Comments (34)

By kilax, February 28, 2013 6:50 am

• I’m proud of myself. In the past week I have met two unaccomplished 2012 running goals – a 5K PR and a 200 mile month (a new monthly distance record for me!). Do you keep going for a goal you set even if you don’t meet the “deadline”? I wasn’t expecting to meet these goals so it was a nice surprise!

• I am an awesome snister. NOT. My snister is having her FIRST wedding dress search this Saturday in Kansas City, and I have to miss it (flights were too $$$). My mom and two grandmas are going to be there and everything! Don’t worry, Christina! I will be there for the important stuff – cake testing!

Hey, that kind of rhymed!

• Do you think running outside helps build your sense of cardinal direction? I sure think it does! I like to go on a lot of “exploratory” runs, so I make a point of paying attention to which direction I am going, so I know where I am (Okay, I also pay attention so I know when the wind will be at my back. If ever!).  I’ve noticed it just comes naturally now, to note this when I am running, or whenever I am outside.
• Thanks for your sincere and thoughtful comments on my post yesterday. I am very hesitant to talk (or read) about weight loss. Your comments reassured me it’s okay to, from time to time. And it felt better to know some people could relate. And just writing about it made it better! I was warm enough last night and slept until my alarm went off!

Other Random Thoughts Thursday Posts: XXXIII, XXXII, XXXI, XXX, XXIX, XVIII, XXVII, XXVI, XXV, XXIV, XXIII, XXII, XXI, XX, XIX, XVIII, XVII, XVI, XV, XIV, XIII, XII, XI, X, IX, VIII, VII, VI, V, IV, III, II, I.

Comments (41)

By kilax, February 27, 2013 6:20 am

Body equilibrium actually refers to physical balance, but I’m using it in this post to mean rest/balance of body functions due to all systems acting in equal/opposing actions. Or in my case, that they don’t seem to be.

You know what really irks me for some reason? The humble brag / fishing for compliments. Like… if you are going to celebrate and be proud of you, just do it! There is nothing wrong with that! We don’t have to act like we are not proud of who we are, no matter where we are in our journey. Don’t be coy about it.

Sigh. Deep breath.

I preface this post by saying that because I wanted to talk about some physical body changes I am noticing, but need you to know I am not fishing for compliments / humble bragging.

So. I’ve lost a few pounds. For the point of this discussion, I will mention that the amount is around 13%. The weight’s coming off at a normal rate, but I feel like my body’s equilibrium is not keeping up:

• I can’t seem to regulate my body temperature like I used to. I used to turn in to the “human radiator” (as coined by Steven) at night. Not anymore. At times, I can’t seem to warm up. My hands get really cold on runs. I’m wondering if this will get better as we get warmer temps.
• I have so much energy I can’t sleep many nights. I am too excited to start my day. I got up just before 3:00 am yesterday. I couldn’t rest. I think I might try that ZzzQuil stuff Xaarlin was talking about.

• I’ve been getting more bruises. Hopefully that is just me being clumsy with the kettlebell. Hopefully this isn’t a “new” thing. I had a picture of one but deleted it. You don’t need to see that, ha ha.
• I don’t get to go #2 every day anymore! This is really annoying. It used to be like clockwork every morning. Not so much anymore. But I also don’t have “emergencies” on runs anymore, so that is good!

I’m not super worried about most of these things. I’ve actually been feeling fabulous, so these are just little nuisances. I am hoping, if I ever get to a stable body weight, whatever that is for me, that these things work themselves out. But I wanted to ask:

Has your body’s equilibrium ever gone all out of whack? What made it return to normal?

I should mention, I have increased my running mileage too, so that could also be affecting all this – thermoregulation off since I’m outside so much / can’t sleep because I’m overtraining / etc.

P.S. Please don’t suggest this is a thyroid thing. Ha ha ha.

Comments (17)

By kilax, February 26, 2013 11:55 am

Ahh, double posts two days in a row! I’M HYPER!!!

I stumbled across this article (pdf here) yesterday about the effect smiling has on your health. I thought the article was just going to say how forcing yourself to smile makes you happier. But! It was much more interesting than that!

Thanks for the grumpy cat pic rec, Anne! Image from here.

First of all, the article mentioned a runner who says smiling helps them feel less tired/stressed during their long runs! Funny to me, since I always try to smile when I am running – but for a different reason – so people who see me think I’m a happy runner (I am!) and think running is fun*.

