More Swimming... Nothing More

OSN 2/25: 600m warm-up; 200m w/ fins; 12 x 25m fly drill; 4 x 75m back; 4 x 25m free descending; 4 x 75m breast; 4 x 25m free descending; 100m cool-down = 2050m

OSN 2/24: 600m warm-up; 200m w/ fins; 9 x 50m freestyle drill; 4 rounds of (25m fly, 50m back, 75m breast, 100m free) = 2250m

I've Missed My Jogger

As most of you know, I have two young children. When I trained for my 3 marathons - most of my running was done behind a double jogging stroller. As the kiddos have grown and gotten heavier, I have gotten more creative with finding childcare... not to mention that the kiddos don't much like going with me when it is miserably cold. I thereby have been running much less frequently than I did last year. I haven't lost my enthusiasm for running - but getting behind a jogger and pushing 100+ pounds is difficult. Particularly when the roads are slushy and it's nearly impossible in packed snow.

Imagine my delight when I came across an article about running with a stroller. Researchers from the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse recently tested the fitness benefits of pushing a stroller with 35 pounds of weight. They found that walking with a stroller at 3 miles per hour burned 18 percent more calories than regular walking, about 6.2 calories per minute over varied terrain. That puts it on par with mowing the lawn or bicycling at about 10 miles per hour. Walking uphill provided an even better workout: For every 2.5 percent increase in grade, heart rates increased by 12 beats per minute. Can anyone figure the math... running pace 9 min miles pushing 100+ pounds... how many calories is that?!

Today, I joined my girlfriend for my first jogger-run in probably 6 months. It was a bit of a struggle. My breathing was labored. We stopped frequently to adjust blankets, observe the river canyon, pick-up dropped mittens... all the while I would forget to hit the stop/start on my watch. I thereby don't have an accurate measure of our pace, but we did 4.25 miles in little less than an hour. It was an enjoyable morning. I've actually missed running my the kiddos... observing little things around the neighborhood. It was a nice morning. Thank you, K! :D

It's All About The Swim

I participated in my first swim meet today... a local COMA All-Comers Meet (the first of three in preparation for the Oregon Masters State Championships). I've competed in many track & field events in high school so I had a vague idea of what to expect. I wanted, though, to try several all-comers meets before participating in the state meet coming up in April - mostly to help determine which event I would be best suited.

We arrived early and I thereby had ample opportunity to warm-up. I did 600m warm-up (mixed stroke) and then got out to allow time to visit with the family before the meet started. I had signed up for the 200m freestyle and the 50m backstroke so I had a little time to wait before and after.

The freestyle went very well - though I was little delayed off the block. I'm not used to being able to go immediately after the gun (in this case it was a whistle). In a half-marathon or marathon, I typically stand there for a moment and slowly begin to jog... not getting to pace for a couple of minutes. Agonizing! Today, in the pool, the start was much different. I opted, too, to start from the deck, rather that the starting block - I'll have to practice that a little before next time. DH didn't realize I had brought the camera - so no pictures of the freestyle. Sweetie was cheering loudly though - I could here her! I finished in 3:26:17.

The 50m back was much different. Again, I was a little delayed off the start. I didn't get down as far as I would have liked and thus my body dolphin was a little shallow. I was still able to get about 1/3 way down before I surfaced though. My pull on the right side is off though, so I ended up hitting the divider. My turn stunk.... and I thereby didn't get much of a kick off the wall. I finished in 51:71.

OSN Sun 2/22: 600m warm-up; 200m free fast; 50m cool-down; 50m back fast; 50m cool-down = 950m

OSN Thr 2/19: 600m warm-up; 200m w/fins; 10 x 50m free drill; 5 x 150m (odds - free / evens - back) = 2050m

OSN Mon 2/16: 600m warm-up; 300m w/fins; 6 x 25m back drill; 300m free; 3 x 50m breast; 200m free; 5 x 50m back/breast; 100m free; 7 x 50m breast/free = 2400m

Mi Heroe, Salma Hayek

Have you seen this? What an amazing woman!!

ORN: 4 miles at ~34 minutes

More Random ??s

What curse word do you use the most? ~ S%*t

Do you own an iPod? ~ Yes, but I have loaned it to a friend. I prefer the birds & bees when I'm running.

Flip flops or sneakers? ~ I'm usually barefoot, but flip flops unless I'm running.

Would you rather take the picture or be in the picture? ~ I take the pictures but I don't mind being in them. I just usually have the camera.

Do any of your friends have children? ~ Just about all of them.

Has anyone ever called you lazy? ~ Quite the opposite.

Do you ever take medication to help you fall asleep faster? ~ With the exception of the steroids I used briefly to try and overcome Plantars Faciitis... I try to avoid medication of any kind. Even during the delivery of my children. I did not want meds. My wish wasn't fulfilled with my first born.

