On a Soapbox

Thanks, HuffPo

2010-02-19T16:46:00.000-08:00

Because not enough people in my life have had the "You're still exercising, right?...You haven't been running lately?!...But [insert person I've likely never met] kept doing [insert physical activity I likely couldn't do before I got pregnant] right up until she had her baby!" conversation with me recently, Huffington Post had to join in on the guilt trip.

Least traumatic analogy you could think of?

2010-02-15T14:54:00.000-08:00

Here's a quote from a new pregnancy workout book I just got.

Your pelvis is like a bag of groceries. If the bottom of the bag (the pelvic floor) is weak, your groceries (bowel, bladder, and uterus) will fall out.

This accompanies an illustration of a bag of groceries that is giving out, spilling everything out the bottom. The illustration is weak at best, and maybe this is my horror talking, but I swear to God one of the falling grocery items looks like a uterus.

How about I just do nothing

2010-02-11T16:31:00.000-08:00

I'm increasingly frustrated by this whole pregnancy working out thing. Everything I've found on safe exercises starts out by telling you that you can do pretty much anything you did before you got pregnant. It then goes on to supply a long list of caveats to that rule. They go something like this:

- Nothing where you jump or bounce too much.
- Nothing where you're on your back.
- Nothing where you bend your knees too much.
- Nothing too strenuous.
- Nothing that has you twisting.
- Nothing where balance is an issue.
- Nothing that involves punching and/or tackling.

By the end, I'm really not sure what's left. They're quick to tell you that swimming is an excellent option. Well, not so much for this non-swimmer. They then tell you all about how walking 30 minutes will give you a killer endurance exercise. Huh?? I beg to differ. Also, walking bores me to tears.

This morning I was solidly in the F Exercise mindset. After all, plenty of out of shape women give birth all the time. And they manage to survive. So what's the point? Then, I learned all about split abdominals. How horrifying. So now, while I'm not particularly excited about it, I'm on the quest to find something in the way of an actual prenatal exercise program. Hopefully before I'm stretched and torn beyond repair. I'll keep you posted.

Me and my new trainer

2010-01-18T17:54:00.000-08:00

When I have actually been working out lately, it's mostly been with My Fitness Coach for the Wii. My lack of motivation has led to the following interaction with Personal Trainer Maya about once a week or so:

As you can see, we're really bonding.

How I came to not run and fail ridiculous pregnancy goal #1

2010-01-16T08:12:00.001-08:00

I always assumed I'd continue running through pregnancy. I'll be honest about my motivations to do so.
1. While I realize I could not maintain the same level of conditioning, at least I wouldn't totally be starting from exercise scratch when it came time for post-baby body reclaiming.
2. Clearly, I would handle pregnancy fitness/nutrition better than those scores of women who just turn into lazy, continually-eating blobs. I have loads of other such promises to myself and those around me about how I will revolutionize pregnancy by doing it better. Examples include: not showing anybody ultrasound pics who doesn't ask to see them and not gazing down at my belly in every picture taken of me for 9 months. We'll see how I do on those other goals, because so far the whole running thing....not going so well.

It occurred to me that I have asthma and require an assortment of medicines to run depending on how hard I'm training. While all literature on the topic seems to agree that exercise is good while pregnant, I thought that perhaps, in my case, having to take my medicine might negate any goodness. I figured I should ask my doctor. Long story short, that particular appointment I ended up seeing somebody other than my normal doctor. Here's how our conversation on the topic went:

Me: I run but in order to run, I have to take asthma medicine. Would it be better for me to continue to run and use the medicine, or would it be better to lower the intensity of my workouts and not have to take the medicine? I can do lighter exercises and breath just fine.

Dr.: *Tone of voice and look on face clearly say she's appalled I would even ask such a thing* No! Continue with the exercise!! You being able to breath is more important than anything that the asthma medicine could do to your fetus!

Me: *To myself* I realize that in an emergency, I should take the medicine. But I'm talking about purposely inducing myself to need it here. And WTF is with the 'tude, woman?

Dr.: Just don't do any strenuous exercises...like jogging. Walk for exercise.