Secondly, the article also said if you smile after a stressful event, your elevated heart rate will decline faster. Some researchers think only a genuine** smile causes health benefits, though, compared to a  fake*** smile.

Thirdly, “Studies have found that the intensity of a person’s smile can help predict life satisfaction over time and even longevity.” But they are not sure if the smiling reflects your happiness level, contributes to it, or a little bit of both.  Researchers think “It’s probably bidirectional. People who smile more tend to elicit more positive connections with other people, which in turn [can] help make you happier and healthier.”

And the article ended with reminding people to smile genuinely at others – because it makes others happy – “when people see a smile, so-called mirror neurons fire in their brain and evoke a similar neural response as if they were smiling themselves.” The article even mentions a coaching service for more genuine smiling that involves your whole face and gets that twinkle going in your eyes!

Do you think you can tell the difference between a genuine and fake smile?

Anyway, I bastardized the article and left out some other cool nuggets of information, so please check it out for yourself.

I found this article super interesting, because I do believe smiling makes me happier. There have been times I am grumpy and smiling helps!!! I need to remember that! Like, most weekdays, hint hint, Kim.

Do you think smiling can make you feel happier/healthier? Are you smiley?

I  am super smiley cheese ball!

In focus and blurry smileys!

*Hmm, might be a stretch to think seeing me would make people think that. But let’s roll with it.
**Called ” ‘Duchenne smile,’ after the 19th century French neurologist who first described it.”
***Called ” ‘Pan Am’ smile after the polite expression the former airline’s stewardesses used to greet passengers.”

Comments (29)

By kilax, February 26, 2013 3:00 am

Lately I have been thinking about the ranking of my priorities… and that it might be a bit warped. 

My priorities
*This list is not all inclusive

1. My happiness
2. Exercise/Fitness
3. Relationships (spouse, friends, family)
4. Having fun
5. Blogging
6. My health
7. Being social
8. Travel
9. Work
10. My appearance
11. My house’s appearance
12. Any professional advancement in Architecture

The main concern is priority #2. I love to be active – it makes me feel fantastic, and directly meets priority #1. However, I sometimes worry that it gets in the way of priority #3. I try really hard to make sure I still account enough time in my schedule for my relationship with Steven, my friends, and family. I get up a few hours before Steven does to get workouts in. I double up social time with running. I try not to let it take over my life…

Yet, I know, based on how I act and think, that it it still too high of a priority for me. As happy as it makes me, for such a mediocre* athlete, I don’t need to spend as much time as I do thinking about exercise and exercising! I mean seriously, when I daydream? It’s about running. <— THAT IS NOT RIGHT. 

What would be on your list of priorities and how would it be ranked? Do you need to do any shuffling in the ranking?

Ha ha ha. I think my list could have some more shuffling done to it besides moving #3 before #2. It could also have some things added to it, like volunteering , our finances, or reading the newspaper. But I am just keeping it real over here…

(And I write about this, but doubt I will change anything. Oops. <— still keeping it real.)

I have another post coming up for you at lunch time today! I read this article I just had to share!

*Not a dig at myself! Just the truth! It’s not like I am elite or even that speedy! I am just an exercise addict. 

Comments (40)

By kilax, February 25, 2013 12:10 pm

Thanks for all your nice comments about yesterday’s 5K! Your support makes me smile!

For the past couple of years I have really struggled with a huge mood decline in the “spring” months – March, April and May. I have a few ideas what might have been causing it in the past – my love of winter, being anti-social at times, and family issues – but really, I think it’s just bizarro. 

You’d think earlier sunrises and promises of longer days would make me happier… ugh, not as much as I’d hope!

This year I am DETERMINED not to get all depressed and mopey this spring!

But I am already worried. I find myself dreading March 1. I am thinking, “No!!! I want more winter!” 

I’ve been searching for a few photos and find myself in the photo folders from those months last year and get this uncomfortable feeling in the pit of my stomach. W. T. F.

I just don’t get what my problem is. When everyone else is saying they are sick of winter, the darkness, and the cold, I am thinking about how I like it and find it oddly comforting. And how the uncertainty of spring – the swinging temps, awful winds, and strange weather patterns makes me bonkers.  

I don’t get me. 

Do you get seasonal blues? Which season? 

I am highly doubting it’s spring. I seem to be the only weirdo who gets like this. 

Any ideas to help me embrace spring?

Maybe focus on the birds singing, all the mud the green grass, the fun travel I have coming up, spring races… and keeping that social calendar going?