What CD is currently in your CD player? ~ Bach, a latin mix, Dirty Dancing sndtrx and a 'Learn Mandarin' disc.

Do you prefer regular or chocolate milk? ~ Generally 2% but I love chocolate after a long run. It is the perfect recovery drink.

Has anyone told you a secret this week? ~ Yes

Have you ever given someone a hickey? ~ "Uh, *pushing toe of my shoe in the dirt and looking around* uh, er, yes." (The pefect response, I had to copy it from my SIL.)

Who was the last person to call you? ~ Debbie

Do you think people talk about you behind your back? ~ Positive!

Did you watch cartoons as a child? ~ Who didn't?!

Are you shy around the opposite sex? ~ No. In fact I am more myself around men.

What movie do you know every line to? ~ The Polar Express

Do you own any band t-shirts? ~ Yes. Bon Jovi & Prince!

What is your favorite salad dressing? ~ Raspberry Vinegrette

Do you read for fun? ~ As much as possible.

Do you cry a lot? ~ I used to cry a lot. I actually don't cry much at all anymore, only during sad movies.

Who was the last person to text message you? ~ I seldom text... it was probably DH about 2 weeks ago.

Are you currently wanting any piercings or tattoos? ~ Yes, both in fact!

What is the weather like? ~ It has just started raining (but this won't be posted immediately).

Is sex before marriage wrong? ~ Who am I to judge? My motto is to do what is right for YOU.

When was the last time you slept on the floor? ~ I believe I was 22 weeks pregnant and on an overnight field trip to OMSI with my science club students. OMSI has an exhibit that showcases fetal development. My students insisted I sleep under the 22 week fetus!

How many hours of sleep do you need to function? ~ Usually around 8 but I am known to frequently stay up bloggin/scrapbooking/reading and can be get by with much less (but I only do this 1-2x a month).

Do you pay attention to calories on the back of packages? ~ Yes though I pay more attention to where the product comes from. I aim to buy more locally. Products produced more sustainably.

How old will you be turning on your next birthday? ~ 37

Are you picky about spelling and grammar? ~ Yes!

Do you get along better with the same or opposite sex? ~ Opposite. I've only recently been able to trust women and develop lasting friendships. I've been burned too many times.

Do you enjoy giving hugs? ~ Love 'em and if I were in a different culture, a little kiss on the cheek.

Do you hover over the toilet in public bathrooms? ~ Hover!

Have you ever had two dates in one night? ~ No

Have you ever been cow-tipping or snipe-hunting? ~ No

Have you ever had a poem or a song written about you? ~ No, I haven't had a poem or song written about me but I have been serenaded. *thump thump*

If you had to choose to not ever wash your bed sheets again or not wash your bath towel ever again, which would you rather not wash? ~ ICK! It isn't even a question, my bath towel.

What was your childhood nickname? ~ Evil Kaneval (if you know my real name, you can probably guess why); my dad called me 'legs'; I chose Makita myself; most recently some friends call me Martha Stewart.

What's the weirdest thing you have done while driving? ~ ummmm, nothing too strange, applied make-up ?

Have you ever bitten your toenails? ~ On occasion as a child, I think. Thankfully this memory has been blocked.

Have you ever sniffed an animal's butt? ~ Absolutely not!

How often to you clean your ears? ~ Daily

Have you ever been drunk at work? ~ No

Have you ever found your lover's brother or sister more attractive? ~ Not in the least. Though I do admire brother #2s track record. Speedy!

Yuck and Intrigue

I feel completely crummy today. Due to a headache, cough and queezy tummy, we opted to stay at home today - thereby canceling my usual Thursday swim, Sweetie's Mandarin class and Taekwondo [I hate missing activities I've paid for!]. I spent most of the day curled up with a book (I finished!) and trying to avoid anything more physical than typing. Of course, those with young children know how nearly impossible that feat can be.

I did want to share a little news, however. I was recently appointed the title of Sports & Recreation Director for our local Sons of Norway lodge. I am both delighted and a little overwhelmed. I hardly know the other members - we've been going regularly for only a few months.
Yet they assured me that I am qualified and that my youth (hee hee) and enthusiasm will go far. They were impressed that my kiddos and I have earned several sports medallions (Buddy - bronze; Sweetie - all 4: bronze, silver, gold & enamel; and myself - the first 3, enamel will be complete soon). We'll be awarded our pins later this month at the monthly dinner social. I haven't told the kiddos yet - I wanted it to be a surprise. :D

I downloaded the leadership guide earlier today and was encouraged with several ideas for lodge activities / gatherings. I'll need to sit down with the Social Committee and put some things down on paper. Until then, does anyone have ideas or suggestions? I was thinking of coordinating a fun run but I have no clue what legal hoops I may need to jump to do something like that.

Common Merganser ~ Nature Study

Long absent from my regular postings...

