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January 31, 2008
Free day
As my favorite Scrabulous opponent reminded me, today was my first day in my limited run as a lady of leisure. I start my new job next Tuesday, so it's not as if this is going to be a permanent thing. But I enjoyed sleeping in a little and then being able to get a few things done. I went for a run first, and had that weird feeling back in the side of my leg, kind of like a muscle weakness. Stretching it helped a little, but I'm thinking this might be due to something I'm doing on the bike since that's all I've done for the past few days. Ironically, my knees felt fine. I am really tired of feeling so out of shape on every run, too. I would love to just get back to a decent level of fitness so that my runs are more enjoyable! It was nice today to run when the sun was fully out instead of just coming up! But on the flip side, I had to stop at many more lights and intersections.
I had lunch plans with a friend from grad school who is leaving on Saturday to spend the next six months in Namibia for work! I will really miss her as we try to hang out every two weeks or so and we always have fun. I warned her that I will probably be in a bad mood when she gets back because it will be July. :)
After lunch I had a dentist appointment to get my permanent crown put on. However, the dentist was unhappy with the level of detail on the crown and sent it back and put the temp back on. I understood but I was kind of annoyed because that means that I have to come back in two weeks and my new job is nowhere near there. But it's not the end of the world.
I did a couple more errands (grocery shopping in the middle of the day is amazing! so efficient!) and then came home. I didn't feel like lifting today because I pulled an ab muscle last night so I rode the bike while catching up on the latest season of "Real World/Road Rules Challenge." That's actually a good show to watch on the bike because it is so action-packed!
Matt has a cold/flu thing so I am really hoping it is both short-lived and I don't catch it just in time for my first week of work!
Posted by becky at 8:16 PM | Comments (0)
January 30, 2008
Last day
Today was my last day at work. Even though I've only been there about a year and a half, I've met some really great people and I woke up dreading the day of goodbyes. As usual, I worked out in the morning, on the bike today because of yesterday's injection, although my knee felt absolutely fine this time. I watched "The Office" and tried not to zone out and keep working hard. I think I did pretty well, judging by the puddle of sweat I left on the mat my bike sits on!
The work day flew by between a couple of meetings and mostly just packing up and trying to finish a few final things. My boss organized a little cupcake party for me and it was really nice. Everyone said really nice things about me and wished me well, so I was really grateful. I also got a silver card holder for my new desk and a Georgetown t-shirt so I can represent in my new gym. Nice!
Once I had brought all my desk stuff to my car, I went to the gym for the last time and to pack up all the stuff I had in my locker. It actually wasn't too crowded tonight and I had a good workout (a little biking and a lot of upper body) and then figured out how to get everything from the gym to the car, about a half-mile away. It all worked out and now I get a couple of days to relax (well, go to the dentist tomorrow) and prepare for some new routines!
Posted by becky at 8:50 PM | Comments (0)
January 29, 2008
Staying on the safe side
I had a weird feeling in the outside of my leg (definitely muscular) yesterday for most of the day after running and although it did feel a little better in the morning, I thought it prudent to bike this morning, despite knowing that I will definitely be cross training tomorrow because I got another injection today. My latest Netflix hadn't arrived yet so I watched part of "Fast Food Nation." I really enjoyed the book--I have a distinct memory of reading it during Jury Duty in 2002--but the movie was kind of slow. I should probably finish it before I make a final judgment, but I may not have time.
I can't believe tomorrow is my last day at work. I still feel like there is a lot to get done although it's inevitable that much of it won't get done. I keep imagining that hourglass from the beginning of "Days of Our Lives" slowly winding down. I do have a few days between jobs to sort of catch my breath, but not enough so that I will really feel like I took a break.
I biked a bit on the stationary bike and then lifted, dodging the crowds as usual. I actually got a turn on the bench press--a minor miracle. I tried to be better about having more substantial snacks during the day today but I still found myself hungry when I was there.
My last injection (for now) went fine. I am supposed to give it about six weeks and the reassess. If it helps, I will get the same injections in the other knee, I think. But for now, it's just more wait and see.
Posted by becky at 8:49 PM | Comments (1)
January 28, 2008
Creaky run
I probably should have biked today, but I want to see how my body reacts to more than two days in a row of running. I felt okay for the first few miles--probably because it was flat--and then started getting a little achy when I had to go up Wisconsin Ave. from Georgetown. It's not a particularly steep hill, but it is long and I was working hard despite crawling along at a snail's pace. I decided to take a shortcut back to Mass. Ave. through the woods behind the Vice President's residence and realized that my knees/joints are stiff enough so that I can't easily jump over logs or climb up big steps on the trails. I didn't fall, but it was close. I'm sure I would have tripped if I had been going at more than a crawl! In any case, I made it home in one piece but both knees were kind of stiff walking around later.
