-bdbnqtH5ChiqyxJnip_0qZWhDTOe_ovuWfr617-ny4Fz9lGn1o71iZs9XAtpEirEc0d_mLMpfO5_1wryILvdqO-aygLTwkuu6AtFEZ4bit8Zn8X4/s1600/4150947-artproof.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Source: http://www.running-with-a-stroller.com</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKpAskU5FhvdIRI-8Hz63cfRAlu5RgIqrI0kXnKKV7U_HjB6UlGiCHqM7QH8zwpyZ1DpfDoIaflmW1Dvcl8ekPTnspt8xCOa1etJ9DhOtH8CB-xq5MPVV6FUE4GsoFqUlWH1jXz-1nRMc2/s1600/4150969-artproof.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKpAskU5FhvdIRI-8Hz63cfRAlu5RgIqrI0kXnKKV7U_HjB6UlGiCHqM7QH8zwpyZ1DpfDoIaflmW1Dvcl8ekPTnspt8xCOa1etJ9DhOtH8CB-xq5MPVV6FUE4GsoFqUlWH1jXz-1nRMc2/s1600/4150969-artproof.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Source: http://www.running-with-a-stroller.com<br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I mean it's as easy as bulls-eying womprats in my T-16 back home...</span><br /><div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17777181873452677048noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6967916882783386955.post-45661846867376593352013-03-31T14:14:00.002-04:002013-03-31T14:16:34.867-04:00Plateaus are a bitch<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">That's right. I said it.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I've been doing great with my efforts to lose weight while I'm working on the ship. We've been working out doing P90X six days a week. I've been getting runs in where I can. I'm sticking to my calorie goals, plus having respectable calorie deficits due to my workouts...</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So why did I only lose half a pound this week?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I mean, I didn't even <i>drink</i>!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I've got the myfitnesspal app set with calorie goals suited for a loss of 1.5 pounds a week. I've burned enough calories to shed at least another pound or pound and a half.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">What gives?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I know I can't eat less than what I've been eating. That would be madness, and I'm not sure I could survive the workouts on less food, frankly. So I've gone the opposite direction. I've reset my goals to add more calories to eat per week. I'm hoping that I've stalled because I'm not eating enough, and so I'm taking that leap of faith that means... eat <i>more.</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I'm still a bit stressed about the lack of a race for my running goals. I'm just getting a couple of short runs in during the week, working around my P90X schedule. My sister was kind enough to send me a link for a Star Wars themed virtual race (I can't fight the nerd within), but I foolishly waited until we were on land before I registered and now it's sold out... boo.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I'm still eyeing the Chicago Women's Half Marathon, but we're home for such a short period of time between contracts, I don't know if I want to be gone for a whole weekend of it...</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I just don't know.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Next up, I'll be taking some time to review a new Heart Rate Monitor I've been using for the last couple of weeks. Meanwhile, say hello to <a href="http://pearsports.com/pear-mobile-gear">Pear</a></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17777181873452677048noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6967916882783386955.post-26398632720229214572013-03-17T12:30:00.000-04:002013-03-17T12:30:47.768-04:00My Life on Water<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It occurred to me the other day that I have never really gone into what I do, or why I "run on water". I can't go into ALL the details (non-disclosure agreements being what they are), but hopefully what I can discuss will be interesting.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I work for a well known comedy theatre, doing contracts on a well known cruise line's various ships. As someone who has loved comedy and travel their whole life, this is an amazing job and it has been a life-changing opportunity.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It got me out of a desk job that I hated (and didn't belong in, frankly), it helped Greg and me realize that we wanted to get married, and over the last year (although I've made excuses to the contrary up until last year), it has also given me the time and the means to focus on losing weight, training for the races we've done, and getting fitter in general.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Now, I say I made excuses. Those excuses packed about 40 pounds onto my body in about 4 years. It went up and down, but the end result was me running the Princess Half literally 40 pounds heavier than I was when I started doing ships. That was frustrating. I had started running partially to lose weight, but the weight just wasn't moving.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I blamed the food. I mean, people who go on a a cruise gain an average of 5 to 7 pounds in a week, and I'm here for 4 months at a time. How did I stand a chance?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The first thing that I had to change was my relationship to the job. Everyone around me was on vacation. I was not. They could afford to cut loose, eat the "naughty" food and drink the yummy cocktails. I could not. They could take the week off from the gym. I'd never been a big gym-goer. So everything had to change, or I could not change at all.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We have access to the gym on each ship, and now we've made it a point to work the gym into our schedule every day, even if it means forgoing time ashore. When we first started going to the gym a couple of contracts back, it was very basic, then we started using Jillian Michaels' programs. But all the while, we would see people following an impossible looking video on their computers. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">They were doing P90X.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It may be old news to a lot of people, but it keeps mading the rounds on the cruise ships like a secret handshake. Once you know what it is, you see it everywhere. A group of dancers here, a customer service guy there, an officer over there... They all look impossibly fit. The workout seems impossible and moderately terrifying.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And so we started.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Greg completed the 90 days the first time we attempted the program on our last contract. I got 60 days in before other health issues threw me off all my training (both P90X and training for the Disneyland Half Marathon). But I could see and feel a difference even through the health garbage I was going through, and I ended up running a 10K when I got home at a pace that I thought was a pipe-dream goal at the time.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And so here we are again. No race to train for (which is still freaking me out a little), but I'm 4 weeks into P90X and feeling stronger than I have in a long time.