tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3332209614861222742024-02-21T05:45:16.832-06:00ChemE RunnerAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05191690737876687147noreply@blogger.comBlogger74125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-333220961486122274.post-30856620454402382832012-09-14T10:57:00.001-05:002012-09-14T10:58:01.400-05:00Bomb threat at UT Austin<br />
<div style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;">
<img src="http://www.ma.utexas.edu/users/jdanciger/images/utaustin.jpg" />
</div>
<br />
Today's morning has been quite eventful, and it is only 10:30am. We got steady rain all yesterday evening and through the night, which in central TX is on its own very unusual. After a morning run and breakfast, I headed into work as usual. When I got to my desk, it was quiet as many Fridays are, people were just starting to come in and get things going. I was getting settled at my desk when I received a text message from the University alert system. We get these on a regular basis, so I didn't think much of it until I opened it:<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i>Evacuation Due to threats on campus immediately evacuate all buildings get as far away from the buildings as possible. Further information to come.</i></blockquote>
Okay, that seemed a little scary. The text was poorly punctuated and I immediately thought, maybe it is a hoax? I work in the top floor of my building, so my first thought was to alert my labmates, take my stuff and head to the main office where they would have more information. None of my labmates who where in had read the text yet, and in the few minutes it took me to alert them, the building's emergency alarm system went off. We all headed outside into throngs of people.<br />
<br />
I have never been at UT during a campus wide evacuation before. My building does get evacuated when gas alarms or chemical spills occur, but that is just one building and it is easy to move away from our building to a safe spot. Two years ago, there was a shooter on campus, but then we were told to stay in our buildings and by no means go outside. Today was different. There was no where to go. UT Austin has 50,000 students, not to mention thousands of staff members. <br />
<br />
In a few minutes, Boyfriend and I found each other and agreed it was probably a bomb threat that would take a long time to be resolved and we should just go home. About this time, UT Staff members were also telling students to go home. So what happened?<br />
<br />
This is a pretty serious bomb threat and I am glad UT reacted as it did. You can see a <a href="http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/university-texas-austin-orders-complete-evacuation-threat-article-1.1159588">news story here</a>, but more information will likely come out over the course of the day. This morning, a man claiming to be associated with Al Qaeda called into the University saying he had placed bombs all over campus and they would go off in 90 minutes.<br />
<br />
At this point that is all I know. I appreciate how quickly and efficiently the University contacted everyone and continues to update via text and email alerts. It is certainly not easy to handle such a large body of students and staff, especially in an emergency. Hopefully this is just a scare and nothing will come from it except a minor disruption to the work week.<br />
--------------------------------<br />
In other news, I did get a run in this morning, 9 miles over hills in the rain. I love running in the rain, especially when its been hot and humid. What a reprieve! Given the events of the day, I am even happier that I got a run in because the endorphins keep me calm and clear headed.<br />
<br />
That is all I've got for now.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05191690737876687147noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-333220961486122274.post-46424827939830098522012-09-06T21:44:00.001-05:002012-09-06T21:45:06.800-05:00Transitioning to FallSeptember is upon us and that means that August, typically the hottest month in Central TX, is past us. I survived and logged 174 miles in the process. I'm pretty happy with that, but have a goal of 200+ miles for this month, aiming for 45 miles for each of the first two weeks and then 50+ for the last two weeks of September. I'm hoping that the increased mileage will time with a drop in daily temperatures.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_ro8n42t_78c1xIEPbHRHJkz1ieV2VUexSy6xsL-7o08LgCwfppEkjtn9YpX077_Mw5KnZ42dkaDRdzgpJe2C7Q2othrxAGmu_u_L2vuRQXhBlifoGKA6rdQRP4mL4ZmyXvw7xQYSpu0T/s1600/DSC00828.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_ro8n42t_78c1xIEPbHRHJkz1ieV2VUexSy6xsL-7o08LgCwfppEkjtn9YpX077_Mw5KnZ42dkaDRdzgpJe2C7Q2othrxAGmu_u_L2vuRQXhBlifoGKA6rdQRP4mL4ZmyXvw7xQYSpu0T/s400/DSC00828.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A snapshot of Secret Beach in Austin, TX</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
The labor day weekend was warm in Austin, with daily highs hitting triple digits. It made me very lethargic and hermit-like during the middle of the day. Boyfriend was out of town, so I was flying solo as the single mom to Bailey. I got up very early each morning (by 6am) and headed out for my run and then did not emerge for more exercise until the evenings, when I took Miss Bailey on walks. If I went out during the day, it was errands that utilized the air conditioned car. The exception was a trip to Secret Beach with Bailey on labor day. We went with her friend Raisin. Secret Beach is a stretch of sandy shoreline along the Colorado River in East Austin. It is very hipster (perhaps you already got it from the name) and people will bring coolers and beach blankets and hang out. It is also great for dogs who like to run around, splash and generally be hooligans.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGN_L5fBRHlWWg0i1D385WcCl0ZrEn9RDjFrP5Y2V5_kgNPWKBp8_TwbczihNwsq_-SV7vora2ou2H0vIhaL06W3n7cDl-_Z5OuKDM-QqYmhMKU_EnxezPLzA2U6ptiFTt7Cujo8pi_t1y/s1600/DSC00829.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGN_L5fBRHlWWg0i1D385WcCl0ZrEn9RDjFrP5Y2V5_kgNPWKBp8_TwbczihNwsq_-SV7vora2ou2H0vIhaL06W3n7cDl-_Z5OuKDM-QqYmhMKU_EnxezPLzA2U6ptiFTt7Cujo8pi_t1y/s400/DSC00829.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bailey (left) and Raisin (right), doing doggy things and 'sploring</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgXHnC8VfkfJ9ulvsMrQE6Rndplb5ZtrJ6-44Y9RFPKP7UqrXrjx8yh7PTgr6e-c_fN6Rk0kVqO4jhG42eD7ePnam2jUMEEbXHHhFaI1tAsR-M5CGLhGBlmNQ6zg73X8pfVD6H5qY1G5kC/s1600/DSC00831.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgXHnC8VfkfJ9ulvsMrQE6Rndplb5ZtrJ6-44Y9RFPKP7UqrXrjx8yh7PTgr6e-c_fN6Rk0kVqO4jhG42eD7ePnam2jUMEEbXHHhFaI1tAsR-M5CGLhGBlmNQ6zg73X8pfVD6H5qY1G5kC/s400/DSC00831.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bailey, having a great time</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMWcIKgdQw_FJPwCMHkrdVv9BetBY9yIvtHUPqg0H8O1ubI_ZHyOZ6VhB9G5G1xpybPntSbIv_Koi4yXXXHH-wnxcZOpj_e4zSH1k5sqapnZODpzmfhzl5Xtmb0pfQWWftYgh2tnx6D2T3/s1600/DSC00832.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMWcIKgdQw_FJPwCMHkrdVv9BetBY9yIvtHUPqg0H8O1ubI_ZHyOZ6VhB9G5G1xpybPntSbIv_Koi4yXXXHH-wnxcZOpj_e4zSH1k5sqapnZODpzmfhzl5Xtmb0pfQWWftYgh2tnx6D2T3/s400/DSC00832.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Chasing after boys</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoYvtSR9CsSqnSPysd-C5TkbLoUXqN_ihyphenhyphenOuvwsaQrL4crmH_1T7rsSvArTsULO9mr75ViRWD23RhjF1fjsiUgCZR6WswvMgsAxO147ZPLa9oY89GpqSLfjeCBAxg5E5NbqNFsif90Ithyphenhyphen/s1600/DSC00827.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoYvtSR9CsSqnSPysd-C5TkbLoUXqN_ihyphenhyphenOuvwsaQrL4crmH_1T7rsSvArTsULO9mr75ViRWD23RhjF1fjsiUgCZR6WswvMgsAxO147ZPLa9oY89GpqSLfjeCBAxg5E5NbqNFsif90Ithyphenhyphen/s400/DSC00827.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Enjoying the water and trying to cool off</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The heat has continued to build since this weekend and through this week, with triple digits nearly every day. Boo! I hate it! The good news? Tomorrow might be the last triple digit day of the year! I glanced at the 10 day forecast and tomorrow is projected to hit 104F (yuck!) but then highs in the 90s for 9 days after that. Average highs for the second half of September are high 80s and 90s, so I can only hope it is all downhill from here. There is nothing pleasant about physically feeling your skin burning from the UV rays in the five minutes it takes you to walk between buildings on campus. <br />
<br />
Anyways, here is my week thus far:<br />
<b>Monday</b>: 8.51 miles over hills, 90 minutes of flag football<br />
<b>Tuesday</b>: off! Boyfriend returns :)<br />
<b>Wednesday</b>: 8.16 miles, 90 minutes of flag football<br />
<b>Thursday</b>: 2km swim<br />
<br />
Wish me some cool, dry weather!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05191690737876687147noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-333220961486122274.post-4454491506442356622012-09-02T22:53:00.005-05:002012-09-02T22:58:08.715-05:00A Day in Alsace - StrasbourgThis weekend I ran both Saturday and Sunday. Although the temperatures and weather conditions were pretty much the same, the runs felt like night and day. Saturday morning I did my long run and it was tough. I felt so exhausted only 6 miles in (which were all downhill or flat), which is a bad sign and quite surprising as my daily runs are 8+ miles. I was super sweaty and just couldn't get enough water. Because I ran the Town Lake trail, I was able to refill my bottles about half way through, but still drained them by the end of the run. Although my average pace was okay, I felt like I was slogging through the last few miles, I didn't enjoy it and I felt wiped by the time I got home.<br />
<br />
This morning was completely different. I decided after yesterday's sweat-fest long run that I would treat today as a recovery and go easy. Nonetheless, it was one of those oh-so-easy-everything-clicks runs that remind us why we love the sport. I felt really good, never very thirsty and each mile got progressively faster without trying. Halfway through, things felt good, so I tacked on an extra mile around the pond before heading home. When I got home, I did feel like I could have kept running.<br />
<br />
Isn't that just how running is, always going in cycles? I'm certainly hoping for another good one tomorrow!<br />
<br />
This week I ran 46.5 miles (!) and swam 2km. Beginning of the week <a href="http://chemerunner.blogspot.com/2012/08/running-being-vegan.html">here</a>.<br />
<b>Friday</b>: 8.5 miles total; Track workout, 3.5 miles hard<br />
<b>Saturday</b>: 11.45 miles; sucky long run<br />
<b>Sunday</b>: 9 miles; awesome recovery run<br />
<br />
I have two more cities to recap from my trip to Europe. Read earlier reports for <a href="http://chemerunner.blogspot.com/2012/08/running-in-biarritz.html">Biarritz</a>, <a href="http://chemerunner.blogspot.com/2012/08/running-in-bordeaux.html">Bordeaux</a>, <a href="http://chemerunner.blogspot.com/2012/08/passing-through-paris.html">Paris </a>& <a href="http://chemerunner.blogspot.com/2012/08/a-day-in-echternach-two-nation-run.html">Echternach</a>.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWds1KIoKdaaJjIZucjZB3-M471xpH75COz9fak_TPPa7xjl0ry_VOo_-5cHTFPCjoyXiNqSTgU8F8mRYQUbyyqOcjn0ZbhK3-YwzAImcoOu7Ced-JqB1tJAQJ2j44Q_h1z4Xhbs4xoL2n/s1600/DSC00685.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWds1KIoKdaaJjIZucjZB3-M471xpH75COz9fak_TPPa7xjl0ry_VOo_-5cHTFPCjoyXiNqSTgU8F8mRYQUbyyqOcjn0ZbhK3-YwzAImcoOu7Ced-JqB1tJAQJ2j44Q_h1z4Xhbs4xoL2n/s400/DSC00685.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Timber frame houses in Petite France</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
After Echternach, Boyfriend and I took a train to Strasbourg, located in the Alsace region of France. The Alsace region borders the Rhine river and Germany and throughout history was shifted back and forth between Germany and France. This makes Strasbourg an especially interesting city to visit because of the mix of French and German culture. This is reflected in the architecture (timber-frame houses) and cuisine. <br />
<br />
Strasbourg is a really old settlement, having been around long enough that it was at one point under control of the Roman Empire. It thrived during the Middle Ages as a trade city. To protect itself, the oldest part of the city (now known as Petite France) is an island surrounded by the Ill river, which flows into the larger Rhine river. A series of little bridges cross the Ill to connect it to the rest of the city. This old part of the city is extremely charming and the best place to stroll, shop and dine (if you are a tourist). We were lucky to have beautiful sunny weather and blue skies. <br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNnAlZsYTSvf7uAiMV_5R89D7JgJUrKI3XZ6uvhFV87xPAPdBWMWtOj4A756WyyjiDEqQWtufzqKB4c1i55uSUXRXrqK1jSXyYuoakcSCXcsoZ9oN_tl8IR-H3wLpw71fDNjeDz4OEoXF5/s1600/DSC00618.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNnAlZsYTSvf7uAiMV_5R89D7JgJUrKI3XZ6uvhFV87xPAPdBWMWtOj4A756WyyjiDEqQWtufzqKB4c1i55uSUXRXrqK1jSXyYuoakcSCXcsoZ9oN_tl8IR-H3wLpw71fDNjeDz4OEoXF5/s400/DSC00618.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sunshine in Petit France</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Boyfriend thoroughly enjoyed the Alsacian beer, and now picks himself up a Fischer Ale (imported from Alsace) whenever he warnts a treat. I also enjoy the Alsacian style beer! Anyone know of this style being produced in the US? Very little is imported, and when it is, it is pricey!<br />
<br />
Another major attraction in Strasbourg is the cathedral, which took over 200 years to build and when completed in 1493 was the tallest building in the world (beating the pyramid in Giza!) Interestingly, this cathedral has only one tower because they ran out of money to build the second. The stone is a sandy red color and the style is gothic.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9kL3-1H0LcEl2pHU9PQdAZS_Y2MthL0WmcKAeB9sjgbRjtZvAtrLfth2Ty2KYyAmOw2-DnpR4u2I3CA7PwxoffD_PbLD9QxNzErlO2WWHYQK8bFrCJyByp5Qj82Y6rm47Smch9s3VRRCU/s1600/DSC00628.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9kL3-1H0LcEl2pHU9PQdAZS_Y2MthL0WmcKAeB9sjgbRjtZvAtrLfth2Ty2KYyAmOw2-DnpR4u2I3CA7PwxoffD_PbLD9QxNzErlO2WWHYQK8bFrCJyByp5Qj82Y6rm47Smch9s3VRRCU/s400/DSC00628.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Intricately carved front of cathedral</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAWLQOrsgwqj9muRm4Yblt76A6GoqctCW2Sqf9cE_JHB46OglWnXvXLxb6iPkpfgGDZJChj5ZhcytT9G1Z3VvQnrr7DB8kfPaasdrTAxEy6hN8akxfsSNLLP8EI-QOUe0B3Q4siVDrrpUu/s1600/DSC00649.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAWLQOrsgwqj9muRm4Yblt76A6GoqctCW2Sqf9cE_JHB46OglWnXvXLxb6iPkpfgGDZJChj5ZhcytT9G1Z3VvQnrr7DB8kfPaasdrTAxEy6hN8akxfsSNLLP8EI-QOUe0B3Q4siVDrrpUu/s400/DSC00649.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A side view showing the one tower</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
We climbed to the top to get a panoramic view of the city and Boyfriend got a little artsy ;)<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0m0gDave5_4WcTbHTBlAYIAmW505WXFtwBaSdf9ebF_MZKMHTf1b3YN_diRUynufqTvkr2dI9QT2eEfKd6lKBGj-mWX_zL8PqsBwoz79g_9Fjwts7e-Egnu0gW_9IOVrYY8oXzCrApgxH/s1600/DSC00642.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0m0gDave5_4WcTbHTBlAYIAmW505WXFtwBaSdf9ebF_MZKMHTf1b3YN_diRUynufqTvkr2dI9QT2eEfKd6lKBGj-mWX_zL8PqsBwoz79g_9Fjwts7e-Egnu0gW_9IOVrYY8oXzCrApgxH/s320/DSC00642.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Itty-bitty Strasbourg</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
We stuck around the cathedral to see the Astronomical clock, which only goes off once a day (12:30pm). This is a massive clock with many intricate, moving pieces. In addition to tracking the time of day, it tracks month, day of the week, lunar cycles and many more things! I really enjoyed seeing it go off. The best part was the shut down the cathedral during that time so only the people who buy the clock ticket (which is very cheap) are inside, so we got to walk around the cathedral without the crowds.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7m94qmnwrX2Hc8noPctb2Yya68iQZdd_j_aoxwKFKSqhlQM3Vb_SFoL1imXgkr3aPuSL2pxJnqqbRTICRBIvJS8f49P74nDe359u4aGBlHF0if0N3gkSDhaYM9A55pu1YOxI3GEDo6ixx/s1600/DSC00672.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7m94qmnwrX2Hc8noPctb2Yya68iQZdd_j_aoxwKFKSqhlQM3Vb_SFoL1imXgkr3aPuSL2pxJnqqbRTICRBIvJS8f49P74nDe359u4aGBlHF0if0N3gkSDhaYM9A55pu1YOxI3GEDo6ixx/s400/DSC00672.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Astronomical clock</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
That evening, we took a tourist boat ride around the Ill river. It came with an audio recording in many languages that pointed out sights and gave a lot of history. Sometimes these boat rides are cheesy, but I really enjoyed it. We got to see a lot, learn a lot and the city was beautiful lit up at night!<br />
<br />
The next morning, I explored the city on foot in running shoes (of course!). I decided to stick to the jogging/biking path that ran alongside the Ill river. I figured it would prevent me from getting lost, which it did. Unfortunately, the city center has a lot of traffic, so I found myself stopping at a lot of intersections early on. After a few miles, it calmed down. I ran past the European Parliament (which is located in Strasbourg) and kept along the bike path heading towards the Rhine. After 3.5 miles, I turned around and retraced my path back to the hotel. I didn't see any other runners out, but lots of people were using bikes to get to work or school. I did notice on the map some big parks not too far from the city center, so I think there are some other nice running options.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnF_8R2pjb-qznSGvQ1hs6Ex1edeBB8n2WbHOqWXhjSSa0iC4gEvKxK_wIagCpmDy5ydGmhazH1Lc41ElIxRRVtqtKHS1lYIlGuNGAFsoErBQ_fOPpBBcT_i9eeUjdHzDggMItVUOoxIXL/s1600/DSC00615.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnF_8R2pjb-qznSGvQ1hs6Ex1edeBB8n2WbHOqWXhjSSa0iC4gEvKxK_wIagCpmDy5ydGmhazH1Lc41ElIxRRVtqtKHS1lYIlGuNGAFsoErBQ_fOPpBBcT_i9eeUjdHzDggMItVUOoxIXL/s400/DSC00615.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Running along the Ill river in Strasbourg was charming</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
Later that day it was back to the train station and on to Germany, which I will tell you about soon!<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05191690737876687147noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-333220961486122274.post-23940550841542671222012-08-30T21:17:00.004-05:002012-09-01T11:18:32.897-05:00Running & Being VeganThis week has been a little unusual with my running, mostly because I have had some heel pain :( and to be cautious took a few extra days off. I am still hoping to finish the week with 5 days of running because the heel is feeling much better today.<br />
