A Room with a View

No workout today as I have to work and then travel east. I thought you might like to see the view from one of the best conference rooms we have in our office - it looks right down to the Ferry Building on the Embarcadero. Highs in the 60s today so everyone was out on Market Street at Lunch.

40 Minute Cross Training

I'm battling down a terrible cold which has now manifested itself with a nasty cough which kept me indoors all day today. I did manage to get myself up off the couch at 9PM and head over to the workout room since I knew tomorrow was a plane day all day.

I pushed myself for 30 minutes on the elliptical at a set pace. I completed 2.1 miles in 30 minutes and then went over to the treadmill and did a 1/2 mile in 10 minutes for a total of 40 minutes. I wish the pace on the treadmill could convert to pounding the pavement, but I'm pretty sure endurance is getting better. Watched SuperNanny throughout the workout -- we had a naughty step when I was a kid at 3213 -- but mom never made us stay as long as our years. I wonder what 48 minutes would be like on the naughty step now!

Headed back east for Big Red Softball this weekend and will connect with the DC Chapter of TNT. Plan to sneak my cousin in to run with us and am really looking forward to someone who will stay with me (despite the fact she could run right by). Also looking forward to seeing all the GGNrs on Friday night at Belva's.

Big Shout out to Dictor/Martin and Team who weighed in with a contribution to LLS. Just when I thought I had squeezed every last penny out of my mailing, in they came with a strong show of support. Thanks!

Natazha Core Training :)

So I wanted you all to see core class and get a shot of the roller. We are in the old commissary at the Presidio made into a "Sports Basement" and they give us this area to work out on Tuesday nights. I didn't get Nastazha but hopefully you'll see a bit what it is like. I did a couple push ups today so that was progress. I definitely figured out that my left side is MUCH weaker than my right, I may need to work on it a bit so I can see some improvement next week.

Small mishap when I went to the zipcar -- it was a Scion (really wierd car) and I couldn't get it started. Panicked I had paid but couldn't get anywhere I called zip car and made it through the voice automated service and who would think that you had to move the steering wheel to start the car? Well the good news was that it worked. Its a great service for the Tuesday night core trainings.

Borrowed from a fellow blogger (sure made me laugh)
"The EPA might drop its requirement that farms report toxic emissions from large piles of manure, saying nobody pays attention to the reports anyway. They did, however, stop short of calling the reports a huge load of crap."

Inside YOYO at the Beacon

96 Days to Go Till June 1, 2008 and the Rock and Roll Marathon.

Well, I pushed myself a bit too hard on Saturday and so I wasn't ready to run the 5K on Sunday so I ditched it -- it didn't help that it was pouring rain and 45 degrees. So I did what the schedule said for level 1 -- Rest. Quick trip down to Mountain View to visit Aunt Sheila who should be out of the hospital this week.

Tonight I had a meeting that ran late, so I went inside versus Embarcadero to my favorite treadmill. Watched a terrible show on convicts in high security prisons who can't seem to stay good to get out -- not quite sure why i didn't try to change the channel. Made it for 25 minutes J/W on the 2:1 path for the full 25 minutes and then 5 minutes cool down (1.9 Miles Distance). I definitely feel in the month I've been at this that I have improved, but the thought of 7.X miles in two weeks still scares me.

I got great news today that my nephew is going to fly out to accompany me on this 12K race across the Golden Gate Bridge and then celebrate St. Patty's with his friend in Monterey. Will definitely make me push a bit this week to get even more distance done while jogging. Tomorrow its back to Natasha after missing last week - I can hardly imagine how far behind I will be.

Fundraising has slowed, need to start knocking on doors again.

Return to Willow Glen

I returned to the Willow Glen track after an overnight in San Jose to celebrate Carmel's birthday and see "Vantage Point" (movie was much like groundhog day - but with a presidential assassination baked in -- get it on Netflix - don't pay $10 to see it).

Probably since I took 3 days off, the 35 min j/w on the schedule was a bit daunting, but it actually worked out. I walked for 5 minutes, and then started to jog -- well 2 minutes went by before I realized my watch was beeping so I decided to try jog for 2 and walk for 1. This lasted for 25 minutes (yippee!). The last ten were j/w for 1.5 min/ walk for 1.5 minutes, but I made it the full 35 minutes. Adding on 15 for walking back and forth and it was a good 50 minutes before the rain started. Gives me a little confidence for the 5K tomorrow. Looks like it is going to rain the whole day so I'm not sure if I am motivated enough to get out and do it.

