Run/walk: 30 minutes
I got my latest cholesterol results yesterday -- 203, down from 230! Go me! In celebration, I went to the grocery store and bought: sushi (mm, sushi), smoked salmon (mm, salmon), ingredients for tabbouleh (healthy ingredients but a bit more olive oil than I like to consume on a daily basis), and a new running shirt! Yes, we have clothing at our Albertsons grocery store. Just a few pieces, but my eye was caught as I passed the deli by a brilliant melon-pink women's running shirt, so I went over to check them out. The almost-flourescent pink was tempting, but I don't really like the cap sleeves they put on women's shirts, or the snuggish fit. But they also had one brick-red large men's tee-shirt-style shirt for $9.99, so I bought that, and ran in it this morning, and I love it! It's so soft and slinky and floppy and red! It matches my new red shoes!
Ahem. Well, anyway, new shirt, cholesterol down, and I've started taking ginkgo biloba to help my chemo-shredded memory, and it seems to be working really well -- not only clearing away the brain fog, but increasing my energy, lifting my mood, and even draining my sinuses. I hope it's not just a temporary thing! Because, omg, I almost feel like a real person again!
Thursday, September 29, 2005
Tuesday, September 27, 2005
Running round and round in circles
Maintenance run: done
Check for $141.10 to AIDS Marathon-LA for September auctions: done
Mmm, endorphins...
Check for $141.10 to AIDS Marathon-LA for September auctions: done
Mmm, endorphins...
Sunday, September 25, 2005
Week 3: 5 Miles
For once, I actually went over to the park by my mom's and ran there, instead of just thinking about it. It went pretty well -- I stopped off at mom's first, and she drove us over to the park. She walked around the trail once and then sat in the picnic area watching the kids play baseball while I kept on going round and round and round.
I used the 2:3 run/walk ratio and ran for about an hour and twenty-five minutes total. I didn't count my loops around the trail, but it was probably six or seven. I'd figured that the loop was around 0.8 mile, so five miles would be six loops and a bit. Anyway, five miles at 16 minutes per mile is 80 minutes, and I was out there for about 85 minutes, so that should have covered it.
Anyway, it was a good run.
I used the 2:3 run/walk ratio and ran for about an hour and twenty-five minutes total. I didn't count my loops around the trail, but it was probably six or seven. I'd figured that the loop was around 0.8 mile, so five miles would be six loops and a bit. Anyway, five miles at 16 minutes per mile is 80 minutes, and I was out there for about 85 minutes, so that should have covered it.
Anyway, it was a good run.
Friday, September 23, 2005
Maintenance 2
Run/walk: 30 minutes
Okay, that's done. Whew. Caught up for the week, now I can rest up for Sunday, and five miles. I felt stronger today than yesterday, after a good night's sleep.
My last five auctions closed, giving me a total of $141.10 for all the items I've sold this month. Not too bad. Of course, that doesn't count eBay and Paypal fees, and excess shipping charges for the early auctions that cost more to mail than I thought they would. If I were making tons of money, I'd deduct fees before handing over the money to the AIDS Marathon, but since I'll end up covering the quota myself anyway, I might as well go ahead and put those extra bucks in now.
Okay, that's done. Whew. Caught up for the week, now I can rest up for Sunday, and five miles. I felt stronger today than yesterday, after a good night's sleep.
My last five auctions closed, giving me a total of $141.10 for all the items I've sold this month. Not too bad. Of course, that doesn't count eBay and Paypal fees, and excess shipping charges for the early auctions that cost more to mail than I thought they would. If I were making tons of money, I'd deduct fees before handing over the money to the AIDS Marathon, but since I'll end up covering the quota myself anyway, I might as well go ahead and put those extra bucks in now.
Thursday, September 22, 2005
Maintenance 1
Run/walk: 30 minutes
This was my first chance to do my maintenance run this week -- I was in Utah Sunday through Tuesday, and then I was too busy and too tired to run yesterday. Today wasn't all that easy, either -- I had to go into Bakersfield this morning to get blood drawn for lab work, and I had to be fasting, so I didn't get a chance to run until after I got home, at around noon -- and I was still hungry and tired. I only did the 2:3 run/walk ratio, but I got it done.