Comments (57)

By kilax, February 25, 2013 4:54 am

It’s silly, but the Frosty Footrace is the only race I get nervous for all year long. It’s in the town I live in, and I always try to race it* and place 1st in my age group. And there is usually a huge turnout from my running club. Not so much this year, which was odd. Anyway…

How often do you get nervous for races? All? None? Specific ones like me?

I used the relay last week to gauge where my speed was. I ran just under 8:00 minute miles at the relay, and decided to try for 7:30s at the 5K.

And like I said, I was nervous! This course has rolling hills, and it can be awful if it’s windy. Luckily, the wind behaved, the sun was out, and my only challenge was those damn hills. I was feeling more confident going in to it, especially after a nice warm up mile with Erin. 

I asked my club friend, Ed, if he would pace me for 7:30s. He invited me to run 7:00s with him. Ha ha ha! I decided just to keep him in my sights and ended up meeting up with him around the 1.5 mark. We ran until 2.5ish together. Running with him really helped me keep my speed up in those middle miles. My first two splits were 7:15 and 7:19. 

Ed and me

Then we hit the damn hill at 2.2. GAH! It gets me every year! My last mile was 7:50, with the last .1 at 6:47. Average pace was 7:26 (or 7:28? I ran .05 extra, oops). 

Overall time was 23:27 which means… A NEW PERSONAL RECORD (PR) by 26 seconds!!! Ahh! I wanted to PR the 5K last year and never did. I never thought it would happen this year. I am very pleased!!!

I’m also very pleased that I didn’t get the “I never want to race a 5K again” feeling during the race. I usually get that feeling every time I race a 5K. I mean, there were points I thought I might have a stomach emergency, but I never thought “I HATE THIS! Why do I do it?!” Woo hoo!

Erin had an awesome finish time too, and Queenie was second overall!

Queenie, Erin and me

Since they only have one overall winner (and no second or third), Queenie was first in our age group (AG), so I missed my first in AG goal, since she is way faster than me! Ha ha. But! I still got second in my AG!

After the awards ceremony, the three of us set off to get a few more miles in. Queenie joined us for four (then turned back) on the way back to my house. Where Erin and I were greeted with this. 

Heaven. Steven is such a sweetie to make us lunch and also come out and take all our pics!

This race left me feeling confident! Now I wonder what I could do on a flatter course. Hmm…

Just kidding. 

Maybe. 

*I “race” a very small amount of the races I do – most are just for fun!

Comments (13)

By kilax, February 24, 2013 3:20 pm

Highlight of the Week: I cannot name one highlight. I had such a fabulous week. I got to run all over NYC with my bestie, Gina. Then I ended the week with a great race with my bestie, Erin! I wish every week could be this awesome!!!

Monday | February 18, 2013: 12 m run
Loc: NYC West Side Highway, Temp: 17°/20°, Time: 1:53:49, Pace: 9:29 avg, Difficulty: easy, Felt: great
Tuesday | February 19, 2013: 3.15 m run (w/Gina)
Loc: Roosevelt Island, NYC, Temp: 44°, Time: 35:31, Pace: 11:14 avg, Difficulty: easy, Felt: a bit sluggish
Wednesday | February 20, 2013: 6.6 m run + 3.3 m run (w/Gina)
Loc: Astoria, Temp: 33°/31°, Time: 57:59, Pace: 8:47 avg, Difficulty: easy, Felt: good
Loc: Triborough Bridge, Temp: 32°, Time: 39:42, Pace: 12:03 avg, Difficulty: medium, Felt: good
Thursday | February 21, 2013: 8 m run
Loc: hood, Temp: 26°/26°, Time: 1:10:27, Pace: 8:48 avg, Difficulty: easy/medium, Felt: good/fast
Friday | February 22, 2013: strength
Strength: dumbbells, Difficulty: medium, Felt: good
Saturday | February 23, 2013: 2 m run (w/Anne) + 3 m run (w/Anne + Katie)
Loc: Chicago, Temp: 26°, Time: 24:21, Pace: 12:05 avg, Difficulty: easy, Felt: good
Loc: Chicago, Temp: 27°, Time: 37:12, Pace: 12:24 avg, Difficulty: easy, Felt: good
Sunday | February 24, 2013: 1 m warm-up (w/Erin) + Frosty Footrace 5K + 6.75 m run (w/Erin, 4 with Queenie)
Loc: Round Lake, Temp: 33°, Time: 23:27, Pace: 7:26 avg, Difficulty: medium/hard, Felt: like I was racing a 5K
Loc: Round Lake, Temp: 38°/38°, Time: 1:10:17, Pace: 10:25 avg, Difficulty: easy, Felt: the 5K

Notes:

• PLAN a rest day for next week. Ooo! A massage sounds nice too. 

