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July 31, 2009
Uphill both ways
This usually only happens when Matt's not here, but I must have turned off my alarm this morning. I woke up about 25 minutes later than I wanted to...but because I didn't have any early-morning calls or meetings, I was able to squeeze in a run. It was oppressively humid this morning (it ended up storming later in the day and getting a lot nicer) and I was probably silly to pick a very hilly route. But sometimes I like the challenge, and today was a decent knee day in that it was tight and a little twingey at first but then did loosen up and I felt strong (though sweaty) when I was doing the last part of the run.
I got a little turned around in one neighborhood and thought I was going to have to retrace my steps up a huge hill that I had just come down. Luckily I found an intersection I recognized, but that one involved a big hill, too. I just hoped that no one in the passing cars recognized me huffing and puffing.
It felt like a Friday in the office today. I intended to cross a bunch of stuff off my list but was more motivated to gab and do things that didn't require a lot of brainpower--it happens. I did a bunch of errands and got my nails done tonight and then finally picked Matt up at work and I made a pizza using the wonderful whole wheat dough from Trader Joe's.
We are heading up to New Hampshire in the morning for a few days--it's our annual Wexler weekend but we will be without a few family members because of busy summer schedules. I am packing a bunch of books and of course my running shoes and am hoping my knee will hold up for some scenic runs. I'm even going to bike tomorrow to hopefully buy myself a couple more runs.
Happy weekend to all!
Posted by becky at 9:24 PM | Comments (0)
July 30, 2009
Drugs, babies and gymnastics
Today was a biking day for me and I watched (or watched part of) several very different shows during my spin: "Weeds," "Tori and Dean," and "Make it or Break it," the ABC Family show that is not meant for the over-30 crowd (but I enjoy it nonetheless). As for the biking part of the workout, I had a few twinges when I got out of the saddle for some intervals so I did most of my hard intervals while seated. That was okay but my butt was very sore when I was finished. I'd choose a sore butt over a sore knee though. Actually, I think my knee hurt me less yesterday after running an hour than it did after biking today. Still trying to figure that out.
Things are work were busy but not as crazy as yesterday (phew). My partner-in-crime and I even had enough time to go get sandwiches and eat them there without bringing them back to our desks. That's always a good sign.
Aside from overhearing some crude remarks at the gym tonight, everything was status quo. I am reading a book about collegiate a cappella competitions and I can't decide if I like it enough to finish it. We'll see.
Stay tuned for what might be another potential amazing story related the power of my sweat. I need to verify my hypothesis though before sharing!
Posted by becky at 9:35 PM | Comments (1)
July 29, 2009
Running late
I woke up right when I planned to today but somehow even without any street crossings, my run seemed to take longer in real time than it did on my chronograph. Maybe the humidity slowed me down. Actually, it didn't seem quite as bad today as it did yesterday, and there was a little bit of a breeze. I chose a route that had most of the uphills at the beginning and I was definitely struggling but didn't have any significant knee discomfort. The last couple of miles were on the Capital Crescent and I stopped to get a drink of water and realized that two of my co-workers had just finished their run. I knew at that point I was running late (I had an appointment to get to) so I couldn't really stop to chat but they were glad to see me out there (of course, I was embarrassed by my lack of speed).
I had to put on a super-rush to get ready in time and I pretty much pulled it off. My day was crazy with phone calls, meetings and (minor) crises so I felt like I was "running" all day. I just got back from the gym (very quiet tonight, not sure why) and am making a late dinner because Matt is on his way back from the airport. Hooray! It's so much more fun to have someone to talk to when I'm at home :)
Posted by becky at 9:08 PM | Comments (1)
July 28, 2009
Hot and humid
I am feeling very decadent (read:lazy) tonight after having had dinner out with a friend instead of lifting. Of course I had a good time as always, but I felt guilty getting home at the same time as always but without the gym part. But I should remember that I had to wring my shirt out after this morning's run--it was quite warm and humid even early in the morning.
I tried a new way of taping my knee this morning based on some instructions that came with my latest order of physio-tape. It's much more involved and I can't tell if it is that much better. I'll try it for a couple of days and see. Today I started out feeling super stiff and had a few twinges but everything improved as the run went on. I am still having trouble with hills and feel like I am just using every ounce of energy to get up them slowly) but other than that I felt relatively strong. I hopped on the bike for just a few minutes when I got home to finish a show--we are running very low on DVR space so I wanted to be able to delete it.
Today was a lot of "hurry up and wait" at work. Kind of annoying at times, but what can you do? It was still quiet in the office and I am looking forward to the return of some co-workers who were gone at a conference. I would not do well working from home--I need social stimulation!
I did get a chance to tune into the Monaco meet during work today. It was amazing to see Maggie Vessey smash her personal best (and the field) in the 800! She looked like she had a lot left, too. She should have a great few years if she can stay healthy. I love these Cinderella stories!