<br />
<b>Monday</b>: Rest<br />
<b>Tuesday</b>: Tempo run, 8.65 total miles with 5 @ tempo<br />
<b>Wednesday</b>: Hilly recovery run, 8.8 miles<br />
<b>Thursday</b>: swim 2km<br />
<br />
I have been meaning to write a post for awhile addressing the fact that I am vegan, what I eat and why I decided to become vegan. To be honest, I put this off for awhile because I had no pictures of the food I cook/eat and posts without pictures are boring! Boyfriend and I cook and eat almost exclusively at home (I really enjoy it) but I keep forgetting to take pictures for the blog. Probably because I am so hungry by the time everything is ready ;) Anyways, I think I have enough pictures to do the post justice at this point. Also, I might cheat and come back and add more pictures later. <b> Caveat:</b> I'm not trying to 'convert' anyone. Veganism has become an important part of my daily life and for completeness I wanted to address how it fits into my life.<br />
<br />
<u>The Story</u><br />
I began transitioning towards veganism about two years ago in August of 2010. I was motivated through my desire to become a better runner and knew that eating a healthier diet with lots of plants would probably improve my performance. I listened to a lot of running podcasts (still do) and found Run Vegan Run (no longer available), which talked a lot about running and eating vegan. I decided to cut back my meat consumption to 1 meal a day, which I knew would force me to explore more plant based foods and get creative. At that point, I had no intention of becoming vegan, I only wanted to consume less animal products and processed foods, which I intuitively knew were unhealthy.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhAfIwB9x7n3EjYB5WHUHRQQYn4haMigf2aLQSbjaJMHs8Pnjx4JosRfT1q6jSowLzr8-LH1fxKVzPdxFMgXuW1WAZLpS_4Vfku44t8EAxYL9Gk1sFPlPRuclmO1A1FvBxeSsSDbW2erjc/s1600/DSC00824.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhAfIwB9x7n3EjYB5WHUHRQQYn4haMigf2aLQSbjaJMHs8Pnjx4JosRfT1q6jSowLzr8-LH1fxKVzPdxFMgXuW1WAZLpS_4Vfku44t8EAxYL9Gk1sFPlPRuclmO1A1FvBxeSsSDbW2erjc/s320/DSC00824.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Creamy gazpacho</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Fast forward a few weeks and I was really enjoying all the plant based meals I had swapped in. Cooking with meat became less and less attractive to me and the plant alternatives became tastier. I also discovered <a href="http://www.compassionatecook.com/publications/vegetarian-food-for-thought-podcast">Vegetarian Food for Thought</a>, which is a great podcast that I highly recommend. I started listening and thinking more about foods like cheese, butter, and eggs, how I didn't really need them and how they were linked to a lot of health issues like diabetes, cancer, heart disease and dementia. I also started thinking about the ethics behind what I ate. I began reading a lot about nutrition and industrial agriculture, including scientific studies and personal accounts. I watched documentaries and undercover footage at factory farms. It was a very tumultuous period and there was a lot of information to process. However, I really value the ability to critically assess information and make my own choices. The information was all pointing me in one direction and I realized that I wanted to be vegan.<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicuTRw3KNq6G5lZa-4227IbUo52jvTMcyYSpnsWgRHp6y2ATO1Qu2UmonPo2PoZWRBF9zeQM3axTCIzatVUh_8YSY6qRaHM7OOklJuo-NJ328OR6w8Q4h2pALyJH4hF2nxqggmV3WOSLi3/s1600/DSC00816.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicuTRw3KNq6G5lZa-4227IbUo52jvTMcyYSpnsWgRHp6y2ATO1Qu2UmonPo2PoZWRBF9zeQM3axTCIzatVUh_8YSY6qRaHM7OOklJuo-NJ328OR6w8Q4h2pALyJH4hF2nxqggmV3WOSLi3/s320/DSC00816.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Chocolate crinkles from <a href="http://www.compassionatecook.com/publications/the-joy-of-vegan-baking">The Joy of Vegan Baking</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<u>The Hard Parts</u><br />
Changing my eating and living philosophy wasn't easy at the time. Although in retrospect I feel the choice was obvious once I had all the information, it still rocked the boat in a big way. First of all, I was concerned about how Boyfriend would feel. We cooked and ate most of our meals together, and he enjoyed a lot of meat-oriented dishes. That was no longer going to be an option for me, nor something I wanted to prepare for him. Second, I was concerned about the reaction from my parents, especially my mother because she is an excellent cook and always goes out of her way to make things that I enjoy. I didn't want to insult her or make her think I didn't appreciate her efforts. Finally, I was concerned about what it would be like eating out or traveling, when I couldn't pick my food out from a grocery store and prepare it all myself.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrwMNBiI5V7U0CtBFiIaPZDMj9GxP0Mt5LGhSEwgNpmFH3Z1ByN7_jkB8OFbwwDPUaLIGScd-LvhL1t4csJTqzlf8pG1zCo8HE1lMkwve6Ar42Gz70WDiRwOzY34stSi1N5xexf8GhFVR9/s1600/DSC00823.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrwMNBiI5V7U0CtBFiIaPZDMj9GxP0Mt5LGhSEwgNpmFH3Z1ByN7_jkB8OFbwwDPUaLIGScd-LvhL1t4csJTqzlf8pG1zCo8HE1lMkwve6Ar42Gz70WDiRwOzY34stSi1N5xexf8GhFVR9/s320/DSC00823.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Couscous with caramelized apricots</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
In reality, all of these things worked themselves out. Boyfriend accepted my decision very gracefully and realizes and respects how important being vegan is to me. Although he is still omnivorous, he has cut back his animal product consumption and almost always eats the vegan dinners that I prepare. If he wants animal products, he makes it himself. Although I got a lot of jabs (in jest) from my dad about the decision, both of my parents respect my choice and accommodate it when we are together (which sadly isn't much with me in TX). My mom sends me great vegan recipes when she finds them and made me some of the most delicious vegan food on my recent trips home. Eating out has been easier than I thought. I typically look at menus in advance and if nothing is vegan, I simply ask the wait staff politely to work with me, which they always do. I don't have ridiculously high expectations, especially if I don't get to pick the restaurant, and I am often pleasantly surprised. Sometimes, however, it is a little boring, but I never go hungry. Traveling has been totally manageable and fun, although it does require more foresight. Since being vegan, I have been to China and France and managed in both! China was actually easier (the French use <b>a lot</b> of animal products), but I did have to have a friend write out in Mandarin that I do not eat animals. I speak French, so I was able to explain myself, even if the French thought I was strange.<br />
<br />
<u>Why am I Vegan?</u><br />
I'm not here to preach, but this is the most common question I receive when people learn I am vegan so I want to address it here for the sake of completeness. I ventured into veganism for health reasons, but I continue to be vegan for both health and ethical reasons. The health benefits of a plant based diet are numerous, but more importantly to me is embracing compassion and doing my best to not contribute to the harm of other animals, be they human or non-human. <br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8-w0hJ6y8YbfkhBR3s-yVhzmUawCnIBJ0kqbqGej5BCp-57pg2LNiyExh6CdTdCMT4GZOUuJjf4tyc9SjK3lB5CL_1le5xTIQw3ugPtkpoCKMpFWes4WMiYEdhhYusy9MSW5Rr39cDkfU/s1600/DSC00822.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8-w0hJ6y8YbfkhBR3s-yVhzmUawCnIBJ0kqbqGej5BCp-57pg2LNiyExh6CdTdCMT4GZOUuJjf4tyc9SjK3lB5CL_1le5xTIQw3ugPtkpoCKMpFWes4WMiYEdhhYusy9MSW5Rr39cDkfU/s320/DSC00822.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tofu basil "ricotta" pizza from <a href="http://savethekales.wordpress.com/2012/05/23/save-the-kales-episode-1-tofu-factory-vegan-cooking-show-with-jaime-k/">Save the Kales</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<u>The Benefits</u><br />
As you can probably tell, I am pretty happy with my decision to become vegan and the benefits have been vast. I feel my ethics are consistent with my actions and that makes my interactions with animals very rewarding, including Bailey. I am eating healthier than ever before, consuming easily 8-10 servings of vegetables and 3-5 servings of fresh fruit a day. Most of my carbohydrates are whole grains and I buy very little processed food. I know that I am getting more nutrients through my vegan diet including fiber, folate, vitamin K, vitamin C, iron, calcium, and omega3 fats. I have found so many new foods that I enjoy including tofu, tempeh, flax, soba noodles, quinoa, kale, beets, sweet potatoes, edamame, red cabbage, arugula, and chia seeds. I am healthier than before and hardly ever get sick. Maintaining a healthy weight is very easy now. My blood panel results were excellent, with low cholesterol, low blood pressure and good levels of iron. Most importantly (for this blog at least) is that my veganism has positively affected my running. I noticed improvements in pace shortly after cutting animal products out of my diet and morning stomach/digestion issues are a thing of the past.<br />
<u><br /></u>
<u>Some Resources</u><br />
For those of you who might want to learn more, here are some of my favorite resources.<br />
<i><b>Videos:</b></i><br />
<a href="http://nutritionfacts.org/">Nutrition Facts </a>(short videos that cover the most up to date scientific findings related to nutrition)<br />
<i><b>Books:</b></i><br />
<a href="http://www.thechinastudy.com/">The China Study</a><br />
<a href="http://www.compassionatecook.com/publications/the-joy-of-vegan-baking">The Joy of Vegan Baking</a><br />
<a href="http://www.compassionatecook.com/publications/the-vegan-table">The Vegan Table</a><br />
<a href="http://www.compassionatecook.com/publications/the-vegan-table">Color Me Vegan</a><br />
<a href="http://www.compassionatecook.com/publications/the-30-day-vegan-challenge">The 30 Day Vegan Challenge</a><br />
Slaughterhouse by Gail Eisnitz<br />
<a href="http://www.madcowboy.com/01_BookOV.000.html">Mad Cowboy</a><br />
<i><b>Podcasts:</b></i><br />
<a href="http://www.compassionatecook.com/publications/vegetarian-food-for-thought-podcast">Vegetarian Food for Thought</a><br />
<a href="http://www.ourhenhouse.org/">Our Hen House</a><br />
<a href="http://erinred.com/">Red Radio</a><br />
<i><b>Movies/shows:</b></i><br />
<a href="http://savethekales.wordpress.com/tv-show/">Save the Kales!</a><br />
<a href="http://www.forksoverknives.com/">Forks Over Knives</a><br />
<a href="http://earthlings.com/">Earthlings</a><br />
<br />
Veganism was a lifestyle I chose after carefully exploring a vast amount of information available to me. It is a choice that I am very happy with, but it is important to recognize it was a choice. I would not have responded well if someone tried to impose their views on me before I was ready for the information. I do not want to impose my views, but encourage everyone to explore options and information for themselves, wherever it leads you.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05191690737876687147noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-333220961486122274.post-46448633789428183652012-08-24T23:00:00.001-05:002012-08-24T23:00:31.807-05:00A Day in Echternach (& a two-nation run)So this post is coming out a day later than I wanted to write it. I have been trying to stick to a twice a week posting schedule. I usually write posts on the evenings that Boyfriend has band practice, but this week the practice got cancelled. That meant more opportunities for together time and less opportunities to be a nerd on my computer (which is a <i>good</i> thing). Bailey also had a special play date last night, so there was that...<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRg5Tt8eSy3NnTW2R6pfZUHYmomdLOXv3xaGiGLEtXzRYVh1-I0D3bgk0YSPxMwcMXhl6Pi35lx3wpWM7Rhle7b4UCktBCqLz6sysGMiAPAqFtq-QNGx74VQlLCcmjXZqz6ks1lcT34q5u/s1600/baileyswim.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRg5Tt8eSy3NnTW2R6pfZUHYmomdLOXv3xaGiGLEtXzRYVh1-I0D3bgk0YSPxMwcMXhl6Pi35lx3wpWM7Rhle7b4UCktBCqLz6sysGMiAPAqFtq-QNGx74VQlLCcmjXZqz6ks1lcT34q5u/s400/baileyswim.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bailey in a kiddie pool, being crazy</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
She really likes swimming and splashing when it is hot out. Don't worry, she definitely got a bath after this mud-water-fest.<br />
<br />
So today I want to write about the fourth place I visited on my Europe-trip (<a href="http://chemerunner.blogspot.com/2012/08/running-in-biarritz.html">Biarritz</a>, <a href="http://chemerunner.blogspot.com/2012/08/running-in-bordeaux.html">Bordeaux</a> and <a href="http://chemerunner.blogspot.com/2012/08/passing-through-paris.html">Paris</a> already recapped). Before that, a quick workout recap:<br />
<br />
<b>Monday</b>: 90 minutes of football practice (too <b>sleepy</b> to run in the morning)<br />
<b>Tuesday</b>: 2100m swim (too<b> lazy</b> to get up in the morning for run, Argh)<br />
<b>Wednesday</b>: 8.25 mile leisurely run<br />
<b>Thursday</b>: 8.26 miles total, 3.25 miles hard on the track (3x1mile, 400m hard)<br />
<b>Friday</b>: 8.00 mile recovery run over hills & 2000m swim<br />
<br />
With that out of the way, let me tell you about my visit to Echternach. After Paris, boyfriend and I took a train to Luxembourg city. Why you ask? Well, we were heading east anyways to visit a friend of mine living in Germany and we wanted to visit some interesting places along the way. I had never been to Luxembourg and it seemed like a really easy way to add another country to the list of places I have been. It's really easy to get to Luxembourg city, which is the capital, by high-speed train from Paris<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.thomasgraz.net/glass/map-L.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://www.thomasgraz.net/glass/map-L.gif" width="227" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Map of Luxembourg</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Although Luxembourg city does have some stuff to see, it is like a lot of capitals in Europe and not super unusual, so instead we took a bus from Luxembourg city to Echternach, in the northeast corner of this tiny country. It only took 45 minutes between the capital and Echternach, including many stops. Echternach is the oldest town in all of Luxembourg and sits right on the border with Germany. Heads up, Luxembourg city has the only train station in the country, so to get anywhere else you have to use the public bus system, which is very nice and was surprisingly easy to use. <br />
<br />
Echternach is located in the Mullerthal region of Luxembourg, which locals refer to as "Little Switzerland" because of the hilly terrain, green hills and abundant hiking. We picked this small town to visit because it was quiet, pastoral and close to the very old and interesting Beaufort castle. The afternoon after we arrived it was very drizzly, but we took a bus to the Beaufort castle, which was quite empty and very interesting to visit.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitJtBUsLGv-77cRbAz4lF2bYgFdVXPLwqSvSqSiIqq4u2fFJC7WqUi2FhNZfdnPjEmFC6hZ-DBQ3R2NPInHNWwFEs5Xtjtqi50OERBKWeh0WmxJAwr0Tn3wX7RxZWFP_dAbT3q_x0S9mDf/s1600/DSC00551.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitJtBUsLGv-77cRbAz4lF2bYgFdVXPLwqSvSqSiIqq4u2fFJC7WqUi2FhNZfdnPjEmFC6hZ-DBQ3R2NPInHNWwFEs5Xtjtqi50OERBKWeh0WmxJAwr0Tn3wX7RxZWFP_dAbT3q_x0S9mDf/s400/DSC00551.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Beaufort castle</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhokRPWKF6a76f5QX5qkSN5LlbnwQSSpWMYWnSGS_Lk8fDXLGgJ7d8TKsb8opbljjTx2XVMLcsntly_csDRWBF75mh1ortfB55U7HoNkXYwJLhdxck3Ywi7Tz2TqDvUWDlFLONhNPnD2cZ8/s1600/DSC00586.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhokRPWKF6a76f5QX5qkSN5LlbnwQSSpWMYWnSGS_Lk8fDXLGgJ7d8TKsb8opbljjTx2XVMLcsntly_csDRWBF75mh1ortfB55U7HoNkXYwJLhdxck3Ywi7Tz2TqDvUWDlFLONhNPnD2cZ8/s400/DSC00586.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Beaufort castle and ME!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiLEYzyOsNKEcGQ_olWylPYDggfFKyeLEBakJhQ_0o3MORRzRZU-epRd5Y5hyCTGlX-SnjAcNOwB5SeMplq-7Y1xYARJxItXREW1iGV7IL3CqofOoEYkkyuMKyl095ZmBw1chgJhTDCxVF/s1600/DSC00569.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiLEYzyOsNKEcGQ_olWylPYDggfFKyeLEBakJhQ_0o3MORRzRZU-epRd5Y5hyCTGlX-SnjAcNOwB5SeMplq-7Y1xYARJxItXREW1iGV7IL3CqofOoEYkkyuMKyl095ZmBw1chgJhTDCxVF/s400/DSC00569.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The castle had many rooms but the torture chamber was the most intriguing</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig0XGOFWWpCFqHVrZ4e2TllO-phgdx01rQ9aajHE4P-uENQRRKJk72UPvH3lnyiy9T2ipX0Pph5td-rzwMdQcP7KTWdkrA6QLSQHnpIaKo7ibE2iwjIVCLGmfULhDvLJdCZQlToKhh8xjA/s1600/DSC00572.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig0XGOFWWpCFqHVrZ4e2TllO-phgdx01rQ9aajHE4P-uENQRRKJk72UPvH3lnyiy9T2ipX0Pph5td-rzwMdQcP7KTWdkrA6QLSQHnpIaKo7ibE2iwjIVCLGmfULhDvLJdCZQlToKhh8xjA/s400/DSC00572.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Thumb screws make me sad</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
After visiting the castle, we had some time before the next bus back to Echternach. We decided to take a short hike because there was a trail head directly across from the castle. It was still drizzling and quite wet, but the trail was beautiful and it was a nice way to pass the time. <div>
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjae9NfAj7pWFU8s_Veox36BzEKCr2VkuZHyIxJuspq8D1Mnos-FYx47iwMUUj8lRGLlD_IGIwR_XvWbv0WSaDG7nWwuMUUxPl45BqsNBPlPuCVNTQja-_1WaoPBJK-mbiyYwFqNNvHy77X/s1600/DSC00589.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjae9NfAj7pWFU8s_Veox36BzEKCr2VkuZHyIxJuspq8D1Mnos-FYx47iwMUUj8lRGLlD_IGIwR_XvWbv0WSaDG7nWwuMUUxPl45BqsNBPlPuCVNTQja-_1WaoPBJK-mbiyYwFqNNvHy77X/s400/DSC00589.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">There were sheep grazing adjacent to the trail head. The lambs were very cute.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCfxCGLrvzyw_cp3ZDvLG77xhKtHllv4cpzRzsV-zZWHuZ8rGMKnfEWxuFeT_Qnwxgz4JrG0xHGocLurj8oGu36evLe51pUTrilRkbZs9I7jPW2TkzTsYGcwsKA7cDR8KTVI3vr2q6Pal6/s1600/DSC00595.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCfxCGLrvzyw_cp3ZDvLG77xhKtHllv4cpzRzsV-zZWHuZ8rGMKnfEWxuFeT_Qnwxgz4JrG0xHGocLurj8oGu36evLe51pUTrilRkbZs9I7jPW2TkzTsYGcwsKA7cDR8KTVI3vr2q6Pal6/s400/DSC00595.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Me on the trail. Everything was so green, unlike TX</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
We had a relaxing and quiet evening in Echternach, which is not exactly a happening place after hours. That was okay though because it was one of the only days where we weren't constantly in motion trying to see things. The next day we explored the town, which is small but pretty, and visited the abbey, church and abbey museum. Then we took a bus back to the Luxembourg train station and heading back into France.<div>
