Event Report: Bloggers' Healthy Heart Weekend!

Hurrah!  It's finally Bloggers' Healthy Heart Weekend!

I'm ready!!! 

I think I'll go outside and do a nice...

...uh oh.  Looks like the Weather Fairies didn't get the memo. 

 Bummerooni.

 Oh, *I* know...!  This is a job for...

...Stationary Bike @ Home!

I think I'll try for a new personal "distance" record: 25 miles!

Oooo, haven't watched one of my favorite movies ever in awhile!
This should make the ride much more fun.

 

Here's the plan:
Stage 1: P8, 30 minutes, moderately hilly
Stage 2: P16, 30 minutes, not super hilly, but high resistance setting on all stages
Stage 3: P9, 30 minutes, long low hill
Stage 4: P1, 20 minutes, easy finish

Stage 1, completed 6.88 miles

Stage 2, completed 6.53 miles

At this point, was feeling a little tired, so I sucked on a tangerine-flavored lollypop

Stage 3, completed 7.39 miles

My seat bones are really feeling it now!

Stage 4, completed 5.17 miles

And it's the end of the movie, what great timing!

Grand total: 25.97 miles in 1 hour, 50 minutes!

Yeaaaayyy!!!

(Does this mean I'm ready for that ride to Pescadero?)
photo credits: Thing 2, who arrived home from baseball just in time.  
(Yes, they practice in light rain.)

How It's All Going & a Race Report!

Well, here we are in February already!  My, how time flies!

"How's it all going?"  Well, despite my giddy New Year's post, the new year not been all sunshine and rainbows and canned unicorn meat.  But there was enough good stuff to keep me feeling positive overall.  It's birthday season, so I'm sticking with the good stuff here.  

The birthday season got off to an excellent start with a trip to Portland, Oregon to visit my BFF.  Oddly, it was weather in San Francisco that delayed my flights - I waited in that airport 6 hours for my flight, and my flight home was delayed by 2 hours.  (The PDX airport, though, had this great spa, with massages!  Oh yeah!!!)  The weather was kind of damp most of the weekend, but we had a great time walking places, shopping, and dining.  We saw "Midnight in Paris" (fun!) and a great blues show.  My BFF may not have walked my butt off - when I mapped everything, we walked about 3 miles per day on average - but she sure did try!

Yeaaaay!  I made it!

The birthday girl and I toast our respective birthdays!

(My cocktail featured muddled cucumber and drinking vinegar - oddly refreshing!)

We licked more than the windows at Alma Chocolates!

The cupcake on top was mine, a nice, moist carrot cake mini-cupcake.

The pink box?  

A "Can monopolize your mom/wife for the weekend?" bribe for BFF's family. 

Race Report:  Pre-season Burn Series #1

The "Pre-season Burn Series" is a series of three 1/2-sprint distance triathlons, scheduled for the last Sundays of January, February, and March.  These events are quite possibly the cushiest triathlon format ever:  lap swimming in which everyone gets their own lane, bike on a WattBike stationary bike, and your usual run format.  They are designed to help people prepare for the triathlon racing season or to ease newbies into the sport.  For me, they provide incentive to keep from living on the couch all winter.   Having felt the triathlon embers stirring again, after a year-long hiatus, I signed up for all three events.  I thought that they would all be at College of San Mateo like last year.

Ooops.

Luckily I paid attention to the pre-race emails, and realized that I'd be making the drive down to Valley Christian High School in San Jose for the one on Sunday the 29th.  Ugh, 1 hour vs. 20 minutes.  Unfortunately, we also picked the previous night to try and camp in our back yard.  The weather had been nice, and the kids dropped off to sleep beautifully.  But then we found out that our quiet village was not so quiet: sirens screeched up & down the highway between 11:30 and 12:30, followed by a dog barking between 12:30 and 1 a.m.  That, and we got really cold.  So we dragged everyone inside, but I didn't get to sleep until 2 a.m.  That made the 6:30 wake-up pretty unappealing.  Thank goodness I didn't have an earlier wave!  I needed to be there an hour and a half before my wave, which was at 10 a.m.

