Don't know what to get this girl? We'll help you out!

We all have that friend. You know the one who’s all “thanks but no thanks on the holiday cookies – I’m totally cool eating this yummy air.” The one with so much self-discipline she woke up the morning after Halloween, threw her slutty bumble bee costume aside and went for a 7 mile run. The one who is always telling you about the latest workout she is into, health book she is reading or cleanse she is trying.  And, of course, the one who makes you think, “I wish I could be a bit more like her,” as you delve into your giant cookie while watching this week’s episode of the Real Housewives for the FOURTH time.

Yes, we all have that friend and while sometimes you wish you could just give her a big box of cookies for the holidays, there are just a few things she’d appreciate a whole lot more. But what can you get her that will make her happy without packing on the pounds? Try a few of these on for size:

A Blueprint Cleanse: This 1-5 day cleanse comes in 3 different levels so it’s great for the friend who always talks about wanting to try one or the health freak who cleanses 3 times a year. I tried this and LOVED how it made me feel. A great gift to give to your health-freak friends who would totally love the idea of a post holiday cleanse. (It’s not cheap, so consider getting a group of friends together for this one.)

Master Your Metabolism: From our pal Jillian Michaels of the Biggest Loser, this book breaks down what we are doing wrong and how to fix it so we can stay fit, healthy and feeling great. Jillian knows it all so even health freaks can learn something new from this jam-packed book of information.

Daily Food Diary: This unique little black book will help her keep track of all the grabs here, handfuls there and healthy meals so she can stay on track with that healthy eating.

Thumbhole half-zip hoodie: She’s gonna need something warm to wear post-workout or on that 3-mile run. This adorable hoodie will keep her hands warm but fingers accessible (for finding more Miley on her iPod). And it’s just plain cute. She could wear it anywhere.

Exhale Core Fusion DVDs: Core Fusion is my most favorite workout ever. I don’t know how it works, but my butt burns for days (yes, DAYS) after. The classes get pretty pricey, but now everyone can do it from the comfort of their own dorm room. Awesome. You can get the total pack, but if that’s out of your price rage you can get each DVD for $15 a pop. (And if you’re only getting one, I’d go with body sculpt.)

Fitted Low-rise Yoga Pant: Everyone needs a pair of yoga pants. This particular pair is adorable at an even more adorable price.

Nike Weighted Jump Rope: The best way to get a cardio workout in without having to walk to the gym when its -20 degrees (I’m talking to you, University of Wisconsin).

Nike Running Arm Wallet/Phone Case:  The perfect arm accessory (armcessory?) for any girl who is addicted to both running and her Blackberry.

Yoga mat bag and gym bag: Whether she’s into yoga or the gym these two bags are ADORABLE and fuctional. And let’s be real:  I’ve never met a girl who doesn’t love Lululemon!

Lululemon Slipless Headband: It’s The best workout head band EVER.

Imagine having your very own personal trainer right on your iPod or MP3 player. Hear the encouragement and motivation along with expert coaching and instruction coming out of your headphones, as you push yourself out of your comfort and into the training zone!

Welcome to amazing world of ipod running workouts. Although, still small in size relative to other facets of the fitness and exercise industry, MP3 workouts have proven amazingly effective for all kinds of exercisers whether they be beginners or seasoned pros. All you need to get started is an MP3 player and desire to get fit.

So what are the benefits of using these MP3 guided workouts you ask?

Saves You Money

Well, for starters, they offer you a huge savings when compared to typical training sessions with a personal fitness coach. Normally, working one-on-one with your own trainer can cost you anywhere from $75-$150/hr depending on the credentials and experience of the trainer. Conversely, using an MP3 fitness program that has been developed by a top trainer can save you hundreds if not thousands of dollars.

Provides Expert Coaching

Most MP3 guided workouts on the market have been developed by some of the top trainers in the fitness industry. Whether you’re looking for weight loss, muscle building, or running workouts, you are sure to find a workout that will suit your needs.

However, when selecting your ipod workout of choice, be sure to investigate the trainer/program developer’s background and experience. Does the trainer have an educational background in exercise physiology, kinesiology, or strength & conditioning? Has the trainer been involved in the fitness industry for several years or simply getting started? Does the trainer have any other sport-related experience and/or certifications?

Be sure to listen to demos before purchasing. Having a good sense of what your trainer’s voice and demeanor are like is important since you’ll be hearing his/her voice throughout your workouts. Is he/she upbeat, motivating, energetic? Also, having a better sense of what the program entails is important so that you don’t jump into something that you’re not ready for.

