Wow it was a nice run today, I think this was because I slacked on Tuesday and mostly walked because my legs were tired from the race. Not that I was running fast or even really pushing myself at the race, but just because there were more hills than I was used to.
It's pretty cool these mornings (today it was 50ish), and this morning was also windy, so it was a little worse than it has been, I wore long sleeves.
So I have a question for you cold weather runners (I'm looking to you - people from Vermont and Connecticut!) when do you pull out winter gear?
And what does your winter arsenal look like? And how do you know what to put on and when? Is it all trial and error?
You see the last time I took up running I lived in Florida. If it was chilly, I'd just wait until the afternoon to run.
And also - it is dark out there when I go running now (I run where there is little traffic so I don't have to worry about that)... but does anyone switch their running to lunch time? I'm concerned once my human alarm clock (aka Harland) leaves that I'll not want to get up in the dark anymore.
Thursday, September 25, 2008
Sunday, September 21, 2008
Race Update
I posted my race info below (if you haven't gotten there yet) and click here for the article from the Washington Running Report.
I forgot to tell you that we had a new type of time measuring device. Rather than those heavy chips that you have to return, they have a new ChronoTrack(click here for image) which is a light paper loop, kinda like a hospital bracelet. It starts off as a paper strip on your bib, you peel it off and put it in your shoe laces. It makes a "D" shape with the round loop facing up. There is a small chip in it, but you can't feel the weight of it on your shoe at all, and it doesn't flop around.
I hope more races go to this kind of system. It's worry-free! You don't have to worry about taking it off your shoe and remembering to return it to the bin, or worrying about what if yours gets lost somehow because you'll have to pay to replace it.
I forgot to tell you that we had a new type of time measuring device. Rather than those heavy chips that you have to return, they have a new ChronoTrack(click here for image) which is a light paper loop, kinda like a hospital bracelet. It starts off as a paper strip on your bib, you peel it off and put it in your shoe laces. It makes a "D" shape with the round loop facing up. There is a small chip in it, but you can't feel the weight of it on your shoe at all, and it doesn't flop around.
I hope more races go to this kind of system. It's worry-free! You don't have to worry about taking it off your shoe and remembering to return it to the bin, or worrying about what if yours gets lost somehow because you'll have to pay to replace it.
Saturday, September 20, 2008
Navy Federal Credit Union 5K
Well we ran the 5K this AM! It was chilly! 53 degrees at 9am at the start! Yikes - Hello Fall, you're a few days early!!
We both beat our goals by a few mere seconds... but that is what matters, right?!
Harland's goal was to be 19 minutes and he did! Harland came in 2nd in his age group (actually he tied for 1st time-wise, I'm not sure what they use the tie breaker, I'm assuming it went alphabetical by last name since the other dude's last name was Bui and if you look at the official list Bui came in 7th overall and Harland came in 5th overall...) But who really wants a trophy to collect dust anyway? Harland is happy with his 18:46 chip time and a $25 gift certificate to Famous Dave's BBQ. We haven't been there, so it will be a nice evening out one night. He's also listed as one of the Men's leaders on the main page! Click here to see how wonderful he did!! Really, I'm gushing, I'm so proud of my dear hubby!!!
And in less speedy news, I beat my old running times. Here is the link if you forgot about them. I beat my time of 40 minutes - which I admit doesn't seem like much to the average person who runs a 10 minute mile. I had a side stitch at mile 2 and had to walk a few minutes, so I really think I could do better. (I usually don't eat before I run but I talked myself into eating a half a banana an hour before the race, I guess I'll have to work on that). I made it at 39:43 chip time. Which is 24 seconds faster than my older official time! I still have it in my head my fastest time was 36:35, but that could have been an unofficial course and actually shorter than a real 5K. A girl needs goals in her life so that is the time to beat in my next 5K.
The race itself was pretty good - they say there were over 500 runners/walkers. Running strollers are allowed and kids are also allowed so it is a great family race. There is also a lot of random drawings for fun items (I won some coffee) and they had granola bars, bagels, bananas, gatorade, donuts and bread for snacks afterward. The t-shirt is yellow and very pretty (and way too big, I got a Large and H. got a medium and they're both huge on us. I figured I might need a large as runners are kinda small, but I tell you this looks like an XL. I think I may end up snagging his medium, hee hee). There were also prizes for people whose 1st race it was, and prizes for kids. So it was pretty fun for a local race!! Come visit me next Sept. and we'll run it.
