Yesterday we went to some friend's house for a BBQ. We had a good time even though much of our conversation was "right up there" with what 12 year old boys would talk about. I wonder what the neighbors thought about grown adults talking about the things we discussed. It might have cemented the thought in their minds that those who are not Mormon are doomed - ha! ha! You know you just can't get a couple of runners together without the mention of body functions (and dysfunctions). We're just so earthy . . .
Anyway, Laura thought I would blog about my remorse for eating too many brownies (3) and too much potato salad (since I made it and it tasted good to me how I could I not have extra?). But, I am not going to blog about that. Instead I am going to talk about something I wanted to mention before and kept forgetting to talk about . . . stinky running clothes.
I finally had to break down and buy a sports wash detergent. Actually, I had to buy a second bottle since the first one was almost gone and decided to chose a different brand so I could compare them. Here are my findings:
FIT - This was the first one I tried. First of all I had to get over the cost of it because it is more expensive than my Costco sized Tide. But, it did work and did what it said it would do. It got rid of the stink. Before I used this, when I opened the washer after washing a load of running clothes, I could still smell the funk. After using the FIT detergent, the odor was gone. I bought it at Sport's Authority for around $6.99
Penguin Sports Wash - This was the second one I purchased so it is compared against the FIT. The purchase price was about the same but since you get more washes from it, it's actually cheaper. It's "HE" too. Plus, I bought it at the local Kroger store (Smith's), so it was more convenient to purchase. This detergent made the same promises as the FIT but also said how it restored technical fabrics and left them softer. I was interested in that since the other detergent did seem to leave the clothing less soft (since fabric softener is not used on these fabrics). Softness can be an issue on a long run where seams can cut into flesh. This detergent also said it restored the wicking properties to the same as when the garment was new.
THE RESULTS: I liked the Penguin Sports Wash better. The load of wash has no scent at all and the fabrics did feel softer. I will stay with this product.
Sunday, July 05, 2009
Saturday, July 04, 2009
156.2 - Happy 4th of July!
How I dropped from 157 yesterday to 156.2, after eating potato salad, is a mystery. Of course, I did do a tough 6.3 mile hill workout yesterday so maybe that burned off the calories from the potato salad. This morning we did some intervals at the track but that isn't enough to burn off the potato salad I'll eat today. But, today will be the last day to eat potato salad. After all, all good things must come to an end (although I'm not sure why).
I'm wondering why we have the technology to do so many things and yet we cannot make good tasting foods that are low in calories. Why can't we have delicious tasting potato salad at only 50 calories per serving? Why can't we have delicious chocolate at 10 calories per bar? I suppose there are more important things for the world's scientists to be working on but this is our food supply after all. Oh well . . .
I'm getting excited as my hair appointment creeps closer and closer, now less than 2 weeks away. I am sure by the time I find myself in Katie's chair I will sob with joy. But the down side of this count down is that I have a gynecologist appointment next week, days before the hair appointment. Of course I'm dreading that. There was a comedian once that talked about the dreaded gyno visit and said they should just do them at a drive through window. You just drive up with a bag over your head, 1-2-3 you're done, and you pull away from the window. The idea is partially good (the bag over head part). The more anonymity the better. I just hate those appointments. As soon as the day comes when my gynecologist says I need to get off the hormones, that's also the last time I'll hear, "scoot a bit closer to the edge". Because there's no way I'm continuing those visits without a hormonal pay off. (Why the hell do we need all our business on the edge of the damn table anyway?) OK, don't get me started. Ugh!
Anyway . . . having done the interval work this morning, I'm planning to spend some quality time at the piano, then go to a BBQ. And on that note, I hope everyone has a great holiday weekend!
I'm wondering why we have the technology to do so many things and yet we cannot make good tasting foods that are low in calories. Why can't we have delicious tasting potato salad at only 50 calories per serving? Why can't we have delicious chocolate at 10 calories per bar? I suppose there are more important things for the world's scientists to be working on but this is our food supply after all. Oh well . . .
I'm getting excited as my hair appointment creeps closer and closer, now less than 2 weeks away. I am sure by the time I find myself in Katie's chair I will sob with joy. But the down side of this count down is that I have a gynecologist appointment next week, days before the hair appointment. Of course I'm dreading that. There was a comedian once that talked about the dreaded gyno visit and said they should just do them at a drive through window. You just drive up with a bag over your head, 1-2-3 you're done, and you pull away from the window. The idea is partially good (the bag over head part). The more anonymity the better. I just hate those appointments. As soon as the day comes when my gynecologist says I need to get off the hormones, that's also the last time I'll hear, "scoot a bit closer to the edge". Because there's no way I'm continuing those visits without a hormonal pay off. (Why the hell do we need all our business on the edge of the damn table anyway?) OK, don't get me started. Ugh!
