Tuesday, January 27, 2009

time check

In an effort to not run a very predictable 3 miles twice a week, Meg and I try to mix things up. First, there was last week's fast mile. Yesterday we timed ourselves to get a sense of where we are. We're vaguely tossing around the idea of doing a 5k this spring, since we can mostly train indoors and stay sane. I was more than pleased with our time: 26:13 for 3.0 miles. That's about a 27:09 5k, which would be my fastest (I haven't run a timed 5k since high school, remember). I was very pleased with our time! I think that if we do a 5k my goal might be to beat 26 minutes. That seems attainable. Cumulative mileage: 12 miles.

As to the everyday, well, today is off to a stellar start--I forgot to put on my makeup (thank you, Meijer, on the way to work!) and Brendan forgot to pack Elliot's bottles. I have big things planned for today, so hopefully things will turn themselves around.

Tuesday, January 20, 2009

Mileage/new job updates

Yesterday, Meg and I ran 3.2 miles as part of our plan to shake off the winter out-of-shapeness. That brought the year cumulative total to 9.0. We ran a pretty standard (for us) first mile, then picked up the pace for the second, finishing it in 8:15. I was proud of us for that! We held a nearly perfectly constant pace throughout that mile, too. The third mile we slowed back down. For me, slowing back down was a matter of desire and necessity. I'm way too out of shape to do back-to-back mile intervals, but that will change by mid-summer. For now, doing a mile interval is just a fun way to mix things up.

Totally different topic--I started my new job today. As with all first days at new jobs, there was a lot of information to take in in a short period of time. I think I caught most of it though. I'm feeling ready to jump in and get started. I'm excited about the range of things I may be able to do. I discovered today that there are ups and downs of having two offices. The benefit is that it is easier to partition my professional life into the work I get paid for and the work for my dissertation, because I complete the tasks in two different places. The down side is that all of my stuff--coffee maker, electric kettle, books, etc.-- is in one office and I'm in another. I started a list of small things to bring to the new office to make it more comfortable. It should be cozy in no time.

Saturday, January 17, 2009

Running/new year

Meg and I started running again this week. In the spirit of my friends Kate and Scott tracking the abandoned cash they find throughout the year, I'm considering keeping track of miles ran throughout the year. This past week we covered 5.8 miles. It felt really good to get moving again! I was sore after our first run, but just genuinely had fun on the second and didn't feel sore at all.

I've had a lingering desire to comment in some way on 2008. I found an easy way to do that--rip a survey off of MT's blog. I apologize for not being original.
Tribute to 2008
1. What did you do in 2008 that you’d never done before? Gave birth
2. Did you keep your new year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year? I'm not sure I made resolutions last year. I'm going to attempt to say fewer inappropriate things in public this year without compromising my love of honesty.
3. Did anyone close to you give birth? I gave birth!! So did my sister-in-law and my friend Ali.
4. Did anyone close to you die? Thankfully there wasn't anyone close to me who passed.
5. What countries did you visit? None
6. What would you like to have in 2009 that you lacked in 2008? I'd like to find a little more balance in 2009. Oh, and a prelim.
7. What dates from 2008 will remain etched upon your memory, and why? May 22 (the day my son was born), September 15 (my niece was born), October 18 (first post-partum half-marathon), and October 19 (Elliot's baptism).
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year? I have a few things that I'm proud of. I am proud of myself for running a half-marathon less than 5 months after giving birth. I'm also proud of continuing to breastfeed after going back to work full-time. I also got my first peer-reviewed publication. I also managed a work-related problem with more grace than I expected.
9. What was your biggest failure? Not taking adequate care of myself.
10. Did you suffer illness or injury? I was sick for a while after Elliot was born, but nothing serious.
11. What was the best thing you bought? plane tickets to Vegas. And some sweet baby clothes.
12. Whose behavior merited celebration? My husband's, for being an amazing husband and father and helping me regain a somewhat normal life after giving birth.
13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed? Appalled, that's easy--W, Paris Hilton, Blagojovich, and other less public figures. Depressed, nothing comes to mind.
14. Where did most of your money go? Carle Foundation Hospital and Carle Clinic, daycare. And one really great vacation.
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about? In chronological order: Vegas, Elliot, the Indy half, Elliot's baptism.
16. What song will always remind you of 2008? Um...whatever songs Elliot's swing plays. And maybe Violet Hill.
17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
a) happier or sadder? 
b) thinner or fatter? 
c) richer or poorer?
a) It varies.
b) Fatter by a few baby fat pounds.
c) That's none of your business ;)
18. What do you wish you’d done more of? Taken time off
19. Apparently got deleted
20. How will you be spending Christmas? We spent it here with family
21. Did you fall in love in 2008? more and more with my husband and son
22. How many one-night stands? right
23. What was your favorite TV program? We watched a lot of SVU and House
24. Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year? I had a falling out with pancake syrup, but that's about it.
25. What was the best book you read? Anna Karenina, hands down.
26. What was your greatest musical discovery? The songs I most enjoyed discovering were Dave Matthew's "Eh hee" and Coldplay's "Violet Hill" (and that entire album).
27. What did you want and get? a healthy, happy baby. Oh, and gas logs for the fireplace.
28. What was your favorite film of this year? Probably Juno.
29. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you? I was 27. I went to a steakhouse with my family and met my friend Jenn there.
30. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying? Triplets! Just kidding. I don't know, really.
31. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2008? Does maternity count as a "fashion concept"? That was about half of the year, followed by a few months of "whatever I could find that fit and didn't look horrendous," followed by sweaters and jeans.
32. What kept you sane? Brendan and running.
33. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most? I'm pretty excited about Obama.
34. What political issue stirred you the most? The election was a big one.
35. Who did you miss? I've lived in 5 states in 7 years, so a lot of people.
36. Who was the best new person you met? My son :)
37. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2008. Sometimes, you just can't do it all, and that has to be ok.
38. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year. I'm leaving this one open to nominations from you my loyal readers.