Once upon a time (far too long ago), a group of silly girls sang silly camp songs in the heart of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Many years later, one of the silly girls got a clover flower stuck between the toes of her Vibram FiveFingers. With an equally silly grin, she began to sing...
There is a daisy on my toe
It is not real
It does not grow
It's just a tiny little flower
To look at when I'm in the shower
It's on the second toe of my left foot
It has no stem
It has no root
Because... That wouldn't look good [spoken]
It's just a daisy on my toe
My right foot loves my left foot so (*smooch*smooch*)
{Scrreeeech} Welcome back.
A little digging on the web revealed that it's not "just a tiny little flower". It is instead *gasp* "a tattoo of a flower."
"That can't be," I think to myself. "It's just a kid's camp song."
A little more digging revealed that it's a Smothers Brothers song titled "The Tattoo Song." Well.
There is a midi of the tune here: http://webcatt.net/Midi/daisy_toe.html
(remember midis? ah... how times change). I tried finding the song on iTunes. I think this is the point where I have to say, "You know you're old if... " Yeaaaah, I guess no one really wants to pay for Smothers Brothers songs.
The song as I remember it is almost right. I learned the song at Camp Little Crossroads, a GA (Girls in Action) camp, so I suppose tattoos were considered too risque for miniature Christian girls. The camp has since changed its name to CrossRoads Camp and Conference Center. Also, in 1998, they initiated coed camps *gasp* (You know you're old if...).
Ah, remembrances. I am trying to enjoy these last few days at home... running barefoot in the grass... chasing cats... watching the garden bloom... watching TV with Mama... cooking dinner...
Times change. I'm content with where I'm going. I am hopeful that this next phase will be as enjoyable as the last.
For the record, running is out for the next few weeks. I'm still recovering from an unfortunate episode with a pair of high heels and not sure how long it will take me to find a safe place to run in my new location. In the meantime, I think I'll go back to concentrating on yoga. I think that will best for keeping me centered during this transition, and I could use the extra strengthening.
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
Monday, June 22, 2009
Julie Whirls and Tweets
Whew, it's been a whirlwind these past two weeks. For those of you who may have missed the emails and tweets, I got a job!!! It seems to be a perfect match for me, and I'm very excited to get started. However -- holy moly there's a ton to do. I start July 6th and between then and now I have to find a place to live, move, and... and... um...huh. I guess that's it. Find a home and move in two weeks. No biggie.
As promised on Twitter, I owe a story on my experience with the treadmill. I don't like treadmills in general because they are so boring. It's no fun to exert all that effort and not actually go anywhere. This particular treadmill (in the hotel gym) was facing a mirrored wall, so I had the bonus of seeing my own puffing face the entire time. This really was a bonus in this instance because I needed a chance to check my form. The VFFs are great at preventing heel-striking, but a great stride is far more nuanced than just not landing on your heels. I've been reading and reading and trying to apply what I read. Surprise, surprise, it's hard to look at your feet and maintain a good form at the same time :)
What I learned is this: it actually takes more effort to run slow than to run fast -- or at a minimum, no more effort to run much faster. Gasp! You think I'm crazy, right? Turns out, the more efficiently you run, the easier it is. Although I hate to see all those numbers on the treadmill display (re: my post on why I run with a HRM) it gave me a chance to fiddle with the pace and watch the results in my form and heart rate. I was able to bump up the speed by more than one minute per mile with zero effect on my heart rate -- and maintain that speed with no conscious extra effort.
The following video may not be the best example, but it's fun to watch anyway and features Barefoot Ted, who is one of the main "characters" in Born to Run by Christopher McDougall. Reading Barefoot Ted's blog was one of the things that convinced me to try VFFs. Anyway, notice how little he actually moves his feet. McDougall talks a bit in the book about this economy of movement. (He's wearing hauraches, which he learned to make from the Tarahumara).
As far as shoes go, the VFFs felt fine but were extremely loud (THUMP_THUMP_THUMP_THUMP_THUMPTHUMPTHUMPTHUMPTHUMP)
-- so now we know that cushioning in shoes is good for noise reduction... ah ha! That's why they're called sneakers!
