Monday, June 28, 2010
P90X Update: Finally Reached "Week 4"
Push ups are easier (yay) but my calves have never been more tight (meh, fine). And though its taken me a month to complete the first 21 days of the program schedule (I had taken a liberal number of rest days), I gotta say that I feel that I've gotten through the toughest part. I'm patting myself on the back right now. Go me.
Friday, May 28, 2010
Running Update: Folly Beach, SC
Probably the funnest and most scenic races I've ever ran.
And as fun and wonderful as it was, I've decided to take a break from running to follow a new exercise regimen: P90X. The fad has reached me since my running buddies, Win and Cleo, convinced me that its difficult but awesome. So I'll give it a try.
And you know, "sometimes the hard thing and the right thing are the same thing," said Liz Lemon quoting a tea bag (God, I love 30 Rock).
Monday, April 12, 2010
Running update
Old news for some and new news for most—I ran a 10k. And it was delightful. Back in January my buddies from Richmond, VA convinced me to sign up for the Ukrops Monument 10K in our college campus, VCU. After contemplating for a few days, I signed up and never looked back. After some gruesome training for 2 months, I ran that thing in 01:01:36 (horrah!) which was my best timing ever. I don't think I've even ran this fast in high school, which is saying a lot.
Not only was it an accomplishing feat, but the run in itself was beautiful. Think of concrete, brick roads surrounded by historic, southern houses with giant porches, blooming dogwoods on a sunny saturday morning, giant monument statues of old civil war leaders that mark every roundabout you pass, and (lordy) the people. Imagine running with hundreds of people down
the same brick road as you all pass by cheerleaders, volunteers handing you cups of water and powerade, dozens of rock bands, and you look to your right and see a giant squirrel chasing a paper mache acorn, a tornado, and a man holding a washing machine. Next year perhaps i'll wear something more awesome than 3 shirts plus 2 pairs of pants (after all it was 36 degrees that morning).
And! The New York runners (Steph, Jacob, Francis, and I) got to see the sites and eat the food that is Richmond. Even with a short lived flat tired drama towards the end of the Richmond vacation, everything was a worthwhile adventure.
Sunday, January 10, 2010
Resolution 2010: post more than three blog posts this year.
It's possibly do-able.
Has there ever been a time when you've come across an old diary, read your entries (dear diary, i can't believe i got a B on that science test), and thought, "Man, I am so lame." Well, after neglecting my blog for nine months, looking at my last post, I'm thinking, "Man, I am so so so lame." But I guess that's my critical nature. By the way, I'm not going to hand write my blog anymore, what was I thinking?
Moving on, it's a new year. New me. New things. In New York. As an update on the resolutions from 2009, I did keep up with running, had a personal best at running 7 mph around April, had shin splints around May, took a break around June, read some articles on preventing running injuries around July (runnersworld.com is just awesome), started running again at 5/6 mph (after stretching and warming up in the midst of strength training my legs) around August. I currently run around a manageable pace (5.2 for two minutes switching to 5.7 for the next two minutes and then switching back). I never ran a half marathon (2009 resolution), but I'd like to start running 5k races (that's a 3.1 mile race and a 2010 resolution). I figured a realistic resolution was better than a somewhat real but not really resolution.
As for the resolution of working out regularly, I've accomplished that too. Lucille Roberts gym is my haven now on Mondays and Wednesdays. Treadmill running (to reinforce my running resolution) and yoga on Mondays has helped me make it a habit of anticipating the gym. Now that they have a belly dancing teacher, I've taken to belly dancing on Wednesdays which is quite exciting. I even bought a belly dancing skirt. So, we'll see how that goes. Maybe I'll update on that in the future (but maybe not).
Also, as I'm writing this blog entry, I just left my first bikram yoga session about 4 hours ago. If you ever want to feel hungover without drinking, this is the activity for you. I swear, within the first 20 minutes I looked like I was melting—there was just so much liquid dripping off of me—and i felt like fainting...while already laying down. Leaving the session, I felt like my head was cracked open—it hurt so much, and after trudging on home, I wasn't sure if i should eat or throw up. But yea, I'm getting my money's worth (10 sessions for $20) and it can only get better than this...hopefully. So as bad as it was and as bad as I still feel actually, I'm looking forward to the next session.
Other than taking advantage of New York (resolution #7 of 2009) of which I did a lot, I did not nurture my creativity, limit my addictions (ha!), or live simply (haha!). For some reason, after taking advantage of the activities of New York, those last two don't seem all that important to me anymore. Eh, we'll see how it goes this year, I would like nurture my creativity more often though. To the 4 people who are going to read this blog entry, any suggestions on how I could accomplish this?