Posted by becky at 9:22 PM | Comments (1)
July 27, 2009
Overthinking
Sometimes when I have downtime at work (like I did today for a bit), I do some poking around online about knee injuries and try to find my symptoms. I got caught up in a thread on Letsrun (I know, the best place to go for medical advice) earlier today and can't stop thinking that either a torn medial meniscus or plica syndrome is responsible for my continuing issues. I used to think it would be unlikely for the orthopedic surgeon to have missed either one, but maybe it happened post-surgery? I guess the only way to really find out is to...make an appointment and maybe get an MRI. I may start with this physical therapist I've heard so much about, just for a new opinion. I certainly do not want to have to make another decision about surgery but I should figure out what is going on.
In the meantime...I was on the bike this morning, catching up on some of my shows and working hard. I am almost done with the most recent season of "Mad Men" and I think the new season premieres in mid-August. Very exciting!
As I said above, things were quiet around the office today. Lots of people either on vacation or at a big public health conference in town. I finally took the time to clean up our electronic files, something I've been wanting to do since I started this job!
It's quiet as usual without Matt tonight. But I will be taking full advantage of not needing to be social by watching "Brothers & Sisters" online....if I can stay awake that long!
Posted by becky at 9:20 PM | Comments (0)
July 26, 2009
The morning after my night out
The bachelorette festivities were a lot of fun last night. We were a little squished at the restaurant, but everyone got along well, the chips and guac were great, and most importantly, the guest of honor had a great time. Since we got such a late start, we didn't eat dinner until 11 pm, which is late even by my standards. Some of the younger folks went out after that, but I caught a cab back to Brooklyn after walking them all to their bar of choice. We were in the meatpacking district, a trendy area of NYC that I doubt I've ever been in except perhaps the rare run. It was really neat, though. I recognized some of the restaurants and buildings from "The City" on MTV. I've become such a tourist!
My scary cab driver dropped me off at about 1 am. I was too keyed up to go right to sleep, so I read the paper and then joined Matt, who had been asleep for hours already (I was jealous). I knew it would be hot and I tried to get up before 8:30 but it didn't happen. Eventually I headed outside for a run and it sure was sticky out there. My knee wasn't feeling amazing but I really wanted to try and get in a loop of Prospect Park, so I taped it up and hoped for the best.
It's gradually uphill to the Park and I did not enjoy that 10 minutes--it felt way longer. My knee was pretty much the same as yesterday--a few twinges here and there. Once I got into the Park, I reminded myself that I would be passed by a lot of runners (and bikers and inline skaters). That was definitely the case but I passed a few in the over-65 category myself. And I challenged myself to stick with some women for a couple of minutes at a time. I can match someone's pace but can't hold it right now.
I stopped at a couple of water fountains around the main loop of the Park but I was dripping and dehydrated and knew it would be a slog to get back. It sure was. I was dying for a Gatorade and finally reached the Rite-Aid near the apartment. It was like an oasis in the desert.
My knee hasn't been too bad since, although I didn't enjoy walking around Penn Station with a heavy bag on my shoulder putting extra strain on everything. I think all the walking in the heat and subway saunas I did today can count as a mini-workout. But at least all my travel back to D.C. went as planned--poor Matt sat on the plane for about 4 hours waiting to take off to L.A. (thunderstorms). He'll be gone until Wednesday so I will be holding down the fort again. I can't wait until his travel schedule cools off.
Posted by becky at 10:11 PM | Comments (0)
July 25, 2009
Good old Bridge Run
I went to sleep with a bag of ice wrapped around my knee and really wasn't sure what to expect in the morning. I figured my knee wouldn't be perfect but I was meeting Brooklyn running partner T for a short run (he is doing the NYC tri tomorrow). I dropped my bike shoes off at the gym and took advantage of the foam roller before jogging over to his place.
We did a route that in the old days was my warm-up morning run on evening track workout days--over the Brooklyn Bridge and back. I am not sure how long it used to take so I am certainly not going to look back to compare. I struggled a bit to get into a rhythm and did not enjoy the humidity, but I didn't feel too bad once everything got warmed up. We added on a few minutes at the end and I was tempted to tag on a bit more, but I figured I would do some biking and hopefully run a little longer tomorrow. The one spin bike in the place was empty so I hogged it for 50 minutes or so, did my abs and then hightailed it back to Matt's mom's place--with all the pre-stretching and post-run chatting, I had been gone awhile.
This afternoon I went up to Westchester to meet my mom and sister for a wedding gown fitting. It was my first time seeing the dress in person and it is beautiful. We spent another couple of hours browsing around and then my sister and I took the train back to the city. It's almost time to head out for the bachelorette festivities and I can't believe I didn't get a chance to nap today!
Posted by becky at 7:22 PM | Comments (1)
July 24, 2009
Day in transit
I feel like today was a long one even though I spent most of it sitting on my butt. We took the train up to New York this afternoon--we're here for the weekend and for the bachelorette party that I'm throwing for my sister tomorrow night. Matt is with me this weekend but will be in L.A. starting on Sunday night.
