Gene and I have been walking to train for the Portland Marathon. A couple of weeks ago we walked 13.46 miles around our neighborhood. We did 13.1 miles (1/2 marathon) in 3 hours, 2 minutes and 30 seconds and we averaged 13 minutes and 55 seconds per mile.
During the month of July our training walks covered (drum roll please) 102.79 miles!!!
Thursday, July 31, 2008
Wednesday, July 16, 2008
Rant...
Yes folks, it is summer time again - the busy construction season - which means it is time for my annual I Hate Salesmen rant.
Don't get me wrong, I do not hate all salesmen. I think it is a necessary profession and is a great job with unlimited opportunity for someone who is organized, knows his product and his companies production abilities, and is honest. Unfortuneately, that does not include all salesmen and I got a total loser this time around.
The biggest problem with an incompetent sales representative is that he does not seem to understand that when I make a commitment to purchase his product, I am tying my reputation and my word to his ability to deliver. If he fails me, then I fail my customer, and I hate that!
I cannot decide if he is a liar or is totally incompetent, and neither scenario inspires confidence. Supposedly all of my material will be delivered next week, but to date not one thing has happened as he said it would, so who knows....
Don't get me wrong, I do not hate all salesmen. I think it is a necessary profession and is a great job with unlimited opportunity for someone who is organized, knows his product and his companies production abilities, and is honest. Unfortuneately, that does not include all salesmen and I got a total loser this time around.
The biggest problem with an incompetent sales representative is that he does not seem to understand that when I make a commitment to purchase his product, I am tying my reputation and my word to his ability to deliver. If he fails me, then I fail my customer, and I hate that!
I cannot decide if he is a liar or is totally incompetent, and neither scenario inspires confidence. Supposedly all of my material will be delivered next week, but to date not one thing has happened as he said it would, so who knows....
Saturday, July 12, 2008
Diamond Lake
This week's hike was around Diamond Lake (11.5 miles). We were asked to bid a roof on one of the West Side summer homes, so this worked out perfectly. After measuring the roof, we drove back to the resort, sprayed on the bug spray and headed out on the paved bicycle path.
If the first photo appears a bit foggy, that would be the fog of midges which hovered over the lake and shoreline. It does make one appreaciate a handkerchief (to breath through).
Half way around the lake we had an excellent view of Mt. Thielsen, and 3/4 of the way around allowed great views of Mt. Bailey. However, my feet began to hurt and the most welcome site was the lodge!
We topped the day off with a swim and a nap and it feels good to continue on our fitness journey.
Friday, July 11, 2008
Union Creek Falls
Training for the Portland Marathon is in full swing - including the increasingly longer walks on Saturday. Sometimes we walk around the neighborhood and sometimes we hike.
Last week we did an 8.2 mile round trip hike to Union Creek Falls. It was beautiful. The water was swift and cold, the misquitoes were out (have to remember the bug spray earlier), and we found out what an advantage the Garmin Colorado 400T can be when the trail peters out (mark a way point so that you can get back to a point when you knew where the trail was located).
Additionally, after hiking for several miles, there is a greatly dimished sense of guilt when enjoying a cheeseburger, fries and soda at Phil's Frosty!
Thursday, July 10, 2008
Early morning opportunities
With summer here, Gene needs to be at work earlier, and yet we enjoy walking together in the mornings, so we are now getting up at 3 am, so we can be walking by 3:30. This seems to be working okay. In fact it is enjoyable to see early morning stars and to appreciate the coolness of the morning, before the heat of the day.
One day last week, as we walked in the early morning darkness, I saw a light streaking down the sky. Initially, I thought it was an airplane and became concerned about it steep rate of decent. It was in the sky long enough for me to actually point it out to Gene and we both watched it disappear.
This morning, Gene pointed to an owl resting on a power line, with his head turned, watching the crazy man, woman and two dogs walking so early morning, before flying away. I have only witnessed owls in the wild on a couple of occasions in my lifetime, and they leave me with a sense of awe each time.
So while I may miss a few early morning z-z-z-s. I am getting to see things that I would miss if I were laying in bed.
One day last week, as we walked in the early morning darkness, I saw a light streaking down the sky. Initially, I thought it was an airplane and became concerned about it steep rate of decent. It was in the sky long enough for me to actually point it out to Gene and we both watched it disappear.
This morning, Gene pointed to an owl resting on a power line, with his head turned, watching the crazy man, woman and two dogs walking so early morning, before flying away. I have only witnessed owls in the wild on a couple of occasions in my lifetime, and they leave me with a sense of awe each time.
So while I may miss a few early morning z-z-z-s. I am getting to see things that I would miss if I were laying in bed.
Tuesday, March 25, 2008
Tapas, Martinis and Life...
After a woman has spent the bulk of her adult years trying to be everything to everyone, she begins to really consider her life. She begins to explore interests she has had for years - begins to realize she cannot take her health for granted (in other words she becomes winded when she walks and has some new aches and pains) - and begins to take more time for herself.
Therefore, over two years ago, I began attending an evening Weight Watchers meeting and then going out for dinner and drinks with a couple of my friends. We are very different, and yet I sense the same desire to explore our own interests more. One of my friends is very actively studying health and aging issues and has really improved her health. My other friend is very active in genealogy, and is taking a writing class so that she can share the stories of her family. Me, I am not nearly as focused as either of my friends, but have always had an interest in writing. As we sat at the table and talked over tapas and martinis, I recalled reading an ad in the Mail Tribune, inviting women to submit articles to Joy Magazine. We discussed this, and made a pact that by the end of April we will each have written an article for submission. I am very excited about this - now I just need to decide on a topic!
