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Running

March 28, 2010 in fitness

I started running at the point where I had lost about 65 pounds, which was June of 2008. I’m at an additional 30 pounds lost, and though I have not been running the whole time (probably about 8-10 months off), I’ve managed to stay in reasonable shape.

A few weeks ago, while in New York for a funeral, I picked up a new pair of running shoes, both to take part in some self-care, and to give me a reason to get rid of my battered Saucony’s, which were needing replacement. I got the award winning Brooks Adrenaline GTS 10. I was fitted for them at the Westchester Road Runner, which is a fantastic place to be fitted for a proper pair of running shoes. Right after purchasing the shoes, I did two days in a row of ambitious running. I say ambitious because I hadn’t been on a treadmill to run in months due to a calf injury (from sprinting) in November. I was achy, to say the least.

Flash forward to this past week. I woke up on this past Wednesday with an itch to run a 5K. I did the 5K in about 45 minutes, with about 10 minutes of that walking. On my route, I passed by a sign at the local Sons of Norway Lodge (did I mention I live in a Scandanavian neighborhood?) for a neighborhood fun run called the Leif to Leif 5K. I decided, since it was for the coming Saturday, to go ahead and do it. After all, I was just going to run anyway, right? It’s also hard not to be inspired by a friend of mine (and former gym buddy) who is undergoing a triathlon in Hawaii tomorrow. (GO EMILY GO!)

Yesterday, though I had a bit of a sore throat from seasonal post-nasal drip, I got up and out the door earlier than my usual and headed out to put in my registration and pick up my Norwegian flag. It wasn’t long before I was chatting with other people from the neighborhood, and after the race started, it wasn’t long before I realized that I was supposed to let myself keep a more relaxed pace. A few weeks of jogging does not lend well to sudden bursts of speed!

I was swiftly lagging behind as I left behind one Lief Erikson statue towards the other Leif Erikson up on the water. However, I was also in front of a few others, and managed to do the entire 5K in about 38 minutes, 7 minutes better than my time on Wednesday! After the run, there were complementary waffles with jam, and another bit of socialization, this time with a man who had lost 119 lbs, and this was his first time running ever.

It was great running socially, even if I wasn’t really paced with everyone else. The smiles were infectious, as was the completion as one of the organizers called to someone with a clipboard toward the end, “Twenty-three is coming!” Hey! That was me!

At my heaviest, I would avoid stepping up on curbs. Now I’m running, and it feels good. Sometimes it feels like I can out-run my troubles. So I’m going to keep on running.

Next up: Rock Riot Run 5K, to support the Eastside Domestic Violence Program, and the LIVESTRONG Challenge 5K, to benefit the Lance Armstrong Foundation. I’m raising donations for my LIVESTRONG Challenge 5K – but will not be posting it here (I don’t let my real-name and this blog mix. If you’re interested in making a donation, you can go to here and search for my first and last name and make your donation accordingly. If that fails, please contact me through the here and let me know that you’d like to make a donation.

I look forward to working my way up to a 10K. :)

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Runner’s World Update

September 16, 2009 in Media, deliberate consumption, fitness

I received my reply from Runner’s World regarding my subscription issue.

Thank you for contacting Runner’s World Magazine customer service. We have removed your name from our Preferred Subscriber list. Your subscription will no longer be automatically renewed. We apologize for any inconvenience this has caused. If you wish to subscribe or renew in the future, you will need to contact us.

Well, that’s a relief. Never knew I was a Preferred Subscriber, nor did I know I would be “automatically renewed.” Now I know. It will apparently take awhile for them to unsub me from all their product listings, but they promise to do so.

It’s a nice magazine to read at the gym, and I like the website for basic info. I don’t need to read it monthly, though, and I’m just not too fond of being overcharged (when I can get it cheaper through Amazon) or being “automatically renewed.”