Sunday dawned bright and beautiful and mild.  When I arrived at the school, I checked in and got my markings and time chip.  I then walked the run course, two loops with moderate hills (and one short staircase), totalling 1.5 miles.  While waiting to set up bikes, I people-watched, and I met a couple of gals who were trying triathlon for the first time - one of them ended up taking first in our wave!

A bit more waiting around, then it was time to swim!  The water felt great, though even after warming up a couple of laps, I sure didn't feel ready.  Then again, I never feel ready for the swim.  I finished 225 yards in 6:56, even after my swim cap popped off mid-length.  The swim is 200 yards, but the ladder was opposite the start, so I had an extra 25 yards. No biggie - I suppose it was faster than walking around the pool!

I really struggled with transition.  Because I don't have bike shoes, T1 is my main transition, and it took me about 4 minutes to get everything on.  Most of it went smoothly, but I had trouble with the running tights and socks on wet feet; I know I can do better next time, though.  (I'm thinking of bunching up each leg and then tying each with a string, so that I can quickly get my feet in, undo the strings, and quickly pull up both legs.)  I also forgot about how to adjust the resistance on the WattBike - it's the fan opening, not magnetic - and once I saw the gal next to me adjust hers, I glanced down and hey, no wonder I was struggling!  I puffed and pedaled and enjoyed the view and the music, and the 10K counted down to zero.  10K bike + transitions = 21:52.

The run felt weird after the bike.  I haven't done a brick in awhile, and I felt really slow.  But oddly, I didn't feel too discouraged.  I guess I was too caught up in the thought, "It's January...and a beautiful day...and I'm doing a triathlon!  In January!"  One gal had fallen behind me, and was clearly struggling, but eventually she overtook me, and I thought to myself, "You GO, girl!"  I noticed her family cheering her on, a man and two little bitty guys, and I couldn't help but wonder about her story.  She may have been a mom rediscovering her mojo, or a mom expanding her fitness horizon through triathlon, or...who knows?  Everyone out there has a story.  My story was that I need to work on the running; I finished the 1.5 mile in 19:06. 

Total time was 47:54, which was 4:10 slower than last year's. But I signed up for all three events in the series this time, so I get to try it again at the ends of February (at College of San Mateo - yeay, closer drive!) and March (location TBD). With hopefully a better night's sleep and more training under my belt, I'm hoping to at least match last year's time at #2 and beat it at #3. 

Before the race, at the bike deck...in January!

 "If this is Winter, I'll take 6 more weeks of it": The Birthday Report

The sun shone brightly on my birthday this year, and I saw my shadow, so we're in for 6 more weeks of "Winter."  I'm wondering, though, if the Earth flipped upside-down, because this is the most summery Winter I can remember.  6 more weeks?  Bring it!

My birthday was great:  french toast breakfast cooked by Mr. Handsome-and-Handy, lunch out with our friend "twriter," Chinese New Year party at work, cupcakes magically appearing on my desk, and a sweet birthday party at home after work!

 Kitties, horses, and Clone Troopers:  the perfect "Birthiday" banner decor!

 Here's how you know that life is good:

the candles nearly melt into the cake 

while you try to figure out 

your birthday wish...

There's something about 2012...

"A thrill of hope,

The weary world rejoices,

For yonder breaks

A new and glorious morn."

That verse from the Christmas carol "O Holy Night" followed me around all season.  Although I might have sort of encouraged it by replaying Straight No Chaser's version of it over & over in my car....but no, even out of my car, I bumped into that song everywhere, maybe even more often than that stalker, "Oh Baby, It's Cold Outside."  Hearing it made me grin, because seriously?  There was just something about the approaching new year that had me kind of giddy.

And we don't even have a Hawaii trip on the horizon!

Sure, I usually like the idea of a new year.  I've learned that I'm just not a big, honkin', audacious goal or resolution for the new year type of person, and I'm okay with that.  (My most successful resolution ever?  To do a page-a-day origami calendar, and even that one, there were a lot of days I missed.  But it was fun!)  Some years it feels like New Year's happens too soon, though, that everything is bundled up and put away before I'm ready to move on. Like last year:  Looking back at last year's post, I was pretty "meh" about the whole thing, probably feeling kind of fatigued from post-Las Vegas rock & roll half marathon.

