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March 31, 2009
Trying not to be bitter
I hate that I sound bitter sometimes when my co-workers are excited about a run or a race. I really dislike being "that person" who everyone has to be careful around. But I find it hard to pretend, I guess. It's been especially hard the past couple of weeks because of the good running weather and upcoming races. I will try to do better and act like it doesn't bother me. Stay tuned for an update on that front.
I did, however, have a decent treadmill run this afternoon at the gym. It was meant to be an outside run in the morning, but I woke up kind of late. I have vowed to be in bed tonight before 11pm, and time is ticking.
I taped my knee again for my trainer ride and then put a clean piece on for work and it stayed in place for the gym. My knee hurt a bit on the trainer and I continue to worry that my biking is bothering my knee. The bike also needs to be cleaned (chain) and tuned up...I will find time soon to do a professional fitting too. A new bike store actually just opened near work and it seems pretty nice and is affiliated with a biking team.
I think I am going to go clean the chain now--a perfect just-before-bed activity, right? Let's see if I can still make that bedtime deadline...
Posted by becky at 9:46 PM | Comments (0)
March 30, 2009
Such a Monday
It's such a cliche, but today really felt like a Monday. I hadn't had enough relaxation time, I guess, and I was not at all in the mood to get up, work out, and go to work. But what are you going to do? I had decided ahead of time that today would be a cross-training only day, so I ambled downstairs to the bike. I have a bunch of shows on my DVR but I found myself watching "Celebrity Apprentice" because I didn't want to find out later who got fired and ruin it (like it really was suspenseful). It was actually a pretty hilarious episode and it was ridiculously long (but perfect for biking time), so it worked out just fine.
I taped my knee again before getting on the bike, and it felt better. Maybe it was a placebo effect, but I'll take it. I put a clean piece of tape on to wear all day and it stayed on through my gym workout too.
My work day dragged and my gym workout seemed to as well. I got a lot of sleep the past couple of nights, so I have no excuse. Just one of those days--but the good part is they are balanced out by the better ones.
Posted by becky at 9:31 PM | Comments (0)
March 29, 2009
Spring comes back
It was misty and cloudy for the first few hours of today, but the rest of the day turned out to be nice and Spring-like. I did another outside run this morning and decided to try some kinesio-tape. I have tons of it from when my Achilles was bugging me, so I used a piece to sort of pull my kneecap over in the direction that it is supposed to track. It's no miracle cure (I wish) but it does seem to offer a little more support. I did an out and back route that required me to pass the Capital Crescent twice. There were tons of runners out--I am well aware that next weekend is the all-important Cherry Blossom Ten Miler. (There are actually some decent elites coming, but it is hard for me to see people I actually know and used to run with, so I will probably skip it.)
My knee felt pretty much the same as yesterday both on the run and on the bike when I came back. I think the tape helped a bit, as I said. I don't think it can hurt, anyway. I watched "ER" this morning, the second-to-last episode ever. Then I channel-surfed until I couldn't stand it anymore and needed to eat!
Matt did a lot of yard work this afternoon. I was impressed. I read and then decided to take a (fast) walk to the gym to take advantage of the nice weather and longer daylight. I felt kind of dorky power-walking (not really, I was just walking quickly) but enjoyed the weather and listening to my music. I did one variation of my abs routine and a couple of lifts at the gym, then turned around and came home.
The Spring weather is supposed to continue this week. As long as it isn't too hot yet, I will enjoy it!
Posted by becky at 7:31 PM | Comments (1)
March 28, 2009
Worms, worms everywhere
It was very nice to sleep in this morning. I felt well rested when I woke up and was looking forward to a drizzly jog. I did one of my neighborhood loops (just under 30 minutes) and honestly did not have too much knee discomfort. It's when I come back that it bothers me--I'm not sure if that has anything to do with biking afterward but I'm hoping not.
There were worms everywhere on the streets this morning, I guess because of all the rain last night. I remember when that used to happen when I was little--my sister and I were grossed out but fascinated at the same time. I definitely associate the phenomenon with spring. I didn't see too many other runners out there but there were a ton of dog walkers.
I rode the trainer when I got home although did fewer hill intervals because my legs were a little tired. I watched yet another "Brothers and Sisters"--the last one until I get the next Netflix--and most of Thursday night's "Grey's." I finally joined poor Matt, who had been waiting for me to eat breakfast/brunch (his idea) after cleaning myself up.
We were glad to have today to do some errands. We are in the market for a new mattress so we went to the venerable Sleepy's to try out a few. It kind of grosses me out to be lying where other people have, but I tried not to touch anything. We also went to Pottery Barn and the hardware store. By the time we got home I was very sick of shopping--because of the rainy weather, we certainly weren't the only ones out there.
Tonight we are planning to watch "Rachel Getting Married," if I can stay awake. I've heard mixed reviews, so we'll see.