I was busy all day at work continuing to wrap things up before my last day on Wednesday. It really doesn't seem real, although I am excited to start my new job next week. And to start going to my new gym, which I hope will be a little less crowded than the Georgetown gym was today! I was lucky enough to get a bike, but getting a spot and mat to do abs was very challenging. I did my thing as efficiently as possible and then got out of there--just like always.
Posted by becky at 9:50 PM | Comments (0)
January 27, 2008
Pretty, pretty good
We got in kind of late last night (for me, at least--around midnight) so it was really hard to get up this morning. Not that I got up that early, but I wasn't really ready. But Camille and I had planned to meet at 8:45am so I convinced myself to stick to my end of the bargain. We did our Sunday standard route in Georgetown and on the Canal. It seemed cold at first but was actually really nice, especially compared to last week's biting wind. We kept ourselves entertained by chatting and I was glad that my knees felt okay. Definitely creaky/sore when I was done, but overall not too bad. When we were almost back, a large group of fast runners were coming toward us and I recognized one woman who I know a little and who qualified for the Trials a couple of weeks ago. She saw me too and I was able to shout out my congratulations, which was nice. She has always been one of the friendlier local fast runners.
This afternoon was pretty busy again, between meeting with a prospective Cornell student and grocery shopping, which took way longer than it should have because so many people were there. It was insane, and when I was waiting in one of the aisles trying to get into a checkout line, the manager came by and told a bunch of us to go to the express line. I was thrilled, until this crotchety old woman came into the line yelling at me that I had more than 15 items despite the cashier's insistence that the manager told me to come over there. Sometimes I can't stand people! I was glad to get out of there unscathed.
I just biked while watching the Boston Indoor Games. Wish I could have been there for the two-mile record assault...it was a great effort by Kim Smith (as well as Defar, of course) and Defar seemed really excited by the whole thing, which is nice considering breaking records is old hat for her!
Posted by becky at 6:42 PM | Comments (0)
January 26, 2008
Social run
My friend Liz is in town this weekend so we made plans to meet up to run this morning. It took less than 5 minutes for each of us to run toward each other so that worked out well. We headed up 16th Street for a few miles and then dropped down into Rock Creek Park. My legs were stiff starting out and I was huffing and puffing on the first hill, but I ended up feeling okay. Hopefully I didn't slow Liz down too much. We were chatting away the whole time so it went by quickly. It was sunny but pretty chilly and surprisingly I was appropriately attired.
We had a lot going on today. First we had a handyman over to fix some little things that have been bothering us, and then we went to take a really good look at a house we like. We spent more than 2 hours there, but I think we're probably going to keep looking for a place that we like even more. Then I went to get a manicure with Liz, who is having a birthday party tonight, and we are getting ready to head out for a quick bite and then the aforementioned party and one other. I still wish I could go to the Boston Indoor Games, but it should be a fun night all the same.
Posted by becky at 6:43 PM | Comments (0)
January 25, 2008
Inside again
This morning's real feel was in the teens or maybe single digits this morning, and although I don't mind running in it, I think my knees do and I also wasn't in the mood to get all those layers on. I plan to run both weekend days (fingers crossed) so I figured today was a good day to bike anyway. I had two more episodes of "House" to watch as well. My legs felt good so I was able to go pretty hard on the bike until I started to feel myself running out of energy. I forgot to turn the heat down and didn't want to get off in the middle of the workout to do so, so that probably added to my feeling like I was working hard!
So I enjoyed "Spirit of the Marathon" last night (as did Matt) but I thought it was a little trite. I was also kind of sad the whole time because I kept thinking that I might never be able to run a marathon again. But it was nice to run into several people (runners, of course) after the movie who I hadn't seen in a long time.
I'm excited to see the results from the first big indoor meets of the season this weekend. One of the things I loved about living in Boston was being able to go to Reggie Lewis to watch the Boston Indoor Games and other meets...we only have Nike Indoor Nationals and only for only one more year. But following them online (and on TV, sometimes) is pretty good.
Happy weekend to all!
Posted by becky at 4:47 PM | Comments (0)
January 24, 2008
Out there
I was able to get out there this morning for a run, which was good. I did my urban/hospitals loop and it was actually really nice out (in my opinion). Not too windy and cold but not uncomfortably so. My legs felt better than a couple of days ago when they were lead weights, but I had some usual knee aches and pains. Nothing new, I guess.
