running out of steam

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A few weeks ago I decided to start running again. Other than a few runs before my annual Seattle Jingle Bell Run the last time I had really run much at all was in high school so it had been a few years. Usually about a week or 2 before the Jingle Bell Run in December I would suddenly decide that maybe this year I would run the whole 5K but after a couple of days I would realize that maybe I should have started just a bit earlier.

Usually I would end up running about 1/2 of the Jingle Bell Run and then decide I would definitely run the whole thing the following year. Well after 5 years I still hadn't made it. Cardio just isn't really my thing - I would much prefer to go to yoga, pilates, lift weights, or anything else that wouldn't require me to perspire too much or worse to get red in the face. My face turns bright red after any extended cardio - a sign I have always taken to mean that I shouldn't bother.

But my big mouth once again caught up with me when I told my sister Tanya that I would sign up to run if any of the runs she had been doing had a 5K instead of just a 10K. Of course she found one and suddenly I was committed. I had started running a few weeks before signing up but hadn't gotten very serious about it.

Now that I had to run a 5K in 4 weeks I had to step it up a notch or 2. Tanya helpfully sent me a 5K training schedule for beginners. Well it wasn't much help since it had the first day starting with a 2 mile run. If I could run 2 miles straight I wouldn't need a training schedule. I am pretty sure within 4 weeks I could certainly add on the additional mile plus. Instead I was starting from the point of just running down the block. I needed another training schedule that started from the beginning.

After searching for a while I didn't find anything that started at the level I was at and got to to running a 5K in 4 weeks. The smallest distant I had to run on any of the training schedules started at 1.5 miles - this wasn't going to work. So instead I came up with my own plan. Of course this started with shopping - because if you can't run well at least look good doing or or look like you know what you are doing. And I can always find a reason to go shopping and buy some new toys.

I bought a GPS watch so I could time my training sessions and know exactly how far (or how much further I needed to go). Then of course I needed new sport style headphones. My new gear didn't really improve my performance but I was starting to look the part more - or until I started turning bright red after a block or 2.

My plan is now to go 3.2 miles every day that I can in hopes that if I run until I have to walk and then repeat until my 3.2 miles is done that I will continue to improve. Sam even volunteered to go with me over the weekend while we were in Poulsbo on the boat. Guess he wanted to see how far I was progressing himself. Of course I did tell him that running was my new fitness plan since that meant I could do it from the boat with no equipment (well other than my new accessories). It is amazing what Sam is willing to do if it is somehow tied to a boat.

So with 2 1/2 weeks left I need to improve dramatically or find some new running accessory that will enable me to run a 5K. Really what I am hoping is that I will get a huge rush of adrenaline and it will get me through on the day of the event. In reality I may just have to walk a bit during this one but come December for the Jingle Bell Run I might actually make my goal of running that one. Really 5 years isn't that long to wait, it will just make it all that much sweeter when I finish. See I do accomplish what I set out to do - it is just on my own time table.

babies aren't really my thing

While many people (usually women) love babies I am not among them. I think they are fine but don't experience the excitement other women do when they see a baby or if they are very lucky, get to hold one. I do the courtesy hold since refusing is usually not an option and make the obligatory comments about how cute he/she is but all the while I am usually wondering how long before I can return them back to their rightful owner.

It is a tricky deal but usually there is someone around me eagerly awaiting their turn so I can hand them over pretty quickly. Don't get me wrong I don't dislike them but I don't really think they are terribly interesting.

Now when babies turn into toddlers and start walking, talking, and interacting I am interested. This is a stage where their personalities start to come through and I think they are very engaging. I enjoy having them talk to me and want to play and I can actually do something with them. Babies don't do much - and that is primarily why I don't find them fascinating as a lot of the population does.

Now maybe you are thinking it is because I don't have children but I don't think that is really the case. 2 of my sisters have children and they still aren't baby people either. They much prefer children when they have left the baby phase. I know many people miss the baby stage when it is over but they think leaving the baby phase behind is a good thing.