Therefore, over two years ago, I began attending an evening Weight Watchers meeting and then going out for dinner and drinks with a couple of my friends. We are very different, and yet I sense the same desire to explore our own interests more. One of my friends is very actively studying health and aging issues and has really improved her health. My other friend is very active in genealogy, and is taking a writing class so that she can share the stories of her family. Me, I am not nearly as focused as either of my friends, but have always had an interest in writing. As we sat at the table and talked over tapas and martinis, I recalled reading an ad in the Mail Tribune, inviting women to submit articles to Joy Magazine. We discussed this, and made a pact that by the end of April we will each have written an article for submission. I am very excited about this - now I just need to decide on a topic!
Sunday, March 23, 2008
Health...
Gene and I have begun to really try to improve our health. We are eating better, and really enjoying doing some cooking together. We are getting pretty good at whipping up stir fry.
I am now seriously training to walk the Portland Marathon. This month I am walking for 1 hour and 45 minutes on Saturday at a pretty quick pace; a slow walk on Sunday; 32 minutes on the recumbent bike and 20 minutes weight training on Monday, Wednesday and Friday; and a 50 minute walk at a fast pace on Tuesday and Thursday. I am pretty consistant about doing it, which makes me feel good. Why thirty-two minutes on the recumbent bike, you ask - because on the display there are 16 bars, so it moves to the next bar every 2 minutes, rather than every 1 minute and 50 seconds or whatever. So maybe Sharna got some of her obsessive-compulsive tendencies from me.
I took the dogs with me Saturday before last. They did well, but the last 45 minutes, Nicki kept looking back at me as if to ask, "Are we almost finished Crazy Lady?" The looks were even more frequent and questioning after it started raining on us. I have decided to take them on the faster paced walks on Tuesday and Thursday, rather than the Saturday and Sunday walks, as I need to be able to focus more on Saturday and I walk too slow on Sunday.
I am looking forward to doing some hiking. I am planning to go up the Table Rocks this spring. This summer, when the Saturday walks are supposed to be 5-6 hours, I am going to plan some hikes such as the Fish Lake to Lake of the Woods (18 miles round trip), or around Diamond Lake (11 miles). It will be cooler up there and provide better scenery than walking the Greenway or around subdivisions. Of course I will try to make sure I am well prepared - don't want another Blue Lake Canyon incident (sorry Kylie).
Sharna has been extremely busy, and has not yet begun to train for our Portland Marathon. Of course she can get in shape quicker than I can, but the clock is ticking!
I went and visited Chase in January. It was great. He is doing well and seems happy. Unfortuneately, he seems to be calling me less and less since my visit. It is hard for him to be away, I think, and he typically avoids things that bother him. I am going to have to let him know that this is not cool. This summer and every summer I am going to go visit him. I am not going to let another 2-1/2 years go by. I am looking forward to being able to do some hiking with him.
I was reading a book by Larry Winget - Shut Up, Stop Whining and Get a Life, and he wrote something that really resonated with me. "Your health is a temporary condition. It is on a sliding scale. It can and will change in either direction." I had never really thought of it in those terms. I always knew I could do more to improve my health, but had not really looked at the flip side - that if I did nothing, it would, most definitely decline. Everything good in life is better if I feel healthy and strong - and if I feel sick and listless, even the greatest things are not going to bring me much joy.
I am now seriously training to walk the Portland Marathon. This month I am walking for 1 hour and 45 minutes on Saturday at a pretty quick pace; a slow walk on Sunday; 32 minutes on the recumbent bike and 20 minutes weight training on Monday, Wednesday and Friday; and a 50 minute walk at a fast pace on Tuesday and Thursday. I am pretty consistant about doing it, which makes me feel good. Why thirty-two minutes on the recumbent bike, you ask - because on the display there are 16 bars, so it moves to the next bar every 2 minutes, rather than every 1 minute and 50 seconds or whatever. So maybe Sharna got some of her obsessive-compulsive tendencies from me.
I took the dogs with me Saturday before last. They did well, but the last 45 minutes, Nicki kept looking back at me as if to ask, "Are we almost finished Crazy Lady?" The looks were even more frequent and questioning after it started raining on us. I have decided to take them on the faster paced walks on Tuesday and Thursday, rather than the Saturday and Sunday walks, as I need to be able to focus more on Saturday and I walk too slow on Sunday.
I am looking forward to doing some hiking. I am planning to go up the Table Rocks this spring. This summer, when the Saturday walks are supposed to be 5-6 hours, I am going to plan some hikes such as the Fish Lake to Lake of the Woods (18 miles round trip), or around Diamond Lake (11 miles). It will be cooler up there and provide better scenery than walking the Greenway or around subdivisions. Of course I will try to make sure I am well prepared - don't want another Blue Lake Canyon incident (sorry Kylie).
Sharna has been extremely busy, and has not yet begun to train for our Portland Marathon. Of course she can get in shape quicker than I can, but the clock is ticking!
I went and visited Chase in January. It was great. He is doing well and seems happy. Unfortuneately, he seems to be calling me less and less since my visit. It is hard for him to be away, I think, and he typically avoids things that bother him. I am going to have to let him know that this is not cool. This summer and every summer I am going to go visit him. I am not going to let another 2-1/2 years go by. I am looking forward to being able to do some hiking with him.
I was reading a book by Larry Winget - Shut Up, Stop Whining and Get a Life, and he wrote something that really resonated with me. "Your health is a temporary condition. It is on a sliding scale. It can and will change in either direction." I had never really thought of it in those terms. I always knew I could do more to improve my health, but had not really looked at the flip side - that if I did nothing, it would, most definitely decline. Everything good in life is better if I feel healthy and strong - and if I feel sick and listless, even the greatest things are not going to bring me much joy.
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