Posted by becky at 8:57 PM | Comments (0)
March 27, 2009
Friday!
Today was another difficult-to-get-out-of-bed day. I actually had a nightmare at one point and woke up totally soaked with sweat. I fell back to sleep but it might not have been as restful as I wanted. Dreams are so weird. I always used to think that there was some way to avoid them, but every now and then, something you don't even know you are thinking about creeps back in to your subconscious to disrupt your sleep!
This morning's workout was just a trainer ride. My knee bothered me off and on--nothing too terrible, but I can't say I wasn't thinking about it at all. I watched another episode of "Brothers and Sisters" and some other random stuff so it was a pretty typical morning for me.
My shoulders have been pretty sore all day so I was glad I had no plans to lift this afternoon. My friend and I went to get manicures after work and when I drove her home, I passed all these places I used to run (near/in Rock Creek Park) and I got kind of sad. In truth, because of the move to Boston and everything, it's probably been five years since I ran on some of those roads, but I can remember conversations with people like it was yesterday. Ah, well.
But it's the weekend and I am looking forward to catching up on sleep, errands and reading. Happy weekend to all!
Posted by becky at 8:52 PM | Comments (0)
March 26, 2009
Is it Friday yet?
This week is feeling long! I am looking forward to a weekend with no major plans after last weekend's busy-ness. But of course today was only Thursday. Both Matt and I had trouble getting out of bed based on the number of times our alarms went off. He had an early breakfast meeting and I was just procrastinating getting on the bike. I was thinking of doing my jog before getting on the bike, but it was raining and I didn't have a whole lot of time so I decided I would do it on the treadmill tonight.
I've been bored on the bike lately so I changed up my interval for hills and that seemed to do the trick, at least for today. I felt like I was working hard and my mind was occupied by my shows--"Brothers and Sisters" and "Real World."
The rain continued all day today, but I didn't mind. I kind of like spring rain, especially when I don't have to be out doing anything in it. My office-mate and I did take a walk to the library at lunch and I saw a collection of kids books about Passover and I was reminded of my favorite Passover book--The Carp in the Bathtub. (It is an old-fashioned story about a girl who discovers the soon-to-be-Gefilte-fish in her tub. Very cute.)
I was not in the mood to get on the treadmill at the gym but I know that my gait training builds on each day, so I convinced myself and the "run" actually went well. It just takes focus to get into the right rhythm and then I am off and running, so to speak. I moved on to lifting after that. One of my trainer "friends" asked me if I had ever managed to get back into running, because he's noticed me getting really into lifting. I filled him in and he wished me luck and shared his own sob story of injuring his knees while he was in the Army in Afghanistan. Obviously, mine pales in comparison.
I posted an article I thought was really interesting on Facebook today and got a lot of feedback. It is a brief examination of why so many high school phenoms never "live up to their potential" in college. It is a great read and I recommend it to anyone interested in the subject.
Posted by becky at 9:41 PM | Comments (0)
March 25, 2009
Wimpy Wednesday
I did get a decent outside jog in this morning (22 minutes and felt more "normal") but otherwise I have been disappointed in today's workouts. My knee didn't really bother me during the run although it has been a little sore since. I didn't have a super long time on the bike when I got home, but I did get in one episode of "Brothers and Sisters" now that the latest installment has arrived from Netflix.
No gym visit for me tonight, but I admit that was probably good for my arms and shoulders. I don't know if it is due to my taking a few days off from lifting last week when I traveled or what, but I have been pretty sore this week (I generally don't get sore from lifting). Matt and I came home early (for us) to meet with a colleague of his who is an architect. We'd love to add a screened-in porch or something to our house but neither one of us has too much vision when it comes to that stuff. She was great and gave us a lot of ideas. We'll see what happens, but it was kind of exciting to think about.
I did manage a tiny bit of biking and my abs routine at home tonight, just for routine's sake, I guess. Matt nicely went out to pick us up some food while I was doing that. Not a whole lot but at least I made the effort!
Posted by becky at 8:54 PM | Comments (0)
March 24, 2009
The beat goes on
I decided to make today a non-"running" day because of my knee discomfort yesterday. It was another chilly morning so I didn't mind not having to put my layers on over my biking clothes. I wasted more time watching "Celebrity Apprentice" and wondered the whole time why I bother. (I did find out later, however, that my co-worker's husband works for the company that was featured on the episode). I also forgot that I set the DVR to tape the NCAA indoor track champs, so I had that to watch. Thanks to ESPN360's fabulous live coverage of the event, I had actually seen most of it. But it is always inspiring to watch, especially while on the bike.
My knee felt better today. Still a bit sore on the bike, but improved. And the same thing walking around today.
My big excitement today was the release of the latest Indigo Girls album. I have enjoyed IG new release days since back in high school, when I used to have to run out and buy the tape after school. Now I was able to pre-order through iTunes and put it on my iPod when I woke up. How far we've come. I haven't listened to the whole album yet but so far I like it.
