3rd of the Week October 27, 2006
Posted by vollenda in : General , 1 comment so farAnother run in for the week. Last night I ran 25 min off the bike. I was a little draggy on this run. Maybe because I left work at 3 which is my usual snack time but I didn’t have anything yesterday. Yeah, that’s probably it.
So, last night was the rehearsal for the wedding and I was able to check out the place and go thru the motions with the wedding party. I. Am. Nervous. But very excited too. I can’t wait. The part that makes me nervous is that the wedding doesn’t start til 6 and the “ranch” they are getting married at is in Lytle Creek which is in small valley in the mountains. I’ll have 15, maybe 20 min of light. And the ceremony is supposed to last 20 to 25 min. Aaahhh. And it gets dark out there. I have a really powerful flash but it’s blindingly powerful. Here’s some photos of the place…
The first two were taken a little before 6. The last one was taken about the time the ceremony was ending. It’s going to be quite challenging. Sigh. But like I said, I’m excited and looking forward to it. The funny thing is that I think I was more nervous and scared about doing Vineman than of taking pictures of this wedding. You would think this would be scarier for me since there’s only one chance to get most of the pictures. Sure, I’m not getting paid (it’s my wedding present to them). But still, I want to do the best job possible because these are people that I care about, plus the perfectionist in me wouldn’t allow anything less. Still, I’m more excited than nervous. I think it’s because I have more confidence in my skills as a photographer than I did as an Iron triathlete. I have a lot more years under my belt with photography and that’s made have a camera in my hand second nature to me. I feel that way about the bike and hope to feel that way about swimming and running someday too. They still feel awkward sometimes. Anyway…Wish me luck!
2nd Run In October 26, 2006
Posted by vollenda in : General , 7 commentsYesterday was a good day. I had a great commute and a great run and took some pictures and found a website for Nikon geeks just like me. Oh, and started another hat. It was a busy day.
The run was 35 minutes, as scheduled. I felt smooth and it didn’t seem like so much of a chore yesterday. It feels like I’m starting to click as a runner again. The ride in this morning was a little nippy (49) but it should be about 85 this afternoon when I leave work. I wore long pants this morning but I brought shorts for the ride home. It will be a nice warm run this afternoon (25 min planned). Then the rehearsal dinner which will tell me what I’m up against for Saturday’s wedding shoot. It’s an outdoor wedding at sunset! It’s going to be a challenge.
Here are some of the photos I took of the leaves I gathered. Probably not what you expected, huh? What do you think?
Add 22 And Mix Well October 25, 2006
Posted by vollenda in : General , 6 commentsThe week before I left for vacation, I ran a total of 215 min. Sticking to the 10% rule, I’m adding 22 minutes to my runs this week. OK, it should only be 21.5 but I’m rounding. Or maybe I’m just round. This is a pretty busy week for me but I’m sure I can fit them all in. Here’s the plan for the week:
Tues - 45 min (done)
Wed - 35 min (5 more than last week)
Thur - 25 min (5 more than last week)
Sat - 102 min (12 more than last week)
Sun - 30 min
Thursday I’m leaving work early to squeeze in a run before the rehearsal dinner. Saturday is the wedding I’m taking pictures at and since I don’t know how late I’ll be there, I think I’m going to do the long run on Saturday instead of Sunday. Last night’s run was good but a week after running in flat as a pancake AZ, I felt it in my calves. I also left work early last night so I got to run most of it on dirt. I just took to the streets for a little to see if I could find any interesting leaves to shoot. When I was riding home last night, I stopped for a few minutes to gather up some interesting looking leaves. Some people would say that we don’t really have seasons here in So Cal but some of our trees change colors and when I was riding, the wind was swirling leaves of yellow & gold & orange & red all around me. I had to stop and look for some good ones.
