Short and Sweaty Running

16. July 2018 · 2 comments · Categories: running · Tags: , , ,

Hi there and welcome to my monthly post! Hope your summer is going well. It’s been really hot and humid here in the Northeast.

My running lately can basically be described as short and sweaty. I could toss slow in there too. But I’m actually loving it.

An evening run with some sprinkler hopping last week

A lovely run by the beach also last week

Mr. SOTSS and I each slogged through 4 miles on the 4th of July and just about died it was so hot.

It’s like my weeks get punctuated with short runs of 3-4 miles a couple of times a week and with no real training schedule, no injuries, no long runs, I’m not so absorbed with it all like I’d be with marathon training—so I’m free to be overly absorbed with packing and moving 🙂

Speaking of, I swear, every single time I think I have a handle on things I open another closet or cabinet door and find myself sorting and sifting through yet more stuff. I have no problem saying goodbye to things like old kitchen blenders or coffee makers and vases and such. But it’s so hard to pare down my coats. I love coats.

Hooray for an empty cabinet!

I’ve already made one trip to Goodwill and will probably end up making about a dozen more trips. They have a drive through lane where you literally have someone to greet you and take your stuff. Easy peasy!

remember these? A stereo from the 90s. Woah! Relic 🙂

Oh, and while we’re talking about relics, I found some old photos too….Here’s a shot of me from about 25 years ago—and yes i have shoulder pads in that dress.

And going even farther back…this one is closer to 30 years ago when I got my first car. Notice the matching scrunchy in my hair. Again, the 90s…

I’ve also been taking advantage of some free yoga here on Staten Island this summer with friends.

Every other Saturday morning I’ve enjoyed some gentle flow and a lovely view of the NYC skyline to my left and the Verrazano bridge to my right.

NYC Skyline

Verrazano Bridge

And now that my work situation is back to a more normal schedule, I’ve been able to join my Wednesday night hiking crew a bit more.

8pm summer sun

Duncan is happy that the 4th of July is now over with and so are the fireworks. He hid under the bed and I could hear him muttering under his breath about how rude people are to set them off. He doesn’t think fireworks are that cool.

The bathroom was another safe haven for him.

But now we’re back strutting around with no worries! (Well sometimes we take little breaks)

How has your summer been going? Do you have dogs with firework issues? Any tips for moving/packing?

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The frizziest 3 mile Fartlek ever and specimen success

14. January 2014 · 3 comments · Categories: labradoodle, running, Uncategorized · Tags: , , ,

frizz: to (cause hair to) form a mass of tight curls.
fart·lek An athletic training technique, used especially in running, in which periods of intense effort alternate with periods of less strenuous effort in a continuous workout.

Ok, now before i tell you all about the running let me pat myself on the back and share with you my success at collecting Duncan’s pee.

photo 1

TMI!

Well I didn’t necessarily rock it out of the park…the first attempt started out sensational, he lifted his leg and I slipped the jar under. I heard the sound of the stream hitting the bottom of the jar and thought it was gonna be smooth sailing from there on out but the little bugger kicked the jar out of my hand as he was done and the valuable pee spilled out! I know now to hold the jar tighter next time. Lesson learned. Mind you it was pouring rain out and all I could think was that the rain drops would taint the specimen anyway leaving this whole challenge for naught. Luckily the doodle had “more to give” and I spent the next 10 minutes catching a squirt here and a squirt there. Hopefully enough for the lab to do a complete work up.

So now that i’ve shared too much info I’ll tell you all about my 3 mile treadmill workout.

I actually only ran 2.99 miles. But that was the least of my worries today.

I actually only ran 2.99 miles. But that was the least of my worries today.

I completed a Fartlek workout. Fartlek is Swedish for “speed play”. I walked for the first minute to warm up and then changed the speed every quarter mile from 5.5 mph (11 min per mile pace) to 7.5 (8:34 min per mile pace). My average pace netted out at 9:50 (min per mile). But it’s nice to know I could hold out on those sub 9 quarter miles. The biggest issue with today’s workout was me forgetting some critical items at the gym. A) a pony tail holder! Holy frizz-fro batman! I sweat so much and the hair went AWOL! B) my nice little iPod shuffle and sport ear buds. I ended up using my iPhone and those sub-par white ear buds that come with the phone and of course the phone took a spill and slid down the moving belt. I didn’t even stop running to get it because I knew i’d not want to get back on to run the last 1/2 mile. A nice gentleman kindly picked it up for me and put it in the little cubby on the treadmill for me. God bless him.

Total time was just 29:33 (clock counted backward from 60 minutes which is why the photo says 31:27) but I felt EXHAUSTED! Sweaty but happy. It is a great feeling to go out of the comfort zone and hit those 8:xx paces….even for just 1/4 mile chunks.

I don’t know if you’ve all read this yet but sadly a beautiful young woman/mother/wife named Meg was struck and killed while running yesterday. You can read more here. Please run on Saturday if you can. Take a moment to realize that this could be any one of us, say a prayer for her family and then enjoy your run.

Okie doke. I’m off to bed. 2 down 3 to go!!!

Question: What have you ever forgotten when going to the gym? Sneakers? Pants? 

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