The gym was crowded again tonight. I did a bit of stationary biking and then lifted. It would have been a good idea to wear my headphones because I kept overhearing annoying trainer-client conversations. Nothing juicy or funny, either.
I went to pick up a couple of things at the supermarket on the way home (Matt was already home deep into his baseball draft) and I guess I had a pissed off look on my face when I was standing in line at the register--the cashier asked me if I was mad about something. I told her I was just hungry and tired (true) but it was a good reminder not to let my frustrations show because then I look like a mean stranger on the outside!
Posted by becky at 9:42 PM | Comments (0)
March 23, 2009
Monday yet again
My weekend went by too fast! That's what happens when you travel. I actually didn't have too hard of a time getting out of bed this morning but decided to only bike instead of doing my jog outside first. It was chilly and I figured it would probably be better to do it on the treadmill later anyway. Oddly, my knee bothered me more on the bike today than it has in weeks. I'm not sure if something I did made it sore or what. It wasn't all that terrible, but I had trouble focusing on working hard because I was worried about it.
My entertainment this morning was "Grey's" from last week and some of "Celebrity Apprentice," which for some inane reason is on for two hours most weeks. They seriously need an editor. Aside from the aforementioned knee discomfort, everything was status quo. I probably did fewer hill reps than usual, though, because that seemed to irritate my knee. It really didn't bother me yesterday while running on the treadmill or on the spin bike, so I'm not sure what happened (if anything) between then and this morning.
I did decide to try the treadmill this evening at the gym despite a few twinges during the day because I am efficient enough with the gait now that I can usually make myself better. I did 20 minutes and didn't feel as great as yesterday, but my knee really was okay so long as I kept my form. I finished up my cardio on the bike and then negotiated through the Monday crowd to get in a decent amount of abs and lifting.
Monday is quickly coming to a close. Matt is studying for his upcoming fantasy baseball draft tonight and I have a bit of work to finish up before heading to bed.
Posted by becky at 9:35 PM | Comments (0)
March 22, 2009
Another city, another gym
Today didn't start quite as early as yesterday, but I was not pleased to have to get out of bed before 7am again. I suppose I am choosing these early wake-up times, though, so I shouldn't sound so put-upon. I got ready in our dark hotel room as quickly as I could and drove about 7 miles to the nearest Boston Sports Club. I can use my Washington Sports Club membership there, which is really helpful. This BSC was brand new and looked it.
I hopped on the treadmill with some sense of dread. My knee hurt a bit walking around yesterday so I wasn't expecting much. But it actually went fine. My gait still needs work when I am outside, but it has improved a lot on the treadmill. I actually made it to 20 minutes without too much discomfort. I'm not even thinking about the speed right now--just the pain level. I had my iPod so I was quite occupied.
Then I switched to the spin bike--I brought my biking shoes with my so I could clip in and everything. Except for the 20 minutes or so when a mouth breather with bad breath was next to me, it was a lot of fun. I was completely drenched when I was finished and that is always the sign of a good workout for me.
I had to hurry back so that Matt and I would have a chance to stop off at my grandparents' for brunch before catching our plane, but it was worth all the rushing around. We got back here to mid-60 degree weather and everyone was outside. We walked to Whole Foods to get our groceries but I've been hunkered down finishing up some work-related things most of the rest of the afternoon and evening. I think it is going to be another busy week in terms of work so hopefully my three early mornings in the last 4 days won't come back to haunt me!
Posted by becky at 8:26 PM | Comments (0)
March 21, 2009
Travel for a good cause
I didn't get to bed as early as I should have last night, but I still managed to get myself out of bed in time to fit in about 90 minutes on the trainer before we left the house at 7. So yeah, I'm tired now, that's for sure. But I was glad to be able to fit it in. I wasn't quite awake enough to feel amazing, but I made it through with the help of "Real
World," "ER," and "The Office."
On our way to the airport we saw several signs warning us about road closures for the National Marathon. I knew a couple of people running the full or the half, so I felt jealous of them and bad for myself for a few minutes. Then once we got to Boston and near my grandparents' house, I was hit with a little more sadness. Everywhere we went reminded me of a run or just my old self as I was so into running those days. But, spending the day with my family and especially my grandparents who were celebrating their 65th wedding anniversary put it all in perspective-- at least a little bit. It's back to DC and reality tomorrow afternoon (so much to do!) but for now I will try to live in the moment.
Posted by becky at 11:06 PM | Comments (0)
March 20, 2009
Aesthetics over athletics
I am feeling very lazy this week. I suppose I should quit complaining and be glad I've been able to get in one workout each day--but when I'm used to two, it doesn't feel like much. This evening I technically could have gone to the gym, but chose beautification (manicure and pedicure) instead. Sometimes you gotta do it--especially since we are going up to Boston tomorrow for my grandmother's 85th birthday/grandparents' 65th anniversary celebration. Loyal blog readers surely remember how close I am to them from my time in Boston so this is a big deal!