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQiHdV7gMjhYlQyCCz5uCqiYJp77pn5lxCIXyISPZakNGBuv37pe_mwkJQ49V6mO6bbXoVXJjtJeShZiqXXH8mCUV4OtylKgV-TXPpw_0vqxhauPZsp6k33lcvlWpbvPbUcvteDnYJ0RdI/s1600/DSC00612.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQiHdV7gMjhYlQyCCz5uCqiYJp77pn5lxCIXyISPZakNGBuv37pe_mwkJQ49V6mO6bbXoVXJjtJeShZiqXXH8mCUV4OtylKgV-TXPpw_0vqxhauPZsp6k33lcvlWpbvPbUcvteDnYJ0RdI/s400/DSC00612.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Echternach town center. That is the original celtic cross transported to the town by an Irish missionary in the 1100s. Also note we had a brief period of blue sky in the morning.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Of course, I started the day with a run, and it was the best of my entire trip! About a half mile from the hotel are some Roman ruins, which are adjacent to a lake that is surrounded by green hillsides. I started my run with a loop around this lake, about 3 miles. Everything was green and dewy and it was early morning so it was very quiet and hardly anyone was out. I saw little foxes bounding through the hills and it was just beautiful. I wanted to get some more miles in, so I headed back into town and then ran along the Sauer river that creates a natural border between Lux and Germany. This river is about 1/4 mile from the hotel with a jogging/bike path right along the banks. Again, it was a breathtaking place to run. Couple that with cool morning temps and I found myself running a great pace effortlessly. I passed some cows grazing in the field and the path put me less than 10 feet from them. I found myself extending the run farther than intended and then reached a footbridge that crossed the Sauer to meet some hiking trails. I ran over the bridge into Germany and decided to run in two countries that day (definitely a first for me!) Although I wasn't in Germany very long, it was a pretty cool experience.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: small;">My run in Echternach was magical, pastoral and everything I could possibly want from running in a new place. Although not the most exciting city I have visited, I really enjoyed the day there and would recommend it to anyone venturing to Lux. Don't forget to pack your running shoes!</span></div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
<br /><div>
<br /><br />
<br /></div>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05191690737876687147noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-333220961486122274.post-28185172391183171242012-08-19T19:06:00.001-05:002012-08-19T19:08:03.815-05:00The Extra Mile - Book ReviewQuick running recap for the week! First half of the week is <a href="http://chemerunner.blogspot.com/2012/08/passing-through-paris.html">here</a>.<br />
<br />
<b>Thursday:</b> 8.13 miles, tempo<br />
<b>Friday: </b>8.13 miles, hills<br />
<b>Saturday: </b>2.2 km swim<br />
<b>Sunday: </b>12.01 miles<br />
<br />
I hit 45.67 miles for the week and 2.2 km of swimming. I was just shy of my goal (4km swimming) because I woke up exhausted on Monday morning and skipped a run. Because I had flag football in the evening, I couldn't get a swim workout in and I was too tired all week to do a double workout day. Oh well, I am still very happy to have run 45+ miles two weeks in a row and the swimming is secondary. There are two weeks left in August, so hopefully I can keep this base going!<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSgBNmgVij6cG4l2-Z09OeiyYEAGtNR_Rr7-9DR6fOOZPL04EhUf0yQAINwbZtCsDT-UZc1r6egDUnYV_LU5gHmE6Vt3VPGyzw6oF3LWS9xKZFKOj87z2wUsmIn7ReurNdtYGPrwpWLAwo/s1600/theextramile.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSgBNmgVij6cG4l2-Z09OeiyYEAGtNR_Rr7-9DR6fOOZPL04EhUf0yQAINwbZtCsDT-UZc1r6egDUnYV_LU5gHmE6Vt3VPGyzw6oF3LWS9xKZFKOj87z2wUsmIn7ReurNdtYGPrwpWLAwo/s320/theextramile.jpg" /></a>Yesterday we had the most awesome and welcome sight in all of Austin, <b>heavy rain</b>! We didn't get a single drop of rain all of August 2011, so this made for a nice change. The rain cooled things down here considerably and it carried over to my long run this morning; I had cloud cover the entire time and the temp when I finished was 71, about 10 degrees cooler than usual. I noticed a huge difference in the way I felt while running (better, obviously) and that gives me hope that a) I will make it through the heat of the summer and b) running will get easier and more enjoyable as the weather cools down. Don't worry though, my clothes were still sopping wet when I finished. It might have been low 70s, but it was still 100% humidity.<br />
<br />
Today I want to review<b> The Extra Mile</b> by ultrarunner extraordinaire <b>Pam Reed</b>. You can find her official website for the book <a href="http://pamreed.com/pr/index.php/the-book/">here</a>. Full disclosure, I actually read this book several months ago and hadn't found the time to write up my thoughts until now.<br />
<br />
Pam Reed is an <b>elite ultrarunner</b> who lives in Tuscon, AZ. She was born in 1961 in Michigan. She is the race director for the Tuscon marathon and has set multiple course and world records in ultra distance events including 24 hour races. She is probably best known for winning the 135 mile Badwater Ultramarathon in 2002 and again in 2003 (146 miles when she first ran it). What is most spectacular about these achievements at Badwater is that is marked the first time a woman won the event outright. This book details her running achievements and lifestyle up to the time it was written/published (2007). <br />
<br />
The majority of the book focuses on Pam's running career, and especially the 5-7 years before the book was published. There are some details about her upbringing, marriage, and family life peppered in for effect, but this plays a minor role in the book. Pam predominantly discusses her motivation for running, interest in running long distances and then personal accounts of many specific races she participated in. One problem I had with the book is that it is not entirely chronological and jumps around a bit. Nonetheless, I did find her account of specific races to be very interesting and good story telling. However, overall, I would have to give her low marks for her prose, which is choppy and very stream of consciousness. I would say she is an average writer at best, and although all the details are there, it just doesn't read as well as it should. <br />
<br />
The highlight of the book is definitely her accounts the <b>Badwater Ultramarathon</b>. She is obviously a very talented and amazing endurance runner, which makes her a unique and admirable character in her own story, and is the primary reason I enjoyed reading <u>The Extra Mile</u>. As a female runner, I am particularly intrigued to learn more about those circumstances under which women are faster than their male counterparts. Here is an <a href="http://www.runnersworld.com/cda/microsite/article/0,8029,s6-238-511--13593-0,00.html">interesting article about it in Runner's World</a>, but basically at long distances, the physical (smaller, carry higher % of fat) and mental attributes of women (better pain tolerance, focus on long term goals) become advantageous. <br />
<br />
I would rate this book <b>3 stars</b>. As mentioned above, I had problems with the prose and quality of writing. That being said, it is an easy read and she is an interesting character that is worth learning more about and her experiences definitely interested me. I'm not raving about it to my friends and bugging them to read it, but I think nearly all running enthusiasts would find it enjoyable and easy to get through. <br />
<br />
<b>Let me know if you read it and what your thoughts are!</b>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-333220961486122274.post-51647307026436455252012-08-15T20:30:00.000-05:002012-08-24T23:10:10.033-05:00Passing through Paris<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2LCjA2HBYjmhMtpeMz5fcQH_vUjFEp8pRnOe6se48eTAo3EpF8H_agWb2KBYA7G_ioHi6j3VFbHVuzcgcBoHZWgA6NzLPmU2gr87XcJY9OZIfUmSVLdYttMlWvazRPfm2Eo7Y_OqHV39F/s1600/DSC00450.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2LCjA2HBYjmhMtpeMz5fcQH_vUjFEp8pRnOe6se48eTAo3EpF8H_agWb2KBYA7G_ioHi6j3VFbHVuzcgcBoHZWgA6NzLPmU2gr87XcJY9OZIfUmSVLdYttMlWvazRPfm2Eo7Y_OqHV39F/s320/DSC00450.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Paris skyline from Sacre Coeur</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Today I will recap another piece of my recent vacation in Europe (4 days in Paris), but first a little running update.<br />
<br />
Monday: 1.5 hrs of <a href="http://chemerunner.blogspot.com/search/label/Football">flag football practice</a><br />
Tuesday: 8.66 miles, easy<br />
Wednesday: 8.74 miles, hills<br />
<br />
Monday night it <i>almost </i>rained, even started drizzling, while I was playing flag football after work. But, it never did rain, and now we are left with even more miserable humidity than usual. The past two mornings the humidity has been well above 90% with overnight lows around 77F. Sigh. August is definitely the worst month in central TX, but at least the roughest part of summer is drawing to a close.<br />
<br />
In recent posts, I mentioned my adventures in <a href="http://chemerunner.blogspot.com/2012/08/running-in-biarritz.html">Biarritz</a> and <a href="http://chemerunner.blogspot.com/2012/08/running-in-bordeaux.html">Bordeaux</a>. From Bordeaux, I took a high speed train to Paris, where I met Boyfriend and we began traveling together, while is arguably more fun! This was his first trip to Europe, so it was even more special. Paris is of course a great city to start in! The last time I had been in Paris was the summer of 2006, when I interned with the French company Air Liquide. I was excited to be back, albeit briefly.<br />
<br />
We spent the first day on our own and then the next 3 days (and one day at the end of the trip) with a Parisian friend of mine who I met during the internship in 2006. We stayed in the <b>14th arrondissement</b>, which is on the left bank and south end of Paris.<br />
<br />
On our first day:<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS8Z4iIwN7XYZuV9u9dG58DFIIYR_JA9KmNGXTe5Qz18G6mifImN7z8wm9ISgxC_fPgOZMWjYuSPEasC-nixnwyBRneWxnlJ2tUmgSmx_0RiD5Ff1B9Valt-PS6BLwIo0u7z2KQe9-KCr1/s1600/DSC00434.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS8Z4iIwN7XYZuV9u9dG58DFIIYR_JA9KmNGXTe5Qz18G6mifImN7z8wm9ISgxC_fPgOZMWjYuSPEasC-nixnwyBRneWxnlJ2tUmgSmx_0RiD5Ff1B9Valt-PS6BLwIo0u7z2KQe9-KCr1/s320/DSC00434.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We visited hilly Montmartre</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiecXpMzXS3QquHNwSD9vee581nofjf57Zf_YdTlV6uXQLHadNQT5BxvEZviL6IssVyhxbi-s8vUyaoaZwArPuYu5ogw7DYoPWALcAgpguP_Bak87ex1MsIGg3OoVIIz5apDNc5U0rIP5LC/s1600/DSC00442.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiecXpMzXS3QquHNwSD9vee581nofjf57Zf_YdTlV6uXQLHadNQT5BxvEZviL6IssVyhxbi-s8vUyaoaZwArPuYu5ogw7DYoPWALcAgpguP_Bak87ex1MsIGg3OoVIIz5apDNc5U0rIP5LC/s320/DSC00442.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And climbed up Sacre Coeur</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOVc3NAWLfaz4BdEbrr4QBv4QZqMl1OZyAOxMQCaNMXfHRaIrtyCpQPzts3OLBOsGzuZmhK9rUwet7Sc2zkoG5sdFJO6ehibPydBl_pvVU7gGr2JTnGy6ee4M73sGtYfn7i_I1P4a13mpt/s1600/DSC00453.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOVc3NAWLfaz4BdEbrr4QBv4QZqMl1OZyAOxMQCaNMXfHRaIrtyCpQPzts3OLBOsGzuZmhK9rUwet7Sc2zkoG5sdFJO6ehibPydBl_pvVU7gGr2JTnGy6ee4M73sGtYfn7i_I1P4a13mpt/s320/DSC00453.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Climbed to the third tier of this tower</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJTVfIJpyRgXkXnfIJYj1aX1TVWCwPTh9HDX4cI5REe35tL3rn2lYKWnFJo0SyQeLRXd3d1vFMtgqz6udTfCggle5EGar9_8DxSpt8_8Fa1D_VHLqoEqymU86zwcdoEiSnTOvjM3QvW_W3/s1600/DSC00455.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJTVfIJpyRgXkXnfIJYj1aX1TVWCwPTh9HDX4cI5REe35tL3rn2lYKWnFJo0SyQeLRXd3d1vFMtgqz6udTfCggle5EGar9_8DxSpt8_8Fa1D_VHLqoEqymU86zwcdoEiSnTOvjM3QvW_W3/s320/DSC00455.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It was windy up top!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFRlgWpTpy1aWq_KHxwORk8tmjBPO8EG2DALxZTNVe01itgO4Afpk-GB0F7Q1zCKpm2vnBZqX9nJvgD1shLuaD1HYfMbEtw0On95Rxbua13gPby3L6Y4MfbIFSNxqpsRq1v5lgYGkLzUQ8/s1600/DSC00457.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFRlgWpTpy1aWq_KHxwORk8tmjBPO8EG2DALxZTNVe01itgO4Afpk-GB0F7Q1zCKpm2vnBZqX9nJvgD1shLuaD1HYfMbEtw0On95Rxbua13gPby3L6Y4MfbIFSNxqpsRq1v5lgYGkLzUQ8/s320/DSC00457.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And saw Notre Dame on Ile de Cite</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
After our first day, and checking off some of the must see's in Paris, boyfriend was very flexible about our remaining days. Seeing as how I had done all the major museums and touristy stuff six years ago, I was inclined to pick some less common sights that I had missed doing. Thus, the next two days we did day trips by train from Paris. First, we went to <b>Chateau Fountainebleu</b>, which was inhabited by many French kings and famously by Napoleon I & III. We chose this Chateau (over Versailles) because it is <i>much</i> less crowded and tickets are very reasonable. The estate and gardens are so beautiful and well preserved, I highly recommend it!<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj-G47C8BtxcnLK1Kd_FaDJEr03Ouk9f_4PSbRCqTzWOicSaXzyrFTlLXnt8lw5sAoQGssD0XOv2PUyEu-_pBRGUwaaCGAG5Sdn3izdJAWY3IkookoDSSi9cbujOFjMOUFRlvXpl7L9SR4/s1600/DSC00491.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj-G47C8BtxcnLK1Kd_FaDJEr03Ouk9f_4PSbRCqTzWOicSaXzyrFTlLXnt8lw5sAoQGssD0XOv2PUyEu-_pBRGUwaaCGAG5Sdn3izdJAWY3IkookoDSSi9cbujOFjMOUFRlvXpl7L9SR4/s320/DSC00491.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The front of the massive Chateau Fontainebleu</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEierj9I-SdX19rr5YDB8IStgYzSjhMPnSjZxjrvLklTngL5jud-MvG2hBk0ByPKNmUjclBp1p2Ku3auGmLcs94ApanVddo5ksj7_AazaZjcWet3F3N1fAvH4_KJ0GaV76NypcnBJbIGfcYA/s1600/DSC00488.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEierj9I-SdX19rr5YDB8IStgYzSjhMPnSjZxjrvLklTngL5jud-MvG2hBk0ByPKNmUjclBp1p2Ku3auGmLcs94ApanVddo5ksj7_AazaZjcWet3F3N1fAvH4_KJ0GaV76NypcnBJbIGfcYA/s320/DSC00488.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hanging out on the staircase from which Napoleon made his farewell speech before he was banished to Elba</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-f4sJtTmC1NgIlkhJn5jQH-EwXX4jThhvm5Rnt_IqpOCKJxQ2ocpuxolR9G8ajfCyIqDBLSa0FQbJtCNhxbzRIItJliv2NIKYnmsXeswpuqnWh_4Dpi3kO2SAl57ZRJFMcETIiiC-ESg5/s1600/DSC00477.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-f4sJtTmC1NgIlkhJn5jQH-EwXX4jThhvm5Rnt_IqpOCKJxQ2ocpuxolR9G8ajfCyIqDBLSa0FQbJtCNhxbzRIItJliv2NIKYnmsXeswpuqnWh_4Dpi3kO2SAl57ZRJFMcETIiiC-ESg5/s320/DSC00477.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The gilded throne room of the Chateau (the inside was so beautiful and lavish)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The next day, we visited the medieval town of <b>Provins</b>. We had a lot of rain and coldness that day, but we didn't let it stop us! This is a walled city that hosted many of the champagne fairs during the Middle Ages. It is now a UNESCO World Heritage site (and sister city to <a href="http://chemerunner.blogspot.com/2011/07/pingyao-trip-to-old-world-china.html">Pingyao</a>!)<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXj2iTuUozdk0FU0N2nfvK1ra0j2mya3AINJ6A4cmwb-bTSpat0ToR5kdXI2WFyyhMNG-iV_FDJ14FTfyL3nmchaNKMMo-l-NOMbB0JGVm-kJ4KqhNJcLLZZyzDBUhSsrcGLo76z7AL9s4/s1600/DSC00502.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXj2iTuUozdk0FU0N2nfvK1ra0j2mya3AINJ6A4cmwb-bTSpat0ToR5kdXI2WFyyhMNG-iV_FDJ14FTfyL3nmchaNKMMo-l-NOMbB0JGVm-kJ4KqhNJcLLZZyzDBUhSsrcGLo76z7AL9s4/s320/DSC00502.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Caesar's tower, the oldest part of Provins, which was first built in 1137!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVTmT9d_U1LNaau1mK0ToZ-VQ7zsBUlY3wAwA0pKqt5wcDW1KeSv3MfKFFdvKFQ6iWvOXjCk3N5F4svwm_NppyGSQ18GEt0moUVgeXR9GRrGfm0jyRV_KUMisZvYrXXVjnrS_Ms2lqRaiO/s1600/DSC00533.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVTmT9d_U1LNaau1mK0ToZ-VQ7zsBUlY3wAwA0pKqt5wcDW1KeSv3MfKFFdvKFQ6iWvOXjCk3N5F4svwm_NppyGSQ18GEt0moUVgeXR9GRrGfm0jyRV_KUMisZvYrXXVjnrS_Ms2lqRaiO/s320/DSC00533.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Smelling some of the beautiful roses, for which Provins is well known! We bought rose honey and mustard</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsX2RtRdnSMcCkPQh0EFEjIfc3o4gQNSLGTItWOR816vAyMVs1VeUeX5xXZVCbT7S1Bu36vMX4mmh8MoqVK8L9TWGH2clOQJTDCggYrpSpx1LA_UwVwT9QsNyk94ZPSJZOe1D3GXPwcuUn/s1600/DSC00536.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsX2RtRdnSMcCkPQh0EFEjIfc3o4gQNSLGTItWOR816vAyMVs1VeUeX5xXZVCbT7S1Bu36vMX4mmh8MoqVK8L9TWGH2clOQJTDCggYrpSpx1LA_UwVwT9QsNyk94ZPSJZOe1D3GXPwcuUn/s320/DSC00536.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The old town square</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfW95BKeePAkLoPj8XQlae-aXkivZq0Pr3X1cxr6KQ_inCtVCsyaSWq8pMQXwzXez7hPG97R6Wtie1F1daOYylT8yFhG5iV-XZCpovztwsPArWqi-K2hiVUuxnhbMltOnTNK_aSbGCJS8x/s1600/DSC00539.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfW95BKeePAkLoPj8XQlae-aXkivZq0Pr3X1cxr6KQ_inCtVCsyaSWq8pMQXwzXez7hPG97R6Wtie1F1daOYylT8yFhG5iV-XZCpovztwsPArWqi-K2hiVUuxnhbMltOnTNK_aSbGCJS8x/s320/DSC00539.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The old city walls; this is main city gate and where there used to be a drawbridge </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
So in addition to all the fun things we saw, we also got to spend a lot of time hanging out with my friend and his fiance, which was really awesome! They took us to some great restaurants and strolls through Paris at night. Unfortunately, I didn't run while I was in Paris! I had run for over a week straight while in Biarritz and Bordeaux and needed a little break. I did intend to run a few times, but then I ended up staying up pretty late socializing and couldn't get myself going in the mornings. Sometimes that happens on vacations. Fortunately, I have run many, many times while staying in Paris in 2006. <br />
<br />
So, after several days of not running, we got back on a train and<a href="http://chemerunner.blogspot.com/2012/08/a-day-in-echternach-two-nation-run.html"> headed to Luxembourg</a> for the next stop in our adventures.<br />
<br />
<b>Have you been to Paris? Have you run in Paris? What is your favorite section of the city?</b><br />