My other workout today--lifting and biking at the gym--has already occurred because Matt and I are going to see "Spirit of the Marathon" tonight. When I first checked where it was playing, the closest theater was in Alexandria and I figured I'd just wait to get it on DVD. But I checked again this weekend and saw that a DC theater had been added, and even Matt agreed to come. I am looking forward to it!
Posted by becky at 4:26 PM | Comments (0)
January 23, 2008
Recovery bike
I bolted out of bed this morning about 15 minutes after I had intended. Sometimes I don't even hear my alarm the first few times! I got dressed and ready to bike as quickly as I could because I had somewhere to be this morning and I didn't have a whole lot of time to play with. Today's entertainment selection was a couple of episodes of "House." My knee has definitely reacted better to this injection than the last, which is a relief. It could be the spot where he injected me, but I felt pretty normal biking today, although I didn't do too many climbs. I worked hard since I didn't have a lot of time and I felt pretty satisfied with the way it turned out.
I don't think I've blogged about it yet, but I am actually leaving my current job to take a new one in about a week. So work lately has been pretty busy with tying up loose ends and training other people to do the work I do. I am excited about my new opportunity, which is more public health focused than the work I am doing now, but it doesn't feel real yet because I have a lot of things to finish up. In any case, I was pretty busy today and before I knew it the day was over and I was headed to the gym to lift. It was super crowded as has been the case lately and I felt like I was always in someone's way. I got through things as quickly as I could and got out of there!
Posted by becky at 9:20 PM | Comments (1)
January 22, 2008
Trudging along
I did not have the best run in the world this morning, but it was more the way my body felt than my legs, although my legs were achy, too. I just felt really fatigued and like I was moving through molasses--we all know that feeling. When I got up to the Cathedral (huffing and puffing), this woman stopped me and asked if I had seen the fire. I of course asked what fire and she pointed to show me that much of Wisconsin Ave. was blocked off. I learned later that a strip club had burned down--no one was hurt, but it did cause my 10-minute bus ride to become a 45-minute bus ride later in the morning. Anyway, I slogged through the run and made it home feeling exhausted. Sometimes you have those days, I guess.
Since it took so long to get to work, I had to rush off to interview someone almost as soon as I walked in and then I was due at the knee doc for my second injection. This time he did it on the inside and it really hurt! At least it's quick. I asked about the swelling last time and he said it could be a reaction but probably not; I am supposed to keep an eye on it this time. So far it feels a little weird, and tender where the needle went in, but not too bad. I was able to bike a bit at the gym this afternoon (although I actually had to wait on line to get a bike, it was so crowded) and I felt fine. I hope tomorrow's workout (planning to bike) is similarly uneventful.
Posted by becky at 8:46 PM | Comments (0)
January 21, 2008
Productive day
I had the day off today (Matt didn't; I thought MLK Day was pretty universal but I guess not) but our handyman was supposed to show up at 10am so I was on the bike pretty early. My legs felt better today than they did the last couple of times I biked and I felt like I was able to work a little harder. I watched this past week's "ER" (which may be the last new pre-writer's strike episode as there were no previews) and the always-interesting "Real World" reunion show. Quite entertaining.
Of course, by 11am the handyman still hadn't shown up and I called him to find out he was stuck with car trouble. We are going to try for Saturday. I did a couple of things around the neighborhood and then settled in for a couple of hours of work on this presentation I am doing at a meeting in May (on a Sunday at 8am in Baltimore, ugh) with a few Georgetown colleagues. I am trying to convince Matt that we should make a Baltimore weekend out of it...not sure it's going to happen since the Orioles are out of town. We'll see.
This afternoon I went to the gym to lift and then tonight we are going to the Georgetown-Syracuse basketball game. I haven't been to one all season and Matt promises to be rooting for Syracuse (upstate NY pride?) so it should be fun.
Posted by becky at 6:03 PM | Comments (0)
January 19, 2008
Glad to be out there
I wasn't sure if I was going to run or bike this morning until I got out the door. I definitely woke up feeling more rested--partially because Matt turned off my alarm and I just let myself wake up naturally, which I hardly ever do--which was a good feeling. My knee, or really the area right above my knee, was still a little puffy and stiff but I figured I'd run a mile, see how I felt, and then come back in to bike if need be. It was hard to tell at first but happily things loosened up and I was able to do one of my usual routes with no ill effects afterwards (just the same stiffness, at least so far). It was nice out--chilly but not cold like it is predicted to be tomorrow morning (Accuweather is predicting a real feel of 9, so I am going to have to get out my Boston gear). I struggled with the last hill but otherwise felt okay and was relieved that the run went better than I anticipated.