But I did drag myself out of bed for a gait run (16 minutes) followed by a trainer ride this morning. My run was all right--I felt better yesterday on the treadmill but better today than the last time I ran outside. So that's something. My bike ride was good too--I am very into "Brothers and Sisters" now although I am awaiting another installment from Netflix.
Work went by too fast today--I didn't get through everything I needed to do and it looks like I'll have to pick back up when we get home on Sunday. Not what I wanted, but it's good to be busy at work these days, I think.
Happy weekend to all!
Posted by becky at 9:38 PM | Comments (0)
March 19, 2009
Travel weary
I would not be happy if I had to travel often for work. It takes too much out of me--and I was only gone for 24 hours! And of course it messes up my routine. But maybe my shoulder/arm tingling thing will finally heal if I take off more than a couple of days in a row from lifting.
My alarm went off around 5:15 this morning so that I'd have enough time to get to the gym before our pre-meeting breakfast. The hotel gym was not too impressive, but luckily we were staying in a little complex that had a really nice gym. I bought a guest pass and it was well worth it. I did a 15-minute gait run on the treadmill and then started out on the elliptical, but my knee bothered me so I ended up on the stationary bike. My knee actually felt pretty good during the run. The bike wasn't the most comfortable, but what are you going to do. I also had a little leftover time to do my abs workout and an extremely abbreviated lifting routine.
The meeting went well today and travel back was uneventful (I fell asleep almost immediately after snagging a seat on the train). Now I'm back and wishing tomorrow wasn't a work day. But on the bright side, it is almost Friday!
Posted by becky at 9:55 PM | Comments (0)
March 18, 2009
Mid-week travel
Today has felt like a really long day. I intended to get to bed early and now it is almost 11. How does this always happen?
I worked from home this morning since I was heading up to Princeton in the early afternoon. Without the transit time, I had a bit more time on the bike and time for a 14-minute jog. The jog felt okay. Not great. But I know it is important to get out there and practice my form, so that is what I did. Biking dragged on a bit but I had good entertainment from my shows and was glad to have the extra time.
My morning/early afternoon flew by with work to do and soon it was time to leave. I walked up to the Metro and was pleasantly surprised at how nice it was out. A perfect spring day. Of course, I spent the next few hours on the train, so I didn't really get to enjoy it. I had about 30 minutes of free time before a work dinner so I did some stretches and a quick ab routine to loosen myself up. I'm certainly glad I did as the dinner stretched on for a good while and I got really tired of sitting. But it was a good networking/catching up opportunity--with much more in store for tomorrow.
Posted by becky at 10:21 PM | Comments (0)
March 17, 2009
Just Tuesday
There were so many times today that I thought it was Wednesday already and then I remembered it was only Tuesday. St. Patty's Day, but that didn't really mean anything to me (I was never one for green beer). As usual, I started my day out on the bike and actually got out of bed on time because I had an early (for me) conference call. I noticed my knee was a little tender today as compared to yesterday. It's baffling to me how much different one day can be from the next when I am really doing the same thing each day. But it didn't really bother me while I was on the bike. I watched another episode of "Brothers and Sisters," found out who got fired on "Celebrity Apprentice," and saw Whitney and her boyfriend break up on the season finale of "The City." Really exciting stuff all around.
Although I only spent about 45 minutes with my rehab doc this afternoon, I spent more than 2 hours at his office. He is always running late and I should have known better, but it was a new location and I arrived on time. I brought my laptop and was sneered at by the receptionist when I asked if by chance they had a wireless network for patients. It can't hurt to ask! At least I had my iPhone to answer emails.
My doc did some manipulations as always (it's kind of like going to the chiropractor, but gentler) and gave me some tips for my gait work. He is always positive about whatever I am doing or trying for my running and that goes a long way. Unfortunately it just took me away from work longer than I anticipated.
I expected the gym to be empty tonight for the "holiday" but it really wasn't. People were probably going out later. I felt pretty energetic for once and fit in a good bit of lifting. I took the day off from gait training since it had been three days in a row and my knee stayed a little sore all day.
I am going on an overnight work trip tomorrow and know I won't have much time to lift either Wed. or Thurs. I was thinking of going to the gym in the morning, but I fear I might be sore from just having lifted tonight. I think I'll take the extra sleep and get in a quality (and maybe longer than usual) ride instead.
Posted by becky at 9:38 PM | Comments (0)
March 16, 2009
Good old Monday
I would complain more if I had to be outside in the morning when it is dark instead of on the trainer, but no matter what it is hard to get up when the sun isn't up yet. Especially on Mondays. I could tell when my alarm went off that my body wasn't ready to get up. So I snoozed a bit and finally rolled out when I really had to.