-I love Luxembourg gardens, which are just so beautiful and great for strolling and eating a french macaroon!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05191690737876687147noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-333220961486122274.post-84246835141322179172012-08-12T20:34:00.000-05:002012-08-12T20:34:08.789-05:00CompressionI finished off the week with <b>45 miles of running and 4km of swimming</b>; one of the best weeks I have had in a long time. I ran 5 days this week and swam on the other two days. <b>This kind of balance and mileage is perfect </b>for my marathon base building and I am hoping to keep it up through August and into September. Once the weather cools down, I will start increasing the mileage again, but for now I hope to stay consistent. <br />
<br />
The first half of the week is recapped<a href="http://chemerunner.blogspot.com/2012/08/running-in-bordeaux.html"> here</a>.<br />
<br />
Friday: 8.33 miles, 3.25 hard on the track<br />
Saturday: 12.11 mile long run, easy pace<br />
Sunday: swam 2km<br />
<br />
One thing that I really like about running is that participating and improving in<b> the sport does not require a lot of equipment or money</b>. Compared to a sport like cycling, where the gear is very expensive and is a major factor in one's ability to improve, running requires very little gear. I think this makes the sport very accessible and reduces the barrier of entry. The baseline for participation in running used to be a pair of running shoes, but now with barefoot running gaining momentum, we could argue that even that has gone out the window.<br />
<br />
That being said,<b> getting new running gear can be really nice</b>. I don't do it all that often (except replacing shoes every 500-600 miles), largely because if I don't need to spend money on stuff, I try not to. That being said, with more than 15 years of running behind me,<b> it's inevitable that some of that running stuff needs to be retired and replaced</b>. I've been making a recent effort to replace the bulk of my running socks, which were cotton NB socks that are 6-10 years old and no longer resemble white. The problem with the socks has predominantly been that they are so stretched out that they bunch in my shoes, but I digress.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd4r95bnhyphenhyphenPMmOv6SgNBKFZ_oH26SaBcZGqXxag9ykhSuH-TN9zAquwN-LQ4X3ZxifEicNffL9UxI_z5E-Bg_E1RDdtRwn9Hz9ksqhtHFCeAg8_GlEe5g3qp6dkHee8yYCi55St9h-147o/s1600/AspaerisPivotshort.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="205" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd4r95bnhyphenhyphenPMmOv6SgNBKFZ_oH26SaBcZGqXxag9ykhSuH-TN9zAquwN-LQ4X3ZxifEicNffL9UxI_z5E-Bg_E1RDdtRwn9Hz9ksqhtHFCeAg8_GlEe5g3qp6dkHee8yYCi55St9h-147o/s320/AspaerisPivotshort.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Aspaeris pivot shorts</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I recently decided to<b> try compression socks and shorts</b>, with an air of skepticism and disdain for what I felt was an exorbitant price. Why did I want to try them? Well, typically if my leg muscles are sore or tight, the discomfort is concentrated in my calves and hamstrings. In April and May, these muscle groups caused me a lot of trouble, as I frequently found I had to stop mid run to stretch them out. I waited for some online deals and purchased <a href="http://procompression.com/">Pro Compression marathon socks</a> and <a href="http://www.aspaerispivotshorts.com/">Aspaeris pivot shorts</a>. I was able to get the socks for $30 (regular $50) and specifically chose this brand because they often run discounts online (and several people had mentioned success with them). I got two pairs of the pivot shorts for $45, regular price is $60 for one.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzIjor-TLENYmle53h5toMe65cgofznUwl-C7dlB9JUXvwEo1I75VdVGijBHFccDzPGKKxuTAkb8EqLZZMbIMBOWFAdoQ4HpbePJB844s7EDHm_QulwS4tFGAoCkiHFtsiNDO2bHfj6TIv/s1600/procompress.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzIjor-TLENYmle53h5toMe65cgofznUwl-C7dlB9JUXvwEo1I75VdVGijBHFccDzPGKKxuTAkb8EqLZZMbIMBOWFAdoQ4HpbePJB844s7EDHm_QulwS4tFGAoCkiHFtsiNDO2bHfj6TIv/s320/procompress.jpg" width="282" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">ProCompression marathon sock</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />I first tried wearing both the socks and shorts for recovery, i.e. in the evenings at home, or during the day under pants at work. The short story is that<b> I like both of these products and find them effective! </b>I always felt like the following day, my legs were more recovered than usual. Both products are designed to be tight, which makes them a little tricky to get on, but once they are in place, I definitely feel like it hugs my muscles and increases circulation, leaving my muscles feeling much better recovered compared to an occasion when I do not use them. <div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I also tried the socks and shorts during runs. I <b>didn't notice much of a benefit if any wearing the socks</b>. I think it probably looked cool, as the socks are super bright, but my calves would still feel achy and tight. They did sop up some of the sweat that normally drips down my legs, so that was sort of nice. I have worn the shorts both for a track workout and for a hilly run. On both occasions,<b> I liked wearing the shorts</b> and felt like it prevented my hamstrings from feeling uncomfortable. It made stretching and running uphills, during which I normally feel my hamstrings in an unpleasant sort of way, much easier. I did notice that I had more trouble keeping my Nathan Speed 2 water pack in place with the pivot shorts, but it wasn't so inconvenient as to motivate me not to wear the shorts.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG3eR8GDjK7swVPLWwnLse3-ZLp1xnZyEbKvM04eh25VJCvHHf9xjo5Het98r-b7f40detWWlUZl5Jy9E7PrBZcSpry2dJ2_hRZl7CRCWAE7jOm8e0B6rCwiyO-boTijiFfSJ8mODFZCI4/s1600/DSC00815.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG3eR8GDjK7swVPLWwnLse3-ZLp1xnZyEbKvM04eh25VJCvHHf9xjo5Het98r-b7f40detWWlUZl5Jy9E7PrBZcSpry2dJ2_hRZl7CRCWAE7jOm8e0B6rCwiyO-boTijiFfSJ8mODFZCI4/s320/DSC00815.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My pink Pro Compression marathon socks and my legs</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
Basically, I like both of these products and<b> will continue to use them several times a week</b>. With two pairs of socks and shorts, I do not foresee my supply expanding in the near future. I do laundry enough times a week that this should suffice for now. I can certainly recommend these two brands, but I would suggest that if anyone is interested in trying compression gear to scope out the options and <b>wait for a promotion</b>, as the full price for all of this stuff just seems so high (at least to me!)</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-333220961486122274.post-54113587694095728892012-08-09T18:48:00.004-05:002012-08-09T18:49:46.229-05:00Running in Bordeaux<b>Running this week...</b><br />
<div>
Monday: 8.25 miles, slow & hilly</div>
<div>
Tuesday: swim 2 km</div>
<div>
Wednesday: 8.27 miles with 5.27 at solid tempo pace</div>
<div>
Thursday: 8.28 miles, slow and hilly</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
It's still central TX, so it is still hot & humid every morning, making me a hot sweaty mess <1 mile in. Running with a <a href="http://chemerunner.blogspot.com/2011/07/my-first-hydration-system-nathan-speed.html">water belt</a> is definitely helpful this time of year, although I do not like the added weight. Without it though, I really can't do more than a couple of miles.</div>
<div>
<br />
Last post, I talked about running in Biarritz, France. After finishing my conference in Biarritz, I met up with Boyfriend and we traveled around a bit together. Because of the timing of flights from TX to Paris, and the train schedule, we were unable to meet up until two days after my conference finished. So, I had some extra time and decided to visit the city of Bordeaux in southwestern France. Why Bordeaux? Well, all the high speed trains to Paris from Biarritz pass through Bordeaux, so it was a convenient stop over point. Plus, as one of the largest cities in France with a rich history (mostly related to wine), I knew it would be interesting enough to pass a day. I should mention that I speak French conversationally, so traveling by myself is not a problem!<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibGT1DU5rqkKAcFV8gTvPL29y3aH0gh8BEf39VSHOhnbSzTY0_p004V123BtmbXp7_OrDGfBfpfl_Sz8C7ip1ydXgfoRzSoAnHvC_aw4FUswpm6TCeMrR9V_DCDUpdfIcK8eUFGUTWf49S/s1600/DSC00412.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibGT1DU5rqkKAcFV8gTvPL29y3aH0gh8BEf39VSHOhnbSzTY0_p004V123BtmbXp7_OrDGfBfpfl_Sz8C7ip1ydXgfoRzSoAnHvC_aw4FUswpm6TCeMrR9V_DCDUpdfIcK8eUFGUTWf49S/s320/DSC00412.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Checking out the wine museum in Bordeaux, France</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
In retrospect, more time would have been very nice and I would like to go back so I could visit the vineyards and surrounding countryside. The city was pretty, but mostly monuments, shopping, parks and history. I only got to taste a little wine because it was a Friday afternoon and that is not a good tasting day (a lot of places were closed).<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKiQmOU7PaiNglvcdFGJBras4sEDppKUu5FOTqI0hEcoEYyCXGZg3F7BEx6ya72o8RvfIg-02HEfc6rvpatU9DbFqLCTe0WD1987CZXl8N3SEZDU3rtlXXHoB-DnJwFA_vVPLhoDmKpCiQ/s1600/DSC00401.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKiQmOU7PaiNglvcdFGJBras4sEDppKUu5FOTqI0hEcoEYyCXGZg3F7BEx6ya72o8RvfIg-02HEfc6rvpatU9DbFqLCTe0WD1987CZXl8N3SEZDU3rtlXXHoB-DnJwFA_vVPLhoDmKpCiQ/s320/DSC00401.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Basilica St. Michel</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF1npR5mxKufUUDnFKgGt-JrcXt2yqzSptMwGVCPswx8_kfrIBRIrQPUiWYXjlFb3O-amA94isBTQCG1esD_tY1QjQ7rIoBDQmLXFV2jwbnx9NKXI6Q_NRwRKh4LO2lHIpZFM1bLVBU6RJ/s1600/DSC00408.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF1npR5mxKufUUDnFKgGt-JrcXt2yqzSptMwGVCPswx8_kfrIBRIrQPUiWYXjlFb3O-amA94isBTQCG1esD_tY1QjQ7rIoBDQmLXFV2jwbnx9NKXI6Q_NRwRKh4LO2lHIpZFM1bLVBU6RJ/s320/DSC00408.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fountain at Place des Quinconces</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8OqvTDqJpZVy6OJ_u95HMs5usCgkysQfSf3IH55ejOOiizSqFpVOmpMT1hQ0DMk5Aia2UQ8nY0oa_v0vnAhjQfYvUAeiPha-dEdf2ALUmZUGKtCHCGRybhgzuPuMXgC1I6uocwbtdflIn/s1600/DSC00409.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8OqvTDqJpZVy6OJ_u95HMs5usCgkysQfSf3IH55ejOOiizSqFpVOmpMT1hQ0DMk5Aia2UQ8nY0oa_v0vnAhjQfYvUAeiPha-dEdf2ALUmZUGKtCHCGRybhgzuPuMXgC1I6uocwbtdflIn/s320/DSC00409.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Suddenly, I was in LA!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7c_BPSyJn95DV3cJGP_Rl04fWJXU3i6TZfvYDyEqN5Yvsjk_DS0-ik1JwHoAPEW_Zcr34OrKEVFVw02gLtjsG50H_bygCpjeUlOwjQj5VOMlvXDzu9VBuUPgknW7xJcz6g5hcIcWqbsE0/s1600/DSC00421.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7c_BPSyJn95DV3cJGP_Rl04fWJXU3i6TZfvYDyEqN5Yvsjk_DS0-ik1JwHoAPEW_Zcr34OrKEVFVw02gLtjsG50H_bygCpjeUlOwjQj5VOMlvXDzu9VBuUPgknW7xJcz6g5hcIcWqbsE0/s320/DSC00421.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The cathedral</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
So after arriving by train, I checked into my hotel (an Accor right by the train station) and set off on foot to explore the city & find food. Fortunately, the weather was beautiful, sunny and clear skies but not too warm. I covered a lot of ground, and even though the city has a light rail, I managed on foot, which was good because I was going to be spending plenty of time on trains.</div>
<br />
I had some great food while I was there! I had lunch at Viva Las Vegans, which is a vegan/vegetarian cafe in the old, pedestrian section of the city. For dinner, I had Thai at a little corner shop that was so tiny but the food was fresh and excellent. This choice was pretty spontaneous because I was really hungry and tired, but none of the other restaurants were going to open for dinner before 7:30pm, which is very typical of the French!<br />
<br />
After a full day, I headed back to my hotel before dark (I was by myself after all), and got up bright and early the next morning for a run before catching the train to Paris. Bordeaux is situated along the Garonne river, which I could see from my hotel, so naturally I ran along the river. I like running along waterways, especially in new cities, because it reduces the likelihood that I will get lost. Often, they have great trails/walkways as well. I was a little disappointed by my run though, as the pathways along the river only stretched for about 2 miles on either side. As I was aiming for 7 miles, it made things a little repetitive. I prefer to just keep going a long ways in one direction. Nonetheless, I did enjoy crossing the beautiful Pont Pierre several times.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_jYF11slJRrYQpHcT1JOYZXWnrShdQUwe4tiT9pQ2bIwEtgw7PUy7PT_mctjYy8MNDguWzrYwFqjepxVZ73xBZ1H29gTaSFVEWkpluZCA3RLyJbVuOQJ5Y6LIY9-cFqwIsoY9ylysJVbP/s1600/pierre.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_jYF11slJRrYQpHcT1JOYZXWnrShdQUwe4tiT9pQ2bIwEtgw7PUy7PT_mctjYy8MNDguWzrYwFqjepxVZ73xBZ1H29gTaSFVEWkpluZCA3RLyJbVuOQJ5Y6LIY9-cFqwIsoY9ylysJVbP/s320/pierre.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pont Pierre over the Garonne (full disclosure, not my picture)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I noticed many others out for a run, which was nice, and probably not atypical of a Saturday morning in France. After my run, I cleaned up and headed to the train station for the trip to Paris. I enjoyed my brief visit to Bordeaux, but intend to come back again to fully enjoy this wine region. I think the best way to see it is with a rental car. I can only imagine the beautiful running in the countryside...</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05191690737876687147noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-333220961486122274.post-39322836354646062352012-08-05T17:30:00.002-05:002012-08-05T17:31:45.858-05:00Running in Biarritz<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
I didn't get as much running in this weekend as I'd like. Yesterday I ran 8.05 miles at a leisurely pace and I was hoping for a long run of ~12 miles today to finish off the week with 5 days of running and 2 of swimming. Sadly, I turned off my alarm and promptly fell back asleep and slept until after 9am. Unfortunately, it is too hot this time of year in TX to run if I do not get up quite early in the morning, so there was no chance of making it up. Boo. But, I desperately needed the sleep. I think what I have realized is that I cannot run both mornings on the weekend, and I should move one of my swim days from the weekday to the weekend. That would allow me to sleep in one day, because I can't swim until after 10am (when the pool opens) anyways. Solid plan for next week, hopefully I can execute it.<br />
<br />
I did have the extreme pleasure of watching the women's Olympic marathon this morning, which was awesome! I DVRed it and watched every minute. It is so rare for marathons to be broadcast on tv, so it was a treat. I was sad for Desiree Davila, who is my fav of the three US women.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcXKf63gJaZ2ST3OXM4ySKXbRv_HUfEZ8aDxLky5Hhx8ZI3uPUm7KUKgAQhK_exGQSUGnBpdRD-vNqL-jOCLLtEmsspC7JDWjuXNj_j4_i0-dypqK6vpSvJ0IV0y4l6TCYs5CW7xSJFr4/s1600/Davila_DesireeT-Boston11.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcXKf63gJaZ2ST3OXM4ySKXbRv_HUfEZ8aDxLky5Hhx8ZI3uPUm7KUKgAQhK_exGQSUGnBpdRD-vNqL-jOCLLtEmsspC7JDWjuXNj_j4_i0-dypqK6vpSvJ0IV0y4l6TCYs5CW7xSJFr4/s320/Davila_DesireeT-Boston11.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Desiree Davila, my facebook friend! (That is actually true)<br />
<br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
So one of the reasons I lapsed on the blog was a work conference extended to vacation trip to France in June. I was attending an engineering conference in Biarritz, France for one week, and afterwards met up with Boyfriend to take a week and a half to explore some other places in western Europe. I ran the whole time I was there, as that is something I love to do when I am in new places, and the running was actually great. I had come from TX where it was already in the high 90s everyday to european temps in the 50s, 60s and 70s. <br />
<br />
Biarritz is in the southwestern corner of France, bordering Spain. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsYt83EKGstrJ4iOPfmSCz4RSEaqY3-niNlLJZwo1RTWrxe72GkmZRmLF6GaXB2biwjE6miplu4G5z6KqotTaBU_pG9aQMyjAjeekagocJ2u_gIMoCg3mUhtw8bHpJwg3FvM7Dk41kmD8/s1600/golpfran.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsYt83EKGstrJ4iOPfmSCz4RSEaqY3-niNlLJZwo1RTWrxe72GkmZRmLF6GaXB2biwjE6miplu4G5z6KqotTaBU_pG9aQMyjAjeekagocJ2u_gIMoCg3mUhtw8bHpJwg3FvM7Dk41kmD8/s1600/golpfran.gif" /></a></div>
It is a very small and pretty seaside resort. It is known for gambling, golf and surfing. The coastline is very dramatic here and the city is small and walkable, with most of it along the sea.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbx9ha80d1XUduH7dt9j40JIowWEDhjf_1aSnHlzJ7rM9sYFclp1oLIFJS8MvOAzulW7qGorAj9Ck_l3_bbb1A-67_K0ahy9VZNLpzwQon2ErpE_YDYxpkpExrbetD3U8JPbtioWgzUq0/s1600/DSC00360.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbx9ha80d1XUduH7dt9j40JIowWEDhjf_1aSnHlzJ7rM9sYFclp1oLIFJS8MvOAzulW7qGorAj9Ck_l3_bbb1A-67_K0ahy9VZNLpzwQon2ErpE_YDYxpkpExrbetD3U8JPbtioWgzUq0/s320/DSC00360.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Surfers, heading down to the beach</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
It was a great place to run! I did six runs while here, starting with the first afternoon I arrived. I either ran along the sea wall or around the two lakes in Biarritz. The sea wall route took me past all the major attractions and tourist center, including the former palace of Napoleon the III (now a very expensive hotel), up to the lighthouse, and into the next town.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4D0acSYQ_bA2_qEPlxaG_wTtL9VEvRCJFkn5Y0pVNdsboIVRhr37q8W77Yigp9Z6yQs_v8YI2fn6BFwBfdzm_bqU7ry-oB0EJeVmDbf-LhwYRkiuSnz9Jx1MnLtFNDNikefvCSJwx7Bg/s1600/DSC00368.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4D0acSYQ_bA2_qEPlxaG_wTtL9VEvRCJFkn5Y0pVNdsboIVRhr37q8W77Yigp9Z6yQs_v8YI2fn6BFwBfdzm_bqU7ry-oB0EJeVmDbf-LhwYRkiuSnz9Jx1MnLtFNDNikefvCSJwx7Bg/s320/DSC00368.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">There aren't many pictures with me in them because I was traveling solo</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX0ul3Ij-HYG74kj65S9itqZifdUoDarC4-Bghn0nRKYuOa2SheT1QXj4_-FHMx5sAOTxjCJbqIPAKUNtjNGgou6faWjjzwmV_KpHIfhDXBkjWPhPioJtEml7pZxN6dDawNwB_9-2_Iys/s1600/DSC00392.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX0ul3Ij-HYG74kj65S9itqZifdUoDarC4-Bghn0nRKYuOa2SheT1QXj4_-FHMx5sAOTxjCJbqIPAKUNtjNGgou6faWjjzwmV_KpHIfhDXBkjWPhPioJtEml7pZxN6dDawNwB_9-2_Iys/s320/DSC00392.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View of the main beach, casino, Hotel Napoleon & Lighthouse</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