Today is a bit of errands and visit to Aunt Sheila in Mountain View on my way back to the city. Have a great day!

Spirit of the Marathon

I needed some inspiration tonight - after 3 solid days with no workout. I used the excuse of client dinner and Cirque du Soliel on Tuesday and Wednesday without a workout. Tonight I went to see "Spirit of the Marathon" movie with Debbie -- there were other TNT'rs there, but I didn't see them.

Wow! Pretty amazing movie if you are thinking about marathoning (I'm guessing its a NetFlix rental if you want it). Made me jazzed again to get back out there tomorrow and do those 1:1's. I've signed up for a 5K on Sunday here in San Francisco -- my goal is to 1:1 the whole way through which would be quite a stretch. Wish me luck!

A Different Kind of YOYO

I got a reality check today when we had a fire drill here in the SFO Office. The walk down the 4 flights of stairs to our alternate location was a piece of cake. However, the walk back up the 4 flights of stairs with no rest was a rude awakening of what might happen if I encounter a hill sometime soon. Out to dinner tonight, so I feel a treadmill activity coming on later!

Whoo! Hoo!

Instead of the 20Min J/W Buddy Run, I did a YOYO from 4th and King to Washington Street Roundtrip (3.4Miles -- J/W for 25 walk for 35). Walking home I saw a billboard near the Oakland Bay Bridge (above) that said "Whoo Hoo!" That really made me smile as that is an expression that a friend Tobi and I used often when we worked together.

Figured out I have to go to Green Street for a 4 Mile R/T and its 6.4 Miles Rountrip to Pier 45 wihch is where all the tourists go when they go down to Fisherman's Wharf. At least I have some mile markers.

Tough to get all the workouts in this week due to a client dinner tomorrow night, and Cirque du Soleil on Wednesday night. The city is also going to be soaked again straight through Saturday, where our Mentor Run is from the Ferry Building. (I went there today and also went by the Amtrak station and thought of CAS).

I have to find a way to carry my camera so I can take some shots along the way to share with you all of San Francisco. I saw Coit Tower today from my walk!

Polling Results -- Can DMH Run a 1/2 Marathon?

Thanks to the 13 of you who voted (I did too!) on the Blog Poll. It closed yesterday and here are the results to

Can DMH Run a 1/2 Marathon?
13 (92%) voted Absolutely (Thanks for the confidence)
1 (7%) voted I'll Believe it When I see it (that was me!)
0 (0%) are praying for me <--I really need help here!
0 (0%) Absolutely Not

I'll work on another poll, but thanks for checking in and continuing to support me. As of today, I've crossed the $2K amount through your generosity.
Thanks!

60 Minutes (35 Interval) on Siesta Key

Sunday Morning (last day on the Key) and thanks to Nancy from yesterday, I did 35 minutes of 1:1 (jog/walk) about 1.7 miles down to the lower bridge. Seemed much easier to have some sort of plan for the trip. I walked back with a couple jogs (couple =2). Its a beautiful day here on Siesta Key today!

Should be a low key day with a mall walk with M&D and a couple stops before I head on back up to Tampa and back to San Francisco (via Dallas). Will be back at 9:00PM PST ready for a busy week of work and working out.

Big shout out to LoLoOntheGo for her support of the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.

Lido Beach Run & Coach Nancy

Today was one of the best TNT days yet, thanks to my new friends in the Sarasota/Bradenton Walk/Run team. I joined them at Lido Beach at 7AM on Saturday and despite the small team they were full of friendship, support and welcome.

Nancy and her stopwatch befriended me and we managed to run/walk (1 minute intervals) for 2 Miles -- except for a couple times when I couldnt make it the 60 seconds and quit at 45 seconds (what a wimp!). She's a run coach for galloway.com and gave me lots of encouragement and hints, plus having someone to run/talk with (that hasn't happened in San Fran yet). She's going to be in San Diego so that will be neat if/when I see her then!

After the 2 miles, Sharon stepped in and walked with me for 2 more miles. You would have thought we were lifelong friends with all we talked about. If you are a runner, check out onashoestringinc.com website where she and her husband have started a small business catering to those of of crazy enough to do this!

My day was already full and fun by 8:30Am but the fun didn't stop there. Delivery of 23 Meals on Wheels with M&D , followed by a delicious lunch at Marina Jack (thank you J&B!), a visit with friends Ernie & Jane, mass with Pancho, and then Italian Dinner out with family and friends (Thanks Salie!)

Tommorrow is the last day, should be quieter on the Key -- Salty Dog is the only planned highlight and than back to SFO on Sunday afternoon. It was an awesome day!

