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March 18, 2007
Thanks for playing!
Fucking Wisconsin.
Since I had them in the championship game, I'm done on Yahoo's brackets. Thankfully I picked Florida instead for my work bracket, so I'm not totally screwed in the money version. But as far as the RBF version goes, I think it's safe to say I'm going to finish near the bottom now.
Stupid Big 10 - way to totally disprove all the "Big 10 is overrated" / "Big 10 basketball sucks/is slow and boring" talk.
Training Summary: Feburary 19 - March 18, 2007
March 12 - 18, 2007
Running: 6:06:00 | 39.85 mi (Parrot Predictor 3:58:36)
Walking: 0:03:56 | 0.25 miles
Elliptical: 0:40:00 | 2.75 miles
Weight lifting: 2:22:00
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Total activity: 9:11:56
March 5 - 11, 2007
Running: 5:44:59 | 37.05 mi (Parrot Predictor 4:02:35)
Walking: 0:07:55 | 0.5 miles
Elliptical: 0:35:00 | 2.22 miles
Weight-lifting: 1:32:00
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Total activity: 7:59:54
February 26 - March 4, 2007
Running:2:29:34 | 16 miles
Weight-lifting: 0:29:00
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Total activity: 2:58:34
February 19 - 25, 2007
Running: 4:15:52 | 27.11 mi (Parrot Predictor 4:07:11)
March 17, 2007
Some running content inside
My March Madness bracket victory was short-lived, as expected. I'm currently 3rd, but I see that going a lot lower since I've already missed 3 of the Sweet Sixteen (and 1 Elite Eight, damn Villanova). The Illinois game last night was pretty bad, but the Engineer pointed out that with the week we've both had it's really no surprise that "our" team lost.
Here's what I've been up to this week so far:
Monday: Upper body weights | 32:00
Tuesday: The weather was fantastic, so I headed out to the bike paths for another attempt at an LT run. It was 47 degrees (felt like 43) so I got to wear shorts! I started out with a long sleeve shirt over short sleeves, but ended up pulling off the LS around 2.5 miles because I was so warm. One of the high school boys' track teams were out on the bike paths and I ended up following them back towards the school. What a bunch of wusses - most of them were walking.
I had hopes that I'd be able to run faster with the warmer weather, but apparently I'm still slow. Better than last time, but still not any good.
47°F | felt like 43°F | From SW 9mph
1.00 | 9:42
2.00 | 9:45
2.25 | 2:26
3.25 | 7:49
4.25 | 7:42
5.25 | 7:52
6.25 | 7:57 (31:20, 7:50/mi)
7.25 | 9:39
8.25 | 9:43
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8.25 miles w/ 4 @ LT | 1:12:39 | 8:48/mi.
While running, I was thinking about how it's possible for me to be so slow when last year just running 30+ mpw seemed to be enough. And then I realized that last year I was doing lower body weights - and since I haven't done that in forever my legs are really weak right now. Therefore, I may have endurance to run 16-17 miles, but I have no real strength, which also explains why I can't hold my pace. So I drove home, and did some weights.
lower body weights | 22:00
Wednesday was kind of a bad day. I found out that my vacation request for the week between Christmas and New Year's got denied because my co-worker requested the same week, and because he also requested the end of the previous week I can't have any time off around Christmas. I kind of knew my request was going to get denied (although I didn't know I was going to get blocked from taking the week prior to Christmas), but I'd been holding out hope for being pregnant and maternity leave making it a moot point. I ended up having a big crybaby moment when I got home, which involved crying on the floor with Molly. Crying confused her. After wallowing for awhile (girl scout cookies might have been involved) I headed to the basement for some weights and elliptical.
upper body weights | 32:00
elliptical | 35:00 random L14/5:00 CD | 2.75 miles
Thursday, while I managed to not have any more crybaby moments (although I felt like it) was not a good day either. I wanted to run 11 miles after work, but it was a little chilly and basketball was on so I was going to treadmill. But I got home late because of work ... and found Molly had exploded in the laundry room. By the time I got everything cleaned, I didn't feel like running so I joined Molly in the backyard (where she'd been exiled) and started cleaning it up. I hadn't been in the backyard for awhile, so it was not pretty ... anyway. Then I started feeling bad about not running and trying to figure out how to move stuff around, and I decided to just go and at least get a short run in. Then things were going decent enough (and I was interested in the Sparty game) that I ran the whole 11 miles. It was late by then, though, so I didn't do weights.
treadmill @ 1% | 11 miles | 1:41:35 | 9:14/mi.
