Life

By kilax, November 11, 2017 7:54 am

(about my sense of humor)

Remember when you were a little kid, and wanted to say a bad word, but didn’t want to get in trouble, so you’d say one half, and your sibling would say the other?

“Shhhhhhhhhh…”

“itttttttttttttttttttt!”

No?

Just me?

On Friday, my brother-in-law responded to an email I sent him with “booo.” I hope he understands my response of “bsssss.” Ha ha ha ha. Ha.

I was looking for a photo of me and my younger brother, who I’d often do this with, but my box of old photos is MIA. So you get this photo of young Kim (too young to be saying bad words with her siblings) instead.

Running + Training

By kilax, November 10, 2017 8:29 am

Today is my eleven year runniversary – it’s eleven years since the day I started running!

The tattoo I got in 2014 to celebrate running

I started running to lose weight, like many do, and continued to do it for the enjoyment and stress release. Running is so ingrained in my life now – I feel grumpy if I don’t do it. Even if I am not racing, or running very long, far, or fast, I am still out there almost every day.

So let’s celebrate! I will be giving away an $11 Amazon giftcard (get it, a dollar for each year?) to one person! (not sponsored, this will be from my own cashola)

$11 Amazon Giftcard GIVEAWAY Rules

1. One reader will receive a prize.
2. REQUIRED to enter the giveaway: leave a comment telling me what you like to do for exercise.
3. BONUS extra entry (can be in same comment as required entry): tell me your favorite new film from 2017.  
4. This giveaway is open until 12:00 PM CST on Sunday November 12. I will announce the winners on Sunday November 12 (in the training recap post).
5. Random.org will pick the the winner.
6. This giveaway is open to all readers, in all locations.

Life, Rants, Running + Training

By kilax, November 9, 2017 6:28 am

• Two years ago, I wrote about the ponytail rule my middle school track coach had –
  he didn’t want to see any lateral sway in our ponytails when we ran. The implication was that it meant you were running inefficiently. In the comments, we couldn’t figure out WHY. Well, guess what I saw in an article in the November/December issue of Chicago Athlete? A somewhat explanation. Ha! I am still going to wear my hair in a bun and not worry about it though.

• Anyone who eats out with me knows that I LOVE Red Robin because they have a vegan and vegetarian burger option, and bottomless (!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!) fries. They are phasing out those burger options though, and replacing it with just one vegan* “ancient-grain-and-quinoa” (read: “trying to look healthy”) burger, and guess what? It’s gross (taste and texture). So gross I didn’t finish my burger last time I was there and I ALWAYS FINISH MY FOOD. Why Red Robin, why? Steven emailed them last month about the change and they sent some generic response. I emailed them again this week pleading they bring back the Boca burger (no response yet). That used to be my easy go to place with big groups of people, and I don’t think it will be anymore. Bummer.

• A local station started playing holiday music on Tuesday. Yay! I love holiday music, and it’s fun when the season is over, because then I get to hear all the new tunes I missed when they came out because I was listening to holiday music.
• Has anyone else started using the new google calendar? I like how it adds images to some of my events based on the title, like this one with swimming:

*They told us it was vegan on the phone, but we can’t confirm it on their website

Link to Random Thoughts Thursday 154

Life

By kilax, November 8, 2017 6:24 am

Gah, I am so sick of dreaming about work each night. It ranges from me doing my job, to someone showing up in the office who hasn’t in years, to messing up at a meeting in front of “important” people, to not even coming in because I missed my train. Stupid brain.

How about a break from the work dreams? We saw the new Thor movie this weekend – maybe a dream about Chris Hemsworth instead? Ha ha.

I understand I’m dreaming about work because I’m thinking about it more, but I just want a night of restful sleep! And that’s already a challenge with this guy and his sister sleeping on me…

Running + Training

By kilax, November 7, 2017 6:34 am

I haven’t considered running another marathon since my last one in December 2015. I was elated with how it went, and haven’t wanted to allocate the time to train for another one. <— lazy

But, man, if your favorite runner winning one of the World Major Marathons doesn’t inspire you to do something epic… then something might be wrong with you. Ha ha. Hmm…

That time xaarlin and I both had a random gift for each other – and it turned out to be the exact same thing – a pin of Amy Cragg catching Shalane Flanagan as she finished the 2016 Olympic Marathon Trials.

