Runner Susan

Don’t you just love the 80’s wallpaper?

Runner Susan — Fri, 25 Jul 2008 03:18:21 +0000

World’s Best Traveling Buddies

Runner Susan — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 22:31:10 +0000

We are half way to Indiana and we’ve made it to our hotel safe and sound. And just in case you are wondering, it’s really hard to sneak a Donkey into a hotel room - but we did manage to convince the hotel clerk Donkey was under fifty pounds. I think she might be blind.

Now I just need to muster up some energy to head downstairs to the hotel treadmill. I just drove nearly 500 miles, so four miles on the dreadmill should be easy, right?

*****UPDATE*****

I just spent 30 minutes on a treadmill in a room full of florescent lights with walls wrapped in full-length mirrors that made my ass look as though it had just consumed a 50-pound container of cottage cheese and deposited equal amounts on each thigh. And if that wasn’t bad enough, someone had set and locked the air conditioning on 60 degrees and turned the ceiling fan on full blast causing my headlights to turn on full beam.

None of this would have been a problem if the exercise room wasn’t located in front of the elevators so that every single person going in or out of the elevator was able to witness the freak show.

The good news - I ran 30 minutes when I wanted to leave after 30 seconds. Although I have no idea how far it was since it was the type of treadmill they have in the quality hotel establishments that allow you to randomly check into a room with a “fifty” pound Donkey.

Circus Freak

Runner Susan — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 00:27:40 +0000

I’m the only person in the world who can do one hour of intense leg torture, one hour of cycling in 101 degree weather, drink and eat appropriately and gain weight. It’s a gift.

Progress

Runner Susan — Sun, 20 Jul 2008 15:37:30 +0000

I’ve been back to running for a little over two weeks now. The first week was awful, my body wanted to reject being active again, but this week I’ve felt like things are falling into place. I’m running three days a week - actually running, very slow, but still it’s not wogging, doing leg torture twice a week (video to come) and riding my bike three days a week.

I have to admit, the biking is the hardest - it’s 100% cardio - and in case you didn’t know - if you stop moving, you fall over. Does it get easier? Because I really hope it gets easier. If anything, it should be good cross training for Chicago. Or maybe I’m just wasting my time. And spending too much time talking out loud.

Oh, and I must not forget the best upper body workout IN THE WORLD - hand waxing all of my hardwood floors. I think I saw a tiny bicep grow while I was waxing. So if anyone out there wants really buff arms, you can wax my floors. And I’ll even let you do it for free. Because I’m so nice like that.

2005 Orin Swift Papillon Napa Red Blend

Runner Susan — Sat, 19 Jul 2008 18:22:03 +0000

Very much like a Bordeaux! Composed from 63% cabernet sauvignon, 19% merlot, 9% cabernet franc, 7% malbec and 2% petit verdot.

I love the bottle and I love this wine - $60.00, but worth every penny. Another expensive one I know Mom is going to run out and purchase immediately. For all the right reasons too. And yes, that is a cheese print smudge at the top of the label.

Hair today

Runner Susan — Sat, 19 Jul 2008 00:15:17 +0000

I’m having hair crisis. I have in-between hair. It’s not long, it’s not short, it’s just blah and I can’t decide if I should chop it off or let it grow. I absolutely love Katie Holmes hair right now, it’s so sophisticated and smart. I just don’t know how it would look on me since I’m A) blonde, B) old C) not the beautiful, but brainwashed, 105 pound Katie Holmes D) have frizzy, fluffy hair and E) live in a really humid climate. What do you think? Chop or let it grow?

2004 Andrew Will, Two Blondes Vineyard, Yakima

Runner Susan — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 13:26:21 +0000

Cabernet Franc based - 44% - wine blended with 35% Cabernet Sauvignon and 21% Merlot. Oh my God, this is so good and for $55.00 bucks it should be.

Buy it, save it, lick it love it. And then rub some cheese on it for good measure. It’s smooth, velvety and I could drink the entire bottle myself. 93 points.

The Dark Side or My Second Real Bike Ride

Runner Susan — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 14:18:10 +0000

I’ve ridden a bike here and there; I’ve just never taken it out of the neighborhood. Kenza and I have our fun rides and we stroll up and down the sidewalks. But, I’ve never actually taken my bike out on a real road, you know - the kind of road with cars - that kill people. That was, until yesterday when Michael took pity on my, and took me out for an easy 8.5 mile ride.* He picked a forgiving course, mostly flat and only a few small hills. He then dropped me off at home and went on his real ride. I averaged 14 mph. Slow, I know, but my goal was to NOT GET KILLED. I can’t tell you how many Jimmy Joe Bobs are driving around here talking on cell phone while pulling a giant trailer full of horses. There are so many joys to living in the country.

I had a great time riding with Michael and I begged to ride with him again today, so we went out on a shorter but a little hillier course and I was a lot slower - and I couldn’t believe it was a warm-up for Michael. I also took my Garmin so I could tell what my splits really were. I’m so freaking out of shape, it’s not even funny.

Now, I know it’s like a snail’s pace. And it’s probably not technically hilly for all you professionals; Michael was going uphill as fast as he was going downhill. But I was dying going uphill. And how the hell do you keep your shoe laces from getting caught on the pedals? That was so annoying.

I know what your next question is . . .what kind of bike do you have? Well, it’s a really pretty blue bike and Michael put a white seat on it that matches the lettering. I think the technically it’s called a hybrid bike, a six-year-old Cannodale that weighs 31.1 pounds. I know that’s not very much so I can’t use that as an excuse for my slowness. But seriously, it felt like it weighed 900 pounds going uphill. I’m thinking my next bike is going to be a Vespa.

What’s my next step people who ride bikes? I’m so new to this, but I really need an alternate form of exercise so if I ever do get injured from running again I have a back up. I like riding with my husband, but it’s sooo hard.

* I do feel the need to put a very important disclaimer here that we went out AFTER an hour of seriously serious leg torture. I am also playing the terrible punctuation card here.

Inappropriate bargains

Runner Susan — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 15:23:40 +0000

If my years of running experience have taught my anything, it is this - if when needed, walking is always a better option than pooping your pants. If my years of blogging have taught me anything, it’s that I really suck at punctuation. So if I ever use a superfluous semicolon or poop my pants, please forgive me.

I walked most of my run yesterday due to the fact that my intestines were coiling. I also did a pool torture workout and then rode my bike. I don’t think all that counts towards a 15 mile run, but it was about three hours of exercise. Still, I felt guilty. And in my guiltiest guilty state I ran into Shopper Susan and took her to the store I always feel guilty for shopping . . . why do they call it White House Black Market? It sounds like a place for white slavery or people trafficing. Anyways, they were having 30% off clearance on all sale items. And I have to shamefully admit this, but I normally don’t do sale items because those are items no one else wants. But not here, not at this inappropriately named store. Here I found many items…

And I got all this for $118! (The dress was only $20.00!)

Now, if I can just find a way to make that fifteen non-functional pounds disappear, I’d be happy.

Donkesian Ridgeback

Runner Susan — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 19:48:52 +0000

Don’t you with you could read minds sometimes? Donkey, particularly, hates bath day.