When I got home, Matt was working out on the bike, which was great. We ate breakfast/brunch and then I did my usual Saturday morning cleaning. In th afternoon, I drove to Leilani's new house--about 45 minutes west of me in Virginia--to hang out with her for a few hours. Now that she's five or so months pregnant, she's not running a whole lot and neither one of us are able to make it to the Saturday Long Runs. It was fun to catch up and she even accompanied me to Lowe's to buy some fluorescent light bulbs.
I was tired from all the driving (although not really that much!) when I got back and I think I am going to be content to have a quiet night in tonight.
Posted by becky at 8:11 PM | Comments (0)
January 18, 2008
New shoes, same knee
I don't have any idea why, but I've been feeling less rested than I want to be and than I should be based on the amount of sleep I've gotten this week. I woke up wanting to go right back to sleep but after a few snoozes, I finally got out of bed and on the bike to finish Season 2 of "The Office." (Or maybe there is another DVD to go, I'm not sure.) Although the back/outside of my knee pinching that bothered me yesterday was better this morning, my knee was a little swollen near the IT band insertion point. I'm thinking it might be due to things moving around after the SYNVISC injection, but whatever the reason, it didn't feel too great and I avoided climbing and just tried to maintain a steady pace. I used the new shoes I got at the bike store the other day and they felt good, although the cleats Matt picked up for me are single-release and I need to get used to that as I had multi-release before.
My knee has been feeling better throughout the day and I iced it too so I hope that the trend will continue. It is supposed to be quite cold this weekend and I will be grateful for the opportunity to brave the weather, but it may have to be a biking weekend. I hate playing it by ear but that's what I've gotta do.
Happy weekend to all!
Posted by becky at 7:52 PM | Comments (0)
January 17, 2008
Another record-breaking sweat story
Other people have sob stories; I have sweat stories. I took my bike in last night to get the chain fixed, and the mechanic took one look at it and said it was obvious that salt (from my sweat) had actually broken the chain. He had never seen that before and was kind of impressed (so was I). I got a new chain and a new crank (I think that's what it is called) as well as some bike shoes that were more than 50% off. It was all very efficient, probably because most people don't need bike repairs in the winter!
So this morning I was back on the bike, watching "The Office." My knee has been feeling a little weird after the injection, which means it is probably slightly swollen (not visibly). I had some discomfort in an area that had been bothering me about a month ago--the tendon that connects the hamstring to the knee in the very outside corner of the knee. I guess it has to do with something I'm doing while clipped in to the bike--maybe subconsciously turning my foot in or out or something? I just can't figure it out. It wasn't getting worse though and I've been trying to baby it all day. I'll see how it feels in the morning.
We have a hotel opening to go to tonight so I went to the gym during lunch again. It started snowing this morning and has been snowing or sleeting every since--it took me twice as long as usual to get there and I got salt all over my boots, bringing me back to the days of sorority rush when I ruined my brand-new dress shoes by traipsing across a snowy Cornell campus! Once I got in there I dried off and biked a little and then lifted. The track team was practicing while I was there and most of the distance folks were doing their runs on the treadmill...ugh. As I was leaving, I saw a group of girl runners who appeared to have braved the weather and they looked much happier! I would have definitely chosen the colder option.
Posted by becky at 3:55 PM | Comments (0)
January 16, 2008
Worth a 'shot'
This morning was an early wake-up call (or alarm) as I had a work meeting at 8am. It was also pretty chilly, so it wasn't super-easy to get out the door...but I did, at least for a few miles. My legs today just felt heavy and stiff, and I'm pretty sure that's mostly because of some lower body and core work that I did yesterday. I just felt like I was dragging, but the only thing that was bothering me in terms of discomfort was my pes issue. I did one of my downtown loops and it was still dark as I was coming across the plaza in front of the White House, which made me feel like I was trespassing...it was weird. I also noticed that the protesters who camp out there day in and day out must really camp out there as they were out in full force at that hour.
I was able to make it to the meeting on time--even early!--and was glad I had gotten some time for myself. Later in the morning, I went to see Dr. K., my orthopedist, for the first of a series of three SYNVISC injections, which is hylanuric (sp?) acid meant to increase the viscosity of the synovial fluid in the knee. He says it works in some patients and not others, so I will give it a whirl as a last hurrah. The shot didn't really hurt but it's kind of sore now. He told me to bike instead of run for a day or two, so I am hoping to get my bike fixed up tonight!