Sarasota FL -- Jog/Walk

What a beautiful weekend here in Sarasota, Florida. I was up early for a jog/walk down the Key to Stickney Point Road. Round trip 50 minutes and hopeful that there was 20+ minutes of jogging mixed inbetween.

Focused on running with my feet facing forward (versus out) to eliminate pronating. Pretty interesting once someone had told you the right way to do it, how easy it is to see someone else doing it running ahead of you.

Catching up with all the friends and family here...and lunch up in Sarasota after visiting with Steve, Karin and Wayne. Tomorrow is the run with the Sarasota team at Lido beach with a 7AM start - I'm already procrastinaing getting up that early!

Have a great day!

Cross Training (25 Elliptical, 30 Walk)

I pushed myself through 25 full minutes on the elliptical today, I'm sure I hit my target heartrate for a while. Then I finished up watching a show on TV on the treadmill, another 30 minutes at 3.0 -- made it 1.5 miles. Big day on Saturday when I head to Lido Beach to run with the TNT Team there for 3.0 Miles. I'm sure I can make the distance, just hope a good part of it is jogging. Have to be back on the "Key" by 10:15 to deliver Meals on Wheels with the parental units.

A funny thing happened today when I went to apply for a SFO Library Card -- my license ends with 1930 and the gentleman checking me in said he thought that was my birth year and was going to ask me what I was doing to look so good! Needless to say I got quite a chuckle out of that - thinking I was the same age as Dad :)

In 1991, I met a guy named Ed who became my study partner for MBA at Columbia. We worked together at two companies and I learned a great deal from and about him and I got to know his family. They weighed in with support today and I am truly thankful for their generosity. Ed & Patty have been helping me for all these years, and they come through again! Thanks you two!

Uno Wins Best in Show

How bout that? A beagle for the first time wins best in show?

http://www.westminsterkennelclub.org/
To check it out :)

Snoopy (a beagle)came from Denver to VA to live with my extended family and made a huge impact on everyone. Can't help but think of her and MVH!

Congrats UNO! (A favorite Pizza of mine as well!) U RA!

Core Training...Quite a Workout

Week 3 with Natazha who continues to amaze me with her flexibility. I think I saw some improvement, but without a visual on this roller and what we do with it, its really hard to try to explain.

Imagine a round sytrofoam tube the length of your torso (so buns and heads can be on it). Lay down...hands behind your head, do a crunch, rotate to the right and lift your right leg off the ground. The only connection you have with the ground is your left foot. Or alternately, lift your right leg up to 90 degrees, and put your right hand and then left on the knee. Release and change positions. If I didn't know how ridiculous I'd look on YouTube, I'd do a video. The good news is I could do this today with at least one side of my body. The other needs work.

Pushups -- managed 2 today -- she's holding them for 30 seconds. Absolutely no way.

Some walk away from the hour session looking quite refreshed. I on the other hand look like a drowned rat :0 I asked for some help on upper body, so in two weeks I'm going to learn about dynabands. Pretty sure I can wait for that one.

NextWave Wireless weighed in today with a great contribution (and great to connect) as well as my Leominster Mom (mother of Bentley Brother from yesterday). I'm almost half way to my goal for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.

Political predictions came out as I guessed last night. Maybe I should be a pundit?

YOYO Elliptical (20) Walk (30)

Buddy Run just didn't get me jazzed up tonight...too far to travel for 20 minutes so I decided to workout at home. (Might be because I washed my bus pass and its no longer usable!)

Larry King Live kept me company tonight from 9PM to 10PM...I don't get CNN in the apartment, so even if its just to walk, I may be over there more often during this crazy election period.

Elliptical for 20 minutes (Level 1 was a 20 minute run). I was definitely pushing myself, but remembered all those supporters, quotes and reason why i was doing this and pushed through.

The walk at 3 MPH was just to keep watching LKL until it was over. Tomorrow is the Potomac Primaries and i've voted by absentee -- sounds like VA is scheduled to go Obama and McCain -- we'll see.

I couldn't have done it tonight without all of you. And I need you to stick with me for the next 110 Days till June 1, 2008. Thanks!!!

Quotable Quotes

Not sure if I'm looking for inspiration today or if its just coming my way. Three quotes I got today that certainly had meaning

From TNT Coach Joe in his weekly news:
"The body does not want you to do this. As you run, it tells you to stop but the mind must be strong. It is not age; it is not diet. It is the will to succeed."
- Jacqueline Gareau, 1980 Boston Marathon champ


From a Personal CFO friend that marathons
"I will be what others will not be, because I will do what others will not do."