I'm not too thrilled with how my knee has been feeling today. I did a short run this morning followed by a spin. Nothing felt too terrible but I had a feeling that I'd be plagued by that same minor discomfort I continue to have post-workout, and I was. Ugh. Walking around from the subway with my over-packed bag and a slight ache in my knee was not pleasant. I just can't figure out what triggers it (if anything) and I did not have room for my foam roller. But I hope to pop in to the gym to roll before trying another run tomorrow. I'm icing as I type. Still not sure if that helps, but it can't hurt.
Happy weekend to all!
Posted by becky at 11:02 PM | Comments (0)
July 23, 2009
Down in my dungeon
Tonight we're having one of our violent summer storms. It's actually been awhile since we've had one and hopefully it will cool things off. It was really humid today, although I missed out on the weather this morning because I was working out in the basement. I was working hard, but my knee gave me a little trouble and actually bothered me a bit during the day on and off. I don't understand why the bike gives me more trouble than running sometimes, but I don't want to overanalyze it, either. I've had a few good days this week and I suppose a blip is to be expected. At least I was well-entertained by "Tori and Dean" and "Weeds."
I had a bunch of calls and meetings that kept me occupied all day. When it was time to leave, I looked outside and saw that it was pouring. I grabbed the umbrella I keep at work for times like these and hoped for the best. It stopped raining by the time I was halfway to the gym, but I could hardly walk because my flip-flops were so wet (that's what I get for wearing flip-flops, I guess). I made it in one piece though. The gym was blissfully empty again and that was nice. Maybe the weather kept everyone inside tonight--fine with me!
Posted by becky at 9:28 PM | Comments (0)
July 22, 2009
Can't complain
Matt caught an early flight to New York this morning but I had no trouble staying asleep while he showered and got ready. Eventually I got out of bed and debated biking (I had planned to run) but decided ultimately to head outside. I'm glad I did, although it was super humid out. I have had a bit of a dehydration headache all day, actually, and I was only out there an hour.
I did a variation on my Bethesda Big Houses loop and didn't have too much trouble with my knee. A couple of funny steps and twinges here and there but I was pleasantly surprised that I didn't have post-run soreness. You just never know with me. I didn't see too many runners except in the beginning and end on the bike path and I managed to avoid getting passed (pure luck and timing, not speed). I was pretty beat after the hot run and I didn't have time to bike anyway, so I just stretched and did my usual abs routine.
The gym was much less crowded today than it's been this week--phew. It's so much more pleasant. I spent some time on the stationary bike as usual and overheard the guy who calls me "Miss Hard Worker" bragging about how he just spent 10 days partying in Ibiza and winning a body-building contest. He is probably in his late 50s and he is not the type of person you want to think about having a wild time. Eew.
I have a 9am conference call tomorrow so I should at least make an effort to get to bed at a reasonable hour. Nine may not be early for normal people, but our office gets going around 9:15-9:30 and I've come to be really used to it!
Posted by becky at 9:01 PM | Comments (1)
July 21, 2009
Glory days photo shoot
I was nervous about how my knee would feel during my run today. Things felt pretty much the way they did before my little setback on Sunday, so that gave me at least a little confidence that I just overdid things a bit. I've fallen into a predictable pattern of doing certain routes on certain days, although I've been trying to add a few minutes on each time. Today/Tuesday is my AU Park loop. It doesn't have any big hills, but the small ones always remind me of my fitness level. I know that hills are never easy, but I yearn for the day when I don't shuffle up them.
I biked for about 10 minutes--all I had time for--when I got home. Just enough time to finish an "In Treatment." Matt had a meeting to go to this morning that was located and timed perfectly for him to drop me off near my office so we left together, a rarity these days.
Last night, a friend of ours called and asked if I would do him a favor and be his subject for a photo shoot (a class assignment). He needed a subject who would show passion about something, and he thought of me and running. (Even when I'm not really a runner, I still do have the passion.) So luckily I had an hour free today to go with him to a nearby track, with my running outfit, an old race number and a medal, to take some pictures. I do not have any desire to see them but I hope they helped the cause. He brought his newborn baby along too, what a treat!
I wasn't the only one complaining about the crowds at the gym tonight. I worry about what it is going to be like when the weather isn't nice anymore. It might be a down economy, but Washington Sports Club seems to be doing great. I did get a good lifting session in, though. I was a little tired from the photo shoot (being out in the sun) but otherwise felt more energetic than I had in several days of lifting.
Off to finish cooking our (late as usual) dinner...
Posted by becky at 9:00 PM | Comments (0)
July 20, 2009
Just another Monday on the bike
Boy, those Mondays come around quickly, don't they? And I seem to have fallen into a biking-on-Monday routine, so that's where I was this morning. My knee was definitely less sore when I woke up although not 100 percent. Biking was probably my best bet, and I continue to tape no matter whether I am running or biking (or walking around a lot).
Everything went smoothly and I don't have much to report, except my entertainment, of course. I finished a "Mad Men" episode that I had started yesterday--I am almost done with the second season and I believe Season 3 is starting pretty soon--and a few back-to-back episodes of "In Treatment." The time passed quickly and I felt like I got a decent workout.
