Week 1 ~ Redux

Let's see... what did I say in my last post?? "I feel capable of progressing a little faster. And, I'm impatient." What a crock! What was I thinking?

I started Week 2 on Monday with a 2 minute run. After three times, I cut back to 1 minute runs. I couldn't catch my breath. Even 15 minutes into it and cutting back to 1 minute, I was still breathing really, really hard and I was very tired. However, what I discovered was that I was dehydrated. I was a little thirsty before I started my run/walk and I drank about 1/2 of 16 oz. bottle of water. By the time I finished the 30 minutes, I was very thirsty and drank another 16 oz. of water. I drank another 4 bottles during the day. I've been focusing more on water intake since Monday and I am feeling better.

So, back to Week 1.

Tuesday was a rest day and I did not do Wednesday because I was in bed with a pulled muscle in my back. I did Wednesday's run/walk today. It was hard, but it was do-able. I felt like my runs were almost as strong at the end of the 30 minutes as they were at the beginning. But, I was definitely NOT ready to run 2 minutes yet. I hope I am feeling more confident at the end of the week.

And the beat goes on

I am stressing about the "flip" house right now. We knew that the heat/air pump needed repair and we estimated about $500 to have it done. Tom just called. The compressor is shot and it will cost about $2000 to replace it. That is assuming it can be replaced. We probably will have to get a whole new package, the cost of which will be revealed this afternoon when the "other guy" comes to look at the compressor to see if they can get one. The unit is about 14 years old and parts may not be available. Great. It is time to start trimming the budget elsewhere, which means that I will probably be painting the kitchen cabinets instead of replacing them with new ones. It is such tedious work and I don't look forward to it.


In the meantime, I have added my 8-week running program schedule to the sidebar with the hopes that it will help me stay motivated, which I am definitely not right now. I am just so damn tired.


I did not do really well last week. I only ran 3 days out of the 4 and I didn't walk any of the days. The one minute run was hard and I am looking at this week when I have to run 3 minutes and I just don't know how I am going to be able to do it. It seems insurmountable right now.


I didn't run this morning while it was cooler, so I have to go this evening before dinner. It will still be hot. I'm not looking forward to it.


And, my right foot hurts. That's the foot that I injured last summer and tore the ligaments. It still hurts sometimes. The left foot that I injured at the same time (a broken bone) healed fine and I don't have any problems with it at all. Not so with the right foot. It still hurts pretty often. It doesn't keep me from running or walking, it just aches. I guess I will try the shoe inserts again.

Some Things Friday for June 15, 2007

I don't know where to begin except to say that I can't believe it is Friday already.
I woke up exhausted this morning because for the third time this week, the young woman (read: newly graduated from high school, no job, no responsibilities, regular party girl) who lives across the street from us, took her partying to her front yard. Last night at 3:00 a.m. we were relieved of our sweet slumber by her arrival home ~ obviously from a party of some sorts ~ and her very loud, very drunk conversations and laughter with her companion/driver.

This past Monday and Tuesday her partying was confined to her house along with a few hundred of her closest friends... I remind you that she lives across the street and our bedroom is at the front of our house.

Monday night. You know the picture ~ cars parked up and down the street, cars coming and going, loud car stereos, kids coming and going, loud conversations, revving car engines. Midnight, 1:00 a.m., 2:00 a.m., 3:00 a.m. ~ whew, it's finally over. Then the next morning, beer cans and trash up and down the street.

Tuesday night. It started early. Cars up and down the street before dark. At midnight, Tom got out of bed and went over to the neighbors house. This was the second time in less than a month that he'd gone over during the party to talk to the parents. They are always apologetic,

THE PARENTS: We assure you this isn't a regular occurrence
TOM: It's getting to be a regular occurrence
THE PARENTS: The kids have just graduated from high school, you know
TOM: So we all have to suffer?
THE PARENTS: We'll keep it down
TOM: I don't want you to keep it down, I want it to stop
THE PARENTS: We are really sorry!

Then it takes them over an hour to empty out the house and street, along with much loud, drunk conversations, revving engines, etc, etc, etc. But, the parents did make one improvement: they put a trash can out in front of their house for the underage drinkers ~ and now, drivers ~ to dispose of their beer cans.

Tom and I have agreed that we will call the police next time. He will talk to the neighbors this afternoon to let them know our next course of action. Since we live in a circle with only two entrances, the police can post officers at the ends of each exit and stack up underage drunk or drinking drivers like cards.

So, yes, I am cranky this morning and have very little good to say about anything, but I will try to behave. So, here we go...

Some Things I Love:

1. Mike's Place for my birthday dinner last night. Did I overindulge? I'm afraid I did, but I didn't have dessert, so it balances out: The Appetizer ~ Fried Calamari (perfectly tender and not rubbery) with Remoulade Sauce. Dinner (no salad, please) ~ Two Softshell Crabs with Bernaise Sauce on the side, Cajun Mashed Potatoes and Tender-Crisp Broccoli ~ Beringer Founders Reserve Merlot. Heaven, I'm in heaven...

2. For my birthday, Tom gave me two bottles of perfume. One fragrance, Gio, that I wear mostly in the summer and another new fragrance by Burberry. He also gave me 4 adirondack chairs that I can paint any color I want! I can even paint flip-flops on them.


5. That I am up at 6:30 a.m. this morning , no matter what happened the night before, and that little b***ch across the street is home in her cozy bed sleeping it off. I want to go over and bang on her door and ring the doorbell just to wake her up. Then when she's gone back to bed, I want to do it again. And again. And again. Just to give her an idea of what it feels like.

Some Things I Just Don't Get:

1. The man suing for $34 Million dollars for a pair of pants lost by the dry cleaners. You could put all my clothes together and they still wouldn't be worth the price of that pair of pants. Seriously, who does this guy think he's kidding?