I stayed in a cute little hotel (Hotel Eduoard VII), which was a converted home and has 18 rooms and a beautiful salon where breakfast was served daily. It was only a 6 minute walk from the convention center and main beach.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc6O9X5eVMyx7JPvExx-WXaVJ7mkAni16VUwjrhi4qfw1nX3b7id6Rv7VcoMNVt4uzz_C67Y-509tRDBSSdhzo9bANWpXEKhKdrmAAaGboAUn9WXabWeDz5I1IQybGWOlg4_73M0c6hLo/s1600/DSC00390.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc6O9X5eVMyx7JPvExx-WXaVJ7mkAni16VUwjrhi4qfw1nX3b7id6Rv7VcoMNVt4uzz_C67Y-509tRDBSSdhzo9bANWpXEKhKdrmAAaGboAUn9WXabWeDz5I1IQybGWOlg4_73M0c6hLo/s320/DSC00390.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">my Hotel</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3Nk30yzfQNL0X1UYyN1mBvBhX62h_3YKNoDnyC2rw5h4i9OSiVCNnQioKQhJBRUR40N80kITg3L_aJWwABE0VfyUlnw0ONJK_1MwZnKOFNtQhUYV4sivz0WHoMozboc1siIdsBfsVCB0/s1600/DSC00393.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3Nk30yzfQNL0X1UYyN1mBvBhX62h_3YKNoDnyC2rw5h4i9OSiVCNnQioKQhJBRUR40N80kITg3L_aJWwABE0VfyUlnw0ONJK_1MwZnKOFNtQhUYV4sivz0WHoMozboc1siIdsBfsVCB0/s320/DSC00393.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">You can see the convention center on the left, which had gorgeous ocean views</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
Although I really enjoyed running along the sea wall, it was always a little crowded and I enjoy variety in my runs. So, I used google maps to spot some nearby (within 2 miles from my hotel) lakes, which dirt paths around them. I ran there half the time. This took me towards the non-tourist center of Biarritz, which was a fresh perspective and it was always very quiet. Sadly no pictures, because I do not run with a camera.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6oCB6G2MMxbTZ45TaYD_thxli7neINyIallgd-UxVZYYwJQ4AEeafSsp_7jS04lirysdV3wem8BBI5wYJlgn6Rcrcng_upLtqjrvFdhcvmO2uVdP6lVyBwexCft22kkw6CG63r_9QJLo/s1600/DSC00365.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6oCB6G2MMxbTZ45TaYD_thxli7neINyIallgd-UxVZYYwJQ4AEeafSsp_7jS04lirysdV3wem8BBI5wYJlgn6Rcrcng_upLtqjrvFdhcvmO2uVdP6lVyBwexCft22kkw6CG63r_9QJLo/s320/DSC00365.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dramatic rock outcroppings<br />
<br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
Overall, I really enjoyed Biarritz. It was quaint, pretty, walk-able and the running was a nice way to see so much of the city! The terrain was very varied, along the sea it was quite hilly, but in the town center much flatter. If you find yourself in SW France, definitely check it out and go for a run!</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-333220961486122274.post-38645404936162188522012-08-03T14:08:00.002-05:002012-08-03T14:09:07.802-05:00Coding like a NerdSo I realize that it has been a LONG time since I posted something. Suffice it to say that the glamorous grad school life has been busy and once I fell off the bandwagon, it got hard to get started again and easier to just not write. I'm still debating if I should do this regularly, as I am getting close to defending my PhD and getting a job in the real world (i.e. real employers).<br />
<br />
Running has been going as well as one might expect, given the intense heat of a TX summer. I think I might finally be catching on to the TX lifestyle after 4 years because I have actually been pretty consistent the last month. Here is the week so far:<br />
<br />
<b>Monday:</b> swim 2km<br />
<b>Tuesday:</b> 8.69 mile run<br />
<b>Wednesday:</b> 8.19 mile run, including 3 miles of track work<br />
<b>Thursday:</b> 8.15 mile run<br />
<b>Friday:</b> swim 2km after work (planned)<br />
<br />
I'm planning on running Sat and Sun too, for roughly 45 miles for the week.<br />
<br />
I think I'll write more about running in upcoming posts, but for right now, I want to address my recent adventures in the land of <b>programming</b>.<br />
<br />
Most of my time at work is devoted to maintaining the health and happiness of many <b>cell lines</b>, setting up and running <b>experiments</b>, analyzing very simple data about those experiments, reading research papers and responding to <b>mass quantities of email</b>. In the world of science PhDs, I am known as an <b>"Experimentalist"</b>. This means the data I produce comes from experimental measurements. Contrast that with the "Computationalist" who uses sophisticated computer software or their own code to model <i>in silico </i>(that means in the computer) how something works in real life. <br />
<br />
I recently took on a side project at work that involves a lot of computational work. I decided to work on this because <b>I felt it would compliment and expand my skill set</b>, which is heavily experiment based. Also, Bioinformatics is a hot area in Biotechnology and I want to be competitive for the job market. At first, it was a little daunting because I haven't programmed in a long time (about 4 years).<br />
<br />
Guess what? <b>I am totally enjoying this!</b> I actually forgot how much I love writing code, it is like a puzzle and so logical and these are things that I love. Of course, this shouldn't surprise me because I did got to MIT and <b>I am a nerd</b> (I totally embrace this). As a freshman at MIT, I had to learn my first programming platform, which was MATLAB. <b> MATLAB</b> is really popular for engineers and I had to use it all throughout my chemical engineering core courses. I remember being totally lost at first, but by the end of that first class, I really enjoyed it.<br />
<br />
A few years later, I was hired by a small company in Cambridge to design a database for their cell culture data, so I taught myself <b>VisualBasic</b>, which is the programming language built into Excel and allows you to write your own functions that run over Excel. Pretty useful if you do a lot of stuff with Microsoft Office. After learning VisualBasic, I made my dad a database to keep track of his wine inventory in Excel.<br />
<br />
In my senior year at MIT, I took an intro to programming class through the Computer Science Department (i.e. people who <i>really</i> know how to code) and learned <b>Python</b>. This class was a lot of fun because all of the assignments were building complicated games that utilized the programming skills. It was also really well taught and covered a lot of concepts that I had not previously learned on my own.<br />
<br />
So, when I had to write some code to analyze long sets of DNA sequence for my work project, I busted out my Python skills and <b>am super proud of my script</b>! It elegantly does all of the analysis I want and then saves it nicely formatted in Excel spreadsheets for me. I was dragging my feet getting started on this because I hadn't used Python in so long, but really enjoyed doing it. Everyone who uses it LOVES Python.<br />
<br />
Sadly, I also had to use another computer language for this project, the dreaded<b> R</b>. Yup, that is the name, just 'R'. This language was written by statisticians and<b> I hate it</b>. The reason I hate it is that the syntax makes.no.sense. Pretty much all the other languages I know (MATLAB, VBA, Python) and languages I don't know but hear are useful (C, C++, Perl) use <i>very</i> similar syntax, so it is really easy to learn them once you know at least one. <br />
<br />
R does not follow this pattern and <b>I have tried three times to really learn it and I keep failing</b>. It doesn't help that the documentation is really poor. Everyone I know who uses R HATES it. Sadly, I <i>needed</i> to use R to analyze publicly available microarray data and was forced to figure it out. Fortunately, I have an amazing friend on campus who is pretty proficient with R and he gave me some scripts he wrote and taught me how to modify them. So, now I am confidently using a tiny portion of R, but I still hate it. Anytime something goes wrong, it takes me 243571x longer than it should to correct, because I only have the vaguest idea how the language works.<br />
<br />
So now I have probably left you without a doubt that I am one of the nerdiest runners out there. But, maybe some of you like coding? Do you? Please share!<br />
<br />
In other news, today is <b>Bailey's 2nd birthday and 1 year mark of living with us!</b> She is so great and makes me very happy. And now some pictures of her, because she is way cuter than me :)<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP1JWNnsSJaJUMSVX3uzrTQ79OS2WmdqA-St5kU9ned6SFTabr82-DNWeLUpMKD2dT_no-_CGMeZmK4BYQcw6sWXLKFr21EwaNwtSZk2FfpsJJlHhX5ulKpJ7kQZqx3pvk2vJPFe9si1c/s1600/DSC00106.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP1JWNnsSJaJUMSVX3uzrTQ79OS2WmdqA-St5kU9ned6SFTabr82-DNWeLUpMKD2dT_no-_CGMeZmK4BYQcw6sWXLKFr21EwaNwtSZk2FfpsJJlHhX5ulKpJ7kQZqx3pvk2vJPFe9si1c/s320/DSC00106.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I'm super spoiled, but my M&D wouldn't have it any other way</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5x0h6lrfTyX5OYGpGtRfUwxzL2v96KMSrQPqZB_WDHCIqo4OpDLzFAqpBcoVFxDhI-484fhwPO3KHV2di1Zgl6gP_8k6px0sI42-lrx9Rfg_u2e6jJ4q91WujcSBYahdEa_Mfa-0YYk4/s1600/DSC00007.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5x0h6lrfTyX5OYGpGtRfUwxzL2v96KMSrQPqZB_WDHCIqo4OpDLzFAqpBcoVFxDhI-484fhwPO3KHV2di1Zgl6gP_8k6px0sI42-lrx9Rfg_u2e6jJ4q91WujcSBYahdEa_Mfa-0YYk4/s320/DSC00007.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I love my cousin Ike</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji8GR7H-0ypkLyefiI6AzvUHSxR5PXjo-zCKtnnnfM3GkLCD-S_8ixj4KN86JBkBhBrLuB8kbng8qxI-_P31sUU_oVBe6uzsMtMLXIkFTrL7JRITxRogLI96PmmSe0K06NBBBkdCrFGEA/s1600/DSC00030.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji8GR7H-0ypkLyefiI6AzvUHSxR5PXjo-zCKtnnnfM3GkLCD-S_8ixj4KN86JBkBhBrLuB8kbng8qxI-_P31sUU_oVBe6uzsMtMLXIkFTrL7JRITxRogLI96PmmSe0K06NBBBkdCrFGEA/s320/DSC00030.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I like window gazing, pillows and my personal couch.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-333220961486122274.post-43737907492769395122012-04-26T21:01:00.000-05:002012-04-26T21:01:18.933-05:002012 Blue Bell Fun Run - Race Review<br />
<div style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;">
<img src="http://www.bluebellfunrun.com/rw_common/images/medium_halfmoon_2012.gif" />
</div>
<br />
<br />
<div style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;">
<br /></div>
<br />
On Saturday, April 14, I ran the 34th Annual Blue Bell Fun Run in Brenham, TX. This race is sponsored by Blue Bell ice cream, which is headquartered in Brenham, TX, about 90 miles east of Austin, TX. This event included a 5K, 10K and 10K relay event, as well as a 1 mile run for kids. I did the 10K run, which was scheduled to start at 8:30am and cost $20. The race start and finish was held at Brenham high school. This was a very family friendly event and I noticed a lot of kids and parents participating in the events.<br />
<br />
<b><u>Packet Pickup</u></b><br />
Packet pickup was handled on site prior to the race inside Brenham high school. Race day registration was available. Packet pickup was very well organized, and despite lots of people was handled very efficiently and took just a few minutes. Volunteers did a great job.<br />
<br />
<b><u>Parking</u></b><br />
Ample parking was available at and around the high school, where the event was hosted. Parking attendants were present and once a lot was filled, cars were directed to the next lot. I got there just before the high school lot filled, so I got a great spot. However, getting out of the parking lot after the race was a SLOW and arduous process. Too many cars from too many different places all trying to exit on small roads, so it took about 30 minutes for me to get out.<br />
<br />
<b><u>Pre-Race</u></b><br />
Because Brenham is about 90 minutes outside of Austin, I had to get up pretty early for this race (5:15am) and was out the door at 5:45am. This gave me plenty of time once I got to Brenham to park, pickup my packet, use the indoor, high school bathrooms (a nice perk!), do a warm-up jog of 1.3 miles and stretch. It was another warm, humid morning, high 60s and 90% humidity, so I was sweaty early on. Although the race was supposed to start at 8:30am, it got off a little late. The kid's 1 mile and 10K relay start were scheduled before the regular 10K start, and because the kid's run took longer than expected, everything was shifted slightly and we started a few minutes late. Signs with per mile pacing (sub 7 minute, 8 minute, 9 minute etc) hastily went up, and participants were encouraged to file in accordingly. <br />
<br />
<b><u>The Course</u></b><br />
This course is very pretty and mostly flat, with just a couple of small, rolling hills. The roads were completely closed to traffic and we left the high school, running on downtown streets and quickly approached quiet, neighborhood roads with pretty houses and big green lawns lining either side of the street. The 10K has an extended loop that turns back and meets up with the 5K route at about 5 miles. The extended loop takes runners on some back roads with small farms and grazing animals on either side. It was picturesque. The course ends with a pretty long uphill (about half mile), followed by a quick downhill for the last 0.2 that brings runners back to the high school and finish line. I did have one complaint regarding the course; the 5K and 10K merge with about 1.2 miles to the finish. Because the 5K starts after the 10K, most of the 5Kers that I merged with were moving at a much slower pace than the 10Kers and a lot were walkers. They took up the entire road, forcing 10Kers to literally weave around them to keep moving forward. Although the road was wide enough to split 10K and 5K with cones, the race directors did not attempt to do this and I think that it would have improved the experience for everyone involved.<br />
<b><u><br /></u></b><br />
<b><u>Post-Race</u></b><br />
The atmosphere after the race was very festive! HEB was a sponsor and provided sliced oranges (which were delicious), granola bars and bananas. Blue Bell was the major sponsor and had a big ice cream truck with boxes and boxes of ice cream sandwiches and other frozen treats on a stick. I was expecting to have to skip the ice cream (as I am vegan) but was delighted to find a strawberry fruit bar with no animal products in it. The frozen snacks were especially delicious on such a hot day. The high school remained open for people to use clean, indoor bathrooms, and the field house was opened up for people to shower. That was pretty neat!<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijnlsrTKMrVQVDJ09rQgJe1_NBJkVd1vXpzyH33ivUmuzdUPNW5g8NUUIbfV1wl4cJMMzQlS3GrlTgcv60EjW_BKbMx1yIOmNfhG3hKC7RKu4_L7GgpqPRu0Wykt5uEBKRBYOVnHyGzr8/s1600/DSC00321.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijnlsrTKMrVQVDJ09rQgJe1_NBJkVd1vXpzyH33ivUmuzdUPNW5g8NUUIbfV1wl4cJMMzQlS3GrlTgcv60EjW_BKbMx1yIOmNfhG3hKC7RKu4_L7GgpqPRu0Wykt5uEBKRBYOVnHyGzr8/s320/DSC00321.JPG" width="320" /></a><b><u><br /></u></b><br />
<b><u>The Race Stuff</u></b><br />
Participants received a technical t-shirt in the size of their choice. This was the first year that the race switched from cotton t-shirts to technical shirts, even though the race is only $20 to register! In addition to the shirt, race bags included lots of coupons (related almost exclusively to businesses in and around Brenham) and a packet of TX wildflower seeds, perfect for spring!<br />
<b><u><br /></u></b><br />
<b><u>My Race</u></b><br />
As I mentioned, I had to get up quite early to drive to this race, 3 hours before the race start. Because my legs were pretty sore, I wore my newly purchased compression socks (will discuss in upcoming post) the evening before and on my drive to Brenham. They definitely helped with tight calves. This was another host, humid race and my time was an uninspiring 56:38. I definitely did not run my best and even had to take a walk/stretch break around mile 3. I think my poor performance was a combination of weather (what happened to spring, TX?), hamstring soreness and problems, and running much later than I am accustomed to. I usually start my run within 30 minutes of getting up in the morning, which mean no later than 6:30am. The three hour gap between my alarm going off and the race starting was definitely not something my body was used to and this time period was long enough for me to start getting sleepy and lethargic again. In fact, on my drive back to Austin I felt completely exhausted, which is not good when one is driving alone!<br />
<br />
All in all, I enjoyed the Blue Bell Fun Run, although I wasn't impressed by my own performance. It was a fun event, well organized, inexpensive, geared towards family and is a pleasant course. That being said, I do not expect to do it again, because the drive is quite long coming from Austin. In fact, there were two other events that same weekend in Austin (Longhorn Run on the same day and Austin 10/20 on the following day), which might be better options for me next year. That being said, $20 for a 10K and technical shirt is a good deal that should not be ignored!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-333220961486122274.post-68925313690719453682012-04-22T14:56:00.000-05:002012-04-22T14:56:48.718-05:002012 ZOOMA Texas Half Marathon - Race ReviewI realize this race review is long overdue. The primary reason for that is because I had a pretty crappy day and have had a hard time motivating myself to summarize it in gory detail. Nonetheless, I hope this race report is of some use to others interested in this particular race!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.bastroptexas.net/around_bastrop/images/Hyatt-Resort-118-01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="233" src="http://www.bastroptexas.net/around_bastrop/images/Hyatt-Resort-118-01.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
I ran the ZOOMA Texas Half Marathon on Saturday, March 31 2012. It took place in Bastrop, TX and the start and finish were at the <a href="http://lostpines.hyatt.com/hyatt/hotels-lostpines/index.jsp?null">Hyatt Regency Lost Pines Resor</a>t. This race was geared towards and marketed as a race for women, although men were allowed to run. There was also a 5K race that started just after the half marathon. Half marathon entry was $85 at the time I registered (may have been $80 for very early entry). <br />
<br />
<b><u>Packet Pickup</u></b><br />
The packet pickup process for this race was not well organized, and I would say this is my primary complaint. Because it was a Saturday race, it seems logical to me that runners should have been allowed to pick up their race packets just before the race. This was not the case, there were only two narrow windows to pick up packets; 3-7pm on Thursday and 2-8pm on Friday. Thursday afternoon the packet pickup was in downtown Austin, TX in a location that has has high traffic density and is very difficult to get to during rush hour. Friday, packets could only be picked up at the host resort in Bastrop TX, a location even harder to get to during rush hour traffic than downtown Austin, especially considering Austin residents were the primary demographic participating in the race. I think any Saturday race should allow day of packet pickup, as most people work during the weekdays. <br />