I started a new show this morning--"Brothers and Sisters." It is right up my alley--a family drama with lots of episodes available on Netflix. Because I was feeling like I didn't get enough sleep, I didn't feel all that great on the bike. I got through it okay though. But I did like the show, and was entertained by last night's "Celebrity Apprentice" after that. I haven't gotten finished with the board room scene yet but I can predict what will happen.
Today was a meeting-filled day at work, with few hours free for actual work so I have a little to do tonight. Just one of those days. I was one of many at the gym tonight--it was super crowded although when the NCAA tournament starts I suspect many of the regulars may choose that. I didn't observe anything particularly outrageous today; people were pretty well-behaved. I did another gait reinforcement session and then lifted. The gait training is so much different from normal running because you just can't zone out--you have to think about it every second.
Hope everyone had a good start to the week. I am looking forward to seeing my rehab medicine doctor tomorrow--I have had this appointment for probably six months and I always find it worthwhile to see him.
Posted by becky at 9:56 PM | Comments (0)
March 15, 2009
Medical shows and other excitement
We had Matt's dad staying with us last night, so I made every effort to get up early so I could get in my trainer ride and still be a good hostess. Well, I got up earlier than usual for the weekend but still didn't finish my workout by the time everyone got up. But there was coffee brewing and bagels available, so I think we were all occupied.
I watched two medical shows in a row today--"House" and "Grey's." They are different enough so that it wasn't boring, but it was a lot of in-hospital time. I can't believe that it looks like Meredith and Derek are breaking up yet again. Hasn't that happened, like, 3 times already? As for the non-entertainment part of the workout, that was just fine as well. I would be really upset if the ten-minute gait retraining runs were making my knee worse, but it doesn't seem that way. I am also trying to keep good form on the bike, although I'm not exactly sure what that means.
Getting an early start today turned out to be good as we got a bunch of stuff done before I was due to meet with a colleague for another writing class project. We spent about an hour in the cafe in Barnes and Noble and it was very cozy because it was rainy and chilly outside. After we were done, I went to the gym for a very quick treadmill run (11 minutes this time) and some lifting because I have a busy week with some travel planned and I don't know whether I'll get to the gym on a couple of days.
I am tired tonight but I do feel like this weekend was relaxing enough so that I am somewhat motivated for the work week. Here's to another week!
Posted by becky at 8:19 PM | Comments (0)
March 14, 2009
Mamma Mia
I ordered "Mamma Mia" from Netflix because I thought it would be a perfect movie to watch on the bike. But I was disappointed because I didn't really think it was so great. Kind of boring, in fact. I guess it passed the time, so it wasn't all bad, but time did not pass quickly. My throat was also hurting a bit so maybe that was part of it. I was still able to work pretty hard and didn't hear too many complaints from my knee.
This afternoon, I walked up to the Metro with Matt who was going downtown to get his hair cut. I wanted to do another 10-minute run to practice my gait so I did that on the way back. I am being very deliberate about my gait, meaning I am going very slowly and focusing on my stride. I feel okay while "running" but tend to have some pain when I am done. So the jury is still out on whether my gait boot camp will have an ultimate positive effect. I hope so.
Matt's dad is in town this weekend so we are all going to dinner tonight at a Spanish/tapas place in Bethesda. It is a very chilly, rainy day here but supposedly things are due to improve tomorrow.
Posted by becky at 6:20 PM | Comments (2)
March 13, 2009
Friday rolls around again
I am definitely yawning like it's Friday. (I guess so people party like it's Friday. I yawn.) I didn't do anything too strenuous on the bike this morning but my quads have been pretty sore ever since I upped the level on the trainer. I often miss being sore, though, so I don't mind too much. I was really excited to watch last night's "ER" because it featured several of the show's former cast members, including George Clooney and Julianna Margulies. It was nice to see my "friends" again. I also watched "The Office" and enjoyed the best line in a long time--Dwight explaining that he keeps a diary in order to have secrets from his computer. Hilarious.
Email traffic seemed to be a bit slower than usual today which allowed me to accomplish a few things that I had been putting off all week. After doing a bunch of errands after work, I met Matt at a bar/restaurant near our house where he was having a drink with a friend. We stayed there and grabbed a bite and now we're home. I am keeping up with tonight's NCAA action--great live streaming on ESPN360! Very impressive.
Happy weekend to all!
Posted by becky at 10:28 PM | Comments (0)
March 12, 2009
Out and about
I stayed up too late last night gabbing on the phone to my sister-in-law, but we hadn't caught up in a while so it was fun. I knew it would be tough to get up in the morning, and it definitely was. I was running about 10 minutes late all morning, in fact. I finished up my movie from yesterday and then watched last night's "Real World." It actually was an interesting one because they introduced the forthcoming movie (I think it will be shown on MTV) about Pedro Zamora, who was the first openly gay and HIV-positive reality show "character" when he appeared on the San Francisco season of "Real World" back in the day. I don't think I watched that season but I definitely remember hearing about it.