Other bad mojo from the treadmill is that it left me limping with extremely sore hips for several days. Ouch. I'm writing this now from the same hotel (after a return trip home, then back here, then around and around and around and around in search of a new home). I plan to run on the treadmill again only because I have no choice :(
As promised on Twitter, I owe a story on my experience with the treadmill. I don't like treadmills in general because they are so boring. It's no fun to exert all that effort and not actually go anywhere. This particular treadmill (in the hotel gym) was facing a mirrored wall, so I had the bonus of seeing my own puffing face the entire time. This really was a bonus in this instance because I needed a chance to check my form. The VFFs are great at preventing heel-striking, but a great stride is far more nuanced than just not landing on your heels. I've been reading and reading and trying to apply what I read. Surprise, surprise, it's hard to look at your feet and maintain a good form at the same time :)
What I learned is this: it actually takes more effort to run slow than to run fast -- or at a minimum, no more effort to run much faster. Gasp! You think I'm crazy, right? Turns out, the more efficiently you run, the easier it is. Although I hate to see all those numbers on the treadmill display (re: my post on why I run with a HRM) it gave me a chance to fiddle with the pace and watch the results in my form and heart rate. I was able to bump up the speed by more than one minute per mile with zero effect on my heart rate -- and maintain that speed with no conscious extra effort.
The following video may not be the best example, but it's fun to watch anyway and features Barefoot Ted, who is one of the main "characters" in Born to Run by Christopher McDougall. Reading Barefoot Ted's blog was one of the things that convinced me to try VFFs. Anyway, notice how little he actually moves his feet. McDougall talks a bit in the book about this economy of movement. (He's wearing hauraches, which he learned to make from the Tarahumara).
As far as shoes go, the VFFs felt fine but were extremely loud (THUMP_THUMP_THUMP_THUMP_THUMPTHUMPTHUMPTHUMPTHUMP)
-- so now we know that cushioning in shoes is good for noise reduction... ah ha! That's why they're called sneakers!
Other bad mojo from the treadmill is that it left me limping with extremely sore hips for several days. Ouch. I'm writing this now from the same hotel (after a return trip home, then back here, then around and around and around and around in search of a new home). I plan to run on the treadmill again only because I have no choice :(
Labels:
treadmill
Monday, June 15, 2009
Where's Beverly?
I am here. Sitting here. Not running. Let's face it, jogging. So, I have 33 weeks left until the marathon. No problem, right? Anyone? Okay, I am not here to talk about running. I know, gasp. Well Julie isn't really talking about running either. The only difference is she is doing it. I am not going to talk about running because it is stressing me out. But the schedule has been loaded in a spreadsheet and the shoes are by the door. Wow, sort of talked about running didn't I?
I am here to stick my toe back into the swimming pool that is this blog. I am retesting the water.
I have been up to a couple of things... I finished Tap Level 1 at the Dance Complex and I have mixed reviews. I like the complex and the idea of it but as with most things the beginning is tough. It wasn't until the end of the course that I really felt like I was tap dancing. So now I have a routine to the Cool, Cool Evening, Goofus, Tapella, and Anchors Away if I am ever in a situation that requires me to dance to those songs. Yes, my friend and I did fight, as expected. But that is what we do when we take dance lessons. Consequently, I went out with him Saturday night to hear his favorite jazz and blues band and we danced. It was fun and our dancing didn't have a name, routine, or a judge. Just lots of spins.
I feel moldy. The temperature has been in the 50s and it has been rainy for weeks. There have been a few exceptions, but just a few. Coincidentally my throat and sinuses have been a wreck for a few weeks. A constant sore throat. I have had dreams that I look at my throat in a mirror and it is huge, and looks like clear balloons. This is very exaggerated and it is like dreaming you have a large head or hands. I guess this throat thing is bugging me. I know it is the weather and allergies but I am seeking alternate cures. Today I am going dairy free. Just for a little while to see if I have dairy allergies. This morning I had dairy-free hippie cereal with almond milk. Man that was good. Really it was. I might always use almond milk on my cereal as a result. Lunch was soba noodles with grilled chicken and veggies with ginger sauce. And dinner, maybe a potato, something with rice, I don't know yet. We shall see how this goes.
What else... I am addicted to HGTV. I have this strong desire to refinish a piece of furniture. This is what happens when you have too much time on your hands and you are avoiding running. And in the category of too much time on my hands, I really want to learn to speak Danish. Ah, cliffhanger... I will save this subject for another post.
I am here to stick my toe back into the swimming pool that is this blog. I am retesting the water.
I have been up to a couple of things... I finished Tap Level 1 at the Dance Complex and I have mixed reviews. I like the complex and the idea of it but as with most things the beginning is tough. It wasn't until the end of the course that I really felt like I was tap dancing. So now I have a routine to the Cool, Cool Evening, Goofus, Tapella, and Anchors Away if I am ever in a situation that requires me to dance to those songs. Yes, my friend and I did fight, as expected. But that is what we do when we take dance lessons. Consequently, I went out with him Saturday night to hear his favorite jazz and blues band and we danced. It was fun and our dancing didn't have a name, routine, or a judge. Just lots of spins.
