can't get my stretch on

For some reason I avoid yoga. Not sure why because I always feel great after going. I sleep better, don't wake up feeling like a truck ran over me, and my brain enjoys the 'quiet time'. It is a treat. A mini 1 hour vacation during the week. But yet I can't get myself there. Right now I would rather go down to the gym and do more cardio (I already did some at 6am).

I should try doing yoga in my living room and see if that works. I have the mat. I have a yoga DVD. I have the floor space since I never bought that coffee table. May try it out later.

Right now I am going to procrastinate by going to London Drugs to replenish cleaning supplies and then cook up a batch of turkey chili. I am on a cooking roll. My freezer is busting at the seams. May need to finally eat all of those frozen vegetables to make room.

Use of building pool is currently at 5 times this month. At $75 a month for membership I am keeping track. My threshold to make it worthwhile is 15 times. Need to step it up.

lazzzzzzzzzzzzzy Sunday

It is 3:46pm and so far I have; had breakfast, spent some time in the pool with R, ate too much of the delicious low-fat healthy baking R brought me (low-fat and healthy are negated when you eat too much of it BTW), read 7 of 14 ITQs for work (don't ask), laid in the sun while reading said ITQs, took a nap because the sun tired me out, and ate a healthy burrito from the stash of healthy burritos R and I made yesterday. With the microwave broken I had to revert to the dark ages and heat up the burrito in a frying pan. Made it nice and crispy. Feeling good about the fact that I have 10 of them in the freezer right now.

My one other activity was going to get the running belt from R before she left for the day. I've borrowed this belt from her for the rest of my running season as it holds water and other necessities while you run. There is nothing as disappointing right now as a run in the afternoon heat and 4k of no water fountains. With the new development in south False Creek there are water fountains aplenty, just none of them are hooked up to water yet. I've made the mistake of trying to use one, wanted to kick it when I realised it didn't work and I wasn't getting any water until Granville Island. They should really put up a sign.

Aiming to leave for my run by 4:30 since I sleep like crap if I don't finish my workout 4 hours before going to bed. It is going to be hot. Tarzan couldn't stand this heat.

i wish....

That Blogger was easier to post photos to. It seems whenever I have photos I want to share I have to post them to blogger, facebook and Picasa. I think I am going with just facebook for now so don't expect any pictures anytime soon. I was inspired by Chris' blog as he has good writing but no photos and I am still interested in reading it.

So I better step it up on the writing front. Now that I've worked out how to email and update my blog (and have a data device so I am not typing it out in 140 character bites in a text message) I should make more of an effort.

It has been an awesome couple of weeks here in Vancouver. The family visit has really put a different spin on living here. Weather is awesome and this is my first summer living downtown. The last two summers were different what with living in Burnaby and then last summer going to Asia for 3 weeks. Twice now I have met with the Grand Forks Dunnets at Kits beach to hang in the evening. Both times I walked home with a big grin thinking 'This is how it should always be'. Between that and the outdoor pool at my building (costing me $75 each month and currently have used it 3 times so far in July - must get a couple of dips in this weekend) I feel like I am on vacation when I am not at work. I know I should always feel that way but right now it seems to stand out in the day to day business. I think it is tough in the Vancouver rain and overcast season (aka fall, winter and spring) to really get the serotonin running through your brain. The snowshoeing was kind of good for that but not as easily accessible as strolling out my front door and down to the seawall.

On the workout front I have been lackadaisical this week. Early morning (8:30am) meetings and a late night with a few too many drinks, have conspired against me. But I am getting creative. As I nursed my hangover yesterday I managed to get the following workout in; 35' on the elliptical and a 90' walk. It is no 14k run + Grouse Grind but it was something. I seem to be off the spin classes these days but I think that is more due to the weather. Who wants to cram in an indoor class when it is nice out? I have a 12k run on the agenda for tomorrow as I start to build up my mileage to attempt a 1/2 marathon. I am like a science experiment; can you really run a half marathon on 2 runs a week? I am supplementing with 2 bootcamps, erg workout, min. 1 Grouse Grind and some other cardio but time will tell if it is enough.

I'm off to bootcamp followed by Grouse Grind with Rachel, Grud and Montreal Dave. Haven't been since last Monday and a bit nervous. It is going to be high noon by the time we start hiking. Must hydrate. Do not want to be one of those people passed out beside the trail looking like an out of shape slob. I predict Montreal Dave is going to kick our asses but Rachel, Grud and I will have fun slowly climbing up the side of Grouse Mountain.

Stampeding

It was great. Third year at Stampede and I probably drank a third of what I drank in my first year. At this rate, if I go next year, I'll have some Bailey's in my coffee the first morning and that is it.

 

Having been to Stampede twice before I no longer attend for the rodeo, pancake breakfasts and excessive drinking. Stampede is the excuse to visit with my 8 good friends from my national team rowing days. The first year it was just Clark and I hanging out with PVR and Rozzo. Then next year Sarah and Rachel joined in. This year Andie, Darcy and Jacqui made it out there and the 'team' was complete. We all descended on Calgary for our yearly meetup and Stampede happens to be at the same time.

 

While those new to Stampede were mildly disappointed at the lack of excessive partying, I was quite happy with seeing my friends and enjoying copious amounts of meat. We had burgers and steaks at every meal (or so it felt). I had a couple of coronas at 8:30am while we watched a parade. I wore a cowgirl hat for 3 days straight. And I caught up with all of my rowing friends. It was good times.