Better and Faster Results

One of the benefits of having your own trainer is his/her ability to push you beyond your “perceived” limits. As a result, you attain your goals in a shorter time. Similarly, having an expert fitness trainer on your headphones telling you how much time to work for, how much time you have to recover, and when to keep going makes a huge difference when compared to simply following a generic program from a fitness magazine.

Furthermore, the audio coaching instructions should be such as to ensure excellent form and technique as well as to provide some physiological explanation for the type of exercise at hand. This gives you greater confidence in your movement ability and exercise knowledge/body awareness, respectively. After all, better body awareness leads to better form which leads to greater and safer results!

Convenience and Portability

One of the big advantages of ipod running workouts is that you can take them with you anywhere you go. No need to schedule awkward workout times with a busy trainer or wait in line for a treadmill.

The convenience of having your very own personal trainer with you wherever and whenever you want is a nice feature especially if you’re a busy body! One such program combining convenience and portability is the Treadmill Trainer, developed by leading fitness expert Yuri Elkaim.

This is an MP3 running program that guarantees users to run faster, farther, and longer with only 2 workouts per week! So if you’re a runner (or want to start) you’ve got to check this phenomenal program out. And don’t be fooled by the name – you can follow this program on a treadmill or even outside as you run.

So if you’ve got an iPod (or other MP3 player) and are ready to get fit and don’t feel like spending thousands of dollars on a trainer, then you’ve got to check the new world of ipod running workouts.

URL : http://www.flashgame-girl.com/Racing/FFX-Runner.html

Game description :

Your enemies are fanatically determined to drive you off the road. Run away from your chasers and find the path to the safety surviving enemies attack. Check fuel level and car health status by watching indicators on the upper side of the screen. Collect fuel and health bonuses you will find scattered on the track.

Game controls :

ARROW keys to drive
SPACE to brake

Just curious how you’re sleeping.  Why would I be asking this?  Because I have a solution for you: move.  Get up, and get going.  Makes sense, right?  If you use more energy during the day, you’ll sleep better at night.  Chances are this isn’t anything new.  It’s certainly not a new concept to those of us in the Egoscue circle.  I talk to clients everyday who are struggling to fall asleep or stay asleep, and the majority are sedentary during their day.  Now we have new research proving what Egoscue and others have been saying for years.  If you are active during the day, you’ll rest better at night.  Here is a very interesting article from the NY Times that has accompanying research that breaks down just how much better you’ll sleep if you move during the day.  One of my clients, Joan Hampf (you can watch her testimony below) woke up every morning at 3:30 for two years.  The night after her first appointment, she slept until 5:30!  She moved in ways she hadn’t before, put her body in a better position, and her cardio-vascular system responded accordingly!  Her body was receiving more blood and oxygen and was in a more restful state for a longer period of time.  So for those of you dealing with sleep disorders or nights filled with tossing and turning, do your Egoscue menu before bed and let me know what changes.  If you don’t have an Egoscue menu, grab the book “Pain Free” by Pete Egoscue, read the first three chapters, and go to the chapter on Head Pain/Headaches.  The menu in that chapter will help reestablish proper head/shoulder position, putting your upper body in a more functional position.  This will allow the C-V system to operate more efficiently, and you will sleep better!  Email me and let me know the results.  Keep moving!

Unless you consider yourself “a runner,” (you know who you are) running can kind of suck. A lot. Sometimes it feels great to feel the wind through your hair and know that you left the equivalent of a 5K in the dust, no sweat. Other times, you barely make it to the end of your block before thoughts of turning home to the comfort and safety of your couch and DVR creep into your head.

And then there’s the whole debate over whether running on a treadmill is the same as running outdoors. Some “runners” will swear up and down that running on a treadmill is inferior to running outside, belittling the 3 miles on the treadmill that you just called your workout as not as hard, not as fast, or not as long as the treadmill said.

Well, here’s your chance to put those people in their place. Studies have proven that treadmill running is just as hard (and good for you) as running outside! Yayyyy! For better or worse, the treadmill and the great outdoors will burn your booty just the same when running is the name of the game.

Although they’ve proven that running on a treadmill is just as good of a workout as running outside, we all know that there are still huge differences in the two! Sure, you can listen to your iPod in both situations, but only inside can you balance Cosmo on the magazine rack in front of you while Britney’s “3″ keeps you working.