Anyway . . . having done the interval work this morning, I'm planning to spend some quality time at the piano, then go to a BBQ. And on that note, I hope everyone has a great holiday weekend!
Thursday, July 02, 2009
Show Me The Money
I guess the report came out yesterday that the obesity rate in this country is one in four adults. Wow - that is shocking, especially when you realize they're talking about obesity, not just being over weight. But after a trip to Walmart this morning, and I know I've said this before, I am surprised it's not worse. I saw three women in scooters and none of them I would bet was under 350 pounds. They were carrying around so much weight that you typically just don't see someone that obese in the stores, much less three together. They were all together too, in a scooter caravan, so maybe it was some sort of organization.
Something has to change. I mean I've been really, really fat before and one day I looked at myself and said "Damn, I'm fat. Something has to change". The time has come for more people to do that and then follow through with whatever it takes to get healthy.
But I didn't intend to post about obese people today. It was just so "in my face" that I couldn't help mentioning it.
I may have mentioned that Carly has a birthday coming up. The big 2! So after trying to figure out what to buy her for her birthday, and reflecting about all the money we spent on her brother for his birthday presents which I am sure he doesn't even play with or remember, we made a decision. We are going to be the $$$ grandparents. Yep, we're opening the savings accounts (we should have done that by now anyway) and for these occasions there will be deposits made into the accounts. When they turn 21, they will gain access to the accounts. In a few years we'll even take them to the credit union, and help (force) them to make the deposit and watch their money grow.
We buy them things throughout the year if they need something. Like Jackson needed a bigger bike a couple months ago and we bought him one. So we're not stingy, but we're not going to waste any more money on toys that all too soon will be broken or laid aside. One day they will be grateful. And in the meantime, maybe they'll learn to be savers instead of spenders. Come to think about it, maybe it's a lesson that applies to a lot more than money (maybe even to those people who need the scooters). Delayed gratification . . . can make us more healthy in a physical sense as well as a fiscal sense.
Something has to change. I mean I've been really, really fat before and one day I looked at myself and said "Damn, I'm fat. Something has to change". The time has come for more people to do that and then follow through with whatever it takes to get healthy.
But I didn't intend to post about obese people today. It was just so "in my face" that I couldn't help mentioning it.
I may have mentioned that Carly has a birthday coming up. The big 2! So after trying to figure out what to buy her for her birthday, and reflecting about all the money we spent on her brother for his birthday presents which I am sure he doesn't even play with or remember, we made a decision. We are going to be the $$$ grandparents. Yep, we're opening the savings accounts (we should have done that by now anyway) and for these occasions there will be deposits made into the accounts. When they turn 21, they will gain access to the accounts. In a few years we'll even take them to the credit union, and help (force) them to make the deposit and watch their money grow.
We buy them things throughout the year if they need something. Like Jackson needed a bigger bike a couple months ago and we bought him one. So we're not stingy, but we're not going to waste any more money on toys that all too soon will be broken or laid aside. One day they will be grateful. And in the meantime, maybe they'll learn to be savers instead of spenders. Come to think about it, maybe it's a lesson that applies to a lot more than money (maybe even to those people who need the scooters). Delayed gratification . . . can make us more healthy in a physical sense as well as a fiscal sense.
Wednesday, July 01, 2009
Muggy Run
We went for a 5 miler this morning. It was warm and rather muggy. Humidity isn't something we see often around here so our "tolerance" is really low. I keep reminding myself that it was much worse in Hawaii. While I was running I was thinking about Jinxy and Jen who run in humid states, and I felt sorry for them. Ladies, you have no idea how much harder it is to run in humidity!
We're going to do our interval work later in the week. I think it was a mistake doing it on Wednesdays because really, my legs aren't totally recovered from the Monday long run. Then I run 5 miles in the morning and was hitting the track in the evening. It felt much better last week when I hit the track with fresher legs. Duh! Why are these things so clear in hindsight?