It was sort of a dreary day today--cloudy and threatening to rain--and I found myself yawning all afternoon. A two-hour conference call did not help matters. I woke up a bit at the gym and it was a good thing because it was super crowded and I had to fight for what I wanted.
Matt's at a baseball game tonight but will be home soon, I imagine. He is missing a very exciting evening of ironing and the latest issue of Running Times.
Posted by becky at 9:20 PM | Comments (0)
July 19, 2009
Up and down
At the end of my run today, I was in a pretty good mood. I can't say I didn't have any knee pain this week, but on the whole, the taping seemed to help and I have had several runs in a row where I was thinking about discomforts other than my knee (quad, ankle aches, etc.) and that is a good sign. But after getting home, biking a bit and showering, I noticed a little post-run achiness and discomfort that hadn't been there the last few days. It's not that it has been so bad--I iced it and made the conscious decision not to do anything else today that might bother it--but the very awareness that things weren't going as well as I thought was hard to take.
I did run for almost 75 minutes yesterday and just under an hour today (and 30 minutes on Friday) so maybe I am just not ready for that. And I am pretty confident that I'll be feeling better in the morning (no running tomorrow) but I hate wondering.
As for today's run, I made my way to the Capital Crescent for a small portion of it (the water fountain was blissfully unoccupied today) and then did a variation of my Big Bethesda Houses loop. My iPod worked until the last mile, when it kept stopping and starting. I was slow on all of the uphills but no knee discomfort to speak of (until maybe the very end).
I stuck to my word and aside from the post-run biking, I haven't done anything else athletic today. Matt and I took a trip downtown to see a desk at West Elm (nice online but not so much in person) and I did food shopping and then worked on the slideshow I am putting together for my sister's wedding rehearsal dinner next month. I used iMovie for the first time and liked it a lot.
The weather forecast for the next few days seems really nice, so I hope to get back on track and have a few more enjoyable runs.
Posted by becky at 7:26 PM | Comments (0)
July 18, 2009
Lovely July day
Amazingly, today was another breezy, non-humid July day. We're definitely getting spoiled. Unfortunately my legs had a hard time getting going today. Eventually, things did loosen up, but the first few miles were definitely a slog. I think part of the problem was that my chosen route today started with 10 minutes straight uphill. And then my iPod stopped working at about the 12-minute mark. (I think it needed to be charged--it seems okay now.) It's amazing, considering that iPods didn't exist for the first 10 years of my life as a runner, but I am really hooked on running with mine. I also hate the sound of my footsteps since I can hear my gait adjustments in the way my feet land. It just doesn't sound smooth.
But I did finally fall into a groove right around the time I hit the Georgetown Branch Trail and headed back toward Bethesda. There is a big local race tonight so I think that thinned out the fast-runner crowd this morning. I saw mostly bikers and one old guy, who I did pass, but not as quickly as I would have hoped. Although it was nice out, it was still pretty hot, and I was dying of thirst when I reached the one water fountain on the route. I waited for a (homeless, I think) man to finish taking his drink...and waited...he just kept turning his head toward me and continuing to drink! Finally I couldn't stand waiting anymore and left without the drink. How annoying!
When I got home, I did a little bit of biking and then was very much done for the day and ready for breakfast/brunch. I let Matt sleep until then and he woke up feeling a lot better than he has the past couple of days. He's been doing stuff around the house today (and outside) while I've been out doing errands. I think we're going to stay in tonight again but we have a couple of movies we've been holding on to. Hope everyone is having a good weekend!
Posted by becky at 5:56 PM | Comments (1)
July 17, 2009
Half and half
I sound like a broken record, but this was a long week. I woke up definitely glad that it was Friday.
Today's workout was a short run followed by a spin. It was still really humid out (although the weather changed later) and although my knee felt okay, I was dragging. My legs felt heavy--maybe from some hard biking yesterday--and I was happy to limit myself to 30 minutes. When I got back, I was thankful for the nice, chilly basement and I had a good session on the bike. I finished "Tori and Dean" and followed that with some other, mindless shows. With all the TV I watch, it's a wonder I somehow missed Leigh and Nick's "Today Show" wedding.
Matt is beat after all his traveling (he's back from New York) so I made him some chicken soup (okay, I heated it up) and we are relaxing tonight. Lots of errands on the agenda for the next couple of days.
Happy weekend to all!
Posted by becky at 9:19 PM | Comments (0)
July 16, 2009
Inside day
I think I was lucky to have planned a cross-training day today. It was disgusting outside (although I didn't find that out until I left for work)--humid and swampy. I think the temp got to 94 or so. Back to normal and makes me realize how nice it's been! But this morning I was in my temperate basement working hard on the bike. I taped just for some extra support and ended up feeling good, hardly a niggle. I entertained myself with "In Treatment" and "Tori and Dean." I did my usual routine of hill intervals and the time passed quickly.
I've been slogging at the gym almost every day this week. Today wasn't too terrible, but I felt like I was on 3/4 speed or something (as opposed to half-speed the other days). I was glad to get through my routine without dropping any weights on my foot. I did overhear an entertaining fight between a woman who had placed her water bottle and towel on a treadmill and was stretching before getting on it and a man who desperately wanted that very machine. He yelled at her for making him wait when she wasn't actually using it at that moment. She held her own though and eventually he went away. Why are people so obnoxious?