Saturday, March 21, 2009
let's get creative.
edit: i didn't realize i could not make more than one link per picture of text. here is the miranda july link. and in case you didnt realize the picture of text was a link to keri smith's site, here it is again.
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Me but new and improved
In the spirit of my procrastination, I've decided to share with everyone the resolutions I've made for the year of 09. It may be an outdated topic for a blog considering that it's been 28 days since the new year began, however, as I implied earlier, I have a procrastinate-y spirit.
My Resolutions
1. To work out regularly (ie: Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays type of deal)
I've actually been doing a good job with this considering that I've learned to create a good habit by attaching it to a habit/ritual that I do everyday (or very often). As a ritual I leave work to get to my Astoria neighborhood around 6 every evening, and I've attached my gym going with this subway ride. It also helps that the gym is right there, right next to the subway station as I exit. I can't not go if its right there, I just can't.
But I don't just walk into the gym with my work clothes and New York-y boots. I pack my gym bag the night before, attaching that habit to the habit of brushing my teeth and readying myself for the manicky morning. Yes, I'd have to say this is my most successful episode of gym-going in a while. Not like that summer where I ran so much my knees turned to minced meat. It's always good to be moderate.
2. To be an active runner
Not like that summer where I ran so much my knees turned to minced meat. Definitely not.
Pacing, moderation, and knowing to give it a break is good on me and my knees. Leg lifts are good too.
3. To run a half marathon (to enforce resolution #2)
I told my roommate Stephanie of my serious-but-not-so-serious-but-if-you-want-to-do-it-too-i-think-might-start-taking-it-seriously dream of running a half marathon. She looked up a half marathon that we could train for, and she and I will push each other to run it in the summer. When spring arrives I hope to train in central park (it's 20 minutes of a train ride from where I live and I've only been there 3 times in 6 months. Why have I become this way? Wait for resolution #7)
4. To nurture my creativity (sing, dance, draw, sew, craft, scrapbook[yes, I used to make scrapbooks and they were a fun on going hobby of mine as a preteen], make t-shirts)
Stylesight is a wonderful first job outside of college land. Did I mention I can see the Empire State Building right out my window? My office used to be Tommy Hilfiger's showroom. Ralph Lauren's office is a few floors below. Could I be working in the same building that Rachel Green worked in? I'd like to think so. But anyways, I do a lot of photoshop but not a lot of brain storming. And brain storming was my thing in VCU. In college, I didn't develope a lot of skills with adobe tools, rather I explored my mind and limits to what a project could encompass. If you've seen my Mr. Suggs project, the goal of the project was just to create a timeline (one of the most open-ended project briefs ever! Thank you, Patrick Bell!).
5. Limit my addictions
When I wrote this down as one of my resolutions, I was thinking about coffee and my love-hate relationship with it. At the time I was drinking so much coffee that I could feel it in my heart. Literally. I was born with a heart murmur and consuming stimulants (ie: caffeine, sugar) is not a good idea. I've limited it down to one cup about every other day or so. I've tried making it a reward to my gym going. "If I had gone to the gym yesterday, then I can have a coffee today" is my statement in the morning sometimes. I actually forgot about that this week, so its a good thing I typed it down, able for the world to see. And perhaps for people to remind me.
Also, drinking too much alcohol is lame. I know because I fell down the escalators.
6. Live simply (minimize my materials)
I have too many things in my little room. Organization has its limits. Too bad I bought a dress for myself the other day. Damn Uniqlo and their comfortable yet fancy items.
7. Take advantage of New York
I live in New York and I believe that my pennypinching habits have inhibited me in the past from exploring places that I had wanted to explore and things I wanted to do. Or that people hadn't had the time to do things with me, or the money. In December I had a phone conversation with my college friend Laura, and we got to talking about Richmond and VCU and how we miss it. And I realized how much I had missed, not so much lovingly but literally. In Richmond, I missed out on the nightlife, restaurants, museums, and other places that were distinct place markers in the lives of VCU students living in the once capital of the Confederacy. I've never been to the Village, Edo's Squid, Panda Veg, Cafe 821, and that one spot next to Pla-za Art. Hell, I've only been to the medical campus a handful of times–mostly to pick up my old roommate Rae from work. The Richmond time has gone and passed and I must move on and learn. Well, my resolution is to take full advantage of the Big Apple regardless of crappy transportation, bitter and frigid weather, and frugality. I must acknowledge that saving money is good but you can't take it with you when you leave here. So spend a little to enjoy the little pleasures of a city life, and life itself. And I think I am. Here's a review:
Last weekend I went to a (free) James Jean exhibit (recommended by John, thanks!) with friends, had a cup cake break at Billy's which is somehow associated with Magnolia Cupcakes (but I now know are not all that great), explored the giant Macy's—for the bathroom, went shopping in Uniqlo, ate some terigold chicken (good but not as good as the korean fried chicken at..whats that place called?), drank at 3 different bars—2 in the st. marks place area and 1 in the lower east side (in short, I had fun at all of them), and finally ate at a 24 hour diner where i had soup and hot chocolate (it was cold that night, duh), and took a cab home for the first time from the city. $19 to get to Astoria all the way from Astor place—not bad. Best Saturday ever.