She then went on to give a long spiel about how if I just had to drink anything while pregnant, my baby might not come out completely retarded. After all, she's had patients who have drank half a beer daily for their complete term and still had normal babies. (For those of you who don't know me well personally, I've never in all my life had to have a drink, so I'm not entirely sure what prompted her to say that to me, in particular, or as a doctor, in general.)

So that appointment was a complete bust. Between my general confusion about what to do and the laziness I was already experiencing, I didn't do a whole lot of running. By the time I confirmed with a doctor that I didn't want to punch that my medicine is, in fact, safe to take, I had been away from running so much that I wasn't sure if it fit into the "anything you did before, you can continue to do now" rule anymore.

There you have it - the background on my current running situation. I haven't ran at all in a couple months now, and I don't see myself starting again until after the baby. And actually, it might not be a bad thing. I really had lost my running groove there, so maybe a nice hiatus will be just what I need. Unlike my previous running hiatus, I won't be beating myself up every day for skipping my run. It's just understood I won't be doing it for a while. At the moment, I'm looking forward to getting back into it when the time comes.

Status Update

2010-01-08T19:04:00.000-08:00

I haven't blogged in a while. Obviously. I'm not even sure if anybody still checks this site. So if you're reading, thanks for sticking with me!

There are a number of reasons for my absence. They include:
1. Blogging laziness
2. Working out laziness
3. I've recently found myself in a new condition, which is to say I'm pregnant. My working out has changed as a result (more from paranoia than necessity), and since I haven't been ready to go public with the news until today, I haven't really been sure how I would handle blogging about it. So I didn't.

With that in mind, I hope that everybody is OK if this blog temporarily takes on a pregnancy focus. Then, maybe a reclaiming-my-body focus. Then, if I have my way, maybe another big race, but we'll have to see. Far too many changes coming my way for me to make much in the way of long-term plans, at least long-term plans that I'd get too upset about not being able to follow through on.

But enough about me. I hope all my running buddies are having an excellent winter. I'm looking forward to catching up on everybody's blogs. Though, by the unread count on my Google Reader, it looks like I'm not the only one who hasn't been blogging much lately. :)

Nike Human Race

2009-10-11T20:16:00.001-07:00

Turns out, the Nike Human Race is on 10/24. Yeah, I registered, though I'm not entirely sure why. There is hardly a real race in my personal corner of Small Town, USA, so I'll be doing it virtually. I don't really get the appeal of the virtual race, but I can dig the whole runners around the world getting out there on one day sorta spirit. Sadly, I think (Ha! Who am I kidding? I know) this will be my longest run since the marathon.

Anybody else doing it this year?

Still <3 the Free

2009-09-17T15:16:00.001-07:00

In a time of little running joy, I must say the only thing I really look forward to about running is getting to wear my Nike Frees (I still don't quite know how to make Free plural, but whatever).

For those of you still unsure about what exactly is different about these shoes, check out the video below. It really shows off that waffle sole I probably have not given justice to.

Running Warehouse even has it in a sexy new color, though, sadly, not in my size (not that I need a new pair anyway).

Nobody's Perfect

2009-09-16T13:54:00.000-07:00

The problem with Turkish Delight: It's sorta gross.

The problem with me: I can't stop eating Turkish Delight.

Do I look like Littlefoot to you?

2009-09-16T09:54:00.000-07:00

Sooner or later, every respectable diet gets to the part where you should eat plenty of leafy greens. Now, I dislike most vegetables, but I HATE leafy greens. When somebody suggest to me that I have a daily dark, leafy salad, I don't know if I want to cry or gag first. I'm not sure, but I almost think I'd rather have a shorter, leaf-free life than have daily salads. Is that overly dramatic of me?

Hello, Diabetes

2009-09-14T17:59:00.000-07:00

Today, I think I ate my weight in marshmallows. I know what you're thinking, marshmallows are so light. I'd have to eat a gazillion to eat my weight. And you would be right, but I was up to the challenge. Then, for dessert, I topped it off with some Turkish Delight.