Over Already October 23, 2006
Posted by vollenda in : General , 4 commentsWell, my vacation is over already. Darn it. As always I’m torn. I miss the kids and my sister and dad and everyone. But I’m also glad to be home in So Cal…I missed my family and friends here and Spike, the rotter, and my stable of bikes. Stable of bikes!
I didn’t get as much running in as I probably should have - 30 min on Tues, Wed, Thu, Sat, & Sun. I like to run on the edge of the desert with short forays into it and I won’t do that in the dark. So I went out just as the sun was rising every morning and made it home in time to be there when Max & Maddy (the two early risers) got up. Morgan will sleep in til 9 or so if you let her because she’s a night owl. Every sunrise while I was there was a sight to behold as there were either wispy clouds or no clouds at all. I love the “On A Clear Day, You Can See Forever” feeling I get when I’m in the desert. And how deep blue the sky is and how dark & starry the nights are.
So not much running but a lot of cross training in the form of walks to the park and one morning, the girls and I went on a walk to watch the hot air balloons from the air show float across the valley. Their favorite park is about a 20 walk from their house and we sometimes we went twice a day. They wanted me to drive them there but I put my foot down (get it?) and said no. That it wasn’t good for them or the environment to take a car when we could walk there. That it would be okay to drive there if we were going to the store and stopped on the way there or back. I’m not sure my brother-in-law appreciates my sharing my environmental/animal beliefs with them, but I gotta be me.
We also went roller skating on Saturday for a few hours at the Rollero. It was the first time I’d been on skates in about 7 or 8 years and I’m happy to report that nothing was broken and after a few timid strides, it was like I’d been on them forever. Funny how your body remembers how to do things like that? I just wish it would forget how to be a couch potato! It reminded me of being on a bike with the wind in my hair and wheels flying over the floor. Anyway, it was a good workout and a lot of fun.
One of the most fun/jaw dropping/ear blasting things about my trip was the air show that was going on this past weekend. We didn’t go to it because there wasn’t time but we got too see plenty of cool things. From Thursday on, we could look up in the sky when we were out and about and see stunt planes, hot air balloons…and Blue Angels. It was the first time seeing them for all of us and it was great fun to watch them do their thing and fly over us so close we could touch them. A totally unexpected and exciting surprise. The girls asked me why I always took my camera where ever we went. I told them this was why…
Greetings from the M&Ms October 18, 2006
Posted by vollenda in : General , 3 commentsThings are going great here in Arizona. We are having a lot of fun and doing lots of stuff like playing Barbies, going to the bookstore, reading, playing badminton & frisbee. I got a great workout hauling all 3 kids in the wagon in circles in the backyard. This morning, we’re getting ready to start a game of Life, later it’s roller skating and bike time (for them, anyway). Of course, I’ve been taking lots of pictures. And doing a lot of walking with once or twice daily walks to the park. I’m back to normal…well, for me. So yesterday, I went for a 30 minute run and this morning I walked for 45 minutes with my sister and then went for a 20 minute run on my own. No Pilates so far. Sigh.
But here’s some photos of the M&Ms. The girls modeling the hats I made for them.
Here’s Madison climbing up the slide.
Morgan the Model
and the little peanut, Mad Max.
Week One In The Books October 16, 2006
Posted by vollenda in : General , 7 commentsMy first week of of increased running days is in the books. My legs did pretty well with it. There was some soreness here and there but they were fine considering I wasn’t babying them. I had been running every other day to make sure they recuperated from each run. Sometimes, it was just a day and half, like Tues morn/Wed night. I hope to continue that while I’m here in Arizona but maybe with a little less volume.
Last week (along with the bike commutes), I ran:
Tue & Sun - 30 min
Wed - 20 min
Thu - 45 min
Sat - 90 min
I’ll do pretty much the same this week but probably only 60 min on Sat. Last Saturday’s run went really well. Another runner just about scared the pants off of me because I was listening to tunes and singing along and suddenly he was right there. I was running in my own little world. It was cool and drizzly and the tracks were a little muddy. I bonked a little at the end because I didn’t eat anything before and only had a little water when I stopped at the park. Other than that, it was great. Sunday’s run was good too. Still cool. I had a little extra zip in my step because I was looking forward to my trip.
