Author: devonpass

The ol’ Tumblr’s been quiet lately, but fear not… MARATHON training starts SOON!

Tonight I started strength training. Aaron’s mom is a former bodybuilder and current fitness extraordinaire with something like seven personal-training certifications, and she taught me a few lifting routines that I can start out with. She literally demonstrated them as I took notes. Thank you, Greta!!

The workout — I used free weights and did 3 sets of 12 reps for each move:

– 1 mile run to the gym (9:05)
– Chest: dumbell press and dumbell press on an incline (8 lb.)
– Biceps: bicep curls and hammer curls (8 lb.)
– Triceps: skull crushers (8 lb.) and kickbacks (5 lb.)
– 1 mile run home (8:16 — holla!)

The other workout (for another day) works upper and lower back, shoulders and abs.

I’d like to do strength training twice a week. Yayyy for (soon) no longer being a runner with strong legs and Gumby arms!

Oh, and the above photo is Aaron and me right after he finished crushed STP on Saturday!

He finished in just over 12 hours!!! Averaged 19 mph over 204 miles!!!

I cried!

He’s 2 miles away!! Ahhhhhh!!!

Kicking the crap out of STP.

Photo by Aaron’s mom, Greta, in Centralia.

Let me just start off by saying that my company softball team is UNDEFEATED. 9-0, baby!

I’ve only played in three of those games, but I still get to share in the glory.

We had two games last night and the first one was a doozy. We played an 8-1 team in a battle for first place in the RAT (radio, advertising and television) league.

In this game, I hit the ball and made it to first. Someone else hit me to second. And then someone knocked it out to send me home.

BUT. As I ran from third to home, I saw the ball being thrown to home. I started screaming (not kidding here) as I ran to home, and a girl on the opposing team stood RIGHT on the plate to catch the ball.

I don’t know if I smacked into her or just tripped trying to get around her, but somehow I fell and did a complete roll on the ground behind home plate. I popped back up ASAP to avoid the further embarrassment of lying in the dirt, and then I heard my teammates screaming, “TOUCH THE PLATE!!!”

Apparently, I hadn’t been tagged out.

I could have just moved my foot to touch the base with my toe, but guys, I DROPPED FULLY TO THE GROUND, as in flat on my stomach, and laid my chest on the base. I have no idea why I did that, but as I peeked up at the umpire from my place in the dirt, he looked me in the eye and said, “SAFE!”

And that’s what we call playing for keeps.

I’ve been MIA, Tumblr! And by MIA, I mean lazy after my half-marathon.

Here is evidence that yesterday I wore a dress for the THIRD time in THREE weeks. Whoa. I can’t figure out what the print is supposed to be. Possibly Dalmatian?

Cruella-style.

Anyway, last night I actually ran 3 miles (27:45) and was SO sweaty and sunscreen-y when I finished that I rinsed off in the shower and put on new workout clothes before heading to the gym.

Yeah, I know.

I walked the mile to the gym and then tackled some big, scary weight machines, free weights and a barbell for good measure. I had no clue what I was doing, but I figured I’d just show up and get over my fear of the weights area (and the glistening men who are native to that habitat).

I did what all the little pictures on the machines said to do and didn’t hurt myself, and no one told me I was doing it wrong (a fear). I can sign up for a free session with a personal trainer to really learn how to use everything, so that’s cool.

I will be incredibly sore tomorrow. Plus, I have TWO softball games to play tonight, so just throw the bat-swinging soreness on top of everything else.

And yet I long for that painful-but-satisfying burn.

It’s an inherent side effect of WINNING.

Don’t be too jealous of our kayaking skirts.

We ran 3 miles (9:50 recovery pace) to Ivar’s on Lake Union for fish ‘n’ chips and salads.

Now we’re gonna walk a few more miles to meet my roomie and her bf to go kayaking on Lake Union.

It’s an amazingly sunny and beautiful day in Seattle!

This is Aaron’s life next Saturday.

I’ll be zooming down on the train to meet him at the finish line. You know, the way SANE people get to Portland.