Month: January 2012

…and with No More Trouble Zones completed, it has snowed another inch.

Running would be a super-fun adventure today. And by super-fun adventure, I mean very efficient way to die.

(I am wearing shorts, btw.)

I ran into a nice layer of ice about 4 inches down.

Sooo… Jillian Michaels DVD it is.

Gratuitous Picture of Your Pants Wednesday:

It’s weird to be excited about pants, I know, but comfortable, nice-fitting pants are hard to find! And it’s nearly impossible to order pants online.

I ordered these convertible travel pants in two sizes, and the first pair I tried on fit PERFECTLY.

They’re comfortably loose with room to eat (and trust me, I’ll need the room), but still fitted enough so that I won’t look like a complete slob. They’re stretchy and the perfect length. They make me look a bit stumpy when they’re rolled up, but you just can’t have everything.

They are the travel pants of my dreams.

Do you see the snow out there on my balcony? It looks nice and innocent, but not 30 seconds into a journey to the local Redbox with my roommates, I slipped and fell right on my butt. While still in the driveway. That takes talent.

Needless to say, I didn’t run today (skipped 5 miles). I did walk about a 1.5 mile round-trip in the snow to acquire The Ides of March and Crazy, Stupid, Love for a Ryan Gosling marathon this evening, which I will go ahead and say was the GREATEST IDEA EVER.

If you’re training for a legitimate running marathon, I highly suggest that you take a break for a Gosling marathon. Pure delight.

Last but not least, I posted more details about my New Zealand travel plans on Answering Oliver today:

New Zealand Adventures Ahead!

It’s summer in New Zealand. It’s summer in New Zealand. It’s summer in New Zealand.

18 days.

Summary:

1. Normal left ventricular systolic function.
2. Normal left ventricular ejection fraction.
3. The left ventricular cavity size is normal.
4. Trace tricuspid regurgitation.
5. Mild pulmonary regurgitation.
6. Normal pulmonary artery systolic pressure estimated at 23.0 mmHg.
7. Trace mitral valve regurgitation.

Hi Devon,
Your echo was normal.
Maggie Emanuel, MD

[tears of relief + happiness]

Today I woke up to intermittent periods of snow (sometimes huge flakes, other times little baby flakes) and sleet. I had zero desire to run.

Then the sun came out! By Seattle standards, that means you could sort of see the sun through the clouds.

Since we’re supposed to get a big snowstorm tonight, I figured I’d take advantage of the temporary clearing and get my run on.

It was a good one!

I finally took a picture of this mural I love on the Burke-Gilman trail. It was painted by a fifth-grade class and shows all kinds of animals cycling around Seattle. Very cute and quirky.

I was also blessed with some elbow-pit sweat for my efforts. That’s new to me.

I was supposed to do this run on Monday, but I had my cardiac ultrasound yesterday morning and it freaked me out wayyyyy more than I expected. I thought it would be cool to see my heart on the screen, but I couldn’t stop thinking, “What if there’s something really wrong with my heart? What if it can’t be fixed? What if they find something else, like a mass or something??”

The ultrasound technician said she wasn’t really allowed to tell me anything since a cardiologist is the one who officially reviews the pictures of my heart, but she did say I shouldn’t worry too much. Well, ok. I just couldn’t bring myself to run after that, though.

Especially since what they’re checking for is an inherited condition that is “a major cause of death in young athletes who seem completely healthy but die during heavy exercise.”

So, that’s nice.

I hope I’ll find out the results this week. Until then, I guess I’ll just… keep running.

I’ve run in merciless heat, in hail and into a freezing-cold lake, but I’ve never run while it was actively snowing.

Until today.

I pushed this weekend’s 7-miler to today because yesterday it was windy and sleeting. When that finally cleared up, I had lost my motivation to run and was deep into booking New Zealand hostels and shiz.

Today’s run started out slow because the trail was quite slushy. I shuffle-jogged my way through for the first few miles until I hit Westlake, where the sidewalks had been salted and were just a little wet. Hallelujah!

The rest of the run was slush- and slip-free. I did have several snowflakes go up my nose, but I survived.

I’m very happy with my farthest run since the marathon and am glad I got in done despite the snow!

I feel hardcore-ish. And prepared to spend the rest of the day in my cozy house. : )

Once upon a time, I did Levels 1 and 2 of Jillian Michaels’ 30-Day Shred back to back. I got pretty sweaty, but otherwise it was awesome.

Today, I just did Level 2 after MANY months of not using that DVD, and WTF! It was tough!

Who’s idea was this?

The funny thing is that the 3 lb. weights I’ve always used now feel like a complete joke, since I grew accustomed to lifting 12.5 lb. to 25 lb. weights at the gym. It’s all the jumping and lunging that wore me out today. There’s a lot of it!

Then I went for a run. It was on the speedy side for me, since I was already warmed up.

It was SUNNY! I squinted throughout the whole run. As a Seattlite, I’m not used to the appearance of that strange bright orb in the middle of winter.

Then I went to the dentist. Oooh, exciting day! Have you ever seen such a nice view from a dentist’s chair??

Hello, I would like to move in here.

And finally, as I was uploading endless photos of shiz I’m selling on Craigslist in preparation for the big trip, I caught this sunset off the balcony of my bedroom.

Stunning.

Seven miles to run in the morning. It’ll be the farthest I’ve run since the marathon!

Hope everyone had a lovely Friday!

My faux training plan is working! I’ve done all my workouts so far and feel like I’m finally getting back into running shape.

Four miles today:

Sheesh, these short runs wipe me out, and yet I remember when I used to knock out 9- and 10-milers after work on weeknights like it wasn’t a big deal. Marathon training is so nuts.

It was SUPER cold out today, but I warmed up by mile 1.5 and was drenched in sweat by the end. Success!

I love making each cell blue after I’ve completed it. It’s my Excel version of a gold star.

And I’m particularly looking forward to the “workout” I have scheduled for Sunday, Feb. 5. Squee!