In any case, my workout was, to use my least favorite word, fine. Nothing special but no major complaints.
I spent the morning in the office and then joined 5 of my colleagues downtown for a media training session. We were working with a group of health department heads and it was really interesting. They are all dealing with major budget crises and we are hopefully going to help them get the word out in the media and on Capitol Hill. Public health services are invisible until something--like a salmonella outbreak or a Hurricane Katrina--happens, so they don't get a lot of love from the public.
I headed back up to Bethesda and to the gym when we wrapped up the training. I am doing a little gait training refresher (i.e. treadmill work) but I am not going to go into details because it may not work and I don't want to depress myself. But that was a minor part of my workout anyway. I also biked and lifted. While on the bike, I was forced to listen to a woman next to me singing every word of "Sweet Caroline," which apparently was on repeat on her iPod. Ah, the joys of the gym.
Posted by becky at 9:26 PM | Comments (0)
March 11, 2009
Movie morning
I've been getting movies from Netflix lately because the next installment of "The Shield" is on back-order. I guess there are a lot of other violent cop-show fans out there. This morning I was a tad short on time so I made the trainer a little bit harder and did longer intervals to get the most out of my workout. I watched most of this straight-to-DVD (I think) movie called "And Then She Found Me." It is based on a book my mom and I read many years ago, but I didn't really remember the story. Helen Hunt plays a Jewish woman--a rather religious one at times--and I just don't buy it. But movies usually make the time on the bike go by quickly and today was no exception.
Work has been really busy, which is good because the days fly by, but it is stressful too and I have been bringing some home with me. It's good to get the early evening break at the gym. Tonight's entertainment was a ridiculously flirtatious (on both ends) conversation between two sixty-somethings. I didn't mind as long as they weren't in my way! The gym has actually been pretty quiet this week, probably because of lots of basketball on TV.
Matt is in New York tonight and I am plenty occupied with work, bills, laundry etc. without him. But hopefully he'll be home in time tomorrow to do the chore I dread the most--putting the trash and recycling out for the garbage men in the morning.
Posted by becky at 9:34 PM | Comments (0)
March 10, 2009
Overheard at the gym
A bunch of my colleagues and I are taking a little writing seminar for a few weeks at work. Our first assignment was to eavesdrop on a conversation and write about it. I knew instantly that my conversation would take place at the gym (it did) and now I can't stop listening. This morning I was at home on the bike (losing more brain cells to "The Celebrity Apprentice" and "The City" as I burned calories) but tonight at the gym I heard some good tidbits as I moved from the cardio area to the mats to the weights. One that actually bothered me was a male trainer telling a high school girl that the Vitamin Water she was drinking was bad because it would cause her to gain weight. No matter what (this girl was very small) no one should ever say something like that to a girl in her formative years--it can be very damaging.
Over on the mats, as I was doing my abs, I heard that same trainer joking to a woman that she looked "Asian" as she worked out because her face didn't change. "You know, Asians could be lifting 100 pounds and their face would stay relaxed." Oy.
The next thing I witnessed wasn't a conversation, it was an action. I had set my towel and water bottle down on a ledge and as I was in the midst of lifting, I saw this man go over to the towel and wipe his face with it and blow his nose! Eeeew! As gross as it was, I am so glad I saw it so I didn't obliviously wipe my own face with it.
So that was just a snapshot of my day, and it didn't even include any work-related tidbits. Onto the next...is it really only Tuesday?
Posted by becky at 9:42 PM | Comments (0)
March 9, 2009
Hard time with it
I am extremely down right now about my ongoing knee pain. Mondays are always tough because I have to hear about everyone's athletic exploits, and I am near tears every time I think about all the things that I wish I could do--mostly running, but other activities too that bother me--because I just feel like it's so unfair. How hard have I worked (and how many thousands of dollars have I spent) in an attempt to get better these past three years? Of course I understand that my problems are miniscule compared to other people struggling with financial issues, illness, etc., but in the circle of things that are important to me, running and being active are pretty high up there. I pretty much have pain in my knee every time I get out of bed--it goes away when I start walking around, but what a way to start the morning. I think about it when I see runners, when I hear people talking about training for something, and when I make plans to travel and have to make sure there is a gym nearby.
All of us have been injured at one time or another, and the weeks/months of cross-training felt like they would never end. But with a stress fracture, an IT band strain, or an Achilles injury, there is an end in sight. The pain will eventually go away and you will be able to run again. In my situation, I honestly don't know whether I'll ever be able to run again like I once did, or even at all. I'm not willing to give up, and since the gait retraining has worked for me before, maybe it will work again. But I am not going to pretend that it doesn't hurt (emotionally) every day not have the choice of whether to go running or not.