But this year?  Bring it!  Maybe it is a residual sugar high from the Christmas cookies or finally getting enough sleep or something, but this year has me feeling even more optimistic than usual, although I don't quite know why.  I'm feeling the complete opposite of last year. 

 "Well, heck, yeah!" you all are probably thinking. 

"Who wouldn't be giddy with weather like that in January?"

 Some things on tap for me and the Opposite Family this year, so far:

• Hula class!  I took almost an entire year of hula in 2011, and seriously, I think it was key to my sanity during some really stressful times.  This year, our instructor is having an intermediate class, which should be good and challenging.  (And it will be later in the evening, so I can make it home before class.  Dinner is a GOOD thing before hula.  Unless there are beans involved.)
• Pre-Season Burn Series!  I found myself longing for triathlon during the last part of 2011.  So I decided to jump-start the year fitness-wise and sign up for all three of the "Pre-Season Burn Series" mini-sprint triathlons at College of San Mateo. I did this in January of last year, and it was pretty fun.  I'll be doing a 200 yard swim, 10K bike on the poolside stationary bikes, and a 1.5 mile run around campus three times this winter.  I will not be as fast as last January during the first one, but that's why I wanted February and March in there.  It will be interesting to see how well I can ramp up.
• Camping!  We're finally going to try camping with the kids. We have a test run close to home in May, and then a longer weekend trip by a lake in June.
• Family visits!  Things 1 & 2 are sure looking forward to their Michigan cousins' visit in July, and we'll be spending time with grandparents this year. (Rumor has it Legoland may be on the agenda in there somewhere....)
• Quarterly Events!  I'm not going to commit to any particular event or distance yet, but I think that having a quarterly event to reward my exercise habit (or to provide a noodge) works well for me.  So I'll be on the lookout for things in Qs 2, 3, and 4. (Although Pumpkin Run will probably be there in Q4.)
• 2nd-days!  While I was on my walk today, I thought it would be cool to do something special on the 2nd day of each month.  It doesn't have to be big, as long as it's something enjoyable.  Today's was my walk on the coast trail.  I saw so many smiling people out there, it was as if they, too, could feel the awesomeness of the new year.  Next month's will be my birthday (and that of 2 of my co-workers, I discovered this past year - it will be fun to celebrate with some of my fellow groundhogs).  

Here's to a happy new year in 2012 to you all!  May you enjoy fitness & health, love & laughter...and maybe even a chocolate kale crunchie or two.

P.S. - And hey, if you're not quite ready for the New Year yet, the Year of the Dragon begins on January 23!

 

 

(Almost) Wordless Weekend - Rancho Siempre Verde Tree Farm

Yesterday we spent the afternoon at one of our favorite holiday places: Rancho Siempre Verde tree farm! It's the perfect place to spend a little time playing in the hay bales and on the swings, roasting and eating marshmallows by the enormous fire pit, and making wreaths!  We lucked out with the weather, because we had high fog from our house all the way to Pigeon Point Lighthouse, but it was sunny at the tree farm.

View from the top of the hill, toward the ocean

One of the gazillion swings hung from the trees

Someone liked building hay forts with a bunch of new pals

View of the wreath-making tables and the fire pit

Mmmmm!  S'more time!

Time for Pubsgal to make a wreath...

Why do we torture these children with such boring outings?

A ride on the swings can be so Zen...

Things on swings!

(Yes, Mom and Dad were on this outing, too)

2011 Half Moon Bay Pumpkin Run 5K Race Report and Other Stuff

She's ALIVE!!!

It's a small, pre-Christmas miracle:  I have a few minutes to put together a blog post!  Woot!

Naturally, I have about 5 gazillion things I've been wanting to blog about.  But since there are probably about 50 gazillion other things I should be doing right now (like sleeping), I think I'll stick to just a few things I've been wanting to catch up on for awhile now...

December Already?!?

Aaaaiiiieee!  Aaaaiiieeee!  

It's time for The Tree!!!