Comments (24)

By kilax, February 23, 2013 10:39 pm

For about a month, the only “fun” reading I’ve been doing is blogs. The rest of my reading time is spent studying for a professional exam. At least an hour most days. Ideally more. I fell quite a bit behind while I was in NYC. Oops!

Data helps me study… by sitting on my notes.

This reminds me so much of college. No FUN reading! No magazines! No non-study material books! Minimal newspaper. Don’t glance at that new issue of Running Times! Maximize your reading time to study!

Ughhhhhh.

If you don’t see me commenting, please come rescue me from my other reading. 

Were/are you good at studying? How many times do you have to reread things for it to sink in?

Ugh, it’s an embarrassingly high amount of times for me – usually I read something three times to remember it, along with taking notes and doing practice quizzes. 

Comments (33)

By kilax, February 22, 2013 6:26 am

How do you share your calendar/schedule with your family… if at all?

Gosh, I swear I have asked this before! It’s a very interesting topic to me. I put a lot on my schedule and want Steven to know where I am and what I am doing. 

We have a dry erase board in our kitchen. I am the only one who uses it. Ha ha. 

So we rely on google calendar. We both are big google fans, and use google for work and personal use, so I have shared calendars that Steven can see – Exercise and Social Appointments. And we also send each other invites for appointments as well. Are we super dorky? Or do other people do this too?

Work items in light blue, exercise in dark blue, social appointments in red, regular appointments/reminders in yellow. 

Comments (35)

By kilax, February 21, 2013 6:16 am

This Random Thoughts Thursday is more of a cheat post… it’s actually mostly in the style of “Articles I am reading this week“!

• I’m back home after five days in NYC. I always have a hard time leaving, but this time was particularly hard, and I feel pretty weepy and sad. Do you ever get that feeling when you leave a place?

My little NYC buddy

• Have you ever had plantar fasciitis? Ugh, I have a few times, and in both feet (not a once though, thankfully). I thought this article (pdf here), saying there is no consensus on what causes it, was intriguing. Previously, it was believed that plantar fasciitis was chronic inflammation of the plantar fascia. “But when scientists actually biopsied fascia tissue from people with chronic plantar fasciitis, they did not find much if any inflammation.”  So now they actually think plantar fasciitis is caused by degeneration or weakening of the tissues, which means the “itis” should be dropped from the injury name, because the “itis” suffix means inflammation!  Interesting (maybe only to me…)!
• Hee hee hee, I am not on Twitter, but I thought this article about “happiest and saddest states according to Twitter” (pdf here) was amusing. Researchers analyzed thousands of tweets based on positive and negative words to determine which states were the happiest and saddest. What cracked me up was what words were on the list as happy and sad – I kind of want to see the whole list! Some sad words are “mad, hate, no, boo, smoke and jail, as well as a colorful and thorough assortment of expletives” and some happy words are “LOL and haha, as well as good, nice, sleep and wine, and food or beach related words,” LOL, indeed. The article really focused on how states with more expletives in their tweets were “sadder.” Is your state more happy or more sad (click the link to see the graph)?
• Here’s a fun work from home idea (pdf here) – a virtual assistant! “These skilled online helpers work from home or through outsourcing firms to handle a widening range of clients’ tasks, from scheduling a doctor’s appointment, managing meetings or cleaning out an email inbox, to finding the perfect hairdresser or pair of pants.” Do you think you could use a virtual assistant?
• And now, for one more bagel picture! Ha ha ha. You guys may have guessed that I love eating all the foodz in NYC. I went a bit overboard this trip. I guess one good thing about being home is getting back to my normal eats! And not that I couldn’t eat my “normal eats” in NYC – I could! I just choose to indulge… a bit too much. Ha ha.  

Other Random Thoughts Thursday Posts: XXXII, XXXI, XXX, XXIX, XVIII, XXVII, XXVI, XXV, XXIV, XXIII, XXII, XXI, XX, XIX, XVIII, XVII, XVI, XV, XIV, XIII, XII, XI, X, IX, VIII, VII, VI, V, IV, III, II, I.