Matt's in New York tonight. I am going to watch an episode of "Brothers & Sisters" and go to bed--he's not missing much!
Posted by becky at 9:11 PM | Comments (0)
July 15, 2009
Getting warmer
We slept with our windows open last night, but I could tell that it was going to be a lot warmer today as soon as I stepped outside. It still wasn't too humid, though. I taped up again and decided to do an out-and-back on the Capital Crescent Trail. Where I am, it's easiest to do the downhill part first and then come back. It's not really a hill, but it's the kind of slope where you turn around and realize the reason you were feeling okay. I actually stopped to stretch for a second at my turnaround point and started up again about 50 meters behind another female runner. We were going the same pace for a long time. I caught up to her and just stayed there and then all of a sudden she sped up (or I slowed down, but I didn't feel like it) and I was left in the dust. I felt kind of bad but not too much so because I had started out the run with a little knee niggle and it ended up feeling fine. I wanted to do an hour and had to do a couple of loops around my neighborhood to make that happen when I got back, but I made it and didn't feel too bad post-run (I taped again--people at work are getting used to it).
It was quite warm in the evening when I walked over to the gym. I was definitely sweating already when I got there. The crowds weren't too bad and I started a new book while I was on the stationary bike. I felt a bit flat and tired while lifting, though--it's been that way all week and I'm not sure why. Hopefully it is just a blip--or, I am just tired!
Posted by becky at 9:49 PM | Comments (0)
July 14, 2009
What is with the weather?
When I woke up this morning (after many attempts--it was not easy), I went downstairs and noticed that the outside thermometer said that the temperature was only in the 60s. I was surprised considering it had been quite warm and humid yesterday. But when I got outside, it was like a breath of fresh air--amazing! I really don't remember this many nice days in July in a long time. Certainly not when we were moving around this time last year.
The lower humidity also helped keep the tape on my knee. It really didn't budge so I guess that is the ticket. Can't do much to control that, unfortunately. I felt pretty tired and slow today, but didn't have knee discomfort to speak of. Only a few weird steps here and there. I used to think I would long to be pain-free the way I used to be in my innocent youth, but now I have no memory of how that was so I can't compare anything except recent runs. I actually clicked on a Letsrun thread today about cartilage damage and started worrying that my pain is really just a symptom of a hole in the cartilage getting bigger and bigger. But I am kind of young for that to be so severe at this point and I am not really willing to consider the drastic measures to fix that, so I'm going to just keep plugging away and hope my stop-gap measures of stride and tape carry me through a few more years.
I managed to get home from my run with a few minutes to spare so I hopped on the bike to watch some of last night's "Weeds." I like this season a lot. I might as well watch it since we have all these premium channels right now.
I put on a new piece of tape to wear during work and it seemed to keep some of the usual post-run discomfort at bay. By the end of the day and my walk to the gym, it was aching a bit. The gym was as crowded as ever and I had to fight for my space and equipment, but at least none of the trainers got in my way today.
I've been very sleepy all day so am going to try to get into bed earlier than usual tonight. Good night!
Posted by becky at 9:41 PM | Comments (0)
July 13, 2009
Keeping busy
I decided not to tempt fate by running three days in a row today and stuck to the bike. Luckily, I had some stuff to watch--a bunch of "In Treatment" episodes. They aren't available On Demand anymore for some inane reason, but I can usually catch them on one of our many HBO channels. Although you'd think that a show about people in therapy is boring, I really enjoy it. The time flew by today and I was glad that I didn't have any major aches and pains.
I don't have anything too exciting to report from my time at work today. Just, as they say, a day at the office. I think this is still vacation season for many people so it has been pretty quiet around the office and on email.
The gym was packed, though. There is one trainer who works with a couple several days a week, so he always needs two of everything. He hardly ever asks if he can work in and will just move my stuff. I left my towel and water bottle on the seat of the lat pulldown machine and went to grab something for a second. When I came back, he had moved my stuff off and his client was doing a set. Ugh--of course I'm too nice to say anything. There is a new, fancy gym being built right now that will be even more convenient for me...but it's still a hole in the ground so we'll see what happens.
Posted by becky at 9:02 PM | Comments (1)
July 12, 2009
Productive Sunday
The humidity has returned in full force and I think it sapped some of my energy. But aside from being really thirsty, I managed the weather well during my run this morning and felt good! I taped my knee again and it lasted just under 10 minutes before peeling completely off. Maybe I should put some baby powder on under there? How can the Olympic athletes keep it on during a volleyball game in Beijing? I'm sure that they sweat a lot, especially in the humidity.
But I think just having it on for a little bit helps me establish my gait and stride and all that. My route today involved some pretty significant hills (both down and up) and by the last couple of miles, I was dragging, but just in an out-of-hill-shape way, not a knee injury way. There was also a long stretch of flat in the middle and I felt pretty strong. I have had a little discomfort since I came back (biked a bit too when I got home) but it is manageable and less than yesterday. I am tempted to run three days in a row but today's run ended up being almost 75 minutes (long for me these days) so I don't know about that.