See previously: Peeve of the Day: Runner’s World

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Peeve of the Day: Runner’s World

September 14, 2009 in Media, deliberate consumption, fitness | 1 comment

I subscribed to Runner’s World magazine last year, just a few months after I started a walk-jog program detailed in their Runner’s World Complete Book of Women’s Running. I found both the Runner’s World site and magazine useful at the time, however, my interest waned and by the time they started sending me offers to renew, I decided it wasn’t worth it.

Then came the endless emails from other Rodale properties in my in-box. Figuring they were an upstanding company, I dutifully clicked unsubscribe on the emails.

But the mails kept coming, and each time, less relevant to me than the last.

And imagine my surprise when I received the latest issue of Runner’s World, with my subscription continued to 2010…and then the bill stating:

Dear Laura ****,

We’re puzzled.

We renewed your subscription to RUNNER’S WORLD as requested.

We’ve sent 4 previous reminders.

But as of 09/02/09 our records show that we still have not recieved your payment of $21.94.

Well, Rodale – I’m puzzled, too! You see, I ignored your previous mails because I had no interest in renewing. Yet you sent me new issues anyway, and now a bill for Runner’s World for $9.94 more than if I bought it on Amazon. This, plus the unending spam in my in-box has made me wary to purchase any other Rodale products.

I’ve sent an email to their customer service, and am rather skeptical that I’ll hear back. One Step Ahead has yet to respond to my unsubscribe request, so who knows where this will lead.

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Running Outside

October 18, 2008 in fitness

Since I started this venture into the world of running, I’m happy to say that only a few times have I gone on a treadmill. Most of the time I’ve spent running around my neighborhood, and when I went to Chicago in July, around my friend’s neighborhood. Seattle’s slip into the rainy season has driven me to the treadmill at least twice, and when we recently visited family in NY, I was compelled to use the fitness center at the hotel we were staying at.

This morning, I’ve never been so grateful to run outdoors. My route takes me on a nice, mostly flat path, past well manicured gardens and beautiful, large houses. More important, though, it takes me past other people who are enjoying the morning by walking, jogging, running with their baby in a running stroller, or conversing with friends on the sidewalk. The neighborhood has an uncharacteristic quiet hum and the morning dew makes the smells of autumn sparkle as I pass the neighborhood P-Patch. The air is bracing when I initially step out, but by the end of my jog, I find my long-sleeved t-shirt is a little too warm.

Contrast this with stale damp air, blank walls, humming, thrumming equipment, silent TV’s flickering and if you’re so lucky as my last gym, throbbing dance music. Yeah. Easy contest to win, at least for me.

The problem comes with the fact that today was a mild autumn day. The sun was shining most of today, often brightly, and I wore my fleece unzipped a greater part of the day. I’ve purchased a light waterproof and breathable jacket for jogging (and unfortunately found a better one for half the price today), and a reflective cap for warmth and visibility. My problem is that it’s now time to shell out for some capris and pants, perhaps a vest, and some tech-tees that are long-sleeved. I rather shell out for these things than pay to use a treadmill through the winter, however, I can’t seem to find the will to fork over the $200 that would be required to gear myself up for my 3 days/week of jogging. My new venture into yoga has been blissfully less expensive, as that bare feet cost nothing, and when I’m practicing at home, my pajamas work great!

I look forward to heading out again tomorrow morning, on what will likely be an even quieter morning.

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Week 8 and beyond… the Fitness Update

August 27, 2008 in fitness

OK – sorry this is coming so late! I’ve been busy (well, as unemployed life goes) these past few weeks. The report on the running is that I’m not making the progress I wish I was – that is to say, I’m doing the “slow and steady” bit, and so far, am not improving time-wise, but seem to be improving endurance. This is great for the long haul, but I wish my success was instantaneous. The good news is that I’m still doing at least three sessions per week, and I’m mixing it up with some inclines because this is Seattle, long flat stretches just don’t come often, and get boring after awhile.

I’m considering entering a 5k fun run at the end of the month, just to give it a shot. I know that I might end up walking part of the way, but maybe I should just do it. I’ll consider it after next week.

So, what’s been keeping me so busy? Read the rest of this entry »

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