I feel moldy. The temperature has been in the 50s and it has been rainy for weeks. There have been a few exceptions, but just a few. Coincidentally my throat and sinuses have been a wreck for a few weeks. A constant sore throat. I have had dreams that I look at my throat in a mirror and it is huge, and looks like clear balloons. This is very exaggerated and it is like dreaming you have a large head or hands. I guess this throat thing is bugging me. I know it is the weather and allergies but I am seeking alternate cures. Today I am going dairy free. Just for a little while to see if I have dairy allergies. This morning I had dairy-free hippie cereal with almond milk. Man that was good. Really it was. I might always use almond milk on my cereal as a result. Lunch was soba noodles with grilled chicken and veggies with ginger sauce. And dinner, maybe a potato, something with rice, I don't know yet. We shall see how this goes.
What else... I am addicted to HGTV. I have this strong desire to refinish a piece of furniture. This is what happens when you have too much time on your hands and you are avoiding running. And in the category of too much time on my hands, I really want to learn to speak Danish. Ah, cliffhanger... I will save this subject for another post.
Labels:
dairy-free,
Danish,
tap dance
Thursday, June 11, 2009
Job?
Quick update not at all related to running... I got a follow-up interview scheduled for Wednesday. I'm calm and confident about the interview itself... not so calm about the repercussions if I get the job. You know:
-gotta-buy-a-house-what-about-the-cats-oh-no-I-cannot-afford-a-mortgage-oh-but-you-will-when-will-i-find-time-to-run-yoga-read-cook-garden-travel-sleep-shoooot-I-hate-moving-I-need-to-take-some-clothes-to-Goodwill-man-I-need-new-clothes-where-do-you-find-affordable-work-clothes-why-oh-why-did-I-so-readily-say-that-very-low-salary-was-okay-I-will-miss-my-garden-
Just be glad you're not inside my head.
-gotta-buy-a-house-what-about-the-cats-oh-no-I-cannot-afford-a-mortgage-oh-but-you-will-when-will-i-find-time-to-run-yoga-read-cook-garden-travel-sleep-shoooot-I-hate-moving-I-need-to-take-some-clothes-to-Goodwill-man-I-need-new-clothes-where-do-you-find-affordable-work-clothes-why-oh-why-did-I-so-readily-say-that-very-low-salary-was-okay-I-will-miss-my-garden-
Just be glad you're not inside my head.
Monday, June 8, 2009
Julie Says... Step One
I had a phone interview this morning for a job that sounds promising. I think it will be awhile before I know more. I am hopeful, but I don't want to get too excited yet. I was nervous this morning, so I indulged my flight response and went for a quick, hard run. After I burned off my nerves, I spent some time on the yoga mat to relieve some of the tension in my muscles and quiet my brain. The result was that I had just enough nerves left to keep me on my toes without being too crazed (I hope).
Pursuing this half-marathon goal is an interesting adventure for me psychologically. I always ran because I had to run. It wasn't a choice. In the military, you rarely run your own pace, and unless you are faster than everyone you aren't fast enough. Especially as an officer, you literally need to be able to run circles around your soldiers. I never felt like I was good enough, and I always ran with pain. It was incredibly frustrating and tough on the psyche. Your physical fitness is a measure of your competence. You can be the best at everything else, but if you can't compete physically, you lose respect.
This is the first time in my life I am running just for the sake of running. Because it is a choice and not a chore, because my professional reputation doesn't depend on every step, it's so much easier to get up and go. I really do run for pleasure with no expectation of return. I'm just running.
I have to tell you, it was joyful to be able to run off my nerves this morning. It's weird to remember that there was a time when running itself caused me to be that nervous. Now, to run because it feels good... to run because I can... it is immensely rewarding.
If you search Flickr with the words "joy" and "running", why is it that almost all of the photos are of children or animals?
I'm still thinking on that one while I read Born to Run by Christopher McDougall.
Pursuing this half-marathon goal is an interesting adventure for me psychologically. I always ran because I had to run. It wasn't a choice. In the military, you rarely run your own pace, and unless you are faster than everyone you aren't fast enough. Especially as an officer, you literally need to be able to run circles around your soldiers. I never felt like I was good enough, and I always ran with pain. It was incredibly frustrating and tough on the psyche. Your physical fitness is a measure of your competence. You can be the best at everything else, but if you can't compete physically, you lose respect.