We've got the tree and the lights up, and most of the kids' gifts purchased, but we're facing the annual quandary:  what photo for our cards this year?  Hopefully we'll have some nice weather next weekend, so that we can figure out a family photo.  Maybe at our favorite tree farm, Rancho Siempre Verde...where we never buy a tree, because we have an artificial one, but where we go to make wreaths, roast marshmallows, and ride on the tire and rope swings.

2011 Half Moon Bay Pumpkin Run - Race Report


My 4th Pumpkin Run! I love this race - it was the first one I did when I was regaining my fitness, and so it has a special place in my heart. I'd been revisiting the Couch-to-5K program, because I had felt like I'd lost a lot of my running capacity this year, and I was in week 5.  So my main goals this year were to have fun, to finish, and to feel grateful that I didn't have any injuries to keep me from running it this time.


We'd had the most gorgeous week we'd had all year, and yet...Sunday, October 16, 2011 dawned grey and overcast.  Not too cold, and it didn't threaten to rain like last year.  But it seems like every year the race is overcast.  Sing it with me:  tra-di-TION!  TRADITION!

This year's was enjoyable, as always, and I think this one was the biggest one yet!  I counted, in the results, 556 people in the 5K and 272 in the 10K! The female 40-49 group is the biggest by far, in both races.

There were a ton of people milling around before the race, enjoying the usual pre-race goodies.  I was enjoying the pre-race lines at the ladies' room!  The kids' race was the usual cuteness overload...so many beaming faces running across the finish line.  I also enjoyed all of the pumpkin attire-hats and shirts-and one group of ladies had gone with a "wicked witch" theme: bright green t-shirts with witches and the stencilled words, "Wicked Witch of the South Bay," North Bay, East Bay, etc.  Another thing I noticed this year were some tutus!  Tutu'd running seems to have finally reached the coastside.

(Oh!  I just found a very cool YouTube video of the race.  Click here to see what it's like!  I especially liked seeing the PUMPKINS group's approach to the finish line, which I didn't get to see in person at the race.)

I discovered this year the problem with an unchipped race.  I was in the bathroom when it started, and trotted across the starting line right behind the walkers.  Unfortunately, I didn't take a peek at the starting line clock, so I will never know what my true time was for the race.  But I am proud that even though I didn't even come close to a PR, and though I hadn't finished the C25K, I ran just about all-only a short walk at the water station-and I didn't have anything left in my tank by the end.  I think my favorite part was chatting with the runner I'd been leap-frogging during the race, a relatively new mom who had just done C25K and who was running her first race!  I had kept a look out for some of my hula class friends, but it turns out they had run the 10K instead; I did see several of my kids' preschool friends' families.  I love that in this race, there always seem to be a few familiar faces.

By my watch, I finished in around 36 minutes, but my official time was 38:15.
Finished? Check!
Had fun? Check!
Felt grateful to be out there and running? Check!
Wish I'd trained a little better?  Check!  But that'll just make me hungrier to do better next year, right...? ;-)

 Here's to #4, and hopefully many more!

Random Item, Filed Under "Coincidences That Seem Contrived"

Do you ever have incidents in your life that are coincidental, but seem otherwise?  I was out of one of my lunchtime walks one day, about a month ago.  Mr. Handsome-and-Handy and I had been grumpy with each other that morning, and I was thinking about how sad I felt about it.  Then, there in my path, was this lone leaf.  I saw it as a sign that I was so loved, even when I didn't feel like it.  I also see it as a good sign that I jumped to the "heart-shaped" conclusion.  Because upside-down?  It kind of looks like the opposite sort of thing that The Mr. and I were both sort of being earlier that day.

Weird Stuff Pubsgal Eats #534:  Chocolate Kale?!?
(This probably belongs over on the sadly abandoned "Pubsgal Eats."  But oh well.)

The other day, I was in a funk, and close to a Whole Foods.

When I'm in a funk, I know in my head that food is not the answer.  But sometimes, nothing soothes the soul like either something chocolate or some crispy, intensely-flavored kale snacks.  Usually the two are mutually exclusive.  But in my moment of weakness, I succumbed to a quirky combination I had been eyeing but hadn't quite gotten the gumption to try yet: chocolate-covered kale snacks.