Plus, on Tuesday I tried out a revered hip hop dance class with my friend Tara at the Broadway Dance Center. Challenging as hell, but I know what I want now—to dance again. I'm going to another dance class on Saturday. Hope this one is easier.
I end this post with a picture of my resolutions hanging on my mirror so that I see them every morning.
My Resolutions
1. To work out regularly (ie: Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays type of deal)
I've actually been doing a good job with this considering that I've learned to create a good habit by attaching it to a habit/ritual that I do everyday (or very often). As a ritual I leave work to get to my Astoria neighborhood around 6 every evening, and I've attached my gym going with this subway ride. It also helps that the gym is right there, right next to the subway station as I exit. I can't not go if its right there, I just can't.
But I don't just walk into the gym with my work clothes and New York-y boots. I pack my gym bag the night before, attaching that habit to the habit of brushing my teeth and readying myself for the manicky morning. Yes, I'd have to say this is my most successful episode of gym-going in a while. Not like that summer where I ran so much my knees turned to minced meat. It's always good to be moderate.
2. To be an active runner
Not like that summer where I ran so much my knees turned to minced meat. Definitely not.
Pacing, moderation, and knowing to give it a break is good on me and my knees. Leg lifts are good too.
3. To run a half marathon (to enforce resolution #2)
I told my roommate Stephanie of my serious-but-not-so-serious-but-if-you-want-to-do-it-too-i-think-might-start-taking-it-seriously dream of running a half marathon. She looked up a half marathon that we could train for, and she and I will push each other to run it in the summer. When spring arrives I hope to train in central park (it's 20 minutes of a train ride from where I live and I've only been there 3 times in 6 months. Why have I become this way? Wait for resolution #7)
4. To nurture my creativity (sing, dance, draw, sew, craft, scrapbook[yes, I used to make scrapbooks and they were a fun on going hobby of mine as a preteen], make t-shirts)
Stylesight is a wonderful first job outside of college land. Did I mention I can see the Empire State Building right out my window? My office used to be Tommy Hilfiger's showroom. Ralph Lauren's office is a few floors below. Could I be working in the same building that Rachel Green worked in? I'd like to think so. But anyways, I do a lot of photoshop but not a lot of brain storming. And brain storming was my thing in VCU. In college, I didn't develope a lot of skills with adobe tools, rather I explored my mind and limits to what a project could encompass. If you've seen my Mr. Suggs project, the goal of the project was just to create a timeline (one of the most open-ended project briefs ever! Thank you, Patrick Bell!).
5. Limit my addictions
When I wrote this down as one of my resolutions, I was thinking about coffee and my love-hate relationship with it. At the time I was drinking so much coffee that I could feel it in my heart. Literally. I was born with a heart murmur and consuming stimulants (ie: caffeine, sugar) is not a good idea. I've limited it down to one cup about every other day or so. I've tried making it a reward to my gym going. "If I had gone to the gym yesterday, then I can have a coffee today" is my statement in the morning sometimes. I actually forgot about that this week, so its a good thing I typed it down, able for the world to see. And perhaps for people to remind me.
Also, drinking too much alcohol is lame. I know because I fell down the escalators.
6. Live simply (minimize my materials)
I have too many things in my little room. Organization has its limits. Too bad I bought a dress for myself the other day. Damn Uniqlo and their comfortable yet fancy items.