It was at this point that I actually checked the nutrition label for marshmallows. Yikes! I really had no choice. I HAD to run even if it was just a little (and it was).

This is when I came up with my new source of exercise motivation: I'll eat so much that I'm forced to exercise to lessen my disgust with myself. That's a good plan, right? I could be wrong. I am pretty hyped up on sugar at the moment.

Marine Corps Fitness

2009-09-06T21:07:00.000-07:00

After catching my gut hanging over my seat belt the other day and realizing it's been roughly forever since I did any sort of workout at all, I started the 12 week basic program on Marine Corps Fitness. It involves a mix of upper body, lower body, and cardio. Yesterday was day one. Here is what the plan says I should have done on day one:

Warm-Up / Stretch

Repeat 3 Times

Regular Pushups - Max in 1 minute
Wide Pull-Ups - Max in 1 minute
Triceps Pushups - Max in 1 minute
Regular Pull-ups - Max in 1 minute
Dive Bombers - Max in 1 minute
Chin Ups - Max in 1 minute
Dips - Max in 1 minute

* be sure and write down your results

Abs
Crunches 3 x 40
Flutterkicks 3 x 40
Reverse Flutterkicks 3 x 30

Cool-down / Stretch

Here's what day one actually turned into:

Who needs to warm up?

Repeat 0 Times

Regular Pushups - Max in 1 minute, girl style
Wide Pull-Ups - My plan was to do 1 minute of pull-up negatives, but it turns out I'm not strong enough for those either. So really it turned into one minute of me doing semi-negatives while offsetting some of my weight by standing on a chair. Sadly, in reality, this was even lamer than it sounds.
Triceps Pushups - Max in 1 minute, girl style
Regular Pull-ups - see wide pull-ups
Dive Bombers - Did about 3 with questionable form before deciding one minute was not going to happen.
Chin Ups - see wide pull-ups
Dips - I got into position, realized there was no way I could dip anything without falling and breaking my face, and gave up

Abs
Crunches 1 x 40
Flutterkicks 1 x 40
Reverse Flutterkicks 1 x 30

Pass out on the couch

What should have been about a 30 minute workout turned into about 10 minutes. I thought maybe I'd run for a few while I was in my workout clothes an all, but the walk across my house to get to my running shoes was seriously more than I could take. Instead, I returned to my couch.

Today, I'm ridiculously sore and getting sorer by the second. I knew there was a good reason why I didn't join the military.

Yessss

2009-08-25T17:37:00.000-07:00

It's two of my favorite things: Dr. Drew and cheesy video editing. So, without further adieu, please enjoy this video of Dr. Drew working out.

Screw Running

2009-08-18T13:45:00.000-07:00

I'm buying SmartSoles.

Screw Running

2009-08-14T15:56:00.000-07:00

I'm buying Shape-Ups.

*Note to Sketchers: No amount of telling me these are stylish will convince me.

Who knew running was good for me

2009-07-31T10:30:00.000-07:00

I haven't been running much lately. I need to get back at it. I'm starting to gain a little...what's it called. Oh yeah, fat. That's it. I also just heard these little nuggets on NPR*:

Obesity is a one-way trip.

People who exercise regularly do not gain weight.

But I guess I sort of knew that already. Sigh.

P.S. I'm painfully far behind in my Google reader. I promise to catch up on everybody's summer updates soon.

*Quotes are as close to what was said as I can remember, but cannot be guaranteed.

Call me easily impressed

2009-05-27T18:08:00.000-07:00

When I was a teenager, I drove by a kid I knew who was out running. Assuming he had started running from his house, I was AMAZED at how far he gone. And then to think he would have to turn around and do it all over again to get home...mind-blowing. I was so impressed, in fact, that I would actually think about it from time to time. When I'd drive by the spot on the road where I'd seen him, I'd remember that somebody had actually ran that far.

Today, over a decade later, I finally coursed it out on Google maps to see just how far this running god had really gone:

In case the image resizing makes it too hard to read, Prefontaine ran a whole 1.4 miles. Good hell.