The only sad part might be that H. didn't see me finish! Oh well. I did a little sprint at the end and passed like 10 people - haha!
So that was the race. I hope to schedule another one!
We both beat our goals by a few mere seconds... but that is what matters, right?!
Harland's goal was to be 19 minutes and he did! Harland came in 2nd in his age group (actually he tied for 1st time-wise, I'm not sure what they use the tie breaker, I'm assuming it went alphabetical by last name since the other dude's last name was Bui and if you look at the official list Bui came in 7th overall and Harland came in 5th overall...) But who really wants a trophy to collect dust anyway? Harland is happy with his 18:46 chip time and a $25 gift certificate to Famous Dave's BBQ. We haven't been there, so it will be a nice evening out one night. He's also listed as one of the Men's leaders on the main page! Click here to see how wonderful he did!! Really, I'm gushing, I'm so proud of my dear hubby!!!
And in less speedy news, I beat my old running times. Here is the link if you forgot about them. I beat my time of 40 minutes - which I admit doesn't seem like much to the average person who runs a 10 minute mile. I had a side stitch at mile 2 and had to walk a few minutes, so I really think I could do better. (I usually don't eat before I run but I talked myself into eating a half a banana an hour before the race, I guess I'll have to work on that). I made it at 39:43 chip time. Which is 24 seconds faster than my older official time! I still have it in my head my fastest time was 36:35, but that could have been an unofficial course and actually shorter than a real 5K. A girl needs goals in her life so that is the time to beat in my next 5K.
The race itself was pretty good - they say there were over 500 runners/walkers. Running strollers are allowed and kids are also allowed so it is a great family race. There is also a lot of random drawings for fun items (I won some coffee) and they had granola bars, bagels, bananas, gatorade, donuts and bread for snacks afterward. The t-shirt is yellow and very pretty (and way too big, I got a Large and H. got a medium and they're both huge on us. I figured I might need a large as runners are kinda small, but I tell you this looks like an XL. I think I may end up snagging his medium, hee hee). There were also prizes for people whose 1st race it was, and prizes for kids. So it was pretty fun for a local race!! Come visit me next Sept. and we'll run it.
The only sad part might be that H. didn't see me finish! Oh well. I did a little sprint at the end and passed like 10 people - haha!
So that was the race. I hope to schedule another one!
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
MetroMantis and other super stories
Well actually that post title makes this sound perhaps a little more exciting than what it contains...
My parents came to visit for the weekend. This was exciting because they haven't visited me since I moved here! Sadly, I still had a bad cold which made me pretty sleepy on Saturday. Sunday I felt better and we went to DC to the Air and Space Museum.
This second picture is kinda cool, because the background is really a video where planes are taking off of the mock Carrier you're in.
We also went to the national museum of the American Indian. We only got to see one level because it closes at 5:30pm and we had spent so much time in the Air and Space museum.
Here is a picture outside of the museum!
Finally I have a riddle for you. How does the Praying Mantis get from New Carrolton to Vienna?
Why he takes the Orange Line Metro Train!
My parents came to visit for the weekend. This was exciting because they haven't visited me since I moved here! Sadly, I still had a bad cold which made me pretty sleepy on Saturday. Sunday I felt better and we went to DC to the Air and Space Museum.
This second picture is kinda cool, because the background is really a video where planes are taking off of the mock Carrier you're in.
We also went to the national museum of the American Indian. We only got to see one level because it closes at 5:30pm and we had spent so much time in the Air and Space museum.
Here is a picture outside of the museum!
Finally I have a riddle for you. How does the Praying Mantis get from New Carrolton to Vienna?
Why he takes the Orange Line Metro Train!
Tuesday, September 09, 2008
Running Update
Okay - less than two weeks til my 5K!!!
But bigger news is that my friend, Waverly, from work and I have signed up for a half marathon in March!!
March 22 is the big day.
If anyone wants to join us... click on the link!
Shamrock Half-Marathon
A big plus - my favorite beer is being served afterward! (The Irish Stew is maybe less exciting to me).
But bigger news is that my friend, Waverly, from work and I have signed up for a half marathon in March!!