walk CD | 0.25 miles | 3:56
Friday I worked in the morning and then spent the rest of the day watching basketball and being lazy. The Engineer got some news at work that could potentially be sucky, but we won't know for awhile how it's going to shake out. There was one bright spot to the week, though. Last week, I decided to call the Reproductive Endocrinology department (henceforth the RE) to get put on their wait list, which they said was about 3-4 months. I got a letter this week saying that they were opening appointments for May and I could call to get one. But when I called, they had an opening on 3/27! I'm excited and nervous about this. I know it hasn't been that long, but I really don't see the point in waiting until an entire year has gone by when I already know that there's a problem. I already feel like I've wasted a lot of time being in this wait and see mode. I'm kind of mad to be at this stage, though - why is this so hard for me when I'm so much healthier than almost all the women I know that have gotten pregnant easily/accidentally?
Saturday, I stayed inside even though it looked nice outside so that I wouldn't be tempted to skip out on weights. I did upper body, ran 5 on the treadmill and then did lower body.
upper body weights | 32:00
treadmill @ 1% | 5 miles | 47:18 | 9:28/mi.
lower body weights | 24:00
And now, back to basketball - Go Michigan State! Take down the Tarheels!
March 16, 2007
Basketball
Molly is so not excited by all the basketball watching that has been going on here lately. Or maybe she's just mad that I put a t-shirt on her. Who knows?
This will end probably tonight, so I'm going to enjoy my temporary victory!
March 11, 2007
Recap
I've gotten a little bit back on the ball again with running - and weight-lifting (finally!).
Saturday (3/3): After the snow thrower got delivered, the Engineer and I headed down to the basement to watch the Illinois/Iowa game on the big TV while working out. I lifted weights and then ran 5 miles on the treadmill. I had wanted to start lifting again over the winter, but hadn't because lifting usually lowers my body fat which is bad for fertility. I've just decided to say screw it as far as that's concerned, since it's not like having the higher body fat has helped any.
Sunday (3/4): I ran on the treadmill again, since the roads were still messy. I ran for 11 miles while watching random movies on Comedy Central without sound or closed captioning. I had my headphones on, and just wanted something to look at. I'd set a goal of running 10, and then felt decent enough to add an extra mile. Something really annoying, though: I got a blister on my right foot small toe, and every time I run on the treadmill with my new shoes it comes back. That toe is really jacked up - I have no toenail there, and the nail bed is black/red/ugly.
Monday (3/5): I weight-lifted again, for 30 minutes.
Tuesday (3/6): I didn't feel that great, but I ran for 8 miles on the treadmill. I decided when I started I wanted to make it to at least 5 with the goal of hitting 8, but by 3 miles I was thinking that I was probably going to stop soon. But I was able to stick it out.
Wednesday (3/7): I weight-lifted again, followed by 35 minutes on the elliptical.
Thursday (3/8): I ran 8 miles on the treadmill while watching the Illinois/Penn St game. Not a very good game ... and just an okay run.
Friday (3/9): I thought about lifting and/or elliptical, but didn't feel like it. Instead, I spent awhile being annoyed that the second round of the Big Ten Tournament wasn't on regular TV, and getting mad that ESPN.com lied about the existence of a single-day pass for DirecTV. DirecTV would've given me the necessary channel for $75 - no thanks! Then I noticed I could watch online for $2 and the Engineer hooked up the laptop to the TV and all was good.
Saturday (3/10): Ran 5 miles on the treadmill and then weight-lifted. I was listening to my MP3 player again, but the Engineer had "Poseidon" on the big TV. Kind of a crappy movie, but it reminded me of why I don't think I'll ever go on a cruise. Boats in the ocean kind of creep me out, especially the idea that if something happens to the boat you're basically dead.
Sunday (3/11): It was warm, so I went outside. I ended up taking off my long sleeve shirt (short sleeves underneath), and at times I wish I'd worn shorts. This was an okay long run, aside from the uncleared portion of mile 2 and the icy underpasses. The underpasses in the last mile were kind of dangerous, almost. The slight down inclines were icy, and then it was dark and icy under the road ... but I broke through the ice in a few places and got my feet wet. I'd already broken through the ice and stepped in a giant puddle around 14 miles, though.
I did some exploring by running farther up the big hill I'd found a couple of weeks ago. Miles 4-6 were all uphill, but most of it was gradual so it wasn't bad. I probably could've run even farther on that road, but I was carrying my handheld water bottle and didn't want to get too far away from a place I'd be able to refill it. I ended up running into a Kwik-Trip because I didn't want to run back on the crappy bike paths to reach my car.