I'll do my second run tomorrow, and then I'll have a day of rest before doing the five miles on Sunday.
eBay auctions are going well enough -- I've raised a little over $100 so far. But it's draining and time-consuming doing all the work to list and ship everything. My final five current auctions close today. I think I'll take a break for a week or so, and think about how I want to continue with my fundraising.
This was my first chance to do my maintenance run this week -- I was in Utah Sunday through Tuesday, and then I was too busy and too tired to run yesterday. Today wasn't all that easy, either -- I had to go into Bakersfield this morning to get blood drawn for lab work, and I had to be fasting, so I didn't get a chance to run until after I got home, at around noon -- and I was still hungry and tired. I only did the 2:3 run/walk ratio, but I got it done.
I'll do my second run tomorrow, and then I'll have a day of rest before doing the five miles on Sunday.
eBay auctions are going well enough -- I've raised a little over $100 so far. But it's draining and time-consuming doing all the work to list and ship everything. My final five current auctions close today. I think I'll take a break for a week or so, and think about how I want to continue with my fundraising.
Saturday, September 17, 2005
Week 2: 4 miles
I was going to go into town and run in the park near my mom's house, but decided after all that I had too much to do today, so I just ran around my house for an hour and five minutes. I can't be sure I did exactly four miles, but I did 16 min/mile x 4 miles = 64 minutes, which is what they recommend when we don't have a marked-off course to run.
I used the 2:3 run/walk ratio as recommended, and it was a nice, easy run. I feel better about being able to keep up with the training now. I'm going slower than I wanted to, but I'm going the distance.
I used the 2:3 run/walk ratio as recommended, and it was a nice, easy run. I feel better about being able to keep up with the training now. I'm going slower than I wanted to, but I'm going the distance.
Thursday, September 15, 2005
Still running
Run/walk: 30 minutes
I did my maintenance run today, so I'm back on track. I'm glad that I've been able to keep it up, even when the will is weak. I haven't missed a run yet. Go me!
I finally posted about the AIDS Marathon in my lj, and got some encouragement there, so that makes me feel better. I haven't quite crawled out of my hole yet, but I think I've got my fingers over the edge.
I did my maintenance run today, so I'm back on track. I'm glad that I've been able to keep it up, even when the will is weak. I haven't missed a run yet. Go me!
I finally posted about the AIDS Marathon in my lj, and got some encouragement there, so that makes me feel better. I haven't quite crawled out of my hole yet, but I think I've got my fingers over the edge.
Wednesday, September 14, 2005
Maintaining the maintenance
Run/walk: 30 minutes
I didn't run yesterday -- I was too depressed, and there were too many other things going on. I'm still depressed today, but I ran anyway, using a 2:2 run/walk ratio, and it was (unsurprisingly) less tiring than the 3:2 I've been using.
I have considered giving up the marathon, but I'm trying not to. As my mom pointed out, I still need to exercise, whether I'm training for a marathon or not, so keeping up the three-times-a-week runs is still a good idea. And I might as well try to stick to the marathon training schedule for now, using the recommended run/walk ratio, and see how it goes.
If I were doing my usual Sunday long run this week, I'd just shift my schedule by one day, and do my second mid-week run on Friday, but I'm heading out of town on Sunday and must do my four-miler on Saturday, so I'll just go ahead and do my second run tomorrow. Doing them two days in a row isn't ideal, but it should be okay.
eBay auctions are going reasonably well. Out of the first ten auctions, I've sold five things, gotten paid for and mailed three, and relisted the five that didn't sell. I've also made two Amazon.com Marketplace sales. I'm going to add five more Yu-Gi-Oh! card listings today. I'm going to list my 1st Edition Ultimate Rare Sacred Phoenix of Nepthys -- that should bring in some bucks.