<br />
<b><u>Parking</u></b><br />
The race started at 7:30am and on site parking was only available for participants staying overnight at the Hyatt. The rest of us had to park near the Austin airport and take shuttle buses back and forth from the Hyatt. I was initially very annoyed about this and thought it would be a disaster, but the race organizers did a great job with the shuttling process. There was plenty of parking near the airport, it was free, and no one was waiting for a shuttle. Non-runners (family members, significant others) were allowed to take the shuttles as well, no extra charge. The downside is that it did mean getting up earlier on race day and added time on the return trip.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://zoomarun.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/ZOOMA-5K-Start.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="161" src="http://zoomarun.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/ZOOMA-5K-Start.jpg" width="320" /></a><b><u>Pre-Race</u></b><br />
Waiting for the race start was pretty nice. There was a bag check, but I elected not to use it. The Hyatt allowed any runners that wanted to wait inside and use indoor bathrooms, but it was a very warm morning, so I stayed outside. I found some pristine and unused porta-potties with no line, which was a nice perk. In fact, porta-potties were ample for this race and lines were less than 3 minutes. The race had pacers every 10 minute interval, starting with 1:40 finish. The race started right on time after a few quick announcements from race sponsors (including Sara Hall). It was a warm and muggy morning, low 70s at the start, 90% humidity and no cloud cover.<br />
<br />
<b><u>The Course</u></b><br />
<a href="http://www.franlan.com/chamberCMS/images/stories/Logos/Hyatt-firepit.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.franlan.com/chamberCMS/images/stories/Logos/Hyatt-firepit.png" /></a>The first 10 miles of the course left the Lost Pines Resort and meandered along neighboring, 2-lane, back country roads. It was very picturesque and beautiful because we were mostly surrounded by green fields filled with wildflowers, which are in bloom that time of year in Central TX. Although quite pretty, the course was tough, with hardly any flat terrain and constant rolling hills. This was probably the hilliest of any race I have run in TX and would be hilly by New England standards too. The last three miles of the course are back on the Lost Pines Resort, meandering through their gold course, which is also pretty. This part winds a lot though, so you think you should be done and there are three more turns you can't see. Water was available about every mile, along with Cytomax Sports Drink and GU gels were given out at mile 8.<br />
<br />
<b><u>Post Race</u></b><br />
The post race for this event was very good, one of the best I have seen. They hosted an "Expo" on the Hyatt Resort, with lots of vendors and swag (bike, apparel, jewelry companies etc.) I thought that was interesting to do it after the race and seemed like a nice family affair. The location was beautiful too, so I think that added to the appeal of hanging around with family and friends. HEB provided post race food, including bagels, water, oranges and bananas. I thought the food could have been better but was pretty pleased that they gave out reusable shopping bags. Muscle Milk recovery drink was the primary sponsor, so they were handing that out as well, but because I'm vegan and they use casein, I passed. Barefoot wine was also a sponsor and they were doing a tasting. It was hot, early in the morning and I was very dehydrated so I did not partake in that either! <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-Oj1kfdQz6c7q4m40ecBpX1PlTlpRXj6utgpn4XxcXgl_WlCn6JV1lHTxmYs22FJ7HYmVs0wM8debcIsoy6_qMAXrOwDTyF4vGve8XkhkgtxjgjE2a1ANzpWL9krXa8VTVqdafNQ6GWs/s1600/DSC00316.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-Oj1kfdQz6c7q4m40ecBpX1PlTlpRXj6utgpn4XxcXgl_WlCn6JV1lHTxmYs22FJ7HYmVs0wM8debcIsoy6_qMAXrOwDTyF4vGve8XkhkgtxjgjE2a1ANzpWL9krXa8VTVqdafNQ6GWs/s320/DSC00316.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<b><u>The Race Stuff</u></b><br />
This race gave all registered participants a black technical t-shirt with the race name, logo and sponsors on it. This shirt fits nicely and is true to size. Finishers of the half marathon received finishers necklace in silver with a turquoise charm. This is the first time I have received a necklace in lieu of a medal and I think it is a nice change of pace, especially for a women's event like this one. However, the necklace is not very good quality and not something I will wear much, so I wouldn't want one from every race I do.<br />
<br />
<b><u>My Race</u></b><br />
To make a long story short, I had a personal worst (by far) of 2:18:03 that included many, many walk breaks and a few stretch breaks for cramping legs. Although the course was beautiful, the day just wasn't mine and I bonked. In fact, only a few miles in it became apparent to me that I was going to have a tough finish. I contemplated quitting several times and am proud that I resisted the urge and pulled myself through all 13.1 miles (especially when my thoughts of quitting came as early as 2.5 miles). Why did I have a bad race? Well, number one I haven't been training correctly. I hadn't done sufficient long runs and my training had been inconsistent. I also haven't done speed work in a long time and that really showed in my recent races, with significantly slower times than in the past. I am working on turning that around, but it will be a many month process. Second, the weather was pretty awful. I consistently run better in cool, dry weather and although out of my control, it definitely played a major role on the day. This also led to dehydration, nausea and some stomach cramps late in the race. Finally, the course was much hillier than I expected. I have been having a lot of problems with tight calves and hamstrings, which are easily aggravated by uphills and downhills. If I run the course again, I will plan hill training that mimics this course.<br />
<br />
Overall, this was a well organized, nicely run and reasonably priced half marathon. Although I did not have a great experience day of, I would recommend it to others and even consider doing it again. I would like to see packet pickup available day of and maybe even an earlier start (7am) to combat unpleasantly warm temperatures that central TX often gets in March and April. The Hyatt Lost Pines Resort is beautiful and a really nice choice for the race location.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-333220961486122274.post-40480083624861296452012-04-17T17:58:00.001-05:002012-04-17T17:59:25.945-05:00Missing Boston: The View from Austin<br />
<div style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;">
<img height="200" src="http://boston.eater.com/uploads/size_550x415_116th-Boston-Marathon-Logo-2012.jpg" width="196" /></div>
<br />
Yesterday was Patriot's Day, which means it was the running of the 116th Boston Marathon. Because I grew up in MA and went to college there, Patriot's Day was always a holiday, that is until I moved to TX. Although some businesses are not closed in MA on Patriot's Day (especially those that only observe banking holidays), the schools and colleges give the day off. Not only did that make this Monday special because of a long weekend, but I grew up close enough to Boston that I would always go into the city and spectate (except the two years I ran as a qualified runner, 2006 & 2007). Spectating is a big deal on Marathon Monday, there are tens of thousands of people who do it every year, regardless of the weather, and it is truly a wonderful and fun experience. There is nothing like the excitement of the world's best runners and all the energy that comes along with it. Plus there is swag. In high school, I would have to hurry home as the race was winding down for an evening track practice. Even though school wasn't in session, we still had practice. In college, the day was one long party with maybe a little time devoted to finishing problem sets.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www3.pictures.zimbio.com/gi/116th+Boston+Marathon+E04_SxfgNlSl.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Joshua Cassidy wins the men's wheelchair division of the 116th Boston Marathon, react on the April 15, 2012 in Boston, Massachusetts." border="0" height="230" src="http://www3.pictures.zimbio.com/gi/116th+Boston+Marathon+E04_SxfgNlSl.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The big news of the day with J. Cassidy breaking the push<br />
rim course record.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Now that I am in TX, my enthusiasm for the race has hardly waned, but people around me just don't have the same appreciation that my fellow Bostonians did. While my family members headed into Boston and Hopkinton to volunteer (proud of them!), I watched the live streaming coverage provided by Universal Sports online. At least as much as my work allowed me to. I was really pleased with their coverage, although it just focused on the lead finishers in each race and did not talk about any "mid-packers," and unlike in previous years it was free! I also charted the progress of all my friends that I knew were running and the new mapping feature that the BAA had was excellent. Like every Boston marathon I have watched, the 116th was no exception in making me feel inspired and nostalgic. In fact, it makes me very much want to focus on re-qualifying so I can run a third time. As they showed sections of the course, I was reminded of the many long training runs I did on the Newton hills or Beacon St in college. And while I really enjoy trying new marathons, I firmly believe that Boston is the greatest marathon in the world. Of course, I am probably biased because it is firmly embedded in the culture I grew up in and attending those races year after year is what inspired me to run a marathon in the first place.<br />
<br />
There is something magical about Patriot's Day in Boston and I hope everyone who wants to gets to experience that someday. Congratulations to all who ran the race yesterday in some very tough conditions. I think you deserve some honorary TX status after that heat!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-333220961486122274.post-16788088601065513722012-04-13T16:07:00.000-05:002012-04-13T16:07:14.447-05:00Love at First Run<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I am a big fan of New Balance running shoes and have been wearing them for the last decade, pretty much exclusively. In fact, the only time I cheated on NB and wore another brand was when <a href="http://chemerunner.blogspot.com/2010/10/shoes-i-run-in.html">I won a pair of Brooks shoes from a local 10K trail series</a>. The bad (and good) thing about NB shoes is that they retire their shoes <b><i>very</i></b> quickly, sometimes every year they make a new model. This is definitely disruptive if you have found a model that you like and want to keep buying, forever and ever. The positive thing is that it means that unsold old models end up at a reduced price at places like <a href="http://www.joesnewbalanceoutlet.com/">Joe's New Balance Outlet</a>. If you are at all a fan of NB stuff, I strongly suggest checking out this site, which has some great deals on shoes and apparel. The catch is that it is all NB brand.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.joesnewbalanceoutlet.com/products/WT101PH_xl.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img alt="New Balance 101" border="0" height="200" src="http://www.joesnewbalanceoutlet.com/products/WT101PH_xl.jpg" width="200" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">NB 101T, $36 on sale</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The other day, I bought another pair of running shoes from Joe's New Balance Outlet. They had an extra 10% and free shipping over $50. They also still had these shoes in, which I really love, so this is the 4th pair I have bought. They were $36 after the discount. Badass, I know. Downside? $36 didn't qualify me for free shipping, so I did what any good running addict would do and thought about what other running stuff I wanted/needed. I had <b><i>recently, finally</i></b> caved in and decided to retire an old pair of bright yellow nylon shorts that chaffed me terribly every time I ran but for the longest time couldn't muster the strength to throw away. Therefore, I rationalized that I should get a new pair of shorts. I looked at what was available in my size and inexpensive, and settled on the 1107GBL (sometimes the NB numbering scheme seems like overkill, right?) or<b> Run Short</b>. They were $18. Here is the description:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.joesnewbalanceoutlet.com/products/WRS1107GBL_xl.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="New Balance NBx Run Short" border="0" height="200" src="http://www.joesnewbalanceoutlet.com/products/WRS1107GBL_xl.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">NB Run Short, $18 on sale</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 11px;">This short was made with the most active runners in mind, with creature comforts like reflectivity, ventilation panels and a music-friendly pocket. Featuring X-Static® fabric and a comfortable waistband, this 3" short will keep you cool and comfortable no matter how long or far you push your limits.</span>
</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span></span><br /><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span></span><br />
<br /><br />
<br />
<div style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">That sounded good to me. I bought the black and blue trimmed pair. When they arrived, I was skeptical. Three inches is very short and I hadn't accurately envisioned that length. They are also tight, kind of like boy shorts and hug my thighs/buttocks. Well, turns out the NB Run Short was <i><b>Love at First Run</b></i>. I took them out for a spin and they were magically comfortable, lightweight and there was no chaffing. Despite the significant amount of sweating I do in TX spring weather, they did not get heavy and wick very effectively. Also important, they have a nice pocket in the middle of the back which is big enough to hold a key and/or ID card. I think it was designed to hold an MP3 player, but I always clip mine at my waist. Other snazzy benefits: special silver fibers to reduce odor (they do smell very clean after washing, but they haven't had many wears yet), reflective stripes on the front and back and an ICE strip built into the pocket (you can put emergency information on it).</span></div>
<div style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">All in all, a very good purchase if I do say so. I intend to wear them in a 10K road race I am doing tomorrow, which is looking like a warm and sweaty start at 75F and 90% humidity. Yup, that's TX.</span></div>
<div style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">A few days ago, I bought a pair of Pro Compression socks for $30 (regular price of $50). I have never tried compression socks before but often get sore calves and have heard they can really speed up recovery if worn between workouts. I am excited to give them a whirl and hopefully won't feel that I wasted my money.</span></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br class="Apple-interchange-newline" /></span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-333220961486122274.post-71029052287226771102012-04-12T21:25:00.000-05:002012-04-12T21:26:07.114-05:00Race Review: GSA 5KOn Sunday, April 1st, I ran the 2nd GSA 5K. Proceeds were dedicated to UT graduate student travel grants. The event took place on the roads of UT campus. The first event was held in 2010. This was a small local event. I cannot find the results online, but I think 150-200 people were registered. It was open to runners, joggers and walkers. Registration was $25 for UT affiliates and $30 for members of the general community. This included chip timing (although results aren't online...), a cotton t-shirt and a wide array of post-race refreshments.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDrpwe2EggEaHMnkWY9w4E7e-wIeVSoBLkA2OfRLSO9QVI9kaWugJxqpM20qh6kVButNZ0jprhmrWGNKXalmSKKXpM4rJH73edgzuXvpxdd5COAaEPYzIHVSu6iV8XSAhWyd3E_vSMxGs/s1600/DSC00288.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDrpwe2EggEaHMnkWY9w4E7e-wIeVSoBLkA2OfRLSO9QVI9kaWugJxqpM20qh6kVButNZ0jprhmrWGNKXalmSKKXpM4rJH73edgzuXvpxdd5COAaEPYzIHVSu6iV8XSAhWyd3E_vSMxGs/s400/DSC00288.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
<br />
Because this was a dog friendly event, Boyfriend and I took Ike and Bailey with us. The race started at 8:30am. Because we live close, we jogged approximately one mile from home to the race start. We made sure both doggies did all their business before we got to the start, which facilitated a smooth and pleasant event for both humans. Instead of porta johns, the student activities center was open and we were able to use indoor, clean bathrooms. That was definitely a nice plus of such a small event. It was also easy to pick up our bag when we arrived and would have been easy to register on the spot.<br />
The event started a little later than advertised, closer to 8:45am than 8:30am. The weather was mid 60s but quite humid and I was feeling very sweaty. My legs were also sore from the previous day's half marathon. Boyfriend and I lined up with the dogs along with the other runners. Walkers were given a separate start after the runners. Although I was concerned that Bailey would be lackadaisical about the run, it couldn't have been farther from the truth. Apparently she is highly competitive! She took off in sled dog style when the race started and literally pulled me through the crowds. She very much did not want people in front of her. I was wearing my Garmin and for the first mile, we fluctuated between 6:30 mile pace and 8:00s. Although my legs were tired, I made every effort to go at her pace and just pumped my legs and held on. The course makes two loops around the football stadium and then in the third mile takes an out and back along 24th street. You can see the course here: <a href="http://www.usatf.org/routes/view.asp?rID=468066">http://www.usatf.org/routes/view.asp?rID=468066</a><br />
<br />
