Venus, Mars & My Empty Nest (Different Words Wednesday)

Posted on September 5, 2012 by Coco

Even before my son went to college, I knew he would not be as communicative as my daughter, but their responses to my “how are classes going?” text really drove home their Venus-Mars differences.

Texting with my daughter:

20120901-103349.jpg

Texting with my son:

 

 

 

 ~sigh~

Posted in Life | Tagged , , , | 11 Comments

September Slog (A Sucky Run)

Posted on September 4, 2012 by Coco

I wish I had kicked off September with a kick-ass run. It would have been a great way to set the tone for a month that should bring some nice running weather. But that’s not the way it happened.

I went to bed early and was ready to get up when my alarm went off at 6:00 on Saturday, but I did not have any energy as I pulled on my running top and squeezed into my compression shorts. When the humidity hit me as I opened the door to take my dog out, I knew it was going to be a rough run.

https://twitter.com/Got2Run4Me/status/241847298676633600

I ate my usual pre-run breakfast (a Kashi multigrain waffle with a drizzle of syrup), filled my water bottle with ice and Gatorade, and headed out. Since I knew I was going to be slow anyway, I decided on a hilly neighborhood route and stretched it out to 9 miles.

I never felt miserable, but I never felt good. As I hit mile 5, I thought that I could easily stop right then and crawl back into bed–or stretch out on the cool basement floor under a fan. Instead of motivating myself with thoughts of Starbucks, I visualized taking an ice bath when I got home. As I rounded the last corner, I had my plan:

      • start coffee maker
      • foam roll and stretch
      • run cold water in bath tub
      • fill travel coffee mug and carry full ice maker bucket upstairs

20120901-131928.jpgI’m not sure I had enough ice for the full effect, but it felt good–mMaybe the fact that it felt good means that I definitely did not have enough ice?

I don’t usually drain my water bottle, but I sucked down the last drop.
20120901-131920.jpg

My Garmin told me just how slow I was. I had a few sub-10 minute miles, but this 10:03 average shows that I had more miles that were significantly over 10 minutes. (I usually average in the 9:30 – 9:45 range.)

I don’t regret this run. I’m glad I got the miles in, and maybe this slow run was what I needed for a change–at least my ITB felt OK and I didn’t get any new injuries.

How was your first September run?

 

Posted in Fitness | Tagged , , , | 6 Comments

Gearing Up For The 2012 Army Ten Miler

Posted on September 3, 2012 by Coco

This may be the last year that I run the Army Ten Miler, although I’m pretty sure I said that last year, and here I am gearing up for it again.

First, the logistics are a hassle. Packet pick-up used to be in Arlington, Virginia–any easy stop on my way home from work. For the past few years it’s been at the D.C. Armory–a painful drive or Metro ride away. With 30,000 registered runners, the race-day energy is great, but the post-race crowds are overwhelming. I just can’t enjoy the food, music, or celebration with so many people around.

Second, the official rules prohibit runners from carrying cell phones or cameras–even though the race is run on public streets! I’m not one to stop mid-race to take a picture, but I do like to take pictures at the start and finish. The first (and only) year I ran without my phone, it took me an hour to find my husband after the race. (Yes, we had a designated meeting place, but for some reason that didn’t work.) 

Third, this year’s course change seems to eliminate the best of the route and keep the worst.

I can’t believe that we don’t run up to the Capitol this year!

That loop at mile 1 is up an exit ramp. The climb isn’t too bad, but the road is so narrow, last year I was forced to walk when those in front of me stopped running. Grrr. And, you can’t tell from this map, but that blue line after the last water stop takes you up and over an overpass right before the finish line–that’s just cruel!

But, I’ve signed up to run this year and am going to give it my best!

I’ve got seven weeks and six weekends between now and the race. I’ve already started my vague “training plan.” I am going to continue to run three days a week, with one long run, one easier run, and one run that focuses on hills or speed. I am going to continue to strength train three days a week, and hope my new routine will keep me strong and injury-free. I also plan to fit in one yoga session a week, and probably will go on Sunday bike rides with my husband–weather and schedule permitting.

As for my long runs, I want to fit in a few 10 mile runs, but I don’t want to over-do it. I probably will do something like this:

Sep 1~ 9 miles  (done!)
Sep 8 ~ 8 miles
Sep 15 ~ 10 miles
Sep 22 ~ 6-8 miles (?) (Fitbloggin!)
Sep 29 ~ 6-8 miles (?) (Parents Weekend)
Oct 6 ~ 10 miles
Oct 13 ~ 6-8 miles

Are you training for a fall race?

Would you put a smartphone in a garment check bag?

Posted in Fitness | Tagged , | 9 Comments

Book Review: The Unfinished Work Of Elizabeth D By Nichole Bernier

Posted on August 31, 2012 by Coco

I read The Unfinished Work of Elizabeth D by Nichole Bernier almost as soon as it came out, after reading a book review in the Washington Post.

Here is a snippet of the review on Amazon:

Summer vacation on Great Rock Island was supposed to be a restorative time for Kate, who’d lost her close friend Elizabeth in a sudden accident. But when she inherits a trunk of Elizabeth’s journals, they reveal a woman far different than the cheerful wife and mother Kate thought she knew.

*****

Set in the anxious summer after the September 11th attacks, this story of two women—their friendship, their marriages, private ambitions and fears—considers the aspects of ourselves we show and those we conceal, and the repercussions of our choices.

I think this is a great premise for a book–who wouldn’t enjoy the guilty pleasure of reading someone else’s diary?

The book strikes a good balance between following Kate’s present and learning about Elizabeth’s past. Just like Kate rushed through her daily chores so she could get back to Elizabeth’s journals, I found myself looking forward to the end of my day, when I could read another chapter about both of them. The storyline touches on many personal and interpersonal issues, but it isn’t as heavy as the Amazon summary makes it sound.

If there is one theme I took away from this book, it is that we never really know someone else, just like we never fully expose ourselves to others. If we think someone else is judging us for our shortcomings, we probably are projecting our own issues on them, because they probably are too busy worrying about their own perceived faults to be judging us.

Do you keep a diary?

Posted in Book Reviews, Life | Tagged , , | Comments Off on Book Review: The Unfinished Work Of Elizabeth D By Nichole Bernier

Easy Chicken Pot “Pies”

Posted on August 30, 2012 by Coco

This Cooking Light recipe was a hit with my family the first time I made it, and I knew right away that it was going to be a keeper. When my son asked me to make it for one of his last meals at home before he went to college, I figured it was worth sharing.

Continue reading →

Posted in Food | Tagged , | 7 Comments