Vietnam, part 0.1

Even though Meg and I keep a pretty good travel journal when we travel, we haven't put any of it online from our Vietnam trip yet. And I always get shit from people about the low number of photographs I put out there - but honestly it's intentional as I fully subscribe to the belief that "the difference between professional photographers and amateurs is that the former show fewer photgraphs." (OK, I can't remember the exact quote or who said it, but you get the idea.)

Anyway, we'll put some stories up soon but we had an amazing active vacation, and a few photos, with more to come, are here.

No time but an ORN

Running to a meeting (in NYC) but before I forget wanted to write today's Obligatory Running Note - 4.5 miles, 1 hour. 3 1-mile repeats (sort of). Week 1, Day 1 of 100 pushups. Maxed out at 4.

Local flavor

So, I'm in NYC this weekend (got to be here for work next week, wanted to visit with friends). I went for a run yesterday morning, but I really couldn't get into it. I walked rather more than I should have, wishing I had a book to listen to. On the way back, I was following a couple of guys and letting them pace me, which was awesome - when I started following them they were running my nice slow pace but slowly picked it up and I stayed with them for a couple of miles. It got me excited about the marathon; here's hoping there's someone planning a 5-5:30 marathon to run with me! I ended up running for about an hour and a half - not too bad.

Then we went out to sushi with a bunch of friends at our favorite place. We used to live near by and got to know these guys. Then we moved to another neighborhood, and didn't go as regularly, but they always remember us. They remembered that we'd moved to London when we came in last night, and asked how things are going. Meg told them about my marathon plans, and they came out after we left and gave me a T-shirt for the marathon! I won't wear it to run in but will bring it to wear right after and will take a picture and send it to them.

My friend ran the London marathon this morning in 5:27. Congrats, Anna!

Week 7, Day 4: The best laid plans...

I planned to run 12 or so miles yesterday, but thanks to the suprise extra snow that started falling at 2am Thursday/Friday and didn't stop until around 5pm Friday, I bagged that plan in favor of a (hopefully) less snowy Saturday. When I went to buy new running shoes, there was a sale on hats and gloves, so I grabbed some. Saturday arrived clear and chilly. I pulled my running clothes out of my suitcase and discovered I'd only brought capri pants. Definitely glad I had my new hat and gloves. Then I discovered that Big G was out of batteries (again! Didn't I just charge it?) - this has got to stop. Luckily, NYC is kind of my home turf, so I have a pretty good idea how far things are and I'm not concerned about getting lost. Off into the cold go I. Big thank you to the folks from NYC Parks who, with 2 notable exceptions, had the East River Path completely clear. It took me a few miles to warm up, but after a while I relaxed into it and got into something of a groove. Around 30th St, I found myself 6 inches deep in icy water, and facing a dead end that meant I had to backtrack through the icy water. I forgot that the path goes up 1st Avenue here. I was feeling pretty good, running 4 songs and walking 1, though after about 1 minute I felt ready to run again - but I enforced the loger walk to ensure I'd make it through the whole run. While running up 1st Ave, I found myself behind a couple of cuties and I have to admit I sped up a bit to not get dusted by them, especially as we got back onto the path. They turned around at 79th, and I was on my own again. At 85th, the Parks Department fell down on the job again, and I was in the cold water again. Luckily the socks I was wearing were pretty wicking, and my feet didn't stay wet for long. Around here there was also a big hill, where the kids were all out sledding - pretty cute. I had intented to run to 120th, but at 96th my right IT band was starting to hurt, so I turned around and retraced my steps to my friend's apartment. Total distance: 10.7 miles. I can't wait to get back to London where it doesn't snow, and my sweetie is, and I can run with some regularity.

A pause to get my bearings

We went to Paris last weekend to meet some friends. I got up on Saturday morning intending to run 12 miles on the Champs-Elysees and next to the Seine. I've never been to Paris before, but I had my handy tracking device with me and thought I would be fine. But Meg rolled over and expressed concern for me and her fear that I would get lost, and that's a really hard thing to argue against considering my track record. So, off to the fitness centre. I really don't like the treadmill anymore, and this fitness centre wasn't great - no TVs, and the treadmill was facing a huge mirror, so I was looking at the prospect of 12 miles with nothing except my increasingly sweaty face and body to look at. After a half hour, I'd had enough. I slipped over to the bike and did another half hour, and called it a day. We walked and walked all over Paris, and I managed to come home without gaining weight, I think, so I'll call that one a draw. This week I've been traveling like a crazy person and completely exhausted, so much so that I'm having trouble remembering where I am and what day it is, so I have not been running at all. I'm off to NY for a short visit tonight, and since I have no real plans I'm going to run 12 miles tomorrow and a short run on Sunday before I come home, and get back on track next week.

Pause 1: I hate the treadmill

In the hotel. No reason I couldn't have run outside, except, well, I didn't really feel like it. Too much time on airplanes has tightened my calves. Off to the exercise room with me. 1/2 mile on the treadmill, and I'd had it. So I lifted weights instead. C'est la vie. Something is better than nothing, and as long as I do at least a little this week, and pick it up again next week, I'll be happy. Plus, Christmas at my in-laws = desire to run for the break.

Week 3, Day 1: running jetlagged 101

Ok, not really jetlagged - 1 hour time difference cerainly isn't enough. But entry level in running in a new country 7 hours after getting off the plane. A good warm-up for what's to come. Basel has the lovely Rhine flowing through it so I ran along it this morning. In the pre-dawn, its very quiet, but the big hotels along either side are gorgeously lit. A few other runners, but not as many as I usually see in London. Is it because I wasn't in the right place, or do the Swiss not run? I started out unhappy because the hotel didn't have a gym, so I had to run outside, in the dark, in an unfamiliar city, where the street signs are hard to decipher. But now I'm so glad - what a beautiful (if a bit chilly and drizzly) morning. It doesn't matter, indeed. 2.93 miles, 37:37:45.

Week so far: 2.93 miles, 37:38.