I did dash out to lift (no leg stuff in order to take it easy on the knee) in the afternoon so I can do the bike thing and meet a friend for dinner. Matt is also due back from his New York trip tonight, so a lot going on!
Posted by becky at 4:52 PM | Comments (0)
January 15, 2008
Frozen hands
I checked the weather before I left for my run this morning and thought I dressed appropriately--or appropriately for me, anyway. It wasn't very windy or anything, and I had gloves on, but my hands were freezing almost the entire time and in fact worsened throughout the run! This is not a common occurrence for me. But that was pretty much my biggest complaint--I had a little pes/knee pain here and there but for the most part felt good. When I got home, I couldn't wait to warm up my hands, but they hurt so much that I could barely get my gloves off to turn the key in the door. They did eventually thaw out, but boy is that an uncomfortable feeling! I will wear my warmer gloves tomorrow and try not to worry about hot hands.
I spent a lot of the morning training our new intern and then made myself cold again by walking to the one decent lunch place near work. (And it really was not that cold out today--in the 40s I think!) By the time I left the gym tonight--which incidentally was SO crowded--the wind had picked up and I was hoping I'd catch the bus to save myself the walk home in a jacket that wasn't really weather-appropriate. Alas, the bus never came but some good old-fashioned race-walking with two bags did the trick!
Posted by becky at 9:18 PM | Comments (0)
January 14, 2008
One of those days
I was looking forward to getting on the bike this morning and catching up on my shows, but I was also a little worried because the chain had been catching last time I rode it and I wasn't sure what was going on. I made it through last week's "Grey's" and some of "ER" before the chain completely snapped off. I hate, hate, hate not being able to finish workouts and I was livid. But I really didn't have time to, say, go for a run or something. And of course the bike store wasn't open. So I sucked it up and just added a bit of biking to my post-work gym routine tonight. But I definitely felt out of sorts in the morning and like I had some unfinished business!
The bike store actually doesn't open until 10am on the weekdays, so it is going to be tough to figure out a time to bring it in. I was thinking about that on the bus when we were stuck about a block away from Georgetown waiting to be able to turn into the entrance. It took forever and I was standing because there were no more seats. Once I got off, I rushed to my office to get there in time to meet our new intern and of course I ran into her outside right as we were both coming in. She's really easygoing though, so it wasn't a big deal. But THEN we found out that the student intern space we'd been promised was no longer available, and that just meant a whole lot of scrambling and figuring annoying things out for the rest of the day.
But still, all minor annoyances in the grand scheme of things, and the rest of the day went fine. I did do a little more biking at the gym and then ended up doing a little less lifting than I intended, but I'm sure I'll make up for it this week or next!
Posted by becky at 9:27 PM | Comments (0)
January 13, 2008
Humbling hometown hills
I did not have the best night's sleep last night because Matt and I were sharing my single bed in my parents' house, so I definitely didn't feel rested when I woke up. But I had to be out the door by about 8am since we were going to this bris later in the morning (a bris, by the way, is the ceremony during which a Jewish boy is circumcised by a rabbi and then everyone celebrates). Anyway, it is supposed to snow in New York tonight and tomorrow but it wasn't too bad this morning. As I've written about before, my town is very hilly and all my loops involve ups and downs. Today I made sure to just take both the uphills and the downhills easy and I did okay. My pes was bothering me for the first mile and then I stretched my adductors and I felt better--this is something I learned in PT or from some doctor and I don't really understand how they are connected but it does seem to help. I was really dragging on the last little uphill back to my parents' house but was glad to have three runs in a row that were pretty decent. My knees were both achy for a couple of hours afterwards but feel okay now.
The bris was nice and we got to see a bunch of friends and parents of friends that we hadn't seen in a long time. After that, Matt and his sister and I went over to Matt's dad's house to see him. Unfortunately I could only stay about a half-hour because I was catching a 3:15 train back to D.C. The train ride was long but I slept for probably about half of it and now I'm trying to get myself ready for the work week. Matt will stay in New York for a few days to look at some properties and have some meetings, so I am on my own until mid-week.
