Intervals

I got nothing. My brain is empty of words to write. Intervals this morning.

Pre-dawn musings

So I'm up just past 6 this morning (+1) and outside for a run (+1). This makes me happy, even though it's Monday. Unlike those commercials for Reed or somesuch job site, I do not [heart] Mondays. Anyway. With no particular destination in mind, just an idea to run for roughly 40 minutes, I set off.

Weird thing I noticed today: the fishmongers are open before 7. The butchers are not. Are people really so much more likely to buy skate or turbot before breakfast? Where will the English get their Monday morning rashers?

Maybe that's just my neighborhood. I felt pretty self-righteous being outside before the sun was up. I'm full of myself that way. I ran the whole way - which is kind of a sad accomplishment since it was 5k in 38 minutes - but is also a good accomplishment considering my (lack of) running lately and how if I don't kick it into gear, JogBlog and her coterie of runners trailing her at Reading will school me in a way I don't even want to think about. And this post makes +1 more - so I'm 3 for 3 today and it's not even time for elevenses.

Got to add this: My dad has decided to run/walk a half marathon before he can start collecting Social Security (November 09). I'm so proud of him. Check him out on dailymile. (PS - that's my dog in the photo, and yes, they are kayaking. The dog has a lifevest.)

Double D Review: Sports Bra Round-up, part 1

Noelle asked if I'd ever found a sports bra with no bounce whatsoever. Unfortunately, I can't say that I have. But I have tried a lot, and have some thoughts for you.

First of all, I'm American by background. So most of what I know are American stores. (If any of my large-breasted English friends have suggestions, I'm all ears...or eyes...or whatever.)

I buy most of my sports bras from two places: Title Nine and Athleta. They carry some of the same styles. Title Nine annoyingly names theirs differently than the brand names.

OK, got to go to work...post to be updated later, I promise.

Here we go again. All prices listed are for my size (38DD, if you must know) when prices differ by size. I generally start, when looking for new bras (I'm still in search of The One), by looking at the sizes of women they use to model them (if it's modeled by a B-cup, I'm moving on) and knowing that, no matter what, I always want the most supportive ones they have - that's why I like Title Nine.

First up, the Glamourise Sport Bra, known at Title Nine as the Having-It-All Bra ($39), not sold by Athleta. I wrote about this one before, so I won't rehash it here. I'll just generally say I like this one. If you've been doing your workouts in your daytime underwires, you'll actually probably get along with this bra, though it doesn't have an underwire. If you've been using drug store pull-overs (even double-bagged), this will probably feel a little weird and grandma-ish, but you'll be so happy to not be bouncing all over with your uniboob that it's probably ok. Still, I'd say this is not an easy first step for those just coming to grips with their ta tas.

The Hallelujah Bra ($42), also not sold by Athleta. This one looks intriguing in the online catelog. Actually looks kinda similar to the one above. On further looking, I think it is the same one, with a higher price. This makes me mad at Title Nine. If anyone from T9 reads this, could you let us know what the difference between these two is?

The Frog Bra ($32), exclusive to T9. This one used to be my favourite, back in the day. It's the most "regular-sports-bra" looking one, so I recommend it to people who are changing in front of people (like collegiate sports) and don't want to be embarassed by more supportive bras that generally seem to look like grandma bras. However, I think that, over the years, this one has gotten less supportive or else I've gotten more bouncy, because it doesn't seem to hold me in as well as it once did. Still, it's pretty chafe free for me and it's a good first big-breasted-girl bra.

The Enell ($64), known as the Last Resort ($60) at T9 (used to be sold at Athleta but doesn't seem to be listed today). The bra that Oprah made famous. I haven't quite been able to get myself to try this one yet. I probably should, though.

The Helena bra by Moving Comfort, known as the 3-Reasons Support Bra at T9 ($45) or maybe the Marvel Bra ($58) and available for $58 at Athleta. I like this one, and will write a more detailed review later. It's pretty comfortable and highly adjustable, which is good for those of us who go up and down in size throughout the cycle.

Even I'm bored by now, so I'll come back to this for part 2 sometime later. Let me know what you've tried, what you like, what you want to know about, what you'll send me to try for free (!), etc.

Week of FAIL

Last week's non-running, non-writing extravaganza was brought to you by my hard-drinking NYC friends and too much working. I spent yesterday writing (yay!) and will probably do some more of that today, and will either run tonight or tomorrow morning. This morning when the alarm went off at 6 I'd only had about 3 hours of sleep courtesy Meg's snoring and was still completely groggy from the sleeping pill I had to take even to get that in the other room. I'm having a crabby day so I should really go for a run. I wish I had my stuff with me. Or, failing that, I wish I could crawl into a hole and go back to sleep.

2 points to the overdressed runner

After yesterday's day of FAIL (TM J-Money), I am, with this post, proud to say I'm remembering what it's like to be a runner/blogger. Didn't get up at 6 (0 points) but did manage to go for a run after work - despite kinda not being so excited about it - and now I'm crossing "writing" off the list. It wasn't my best run ever but that's to be expected when the last time I turned on the Garmin was the ill-fated half-marathon more than 2 months ago. My back was hurting me but, whatever, I did it. 10 minutes at whatever pace, 2x5 minutes at approx ~10min/mile (I think), and then about 10 min back to my office. Everything's a little estimated because sometime during the last 10 minutes I accidentally pressed stop and didn't notice. But I'm guessing I did it about the same on the way back as on the way out, maybe a little slower. Part of not having run much lately is that I had no idea how to dress for the weather - it's about 5C but I wore long pants, long sleeves, gloves, and a hat, and I was rather overdressed. But I am really happy to be running again - I feel great tonight.

Resolved

It's well past time to make NY Resolutions, and I don't really believe in them anyway as they usually last about 2 minutes before I give up on them and/or forget about them. But, here are some goals that I have for myself:
1. Wake up at 6 at least 5, and preferably 7, days per week. Not unrelated to:
2. Exercise in some form every day.
3. Write every day, whether it's blog (check for today!) or work on my fiction writing.

These goals are in place to help me maintain sanity. Joe's Goals (see badge in sidebar) keeps me honest. Each item is worth 1 point. When I get to 50, I get something good. New running gear, maybe? Something spiffy for my bike? Book? Your suggestions?

So, let's check in on today: woke up at 6, but went right back to sleep. No points.
Exercise: see above, though I brought my running gear so I can go after work; just have to decide if I want to do a patented Jog Blog Running Commute or just a quick jaunt near my office and come back for my things. But I have to get going if I'm going to run (and not shuffle) the Reading Half with everyone...
Writing: see blog post. 1 point. 45 left to go...

Please don't kick me out of the RBC

(RBC = running blogging community)

I have been, as I noted in my last post nearly 2 months ago, off the wagon a bit. I did go to my entire Ashtanga class, and I even took an incredibly over my head class with my sister when she was here visiting. But truth be told, I've been a bit of a lazy sloth lately. JogBlog has virtually yelled at me, which did have the desired effect of getting me to write something here. And I've signed up for the Reading half marathon and am anxious to start my training on Monday (yes, I know I should be further along than I am and shouldn't need to wait for a red letter day to get started, but I'm more successful if I do). And we're taking a bike trip through the Mekong Delta just after the half, so I have two reasons to be training this spring.

Part of the reason I haven't been a good runner-blogger-commentor lately has to do with some work stuff, which I've decided to just get over. Ha ha. Let's see how that goes, but I do intend to be better in the new year. I've missed you all.