Most people have a preference for one or the other, but if you’re unsure of which location is better for you, here are the pros and cons of both:

Running Outdoors:
When you run outside you get lots of fresh air, pretty scenery, and the thrill of exploring new routes. Lovely. But you’re also more at risk for being injured (either instantly by tripping and falling, or later on due to the effect of  the hard roads on your joints) or being attacked. Plus, it’s not always easy to gauge your speed or distance. Oh, and sometimes, the weather can suck.

If you do choose to run outside, you should wear bright and reflective colors, run in well-lit and populated areas, and carry your cell phone with you if possible. (This is one more reason I love my iPhone so much – iPod and phone!! Woooo!).

Running on the Treadmill:
Like I said, magazine reading material is a perk, and when on the treadmill you can see your speed, distance and time all right in front of you. I don’t know about you, but that forces me to push myself a little harder – to run a little faster and further. But while that’s a major perk to gym running, there is the nasty truth that gyms are germy! And crowded – you don’t want to spend your precious time waiting in line to get in a 5 mile run. And let us not forget that the treadmill can be BORING; even if there’s a TV on that badboy, it gets old running in place after awhile.

Both options have their goods and their bads, but wherever you choose to run, it’s the right choice. Running – either indoors or out – is a great form of cardio. The most important thing you can do is find out which works better for you and stick with it. And the second most important thing you can do is add some Miley to your running playlist. She’ll definitely pick you up when you’re feeling down and out and too tired to move on.

]]> http://dietitian2be.wordpress.com/2009/11/29/run-away-dietitian/ Sun, 29 Nov 2009 16:34:04 +0000 dietitian2be http://dietitian2be.wordpress.com/2009/11/29/run-away-dietitian/

I feel so refreshed after visiting with my family for the past few days. 5 months without seeing my mom and brother is just too long! My mom and I split the Thanksgiving cooking duties so with all the food combined we had quite a delicious feast Now you’re probably wondering how the Taste Everything, Eat Nothing rule went…I started out really well; I stuck to ideal portion sizes recommended by the 2005 My Pyramid food guide system, but the calories still added up…we definitely didn’t cook low-cal dishes! But that’s okay. I exercised everyday while on vacation, which I’m really proud of (usually exercise goes out the window when I’m on vacay). I haven’t weighed myself, but I feel like I’m still the same weight I was when I left.

This morning I got up for a run. Not a walk/run interval that I usually do; or a simple leisurely walk. But a run. Okay, maybe a jog…I’m not that fast! I decided I wanted to see just how long and far I could run without stopping. I’ve never called myself a runner because basically, I don’t look like one and I always take the easy route by doing the walk/run combo I mentioned. So today was a new start for me. I am officially calling myself a runner(slash jogger)! I was happy to complete my route in 28:36 without stopping. I feel like this was a great start to my new life as a born-again runner. I’m running towards a new me and away from all the unhealthy, negative habits in my life…Happy running everyone!
This is me (in the black) 21 months ago crossing the finish line at my first 5K race in Annapolis, MD. I haven’t run a 5K since because I thought I had to train hard like an athlete, but now I know that all I have to do is just get out there and in the words of Nike ‘just do it’! I’m out there for the love of running from here on out!

Marathon runner: Courtesy flickr.com/marathon

This is a term used in a marathon. Around the 22-mile you hit the wall.  Every ounce of energy seeps out of you, the feeling that there is lead in your feet and that lifting one more foot towards the goal is like moving Titanic. When eyes cloud and you have a feeling that you are not going to finish this race and that you might not finish anything for that matter, that is truly hitting the wall.

I wonder if anyone has ever hit the wall in ebadah, when you climb, climb, climb, in one continuous breath and by the dint of your extreme focused energy you are almost there and then you hit the wall, and you not only feel the lead in your feet with the inability to take one more step forward but you start to slide, one pebble at a time and you wonder how far the fall is and hope that you never reach the mindset where you don t care any more how far you fall or where you stop…………….

Any suggestions how to overcome the wall?

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Excited actually tunggu event ni sebab lepas Jacob’s Walk of Life, aku dah tak join event-event macam tu. Pergi ambil kit race di ofis FTAAA, Wisma OCM, aku rasa macam student yang nak ambil bahagian dalam lumba lari . Diorang bagi nombor, pin, tshirt, muscular balm, Salonpas dan topi.

Carpool dengan Miza, dia parking kereta kat rumah aku. Sedang tido nyenyak, Miza call around jam 6 pagi. Aku dengan mamai jawab call sambil dalam hati tertanya-tanya apsal la Miza ni call. Aku tak sedar alarm pukul 5.30 rupanya . 2012 punya pasal la ni. Tengok wayang sampai pukul 12 tengah malam, pukul 1 baru tido.