I didn't run yesterday -- I was too depressed, and there were too many other things going on. I'm still depressed today, but I ran anyway, using a 2:2 run/walk ratio, and it was (unsurprisingly) less tiring than the 3:2 I've been using.
I have considered giving up the marathon, but I'm trying not to. As my mom pointed out, I still need to exercise, whether I'm training for a marathon or not, so keeping up the three-times-a-week runs is still a good idea. And I might as well try to stick to the marathon training schedule for now, using the recommended run/walk ratio, and see how it goes.
If I were doing my usual Sunday long run this week, I'd just shift my schedule by one day, and do my second mid-week run on Friday, but I'm heading out of town on Sunday and must do my four-miler on Saturday, so I'll just go ahead and do my second run tomorrow. Doing them two days in a row isn't ideal, but it should be okay.
eBay auctions are going reasonably well. Out of the first ten auctions, I've sold five things, gotten paid for and mailed three, and relisted the five that didn't sell. I've also made two Amazon.com Marketplace sales. I'm going to add five more Yu-Gi-Oh! card listings today. I'm going to list my 1st Edition Ultimate Rare Sacred Phoenix of Nepthys -- that should bring in some bucks.
Sunday, September 11, 2005
Week 1: 3 miles
Well, that... didn't go well.
I got everything all ready last night that I wanted to bring with me this morning. Laid out my clothes, filled my water bottle, put protein powder in a thermos ready to mix up.
Took half an allergy pill, because my head was all stuffed up from chopping weeds, and I had hopes it would help me sleep through till 5:00 am.
It didn't. I woke up around 2:30 am thinking, Is it time to get up yet? Is it time to get up yet? Is it time to get up yet?
All the way till 5:00 am, when it was time to get up. Aargh.
Still, I got up, fed the cats and fish and cleaned the cat boxes, stepped on Spot whom I couldn't see in the dark, packed up my stuff and headed out. The drive wasn't too bad, until I got to LA and started looking for the exits listed on the directions from the email. Passed Los Feliz because I wanted to get off right at Griffith Park -- only there was no Griffith Park exit. Went a good ten minutes out of my way and had to turn around and go back. Aha! There's a Griffith Park exit Northbound -- apparently, we don't think anyone will be coming to the run from the Southbound side. Still, I'd left early to make sure I'd have time for things like that, and I did finally arrive at the site while the announcements were still being made.
The run itself was disappointing. I'd hoped to get at least into the Christine Clark group -- 15 minutes miles -- which is where I trained on my first marathon, with no prior running whatsoever. I figured that, after training on my own for nearly six weeks, I should at least be back to zero -- but I wasn't. I ended up in the 16 minute mile group. And it was a hard run -- I never did hit my groove, and just kept getting tireder. I suppose I could blame it on the long drive, lack of sleep, and allergy pill (which always saps my energy), but I felt very let down. I didn't even do stretches or stay to talk to the coach, I just introduced myself to my pace group (two other women, neither of whom will be running Sundays regularly, so it's just as well if I train on my own) and headed home, exhausted and miserable.
Went straight back to bed when I did get home, and slept for a couple of hours. I'm still tired. I'm still discouraged.
But I'm not ready to give up yet. I do think I'll just stay home and do the runs on my own, at least for now -- getting up at 5 am and driving two hours each way is just too much. Maybe I'll cut back to a 2:2 run/walk ratio, instead of the 2:3 the 16-minute-milers are recommended. Or, what the heck, maybe I'll go ahead and do 2:3. The important thing is to do the training and finish the marathon, right? Not to improve my time, or to grind myself down with expectations.
And to raise some money for APLA. The first five of my auctions are closing today. The dress actually sold! Yay! And so did the Manhunter DVD -- two of the things I didn't think would sell, while the Cowboys & Indians magazine with the Viggo Mortensen article and the 6" Marik figure didn't sell. Oh well. I've got one more item to go, but I've already raised $14 today!
I've got ten things ready to list -- five more Yu-Gi-Oh! cards, and five pieces of jewelry donated by my mom, but I'm going to wait on listing them until Tuesday, because I don't want auctions closing while I'm in Utah.