On the days I don’t run here, I’ll be walking with my sister in the mornings and/or doing Pilates. Except this morning. This morning I am recovering from food poisening! Yesterday, I took my grandfather to our monthly meeting and then breakfast before I left. Something did not hit me right there and I was sick the rest of the day and well into the night. Let me tell you, flying while your stomach is doing flips like that is so not fun. The bummer was that I was too sick to play with the kids. :( But that all starts today! No one’s up yet and I checked on them before coming downstairs and they’re still dreaming away. Oh, to be a kid again.
I’m outta here! October 13, 2006
Posted by vollenda in : General , 3 commentsI’m off to Arizona. Well, not yet because I’m at work right now. But this weekend, I heading out to the gorgeous Arizona desert. I love the desert and just may have to move there someday. Though I would miss the variety of California. For now, I’ll just have to make do with my vacation home - my sister’s. It’s only been a little over a month since I’ve seen them last, but I can’t wait. My sister stubbornly refuses to put the M&Ms on pause and they are growing up too fast! Morgan is 9 going on 16 and already has a major crush on a boy. Where does the time go?
So…mission accomplished. Last night I ran for 45 minutes. 3 down, 2 to go. I would say it was a good run. Some tightness in my left calf because I’ve been running some uphills lately. I would do that more but my knees just don’t like going downhill. And an uphill is no fun without the reward of the downhill, you know? But still, my backside could use a little work. 
I was slightly bummed last night because I didn’t get to ride home from work. We had an off-site meeting that started at 4 so I put Blue in the back of Wendy’s truck and she gave me a ride over there and then she dropped me off at home. Poor Blue. Poor me. I’m spoiled, huh? Today, I was savoring the ride in since it will be last bike commute for a week. I’ll miss my bike but I’m taking my running shoes with me. I have all the important pieces of equipment packed already - camera, laptop, running shoes. As long as I have those, I’m good.
The plan for the weekend is a 90 min run tomorrow and then a 30 min run on Sunday before I fly out to AZ. I’m hoping to get a ride in tomorrow to but they are forecasting rain for today and maybe tomorrow so we’ll see. I’m looking forward to running on the trails and in the desert. I like those trails. My knees like em too. 
Have a great weekend everyone!
2 Down October 12, 2006
Posted by vollenda in : General , 7 commentsWhat’s a 3 letter word that rhymes with fun and starts with the letter R? I’ll give you a clue. It’s what I did last night. Run! Ok, it was only a 20 min run, not like I ran a marathon or something. And I’ve done many, many runs of much longer. But it was a run. Slow, easy, relaxing. A run. As opposed to 20 min on the couch. Woo! All part of the plan to increase my running days. I’m starting off easy and then I’ll increase them by 5 or 10 min a week. Besides, I hear it’s good for you to mix it up with time and routes and such. So you’re muscles won’t get used to the same old, same old. Tonight, I have a 45 min run scheduled. As usual, the ride home last night was awesome - sunny & 69. I even left work a few minutes early because I was eager to be outside on my bike and then running. It was a good day to be a triathlete in
Southern California.
Not that my couch time has been unproductive. I’m making beanies. Fuzzy beanies, stripey beanies, rainbow beanies, rolly beanies. I’m trying to see how many I can make before Christmas. They are for a project I’m working on. I’m hoping kids will like them. What do you think?