7. Take advantage of New York
I live in New York and I believe that my pennypinching habits have inhibited me in the past from exploring places that I had wanted to explore and things I wanted to do. Or that people hadn't had the time to do things with me, or the money. In December I had a phone conversation with my college friend Laura, and we got to talking about Richmond and VCU and how we miss it. And I realized how much I had missed, not so much lovingly but literally. In Richmond, I missed out on the nightlife, restaurants, museums, and other places that were distinct place markers in the lives of VCU students living in the once capital of the Confederacy. I've never been to the Village, Edo's Squid, Panda Veg, Cafe 821, and that one spot next to Pla-za Art. Hell, I've only been to the medical campus a handful of times–mostly to pick up my old roommate Rae from work. The Richmond time has gone and passed and I must move on and learn. Well, my resolution is to take full advantage of the Big Apple regardless of crappy transportation, bitter and frigid weather, and frugality. I must acknowledge that saving money is good but you can't take it with you when you leave here. So spend a little to enjoy the little pleasures of a city life, and life itself. And I think I am. Here's a review:
Last weekend I went to a (free) James Jean exhibit (recommended by John, thanks!) with friends, had a cup cake break at Billy's which is somehow associated with Magnolia Cupcakes (but I now know are not all that great), explored the giant Macy's—for the bathroom, went shopping in Uniqlo, ate some terigold chicken (good but not as good as the korean fried chicken at..whats that place called?), drank at 3 different bars—2 in the st. marks place area and 1 in the lower east side (in short, I had fun at all of them), and finally ate at a 24 hour diner where i had soup and hot chocolate (it was cold that night, duh), and took a cab home for the first time from the city. $19 to get to Astoria all the way from Astor place—not bad. Best Saturday ever.
Plus, on Tuesday I tried out a revered hip hop dance class with my friend Tara at the Broadway Dance Center. Challenging as hell, but I know what I want now—to dance again. I'm going to another dance class on Saturday. Hope this one is easier.
I end this post with a picture of my resolutions hanging on my mirror so that I see them every morning.
Sunday, January 11, 2009
The adventures of Karen!
So I've decided to update my blog a few highlights of this past weekend; one is this highest and lightest highlight of them all. Guess which!
Friday:
1. Finally got a library card and borrowed two books (Style 101–What Every Stylish Woman Should Know by the editors of In Style Magazine and Design Can Change Your Life by Extreme Makeover Home Edition's Ty Pennington), and to top it off, a recomenable dvd, Rocket Science by Jeffrey Blitz.
2. Took a tumble down a set of escalator stairs and realized how difficult it was to hold on to something stable on a moving staircase as I continued to tumble and tumble and tumble. And tumble.
Saturday:
3. Bought some bandaids.
4. Watched movies all day. Go Rocket Science and The Dark Knight!
5. Used my sewing machine for the first time in months–yet not for my own project, but to help out with Francis' hooded scarf projecct.
Sunday (today):
6. Purged my apartment of the mountain that was plastic bags growing inside the kitchen cabinets. Rite Aid's "recycle plastic bags" bin is now their new home.
7. Attempted to attend a free yoga class in Noho with Stephanie, my roommate. The teacher as absent therefore the class was canceled. Instead of working out, we went to Cafe Select and had some coffee, crescents with nutella, and chocolate bread. Yumm.
8. Called the wrong person today and had a very Seinfeld-like moment. My friend Elaine was supposed to meet us at yoga today, I call Elaine and tell her that class is canceled and get the response "what class? um okay." One hour later I realized I called the wrong Elaine after receiveing a text message from the real Elaine. Damn. I must always include last names in my phonebook from now on.
And these were the highlights.
Friday:
1. Finally got a library card and borrowed two books (Style 101–What Every Stylish Woman Should Know by the editors of In Style Magazine and Design Can Change Your Life by Extreme Makeover Home Edition's Ty Pennington), and to top it off, a recomenable dvd, Rocket Science by Jeffrey Blitz.
2. Took a tumble down a set of escalator stairs and realized how difficult it was to hold on to something stable on a moving staircase as I continued to tumble and tumble and tumble. And tumble.
Saturday:
3. Bought some bandaids.
4. Watched movies all day. Go Rocket Science and The Dark Knight!
5. Used my sewing machine for the first time in months–yet not for my own project, but to help out with Francis' hooded scarf projecct.
Sunday (today):
6. Purged my apartment of the mountain that was plastic bags growing inside the kitchen cabinets. Rite Aid's "recycle plastic bags" bin is now their new home.
7. Attempted to attend a free yoga class in Noho with Stephanie, my roommate. The teacher as absent therefore the class was canceled. Instead of working out, we went to Cafe Select and had some coffee, crescents with nutella, and chocolate bread. Yumm.
8. Called the wrong person today and had a very Seinfeld-like moment. My friend Elaine was supposed to meet us at yoga today, I call Elaine and tell her that class is canceled and get the response "what class? um okay." One hour later I realized I called the wrong Elaine after receiveing a text message from the real Elaine. Damn. I must always include last names in my phonebook from now on.
And these were the highlights.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
