And so it begins.
I am officially registered for the Gorge Waterfalls 50k.
Bring on the hills, the water, the rocks.
Yahooooo!!!
Wednesday, November 30, 2011
Tuesday, November 29, 2011
getting on the log
I don't know about you, but for me, December is all about next year. Sure, there are millions of things to do with the holidays and all, but by far the sweetest is dreaming and planning next year's running.
I've been doing that a lot.
I've decided to "get on the log" as my husband would say.
Which basically means I'm going to make a decision and go with it, even if it means that I end up crashing spectacularly or finding myself at the bottom of a hill I never planned to ride.
I'm going with the ultras.
What "log" are you planning to ride in 2012? I want to hear about the races you are excited to be running next year!
I've been doing that a lot.
I've decided to "get on the log" as my husband would say.
Which basically means I'm going to make a decision and go with it, even if it means that I end up crashing spectacularly or finding myself at the bottom of a hill I never planned to ride.
I'm going with the ultras.
What "log" are you planning to ride in 2012? I want to hear about the races you are excited to be running next year!
Thursday, November 17, 2011
baking a pie
Baking pies has always intimidated me.
It was something best left done to the experts. It was too difficult. It was a complicated process that I wouldn't have the patience for. It was just too hard for me.
I wasn't making any pies, but I was making a lot of excuses.
Still, there was that small, still voice calling me to baking.
Make a pie, it whispered.
There were no further whispers of encouragement.
Just 'make a pie'.
So I stalled. I practiced making cookies instead. Cookies were small. And then I baked a cake. From scratch. And it was good.
Still no pie.
Banana bread, pumpkin bread. Check.
Make a pie, the voice still whispered.
How about chocolate mousse? Pork carnitas? Spaghetti squash?
Make a pie.
Finally, the voice had been whispering long enough. So today, I made my final preparations. Gathered my ingredients. Read my recipe. Did all my training, you might say. And then I made my pie.
It just came out of the oven. And it smells delicious.
It is not pretty. First attempts seldom are. But it is finished. I am at the finish line, and it feels great.
Running can be like that. That small, still voice whispers "run a marathon". "Do a 50 miler." "Run across your state."
It is scary. It might be best left done to the experts. It might be too difficult. It might be a complicated process that you just don't have the patience for. It might be too hard for you.
Then again, you might just find yourself at the finish line, your sloppy first effort in hand. And it just might feel fantastic.
What is your small, still voice asking you to do?
It was something best left done to the experts. It was too difficult. It was a complicated process that I wouldn't have the patience for. It was just too hard for me.
I wasn't making any pies, but I was making a lot of excuses.
Still, there was that small, still voice calling me to baking.
Make a pie, it whispered.
There were no further whispers of encouragement.
Just 'make a pie'.
So I stalled. I practiced making cookies instead. Cookies were small. And then I baked a cake. From scratch. And it was good.
Still no pie.
Banana bread, pumpkin bread. Check.
Make a pie, the voice still whispered.
How about chocolate mousse? Pork carnitas? Spaghetti squash?
Make a pie.
Finally, the voice had been whispering long enough. So today, I made my final preparations. Gathered my ingredients. Read my recipe. Did all my training, you might say. And then I made my pie.
It just came out of the oven. And it smells delicious.
It is not pretty. First attempts seldom are. But it is finished. I am at the finish line, and it feels great.
Running can be like that. That small, still voice whispers "run a marathon". "Do a 50 miler." "Run across your state."
It is scary. It might be best left done to the experts. It might be too difficult. It might be a complicated process that you just don't have the patience for. It might be too hard for you.
Then again, you might just find yourself at the finish line, your sloppy first effort in hand. And it just might feel fantastic.
What is your small, still voice asking you to do?
If you'd like to try your hand at making a pie from scratch, I highly recommend the instructions from smitten kitchen. I made this apple pie.
If you are craving carnitas, she's got a fabulous recipe for those. You will feel like a total rockstar when you whip up a batch!
for your listening pleasure
These free music mixes are great for running tempos or anything that requires energetic effort. My current faves are Rock to the Beat and Miles Fly By. They are able to give them away for free because they use samples from the music - not the entire song - which is especially great for those catchy tunes that quickly become annoying when you listen to the song in its entirety. They pay attention to the beats per minute of the songs as well, so that the middle of the mix gives you the most intensity. A resource worth checking out!
Endurance Planet:
Endurance Planet was one of my go-to podcasts many moons ago, so I was very disappointed when they stopped producing episodes. A few months back, though, new owner Ben Greenfield revived the resource, and their new podcasts are better than ever. While much of it is about triathlon training, they have produced a new section just for ultrarunners. Greenfield's nutrition information is great too.
Endurance Planet was one of my go-to podcasts many moons ago, so I was very disappointed when they stopped producing episodes. A few months back, though, new owner Ben Greenfield revived the resource, and their new podcasts are better than ever. While much of it is about triathlon training, they have produced a new section just for ultrarunners. Greenfield's nutrition information is great too.
These guys are great. Brothers-in-law Ray and Jason explore the world of running from their nerdy, newbie perspective (though I can't say they are newbies anymore - both completed their first marathons in the past two months). They also land a ton of great guests! Well worth a listen.
When you've had enough of running information, this podcast is a great alternative. Every episode explores a new, random history topic. I've learned about the first female surgeon in the Union Army, the history of alchemy (did you know that chemistry is just a new name for alchemy?), the story of the likely inspiration for Mary Shelley's Dr. Frankenstein and more than I ever imagined I could learn about the history of the first blood transfusions (way back in the 1600's). Well written and professionally produced, this podcast is fascinating.
What have you been listening to lately?
What have you been listening to lately?
Wednesday, November 16, 2011
I've been quiet for awhile. Running more. Joined the gym so I can swim more regularly. Doing the life thing. What have you been up to?
I have also discovered timelapse videos. The guy who made this one is putting together a movie that will be released in the spring. Enjoy!
TimeScapes: Rapture from Tom Lowe on Vimeo.
I have also discovered timelapse videos. The guy who made this one is putting together a movie that will be released in the spring. Enjoy!
TimeScapes: Rapture from Tom Lowe on Vimeo.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)