6.30 baru gerak, jumpa Mekda di ofis aku, dan terus ke Highway DUKE. Nasib baik malam tu sempat aku google map, so tak de sesat ok .

Acara untuk kategori A,B,C,D,E dan F dilepaskan dulu. Jadi, aku dan Amy dalam kategori G (acara jalan kaki) relax-relax ambil gambar lah dulu kan . Cuaca redup je, rintiklah sikit. Dalam 10 minit or kurang, dah ada yang tiba di garisan penamat. Fuhhh laju giler lah you lari incik,

Lebih kurang setengah jam kemudian, start acara jalan kaki, aku dan Amy bersungguh-sungguh jalan laju walaupun tak de medal. Tapi kan 1 km tu dekat sangatlah, serius tak berpeluh langsung! Dengan cuaca ala-ala sedap untuk tido tu, rasa macam alaa dah sampai ke . Habis acara, pergi collect roti dan 100 Plus free, pusing-pusing tengok kereta yang diorang makeup cun-cun tu, ambil gambar sana sini, dan balik.

Oh ya, saya sudah daftar untuk event 1 mile Dash:  New Year Bash itu . Siapa-siapa yang belum, sini ye

Ok, jom layan gambar di highway DUKE

yes i am

team puchong/balakong . credit Deida

say 1 Malaysia!

go!

1 malaysia jugak nih

tidak, saya tak dapat medal ni

tahniah semua!

Stick with what works…the basics.  We have progressed slowly and consistantly from the couch to getting up 3 times per week and doing something about our fitness.  Get on board!  As easy as it seems now, you will look back and see great improvement in your fitness level.  If you ever need any advice on stretching, jogging, core strength, or anything else about getting fit, just post it here and I will do my best to provide an answer to assist in your progress to total body fitness.  This is level 1 fitness here, nice and easy. 

Week 5:  90 on/30 off.  5 minute warm-up walk.  Light stretching.  Jog for 1:30, walk for :30.  Repeat for a total session time of 5 minutes.  Walk to cool down.   Do this on Tues, Thurs, Sat (or Sun).  Do 10 bicycle crunches after each workout session.

Short term goal is to jog for 5 minutes without stopping, and 20 crunches.  Slow, injury free workouts for long term fitness.  Don’t skip workouts, be consistant.  See you next time!  http://astore.amazon.com/fitnesscentral.com-20

          Exact date unknown..around feb-may 2008

     It was may or probably feb..i dont remember but it was the 1st “mini-marathon” i ever ran…in school the farthest i’ve run was about 400m and that was was insanely exhausting! The only thing that was on my mind was the 1st marathon runner who ran a hell lot of kms (maybe 100km or so) to deliver a message and died after delivering it out of exhaustion..well so i heard frm my 3rd std teacher..but the pretty new girl who had shifted to my school was there waiting with a bottle of glucose with a smile on her face..that was all i needed to 4get about dying!

         And now back to the “mini-marathon”. It was the sunfeast10k, the 1st of its kind in bangalore..and man was it huge! The turn-out was historical..that made me wonder about how quickly ppl have become health conscious over the years..television isnt an idiot box..or not completely an idiot box atleast. Well there i was waiting alongwith about a few thousand ppl for the 10k to start. The run started and the Gatorade in me was really psyching(picked up from one of my dopee friends) me out. But my cousin and her friend were there running lazily next to me…i was so frustrated and told them ill meet them at the loo and ran my arse of for about 4 kms non-stop(no exaggeration..gatorade works!). As you might have guessed i was really tired and these 6 pretty girls were holding glucose bottles and smiling and screaming -”hey cutie! you can do it! run! run!” not wanting the pretty smiles to fade(yeah im a sucker for smiling cute girls)..I grabbed the bottle smiling quickly and bounded off with all the energy i could muster…as soon as i turned the corner i started walking and drinking the glucose ..i couldnt help grinning to myself even though the glucose was pouring all over my face.