My shoulders and back have been aching since I got back--maybe from biking while I was tired and likely dehydrated. The morning workout too enough out of me so that I haven't felt compelled to do much physical activity (except abs) the rest of the day. Matt and I went to Bloomingdale's in the afternoon and bought a new bed (mattress is next). It's back-ordered so it will be a couple of months before it arrives, but it will be a nice surprise when it does.
Matt is finishing up his own bike workout now and I am hoping we can get outside to grill before we are hit with a thunderstorm. It's getting quite gray and stormy-looking out there.
Posted by becky at 7:27 PM | Comments (1)
July 11, 2009
Catching the end of the nice weather
Another Saturday, another swim meet at the pool at the end of our street. It was nice enough to keep the windows open last night so I woke up to the sound of cheers and clapping at the pool. Not a bad way to welcome the day, actually. I took my time getting ready to run and decided to try some kinesio-tape again since it had seemed to help me at one point. I was psyched to go outside to yet another low-humidity day, although that all changed sometime in the afternoon and it's now back to D.C. normal.
The tape seemed to give me some extra support and I was feeling good and enjoying the nice weather--until the tape started peeling off due to my sweat. It is supposed to be "sweat-proof" but my experience has shown me that this guarantee never applies to me. I kept it on as long as I could but eventually had to chuck it. I wonder if two pieces would help? Or a shorter one? I'll play around with it.
Despite the tape fiasco, I ended up having a pretty good run. Much of it was on the soft and shaded Georgetown Branch Trail. I also passed the site of that terrible accident that killed that woman and her daughter and got chills when I saw the flowers and flags that people had left there.
When I got home, I biked very easily for another half-hour or so, mostly to finish that movie that I had started yesterday. All in all it was a good effort.
Matt's flight didn't get in until about 4:30, so I did a serious house cleanup and some errands before going to Dulles to pick him up. We made a stop at Wegmans on the way home. Tonight we went to dinner with a high school friend I recently reconnected with on Facebook. I hadn't seen her since graduation! It was really a lot of fun and I am looking forward to seeing them again.
Posted by becky at 11:31 PM | Comments (13)
July 10, 2009
The latest sweat casualty
I set two alarms today but snoozed both of them many times. I don't know why I bother! I left myself just enough time for a decent bike workout, but I felt a bit rushed. I caved and bought Brothers & Sisters from iTunes last night and was excited to watch it this morning, but I have my older, slower computer connected to the TV near the bike and it was playing at half-speed. I ended up watching most of a movie called "Wendy and Lucy," which won a lot of critical acclaim in festivals last year. Michelle Williams is in it and she can play so many different roles well. It is quiet for a biking movie, but I enjoyed it and am looking forward to finishing it.
My knee soreness was gone today after icing last night. I fell asleep with the ice pack on my leg and woke up feeling like all of my circulation was being cut off due to the Ace bandage I had holding it in place. But maybe it helped (the ice, I mean).
Things were quiet at work today and we were all antsy to be outside and enjoying the West Coast-like weather. I had a bunch of errands to do after work, including buying a new watch because mine fell apart when I got off the bike this morning. It is less than a year old and I can only assume that my sweat eroded the glue holding it together. Somehow I'm not surprised.
I'm having a quiet evening tonight by myself and am definitely looking forward to Matt's scheduled arrival tomorrow afternoon.
Happy weekend to all!
Posted by becky at 8:59 PM | Comments (4)
July 9, 2009
Consistently inconsistent
Well, if I can't count on my knee feeling better from one day to the next, I sure can count on never knowing how it's going to feel when I take my first steps in the morning. Actually, I woke up with a start this morning, realizing that I slept through my alarm (this happens sometimes when I don't have Matt's alarm as a backup) and would have to seriously get a move on--so maybe it was the stress of that situation that caused me to have a sub-par knee day. It wasn't so much during the run as afterwards. I did a variation of my Big Bethesda Houses loop so I had plenty to look at and distract me, but I knew that I'd be thinking about my knee all day. Sometimes I find it hard to believe that I never had this pain, actually--today was one of those days.
In other news, the gym continues to be packed, and there is one section that everyone avoids because there is a bad smell there--one that I associate with dead rodent. This is probably the case, actually, but I just follow the herd and consider that area unusable space too. But I was able to leave work a bit earlier than I usually do today, so I had plenty of time to do my thing. I even stopped by the hardware store on the way home to buy a part for our broken toilet. I think I actually fixed it! Matt will be surprised when he comes back.
I am torn between reading tonight and watching an episode of "Brothers & Sisters." I hardly ever watch anything when I'm not biking, but I am going to try and catch Season 3 online so I can be all caught up when the fall TV season starts. So many choices, so little time...