This is the first time in my life I am running just for the sake of running. Because it is a choice and not a chore, because my professional reputation doesn't depend on every step, it's so much easier to get up and go. I really do run for pleasure with no expectation of return. I'm just running.
I have to tell you, it was joyful to be able to run off my nerves this morning. It's weird to remember that there was a time when running itself caused me to be that nervous. Now, to run because it feels good... to run because I can... it is immensely rewarding.
If you search Flickr with the words "joy" and "running", why is it that almost all of the photos are of children or animals?
I'm still thinking on that one while I read Born to Run by Christopher McDougall.
Wednesday, June 3, 2009
Julie Rants
I now have Injini socks! Beverly gifted me TWO pairs! Woot! Thanks, Beave! So far I haven't had a recurrence of a blister. There is a discussion thread on Runner's World Barefoot Running Forum that suggests that particular seam (in the instep) in VFF KSOs is problematic for many. I've read accounts ranging from those who only wear VFFs with Injinji socks to those who never wear them, opting instead to allow their foot to condition itself or who use measures like Band-Aids or duct tape. Some people complain that the socks cause the shoes to be too tight. I don't have this problem, but then again, I do have very skinny toes. My only complaint is that when I'm done running my feet are hot. Not a biggie. Nothing that can't be solved by taking them off -- er, the socks, I mean, not my feet. I'm sure I'll welcome the extra heat this winter, and I'm happy to accept a little extra warmth over lost skin.
I just finished reading 50/50: Secrets I Learned Running 50 Marathons in 50 Days -- and How You Too Can Achieve Super Endurance! by Dean Karnazes. Yes, the book was nearly as annoying as the subtitle. Seriously, I would have been fine with "Secrets I Learned Running 50 Marathons in 50 Days" without any other part of the title. Or, "Dude, I Ran 50 Marathons in 50 Days: I'm So Much Better Than You!" because, hey, it's honest. To be fair, I only read this book because I haven't gotten my hands on a copy of Born to Run by Christopher McDougall yet (currently #15 on the New York Times NonFiction Bestseller List). This book was meant to tide me over until then. And by "tide me over" I mean "inspire me to run." First, let me state I'm impressed by the guy. He ran 50 marathons in 50 days with an average time of 3:53. Then, he decided to run home... to San Francisco... from New York, averaging "about forty-five or fifty" miles each day. Granted, he stopped somewhere in Missouri, but still. The book starts with a preface that first recounts the highest praise he has received, such as "fittest man on the planet," "no mere mortal," "the perfect human," then ends with this "Just remember, as extreme as some of my accomplishments have been, you are reading about an average guy. An extremely average guy." Let me clue you in buddy, my favorite writing rule: "Never tell a thing if you can show it instead." You know what he showed me? On pages 277 to 279, Dr. Bergman presents the findings from the blood draws and urinalysis conducted during this extravaganza. Surprise, surprise, Dean Karnazes is no mere mortal. This "extremely average guy" totally blew away the scientists' expectations of the effects of this marathon-marathon on his body. Dr. Bergman said that Karnazes "sailed through the Endurance 50, with none of the common ailments that plague the more typical athlete during one marathon, much less fifty." Dean, you aren't average, and I'm offended that you pretend to be. See, if you admit you are above-average, I can appreciate your accomplishments without having to compare myself to you, but when you insist you're average, I expect you to recount your experiences from the vantage point of an average person. I think you're slapping that "average" in my face so I'll be forced to compare myself to you. Do you really need that much validation? I think you're missing something in your life... like a fifth of whiskey. Oooouuu. I'll let karma bite me back on that one. Don't even get me started on the product pushing. I get that this was a sponsored event, but I paid cough-cough-checked-out-from-the-library to read about your experience, not to read the name of your sponsor and their oh-so-perfect shoes every other sentence. Oh, yeah, and this guy claims he was the idea behind Nike Frees. Maybe -- probably -- maybe-- he was... but go buy the shoes his sponsor makes! Even though he believes "humans are really designed to run barefoot." I agree, Dean. Go run barefoot. Then in Chapter 28, marathon #43, the Marine Corps Marathon, he says a marathoner is a warrior and likened running a marathon to war. When a runner collapsed in front of him, he says "a brother had fallen short of his destiny; a soldier had lost the war.... The scene that had just unfolded before me left me feeling grief-stricken and empty. So close to the finish line, I thought. So close. What a tragedy." Try putting forth that much effort while being shot at. Try feeling all "heroic" when your participation isn't voluntary, and you're not totally sure whether you're the good guy or the bad guy. Truth be told, I feel like he didn't get what he wanted out of this adventure. It turned into a publicity spectacle. Also, the book had a co-writer, so who knows how much of the book was his own voice. He's probably a likable, humble guy who just got caught up in a money-making scheme. No wonder after running 1310 miles in 50 days, he then went out on his own and ran roughly the same distance in 40 days without the hoopla. So was I inspired? No. But he did give me the idea to try running to an audio book. More on that later.