Nature Study on the Run

I ran along the river trail this afternoon - my favorite course in Central Oregon for the proximity to the river and thereby the wildlife. It is also a rather hilly course and in some sections, the footing is a little tricky so it adds a bit of a challenge.

At the four mile mark, just after I had made the turn at Farewell Bend, I came across two birdwatchers observing a flock of ducks in the river. Two I recognized immediately as an assumedly mated pair of Mallards. The others I was not familiar with so I inquired and being allowed to borrow their scope, was informed the brown headed ones were Mergansers.
From our distance, there was one other duck that had a dark head and back in the same color pattern as the two pictured below. We assumed it was a different species... however, upon my return home and in my attempt to find more information about Mergansers in general, I now believe it too, is a Merganser. A large diving duck with a long thin bill, the Common Merganser is found along large lakes and rivers across the northern hemisphere. The long bill has toothy projections along its edges that help the duck hold onto its slippery fish prey. Males are boldly patterned with white sides, black back, and green head. Females are dull gray with reddish head and white chin.

They nest in tree cavities, either those made by large woodpeckers or from where a limb broke off. They will also use a nest box. Infrequently a Common Merganser might make its nest in a rock crevice, a hole in the ground, a hollow log, in an old building, or in a chimney.

The young leave their nest hole within a day or so of hatching. The mother protects the chicks, but she does not feed them. They dive to catch all of their own food. They eat mostly aquatic insects at first, but switch over to fish when they are about 12 days old.

ORN: 6.4 miles at average pace of 10:25 min mile (several large stretches of ice whereby I opted to walk as I didn't bring the Trax).

OSN: 400m warm-up; 250m w/ fins; 4 rounds of 4 x 25m IM speed work; 10 x 75m freestyle drill (50m fists/25m palm); 6 x 25m freestyle fast (w/fins); 50m cool-down = 2000m

What Have I Done Lately?

To satisfy my curiosity?

I have been reading a lot lately. So many different avenues... Most recently I have finished Stubborn Twig - which has led to an interest in learning more about WWII and Asian Culture (predominately Chinese in an effort to cultivate my daughter's passion). I am currently reading Animal Vegetable Miracle - and though I am only about 2/3 complete, I am already questioning my own food choices. We will definitely be making some changes and eating more locally. I'll be posting more on this soon.

I have also recently come across a great website that enables readers to document the bunny trails or as they call them, Reading Trails, that we tend to follow as one book leads us to another and so on. I have started 2 such trails and look forward to adding to them as I proceed in my self-education. I encourage you to check it out. Here are the links to mine: Asian Culture & Immigration and Mindful Healthy Eating.

To feed my passions?

I have many passions. They ebb and flow. I teach. I read. I run. I swim. I write. I blog. I scrapbook. I learn. I grow.

To express my creativity?

I continue to express myself creatively by scrapbooking. However, I haven't done much scrapbooking lately - I am very behind. My girlfriend and I are embarking on another challenge - whom ever scrapbooks the least pages buys the other lunch! We start on the 10th - I'm looking forward to the challenge as it always motivates me.

The kiddos and I do a lot of art projects, however. We recently explored a new medium - polymer clay. It is time consuming but very fun. I look forward to doing more.

Additionally, I hope to express myself more in the kitchen - inspired by Barbara Kingsolver's Animal Vegetable Miracle. I would like give cheese making a try - as well as increase my forte with canning my own fruits and vegetables. My mother did a lot of canning when I was little. I have a pressure canner - I just need to jump in. :)

To put my skills to the test?

On Saturday, I participated in the 1-Hour Postal Swim Challenge. How far can you swim in 1 hour? A few months ago, I did a similar challenge (3000 Postal - Check!) and I completed it in just under an hour. Therefore, my goal for the 1-Hour was to hit at least 3200 yards. As we were out of town this past weekend, I wasn't able to swim in my regular pool... with my friends and teammates. Rather, I swam at a different pool - outdoors no less - with another team.
DH came along to time me and record my splits. It was great to have him along - an opportunity to see me swim competitively (with myself, anyway), to swim for health and fitness rather than for recreation at the lake or beach.

Unlike my home pool, I was able to see the clock each time I took a breath on the south side. This was certainly helpful in some respects... at the 30 min mark I asked, "What's my distance?" He replied, "1600." I then knew that if I maintained pace, I would hit my mark. The last minute or so, I gave it my all - really pushing to finish the last 50+... I touched the wall and stopped. Everyone yelled, "You got 5 seconds! Keep going!" I was out of steam. I thereby backstroked/breaststroked until I heard the cowbells ring.

I was delighted when DH told me I had just made it! Phew!

~~~

We ask this of our children, but what about ourselves?

Are we living the lifestyles we want for our children?

And if not, then what are we telling them with our example?

Your thoughts?