Dancing to the Oldies October 11, 2006
Posted by vollenda in : General , 3 commentsI think I’m solar powered. Yep, definitely solar powered. Once I’m out in the sun, I can usually get going. It’s the get going part that’s hard sometimes. When I need that extra little spark to get out the door, I can usually count on one of these oldies but gooodies:
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Red Hot Chili Peppers - Higher Ground
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INXS - Suicide Blond
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ELO - Don’t Bring Me Down
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Cheap Trick - Crazy Little Thing Called Love
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Aerosmith - Rag Doll
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The Fixx - One Thing Leads To Another
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Romantics - What I Like About You
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Oingo Boingo - No One Lives Forever
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Oingo Boingo - Just Another Day
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Oingo Boingo - Dead Man’s Party
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Stray Cats - Stray Cat Strut
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The Cure - The Love Cats
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Bow Wow Wow - I Want Candy
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Duran Duran - Girls on Film
Kind of a weird mix, I know. But these are the tried and true go-to songs for me. They get my foot tapping and my head bobbing. Actually, they make me want to dance but running will do. So…training. Ahem, well…Monday was a “rest” day so I just rode to/from work easy. Tuesday was another easy ride to/from work. I’m trying not to let the heart rate get up and I’m doing a pretty good job of that. It’s been a little gloomy in the morning. We’re having June Gloom in October. It’s a little weird. The afternoons are nice but yesterday, as I was getting ready for the ride home, the ride just seemed so long. Once I was on my way, I felt good and had a nice ride. The plan last night was for a 30 min run after the ride. “T2″ was about 20 minutes long but I finally got out the door thanks to a little RHCP. The run was okay. Slow (also trying to keep my heart rate downs), cool, accomplished. Which I was happy about. Funny thing was that I felt most like a runner when I was cooling down. I was happy, calm, and well spent.
Today’s ride in was cold (46) but clear and sunny. Tonight, I run! But only for 20 minutes. Right off the bike, no messing around. My goal is to run 5 days a week. One day down, 4 to go.
Busy Weekend October 9, 2006
Posted by vollenda in : General , 1 comment so farWhew, what a weekend. I need a rest now! I didn’t really do much in the way of training though. On Saturday morning, I ran for 30 minutes (all dirt) and then rode to work. It was a great day and a bummer to spend part of it inside, but at least there was a good reason (more later). The run was good. I was feeling a little lazy but I thought of Tim who was running a marathon (he rocked it) and that got me out the door. The ride to/from work was great because there was a lot less traffic, especially in the morning, and it was clear and sunny and warm. My dad was in town so he came and picked me up for lunch and finally got to see where I work.On Sunday morning, I ran for 75 min (all dirt). At least for this run, I didn’t need a push out the door. I started off with Madonna to get me energized and then eased into a mix of Oakenfold, Moby & Beth Orton for a slower pace. My left arch was bothering me towards the end so I finished with Oingo Boingo to keep the good endorphins going. I think I might need new shoes. One of my pairs of Brooks is more than a year old and it’s time to switch it up. No tripping for either run this weekend so I would say it was a successful weekend. Woo Hoo!
On Sunday afternoon, I learned a new game. I went to a birthday party at Mondi’s which means game time. Most of the time, it’s horshshoes. Sometimes it’s softball or volleyball or football. Depends on the season/holiday. This time, it was Ladder Golf. It was fun. A little less intimidating in that I probably won’t kill anyone if I accidently throw it at them (like horseshoes). I was the only one to score in the first few rounds of our match and everyone commented on how weird that was. If you read any of my softball team adventures last year, you know that I cannot throw straight enough to hit the side of the barn. Sigh. At least I only threw the bola things over the wall twice and luckily it didn’t hit the neighbor either time!
The rest of the weekend was spent knitting (5 hats) & getting ready for my vacation (which is why I went in to work). This time next week, I will be in Arizona! Yeah, baby! Woo. Can’t wait to see my munchkins. Morgan & Madison will be on fall break and it’s becoming a tradition that I go out there for that week so they won’t have to go to day care. We have plans. Oh, do we have plans…picnics at the park, running, hopscotch, frisbee, rollerskating, maybe the Fair. I’m sure the little card sharks will also want to play Crazy 8s & Old Maid, etc. And chasing Max around which my sister says is a full time job because he’s a fast little peanut. Good thing I’m a runner.
