Categories
Health

8 weeks till December 31

EEK!

I posted something on facebook the other day: do something you’re passionate about. If you aren’t then at least do it for a reason/cause you are passionate about. Also floss more.

I added the last bit ’cause I always put off flossing.

But I need to remember the earlier stuff – I may not be passionate about my work all the time for example, but it’s a great job and I get to be creative and learn new things on a regular basis. AND it earns me money, which means I get to go places with Toby and Q and keep the house heated etc.

I may not be passionate about ‘running’ itself but it has brought me some amazing friends and some amazing experiences.

No one is ever passionate about losing weight I don’t think but losing weight means I get to spend more time with Q (’cause I’ll be living longer right?) and buy nice clothes at regular stores and not be uncomfortable on the subway etc.

So I have 8 weeks to work on finishing this year on a high note. I’ve been sick and a bit blah lately as a result. I’m sure I’ve gained a bunch of pounds too. I’ll weigh myself in the morning so I can see (a) how far I have come despite the recent blah-ness and (b) I can see how well I’m doing each week from here on out.

I was gonna say: wish me luck! but I don’t need luck. I just need some reminders some times.

Categories
Health

Weight loss update…

Well hell. The last time I updated was a fitness Friday on July 26! Well, I’ve been up and down a whole bunch since then – both weight and running wise. I guess I just needed some time off ’cause now I feel more committed than I have in a while.

So today – Monday October 14 – I weighed 4 pounds more than July 26. So not great BUT I’m still down 27 pounds since May 1.

Which means I would like to lose 20 by the end of the year and there are only 10 weeks to do it in. So, 2 pounds a week. Now that Thanksgiving is behind us there’s nothing major coming up until a weekend in Chicago in December and then Christmas so it’s certainly doable although definitely not easily as history has shown.

I’ll update my running this week too.

Categories
Diversions

Organizing spices

Do you ever get to the point where you just want to get control over something? Anything? Really, sometimes I get it into my head that I need to exert a little control over something. Usually this ends up with me sorting or organizing something. Today, because my brain is a bit mushy thanks to lots of travelling over the weekend, much drinking of yummy Michigan beers, and running a half-marathon.

So I took a couple of minutes to think about what needed to be sorted, what could be done in one sitting, preferably in front of a football game (it is Sunday evening after all and hockey hasn’t started yet) and didn’t require a whole heck of a lot of brain power.

Ah ha! The spices. Toby is the cook of the family but he has no memory whatsoever in most domestic-type areas. So he’ll go to the market and think “I’ll buy this and make this tonight. Oh I wonder if we have [insert herb/spice here], I should pick some up.” And we end up with three things of thyme leaves and 4 jars of cinnamon etc.

And voila, a new google spreadsheet is born. Shared with Toby of course. It lists the spices, the brand and how much we have left. Hopefully he’ll remember to check it before he buys another jar of rosemary leaves.

Am I the only one who loves spreadsheets this much? I have one for Q’s shoes, for keeping track of the baking classes available and that I’ve taken, my scentsy waxes and nail polishes. Weird right?

Categories
Health

Imaginary run to PEI – ending week 15

So mid-last week I caught up with my run to PEI. 318.7 km through to August 12. Only two runs since then – 4.5km as an easy mid-week run and a 15km race Saturday evening 🙂

I ran the Midsummer Night’s Run back in 2009. It ran along the waterfront and out onto the Leslie St. Spit. Not the most picturesque route maybe but lovely views of the city and a route I had run a few times by then (and many more since). I finished it in 1 hour, 55 minutes and change. So my initial goal this year was just to beat that. I revised that goal about a week or so ago to 1:52:30 – 15km at 7:30 minutes per km. And (drum roll please) Official time: 1:47:11

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Getting to the island was fine. I met my friend Victoria at the Novotel downtown and we took the shuttle to the ferry docks. We probably could have walked faster but hey, that’s construction in downtown Toronto in summertime.

We got to the start area about 2 hours ahead of the race – which reminded me of part of why I was hesitant about running on the island. 2 hours before the race with not much to do. Weird stalker duck kept us entertained for a while though.