 

And the two newbies that complained about the lack of partying did manage to get a bunch of free drinks and taken to a restaurant for nachos (in a limo) by someone they think might have been a mobster. He also had a stripper from Vegas with him that had breast implants in size F. This was long after many of us had called it a night but I think they still have a great story even if nobody got totally out of control.

 

Not sure what next year's plan is but I am hoping for a lakeside cabin somewhere with wine.

Grouse Grind + 14k

Well I made it through my double workout Sunday. See graph below for my speed versus heart rate during my 14k (yeah Garmin!). The first 30 minutes of my run felt like I had cement blocks attached to my legs but then I warmed up. Richard and I did our fastest GG this summer just 4 hours prior to the start of my run. For going 5 minutes faster it was significantly more challenging. R and I have a theory that while we both enjoy getting a workout done in the morning, physically your body is ready for it in the afternoon.

Today, while others go to work, I am on day 3 of staycation. I have plans to go to foot reflexology with a friend, workout/stretch (my legs are feeling slight worked over) and read in the sun. That is it. It should be great.

4 Errands and Pizza Night

It was a busy Saturday. My first full day of staycation.


Ritchy and I started off the morning with bootcamp. Impressive as we had just been on Friday and I was still sore. I babbled something at the end of the class about staying to do some cardio but Richard said there was walking to be done and it would provide for extra cardio.

No luxurious brunch this Saturday. Not sure why. Maybe because I made Rachel breakfast Friday morning after bootcamp when I was working from home.

We headed out for errand #1; eyebrows. Eyebrows cleaned up and colored so that they could be seen (eyebrows are really the frame to your face) we headed to the West End farmers market for fruits and vegetables (errand #2).

It was slim pickings there. Stuff looked okay but was not really jumping out at me as something better than what I get at Kin's Farm. Rachel bought some salmon.

Errand #2 (fruit & veg shopping) not complete, we walked over to Running Room. I purchased some new water bottles for Rachel's belt pack (thanks to her being knocked up I am getting to borrow it) and we both bought some special laundry detergent for workout clothes. It may just be a scam but my clothes develop a stank real fast and I want to keep'em smelling ok for as along as possible. That was my errand #3 complete but we still needed to track down those elusive fruits and vegetables.

We hiked up to the West End Kin's Farm and scored some good produce. I think I picked up some over priced cherries but considering peppers are usually $4.99 lb at the IGA downstairs, I felt good about my purchases.

Laden down with produce we are made our way back to Yaletown to our respective homes. I google mapped it and it was over 6k of walking so I did get that extra cardio in.

I then did errand #4 and got a library card. Seeing as how the library is just around the corner from me I think it is about time I check out what they have to offer. And...I got rid of cable so I am looking for some entertainment. Was overwhelmed by the place but picked up some good travel books and some light summery reading.

Richard came over in the evening and we made pizza (see pics below). A first at my place. Shout out to the GF Dunnets for the inspiration. R made the dough and I cooked up some chicken, chopped veggies and grated cheese. We made 3 pizzas in total and will both be eating pizza for the next 4 meals. My microwave is broken so I hope it tastes good cold. Ritchy also made some kind of zucchini loaf that was super tasty. And we watched Pleasantville. That movie is still great the 5th of 6th time around.

Off to bed as I need to rest up for day 2 of staycation. It looks like it will be Grouse Grind, followed by brunch at home, followed by a 13k run, a massage and then possibly going to a friend's for dinner. I am a maybe on the dinner as I think I will be totally exhausted from the double workout.

Take me out to the ball game

So I went to my first baseball game the other weekend. Combined a trip to Seattle with R to watch the Clumsies play with a ball game on Sunday.

I headed down Saturday morning. Hit the outlets (no luck with finding any good size 12 shoes!), purchased a new workout outfit (thank you Nike) and then rolled into town in time for dinner pre-show.

My foodie friend in Seattle gave a me a list of recommended restaurants. We were going to try and hit one up but got lazy and wondered around the area of the Crocodile Cafe (where the gig was) to find something. Stumbled upon an Italian restaurant amidst a sea of Japanese tapas bars (who knew Seattle was a hotbed for Japanese tapas bars). We went for it. Review: over priced but very tasty. R was impressed that my friend ordered a half bottle of red that was $50. I had a taste of the red. It was good.

We then watched the Clumsies play and got quite drunk. Well, not Rachel but I did. It was super fun and the first time I've seen almost a full set. I usually get too tired and have to leave but this time I planned ahead and had a nap. Along with a number of red bull and vodkas. It was super fun. The friend I was with was very impressed with them. As was I. Good times.

Next day I took my mild hangover out to Safeco Field to watch the Mariners. Small cluster trying to get us all tickets together at the last minute but we didn't even miss the first inning. Maybe a home run but not the entire first inning. The 9 of us sat down to bake in sun and watch the Game. Really, I just rotated through sitting next people and catching up and the game was going on in the background. Awesome to see everyone and the people watching at the Game was unreal. Apparently it is even better at the Seahawks so I may have to go back to watch some more professional sports in the near future.

We left Seattle, stopped at Olive Garden for dinner, I picked up some bud light lime (so good!) and then we headed home. A great weekend and, I hope, the kickoff to many great weekends of the summer.