Also signed up for: Mysore workshop

For a long time now, I've wanted to learn to do Mysore-style Ashtanga classes. That's the one where you do it at your own pace, and the instructor "gives" you additional parts to the sequence as s/he feels you're ready. It rewards consistency and removes some of the unspoken competition that can occur in "called" yoga classes, while still providing for instructor correction so you progress and don't hurt yourself. I'd love to be better at my home yoga practice, but I'm just not that regular about it and I don't think I progress because I spend too much time trying to figure out the instructions (whether on video or just called out) and not enough time getting into the flow.

But, Mysore is kind of intimidating-sounding for the first time. I mean, when do I come into class. What will happen when I get there? How do I know how far to go? Will someone help me if I can't remember the Sanskrit names for the poses?

So I've signed up for a Mysore workshop, which I'm very excited about. I'm really looking forward to figuring this out, because nearly all the morning yoga around me is Mysore style, and morning exercise is much better for me.

In the ballot

Completely on a whim (again) I entered the Virgin London Marathon ballot. JogBlog, I will blame you if I'm running in the snow this winter. But I also blame my coworker, who ran this year's on basically no training - he only got a charity place about 2 months before the race and didn't run much before that, and his training consisted of running to and from work a few times a week (<8 miles each way). I offered him my Reading Half-Marathon place when I elected not to go, and he turned it down because he wanted to go drinking Saturday night. All this, and he ran in under 3 1/2 hours. Ah, to be 22 again (not that that would have helped me).

So, um, cross your fingers for me. Meanwhile I'm also contemplating going to California in October to run with my dad in his first half. I think it's in Napa. Anyone want to come?

This is why I run

I'm back from an amazing holiday in Vietnam, with pictures to come as soon as I finish editing them. But it was an amazing reminder of why I run, because it was an awesomely active vacation. We rode 200k on our bikes in 4 days through the Mekong Delta (it was hotter than anything, and humidity to match, and though I was very careful with the sun my arms are still peeling a little 2 weeks later, but seriously beautiful and fascinating) then went to Nha Trang and got certified to SCUBA. I am completely in love with this new activity, and want to go all the time now! Who wants to go diving? UK divers? But it was also a good reminder that I enjoy the active life.

In other news, my dad completed his first 5k this weekend on his way to a half-marathon this fall. I'm so proud of him!