Episode 12 -Counting back in time

While listening to the Runner's Round Table last night (found on the Talkshoe Network most Wednesdays at 4pm) my friend Cewtwo posted a link to my blog and my podcast. Toni Harvey was pleased to hear about another podcast and thought that mine must be about counting back age.

When you think about it - runners do that. They start with a body age, and the more they run the younger they feel and the fitter they get.

For myself, this is so true. Before my oldest grandson was born I felt like an 80 year old woman. My knees hurt, my legs hurt; and I had zero energy. I dreaded summer because I knew the heat was going to do me in.

The advice I got from almost everybody when I started running was - don't do it. The theory was that my already bad knees would get worse and I would be crippled. Fortunately for me, I didn't listen to the advice and I got my knees and hips back.

It's true that body parts wear out from lack of use. Get them moving and they will reward you with renewed life.

I would be lying if I said I never get any aches or pains. Of course I do. But they don't last and I don't spend cash on anti-inflammatories and muscle rubs. I rarely take anything - ice will usually do the trick if I'm feeling a bit sore.

So - this blog (and podcast) has new meaning. Not only am I counting down 50 pounds (and not well at the moment) but I'm also turning back the clock on age.

You can do it too. Get MOVING!

Episode 11

Busy, busy week. Canada Day fell right in the middle of the week (it's always celebrated on the day - not on the nearest Monday) and it kind of threw everybody off a bit.

We have had buckets and buckets of rain in the past week. I haven't really done any what I would call 'good' runs - most have been walking, shuffling, dodging rain, and generally whining about bugs. On to better things next week.

I spent some time with my grandchildren. We visited the town of Stratford, home of the world-famous Shakespearean Festival. It was so much fun to view the town through the eyes of little boys. They have a totally different, and completely fresh view of life.

It looks like we're headed into a much drier week. I hope so, because cutting the lawn every other day wears thin after a while! I must say that my yard and garden are looking pretty fantastic though.

A la prochain!

Episode 10

This is a very short episode. I figured out how to add the voice mails to the podcast, but the sound is still not as good as I would like it to be.

If folks are kind enough to call in, they deserve to be heard. I just hope everybody can hear these.

Episode 9

The 7.5 pounds I gained last week are only partially gone. I lost 4 this week which means I'm carrying 3.5 pounds of salty pretzels around on my hips.

This has been a very trying week - lots of rain, no biking, and only a few short runs. Lack of regular exercise makes for a cranky me.

My summer has officially begun now that school is out. I can get out for exercise as early or as late as I want, with no time constraints.

The best part of this week is that my yard and garden are looking great! I swear I have the biggest hostas (don't even bother with the jokes - I already did a mental filter and decided it's just too '12 yr old boy' to comment on), and the milkweed I have allowed to grow along the wall is already attracting Monarch butterflies. Did you know that milkweek is essential for them? We've become so weed-whacky as a society that the Monarch is in danger of dying off because their food source is being eradicated.

Don't forget to click on the 'You Are What You Eat' link on the sidebar. The information on that website is excellent for everybody - not just vegetarians.

A demain.

Disaster Strikes!

I am up 7.5 pounds this week, which negates any losses I have made thus far, and so I am back to Fifty Counting Down. I know the 7.5 pounds isn't fat - it's water retention caused by the metric tonne of salt I consumed over the weekend in the form of monster bags of pretzels. The gory details are available for your listening pleasure in my podcast, Fifty Counting Down, available free through the iTunes store.

There is a link on the sidebar to a free e-book on Sugar Addiction - not often you get anything free, and the book, written by Karly Randolph Pittman, is a very interesting read for folks like me who can't stop once we start eating sweets.

I've had a week of trail running, a few bike rides, a couple of short sidewalk runs, and one weights workout. It's time to get my ass in gear where my mouth is concerned and maybe duct tape it shut for a while when the urge to pig out hits me.

Fifty Counting Down - Episode 7

How pathetic does this face look? I'm not sure which is my favourite part - the dirt on the end of my nose, or the blood streaming down my chin that looks like it was painted on. I assure you, it's real blood.

I am a trail runner! I've walked this particular trail many times with my dog, Dexter, but I got it into my head last week to try running on it as a diversion from the cement I usually run on.

I LOVED it! There is no boredom involved - there's always something happening in the woods, and there is no traffic noise. The fact that I tripped and fell over a tree root is inconsequential. Call it a right of passage if you will.

My return trip a few days later was much better as far as falling was concerned, but it started raining at the half way point of my run and the rain turned the trail to a slick surface that wasn't suited to my good Asics running shoes. I'll be investing in some trail shoes very soon, because I plan to keep this up.

I'm getting better at biking, and much more confident at riding on the road. I'm still sticking to quieter streets, and country roads, but it's all about the distance for me. I'm not interested in speed, but I really enjoy distance, whether running or biking.

On my podcast this week I read an excerpt from the book 'Conquer Your Food Addiction' by Caryl Ehrlich - a very good read for anyone who has ever suffered from binge behaviour or food addiction. See the link on the sidebar to Ehrlich's website.

Episode 6

I was feeling very down after my last episode - couldn't find my mojo and was generally very whiny. I think it was a combo of rainy weather, allergies, and some springtime blues. Fortunately, the feeling didn't last past Friday and I'm back to my usual sunny self!

I worked all weekend and instead of sitting in the van while the kids were out canvassing, I got out and did wall-type pushups, or walked a block and back (can't get too far away from the van), or stretched my legs and back. Sitting in one position all day long is not a good thing and sometimes I feel like I'm totally siezed by the end of the day.

Monday was a long run day for the Half Marathon Training. The photo at the top of the blog is from a road underpass that used to be covered in nasty graffiti. A city works program let a bunch of kids from the neighbourhood paint it last summer, and it really is quite spectacular. There are various scenes from around London depicted along the length - very nice work. Since I've never gone 5 miles on that route before I had not seen this before. Just shows what you can see when you get out and walk around your own city.

I'm getting braver with my bike. I attempted to ride to Thorndale on Tuesday (about 25 miles round trip)but I only made it half way because I chickened out when faced with a HUGE hill on the secondary highway. I wasn't sure I could make it up the hill and I'm still very leery of traffic. I'll do it - probably within the next couple of weeks as my biking ability increases.

I listened to this book on Audible last month: http://www.randomhouse.ca/catalog/display.pperl?isbn=9780307266309 and I highly recommend it for anyone who runs or wants to run. I'll be buying a paper copy so I can 'read' it, rather than listen. Good stuff!

Had a lot of requests on Twitter for this recipe - so here it is. I am not a 'measuring' kind of cook - free-form and Zen-like is me so use your imagination and make it suit your own taste:

Quinoa/Mango Salad

Boil one cup of rinsed quinoa until done (will look like small beads with white ring around outside) - drain, and refrigerate for about an hour. You should have about 2 cups of cooked quinoa.

Peel and chop a large mango - add to quinoa
Chop, slice or dice a very large red pepper - add to quinoa
Thin slice a whole vidalia onion - add to quinoa
Cut the ends off a handful of snow peas, and steam until just bright green - do not over-steam - you guess it - add to quinoa.

Toss everything together and sprinkle with a little sea salt. If the mango is not overly ripe and isn't really juicy, you can add a bit of lemon or lime juice.

Enjoy!