I got everything all ready last night that I wanted to bring with me this morning. Laid out my clothes, filled my water bottle, put protein powder in a thermos ready to mix up.
Took half an allergy pill, because my head was all stuffed up from chopping weeds, and I had hopes it would help me sleep through till 5:00 am.
It didn't. I woke up around 2:30 am thinking, Is it time to get up yet? Is it time to get up yet? Is it time to get up yet?
All the way till 5:00 am, when it was time to get up. Aargh.
Still, I got up, fed the cats and fish and cleaned the cat boxes, stepped on Spot whom I couldn't see in the dark, packed up my stuff and headed out. The drive wasn't too bad, until I got to LA and started looking for the exits listed on the directions from the email. Passed Los Feliz because I wanted to get off right at Griffith Park -- only there was no Griffith Park exit. Went a good ten minutes out of my way and had to turn around and go back. Aha! There's a Griffith Park exit Northbound -- apparently, we don't think anyone will be coming to the run from the Southbound side. Still, I'd left early to make sure I'd have time for things like that, and I did finally arrive at the site while the announcements were still being made.
The run itself was disappointing. I'd hoped to get at least into the Christine Clark group -- 15 minutes miles -- which is where I trained on my first marathon, with no prior running whatsoever. I figured that, after training on my own for nearly six weeks, I should at least be back to zero -- but I wasn't. I ended up in the 16 minute mile group. And it was a hard run -- I never did hit my groove, and just kept getting tireder. I suppose I could blame it on the long drive, lack of sleep, and allergy pill (which always saps my energy), but I felt very let down. I didn't even do stretches or stay to talk to the coach, I just introduced myself to my pace group (two other women, neither of whom will be running Sundays regularly, so it's just as well if I train on my own) and headed home, exhausted and miserable.
Went straight back to bed when I did get home, and slept for a couple of hours. I'm still tired. I'm still discouraged.
But I'm not ready to give up yet. I do think I'll just stay home and do the runs on my own, at least for now -- getting up at 5 am and driving two hours each way is just too much. Maybe I'll cut back to a 2:2 run/walk ratio, instead of the 2:3 the 16-minute-milers are recommended. Or, what the heck, maybe I'll go ahead and do 2:3. The important thing is to do the training and finish the marathon, right? Not to improve my time, or to grind myself down with expectations.
And to raise some money for APLA. The first five of my auctions are closing today. The dress actually sold! Yay! And so did the Manhunter DVD -- two of the things I didn't think would sell, while the Cowboys & Indians magazine with the Viggo Mortensen article and the 6" Marik figure didn't sell. Oh well. I've got one more item to go, but I've already raised $14 today!
I've got ten things ready to list -- five more Yu-Gi-Oh! cards, and five pieces of jewelry donated by my mom, but I'm going to wait on listing them until Tuesday, because I don't want auctions closing while I'm in Utah.
Thursday, September 08, 2005
Week 6 Prep, Run 2
Run/walk: 30 minutesThis is the last time I'll be writing "Prep" in my title! Starting Sunday, it will be the Real Thing -- Marathon Training, Week 1! Eep!
I still haven't got my training materials in the mail, but I did get an email from the AIDS Marathon with times and locations and directions for the timing run this weekend, so I'm okay there. The run will start at 8 am, as the runs did in SF, so I'll be getting up at the crack of dawn (or 5 am, whichever comes first) so I can leave by 5:30 am to get there. It should only take two hours, but since it's my first trip, I want to allow some extra time to make sure I can find it and park and get to the meeting area and such on time.
And, I have new running shoes! I have new red running shoes! They're Nike Air Shox, and I love them to pieces. I went to the Antelope Valley Mall in Palmdale with my mom yesterday -- it's way bigger than the Bakersfield mall -- and found these shoes at Copeland Sports, for only $80. I'd already decided I wanted Nikes -- my very favorite pair of running shoes of all the ones I've worn were Nike Air Bravermans -- and these are even better. They've got little shock absorbers in the heels! and air soles! and soft, stretchy, airy uppers! and no tongue to slip and slide and pinch! I wore them on my run this morning, and they were great. Nice and comfy and stable. I should probably grab another pair just like them, to make sure I have a spare pair when these wear out.