Posted by becky at 9:30 PM | Comments (0)
January 12, 2008
Nice run
We are at my parents' house after a nice day of traveling to New York and socializing. I woke up and went for a run on the early side (we took a mid-morning train) and it went well. I did a similar route to the one I've done the past two Saturdays, only in the other direction. No major complaints and although I did struggle on the hilliest portion, I was pleased with how it went. It was a little chilly to start out but warmed up nicely to about 50 degrees and sunny when I was finished. A lot of the run was in Rock Creek Park and it was still early so it was quiet (except near the Zoo, where there were a bunch of hyenas or something making loud noises) and just one of those runs where you're glad to start the day outside.
Even though our train was not early, we hit traffic on the way to Union Station and very nearly missed it. We made it by about 30 seconds and were quite relieved. I mostly slept but read a little on the train and then my parents picked us up in New Rochelle. It was already late afternoon by that point so we hung out for a bit then went to visit my grandmother very briefly in the Bronx and then to Manhattan to meet my sister and her boyfriend for dinner. I am still full, but it was delicious. I feel like we made the most of the time we had in New York today. Tomorrow we have a bris to go to and then I'll go back to D.C. while Matt will stay in New York for a few days for work. A short but sweet (so far) visit!
Posted by becky at 10:26 PM | Comments (0)
January 11, 2008
Warm and rainy
It didn't look like it was raining when I left this morning, so I didn't bring my hat. It was only misting when I got outside, but I was too lazy to go back upstairs and get it. It kind of stayed that way the whole time--no downpours or anything--but as my hair got wetter, it started coming out of its bun, and I wished I did have my hat. Other than the weather, things went all right. I didn't run too far but there were a couple of hills involved and I tried to work on my form because when I don't think about it, I fall right back into the same poor stride patterns that I realize are causing a lot of my knee/leg troubles.
I ate a leisurely (and filling) breakfast at home because I was going straight to the dentist and I knew it would be a while before I'd be able to chew again. I was having my tooth prepped for a crown and it ended up taking almost two hours, much of that drilling and other uncomfortable things. It was awful, but I tried to be good, and my dentist affirmed that I was a very "helpful" patient (what, opening my mouth wider when told?) When I finally got back to work, the numbness was wearing off and the pain was starting. I've been taking ibuprofen every four hours and it is helping--in fact, I think it must be time for another dose since it is hurting again. I have the worst teeth!
We are likely heading to NY this weekend to see family and because our friends just had a baby and his bris is on Sunday. Happy weekend to all!
Posted by becky at 7:44 PM | Comments (0)
January 10, 2008
Laugh-a-rama
I am a recent Netflix subscriber and a new DVD of "The Office" arrived yesterday, perfect for a day on the bike. For some reason I found these episodes particularly funny and I felt like I was laughing my way through the workout, which I guess is good. I felt more "normal" during the ride than I had recently, meaning fewer aches and pains. I was steaming after about 20 minutes on the bike and although I hate to stop, I had to open a window. (But today was in the 50s, cool compared to most of this week!)
The morning at work was quiet, and I was able to get to the gym at lunch to bike a little and lift. I am more sore from swimming than I expected, although considering how long it's been, I don't know why I thought I wouldn't be hurting! I definitely stayed away from doing too much shoulder stuff.
Once I got back to my desk, things got much busier. I took photos (for work) at a reception in the evening and then went to meet my friend Debbie for dinner. I hadn't seen her since before the holidays and she is leaving to spend six months in Africa soon, so I'm glad we got the chance to catch up. We had dinner at a pizza place that is oddly ping-pong themed. We didn't play any ping-pong, but the option was definitely there!
Posted by becky at 5:14 PM | Comments (0)
January 9, 2008
Still summery
The temperature definitely fell throughout the day today (leaving me ill prepared for my walk home) but in the morning when I left to run it was still very warm. I guess it was cloudy, but it stayed darkish almost the whole time I was running and I wasn't out all that early. I did one of my standard routes that goes east toward the dividing line between the NW and NE quadrants of the city and then makes kind of a square to get back. It was windy but not really that annoying since it was so warm. I felt...okay. The usual aches and pains but no need to remind myself--or anyone else--of that.
Today was kind of a blah day at work. I was supposed to have a meeting that would have helped me finish something, and then the meeting got canceled. That was annoying. And I didn't like the sandwich I bought for lunch...just that kind of day. But no major complaints.
Every machine was taken at the gym tonight--with a long line for ellipticals--so I did my core stuff and then went to swim. Boy, it has been a long time since I've been in the pool so I only did about 30 minutes, which was all I could stand. I have never really been in great swimming shape, but now I am in no swimming shape. I hope no one was laughing at me. But it was nice to mix it up a bit and do something different. It is worth noting, by the way, that my knee/hamstring/something hurts when I swim if I am not using the pull buoy. I don't get how it could really be the osteoarthritis if there is no impact, but I guess the kicking motion does call the knee anatomy into play so it's probably more my poor alignment. Sometimes I get depressed about the fact that I am such a mess...but I'm trying not to think about it.