      Finally after running 59mins in the bloody hot sun..the run was over..was walking to collect my certificate and the goody bag when this insanely cute girls walking towards me…with a mic! But it was too late..ill tell you y in a while..anyway she was so fast tht i thought she actually ran! ive msged my friends a dozen times abt wat happened..here is the exact msg- “well..ill tell u the whole thing…2 of my other friends were there but i had no idea where! u can guess y..the lazy louts cant run for nuts…i just finished the marathon and was out of breath when this man comes over and asks if he could make a call..and i just gave the phone to him…hes busy talkin when i spot this reporter frm youngistaan with a cnn mic..she looks at our direction and starts walking over..my 1st thought was to scoot but i couldnt coz of this stupid man..then she comes over..camera rolling and asks “hey can i speak to u ppl”..the man says yes and then she asks me! “u look tired how did u find the run”…and some 3 more questions in a row! i just said something like im really tired and im in a hurry sorry..and RUN OFF hahahaha…the woman was gud lookin man..but u should have seen her expression..it was priceless! Hw many times do u c a reporter being snubbed on live tv! “

   A few mins later i went to collect my certificate and my friends older bro calls up and says DUDE i saw u on tv!

Chicken Soup for the Soul: Runners

We prefer stories and poems written in the first person of no more than 1,200 words. Stories should not have been previously published in our books or other major publications. Previous publication in school newsletters, local newspapers, and other small circulation venues is okay.

If your story is chosen, you will be a published author and your bio will be printed in the book if you so choose. You will also receive a check for $200 and 10 free copies of your book, worth more than $100. You will retain the copyright for your story and you will retain the right to resell it.

SUBMISSIONS GO TO http://chickensoupforthesoul.com/form.asp?cid=submit_story.

DEADLINE IS NOVEMBER 30, 2009. Book is scheduled for publication July 13, 2010.

This is a great animated movie from an affiliate in Finland. Hope you enjoy.

What a great description of Egoscue–even if it is computer-generated!

Tiempo atrás, la empresa Runner, en un spot publicitario, decía … “este verano que te gustaría ser, sirena o ballena ???”

Dicen quienes saben ,que una mujer mandó este mail a la empresa,logrando que Runner retirara esta publicidad…

Las ballenas están siempre rodeadas de amigos.
Tienen una vida sexual activa, se embarazan y tienen ballenitas de lo más
tiernas.” Las ballenas amamantan. Son amigas de
los delfines y se lo pasan comiendo camarones….
También se la pasan jugando en el agua y nadando
por ahí, surcando los mares, conociendo lugares maravillosos, como los
hielos de la Antártica los arrecifes de coral de la Polinesia.
Las ballenas cantan muy bien y hasta tienen CD’s grabados.
Las ballenas son enormes y casi no tienen predadores naturales.
Las ballenas tienen una vida bien resuelta, son lindas y amadas por
todos…..
Las sirenas no existen. Si existieran, vivirían
en permanente crisis existencial: “¿Soy un pez o soy un ser humano?”.
No tienen hijos pues matan a los hombres que se encantan con su belleza.
(Y yo agregaría que no tienen por dónde hacer el amor.
¡Por Dios!). Son bonitas sí, pero tristes y siempre solitarias.
(-¿Quién quiere acercarse a una mujer que huele a
pescado frito y que no tiene hoyito como salvavidas?).

“Runner” querida, prefiero ser ballena…..”

Fotografía:http://photography.nationalgeographic.com

uccelli wrapping paper

seeing as i just went to home goods to try to find a thanksgiving centerpiece, and all they had were santas and reindeer (not a turkey in sight!), i think i might just put those scissors skills of mine to good use and make a table runner to complement my tablecloth. i got inspired yesterday when i was at a really cute store in berkeley called “castles in the sky” and they had these gorgeous reams of italian wrapping paper. got me thinking about creating a table runner with wrapping paper and ribbon.  so, today i’m heading to the container store (which has the BEST wrapping paper around, in my opinion) and starting my creation. my thinking is a long runner and then i’ll cut holes along both sides with a hole punch and then run grosgrain ribbon through them like laces…wish me luck! i’ll post updates…

You be the judge.……

Note: the picture was taken for a Runners World Magazine piece……here are the other pictures with the story….

Oh, yea she’s selling her book… “Going Rogue”

Wisconsin author and long-time runner, Lynda Drews, meets Moms-in-Motion Founder & CEO, Jamie Allison

I landed in San Francisco on Oct. 14th and for the next three days stayed with friends (both old Fun Run and highschool)  who accompanied me to talks and book signings. (One was to the Empire Running Club.) Then on Sunday I met Sandy and Per Johnsen for dinner, two of the characters in Run at Destruction that have since moved to Seattle.  

The next morning, I gathered with more than 20,000 women in the dark near Union Square. The uphills were very challenging. I even admit that I walked a bit, but I flew running down the other side!  At the finish line I completely forgot to check my time. Could it be that my eyes instead were glued to the buff fireman dressed in a tux who handed me my Tiffany finisher’s necklace?  Unbeknownst to me, I later realized that my Nike Half Marathon number had mistakenly been switched with a friend! Sure, sure… you don’t have to believe me, but I actually ran 30 minutes faster than my official race results! 