Now to go add some more eBay listings. Three of the cards I listed have bids on them, so that's encouraging. My mom also offered to go through her place and donate various knick-knacks and things for me to sell, so that will help. too.
Happy red shoes!
Tuesday, September 06, 2005
Week 6 Prep, Run 1
Run/walk: 30 minutes
I'm starting to get nervous about the timing run this Sunday... I still haven't gotten my training materials, or a call back from the AIDS Marathon office, so I'm not sure about what time I have to be there. I'm assuming it's 8 am, like it was in San Francisco, but want to verify before I head down there. But there's still time. With the holiday yesterday, there wasn't any mail, and I'm not going into town today. I'm hoping my packet will be in my PO box tomorrow. If not, I'll call or email the office again.
I now have 10 items up on eBay, and a link to my About Me page in my sidebar. I listed 5 Yu-Gi-Oh! cards this morning. I have no bids on anything yet, but it's early yet. Everything's listed for 7 days. One item has three watchers -- a copy of Cowboys & Indians magazine with a Steve McQueen cover story. Heh. It was the one item I added as an afterthought, to replace the Saiyuki manga I was going to list, but decided not to after checking completed items and seeing that it's not selling, even for as low as $2.98.
I'm going to try to list 5 items every other day. Which means I need to find five more things, photograph or scan them, then pack them up and have them ready to go to the post office tomorrow to determine postage, so they'll be all ready to list on Thursday.
Selling stuff on eBay is hard work! I just hope I can make some money at it.
I'm starting to get nervous about the timing run this Sunday... I still haven't gotten my training materials, or a call back from the AIDS Marathon office, so I'm not sure about what time I have to be there. I'm assuming it's 8 am, like it was in San Francisco, but want to verify before I head down there. But there's still time. With the holiday yesterday, there wasn't any mail, and I'm not going into town today. I'm hoping my packet will be in my PO box tomorrow. If not, I'll call or email the office again.
I now have 10 items up on eBay, and a link to my About Me page in my sidebar. I listed 5 Yu-Gi-Oh! cards this morning. I have no bids on anything yet, but it's early yet. Everything's listed for 7 days. One item has three watchers -- a copy of Cowboys & Indians magazine with a Steve McQueen cover story. Heh. It was the one item I added as an afterthought, to replace the Saiyuki manga I was going to list, but decided not to after checking completed items and seeing that it's not selling, even for as low as $2.98.
I'm going to try to list 5 items every other day. Which means I need to find five more things, photograph or scan them, then pack them up and have them ready to go to the post office tomorrow to determine postage, so they'll be all ready to list on Thursday.
Selling stuff on eBay is hard work! I just hope I can make some money at it.
Sunday, September 04, 2005
Week 5 Prep, Run 3
Run/walk: 40 minutes
I decided not to go into town to run today, since gas is now around $3.25 a gallon, and I've been driving a lot this week already. So I just did my run around the house, as usual. I started out this morning feeling a bit depressed and overwhelmed by the situation with Katrina and all, and ended up slipping on some loose gravel sometime during my second interval and falling. I didn't get hurt, just some scrapes on my right arm and leg, so I just got up and kept running, and finished my run with no problems.
I now have one eBay auction up -- the red dress. I was a bit disappointed to find that eBay's rules have changed since my last AIDS Marathon -- we can no longer hold charity auctions without going through their charity program (which only benefits certain organizations, and requires a minimum $10 donation per auction, no matter how much the item sells for). Which doesn't mean I can't auction off items and donate the money to the AIDS Marathon, it just means I can't say so in the auction description. I deleted the About Me page I'd set up saying that I was having a charity auction and just listed the dress without mentioning the AIDS Marathon. I'll put up the other four items I've already got prepared today, and probably put up a modified About Me, saying I'm a runner participating in the AIDS Marathon, and linking to this blog, but without specifically saying that the proceeds of my auctions are going to the AIDS Marathon. That ought to be okay.