One day (on the bike and in the gym) at a time, I guess. How many more days like this will there be?
Posted by becky at 10:25 PM | Comments (2)
March 8, 2009
Another summery day
This weather is getting confusing. I keep thinking it's got to be May, or at least April. It was almost 80 degrees this afternoon. Matt took full advantage and played both basketball and tennis. I got outside a little bit to socialize with my neighbors but was on the bike for my workouts.
In the morning, I watched the documentary "Wordplay" while on the trainer. It came out a couple of years ago and I knew that the Indigo Girls were in it and it was on my "to see" list. It was okay. Just not a super-exciting subject (crossword puzzles) for a workout, I guess. And my knee wasn't feeling so great. At one point I got off and raised the seat, and that really seemed to make a difference. Hmm. That one damn spot just keeps getting irritated and nothing seems to help. But I won't get started.
It was really nice to just be in the house with the windows open today. And it's nice that Matt is back now although he has a brief work trip planned this week too.
While Matt played tennis tonight, I killed some brain cells watching "Keeping Up With the Kardashians" while on the trainer. I had never seen it before and might never again--couldn't find anything else to hold my attention. I tried to loosen up my knee with the foam roller afterwards but I'm not sure that it does anything. When it gets to this point it feels almost like it needs to crack--very odd--and as I've said, it just flares up and gets better with no real explanation.
In any case, another weekend has come to an end. A good week to all!
Posted by becky at 8:36 PM | Comments (1)
March 7, 2009
Joining the masses to celebrate spring
Who wasn't outside running or walking or biking this morning? I am not sure if running is getting easier or harder these days (knee) but I continue to try to focus on my form to see if I can figure that out. I slept later than I intended to this morning after getting home late last night and by the time I got outside, it was downright hot! I sort of made up a route as I went along--total run was about 30 minutes. My knee bothered me on and off. When I got home I jumped on the bike and watched "ER" and "The Office" from Thursday. My legs always feel more tired after a brief run than I expect, but I didn't have any major problems.
I was due to pick Matt up at the airport at 5 today, so I busied myself in the hours before doing a few things around the house and than some errands. The day went quickly since I had gotten up a little late. Matt and I took a walk when he got home since it was so nice out. Tonight we're having dinner with friends. I have mixed feelings about changing the clocks--it is nice to have more daylight hours but it will be super dark in the morning for awhile!
Posted by becky at 1:19 PM | Comments (0)
March 6, 2009
I need my weekend
I started this entry hours ago when I was just leaving work, but now I am just getting home from seeing Ani Difranco with Liz and it is after midnight. Late for me! But the concert was really good. Liz and I have both been listening to Ani since our "teenage angst years," as she recalled tonight, and it's crazy to think how long it has been. Ani still sounds great in concert and my only complaint is that it was a standing-only venue and my feet/legs are killing me. I generally try to avoid this venue but sometimes it is worth the suffering.
Today was a light workout day, just a trainer ride in the morning. I felt pretty energetic despite the fact that I stayed up pretty late last night and I watched the end of Season 1 of "The Shield." There is apparently a "Very Long Wait" for the next installment on Netflix, though, so I may need to find another show.
I hate to go to bed with dishes in the sink and a messy house, but it is late enough tonight for me to put it all off until tomorrow.
Happy weekend to all!
Posted by becky at 5:37 PM | Comments (0)
March 5, 2009
One of those days
This will be a quickie as I have some work to finish up tonight. I did get outside for another jog this morning, which was good. I felt pretty stiff and definitely slow, but my knee and Achilles both felt okay during (although my knee has been a bit tender since). I now have a couple of standard short neighborhood loops to do on these little runs and it is definitely nice to feel a bit more normal when running. Not normal yet, but getting closer.
I finished the movie I had started yesterday as I biked for the second part of the morning workout. I really enjoyed it. I keep thinking I need to get my bike tuned up but am too lazy to actually bring it in (plus I use it almost every day). Let's hope the chain doesn't break anytime soon.
If work was hectic the past couple of days, it was even more so today. Wow. I escaped to get my lifting workout in but now I am back at at. Matt chose a good week to be away.
I won't be running tomorrow but I'm sure a lot of other people will--it is supposed to be in the high 60s. That always brings out the fair-weather runners...not that I am jealous or anything.
Posted by becky at 9:27 PM | Comments (0)
March 4, 2009
Middle of the week
I stayed up too late playing a silly word game on my iPhone. I got into bed at a reasonable time but then I wasted time. Thus, I pressed my snooze bar one too many times and was left with less time than I wanted to be on the bike. But as usual, I made the most of the time I had. I didn't notice any ill effects of my treadmill run last night and felt on the whole pretty good. I watched most of this fascinating documentary called, "Surfwise," which was recommended to me by a friend. It's about one of the founding fathers of surfing, who raised his nine kids basically on the beach--they all lived in this tiny trailer and didn't have any formal education. Once the kids grow up and enter the real world, things start to get interesting. The patriarch has this awesome exercise routine he does every morning--and he still surfs at age 84--despite the fact that he has hip trouble and walks with a cane. For those of you with a Netflix subscription, it's one of the free downloads.