March 22 is the big day.
If anyone wants to join us... click on the link!
Shamrock Half-Marathon
A big plus - my favorite beer is being served afterward! (The Irish Stew is maybe less exciting to me).
Last Pittsburgh Pics
Well here are the last of my Pittsburgh pictures. We made sure to stop in at the Famous Primanti Brothers Sandwich place (the original one) after we went to the Incline. I have to say that the sandwiches were really really good. H. had the "Pittsburgher" which was like a chopped steak with cheese. I had the egg and cheese. The deal is no matter what you order they throw french fries and coleslaw on top in between slices of lovely thick french bread. It sounds really terrible, but it is really rather good. The coleslaw is the non-mayo kind.
It was a huge sandwich though. I was amazed at the people who were eating the sandwiches with chili fries on the side. They must run in the amateur food eating contest brackets or something. And we washed it down with a local specialty - Iron City Light - or "I.C. Light".
I don't have any pictures from our eating experience but here are some from the incline.
It was a huge sandwich though. I was amazed at the people who were eating the sandwiches with chili fries on the side. They must run in the amateur food eating contest brackets or something. And we washed it down with a local specialty - Iron City Light - or "I.C. Light".
I don't have any pictures from our eating experience but here are some from the incline.
Saturday, September 06, 2008
Fallingwater
One of the main reasons we went to the Pittsburgh area is because I've wanted to go see Fallingwater for years and years. It is on my must do list. I don't know if you heard about the guy who co-authored the book "100 things to do before you die" passed away last week (he only got about 50 done, poor guy), so I think he would appreciate me crossing something off my own list. I decided on the day he died to make up my own list of things I wanted to do. I'm not making all of mine travel destinations... because, well, that is too expensive. It sounds really simple to do, but it it taking me a while to come up with 100. When I get the list done I intend to post it on my blog. I'm including a few things I have done that I wanted to do since I was little, like see Fallingwater and the Grand Canyon. Otherwise I might never get many crossed off my list! Hahaha.
Anyway, The pictures of Fallingwater do not do it justice. It is a remarkable building and touring the inside is amazing. Frank Llyod Wright was just a genius with little details. But we didn't pony up the extra cash to take a tour that you can take photos on the inside. Even the regular tour that we took was about 1 hour or 1.5 hours (I couldn't keep track).
Anyway, I'm going to stop chit chatting and give you what you want - the photos!! I took roughly 1 billion photos, but here are some of the best ones.
Anyway, The pictures of Fallingwater do not do it justice. It is a remarkable building and touring the inside is amazing. Frank Llyod Wright was just a genius with little details. But we didn't pony up the extra cash to take a tour that you can take photos on the inside. Even the regular tour that we took was about 1 hour or 1.5 hours (I couldn't keep track).
Anyway, I'm going to stop chit chatting and give you what you want - the photos!! I took roughly 1 billion photos, but here are some of the best ones.
Thursday, September 04, 2008
Let's go Bucs!
Okay for some reason, Pirates fans do not yell "Let's go piiiiii-raaaates". They yell "Let's go Bucs!". It confused me for a second since I used to live in Tampa, a city that had a Buccaneers team. Where "Let's go Bucs" made a little more sense to me.
But I'm charmed by the PNC Park.
It's beautiful.
Unfortunately they lost the game by a large margin. No one likes to see the home team lose. Poor Pirates.
Anyway, Here I am getting my head crushed by a statue!
And here is the view of our hotel (that building with a hole in the middle) From across the bridge. As a place to stay to see a game, it was excellent. Literally all you do is walk out the door and cross the bridge and you are there!! Very nice.
The evening was perfect for a ball game. Nice and cool with a soft breeze off the rivers.
Also the boats going by makes for interesting viewing no matter what your team is doing on the field.
*****BLOG NEWS UPDATE*****
And in Breaking Blog News I have very interesting news about my spider from the other week. My friend Tricia told me it is a WOLF SPIDER. And those ugly bumps? They're the way the spider takes care of its young! Each bump is a baby spider! Eww!!! Just thought you needed to know.
But I'm charmed by the PNC Park.
It's beautiful.
Unfortunately they lost the game by a large margin. No one likes to see the home team lose. Poor Pirates.
Anyway, Here I am getting my head crushed by a statue!
