Corn is King

Static Stats for 2/26:
Running: recovery day 1.7 mile run and 2 mile walk
Sugar consumption: low
Weight: steady

I finally saw the much anticipated film King Corn. www.kingcorn.net It was great! Everyone must see this film. If I was in control of the worlds book list I would have everyone read the Omnivore's Dilemma. Being as that's impossible I've decided it would be easier to get those whom I love to watch the movie King Corn. I'm going to order it today. I can't wait for L to see it.  I'm hoping that he will become less of a carnivore. The food chain here in the US is a mess. So check the info on the website and stay away from CORN!!!

For one more week I'm scaling back on the training plan. My back is feeling better. Mostly due to taking it easy and doing yoga. I was all set for my 9 mile on Sunday only to realize that the trails in CP were covered with ice. Since I knew my back couldn't take the pounding of the pavement I only ran one short 5 mile loop. From the way my back felt the rest of the day I'm glad I didn't do the 9. It was quite depressing as I counted 9 people who passed me. Yesterday was a recovery run to see how the back and hip would feel running consecutive days. Today, I hope to get out for a regular run.

Happiness found on the Dreadmill

Static Stats:

Running: 3.5 miles (dreadmill says 13 loops does that count as circles, i guess not)

Sugar Consumption: low

Weight: Busting through the winter blues

Its a nice snowy day here in nyc. Its a rare day that I'm thankful to be outside before anyone else. Today was one of those rare days. Because I was on my way to work at the wee hours of the day, I was able experience the serenity of the city in a blanket of snow. The snow here is only pretty here for about 3minutes. By the time I got off the train near work the sidewalks were already shoveled and the street corners had turned into a black abyss invisible slush. If your a ny'er you know what I'm talking about. The first year I lived here I steped in every deep snow puddle. You know the ones that look just like the street. Those puddles in Inwood were deep and nasty!!! I hope I have finally learned to recognize those after 7 winters here. 

I really, really wanted to run in the snow in central park however my old age imposed back pain prevented me from doing so. If I fell that would probably be the end of my CM 1/2 marathon goals. Very sad I know. How old am I that I skip a marvelous run in the snow because I'm afraid I might fall? Pathetic!  The dreadmill and I are not friends. I have been successfully avoiding it this winter. In fact today was only the 3rd time I've had to resort to using it all winter.   Lucky for me because of my "injury" my run was going to be short. With the perfect playlist ready to go my short 3 miles turned into 3 miles of bliss.  In fact it was the high point of my extremely long day.  Running makes me happy and who knew that I could find that happiness on the dreadmill.   

PEOPLE this is a spin CLASS!

Static Stats:
Running: 40 min.- slow
Sugar Consumption: dangerously low
Weight: unmentionable

Let's start with yesterday's rant...I mean news. I once again did not run due to my annoying back issues. However my rant isn't about running its about spin class. I agreed to sub a spin class yesterday. I instantly was reminded of why I hate teaching spin. First off no one in class ever pays attention, women are chatting as if they are high school students in gym class and no one responds when you ask questions. I don't expect a verbal response, just raise your head up and acknowledge that I am speaking. How a room full of 25 people can be so unresponsive is beyond my comprehension. I admit by 7:00pm on a day that started at 5:00am, I'm not in the best of moods however I'm giving it my best effort to be the perky energetic instructor they expect to see. The high point of class was when a woman comes barging into class at 7:25. Yes, 25 minutes past the start. Lucky her there happened to be one vacant bike in the back row.:) I get off my bike to politely and quietly approach her to let her know that she can't come into class at that time. In classic arrogant class goer style she ignored me. I can almost understand ignoring me when I'm talking to the whole group but, when I am standing in front of your bike....now come on! When she finally acknowledged me she stated that she wasn't there to take class, but to do her own workout. PEOPLE, this is a spin CLASS!!!! What part of class don't you understand? I had no other choice then to kick her out of class. She complained, she somewhat demanded to stay but not on my time woman...your OUT!

Signs of aging

Today's static stats:

Running: 0

Sugar consumption: below average

Weight: probably great than yesterday due to L's birthday celebration

The only circles I ran today were in my head. :(  It was strangely 65 degrees, which is perfect running weather.  After much debate, I decided to skip my run today.  This is all due to my falling while attempting to ski last weekend.  My hip flexor was spastic all morning and my back is all out of sorts.  You see this is why I would rather not ski.  I would rather be able to run on warm days in February vs. sliding down a hill attempting to ski for half a day.  UGH...Ski slope you tempt me by your newness and fluffy marshmallow snow but not for long.  In time the sun will shine and your slopes will be nothing but dead grass and I will be running happily in the sunshine of the spring.  So take that ski slope!!! 

Perhaps the real reason for missing my run today is due to old age.  I fell a week ago today and every day since my back has had a different sort of pain.  For the first half of the day I was convinced my aches were from my 8 mile run... but come on give me a break...I'm not that old!  After letting this thought run circles in my head for half the day I finally concluded that I am getting old, but an 8 mile run did not cause this.   This is because when your old you don't recover from falling.  And when your old and you fall down you get injured.  I need chocolate. 

Setting my training plan free

Today's Static Stats:

Running:- 8 miles CP: one lower loop from home and one full loop (two circles for the day)

Sugar consumption: high :)

Weight: Winter weight has reached its peak

I'm currently training for the Country Music 1/2 marathon. Today was my first "long" run in three weeks. I decided to ditch the training schedule included with the entry fee. What's with all these complicated training schedules? It use to be so simple before every overweight person with legs decided to jump on the running bandwagon. Now training schedules must accommodate every jane running. Its not that I don't find it fabulous that so many people are falling in love with my first love its just that it was mine. My real complaint is that these complicated training schedules make me feel guilty for missing a workout. This led to the decision to follow my own training program for this 1/2. MY program only requires three days of running: one speed day, one easy day and one long run. Okay so I confess, I'm not one for discipline or structure so I had to come up with the easiest possible way to create a plan I might actually follow. How many times have I convinced myself that I could follow a training plan through to completion and failed? I don't know the answer to that, but no thank you active.com. Not this time. I don't need your free training plan.

Here is the real truth I want to PR. Ten weeks will reveal everything. :)