"Ingredients:  Organic Kale, Organic Pumpkin Seeds, Organic Coconut Palm Sugar, Organic Cacao Butter, Organic Cacao Powder, Himalayan Crystal Salt, Organic Vanilla Extract and Blessings."  Curious...I didn't know that "blessings" tasted like vanilla...they must have confused it with the cacao, or else were simply being redundant, since "cacao and blessings" is sort of like the anti-"corn syrup and sugar."

Hmmm...such an unfortunate appearance.... 

Most of the crunchy kale snacks I eat are quite crisp, like a dehydrated salad.  The chocolate kale pieces were heavy and hard, but when you started chewing them, they turned out to be more chewy-textured than crisp.  The taste was kind of interesting...sweet, nutty at first, then quite chocolatey.  I didn't taste the kale very much at all. Given the appearance, I had expected something much more chalky in taste and texture.  Admittedly, this stuff stayed in my desk drawer far longer either chocolate or other kale snacks typically do...but you know, for a "what was she thinking" purchase, they were pretty good!  It sure would make a fun holiday gift for any friends who are following a vegan & raw way of eating.

That's all for now!  I look forward to reading about everyone's holiday adventures.  I might not comment as much as I used to, but know that I'm reading and cheering you on!

"If you can't beat 'em, offer 'em shots"

Or, "A Volunteer's View of the Half Moon Bay International Marathon"

So much to write about, so little time! But I've gotta take a little time and write my latest race recap...

On Sunday, September 25, 2011, I woke bright and early and prepared to head over to the inaugural Half Moon Bay International Marathon. It was actually several running events: a free 5K, a 10K, a half-marathon, and a full marathon.

Sadly, I wasn't going as a runner. Or even a walker, for that matter. It sold out!  But it was as something I'd been wanting to try for a long time: as a volunteer. So if I wasn't racing, why did I have trouble sleeping? Maybe I was channeling all the pre-race vibes floating around our town...

I arrived at the parking lot at the base of the Pillar Point bluffs before dawn.  It was dark, but not too cold.  There were staff people coordinating the high schoolers who were stationed along the bluffs to direct people along the trails.  The aid station organizers arrived, and we set to work:  mixing the electrolyte drink, cutting the Cliff block packages in half, and setting out cups of water and electrolyte.  The wasps were bad - trying to swim in the electrolyte cups and all - but no one got stung, thank goodness!

About an hour later, we heard the sirens:  the marathon had begun!  The event was limited to 500 entries across all races, and there were a little over 100 people in the marathon.  However, they would pass our station four times, so we had to be ready for them.  I liked the way the race bibs had the participants' names printed on them, and how there were red bibs for the first time marathon racers - a nice touch!  We cheered, we handed out goodies and beverages (it made it easier when runners would call out what they needed before they quite got to us, so we could direct or get the right thing in place).  We chatted in between waves.

One marathon racer, I noticed, was carrying a pink rose.  On his 4th pass, we found out why:  he was racing in memory of his wife, who had died this past spring of breast cancer.  She was only 42.  Hoo boy, that really got to me.  We all gave him hugs and wished him well, and not just in the race that day.

On a lighter note, on the 3rd pass, one of the runners called out, "You must cheer on my beautiful friend Dee Dee, who's right behind me and is going to pass me soon!"  So we all started chanting, "Go, Beautiful Dee Dee, go!"

Our aid station was near Mile 2 of the first loop,
the trail out to Foo Rock at the foot of the Pillar Point bluffs

The aid station, all stocked and ready!
Our station leaders were well-prepared!

How 'bout a shot?

(Yes, that's my "I though they said 'rum' " shirt.  

Too bad it was too cold to show it off, except for in this picture!)

After my time at the aid station, I went over to the start/finish line to help. They had the essentials pretty well covered, so one of the staff members had me help as one of the recycling assistants. While I felt a little superfluous at the time, helping people properly sort their disposables, I think the event has a good shot at their goal of attaining a Gold Certification through the Council for Responsible Sport organization (CRS), if this picture of the landfill waste I saw is any indication: one of those big ol' garbage truck boxes with a bitty pile of bags at one end of it.