After a Bart ride, where I’d embarassingly had to beg money from a stranger, since I was short a dollar, I quickly showered at my friend’s, jumped into my rental car, and headed south to Pebble Beach. For two days I relaxed with another highschool friend before traveling to Santa Barbara. With my GPS I easily located The Boat House on Hendry’s Beach and on the outside eating deck a slim woman was standing with a copy of Run at Destruction in her hands.  I smiled and waved… it had to be Jaime!  The two of us chattered away for a couple of hours, discussing our common interests: running, reading, family, and knitting. And… of course we discussed my book.

I appreciate the comments that Jaime provided to her network of ‘Moms’ following our meeting. She said, “It was such a pleasure to meet and spend time with author, Lynda Drews, last month during her book tour in CA. I’ve never had the experience of reading a book and then having the luxury of discussing it one-on-one! Lucky me! Thank you Lynda. Her new true fatal love triangle book is called Run at Destruction and is soaring on Amazon.com charts. The running community that her story takes place within, is much like ours in that they became like extended family to one another. Unfortunately, when her best friend Pam is ‘murdered’ you can’t help but rally the detective spirit within and try to come to terms with the outcome. It is a story you won’t forget!”

Olá, queridos leitores. Aqui estou eu mais  uma vez, para dizer que quem quiser ler a mais nova análise de Mirror’s Edge pode encontrá-la aqui.

Muitos de você podem estar se perguntando “Mas o Mirror’s Edge não ia vir em forma de videoanálise?” Bem, meus amigos, acontece que, pelo que eu descobri a duras penas, videoanálises ainda estão um pouco acima da minha capacidade (leia-se tempo livre). Além disso, pelo que eu reparei, as análises em texto passam todas as mensagens que eu quero sem o menor problema. Então, para que se preocupar com o vídeo? Logo, façamos um acordo, querido leitor: quando eu tiver mais tempo disponível, e se por acaso eu achar necessário para passar a mensagem que eu quiser, as videoanálises terão início. Combinado? Ótimo então.

Sabe, eu realmente gostei do Mirror’s Edge, porque é um jogo de Le Parkour. E eu gosto de Le Parkour. O que, você não sabe o que é isso? Bem:

Parkour (por vezes abreviado como PK) ou l’art du déplacement (em português: arte do deslocamento) é uma atividade cujo princípio é mover-se de um ponto a outro o mais rápida e eficientemente possível, usando principalmente as habilidades do corpo humano. Criado para ajudar a superar obstáculos de qualquer natureza no ambiente circundante — desde galhos e pedras até grades e paredes de concreto — e pode ser praticado em áreas rurais e urbanas. Homens que praticam parkour são reconhecidos como traceur e mulheres como traceuses. O parkour foi fundado pelo francês David Belle.

Enfim, eu encontrei esse vídeo na Internet, pra exemplificar bastante:

Também tem esse aqui:

Seria muito legal eu fazer isso, mas precisa de mais preparo físico do que eu tenho no momento. Quem sabe num futuro não muito distante. Até mais!

Ho ho ho!  Just a little peek! 

As always, everything goes up on eBay starting at 8:00 p.m. central time, Sunday night. 

Greetings reader.  Today I ran the 12K Race for Hope http://www.okbtf.org/ .  The morning started out pretty much on time.  It was a beautiful morning until……the wind started blowing and the temperatures dropped.  Fog and mist soon followed the winds.  The beautiful morning was gone and replaced by a cold, dreary morning.  Interestingly, moments earlier Jason had mentioned how beautiful the morning was.   Don’t get me wrong, the day was not Beacon-like (Beacon Run from last year).

So me and the gals stayed in the car until the last minute, quickly warmed up and headed on down the road at the starting gun.

Staying Warm

The race started off smoothly.  The 5K runners were flying down the path and the 12K runners were a little slower.  Melissa ended up running with me and we played with our pace most of the way.  We did pick the pace up a few times just to make sure it was still there.  We finished about 1:13:00 which isn’t bad for me on a 12K.   Brenda was not far behind.

The best part of the day was hanging out after the race and talking with other runners.  Enjoy getting to know other people and hear they’re stories.  I am surrounded by such great and wonderful runners/people.