Labor Day weekend I headed over to Wenatchee with my sister Carla and her husband Dave. Sam was heading to Paris for business so I hitched a ride with them. When they arrived at my house I got in the back seat with Baby Ethan who is 5 months old. Now I think he is pretty cute but so far he doesn't do much though he loves to smile.

After watching him smile and laugh at me for 3 hours though I started to get the baby thing a bit more. He has the biggest grin and laugh - as far as babies go he is very happy and content. Carla says that everyone at his daycare loves him since he is one of the happiest kids.

I was thinking maybe I could start to get the baby thing. But then of course Baby E did what all babies do eventually - cry and keep crying. And as he had gotten older the crying has gotten louder, much louder and didn't stop for quite some time. The next morning when he was up at 5 on a weekend just verified my thinking all along - babies aren't really my deal.

Ethan, for a baby I think you are about the cutest one out there right now and I enjoy holding you but honestly I am ready for you to be a year old and start talking to me and interacting more. Because honestly if you haven't gotten me into the baby phase no one will.

going solo

Friday evening after work I sat on our boat at Elliott Bay Marina waiting for Sam arrive back from Paris. He was getting in after 6 and most likely wouldn't get to the boat until around 7:30 or so even coming directly from the airport.

Typically I am waiting on him to arrive from work and the boat is packed and loaded but this time he was arriving later than usual on a Friday evening so I had been ready to go for a bit. Since we weren't going very far for the weekend, Bell Harbor Marina, I was hoping we could have arrived at lunch and then headed back to work. But his business trip got in the way of my plan.

As I waited for him I wondered why I had to wait for him to come back to go to Bell Harbor. Well actually I did have to wait for him since I have never driven the boat without him on board and he talks me through docking. I didn't want to meet him at Bell Harbor only to greet him with the news, after not seeing him for a week, that our boat was going to have to spend some more time at the boatyard. Not conducive to a great weekend together.

Granted we have gotten a few marks and dings on the boat but they are his marks and dings since he is usually acting as skipper and I only dock the boat in conditions that won't cause damage. Up until now I have preferred it that way - or as I like to state "His boat, his problem." If he wasn't on board that statement suddenly wouldn't fly anymore.

But as I waited I wondered why it was that I couldn't grab a friend and take the boat over to meet him. There really wasn't a reason I couldn't do this other than I would have to learn how to do it. Most things I can do myself when I want to (though some I feel are things Sam should do and I just don't do them on principle or lack of interest such as emptying the head or cleaning out the drains) and why would driving the boat without him be any different.

My sister Tanya told me she should have come over when she realized I would be missing out on part of the Cougar Yacht Club festivities by arriving so late. Then we both laughed knowing that there was no way we would attempt it, but it sounded good in theory. By Friday evening though I had seriously started wondering why I wouldn't do this.

So now because I am a bit (okay maybe a slight understatement here) independent and like to take charge I have now suddenly decided I should be able to take the boat out or at least dock it without Sam on board or even in the vicinity. Of course that means I have to practice docking more, tons more, which will make Sam happy since he is always trying to get me to dock the boat.

Now I have another item to put on my bucket list and it is a bit bigger than docking the boat with an audience. Now I want to drive the boat and dock it without a skipper - just me and someone who is willing to jump at least to the dock when I get within 10 feet.

I will say though we made a grand entrance into Bell Harbor Marina with the huge Coug flag flying from our mast. Most everyone was on the dock and we were greeted with loud cheers and Go Cougs. This was a much better entrance than I would have gotten coming in during lunch. Maybe retaining my first mate status wasn't so bad.

But by Saturday once again I was wondering going solo. Now I need to figure out if boating insurance is like car insurance and for new drivers the premiums are higher, but I think I will refrain from asking so my premiums won't suddenly skyrocket.

So if next year for the Cougar Game in Seattle if you see a gray sailboat heading towards Bell Harbor steer clear of me and if you are at the Marina please come by to grab my lines. It could be me trying out my hand at solo sailing. Won't Sam be surprised when he gets the call to meet me at Bell Harbor instead of at Elliott Bay? I think he will be pretty pleased as long as those bumpers do their job and the dockhands know what they are doing.