Tonight is our last ball game for a few days. I think the garlic fries they have this year are different because I can't even smell them. In the past, the smell of them was thick throughout the whole stadium. Good thing, less temptation. So far I've resisted eating anything there (except for what I take "on plan") with the exception of Monday night. Since it was the day of the long run I figured if there ever was a "safe time" to have something, that was it. So I ended up eating half a pretzel and sharing half a bag of peanuts. I'm sure the calories were way too high but I thought I handled it pretty good. Last night I didn't have anything because that is one habit I do not want to start! With as many more ball games as we have for the rest of the season, that can easily add up to a lot of pounds. I can't help but wonder if the other season ticket holders I see around me, who do eat the junk food every time, think about that. I'm thinking the answer to that is no.
We're going to do our interval work later in the week. I think it was a mistake doing it on Wednesdays because really, my legs aren't totally recovered from the Monday long run. Then I run 5 miles in the morning and was hitting the track in the evening. It felt much better last week when I hit the track with fresher legs. Duh! Why are these things so clear in hindsight?
Tonight is our last ball game for a few days. I think the garlic fries they have this year are different because I can't even smell them. In the past, the smell of them was thick throughout the whole stadium. Good thing, less temptation. So far I've resisted eating anything there (except for what I take "on plan") with the exception of Monday night. Since it was the day of the long run I figured if there ever was a "safe time" to have something, that was it. So I ended up eating half a pretzel and sharing half a bag of peanuts. I'm sure the calories were way too high but I thought I handled it pretty good. Last night I didn't have anything because that is one habit I do not want to start! With as many more ball games as we have for the rest of the season, that can easily add up to a lot of pounds. I can't help but wonder if the other season ticket holders I see around me, who do eat the junk food every time, think about that. I'm thinking the answer to that is no.
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
New Shirt
This is the shirt my BFF Ellen surprised me with. See, I told you my hair was looking bad!
Monday, June 29, 2009
Gotta Run
This baseball schedule sure does have us busy these past few days. We're on a 5 game series stretch so our evenings have been tied up.
This morning, we got up extra early to go for our long run. You know the days are getting warm when I'm setting the alarm clock to get up and run! I'm glad we got out early, even earlier would have been better though. As we headed up the 2600 North hill, we encountered the morning hurricane force winds. I'd forgotten how hard the wind blows in the early morning in this area (east of 1050). In the past it has blown so hard that it took my breath away. At one point it almost stopped me from moving forward when I hit the wind wall. Once we got to the top and went north on Mountain Road, we were actually running tipped to the side, trying to maintain balance in the strong wind. We only have to go about half a mile though (in the opposite direction) and we're totally out of the wind. We don't encounter it again until we reach the mouth of the canyon and then it's very subdued by then. Of course, it has warmed up by then so we're happy with any wind movement we can get.
I ran 14 miles and my time FINALLY improved. I was surprised since warm running usually slows a person down. I didn't think I stood a shot at a better time so when we finished and I checked my GPS and saw a 15 second improvement, I was pleased.
Then this afternoon I got a surprise in the mail. My BFF Ellen sent me a "life is good" shirt that says: Gotta Run (with a pair of running shoes). As soon as I wash it I'll post a picture. It was perfect, suits me to a tee. Thank you Ellen!
Like I said, we have another ballgame. So for now . . . Gotta Run!
This morning, we got up extra early to go for our long run. You know the days are getting warm when I'm setting the alarm clock to get up and run! I'm glad we got out early, even earlier would have been better though. As we headed up the 2600 North hill, we encountered the morning hurricane force winds. I'd forgotten how hard the wind blows in the early morning in this area (east of 1050). In the past it has blown so hard that it took my breath away. At one point it almost stopped me from moving forward when I hit the wind wall. Once we got to the top and went north on Mountain Road, we were actually running tipped to the side, trying to maintain balance in the strong wind. We only have to go about half a mile though (in the opposite direction) and we're totally out of the wind. We don't encounter it again until we reach the mouth of the canyon and then it's very subdued by then. Of course, it has warmed up by then so we're happy with any wind movement we can get.
I ran 14 miles and my time FINALLY improved. I was surprised since warm running usually slows a person down. I didn't think I stood a shot at a better time so when we finished and I checked my GPS and saw a 15 second improvement, I was pleased.
Then this afternoon I got a surprise in the mail. My BFF Ellen sent me a "life is good" shirt that says: Gotta Run (with a pair of running shoes). As soon as I wash it I'll post a picture. It was perfect, suits me to a tee. Thank you Ellen!
Like I said, we have another ballgame. So for now . . . Gotta Run!
Sunday, June 28, 2009
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