Did get to see Amber this morning.  Some of you may remember Amber from a few weeks ago when I posted about the Kelsey Briggs 5K run.  She is spearheading planning for next years run.  Anyway, she arrived to the race late and pretty much ran from driver side seat to start line.  I can’t tease her too hard because she is coming from a decent distance to run.  I did get a pic of her leaving the scene.

Amber Leaving the Race

One major thing missing today were her gold shoes.  Perhaps that is the reason she was running behind.  She had some story about those shoes getting caught on mouse trap paper.

I did snap another picture because it was too good not to.  Melissa was cold after the race.  I looked at her and could see that her lips were blue.  Really blue.  I took the picture but the picture does not do justice to how they really looked.

So there you have it.  The Race for the Cure.  I will post more pictures when they become available.  I will be posting a lot because I have lots on my mind this week as I head into Route 66 marathon.  I tend to get reflective as the big race gets closer.  Be sure to check the blog out Sunday night to see if I made it.

Feeling Blue?

Here are a few more photo’s from the race courtesy of www.okcrunning.org

Melissa and I finishing

Brenda, Melissa, and I after the race

Brenda Finishing

In Japan’s early history, a serious disregard for manners could be punishable by death, and any samurai could kill any common person who failed to show him proper respect. The Japanese were required to behave in precisely prescribed ways—wearing permitted clothing, walking only a certain way, sleeping with their heads pointing in a certain direction and legs arranged a particular way. Eating, greeting, gesturing with hands, opening doors and many work tasks had to be done in assigned ways without deviation. Conduct became a measure of morality, and virtue in manners was visible for all to see. Even today, the code of conduct plays a significant role in the lives of the Japanese. Many societies, not Japan alone, have a prescribed form and manner for every familiar situation that might arise. Unforeseen situations can cause intense embarrassment or discomfort. Throughout East Asia, actions are judged by the manner in which they are performed. More important than the accomplishment of a task is the question of how someone went about trying to complete the task: Did he act sincerely? More important than winning the race is the grace of the runner. More important than expertise is the way one gets along with others. More important than profits is harmony. In contrast, Westerners and particularly Americans are more concerned with the principles of things, hard “measures” and objective facts. Although rules of ethics are extremely important, we are more goal oriented than method-conscious, we say “a good loser is a loser.”

One aspect of form is the concept of “face.” Much has been written about “face-saving” in Japan and China, but face-saving is important absolutely everywhere. The difference is only a matter of degree and nuance. Where an American might feel a little guilty or inadequate, an Asian, Arab or South American may feel deep shame and humiliation. What an American might see as a little honest and constructive criticism, the foreigner may take as a devastating blow to pride and dignity. A foreigner is likely to be sensitive to feelings of others in transactions that an American would consider strictly impersonal, such as returning a defective product or switching hairdressers. The traveler simply must be more conscious of saying things or behaving in ways that cannot be taken as disrespect, criticism or humiliation. In some countries it seems just about anything can be taken personally, even such indirect affronts as not taking your shoes off in a mosque or complaining about the heat.

Harmony with the environment can be as important as sensitivity to people in some cultures. In Japan a woman wears a soft pastel dress to a flower show so as not to take away from the beauty of the flowers. In countries where people believe in reincarnation they are careful about all forms of life. In India, for example, people are careful not to swallow gnats or step on ants—one might be a relative.

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Some of you might not know that I’m a huge fan of adventure racing.  Notice I didn’t say a huge adventure racer, just a huge fan.  I’ve actually competed in two races and plan to one day be an avid/consistent racer (3-5 races per year), but for right now I only dabble.  For those of you not familiar with adventure racing, think of being dropped in the woods with a compass (generally unfamiliar surroundings for a guy who made it through ONE boy scout meeting) and then asked to find a needle (checkpoint) in a ‘forrest haystack’ using said compass.  It ain’t easy, but it’s a blast!  My first race was a 24-hour, mind-numbing, feet-blistering, morale-crushing race.  I somehow managed to talk (trick?) my buddy Graham into racing with me.  We were asked to trek, navigate, bike, canoe and swim for 24 hours hours.  We spent 5 1/2 hours in a canoe (Graham, I won’t tell them what happened to you), and at one point I was literally seeing things moving in the woods while Graham was hearing thing in the woods.  Pretty freaky experience.  I can easily say that I won’t do another 24-hour race.

