I'm beginning to think I've done a crazy thing. This statement is not a shock nor surprise for those that know me well, but bear with me here. I registered for the Free Press Half Marathon that is happening October 21.
Normally, that would be an ok thing. But I am woefully underprepared for the experience. WOEFULLY. As in, the farthest I've run is 5 miles. So while I've had a mix of excitement and anxiety, lately it's been mostly anxiety. Who do I think I am? Why do I want to get stranded halfway through the course and be burdened just to finish? Will I make it all the way? Am I crazy?
In a word, no. In doing a little online research today, I feel a little less nuts. The Marathon website gives advice to whether or not you should register as a runner or a walker, and I clearly fit into their definition of a runner even though I will be walking some of the race. I'm just debating the best strategy.
Should I do the run 5 minutes/walk 1 minute? Should I run the first 5 miles, take a long walk break, then run the rest? Could my legs do it? I'm conducting experiments every weekend until the race by bumping my miles up each weekend and trying different techniques. Anyone with some advice out there, feel free to chime in.
Don't get me wrong. I want to do it. I want to participate in this event, if only to give myself some incentive to keep going and improve my fitness. And I won't let certain thoughts ruin my confidence. I do belong there. I have a passion for running. I love that I'm attaining a level of fitness that a lot of people couldn't reach. That is the crux of what motivates me to keep going; to achieve a higher level; to push farther. I'm not the fastest runner out there, I'm not the youngest runner, but I AM A RUNNER. And I belong.
-K
Friday, September 28, 2007
Friday, September 21, 2007
Open Letters
Dear Stayfree:
If you insist on using wings to keep you product in place, please make sure that the glue is not sticky enough to rip the hair off my upper inner thigh when it gets displaced from my drawers.
-(less) Hairy
Dear Vlasic:
I am now sporting the latest fashion in Band-aids after attempting to open a jar of your baby dills. The suction created by the lid was, I believe, strong enough to keep the space shuttle in orbit (screw gravity). I'm passing this information on to NASA in case you guys want to get together.
-Pickled
Dear NASA:
I've already let Vlasic know you'd be calling. Give them a ring and mention my name, maybe they'll give you a discount. At least on pickles.
-K
If you insist on using wings to keep you product in place, please make sure that the glue is not sticky enough to rip the hair off my upper inner thigh when it gets displaced from my drawers.
-(less) Hairy
Dear Vlasic:
I am now sporting the latest fashion in Band-aids after attempting to open a jar of your baby dills. The suction created by the lid was, I believe, strong enough to keep the space shuttle in orbit (screw gravity). I'm passing this information on to NASA in case you guys want to get together.
-Pickled
Dear NASA:
I've already let Vlasic know you'd be calling. Give them a ring and mention my name, maybe they'll give you a discount. At least on pickles.
-K
Thursday, September 13, 2007
Reduce the Juice
The challenge was thrown by Her Bad Mother (http://badladies.blogspot.com) as part of the BlogHer Act Canada initiative. BlogHer Canada has decided to back one cause per year; 2007 being the environment. As an informal FOCC (Friend of Cool Canadians), I felt the need to post on a subject close to my heart: reducing our dependency on packaging.
Ah, packaging. That excess stuff we come in contact with every day and don't really need. I will not post a Do As I Say, Not As I Do. Mr. Gravity and I already practice reducing our packaging on a daily basis by not purchasing bottled water. We save all of the plastic bottles we come in contact with: water bottles given to us at work; soda bottles; Vitamin Water bottles. I wash them out and we re-use them for water. We own a pitcher water filter, and I keep a pitcher of filtered water in the fridge. It is just a matter of refilling the pitcher when it gets low (not too much bickering on this at my house since it is only the two of us). It doesn't take much time, and it makes use of all the plastic bottles we receive on a weekly basis.
The same goes for juice boxes. Why by packets of individually wrapped juice boxes? You can buy a large jug of juice much cheaper and (see above) reuse the plastic bottles you have now. OR, if your little one is too wee to use a water bottle screw top, buy no-leak sippy cups that you can use over and over again.
The next thing I'm in search of? The perfect grocery bag. I'm currently on the hunt for a washable, reusable grocery bag so we don't have to bring them home in 15 bajillion plastic or paper bags every week. Seriously, my local grocery will use a ton more bags than needed every week I go. Guaranteed. I've asked them to pack more in each bag, and Mr. Gravity asks for paper (they still wrap the meat in a plastic bag and THEN pack it in the paper bag. Duh.). Major grocery chains are missing out on revenue. Don't credit people for bringing back bags for use. Just start charging 10 cents per bag to the customer and see how many people buy reusable bags! At least Costco reuses the packaging boxes their stock comes in in lieu of plastic or paper. The waste is enormous AND unnecessary.
And one last packaging pet peeve: CD packaging. I know, buying Cd's is going the way of the dinosaur with downloads. But in the transition interim, I can still buy whole Cd's cheaper at the store than downloading them online if I catch a sale. But why, oh why, is opening a CD more difficult than breaking in to Fort Knox? It is tough enough to gnaw my way through the shrink-wrapped exterior (cue nibble noises). Then you have to deal with the Sticky Strip on one end. I wish the Sticky Strip was the name of the dirty bar down the street, I really do. Unfortunately, it is just a damn sticky piece of (more) plastic that comes off in small slivers. Until you want to chuck the whole $9.99 in the garbage. Without hearing the CD. Ever. Just have one or the other, please. I understand they are theft deterrents. But mostly they are purchase deterrents.