Posted by becky at 9:40 PM | Comments (14)
July 8, 2009
Weather warp
Usually people complain about the weather in the summer, but it has been really nice out this week. As in, people are marveling in the fact that they actually want to spend time outside in July and aren't just dashing from one air-conditioned building to another. Of course, I had a biking day planned today and felt crappy about it as soon as I left the house. But I think we will have a couple more comfortable days before the return of the triple-H (hazy, hot and humid) weather.
I felt like I was working really hard for about half of my spin this morning, then for some unknown reason I started backing off. Maybe it was just that I pushed it too hard in the beginning--I'm not sure. I hate when that happens, but my knee was feeling pretty good, so I won't overanalyze. I am enjoying this season of "Weeds," and Wednesdays are always a good day to bike because I have a new episode of "Tori and Dean" on the DVR.
I biked a little longer than usual this morning because I had plans tonight with a friend. We went to a happy hour event with some people she works with (conveniently across the street from my office since things got really crazy at work late in the afternoon) and then did a little browsing at Lord & Taylor. It is always fun to catch up with good friends and tonight was no exception. Although I did feel slightly guilty to be eating bar food while during the time that I would normally be at the gym. As always, though, it is good for me to be forced out of my routine and realize what I'm missing.
Matt left tonight for L.A. and won't be back until Saturday afternoon. I am not a fan of his work travels but as another friend pointed out, at least he is earning us some frequent flyer miles! Still, I will definitely be counting down the quiet days around here until his return. And try to go to sleep early, too--I'm headed up to bed right now.
Posted by becky at 9:58 PM | Comments (0)
July 7, 2009
Nothing too exciting
Now that Monday's passed, it was slightly--but only slightly--easier to get out of bed this morning. Today was a mostly running/little bit of biking day. My hamstrings were super tight from some strengthening I did yesterday and I had a few knee niggles, too. I still have so much variation from run to run--I felt much smoother on Sunday running in Charlottesville. I try not to dwell on the not-so-great runs too much, but it's hard. At least my iPod was working. It started acting up at the end of my wet run on Sunday and it doesn't always bounce back from the sweat-rain combination.
I stretched and foam-rolled when I got back and hopped on the bike for a quality 20 minutes or so (every minute counts!) and part of last night's episode of "Make it or Break It," the cheesy gymnastics show on ABC Family that I have been watching. I recently learned (via Twitter) that Nastia Liukin is a fan too. I am really acting my age :)
Work has been quiet this week, especially compared to last week's craziness. It's nice to have some time to cross things off the to-do list. But the gym has not been quiet. It was more crowded than ever today. I couldn't get a stationary bike at first and then I had to wait for several different weight machines and even a bench. This one guy has taken to calling me "Miss Hard Worker." Next time I'm going to correct him and let him know it's "Mrs. Hard Worker!"
Posted by becky at 9:08 PM | Comments (0)
July 6, 2009
The Monday blues
Mondays following a long weekend are always tough, and this one was no exception. You'd think that after having more sleep, I wouldn't have a hard time waking up, but I definitely did. I had one of my quick internal debates over whether to run and then bike or just bike and I decided to bike. Unfortunately I didn't have too much left on the DVR today and my latest Netflix was in transit, but I made do with several episodes of "In Treatment."
The knee discomfort from yesterday's run seemed gone today and I felt good on the bike except for one awkward movement that sent a shock running through my knee. That wasn't fun. But it was pretty fleeting. I also tripped a little at the gym--ever since they installed the new floor, there is an uneven edge that gets me every time--and I felt a similar pain. But again, it went away quickly. Love those reminders that I am not fully healed from my mystery injury. I may be able to run, but I can't trip. Sigh.
Speaking of the gym, it was super crowded today. Not sure why as it was a beautiful, cooler-than-usual day out. I had to find all these corners to hide in to do my thing. Guess it's another one of the joys of Mondays!
Posted by becky at 9:17 PM | Comments (0)
July 5, 2009
Rainy and cool in July?
I woke up to the sound of rain this morning. We were still in Charlottesville and I had actually checked the weather before we left and noticed a rainy day forecast for today so I threw a hat into my bag. I am glad I did--it was pouring during most of my run and raining on and off for the rest of the day. It was also only in the 60s today--probably about 20 degrees below normal. Not that I'm complaining, of course--I love the cooler weather--but it's just very out of character for July in the south.
I had researched a route that looked interesting and brought a cue sheet with me. My first problem was finding the intersection where the run started. I wasted a good 20 minutes driving around trying to figure out why the street wasn't showing up on my iPhone. I never really did solve that issue but I parked and figured out where I was in relation to the run route. I finally got going and was glad that the hills weren't terrible--pretty similar to the types I face around here. I was following my directions and got to a gravel portion of a road. The directions had told me that I would be on gravel for about 1/3 of a mile. But I couldn't find any marked roads once the gravel started and I was definitely on there for more than that amount of time. I got nervous and decided to just turn around and retrace my steps. So I didn't complete the loop I wanted but I did get to explore a bit.
I had some watch issues (user error) so I think I ran a bit more than an hour but I am not certain. My legs felt good today during the run and of course I've had some discomfort ever since, especially after sitting in the car for 2.5 hours. I foam rolled when I got home and that seems to have helped a bit.