My latest race was just slightly different.  For the latest one, think more “Amazing Race” than “Survivor”.  The race was the part of the Oyster Racing Series, and they hold several races through the year in different cities.  Graham and I teamed up again, but this time we had our friend Bjon join us to form The Good, The Bad & The Ugly (you get to decided who is who!).  We covered about 30 miles total, but we didn’t canoe nor did we need a compass.  On this race we were given clues that led us around downtown Nashville to various sites and landmarks on foot and bike.  There were times that we used Bjon’s iPhone to look up a location, asked people for directions, and we were even allowed to use public transportation.  It was a completely different experience from the 24-hour race, and we’ll definitely be doing it again next year.  Here’s a great article recapping the Merrill team’s take on it.  The Merrill-sponsored team finished 6th in the men’s devision, while we finished 8th.  Not bad if you ask me!

I go running sometimes because I like to keep top shape and I know how fabulous—and not ugly—I look with sweat glistening off my body. Miles and miles I run and I never get tired. My muscles are never sore, and I run really fast. Really, really fast.

Except most of that is not true.

I do run, but it’s more of a light jog. Or a peppy walk. And I know this because I ran around the track once in college, and my friend just strolled by my side. I gave up running for a while after that. But I’m running again now. I’ve recovered from the embarrassment.

It’s just not graceful. I don’t look like a runner. My friend, who is my same height, once told me she felt like a giant, stomping and clumping around when she runs. And I can’t get it out of my head now. It’s what I think about every time I go running. So look out you regular sized people! Here I come! Feel the ground shake. The windows rattle.

No, strapping vikings aren’t graceful runners. At least not this one.

But a couple nights ago, I took a break from school to run with my dear husband. We like to run a 3-mile loop—not too long but long enough to make me hate running. Wait, can I change that to 5k? It sounds longer. And you’ll be more impressed. It’s a 5k loop. And it’s easy. And I don’t get out of breath doing it.

It was about 3 weeks since our last run because we’ve been busy—not because we’re lazy. I’m pretty sure. And so we started out, but my legs wouldn’t do what I told them to do. I told them to look long and sleek and sexy. But instead they just kind of dragged and womped along. I told them to stop embarrassing me because cars were passing and people could feel the ground shaking. And they said, “Lay off, woman,” but they kept me going.

And then about halfway through the run, my lungs started to protest. They felt heavy, soaking up the humidity like a sponge. My heart started to fight my lungs because they were lagging on the job. And my lungs were offended, so they retaliated with a side cramp. I told them to knock it off and do what they were supposed to do. But of course, nobody listens to me.

By the time we were two-thirds of the way through the run, I was positive I was going to die right there. “Young pastor’s wife dies of a heart attack…from running too fast..and looking too good doing it.” I was getting light-headed and wanted to tell Brandon that I needed to walk for a bit. But I couldn’t because I’m a prideful wretch.

I could feel the heat emanating from my face. The sweat dripping down my back. And I did one of those runs where you make your elbows swing violently at your side to help propel you. Yes, it looked stupid. No, I won’t show you. Stop laughing at me.

And I knew I couldn’t go on. I looked at Brandon and he was fine. Of course, because he’s handsome and athletic. What is 3 miles to him? So I pretended I was fine too. Just a little more. I couldn’t fail now! But my body sagged and lagged. No, I needed to stop. Just as I turned to tell Brandon, he grabbed my arm and slowed me down.

I was rescued! He save me from my shame. Isn’t it great how he always protects me from myself? He took the fall so I wouldn’t have to. He saw how miserable I looked and knew I needed to stop. And he knew I was too competitive to ask him. Or maybe he was just embarrassed that I was swinging my arms so much. Yea, let’s pretend it was because he saw how much I was struggling.

So I caught my breath. He asked if I wanted to run again, and I said I needed another minute. Or two. And when we started up again, everything was perfect and I was suddenly the runner I always dreamed of being. I was delicate and controlled like never before. And we lived happily thereafter.

No, you’re right. That’s not true either.

I may have stopped again because my shoe was untied, and I may have had to walk because I wanted to make sure it was tied right. And I lost a bit of momentum when some petite, well-sculpted middle-aged woman flew past us. I didn’t give her a mean look because I’m a pastor’s wife and we don’t do such things. But I secretly did. Forgive me.

And then it was over. It wasn’t a total failure. We made relatively good time, considering the circumstances. I mean, it was a few weeks since our last run, right? It was bound to be a little rough around the edges. All I kept thinking was three things:

1. JoAnne ran 20 miles yesterday with no iPod for 3 hours. How does she do it? How does she possibly do it?
2. I get to eat tortilla chips tonight.
3. I have to do this again on Thursday?

And so, here I am again. A few hours until our next run. I can do this. And I will be graceful and fast. I won’t be out of breath, and I will look fabulous doing it.