And here is the view of our hotel (that building with a hole in the middle) From across the bridge. As a place to stay to see a game, it was excellent. Literally all you do is walk out the door and cross the bridge and you are there!! Very nice.
The evening was perfect for a ball game. Nice and cool with a soft breeze off the rivers.
Also the boats going by makes for interesting viewing no matter what your team is doing on the field.
*****BLOG NEWS UPDATE*****
And in Breaking Blog News I have very interesting news about my spider from the other week. My friend Tricia told me it is a WOLF SPIDER. And those ugly bumps? They're the way the spider takes care of its young! Each bump is a baby spider! Eww!!! Just thought you needed to know.
Wednesday, September 03, 2008
Tuesday, September 02, 2008
Day 1 - Point State Park
(Remember - you can click on the underlined words to be taken to the websites, and click on the pictures to see a bigger picture).
Okay, so after our long drive to PA (made longer by PA road construction, when will I ever learn?) when we woke up the next morning I ran over to Point State Park. It's currently being renovated and the sections that have been redone are very nice.
After that and getting some food at Atria's we went to the Andy Warhol Museum. The museum is really nice, although they make Andy Warhol out to be an artist and a businessman, and make him seem rather normal. There is no photography there so I don't have any pictures. After that I was telling Harland about the park and so we headed back there to walk around.
The park is also the area where Fort Pitt was and there is still one original building, the Blockhouse. Here is another website about the Park - one that has some info about the Fort.
This is a picture of the Blockhouse, and one taken inside.
Here is the famous fountain.
The park is located on the point where the three rivers meet. You can see one of the Inclines from there.
You can also see Heinz field. There was a Pitt Football game going on the day we were there.
And here are some pictures of us. (gotta throw those in there).
Tomorrow I'll show you what we did that night- we took in a baseball game. I had a great time and I'll tell you more about it. But now it is time to get ready for bed!
Okay, so after our long drive to PA (made longer by PA road construction, when will I ever learn?) when we woke up the next morning I ran over to Point State Park. It's currently being renovated and the sections that have been redone are very nice.
After that and getting some food at Atria's we went to the Andy Warhol Museum. The museum is really nice, although they make Andy Warhol out to be an artist and a businessman, and make him seem rather normal. There is no photography there so I don't have any pictures. After that I was telling Harland about the park and so we headed back there to walk around.
The park is also the area where Fort Pitt was and there is still one original building, the Blockhouse. Here is another website about the Park - one that has some info about the Fort.
This is a picture of the Blockhouse, and one taken inside.
Here is the famous fountain.
The park is located on the point where the three rivers meet. You can see one of the Inclines from there.
You can also see Heinz field. There was a Pitt Football game going on the day we were there.
And here are some pictures of us. (gotta throw those in there).
Tomorrow I'll show you what we did that night- we took in a baseball game. I had a great time and I'll tell you more about it. But now it is time to get ready for bed!
Monday, September 01, 2008
Pittsburgh 'n' Pie
H. and I took a roadtrip to Pittsburgh this weekend and we did a lot of fun things. I'll make sure to post about the trip starting tomorrow, as I'm too tired to get all the pictures together with words that make sense. :)
But right when we came home I realized we had no desert (as we were away and did no shopping) but luckily I had some cherries (tart cherries which I can not find in the grocery stores around here) from my Mom. She froze a few batches for me (in convenient 4 cups packages, perfect for pie) from their backyard tree.
So here is the pie... and a close-up of my decoration. Please do not point out that I mis-wove my lattice and one piece is wrong. I know. I just couldn't fix it because of the hot pie filling. So while I had enough energy to make pie, now my energy is gone and I have to go fold and put away my laundry. But I promise to show you lots of Pittsburgh pictures during the week.
But right when we came home I realized we had no desert (as we were away and did no shopping) but luckily I had some cherries (tart cherries which I can not find in the grocery stores around here) from my Mom. She froze a few batches for me (in convenient 4 cups packages, perfect for pie) from their backyard tree.
So here is the pie... and a close-up of my decoration. Please do not point out that I mis-wove my lattice and one piece is wrong. I know. I just couldn't fix it because of the hot pie filling. So while I had enough energy to make pie, now my energy is gone and I have to go fold and put away my laundry. But I promise to show you lots of Pittsburgh pictures during the week.
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