When xaarlin text me Sunday morning that Shalane Flanagan won the New York City Marathon, I immediately had tears of happiness (especially when I saw the photos and videos of Flanagan’s emotional finish). I’ve loved following Flanagan’s career, and have always rooted for her. To see her finally get this big win, on what she said would be her last race, was just amazing.

I selfishly hope she doesn’t retire though!

Life

By kilax, November 6, 2017 12:54 pm

Thanks, Data, for doing your tribal meow, on repeat, from another room on a different floor, while I was on the phone with my boss this morning.

I was about to mute the call to yell at him to shut up when my boss goes “is that a cat?”

Sigh. Yes, a cat who wants to play, and should play with his sister instead of making those horrible noises.

“I love cats!” she said.

Phew.

I’d really like to make a good impression on the person (her!) who might ask to extend my detail… maybe I should tell her two of the cats have Game of Thrones names – I know she’s a fan. Ha!

Running + Training

By kilax, November 5, 2017 5:49 pm

Highlight of the Week: Doing my speedwork on Thursday (and not putting off until the weekend)!

Monday | October 30, 2017: 4 m run (incl. 3 hill repeats) + teaching strength class
Loc: hood, Temp: 47°/48°, Time: 43:47, Pace: 10:56 avg, Difficulty: easy, Felt: annoyed with cars – what’s new?
Strength: Airex pads and plates, Difficulty: easy, Felt: decent
Tuesday | October 31, 2017: rest
Wednesday | November 1, 2017: 3 m run
Loc: Lakefront Trail, Temp: 42°/44°, Time: 30:32, Pace: 10:10 avg, Difficulty: easy, Felt: great
Thursday | November 2, 2017: 5 m run (incl. 6×400) + 5 m ride
Loc: hood, Temp: 47°/48°, Time: 53:30, Pace: 10:41 avg, Difficulty: easy/medium, Felt: like I could do exactly six repeats, ha
Indoor Ride Time: 19:46, Pace: 15.2 mph avg, Difficulty: easy, Felt: tired legs
Friday | November 3, 2017: teaching strength class + 1,008 yd swim + 4 m run
Strength: two dumbbells and BOSU, Difficulty: easy, Felt: good, but creaky in one hip
Loc: FitNation, Time: 22:12, Pace: 2:12 min/100 yd, Difficulty: easy, Felt: great
Loc: VP Woods, Temp: 43°/42°, Time: 43:31, Pace: 10:53 avg, Difficulty: easy, Felt: good, annoyed with all the “rock” stops
Saturday | November 4, 2017: teaching fitness boxing + 4 m run
Strength: whole body, gloves, and pads, Difficulty: easy (mostly observing), Felt: good
Loc: hood, Temp: 44°/45°, Time: 43:30, Pace: 10:52 avg, Difficulty: easy, Felt: good
Sunday | November 5, 2017: 12 m run
Loc: Lake Andrea/outlet mall loop, Temp: 46°/47°, Time: 2:20:10, Pace: 11:41 avg, Difficulty: easy, Felt: great

Notes:

• I renewed my yearly swim pass this week, so I need to make sure I go to the pool at least thirty-eight times by October 31st next year, to make it worth the cost (versus paying a drop in fee)!
• The temperature was in the high 40s with low winds Thursday so I headed out for a run in shorts and a tank and quickly realized I should have worn gloves too. Oops. I won’t make that mistake again – my hands were cold (for hours!) until I made a mug of cider and held it just to warm them up.
• I did all my weekly runs during lunch break this week. I like that a lot better than running after work. After work I just want to be laaaaazy.
• Boy, I woke up feeling sore Saturday (and Sunday) from the BOSU workout we did in strength class Friday morning! I like it when that happens – it means I worked something I haven’t in a while.
• Yay, I actually did a long run this week! And really enjoyed it. Sunday morning is a quiet time for runs and I enjoy not having to think about too much traffic.
• Monthly recap time. In October I ran 102.9 miles (24 runs), cycled 40 miles (4 indoor rides) and swam 2,520 yards (3 swims). My coldest run was 34°F and my warmest was 80°F. I taught 9 strength classes, and 2 fitness boxing class. I did 1 strength training session at home.