Despite being a short race, the route had quite a few uphills with 238 feet of climbing. Each loop around the stadium has a steady hill and the out of the out and back is uphill. I think Bailey made some classic new racer (it was her first) mistakes; she went out too fast and had a hard time holding the pace on the hills. I was feeling tired too :) Ike caught us on the 2nd loop and we ran right near each other for the rest of the race. In the end, though, his stamina and experience reigned supreme and he crossed the finish a second or two in front of Bailey and I. They finished first and second dog! My Garmin read<b> 25:14</b>, giving us an 8:08 pace. Not bad for a warm, muggy double header weekend and Miss Bailey's first race!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-333220961486122274.post-12440428129666521702012-03-29T21:33:00.000-05:002012-04-22T14:57:25.417-05:00A Double Header Race WeekendThis weekend will be (I think) my first dual race weekend. On Saturday, I am running the <a href="http://zoomarun.com/texas/">ZOOMA Texas Half Marathon</a> and Sunday, I am running the <a href="http://www.utgsa5k.com/">Graduate Student Assembly (UT Austin) 5K</a>. I don't run a lot of races, so it is definitely unusual for me to have two races back to back!<br />
<br />
<a href="http://zoomarun.com/wp-content/themes/zooma/images/logo_austin.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://zoomarun.com/wp-content/themes/zooma/images/logo_austin.png" /></a>I signed up for the ZOOMA half because the weather in Central TX starts getting unpleasantly warm in April, making long races particularly unpleasant. This half marathon is on March 31st, and I felt probably the last opportunity until November for me to comfortably race something of that length here in TX. That being said, Saturday morning is looking like it could be pretty muggy and humid, and the race doesn't start until 7:30am, meaning that it will likely be quite warm when I am finishing. Hopefully the unpleasant weather won't be too detrimental to my time.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.utgraduatestudentassembly.org/gsa5k/img/5k.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="GSA 5K Logo" border="0" height="200" src="http://www.utgraduatestudentassembly.org/gsa5k/img/5k.jpg" width="140" /></a>The GSA 5K is a very small race, held to raise money for graduate student travel stipends. It was held for the first time in spring of 2010. I ran it that year and finished 2nd woman. This is the second year the race is being organized. Although I am not a huge fan of 5Ks, this race is held on UT's campus, which is very close and convenient for me. Also, I have received graduate student travel grants to subsidize the costs of attending conferences, so this race directly benefits people like me and I am willing to support it. I decided to run it a gain this year even though I will have run the half marathon the day before. I realize this means I won't be able to run a fast 5K, but it will prevent me from sleeping in Sunday morning and skipping a workout. Running the day after a hard race always seems to speed up my recovery. The real selling point though? I looked at the races FAQs and saw this:<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i>Can I bring my dog? </i></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i>Yep. We just ask that furry friends be on a leash. </i></blockquote>
</blockquote>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBlhiyZHkVxuczfLDO4T0M3wsv1KOzFLZ36H1aprEm4lkaaK5iFksRbzjYosXfv5Bk_ZobaeHJDcK-aKkfCZewhp1gb-IRsqzkQu9OEKynZf0GAnKEtBCQy2GFHMK238LfqgoZeRpIMvI/s1600/DSC_0280.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBlhiyZHkVxuczfLDO4T0M3wsv1KOzFLZ36H1aprEm4lkaaK5iFksRbzjYosXfv5Bk_ZobaeHJDcK-aKkfCZewhp1gb-IRsqzkQu9OEKynZf0GAnKEtBCQy2GFHMK238LfqgoZeRpIMvI/s320/DSC_0280.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Top three finishers got their picture taken on the<br />
Longhorns football field as a prize</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Excellent! I asked Boyfriend if he wanted to run it as well (he also ran the inaugural GSA 5K two years ago) and he signed up as well. We have decided to take both <a href="http://chemerunner.blogspot.com/2012/02/puppy-running.html">Bailey and Ike</a> with us to the race. I think we will have the boys vs. girls, so I will run with Bailey and he with Ike. Ike is a super sled dog and runs very fast and is competitive during races, so I think he will help Boyfriend to run a strong race. Bailey, on the other hand, has never done a race and can be very unpredictable when running. Sometimes she really goes for it, other times she comes to an abrupt halt and won't move forward. Because I will have just ran a race, I figured it made more sense for me to run with Bailey in her first race. I have no idea how it will go, but bringing the pups along should make it fun.<br />
<br />
So here's to a running filled weekend! I will try to take some pictures and next week will have not one but <i>two</i> race reports.<br />
<b><a href="http://chemerunner.blogspot.com/2012/04/race-review-gsa-5k.html">GSA 5K Race Report Here!</a></b><br />
<a href="http://chemerunner.blogspot.com/2012/04/2012-zooma-texas-half-marathon-race.html"><b>ZOOMA Half Marathon Report Here!</b></a><br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-333220961486122274.post-81019840876519006142012-03-23T19:44:00.000-05:002012-04-12T21:29:25.809-05:00Refueling Post Run<b>Workout: </b><i>8.77 miles in 1:19, great weather (yesterday)</i><br />
<i>7.87 miles in 1:13, hills, great weather (today)</i><br />
<i><br /></i><br />
This morning, I had a fantastic run. At the beginning of the week, a massive rain/thunderstorm came through central TX, which brought us very welcome rain and cleared out the humidity. Since Tuesday afternoon it has been sunny, dry and gorgeous. I'm savoring every moment, as<a href="http://chemerunner.blogspot.com/2011/06/summer-running-in-austin-part-1.html"> I know what could be coming very soon...</a><br />
<br />
I wanted to talk about food, specifically refueling post run. Obviously, eating nutritious food shortly after an intense workout will speed recovery, reduce injure and make you feel fantastic! What one eats post-run can vary a lot person to person based on preferences, calorie needs, and dietary needs. I did, however, want to put out there what I typically choose to eat after I run.<br />
<br />
Most of my runs are in the morning and <a href="http://chemerunner.blogspot.com/2010/12/running-and-eating.html">I typically do not eat before I run</a>, because it bothers my stomach. When I get back, I am in serious need of breakfast. I have found that approximately 500 calories is a good size breakfast for me and carries me through until lunch. I also find that my body (in general) craves carbs, especially at the beginning of the day, so my breakfasts are always carb-heavy. During the week, I have two, go-to breakfasts; oatmeal and a smoothie with toast. Both of these are fast, highly nutritious, made from whole foods and delicious.<br />
<br />
<b><u>Oatmeal</u></b><br />
<a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/39/Oatmeal.jpg/270px-Oatmeal.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="193" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/39/Oatmeal.jpg/270px-Oatmeal.jpg" width="200" /></a>Although I have tried rolled oats and steel cut oats, believe it or not, I prefer the instant oats. I buy plain, instant oats in the bulk section of the grocery store and boil water on the stove in the morning which I mix in to my desired consistency. I typically eat 1 cup of oats with tsp of white sugar, and 1 tablespoon of <a href="http://chemerunner.blogspot.com/2011/02/favorite-foodsnuts-seeds.html">flax seeds</a>. I then add 1-2 servings of fruit including banana, berries, apple and raisins, depending on my mood and what I have in the house. I will also add nuts, especially walnuts and pecans and occasionally chocolate chips if I want something extra sweet.<br />
<br />
<b><u><br /></u></b><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtmlgUlmlcMHk7FI-LTTBD6ri8ZWN7Me4phWf3Hny0s2UeXL-vCmmZugQK4UzSX3K3YQy3xL_D_IouG42_ej6Xdg2PK8Us5i2R_nfmvVB0I84TUe8vEx73DZqtfFxWZbRmLNAYRHiZGss/s1600/DSC00286.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtmlgUlmlcMHk7FI-LTTBD6ri8ZWN7Me4phWf3Hny0s2UeXL-vCmmZugQK4UzSX3K3YQy3xL_D_IouG42_ej6Xdg2PK8Us5i2R_nfmvVB0I84TUe8vEx73DZqtfFxWZbRmLNAYRHiZGss/s320/DSC00286.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<b><u>Smoothies</u></b><br />
<div style="text-align: right;">
</div>
I have<a href="http://chemerunner.blogspot.com/2010/11/oh-smoothies.html"> previously written about my love for smoothies</a>, but this post is old and lately I make my smoothies a little differently. I use about 2 cups of liquid (usually 1 cup water and 1 cup almond or other plant milk), a ripe banana and 1 to 1.5 cups of frozen fruit. I keep a variety of frozen fruits on hand including blueberries, strawberries, raspberries, peaches, cherries, mango and pineapple. Sometimes I'll add 1 tsp of sugar, fresh ginger, nutmeg or cinnamon if I want to add some extra flavor. I'll also add 1 tablespoon of flax and a bunch of <a href="http://chemerunner.blogspot.com/2010/10/leafy-greens-new-favorite-food.html">leafy greens</a>. For greens, I typically use swiss chard or beet greens, but I have also used spinach and collard greens. I find that I can add quite a bit of leafy greens while maintaining a palatable and fruity taste to the smoothie. The reason I like to add leafy greens is because they are the most densely packed source of vitamins, minerals and phytonutrients and they have quite a bit of protein. The even better part (for me) is that I have a lot of leafy greens growing in my garden, so I just go outside and clip some fresh leaves whenever I want them. It's super cheap and as fresh as you can get. To make my smoothie breakfast a little more filling, I usually have a slice of whole grain toast with natural peanut butter. Yum.<br />
<br />
How do you refuel your runs?Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-333220961486122274.post-63460617873754068972012-03-18T21:54:00.000-05:002012-04-12T21:32:06.225-05:00Garmin Woes<div style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;">
<a href="http://gpstrackingunits.net/wp-content/uploads/42e26__Running_GPS_Units__41x1PXaomuL.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br /><img border="0" height="320" src="http://gpstrackingunits.net/wp-content/uploads/42e26__Running_GPS_Units__41x1PXaomuL.jpg" width="254" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Yesterday I had some serious Garmin problems. The run started off rough enough; I didn't get a good night's sleep because my neighbors were playing music and being loud past 2am. I had wanted to do my long run, but the lack of sleep meant that I got up later than I wanted <b>and</b> I not feeling refreshed, so I swapped it for the 8.74 mile run I had planned for Sunday morning. Because I didn't get started until 8:30am (not to mention the humidness that is the essence of Austin), it was a <i>very</i> muggy run. I was concerned about my sweatiness causing my Garmin 405 to go schizo, which it inevitably does if the bezel gets wet, so I locked the bezel. You can do this by simultaneously pressing the enter and quit buttons. When the bezel is locked, you can touch it without changing the watch settings. After some rainy runs when my watch was going crazy and changed a bunch of its settings on its own and managed to stop recording run data, this seemed like a really good idea. Sadly, I was wrong.</div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
Just a few minutes after I had locked the bezel, the watch started beeping and flashing "bezel locked", which I knew wasn't normal. At the next stoplight, I tried to unlock the bezel (which you do by simultaneously pressing the enter and quit buttons) but it did not work, no response at all! Then I tried pressing each button on its own, still no response. I was a little confused and annoyed, but the auto pause and auto resume seemed to be working fine, so I attributed the bizarre behavior to my sweat on the watch and resolved to worry about it when the run was done.<br />
<br />
When I finished the run, I still could not stop the watch. I got out my Garmin 405 manual, and proceeded to reset the watch, which you do by holding the same two buttons down for 7-10 seconds. This worked and the screen went blank. What is supposed to happen next is that the watch restarts itself automatically and displays the time. Unfortunately for me, that did <b>not </b>happen. In fact, nothing happened. I tried restarting several times, and then only response from the watch was a blue line across the screen that would gradually fade and a soft beep. <br />
<br />
I was very sad! I checked some forums online that described similar problems but no real solution. I checked the charging contacts on the watch and noticed one was a little rusty so I cleaned it with isopropanol and a q-tip. Then I set the watch up to charge. After a few minutes, the watch beeped and the screen turned back on, showing the time and the message "bezel locked." Again, however, I could not unlock the bezel or get the buttons to do <i>anything</i>. I repeated this process several times and was then resigned to the reality that I would need to get some help from the Garmin guys, but they are closed on the weekends so I would need to wait until Monday.<br />
<br />
The reality set in that I would probably have to send the watch in to be repaired. With that reality came that sad, sad feeling of being without the Garmin and my dependency on it. This, of course, is one of the reasons I was reluctant to get one, which makes running without one feel so hard. I find that using online maps to estimate the distance of my routes will overestimate, sometimes by a lot, so running without the Garmin almost feels like cheating! With in a few minutes, I of course had developed a plan to deal with this, and it involved only running those routes that I had already measured with the Garmin until it was repaired. Creativity would take a back seat to accuracy.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnoqJ1r94z5HqW5cRsufBOKNXZQftSbbK6IzdBagPBetHa0uCIpaFxSylt6BEt8SRcA1bPlTtIZePG7yFqJrokuI6WV4Kj1j6i-EO-XHtt-5TNgdDUK_Q1JRjWexo1f4cegpXsTZiizdU/s1600/DSC00035.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnoqJ1r94z5HqW5cRsufBOKNXZQftSbbK6IzdBagPBetHa0uCIpaFxSylt6BEt8SRcA1bPlTtIZePG7yFqJrokuI6WV4Kj1j6i-EO-XHtt-5TNgdDUK_Q1JRjWexo1f4cegpXsTZiizdU/s320/DSC00035.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bailey gives kisses</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Today, twenty-four hours later, I decided to check on the watch one more time. The screen was still blank, so I tried restarting it. This time, I got no blue line or beep. This was new, and surprising. Then my expensive undergraduate education and 3.5 years of graduate school kicked in. I realized that if the bezel had been locked then the watch couldn't go into power save mode, which meant the battery had probably been drained. I plugged it back in, and sure enough, the charge was at 0%. I let it charge up and then tried the buttons. Like magic (or science!), it was working perfectly again. I was very relieved. A little patience and perseverance and the problem was fixed. More importantly, Garmin was staying with <i>me. </i><b>If someone else has this problem, I hope this post helps.</b><br />
<i><br /></i><br />
Bailey and I then took it on a nice, 2.70 mile walk to confirm that it was back to normal. She is the best sidekick.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-333220961486122274.post-73151499108406175922012-03-15T14:30:00.000-05:002012-04-12T21:32:11.679-05:00Some runs are just badSome runs are just bad. Yesterday was one of them. Everything about this run (except me getting it done) was bad. I started off in the dark (thank you daylight savings - <a href="http://chemerunner.blogspot.com/2011/12/art-of-running-in-dark.html">I actually like running in the dark</a>). Although it was in the 60s, which sounds fine, the humidity was ridiculously high and that made the 7.85 miles pretty uncomfortable and sweaty. Extremely sweaty. I was dripping. The mugginess was insufferable and unpleasant and with sweat coating my face, it was hard to settle into a rhythm and zone out. Also, it was buggy. I kept getting tiny black gnats stuck to my eyes, eyelashes and sweat-lacquered skin. My leg muscles were feeling crampy. I stopped to stretch my calves and hamstrings several times, but they still felt achy and unpleasant. It wasn't until the last 1.5 miles that they finally stopped their silent and uncomfortable protest. Also, 2.5 miles into my run, I needed to use the bathroom, despite the fact that I had gone just before I left my house. Fortunately, I was running in a park that had a public restroom, very good for me. Going in was pretty gross though, because a large number of giant moths had situated themselves in there and added to the decor. To top it all off, I struggled to keep a normal pace, even though my run two days prior had seemed had been much faster.<br />
<br />
When this run was <i>finally</i> over, I gratefully stopped my Garmin, pounded icy water, washed the gnats off my sweaty sweaty skin and realized that despite how hard it had been, I was glad I had done the run. Not every run is easy, fun, or even moderately pleasant. Some runs are <i>really really</i> tough, and it's that toughness, and getting through it, that makes us appreciate the good runs even more. I know this and I appreciate this, and I can just hope that the day after a very bad run is going to be better. It usually is.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-333220961486122274.post-14446295052904205932012-03-01T19:41:00.002-06:002012-04-12T21:32:20.489-05:00Marathon Woman Book Review<br />
<div style="text-align: right;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WKeAy7rK71M/TNiuaqHkSnI/AAAAAAAACJs/khSd2cn7Iwc/s1600/MarathonWoman.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WKeAy7rK71M/TNiuaqHkSnI/AAAAAAAACJs/khSd2cn7Iwc/s200/MarathonWoman.jpg" width="132" /></a>Running related books are by no means the only thing I read,
nor the majority of what I read (although if more were available that part
might change), but I do love a good biography of a running legend. You may have noticed I added a page to this
blog entitled “<a href="http://chemerunner.blogspot.com/p/running-books.html">Running Books</a>”. These are
all the running related books that I have read, and as I read more, I will add
them, along with a review of the book. I
am not sure if I will go back and do reviews of the books I have already read
long ago, mostly because my memory may not do the books justice, but at this
point, it’s a possibility.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;">
There are many reasons that my family, friends and even
strangers think I’m weird. One of them
is because I like to read books about running in my free time. They don’t understand why it would interest
me, but this passion is all encompassing.