Enough of that rant. You think my feet are ugly? Check this out: Crazy Toes from the Runner's World Barefoot Forum. The chick with the pigtails makes me want to cry.
I just finished reading 50/50: Secrets I Learned Running 50 Marathons in 50 Days -- and How You Too Can Achieve Super Endurance! by Dean Karnazes. Yes, the book was nearly as annoying as the subtitle. Seriously, I would have been fine with "Secrets I Learned Running 50 Marathons in 50 Days" without any other part of the title. Or, "Dude, I Ran 50 Marathons in 50 Days: I'm So Much Better Than You!" because, hey, it's honest. To be fair, I only read this book because I haven't gotten my hands on a copy of Born to Run by Christopher McDougall yet (currently #15 on the New York Times NonFiction Bestseller List). This book was meant to tide me over until then. And by "tide me over" I mean "inspire me to run." First, let me state I'm impressed by the guy. He ran 50 marathons in 50 days with an average time of 3:53. Then, he decided to run home... to San Francisco... from New York, averaging "about forty-five or fifty" miles each day. Granted, he stopped somewhere in Missouri, but still. The book starts with a preface that first recounts the highest praise he has received, such as "fittest man on the planet," "no mere mortal," "the perfect human," then ends with this "Just remember, as extreme as some of my accomplishments have been, you are reading about an average guy. An extremely average guy." Let me clue you in buddy, my favorite writing rule: "Never tell a thing if you can show it instead." You know what he showed me? On pages 277 to 279, Dr. Bergman presents the findings from the blood draws and urinalysis conducted during this extravaganza. Surprise, surprise, Dean Karnazes is no mere mortal. This "extremely average guy" totally blew away the scientists' expectations of the effects of this marathon-marathon on his body. Dr. Bergman said that Karnazes "sailed through the Endurance 50, with none of the common ailments that plague the more typical athlete during one marathon, much less fifty." Dean, you aren't average, and I'm offended that you pretend to be. See, if you admit you are above-average, I can appreciate your accomplishments without having to compare myself to you, but when you insist you're average, I expect you to recount your experiences from the vantage point of an average person. I think you're slapping that "average" in my face so I'll be forced to compare myself to you. Do you really need that much validation? I think you're missing something in your life... like a fifth of whiskey. Oooouuu. I'll let karma bite me back on that one. Don't even get me started on the product pushing. I get that this was a sponsored event, but I paid cough-cough-checked-out-from-the-library to read about your experience, not to read the name of your sponsor and their oh-so-perfect shoes every other sentence. Oh, yeah, and this guy claims he was the idea behind Nike Frees. Maybe -- probably -- maybe-- he was... but go buy the shoes his sponsor makes! Even though he believes "humans are really designed to run barefoot." I agree, Dean. Go run barefoot. Then in Chapter 28, marathon #43, the Marine Corps Marathon, he says a marathoner is a warrior and likened running a marathon to war. When a runner collapsed in front of him, he says "a brother had fallen short of his destiny; a soldier had lost the war.... The scene that had just unfolded before me left me feeling grief-stricken and empty. So close to the finish line, I thought. So close. What a tragedy." Try putting forth that much effort while being shot at. Try feeling all "heroic" when your participation isn't voluntary, and you're not totally sure whether you're the good guy or the bad guy. Truth be told, I feel like he didn't get what he wanted out of this adventure. It turned into a publicity spectacle. Also, the book had a co-writer, so who knows how much of the book was his own voice. He's probably a likable, humble guy who just got caught up in a money-making scheme. No wonder after running 1310 miles in 50 days, he then went out on his own and ran roughly the same distance in 40 days without the hoopla. So was I inspired? No. But he did give me the idea to try running to an audio book. More on that later.
Enough of that rant. You think my feet are ugly? Check this out: Crazy Toes from the Runner's World Barefoot Forum. The chick with the pigtails makes me want to cry.
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