Shoe Update

2009-05-26T17:38:00.000-07:00

I haven't been running much lately, but the few miles I have put in have been simply delightful with my new shoes. Here's a quick snapshot of just how flexible they really are.

This picture may imply that they're only really flexible in that one area, but really they're like that everywhere. I just didn't feel like manhandling them for too long while I struggled to take a decent picture.

I've also started running in them sock-less. Initially, I was resistant to this due to the ew factor. It only took trying them on without socks to not care anymore. Plus, I never seem to have clean running socks anyway, so problem solved.

In other I haven't been running news, the 5 or so pounds I gained while I was doing my most intensive marathon training have suddenly disappeared since I've gone semi-lazy. I'm considering starting a weight loss program involving eating massive amounts of fat (I entered a couple days of eating in an online food diary analyzer thing and whoa, oh whoa, do I apparently like myself some fat) and laying around.

I need shoes to run barefoot

2009-05-14T20:38:00.000-07:00

Partially influenced by the running shoes might be bad article, partially influenced by the barefooted marathoner, partially influenced by Terri's brother, and partially just because now (when I have no real running goals that I have my heart set on) seemed like a good time to experiment with such things, I decided to buy myself these beauties:

That's right, the Nike Free.

Probable topics for a blog roughly a month in the future include I'll never go back to stiff shoes again, My shoes busted apart mid-run, and Dude, I spent $67.98 to injure myself.

For those of you reading this who tend to worry about such things (I can think of a couple), know that I am easing into them very slowly.

I don't want your crap, Biggest Loser

2009-05-13T18:52:00.000-07:00

Anybody else watching the new Biggest Loser hawk crap on QVC tonight? Holy awkward. Best quote so far: "You want to lose weight gradually." Uh...this coming from the Biggest Loser camp, where the more weight you lose every week the better.

Biggest Loser Commentary

2009-05-12T18:32:00.000-07:00

Please enjoy these random thoughts as I watch the Biggest Loser finale.

1. Three hours?! Are you trying to kill me here? Yet I know I'll watch all 3 hours.
2. Am I the only who can't tell the difference between these 2 girls we're supposed to vote for for next season? Clearly they had an opening for a young, blonde, pretty female.
3. With her new hair, Kristin looks like Pink. No? Also, I've consistently felt like she could get an extra pound of weight loss just be taking her earrings off before weigh-in.
4. "Now it's like 'Ooo. Let's ask her out. Let's dance with her.'" What. A. Quote.
5. Might I suggest you check this out for entertainment during all this filler.
6. What a**hole decided it was a good idea to have the contestants finish their marathon on the beach? Were they just not thinking? Thinking only of what would look nice on tv? Purposely cruel?
7. Did Tara have a tanning accident?
8. America voted, and the winner is.....THE YOUNG, BLONDE, PRETTY FEMALE!!!
9. Biggest season. Yeah, yeah, yeah, I get it.
10. BOOOOOOOOOO

Done and done!

2009-05-07T16:37:00.000-07:00

That's right, my dear blog friends, I survived my marathon. Because I'm not real big on race reports, let me sum it up with the following:
Miles 0-13: Feeling good!
Miles 13-20: Feeling ok
Miles 20-26.2: Feeling like I'm going to cry and/or trip on the leg that I can now hardly lift.

I know. Real original. Other things I took note of:
1. I saw a girl wearing two race chips. Now, I'm sure there's some legitimate reason why she might do so (one is old and she never took it off like those guys who have a billion lift tickets on their winter jacket??), but given that I love a good scandal, I'm going to say she's suspect.
2. Some guy ran barefoot. Hope he had his tetanus shot.
3. Granted I only heard this for a few seconds as he zipped the other direction during an out and back area, but I think one of the pacers may have been spouting propaganda. For those few seconds, I was glad to not be a 3:40ish marathoner.

Stats:
Chip Time - 4:39:57
Pace - 10:41
Those are about the only stats the marathon apparently feels like giving out without a fight.