1 | 9:30
2 | 10:12 | 19:43 - uncleared path ~0.25 miles
3 | 9:28 | 29:11
4 | 9:33 | 38:45
5 | 9:46 | 48:31
6 | 9:38 | 58:10
7 | 9:07 | 1:07:17
8 | 8:45 | 1:16:03
9 | 8:37 | 1:24:40
10 | 8:42 | 1:33:22
11 | 8:46 | 1:42:08
12 | 9:01 | 1:51:09
13 | 8:56 | 2:00:06
14 | 8:57 | 2:09:03
15 | 8:52 | 2:17:56
16 | 9:06 | 2:27:03 - slick spots
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16.05 miles | 2:27:34 | 9:12/mi.
March Madness!
Barb's got a RBF bracket going on:
It's almost time for the BIG DANCE.
Let's dance put on your red shoes and dance the blues.
Group Name: RBF Bracketology
Group ID# 37463
Password: run26.2
Take this info. Go here: http://tournament.fantasysports.yahoo.com/
You may need to create a yahoo id...ain't no thang though...it's easy and they don't solicit you with crap you don't want.
Once you're logged in, you'll need the Group ID# and Password and just follow instructions until you're in!
You won't be able to fill out your bracket until after Selection Sunday and you won't be able to view other folks' brackets until after play begins. You'll get to fill out up to five brackets (and if you're smart, you'll have KU losing in the first round in at least one of them and them winning it all in another).
What on earth are you waiting for?! Come join your fellow RBFers and have some fun. And yes, trash talk is totally allowed...all in good fun. Feel free to post this info on your blog...
Winner gets Gu...or something fun and runnerish like that.
So yeah...LET THE MADNESS BEGIN!
My bracket is tentatively called "The NCAA is bullshit" because that's about all the Engineer and I could say as we watched the selection show. BULLSHIT that tOSU is not the #1 overall seed. BULLSHIT that Kansas is a #1 seed and gets the play-in game. BULLSHIT that Purdue is a 9 seed, Indiana is a 7 but Illinois is a 12. BULLSHIT that a bunch of teams with shittier records got better seeds and playing sites than Illinois. (And poor MSU with the 8 seed).
Don't get me wrong, I don't have any illusions about Illinois's playing strength and chances for longevity. (If you're just tuning in, the Engineer and I are Illinois grads. We also root for the other Big 10 teams during the tournament (well, except for Minnesota. I still rooted against them in '05)). They've had a rough season, what with the injuries and illnesses and adjusting to life without Dee and Augie ... not to mention the whole stupid DUI debacles. But I think the Big 10 got pretty screwed by the tournament committee. Oh well, hey, 2 years ago they said the Big 10 was down and they got 2 teams in the Final Four.
Obviously someone on the committee has a strange sense of humor: if Illinois wins, they could potentially play Southern Illinois and then potentially play Kansas. Looks like some of the conspiracy talk on IB wasn't totally unfounded.
(The bold part above is mine because I had already planned on doing that. But that's because we hate Bill $elf and KU here).
March 2, 2007
Tired of snow
We got another 7" of snow yesterday afternoon/last night. The Engineer and I shoveled before we went to bed last night, and I got up early this morning to check if we needed to shovel again. It didn't look like it had snowed much more, but the plow had been by so the end of the driveway needed clearing. It didn't look like there was much, so I went back to bed for awhile and then woke the Engineer up so he could clear it for me. Unfortunately, between the plow and the drifting, there was a lot of snow at the end of the driveway. The Engineer had maybe a 10 minute headstart on me, and it still took us close to 20 minutes together to get the driveway clear so I was late to work. (It was deep enough I couldn't just drive over it).
I've been wanting a snow thrower for awhile, but this recent heavy snow has made me really want one. I'm fairly useless with the snow at the end of the driveway because I can't lift it and a snow thrower would help make it so I could get out without needing the Engineer. (I was worried about the potential for snow last week while he was off "working" in California). On Wednesday, when we first got the 10-15" prediction, I called around and every store in town was out of 2-stage throwers. But the newspaper's business blog had a tip today that a store in the next town over (10 minutes from my house) still had a ton in stock. So the Engineer and I headed over to check it out, and tomorrow morning our new toy will be delivered. How's that for good service? They're going to assemble it and drop it off, and if there's a problem during the warranty they'll pick it up for service. Since it weighs 160 lbs, I'm glad I don't have to help try and get it in the car!
Of course, now we'll probably be done with snow for the season and next winter will be light ... but I'd still consider that money well spent!