I've calculated that if I want to make $1000 on eBay auctions by the middle of November at an average of $5 per item, I'll need to list 200 items. That's... a lot of items. I guess I'd better get busy and dig up more stuff! And hope I can find some things that will go for more than $5....
I decided not to go into town to run today, since gas is now around $3.25 a gallon, and I've been driving a lot this week already. So I just did my run around the house, as usual. I started out this morning feeling a bit depressed and overwhelmed by the situation with Katrina and all, and ended up slipping on some loose gravel sometime during my second interval and falling. I didn't get hurt, just some scrapes on my right arm and leg, so I just got up and kept running, and finished my run with no problems.
I now have one eBay auction up -- the red dress. I was a bit disappointed to find that eBay's rules have changed since my last AIDS Marathon -- we can no longer hold charity auctions without going through their charity program (which only benefits certain organizations, and requires a minimum $10 donation per auction, no matter how much the item sells for). Which doesn't mean I can't auction off items and donate the money to the AIDS Marathon, it just means I can't say so in the auction description. I deleted the About Me page I'd set up saying that I was having a charity auction and just listed the dress without mentioning the AIDS Marathon. I'll put up the other four items I've already got prepared today, and probably put up a modified About Me, saying I'm a runner participating in the AIDS Marathon, and linking to this blog, but without specifically saying that the proceeds of my auctions are going to the AIDS Marathon. That ought to be okay.
I've calculated that if I want to make $1000 on eBay auctions by the middle of November at an average of $5 per item, I'll need to list 200 items. That's... a lot of items. I guess I'd better get busy and dig up more stuff! And hope I can find some things that will go for more than $5....
Friday, September 02, 2005
Week 5 Prep, Run 2
Run/walk: 30 minutes
I did my second run of the week today, Friday, instead of Thursday this week, because I had to get up early yesterday and go into Bakersfield for a doctor's appointment. I thought I might run in the afternoon when I got home, but I was tired and icky-feeling and decided to wait until today. I'm pleased that I managed to do it, because skipping runs when I get off my schedule is something I am prone to do. Go me!
I think I'll go into town on Sunday and do my 40 minute run at the park near my mom's house, just to check it out. I'll probably be doing a lot of my long runs there, when I don't drive down to LA to run with the group.
I finally called the AIDS Marathon office this morning and found out my runner number: 5121. Yay! Now I can get started on my fundraising. I'm considering selling some of my Yu-Gi-Oh! cards as part of my eBay sale. I've gotten five CRV Ultimate Rares that I can spare. Unfortunately none of them are the ones that bring in the big bucks, but I should be able to get at least the price of a booster pack for each of them.
I also left a message for the guy with the info at the AIDS Marathon office to call me back with the answers to a few other questions I had, so I'd better post this and get off the line so I can get his call.
I did my second run of the week today, Friday, instead of Thursday this week, because I had to get up early yesterday and go into Bakersfield for a doctor's appointment. I thought I might run in the afternoon when I got home, but I was tired and icky-feeling and decided to wait until today. I'm pleased that I managed to do it, because skipping runs when I get off my schedule is something I am prone to do. Go me!
I think I'll go into town on Sunday and do my 40 minute run at the park near my mom's house, just to check it out. I'll probably be doing a lot of my long runs there, when I don't drive down to LA to run with the group.
I finally called the AIDS Marathon office this morning and found out my runner number: 5121. Yay! Now I can get started on my fundraising. I'm considering selling some of my Yu-Gi-Oh! cards as part of my eBay sale. I've gotten five CRV Ultimate Rares that I can spare. Unfortunately none of them are the ones that bring in the big bucks, but I should be able to get at least the price of a booster pack for each of them.
I also left a message for the guy with the info at the AIDS Marathon office to call me back with the answers to a few other questions I had, so I'd better post this and get off the line so I can get his call.
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