2. Zero is the new size 6. They didn't even make Zero back in the day! Do you know what Zero means? Nothing... it literally means "nothing." Who would want to strive to be nothing?

3. The new series, John from Cincinatti. I tried to watch it. I really did. But I could not even make it through the first episode. I believe this is going to be another Seinfeld for me. Everyone will love it and will be devoted to it. I just won't ever get it.

4. Paris Hilton's whining. She said to Barbara Walters in her jailhouse interview, "my skin is so dry, there's no cream here, but it doesn't matter, I'm not that superficial a girl." Oh, of course you're not! We believe you!... Yeah, right.

5. What made Scooter Libby think he could get out of going to jail? Let's see, would you or I have that opportunity? Would the judge say, "Sure, stay out of jail while you appeal your conviction, no matter how long it takes."? No, I don't think so. Hey, Scooter. March your ass to jail just like the rest of us would have to do. YOU sit in jail while your attorney makes his appeal case on your behalf. That is how it is done in the real world. Welcome to it.

Did I Mention I Haven't Been Running???

Well, I did this morning, but I changed training programs. I decided to use the Runner's World 8-Week Beginning Runner's Program.

I started out with the Couch-to-5K program. I like it and I did pretty well two years ago on the program, but it progresses too slowly for me. I feel capable of progressing a little faster. And, I'm impatient.

So, I started the Runner's World Program this morning. I drove down to the Tucker Creek Walking Park about 3 minutes from my house and, with timer in hand, I began Week Two (run 2 minutes/walk 1 minutes for 10 times). After the first 2 minutes, it became clear I was not in any shape for Week Two, so I cut back to Week One ( run 1 min/walk 2 min. for 10 times) and finished the first day's plan. Despite my minor little set-back, I enjoyed the workout. I was tired, sweating profusely, but I felt good.

I'm going to have to do something about the sweat, though. About half way through, I am really sweating. That part is okay. What is not okay is that it drips in my eyes and stings and I can't see. Using my shirt was my only alternative this morning, but I'm not particularly fond of lifting my shirt up and exposing my protruding, white belly to wipe my eyes. I'm 60, chunky and it's not pretty. I think I'll try a sweatband next time.

I haven't lost any more weight, but I haven't gained any either. That's a good thing. It would be better to have lost a pound, but I'll take staying the same over gaining back weight any day.

I have been looking for other beginning runner blogs to find some inspiration. So far I haven't been able to find any real beginners. I don't consider running 20 to 30 miles a week a real beginner and that seems to be the only thing out there. I want to relate to that... I really do, but I just don't. I'm not there yet.

I Like Food...

All kinds of food. I collect cookbooks and recipes.

This recipe is for a carrot condiment that was served with our chips and salsa at a Mexican restaurant in Oceanside, CA called Anita's. They wouldn't give me the recipe, so I had to keep trying until I got it right and I finally did. Try it and tell me what you think.

Marinated Carrots

2 bunches fresh carrots, peeled and cut into 1 inch pieces OR 1 large bag of the prepared baby carrots
1 large sweet onion, peeled, separated and cut into 1 inch squares
3 ribs of celery, cut into 1 inch pieces
1-1/2 cups cider vinegar
3 cups vegetable or canola oil
1/4 cup sugar (I have also used Splenda and it works just fine, too)
2 teaspoons Kosher salt
2 teaspoons coarse ground pepper
3 teaspoons dried oregano leaves
1/4 to 1/2 cup marinated jalepeno peppers (marinated in vinegar)
2 tablespoons of the jalepeno vinegar (from the jar)

In a large pot, steam the carrot pieces or baby carrots for 6 minutes. You want them to remain fairly crunchy. Remove from heat and allow to cool.

Cut the onion and celery into pieces and put in a large bowl.

Put the vinegar, oil, sugar, salt, pepper and dried oregano leaves in a blender and blend until mixed well.

Put the carrots in the bowl with the onion and celery pieces. Pour the dressing over all and stir until mixed. Add the jalepeno peppers and jalepeno vinegar. Stir well. Cover and refrigerate for at least 8 hours. They are even better after 24 hours.

Progress, Of Sorts

Yesterday was weird.

I put on a pair of cropped pants (stretchy cotton, of course) and started my day. I had shopping to do and headed for Walmart about 11:00. As I am pushing my cart around the store, I have the need to continually pull up my pants. I kept thinking, what kind of bending or stooping did I do this morning to stretch my pants so far out of shape?

By the time I got home, I put groceries away, made a pea salad for dinner and steamed the carrots for marinating (I will post those recipes). After cleaning up the kitchen, I decided to take a shower. I undressed and thought, you know, I should weigh myself. I have weighed myself in at least two weeks. I hated to get on the scale because I haven't been running and Tom and I have both relinquished the low-carb diet. When I got on the scale, I was astounded! I was at 191!! That's why my pants were slipping down all day! I am ecstatic!

Okay, I have not been running. I have a lot of excuses. I don't know if I mentioned it, but we are remodeling our house. We bought it last September knowing we'd have A LOT of work to do on the inside and outside. We didn't start working on it in earnest until about 2 months ago, which just so happens to coincide with the line of credit we secured. Anyway, workers have been here almost every day. There was exterior painting, stone work, siding, new spa and decking for the new spa. Tom laid tile in the entry way, I grouted it. Tom removed the old cabinet in the guest bath and tiled the floor. I grouted the tile and painted the bathroom. Tom installed the new cabinet and reset the toilet. I scraped the popcorn ceiling and painted it and the walls. The fabricator came last week to take the templates for the granite countertops. My house and yard looks like a construction zone! Most of the time, I can't get my car out of the garage. But the remodel is progressing quickly.

So, did I mention I haven't been running?