Posted by becky at 8:19 PM | Comments (0)
January 8, 2008
Balmy days of Jan.
I must admit, it was kind of nice to roll out of bed this morning and know that I didn't really need to worry about dressing for the weather. It was a little breezy, but very warm. Matt was up early too because he was taking the train to New York this morning. We chatted a bit since he was out last night watching the BCS game and I was sleeping when he came home, and then I headed out. My knees were similarly achy as they had been the past couple of days I ran, but nothing too terrible. I huffed and puffed up to the Cathedral and then just kind of made up a new route on the way back. Part of it involved running through a development that appeared to cut through to a main road and when I got to the other side of the development, I was blocked in by a gate! Luckily a woman was coming out and I snuck through the gate. When I got back from my run I was very hot and thirsty...kind of like I feel in the summer months!
Nothing much else to report from the day, although it is worth mentioning that I wore flip-flops on my way to the bus this morning :) I went to the gym tonight--lots of students--and am now home watching the coverage of the New Hampshire primaries. I've become interested again after the Iowa caucuses and the realization that the election is less than a year away!
Posted by becky at 8:58 PM | Comments (0)
January 7, 2008
Ache of the week
Instead of talking about how cold it was outside, the radio guy that woke me up (maybe it was a woman today?) was talking about unseasonably warm temps. I was bike-bound this morning, so the only adjustment I made was to open the window behind me. And voila--no cold air blew back at me. (Actually, there wasn't any breeze, so I was pretty hot the whole time.) I watched a couple of episodes of "House" and was working hard, but my pes was bothering me, so I cut out the hill climbs after a half hour or so. I wonder if it has to do with my position on the bike...but since it's only the right leg, I somehow doubt it.
My day went by quickly today because I was busy. As much as I hated being sweaty by the time I got down to the bus, it was nice not having to wear a coat. And I sat outside to eat lunch, which was certainly something I haven't done (in DC) for a long time. But I'm not the only one that is bothered by these chronic bouts of unseasonable temperatures--I've heard a lot of rumblings of, "This is global warming..." , "This just isn't right..." etc.
Tonight I went to the gym and the students have started to return. It was kind of nice though, I've been lonely and I like the challenge of fighting for the bench press (sometimes).
I want to give a big blog shout-out to (devoted reader) Liz tonight...HAPPY 30TH BIRTHDAY, KID!
Posted by becky at 9:18 PM | Comments (0)
January 6, 2008
Achy knees, but I survived
It was raining when I woke up this morning, but by the time I got to Georgetown to meet Camille, it had pretty much stopped. It was much warmer than it had been in past days and that apparently will be the trend for a few days! Camille and I did our usual route. Neither one of us is in great shape and I felt like we were shuffling along, but it was the right pace. I was really glad when we got onto the Canal for the last few miles, but ironically it was on that soft surface where my left (good) knee began to hurt. Both of my knees are pretty achy nowadays. I am really hopeful that these new injections I am going to start (in a couple of weeks) will at least help a little.
When I wasn't reading (or on the bike, which I did for a "House" episode) today, I was cooking. I made a big whole roast chicken, a spinach salad with oranges and avocados, sauteed brussel sprouts (leaves) with pistachio nuts, and whole wheat cous cous. We had our usual Sunday company and everyone seemed to like it!
Posted by becky at 6:51 PM | Comments (0)
January 5, 2008
Feels like a long run
It is frustrating that an hourlong run leaves me feeling like a two-hour run used to. Well, not quite, bu I ran a little more than an hour and have been kind of tired and even a little sore for the rest of the day. I had a little bit of my usual aches and pains during the run itself, but nothing terrible and I felt pretty strong, even passing a few people at various points along my route. I did virtually the same route as last week, although the end was different since I didn't come up through the Zoo today. The outside of my (bad) leg has been sore since I got back--it kind of feels like a muscle spasm or something. I've been working with "The Stick" to try and loosen it up. I'm sure it has to do with the way that I'm running despite my attempts to normalize my stride.
It's warming up outside but still chilly. Word on the street is that it will be near 70s in the middle of the week. I'll just pretend that I'm on vacation in a state where those temps are normal for January!
We've had a quiet day and are staying in tonight. I went to the library this afternoon to pick up some books on hold so I will probably be found with my nose in one of those tonight! I should rest up since I am supposed to run with Camille tomorrow for the first time in weeks!