Link to Training Week 419

Life

By kilax, November 3, 2017 4:05 pm

I got this email from Auntie Anne’s on Wednesday and thought “WHAAAAAAAAAAAAAA THE NEW EMOJIS ARE OUT?! I NEED THAT PRETZEL.”

I did not pass go. I did not collect $200. I went straight to my settings and downloaded the new iOS.

And then I began happily using my new emojis, although, no one could see them, because no one else rushed to update and several friends don’t use an Apple phone anyway. That pretzel tho. So worth it.

While I was not passing go and not collecting $200, I was also not reading about how the new iOS would affect my phone (eh). There were quite a few changes I will get used to, and also, the phone seems a bit slow when I type. Sigh. That pretzel tho.

I also noticed I was getting less texts. Odd, right? I don’t use sound or vibrate on my phone (ever). To get text notifications, I have them pop up on my lock screen, and stay up. I see them whenever I look at my phone. My phone wasn’t doing that anymore. Huh.

So after two days, I looked at the settings, and realized when I upgraded it added new options for pop ups on the lock screen – temporary (they flash then go away) and persistent (they stay up). The phone automatically made them temporary, so I wasn’t seeing them, and wouldn’t notice I had texts until I opened my phone and saw the notification on the app. Oops.

I wasn’t ignoring you on purpose, I swear! That’s not my style. I respond to texts as quickly as I can!

I wonder what else it changed. Totally worth it for that pretzel tho.

Blogging, Life

By kilax, November 2, 2017 6:41 am

• In a meeting yesterday, we did an activity where everyone wrote their name on a piece of paper, then passed it around the table, and everyone else wrote one positive thing about that person. It was interesting to see what people said about me, since I’ve been in this group less than six weeks! Someone accidentally wrote “well dressed” on mine. Ha ha ha. Ha. Ha.

• Gmail users, do you have the “undo send” setting turned on? I do. I didn’t realize how much I rely on this feature until recently.  I was using a shared gmail inbox at work and hit send, then wanted to undo the send because I saw a typo. But I couldn’t, because that setting wasn’t turned on for that inbox! I also wanted to undo a send in yahoo mail the other day… I don’t think that’s even an option there. I suppose instead of relying on it I could do a better job proofreading (not just for exclamation points)??!?!
• Those of you using Garmin Connect – did you see you can add a photo to your workout entries now? I added some, and like how they show up in the mobile app (top of the screenshot below). A while ago, I read that Garmin wants Connect to be more of a social media platform. Adding the photo option must be part of that effort. I think it’s fun.

• Steven proposed a recurring blog series idea to me this week – “No F*cks Friday,” where I talk about something from my week or something the media is talking about that week, that I don’t give an eff about. Ha ha ha. Oh Steven. Maybe “IDGAF Friday”?

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• We don’t have cable or antenna at home (we have a ROKU and a few streaming subscriptions) so we get somewhat excited when we are traveling and have a chance to watch network/cable TV. Sad. Anyway. We were planning to watch some TV when we were in Iowa last weekend but we were too busy! And I was all pumped to watch the David S Pumpkins special. Ha ha ha.

Random Thoughts Thursday 153

Life

By kilax, November 1, 2017 5:35 am

Nearly the same picture as last year!

• Month two of my detail! I am currently in my sixth week and immensely enjoying it. My mood about work is better than it’s been in… years? I learn something new every day, and all of it helps me understand the organization I work for better. And I feel like I’m helping people! So, yay!
• And as fun as that all is, two four day weekends – Veterans Day Weekend and Thanksgiving Weekend. This is the first Friday after Thanksgiving I’ll have off in eight years, because I recently switched which Friday I get off.
• DST ending. I think I need that daylight in the morning to help me wake up. And I love dark evenings.
• Seeing the new Thor film!
• More fires:
  
• Christmas Holiday stuff – getting a tree and putting decorations up, ordering holiday cards, and listening to holiday music. The music starts today! Ooo, and continuing to burn fall candles!
• Finishing my own holiday wishlist, and present shopping for family! And some friends – I will ask who wants to exchange gifts and who’d rather like to do something together in lieu of gifts.
• Starting 5K training – I suppose I should start thinking about whether or not I am going to run Frosty at the end of February. I have a lot of work to do to get 5K ready!
• Colder weather meaning it’s not as grossly hot in the studio.
• Dates with friends!