I hope some of these suggestions have been useful, or at least have entertained you at your job between your personal phone calls and raiding the supply closet.
-K
Ah, packaging. That excess stuff we come in contact with every day and don't really need. I will not post a Do As I Say, Not As I Do. Mr. Gravity and I already practice reducing our packaging on a daily basis by not purchasing bottled water. We save all of the plastic bottles we come in contact with: water bottles given to us at work; soda bottles; Vitamin Water bottles. I wash them out and we re-use them for water. We own a pitcher water filter, and I keep a pitcher of filtered water in the fridge. It is just a matter of refilling the pitcher when it gets low (not too much bickering on this at my house since it is only the two of us). It doesn't take much time, and it makes use of all the plastic bottles we receive on a weekly basis.
The same goes for juice boxes. Why by packets of individually wrapped juice boxes? You can buy a large jug of juice much cheaper and (see above) reuse the plastic bottles you have now. OR, if your little one is too wee to use a water bottle screw top, buy no-leak sippy cups that you can use over and over again.
The next thing I'm in search of? The perfect grocery bag. I'm currently on the hunt for a washable, reusable grocery bag so we don't have to bring them home in 15 bajillion plastic or paper bags every week. Seriously, my local grocery will use a ton more bags than needed every week I go. Guaranteed. I've asked them to pack more in each bag, and Mr. Gravity asks for paper (they still wrap the meat in a plastic bag and THEN pack it in the paper bag. Duh.). Major grocery chains are missing out on revenue. Don't credit people for bringing back bags for use. Just start charging 10 cents per bag to the customer and see how many people buy reusable bags! At least Costco reuses the packaging boxes their stock comes in in lieu of plastic or paper. The waste is enormous AND unnecessary.
And one last packaging pet peeve: CD packaging. I know, buying Cd's is going the way of the dinosaur with downloads. But in the transition interim, I can still buy whole Cd's cheaper at the store than downloading them online if I catch a sale. But why, oh why, is opening a CD more difficult than breaking in to Fort Knox? It is tough enough to gnaw my way through the shrink-wrapped exterior (cue nibble noises). Then you have to deal with the Sticky Strip on one end. I wish the Sticky Strip was the name of the dirty bar down the street, I really do. Unfortunately, it is just a damn sticky piece of (more) plastic that comes off in small slivers. Until you want to chuck the whole $9.99 in the garbage. Without hearing the CD. Ever. Just have one or the other, please. I understand they are theft deterrents. But mostly they are purchase deterrents.
I hope some of these suggestions have been useful, or at least have entertained you at your job between your personal phone calls and raiding the supply closet.
-K
Friday, September 07, 2007
Losing Inspiration
What causes loss of inspiration, loss of creativity? When your passion for something shines a little less bright; when you can't seem to challenge yourself to find new ways to keep going.
I was talking with my dear friend J last night. He has continued to grow and learn in our shared passion, photography. I had gone through a period of time where photography was bordering on obsession. I kept a camera in my car for streches (just in case I passed a good photo op). I would get up at the crack of dawn to get the right light setup for a certain set of pix. I had even thought about opening a photo studio just to make money at something I loved to do.
And then it left. Just like that. I mean, I still take photos...just not with the regularity or enthusiasm that I used to have. I used to have excitement for the prospect of taking my camera on vacation or to a new place. Now, it's a bit of a chore. Was I happy with the quality of our last vacation pix? Kind of. I didn't walk away with the same quality or quantity that I usually do. And I don't feel that the pix were taken with the same eye I usually have.
J told me what he does for inspiration: He gives himself homework assignments. "Take a minimum of 50 photos of a 5 foot area of your backyard" or "Take photos only of the right side of the downtown street". I need to start doing this again. Finding time is the key. I think once summer is over, my weekends will be a bit more free to do these things. And also not drop my running habit, as that is what has been keeping my weight down and making it less of a problem for me.
Any suggestions, Peanut Gallery? Maybe I need to buy myself a new camera toy? What do you think of that, Mr. Gravity?
-K
I was talking with my dear friend J last night. He has continued to grow and learn in our shared passion, photography. I had gone through a period of time where photography was bordering on obsession. I kept a camera in my car for streches (just in case I passed a good photo op). I would get up at the crack of dawn to get the right light setup for a certain set of pix. I had even thought about opening a photo studio just to make money at something I loved to do.
And then it left. Just like that. I mean, I still take photos...just not with the regularity or enthusiasm that I used to have. I used to have excitement for the prospect of taking my camera on vacation or to a new place. Now, it's a bit of a chore. Was I happy with the quality of our last vacation pix? Kind of. I didn't walk away with the same quality or quantity that I usually do. And I don't feel that the pix were taken with the same eye I usually have.
J told me what he does for inspiration: He gives himself homework assignments. "Take a minimum of 50 photos of a 5 foot area of your backyard" or "Take photos only of the right side of the downtown street". I need to start doing this again. Finding time is the key. I think once summer is over, my weekends will be a bit more free to do these things. And also not drop my running habit, as that is what has been keeping my weight down and making it less of a problem for me.
Any suggestions, Peanut Gallery? Maybe I need to buy myself a new camera toy? What do you think of that, Mr. Gravity?
-K
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