Before we left late this afternoon, our friends took us on a walk around their neighborhood and then we drove to campus and got a mini-tour. We ate a late lunch in the little downtown area, which was cute. It was a nice weekend away and it felt longer than the 24 hours were were there! We'll have to go back in the fall.
Now it's back to the grind...is the Fourth of July really over already? Looking forward to Labor Day already...
Posted by becky at 9:47 PM | Comments (1)
July 4, 2009
Down south
Today has felt like a long day, but it has been a fun one. I did not have as much time to work out this morning as I do on a usual Saturday since we were trying to hit the road to Charlottesville at a reasonable hour. So instead of trying to cram in both a quick run and some biking, I decided just to bike. It was sort of a ho-hum workout. I felt okay knee-wise but my head was just not into it. I watched that ABC Family gymnastics show (better than it should be) and an episode of "In Treatment." Nothing else too exciting to say about that.
We had an uneventful drive down here and made it to our friends' house in time for a late lunch. After that, we all went to a nearby pond to sit in the sun for a bit. It was a hot day but definitely not as unbearable as it usually is in July. We came back to their house in the late afternoon and were joined by some of their other friends for a barbeque and three homemade desserts (possibly my favorite part of the meal). It was a really nice way to spend the Fourth, even if there were no fireworks involved!
Posted by becky at 11:37 PM | Comments (0)
July 3, 2009
Loving the extra weekend day
It was great to have today off and nothing super pressing to get done. I slept in until almost 9:30 and worried that it was going to be blazing when I left for my run, but it really was nice. We've had several low-humidity days lately that have been amazing for this time of year in D.C. I wonder what we are in for in the later part of the summer...but I am going to try to remember these reprieves when I am wishing for winter in the coming weeks.
I used my foam roller and did some muscle-activation exercises before I left the house and ended up feeling pretty good. I ran a bit on the Capital Crescent and mostly on the roads in one of the fancier parts of Bethesda. Lots of house envy. I was careful with my stride and did not have too many knee/leg complaints. I was a little tired, but I can handle that.
I did about 30 minutes of biking when I got back and by the time I was done with that and all showered it was somehow noon. Matt had a little bit of work to do today and I did some work on the slideshow I am putting together for my sister's wedding. Tonight, we decided to have a little date night in Georgetown--we hardly ever go there to hang out anymore--and had a late but very good dinner at Agraria, which is known for its use of local and organic ingredients. We even stopped for ice cream on the way back to the car. It was a real, old-fashioned date for married people.
Tomorrow we are heading down to Charlottesville for the weekend to visit friends of ours who are professors at UVa. It is supposed to be a beautiful town and I am hoping to be able to run a bit while I'm there.
Happy Fourth of July weekend to all!
Posted by becky at 10:32 PM | Comments (0)
July 2, 2009
Kicking off the long weekend
Boy, am I beat. We had another couple over for dinner tonight which is rare during the week. Of course, tomorrow isn't a real work day, so it's not too bad, but it's a lot more planning and organization than I usually have to worry about on a Thursday night! All went well though and we had a nice time. Our guests even left behind a caramel chocolate cake--score!
I had a hard time waking up this morning and I decided just to hop on the bike rather than divide my time between running and biking. I wanted to watch the last episode of Season 2 of "Brothers & Sisters," even though I will have to wait a long time to get the DVD of the season that just ended. It was a good episode and I have been very successful at avoiding any current news about the show so I am in good shape for the release of the next installment, whenever that may be. I don't remember too much about my spin so it must have been pretty decent.
I had heard that we were going to get out of work early today and looked forward to it all day, but I wasn't able to leave until close to 4:30 because I was finishing something up. There wasn't really enough time to go to the gym and lift before I had to get ready for dinner so I went home and did a bit more biking while watching a "Jon & Kate Plus 8" retrospective on the previous ten years.
That brings me up to date and I am going up to bed.
Posted by becky at 11:13 PM | Comments (0)
July 1, 2009
Short week that feels long
I was really tired when I finally dragged my butt out of bed this morning. It took me a little while to mentally wake up and decide whether today was meant to be a running or biking day. I did a little of both, but mostly running. I did a very hilly route and focused on my form to make sure that I wasn't getting lazy and forgetting what I was supposed to be doing. It was slow goings at first, but I ended up finishing feeling pretty strong. My knee/leg didn't bother me during the run much but as usual was a bit sore later. The post-run biking that I did was easy; I didn't even get out of the saddle while pedaling along to last night's "Tori and Dean."
Matt and I both worked from home today for a couple of hours while we had our handyman fixing some things. I'm glad to be able to cross some of those "to fix" items off my list. Even though I didn't get to the office until around noon, my day seemed long. I think it was just in comparison to the past couple of weeks, which were ridiculously packed. The office has been quiet this week with a lot of people on vacation and I'm sure it will be silent tomorrow.
The gym was also pretty quiet. I rushed around trying to be quick and left at the same time I always do. I had a bunch of errands to do so I was trying to save time. But we're all settled at home now...just in time for bed.
Posted by becky at 9:53 PM | Comments (0)