I'm really quite happy with my choice to run Vancouver. The volunteers were awesome. There were a ton of gel and hydration stations, all of which had enough supplies to let you take all you wanted. Tons of post-race food. Organization was tops. The doctors/nurses/volunteers at the med stations were doting. The course was a great tour of town. Etc. etc. etc. I really could not have asked for more from a race. So thank you very much to all of those who helped put on the race this year as well as the city of Vancouver. We had a great time!

But just as important, thanks to all of you. It's been incredible how much encouragement and support I've received from my readers, most of whom have never even met me. It really has meant the world to me.

Shoes for the laid-back lifestyle

2009-04-24T16:36:00.000-07:00

Not to dash Chris's shoe excitement, but I was just reading this article about how we might be better off running barefoot than in expensive running shoes. Among the more interesting quotes (in no particular order):

Runners wearing top-of-the-line trainers are 123 per cent more likely to get injured than runners in cheap ones.

Despite all their marketing suggestions to the contrary, no manufacturer has ever invented a shoe that is any help at all in injury prevention

A lot of foot and knee injuries currently plaguing us are caused by people running with shoes that actually make our feet weak, cause us to over-pronate (ankle rotation) and give us knee problems.

Hmm..how much did I spend on my last pair again? Now, how much have I spent on physical therapy/doctor bills lately? Nevermind. I'd rather not do the math. All that being said, I'm not really a barefoot kinda gal.

In the reader comments, I learned about Vibram FiveFingers ("the only footwear to offer the exhilarating joy of going barefoot "). Has anybody seen these before? They're essentially a glove for your feet. A couple things come to mind.
1. The toe separators sort of creep me out. Then again, I have a long history of being creeped out be toes.
2. They remind me of the JJ Casuals sketch from SNL. You know, the shoes from Jack Johnson that look like feet. No? I would include a video here, but I couldn't find one.

Things I'll Probably Regret Blogging About: Part 513

2009-04-17T15:34:00.000-07:00

My physical therapist has me doing a variety of planks daily. She claims they will help my knees. I'm not sure how, but I'm in no position to argue. Anyway, one of the planks I'm doing I believe is called a Supine Plank (I'm too lazy to look this up and verify, so lets just go with that name). For those of you unfamiliar with this type of plank (as I was), here is a sketch done by yours truly of a stick figure doing a Supine Plank:

For those of you unfamiliar with my body shape, here is a sketch of what I, in stick figure form, look like doing a Supine Plank:

First, in case my awesome drawing skills leave room for interpretation, the little squiggles represent me shaking. But on to the bigger point of all this... I'm sure if I took some time, the part of my brain that managed to get a math degree could come up with some sort of equation with variables such as
l = shortness of my legs
a = shortness of my arms
c = curvature of my butt

But that's probably a little more than I need to fully illustrate my point because, as you can see, it's nearly impossible for me to get my butt off the ground. My physical therapist, who usually does planks with me, seems to have no problems with this. Sigh

We hrt running....

2009-04-15T09:10:00.000-07:00

Just a snippit of an early morning Gtalk chat about, well, someone we don't really like...I'm sure everyone can relate.

Amanda:
He's not even a runner.

Jlou:
He "misses the way running makes him feel."

Amanda:
Running makes me feel like a loser.

Jlou:
I LOVE to feel sweaty and out of breath.

Amanda :
I love when my feet are so swollen I can't get my shoes off.

Jlou:
I love when my inner thighs chafe and it hurts to step in the shower.

Amanda:
I love having to take stairs one at a time after long runs.

On a Soapbox

Thanks, HuffPo

Least traumatic analogy you could think of?

How about I just do nothing

Me and my new trainer

How I came to not run and fail ridiculous pregnancy goal #1

Status Update

Nike Human Race

Still <3 the Free

Nobody's Perfect

Do I look like Littlefoot to you?

Hello, Diabetes

Marine Corps Fitness

Yessss

Screw Running

Screw Running

Who knew running was good for me

Call me easily impressed

Shoe Update

I need shoes to run barefoot

I don't want your crap, Biggest Loser

Biggest Loser Commentary

Done and done!

Shoes for the laid-back lifestyle

Things I'll Probably Regret Blogging About: Part 513

We *hrt* running....

We hrt running....