Work was hectic for the second day in a row. It was Pizza Wednesday, which is always fun but leaves you without an excuse to leave the office. I wasn't able to leave the office until later than usual, so my gym routine was shortened to just include a bit of biking and chest and triceps stuff. There was a ceiling leak in the gym yesterday so the managers moved all the equipment around. It was funny to watch people go to the spot where the dumbbells usually are and then get really confused. I'm sure I had the same look on my face!
Tonight's exciting activities include folding laundry and reading. Don't be jealous of my glamorous life.
Posted by becky at 9:26 PM | Comments (0)
March 3, 2009
Creeping along
Well, my planned run this morning turned into a trainer ride when I realized that since it was 15 degrees out, it was probably too icy to tempt fate (the main roads have all been okay since yesterday afternoon, but the sidewalks can be dicey). Plus it was still dark when I did my work out because Matt and I had to go downtown to close on our refinance (Matt did all the work on that--all I had to do was sign the papers). But I had a couple of things to watch, including "House" and last night's episode of "The City," so I was occupied. I got my heart up pretty high and did my best to keep it there, and hoped that I (or, my various body parts, rather) would feel like running when I got to the gym tonight.
My day at work was rather hectic and I was pretty anxious to get to the gym and burn off some steam. I figured I'd give the treadmill a whirl and see how things felt. On the whole, I felt pretty good. It is much more natural for me to focus on my form when I am on the treadmill because that's where I learned it--so I think that helped. I had a few knee twinges and they snapped me back to proper butt-clenching movement and foot placement. I did 30 minutes (at a pitifully slow pace, but we won't worry about that) and then proceeded with my lifting. I was pleased and hope to get outside a couple more times this week--it is supposed to be much more spring-like toward the end of the week.
Matt left for L.A. tonight so I am on my own. I usually get an email or text from my mom reminding me to lock my door during these Matt-cations. Once a kid, always a kid!
Posted by becky at 9:12 PM | Comments (0)
March 2, 2009
Monday again?
When we went to sleep last night, it was snowing really hard and we were sure the federal government would be closed (most offices in the DC area follow the federal government schedule). When our alarms went off, it was still snowing but we were dismayed to find out we "only" had a two-hour delay. Better than nothing...but I didn't really sleep in much because we knew it would take a really long time to clean off the car.
I am in need of silly bike shows to watch, so I taped "Celebrity Apprentice" last night. Kind of embarrassing, I know--and of course it wasn't so good. But it passed the time, especially since it was a two-hour episode! I don't think they will all be like that...that would be ridiculous. As for the workout part of the workout, I felt pretty good. I hope to try another run tomorrow, although we have an early-morning appointment downtown so it will take a lot of determination to go outside before getting on the bike.
The gym was super crowded tonight. Monday, I guess...and maybe people pushed their workouts back because of the weather. I managed to do everything I needed to do but I had to keep my eyes peeled for open equipment.
Matt and I are both home now and having dinner together for what will likely be the only time this week as he is heading to L.A. until Saturday. He may be heading to much warmer temps but I heard today that we will be more than 40 degrees warmer by the end of the week. Gotta love March in the mid-Atlantic!
Posted by becky at 9:02 PM | Comments (0)
March 1, 2009
Snow on the horizon?
The topic of the day in the DC region (and elsewhere along the East Coast, I guess) is the impending snowstorm. Considering it is March now (how did that happen?) most of us had pretty much given up on seeing any of the white stuff this year, so we are all hoping it actually happens. Of course that means that I probably shouldn't do my planned jog tomorrow...we'll see. I suppose I should wait until the roads are clear to reduce the chances of yet another injury.
But today I was on the bike as planned. I am embarrassed to admit that I watched an MTV documentary on ice skaters. It wasn't too bad, actually--and passed the time of course. I felt like I was working pretty hard and nothing hurt (always a few twinges, but nothing out of the ordinary).
Matt and I hung out and read the paper for awhile and then ventured out for some errands. We knew everyone would be out stocking up for the snowstorm and that was definitely the case--but we got everything we needed, I think. Matt got on the bike this evening and so did I because I wanted to watch track coverage. I had done my best to ignore the results which made it much more exciting to watch the races. Tonight I am cooking up a stew because it seems like the right thing to do in this cold weather--I'm pretty sure this is winter's last blast and my "favorite" kind of weather will be heading our way before we know it.
Posted by becky at 7:51 PM | Comments (0)