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And thanks to the head start I got from Weight Watchers, and the ongoing accountability I achieve using MyFitnessPal, I've lost over 20 pounds since the Princess Half in February 2012, at least ten of which have come off while we have been on the ship these last 4 weeks.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I'm proud of that. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I'm also proud that I did a running experiment this week. I'm an interval run/walk/run Galloway gal - you know that. But this week, since I haven't run in almost a month, I thought I'd try something new. I warmed up and then put the treadmill at 5.5 and just ran straight. I wanted to see if I could get to a mile.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And I did. In 9 minutes 30 seconds.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Awesome.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEielSeotbKDH6gBy5HrWy2ZjiyTSvZUwoqEKIZ5XpXUBzW9BLqlr0-Dk3kLujWpuCNLnHwcEwEBFgXliumHM0Ob4OcT84yfa8Q6fF8_enhLREna3rwhQt0rgot0kurQUYCe-GPcNK96udiG/s640/blogger-image--1557508462.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEielSeotbKDH6gBy5HrWy2ZjiyTSvZUwoqEKIZ5XpXUBzW9BLqlr0-Dk3kLujWpuCNLnHwcEwEBFgXliumHM0Ob4OcT84yfa8Q6fF8_enhLREna3rwhQt0rgot0kurQUYCe-GPcNK96udiG/s640/blogger-image--1557508462.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My nemesis. Legs and Back.</td></tr>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17777181873452677048noreply@blogger.com0Tampa Tampa27.976808 -82.529235tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6967916882783386955.post-2601826114928566422013-03-10T11:46:00.000-04:002013-03-10T11:46:46.608-04:00Love/Hate<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This week has been a lesson in the delicate balance that is the love/hate relationship.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I love working on ships, I hate that I tend to get a case of "ship lung" almost immediately, lately.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I had hoped to begin running again this week, but I was still coughing up a lot of grossness, so I took one more week off. Frustrating, but in the end, with a good round of Mucinex I am now breathing clearly again.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I hate taking a lot of pills and eating a butt-load of salad, but I love the results our Trader Joe's Complete Body Cleanse and the healthy eating that goes along with it. Between that and the workouts we're doing, I've dropped 10 pounds in 2 weeks.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And of course the love/hate extends to dear old Tony Horton and his band of fitness freaks (dammit, Drea - why do you have to be such a kiss-ass?) in the P90X videos. What a terrible/wonderful work-out program. I'm burning 800 - 1000 calories a day doing these stupid, jerk-face work-outs. Which is amazing.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And there's lots of love for the myFitnessPal app, which has an amazing database of foods, even when we're at sea and I'm not able to utilize the full online version on my iPhone.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Mostly, I LOVE the results I'm getting...</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This week. Running again. For realzies.</span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17777181873452677048noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6967916882783386955.post-60214783142983362682013-03-03T11:18:00.001-05:002013-03-03T11:19:34.295-05:00Success!<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Today is a "Home Port" day, which means three things:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1. Starbucks</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">2. Mall</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">3. Apple Store Internet</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">If you're ever in a town with a cruise ship port, and you walk past an Apple Store with a bunch of people hunkered down with knapsacks and a desperate look on their face... that'll be us. We have a few hours to get our week's errands (and downloads) done, and we stretch those hours to the limit.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">While I wait for my iPhone update to download, (and since all my Walking Dead episodes are already in the bank) what better time to update my blog?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Chicago week was great - but cold. We had a look at the weather forecast before we left home, and opted not to bring our winter jackets. After all, we were headed to Florida and ports south. Why bring heavy coats?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Big mistake.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I habitually wore 7 layers to rehearsal every day to stay warm in the super-cold snap that hit Chicago. But somehow we made it through the week without getting sick. I went to a local Weight Watchers store to weigh in on my usual day (Thursday) and was a bit bummed out that I had gained 2.2 pounds, despite my careful eating. I didn't let it get to me, and we enjoyed our usual favourite foods for the rest of the week (Al's Italian Beef Sandwich and a pizza from Lou Malnati's)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Week One on the ship was also a lot of fun. We are lucky to work with some wonderful producers and directors, and this time around we had a real pair of firecrackers, and our cast was right on board for the work and inevitable shenannigans that occur as well. We had a successful, low stress week of work.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I did, however, catch a mean case of "Ship Lung" almost immediately, which left me coughing for over a week. I tried to sleep as much as possible, and didn't work out at all for the whole first week on the ship in an effort to recover. Between the lack of exercise and some pretty rich meals (and a few beer) I put on another couple of pounds that first week.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Week two was better. I started P90X with Greg - although the first workout was very difficult since I still couldn't take a full, deep breath without coughing - and we started our semi-annual cleanse (using a supplement kit from Trader Joe's). Along with the cleanse, you're meant to follow a clean eating plan, avoiding dairy, red meat, sugar, processed foods, alcohol, simple carbs like potatoes or rice... you know - everything on a cruise ship... Between that and keeping track of our calories on myfitnesspal on our iPhones we both dropped a lot of weight this past week. Like, 6 pounds for me. So now I weigh less than I did at home at my last Weight Watchers weigh-in. Hooray! This is a first for me. Two weeks on the ship and weighing LESS than I did at home? Unpossible. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But I did it.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Now that my lungs are almost back to normal, I feel like I can start running again.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I will officially be "Running on Water" again.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I can't wait.</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17777181873452677048noreply@blogger.com0