From a great Real Estate Agent in Montgomery County:
"Before everything else, getting ready is the secret to success" -- Henry Ford

And a big shout out to Leominster MA from my "little Bentley brother" and his family who weighed in with support to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society

Mentor Run at Blackies Pasture

What a gorgeous morning to take a drive over the Golden Gate Bridge to Timuron (sp?) and a run along the shore at Blackie's Pasture! Thanks to Rachel's wheels, she and Sara and I tooled over there at 7:15 am and we all did a little better than we thought.

- I went the distance the "1s" went but in the time of the 2's (35 Minutes)
- Sara moved up to be a "2" and did great
- Rachel ran with the 3s and was still breathing and chatty when we finished.

I'm not as beat as I was last Saturday - but no clinic or Chi added onto the run and it was sunny and beautiful versus cold and rainy. Today is a perfect San Francisco Day in February - should reach the 60's today.

Big shout out to Camp Naples who registered in with their support of the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. I'm still learning things from my first manager ever!

Off to enjoy the rest of the weekend!

Thursday Rest

Thanks to a visit from a friend and colleague (Ray) to pursue business here in San Franciso, I called Thursday a rest day and enjoyed eating the in-season crab both at lunch and dinner in the Financial District.

"Wow, you walk faster than me" was a quote from Ray as we were leaving dinner. I guess all this working out is paying off! The true test is whether i can keep pace with RLV (another colleague) who is tall and has long legs.

Huge shout out to Tarara Winery in Leesburg VA for their support of the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society -- my largest contributor to date, and to quote them "Just find 9 other people who love you as much as we do and you'll be done." Back at you M&W!

Tonight back to the grind and Mentor Run on Sunday!

Jog/Walk Treadmill and Crime Witness

YOYO on the treadmill tonight for 30+ minutes, 2 miles with intervals of jogging and running. Hopefully I'll be able to do at least 2 miles on Saturday mentor run. Still reeling from core workout yesterday!

I was riding home on the MUNI and a guy on the train grabbed someones iphone and jumped off the train almost before the doors were closing. The lady that it happened to managed to get off the train and was running after him. It was all the train could talk about for the rest of the ride. Guess I won't work on my blackberry while riding - although it doesn't have the pull of an iphone.

Missing the Coaches Workout at Kezar Stadium due to a client meeting tomorrow night, so I'll be back in the workout room -- maybe a stint in the pool for a change?

DMH Meets the Roller

The little nymph in green came back with a vengence this week -- and we all added a foam roller to our equipment - and man does that add some challenge to the task of floor exercises!

I zipped over to the Sports Basement picking up Aimee along the way. The class was grueling but satisfying -- I continue to learn new things and try new things and find a way to laugh with all the team members in training.

I have got to learn to do push ups. She's up to 10 and I can't do one. Thats a challenge for this week on top of running a bit farther.

Buddy Run -- Keysar Stadium

Home of the San francisco 49rs from 1946 to 1971 was the venue for my first "Buddy Run." Right across the street from Golden Gate Park - I'll have to find my way back in the daylight and check it out

Probably a group of about 15 people in three groups. Four of us aligned to "Group 1" so we ran around the track at the stadium (after a loop at the top for warmup before stretches.)

Overall a good experience -- I went 2 miles (8 laps) and ran at least one part of every 1/4 mile. New shoes and new socks - we'll see how that works out.

There are some real enthusiasts out there -- a guy jumping 2 feet together up two steps at a time up the stadium seats! another guy running up and down the steps in a section. I need to remember my ipod so I've got some company as right now I'm the tortoise and no one is quite as slow as me.

Great day connecting with friends for fundraising. Big shout out to Barb, Dave and Joan & Bob -- Thanks for contributing to Leukemia and Lymphoma Society!

Tommorrow is Core Strengthening again.. I'm going to "zipcar" over and pick up Amy who I met tonight at the run -- she lives nearby.

Team Run Number 1

Chi Running Clinic
All about running from your core and relaxing your legs. Some really interesting insights about how your run. How you hold your body seems VERY important to your endurance ability.

Team Run 1's chose 1,2, o4 3 miles
Definitely the tortoise of the group, I made it more than a mile, but probably only 1/2 of it running (combo run walk). Focused alot on "how" -- "Go Team" from Rachel and High Five from Casey definitely helped me keep going.

Added Mary Blood to the Honoree Banner so she will be with us every step of the way.

Its raining here now this afternoon -- thinking a power nap is in order.