Posted by becky at 7:41 PM | Comments (0)
January 4, 2008
Short week
Today was definitely the longest and busiest day of the week--the first day since the holidays that things finally felt back to normal at work. So although it was a short one, I am still glad it is the weekend!
I started my day on the bike. I've just started watching the show "House" (on DVD, of course) so after finishing up "The Office," I watched that. Despite the fact that it is not an up-tempo, bike-friendly show, I enjoyed it and got in a good workout with lots of hill climbs. I am having a little pes soreness these days, which seems to come and go. I would love to be able to run this weekend so hopefully I'll feel okay.
We don't have any big weekend plans, and I don't mind at all. I bet this weekend with feel very short considering the past two have been four days long!
Happy weekend to all!
Posted by becky at 8:12 PM | Comments (0)
January 3, 2008
Legit
It was legitimately cold this morning. When I woke up, I heard the guy on the radio saying it was "as cold as it gets in Washington." Perhaps recently--it was in the teens. I dressed appropriately though so I was okay until I got to the reservoir near Howard U. and the wind coming off was just freezing. The toe I got frostbite in eons ago was hurting, reminding me how long it's been since I've run in those temps. Never fear, record highs are predicted for the Northeast (and presumably the mid-Atlantic) this weekend into next week. So I'll "enjoy" it while it lasts.
As for the running part of the run, both knees were sort of achy in the IT band area, but did loosen up. I stopped and stretched at one point and that seemed to help. No unusual aches and pains besides that appeared. There weren't too many people out because of the weather but I did see a lot of discarded Christmas trees.
Georgetown was much busier today and I had a lot more to do. I think that will be a trend as more people return and start digging out of their email backlogs. One neat thing I did today was tag along with a group of high school science superstars on a tour of the hospital's new Cyberknife, which is a way of delivering targeted radiation therapy to certain types of tumors--it is advertised as bloodless surgery, although it is a bit more complicated than that. The radiation tech who led the tour was great, and the students were very impressive.
I went to the gym tonight but was dragging. I thought I ate enough today but sometimes I am just lacking energy. I am waiting for Matt to come home so we can grab a bite to eat somewhere in our neighborhood. It is freezing in our apartment so we want to let it warm up a bit.
Posted by becky at 8:14 PM | Comments (1)
January 2, 2008
It sounded windy outside...
...so I was glad I was inside on the bike this morning. As glad as I was that it wasn't in the 50s anymore, I never like wind, to run in or to walk in. (And it is supposed to be in the 60s again this weekend, in case anyone is wondering.) But although I wasn't getting blown about, I was a little bored on the bike despite having some more episodes of "The Office" to watch. Both knees are still a little sore but it feels more like overuse than an injury, at least for now. I made it through a few episodes but I was antsy the whole time.
I was looking forward to a more normal office day today but it turned out that a lot of people were still gone. It wasn't quite as dead as the last couple of weeks, but time definitely dragged a bit. I imagine people will be trickling in and back full-force by the beginning of next week.
It was also empty in the gym, despite the usual January/New Year's resolution rush. I biked and then lifted. I tried a few new core things today based on the latest Runner's World article on how some of the professional runners train. It's hard to know if I am doing it right without someone to critique me, but I did the best I could!
Posted by becky at 9:52 PM | Comments (0)
January 1, 2008
New year; new pains
We had a fun and low-key time last night hanging out with two other couples. I think my cake went over well and I managed (barely) to stay awake until the new year. And on the drive home, which was a little more important (I was driving)! I slept in later than usual and my legs were feeling good so I headed out for a run. I wisely decided to go towards the Mall today because I knew there wouldn't be any traffic like on a normal week day. I actually felt pretty good leg and knee-wise as I made my way toward the Capitol and then back up through the empty streets toward my neighborhood. While I was on the Mall path, I saw a small pack of Ethiopian runners that I recognized from local races--my morning excitement. When I was probably less than a mile from home, my good (although formerly bad) knee began to ache. It felt really weird. I stretched and it seemed to be okay but it has been kind of stiff and sore all afternoon, sort of like patellar tendonitis. I hope it is just some weird soreness that goes away ASAP.
Aside from a quick trip to the grocery store, I didn't do anything too exciting. I biked a little tonight and now Matt is having a turn on the bike (new for him). I am looking forward to getting back to a regular routine at work tomorrow but also bummed that my days of sleeping in have come to an end!
Posted by becky at 6:34 PM | Comments (0)