IMG_4857The weather was good – a little warm and a little humid but definitely bearable. Sunny with a bit of a breeze which also reminded me of another reason I was hesitant about running on the island: LOADS of other people enjoying the islands themselves, walking, biking, pushing strollers, walking dogs. We ran on the main paths so you always had to watch out (a) for the usual much faster runners finishing their 30k runs as I was muddling through my 15k and (b) random obstacles including four-seater rental bike things, strollers and beach distractions.

The run itself was awesome. I cannot believe how well it went. I felt strong and kept it together. I stuck with the plan (10:1s) and even the water tables were co-operating. Victoria did awesome too. She’d never run more than 8 km before so I told her what I was planning to do with the 10:1s and the pacing and my goal (1:52:30). She did great. We kept together for about the first 6 km. At the walking break around there I reminded her that I really wanted to try and beat my last time and she reassured me that she was fine with me leaving but she’d try to stick with me as long as she could. She was really happy we talked about the 10:1s at the beginning because after I left she kept it up with variations (7:1.5, 5:1 etc) making sure that she ran for the whole time she set. Which I think is awesome.

It was mostly asphalt trail with some patches of boardwalk (my favourite) and sand (my least favourite) and grass.  And some of the nicest scenery of the city! We grabbed a beer afterwards and finally our bags arrived from the baggage check and we were able to head off to the ferry dock to get back to the city.

And I was reminded of why I will never ever run on the island again. It took us almost an hour to get OFF the island. There were so many people in line that three ferries came and went while we were in line!

Oh and so 19.5 km since the last report and a total of 338.2km from home. And I’m in Brockville ON. Brockville is named after Sir Isaac Brock – the hero of Upper Canada.

Categories
Diversions

Where I spend my money – the 100-mile child

Last summer we bought a house in Riverdale (I really should get on those posts eh?!)  We’re within a short walk of the Danforth to the north and Gerrard East to the south. A little further south gets us to Queen St. East and Leslieville. All very nifty areas.

Broadview subway station is on the Danforth, as is the closest LCBO (for my US friends, this is the government owned liquor store where you can purchase, uhm, booze) and Shoppers Drug Mart and the post office that we have to go to to pick up larger packages or stuff we need to sign for. Plus there are restaurants galore and I’m sure I’ll post more about those as time goes on but the shop I’m focusing on today is called the 100-mile child. I think I only noticed it the first time because it’s right beside the post office and there were sunhats from Snug as a Bug on a rack outside. I have bought a TON of PJs from them for Q, our niece and nephew in PEI and the kids of our good friends. They’re made in Toronto near where I grew up.

IMG_4828The idea behind 100-Mile Child is kinda obvious: sell products made by companies who manufacture their items locally. This is great from an environmental view point and also great for supporting local, and often very small, businesses. Now, it turns out the “100-mile” part isn’t literal. Some of the products are from Quebec for example BUT you can search on the website for the truly local stuff. And they all seem to be environmentally friendly and lots of fun.

We stopped in to buy another sunhat so we could leave one at daycare permanently. We let Q pick his own:

 

He said he liked all the animals and listed them off after having seen the hat for 10-15 seconds!
He said he liked all the animals and listed them off after having seen the hat for 10-15 seconds!

When we went inside to play pay we found a whole range of other items for babies and toddlers and big kids too. Puzzles and trucks and dress up clothes and paper products and more. Q chose this puzzle made in Dunham Quebec:

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We have since acquired two more:

three puzzles and he has to work on them all at the same time...sigh
three puzzles and he has to work on them all at the same time…sigh

One is a penguin on ice and the other is a duck.

And these are definitely going on my wish list for Q: http://www.the100milechild.ca/product.php?id=1068

danish alphabet blocks!

They also accept the LiveGreen Toronto Membership Card. I signed up for one of them a while ago but haven’t used it ever. Apparently it gets me 10% off any products they have labelled as “green.” Nice to get a bit off if there’s something I’m looking for but cannot find on sale!