I get even weirder looks when my labmates find out I’m listening to
running related podcasts while I do benchwork.
What can I say?</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.letsrun.com/2007/Switzer_Boston.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="196" src="http://www.letsrun.com/2007/Switzer_Boston.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Switzer in the iconic 1967 Boston race</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Recently, I read <u><b>Marathon Woman</b></u> by Kathrine Switzer. She is quite iconic in the running world,
having been the first woman to officially run the Boston Marathon in <span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;">1967</span>. What may be even more famous are the pictures
of race director Jock Semple trying to get her out of his race (once he
realized she was a woman) and rip the race number off her clothing. This book chronicles the life and career of
Switzer, starting in her childhood and ending shortly after a women’s marathon
was added to the Olympics (1984). <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I really enjoyed this book and give it <b>4 out of 5
stars</b>. I thought it was an excellent mix
of historical information that was cleverly woven such that a true plot and
story shone through. Sometimes this is
hard in non-fiction, but Switzer did a great job. The most interesting parts for me were her early
running career, mixed with a very busy and challenging personal life. Roughly the first half of the book is devoted
to this. The second focuses on her
career in the running world and the intricate and important role she played in
the evolution of women’s running. <b>
Switzer was probably the most important woman in running at the time</b>,
traveled the world and started up hundreds of races focusing on women. As someone who went to high school in the new
millennium, I was not aware of the full extent of sexism in sports and learning
about this was both interesting and inspiring.
I live in a world where I am treated as an athletic equal because of
people like Switzer.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I highly recommend this book and think anyone interested in
running and marathoning would enjoy it.
In particular, this book will appeal to women but I sincerely feel men
would enjoy it to. <o:p></o:p></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-333220961486122274.post-18667317201266749032012-02-28T23:29:00.002-06:002012-04-12T21:32:25.061-05:00Puppy Running<b>Workout:</b><i> (Yesterday)</i><b> </b>2.7 miles with Bailey and 5.9 with Ike for 8.6 total<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTrQsNH1DejHae2M78r9vCAPL1Bv85PLtMrXZEmzTsSQnO1WyWlJLy7wVF3pt-i1ZriHG3a17ZfxSC3Ak8dG7MIkqI5rKY2iOym_jLHhrxqVMOGAr0b9SR9vf5iIKWbqEEBy-Mv0WdbL8/s1600/DSC00274.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTrQsNH1DejHae2M78r9vCAPL1Bv85PLtMrXZEmzTsSQnO1WyWlJLy7wVF3pt-i1ZriHG3a17ZfxSC3Ak8dG7MIkqI5rKY2iOym_jLHhrxqVMOGAr0b9SR9vf5iIKWbqEEBy-Mv0WdbL8/s320/DSC00274.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ike and Bailey know how to run</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<i>(Today)</i> 8.0 miles solo<br />
<br />
Yesterday I ended up postponing my run until the evening because I was lazy and didn't get out of bed in the morning. Both dogs desperately needed exercise, having been holed up all day while I was busy doing very important research. I decided to split them up and take Bailey for the first part of the run, then swap her for Ike for the last 6 or so miles. It would be ideal to run with them together, but that is an impossible task. <b>Their running styles are not at all compatible </b>(Ike likes to run very fast and Bailey is in it for the experience -- i.e. she's slow). <br />
<br />
Separating them was not an easy task. <b>Bailey was forlorn</b> to leave Ike behind, and frankly Ike was mad at me. He loves running with me and knew that that was what I was doing (every time I touch the sneakers, he knows). He cried at the door and the Garmin was taking an extensive amount of time to sync. Finally, Bailey and I were off and we ran two laps of a nearby park. Overall, Bailey's running is improving, but you wouldn't have known that from yesterday's experience. She wouldn't budge from her slow and steady 10 min/mile pace and was totally resistant to any efforts on my part to speed things up. In fact, every 5 or so minutes, she would just come to a<b> complete stop and refuse to move </b>as I tugged the leash. So I would stop too, and watch her sniff the air, sniff the grass, and watch some stranger walk by. After about a minute, she seemed to be over whatever it was that initially brought her to a halt, and we would resume our steady plod. A few weeks ago, we ran 4.3 miles together (her personal distance record) and she seemed much more motivated than she was yesterday. Sometimes she seems to really enjoy getting out on a run with me, and other days she just seems uninterested. I can't say I'm not disappointed; I would really love for her to be a constant running partner. I wonder if this is the universe preparing me for the possibility that I will have human children that reject recreational running? That might be a rough pill for me to swallow...<br />
<br />
While I don't know whether Bailey loves the running, I know she loves ME! Yesterday when we were on our run, I tripped over my own feet (actually on a wooden step at the top of a rough and steep trailed hill) and went down hard on my shin and hands. Bailey immediately came over to <b>revive me and lick me back to health</b>. My face, hands and shin were thoroughly checked out before she felt safe having us continue. Glad to know she won't leave me for dead if something serious happens. She knows who buys the peanut butter in the house.<br />
<br />
Ike, unlike Bailey, has thoroughly made up his mind about running, and he loves it. As soon as he got on the leash yesterday, he took off at full speed like a<b> sled dog</b>. I've found that trying to reign him in is more effort than its worth, so we typically do some or most of our runs on trail so I can let him off the leash. Instead of fighting with him, I usually run hard and fast when he is on the leash, and then take it easier on the off-leash trail sections. It's like a surprise tempo workout! <br />
<br />
This morning, I ran solo because I wanted to do a route that had no off-leash sections. Ike knew what was going on as soon as the alarm went off and was<b> really annoyed at me</b> when I shut him in the bedroom and left without him. He's back at his house now, so tomorrow morning it will just be Bailey and she doesn't seem to notice me in the morning. She is a late sleeper.<br />
<br />
So that is probably more than you ever wanted to know about the time I spend running with dogs. However, I love them both and running with dogs is a lot of fun and I think it is funny how different their personalities are. And for illustrative purposes, here are a few pictures from their adventures in the park this weekend:<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh40_KO5vSeGR-6H-nRMdUqSDiMsCr96iXI2CRnLrvSOM8iJwL9tgy4biNErhZS8pXkAmTQ4wnT4HAX-l-sA8q2exKO-iG6ioctjXsnxdEMKl2k2cespzTycDZumpTPHNrEwt9FWKVPd_Q/s1600/DSC00265.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh40_KO5vSeGR-6H-nRMdUqSDiMsCr96iXI2CRnLrvSOM8iJwL9tgy4biNErhZS8pXkAmTQ4wnT4HAX-l-sA8q2exKO-iG6ioctjXsnxdEMKl2k2cespzTycDZumpTPHNrEwt9FWKVPd_Q/s320/DSC00265.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ike enjoying a juicy stick</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqR82uPPMrgvdYC0HYc-bYfVd38hltT2aA8xOOGdNbK0ZGocumak2bCgeFI5K_ipjwzouERWv_JVcCfpUv9FaT_xlAiHiqIDiDpaj48T4RJvsL-AqB2zDOfFl-hZTzErow6oG2j_YzWW4/s1600/DSC00272.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqR82uPPMrgvdYC0HYc-bYfVd38hltT2aA8xOOGdNbK0ZGocumak2bCgeFI5K_ipjwzouERWv_JVcCfpUv9FaT_xlAiHiqIDiDpaj48T4RJvsL-AqB2zDOfFl-hZTzErow6oG2j_YzWW4/s320/DSC00272.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ike chasing Bailey. She probably stole his stick</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqvxh8CjhC2rQNsOW-NGNf1Wgrofo3V0mpD2UDMCIBf1QzVn031octdh-890qGd_ciE-hQomVz_1GEQ_vbyYkPkFJvuUJuvvMsF4pGtJy0LsfrPg35CUB4Hxg-bKVAzD-8aD9NXfmsElY/s1600/DSC00276.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqvxh8CjhC2rQNsOW-NGNf1Wgrofo3V0mpD2UDMCIBf1QzVn031octdh-890qGd_ciE-hQomVz_1GEQ_vbyYkPkFJvuUJuvvMsF4pGtJy0LsfrPg35CUB4Hxg-bKVAzD-8aD9NXfmsElY/s320/DSC00276.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bailey shaking it out</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTsnK_FKAiTka4jdgs2z4aUBfgiQkItbCNxiNYNRsymzBI0va90Mr9ePCSEPRXlUjny5tGtf_xh8SI2taCUMqxpjZ2sq9h3YdEZR-P9I9hInS6J68akQGNNaIcZMoNtpp8ts03lYqrVAE/s1600/DSC00277.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTsnK_FKAiTka4jdgs2z4aUBfgiQkItbCNxiNYNRsymzBI0va90Mr9ePCSEPRXlUjny5tGtf_xh8SI2taCUMqxpjZ2sq9h3YdEZR-P9I9hInS6J68akQGNNaIcZMoNtpp8ts03lYqrVAE/s320/DSC00277.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A brief moment where both are still; Ike is concentrating on the stick</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-333220961486122274.post-26811803971146782752012-02-24T14:13:00.001-06:002012-02-24T14:14:16.140-06:00Ouchy calves<b>Workout: </b>7.75 miles in 1:11 (yesterday)<br />
<br />
Yesterday's run was quite uncomfortable, for at least the first 4 miles. My calves felt very tight and were sending PAIN! and STOP! signals to my brain with every step. It certainly didn't help that despite it being February, the temperature was 78F and humid. I can't believe this is winter in Austin. I could use a little more Boston right about now! Running in hot or humid weather is not my fav. In fact, it makes me noticeably slower and my muscles always feel sorer. Ideal running conditions for me are dry and 40-60F. Hook me up with some of that, weatherman!<br />
<br />
Anyways, yesterday the calves were driving me crazy and I had to stretch them out when I was stopped at a busy intersection. I attribute a large part of the discomfort to the humidity, but I know what the other culprit is: <b>Heels</b>. Just the day before, I had worn wedge heels for a graduate student poster competition and industry networking event I had attended. You are probably thinking these were some really high heels if it caused serious calf pain, right? Nope, about 1.5 inches. They are Dockers and as far as heels go pretty comfortable, actually. I think the problem is really that <u><b>I hardly ever wear heels</b></u>. I know they look stylish, but they aren't exactly conducive to doing wet lab research requires a lot of walking and standing, basically 8 hours of it every day. Further, there aren't a lot of incentives to dressing my best when working in the lab. Nothing like a splash of bleach or <i>e. coli</i> to compliment the outfit...Also, heels usually hurt my feet, which compromises my running, and I often put running as a higher priority than style...what can I say? So needless to say, my feet are accustomed to flat, sensible shoes or going barefoot (which I do most of the time at home. Don't worry, I don't do this in the lab.) <br />
<br />
Wednesday's poster session required 6+ hours without sitting, at least two of which required me to stand graciously in front of my research poster, smile profusely, and expound the awesomeness and optimization of recombinant cell line development. My feet were so tired and hurt so much when I got home Wednesday night. So much in fact, that Bailey and I had a special couch potato session watching lots of TV with our feet (and paws) up. <br />
<br />
On the bad side, the day of heel wearing carried over tired and tight muscles into Thursday's run. On the bright side, I did win an award for my poster (the Baker Hughes Excellence in Research Award). Boyfriend won an award as well (his was from Dow), which made me very proud. We found out afterwards that the awards came with prize money from the sponsoring companies (sweet!) and were pleasantly surprised. Neither of us knew that when we had signed up to participate. <br />
<br />
What will I do with my winnings you ask? Well, first I need to buy a new pair of dress shoes that are completely flat so I don't have a repeat fiasco of this nature. I'm not kidding! A BME friend of mine was rocking the cutest and most comfy looking pair of professional looking ballet flats and I am going to find me a pair! The balance of my winnings? Why, I will use them to lavishly spoil my adorable pup-daughter, of course.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZihKO-ZpE6c3PL43bZqKB7ICwNam7Hxk2GFp11s_-_iVGSh2-7O0MEZZ92-_G30GdAKyBi7Mtf-nkHX6MJc-A_froD5X_96k2AcTk3A36leRd7CKd0X7lHN3Aem0lVUnGtHU2DL0dIWE/s1600/DSC00016.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZihKO-ZpE6c3PL43bZqKB7ICwNam7Hxk2GFp11s_-_iVGSh2-7O0MEZZ92-_G30GdAKyBi7Mtf-nkHX6MJc-A_froD5X_96k2AcTk3A36leRd7CKd0X7lHN3Aem0lVUnGtHU2DL0dIWE/s320/DSC00016.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Bailey (left) and her cousin, Ike (right).</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Lucky little Bailey has her cousin Ike visiting for the next few days. Aren't they cute together??<br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-333220961486122274.post-62106487616027680192012-01-18T22:33:00.002-06:002012-01-18T22:34:23.236-06:00Running in OaklandThis past weekend was a long, holiday weekend, which afforded a great opportunity for the Boyfriend and I to visit a friend in Oakland, CA. He graduated from the same PhD program we are in, which is how we know him, and now he is working for the Man out in Cali. We bought some cheap tickets on JetBlue and enjoyed a direct flight to and from SFO. Our initial plan was to head to Tahoe for some skiing and boarding, but alas the winter has not been agreeable to those who love snow sports! Tahoe has received negligible snow fall this season and the ski areas have had nearly daily highs in the 60s. Definitely not conducive to skiing. We skipped it and decided to do other, fun Bay Area stuff instead. <br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.peasandhoney.com/photos/lake_merritt.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://www.peasandhoney.com/photos/lake_merritt.jpg" width="320" /></a>While I had previously visited the Bay Area (only briefly), it was the Boyfriend's first time. We did lots of sight-seeing in San Francisco, ate good food, hiked the Marin Headlands, walked around a lot, went wine tasting in Sonoma, explored downtown Oakland, and rode the BART extensively. We were gifted with four beautiful, sunny days with clear skies, which was very nice because we were outside A LOT. No vacation is complete without some running (of course) so I also slipped in runs on three of the four days I was in Oakland. Because of our friend's proximity to it, I found myself running around Lake Merritt in downtown Oakland. This lake is actually a tidal lagoon from the bay, and therefore salt water. There is a path all the way around and one loop is 3.1-3.5 miles (depending on the exact paths you choose). I was a fan of Lake Merritt for two reasons, 1) the scenery is absolutely gorgeous and 2) it is a safe place to run without traffic intersections. I would highly recommend it for any visitors to Oakland. The lake is adjacent to a lot of beautiful municipal buildings and churches, and there are green parks lining much of the shore.<br />
<br />
I also enjoyed running in the dry, crisp and cool mornings. Oakland definitely has a dry climate, and the difference was stark compared to swampy Austin. Furthermore, the mornings were always cool (35-40F), which is a very nice running temperature for me. On our last day there, I even got the Boyfriend to run 4.5 miles with me around the lake, and it was a very nice treat to have him come along! <br />
<br />
Back in Austin, which means back to my usual (i.e. boring) running routes. The weather is fluctuating between cold and damp and warm and humid. I guess if everyday was like a vacation, we wouldn't need travel to take a break!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-333220961486122274.post-50366697816490199672011-12-28T20:11:00.000-06:002011-12-28T20:12:01.942-06:00From Texas to Boston: Running in the ColdApparently the start of December, and winter, in Massachusetts was incredibly mild this year. That all came to an end just before I flew from my cool but temperate central TX to my parents' home in the Boston area. I arrived on Christmas eve, in the afternoon, and had packed and prepared for morning runs every day of my visit. After all, what is a vacation without regular running? While the Mass air felt very chill to me as I left Logan airport, I put it out of my mind, taking solace in the knowledge that I had packed tights, long sleeved wicking shirts, gloves and a running hat. <br />
<br />
Christmas morning arrived with grey skies and very cold temperatures. I woke up and checked the thermometer outside the bathroom window, which registered between 10 and 15 degrees Fahrenheit. I briefly contemplated returning to bed, given that I had not tackled such temperatures in nearly a year. However, the thought of doing so was shameful enough that I instead pulled on my tights, two layers of long sleeved tech shirts, gloves and a hat. Before I could sink into a small and cold puddle, I put on my Garmin and headed out the front door. The cold air sent a chill through me immediately, and because the Garmin had not located satellites, I was forced to continue standing, very still, for about 2 minutes.<br />
<br />
Shortly after I started running, my muscles and extremities felt much more comfortable and I could feel blood circulating throughout my body. My face still felt cold and raw and there is an unpleasant feeling that settles in your throat from continually sucking in chilly air. Nonetheless, the simple act of running brought my body temperature into balance. That is, unless I found myself stopped at an intersection. A lack of motion meant the immediate return of frigidity. <br />
<br />
Toward the end of my run, the wind had picked up and the tips of my fingers and toes were permanently and uncomfortably chilled. This was especially surprising because I was wearing fleece mittens. I cannot remember another time that they were not sufficient to keep me warm. When I finished the run (a hearty 8.43 miles), I took a very nice and deserved hot shower and drank some hot tea to return my body temperature to normal. The rest of my family still lives in Mass, and therefore this weather was not out of the ordinary. I, however, was very pleased by my fortitude.<br />
<br />
The three days following Christmas have brought considerably milder weather and with it easier and more comfortable running conditions. On the 26th, I headed out with a hat and gloves, but quickly shed the gloves at the trail head where I was running, and retrieved them before heading home. On the 27th, I went into Boston and ran along the Emerald Necklace. The weather was in the high 30s, warm enough for me to go sans hat and gloves! And while the trend continued this morning, the weather has now changed again, with temperatures in the 20s tomorrow and a very heavy wind chill to accompany it.<br />
<br />
Getting out of a warm bed for the prospect of a run in the cold air is not often appealing to a groggy runner. What I have learned over the years though is that more often than not, with the proper dress and a consistent pace, one will be warm enough. So tomorrow, and the rest of the time I am here in Massachusetts, I will remind myself that the chilly conditions are nothing that a little running can't cure.<br />
<br />
Happy Holidays!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2