What was cool was talking to the finishers, and seeing some familiar faces. One was of one of my former neighbors who ran the 1/2 marathon; she placed 13th in her age group! Another was one of the women in my hula class. I also saw the Pink Rose Runner and his family, but he was without the rose. I saw this photo later: he had laid his rose at the finish line.

Popping in for a Quick "Hello"

Wow, that "summer" went fast!  (The quotes are because I think we had less than 10 sunny days the entire summer.) There's a lot I could write about right now, but we're back to school today.  The first day went great; Things 1 & 2 were very happy when I got home.  I knew Thing 1 was excited and happy; he has had the same teacher for 3 years now (it's a combined 3/4/5 classroom) and he knows what to expect.  Thing 2 was anxious about having a new teacher, but she reported that she LOVES her new teacher.  Whew!  Things 1 & 2 go to a small school, only about 80 kids, so they know everyone in their classes except for a few new kids to the school this year.

Anyhow, I have 10 minutes before bedtime.  Here's tonight's train of thought:

• How are Pubsgal and fast food restaurants alike?  Saw a great article on the Mills Peninsula blog, about portion sizes, by one of their nutritionists. The link includes a video segment.  Here's the link: http://www.mphsblog.org/2011/05/portioncontro/.  Here's an interesting fact regarding restaurant portion creep:  The child-size portion at fast food restaurants today? "That was a standard adult-size portion 20 years ago." This is timely, because the panicked ranting & raving post I drafted back in January and never published, about not having an "Overweight" BMI anymore?  Well...same situation, plus a few more pounds.  It's not so much about the number on the scale or BMI number anymore as it is about as feeling physically uncomfortable in my own skin, never mind my pants!  And I swear I thought of that before I started listing to Lynn's interview on Two Fit Chicks and a Microphone, in which she talks about becoming physically comfortable in her own skin, and that discomfort being a sign to rein things in.  Anyhow, my food plan is to weigh and measure portions and to use the My Fitness Pal tracker daily.  I've been enjoying this tool, because I swear, its search finds EVERYTHING!  I hardly have to enter any new data. My other goals are to stay under my quite reasonable calorie allotment, eat healthy things I enjoy, and limit my starches and sugars to only the MOST worthy items and quantities.  Oh, you know, all the stuff that worked before when I did it consistently. ;-)  Updated fitness goals to follow:  right now, I'm rebooting my running with C25K in preparation for the Pumpkin Run in October, hoping hula class will survive the new school year, but I need to figure out a new strategy for getting more strength in there.

• Speaking of running:  ALL events at the Half Moon Bay Marathon were sold out before I had a chance to register!  How RUDE!  But before I could get too "pouty puffer" about it, I submitted a volunteer application. Turns out that I'll be working at the Maverick's aid station, and then helping at the start/finish line.  I always wanted to volunteer for an event, so this is a great opportunity!  (With riding my bike to and from the event locations and helping out, I'll probably burn as many calories as running my 10K. And my volunteers' t-shirt will be free.  :-)  If you're interested in volunteering, here's the link: http://halfmoonbayim.org/event/volunteer/.  They need help for the race expo on the days preceding the event, not just event day itself.
  

• Speaking of sports and events:  Diabetes Hands Foundation will be having a fundraising party at Sports Basement in Walnut Creek on September 10, from noon until 2 p.m. (It's Thing 1's 10th birthday, so I can't go, but maybe YOU can!)  According to organizer Emily Walton, "We will be screening our fundraising videos, offering food and drinks, and you will receive a coupon for 10% off everything you spend. Sports Basement will also donate 10% of everything you spend to DHF! They have great TRI gear, trust me, I shop there all the time!" Event details on the TuDiabetes web site: http://www.tudiabetes.org/events/583967:Event:2160403.
  

• And speaking of triathlon and fundraising:  Can the woman who kicks Type 2 diabetes' ass on a regular basis help kick blood cancer's ass too?  If anyone can, Foodie McBody can!  She joined Team in Training and is going through an amazing, "stress-citing," and inspiring journey in triathlon training.  Read all about it here: http://foodfoodbodybody.wordpress.com/ And here's her donation page: http://pages.teamintraining.org/sf/Marine11/sitoo6.

 Sheesh...how did 10 minutes turn into 1 hour?  I had better post this and get to sleep now....