Thursday, August 27, 2009

Workout Updates- Thursday

Okay okay. so I promised to provide workout updates to keep myself honest. :)
On Monday, I got off of work late, so Kent and I decided to do the Coit Tower run instead. It was pretty brutal. You run fast for a mile and a half on flat ground down the Embarcadero, then you run up about 1000 stairs up hill towards to Coit Tower, which overlooks the city of San Francisco. It is in a great neighborhood called Telegraph Hill where beautiful bright colored homes cover the STEEP streets. When we got to the top of the hill, I was completely out of breath, and feeling the pain, but we couldn't stop there. We did 100 sit ups (not crunches) and 100 pushups, then headed back down the steps and home running at a fast pace. Kent let me use his ipod, and it really pushed me to the next level. His ipod is filled with fast paced, motivating music, unlike mine which is filled with old country love songs.

Tuesday, I worked late and Kent had mediation, so I stayed home and didn't work out. I know I know... already cheating, and it was only day 2.

Last Night, Wednesday, I altered the plan a little and just did the stationary bike for 20 minutes. Not exactly a stellar workout, but at least it was something.

Tonight's workout is up in the air. I would like to get my long run in tonight...if I can get home in time!

I think setting goals is important, but it is more important to just make sure that you do something. You can alter the plan, but at least alter it to where you do something every day even if you don't do it all.

Monday, August 24, 2009

Biking the Golden Gate Bridge



This blog is supposed to be about experiencing life to the fullest out in California! Last weekend, Kent and I decided to do the classic tourist experience in San Francisco- bike the Golden Gate Bridge. I was a little nervous as I have not ridden a bike in almost 20 years, but I hoped that the old addage "It's like riding a bike" was true.

And... it was! We headed down to the Fisherman's Wharf on Saturday afternoon and rented bikes. Neither of us own bikes right now. Kent had two bikes stolen last year on campus, and I haven't owned one since I was 6 years old. There were many different routes to choose from, but the classic experience is riding through Golden Gate Park, across the bridge, and down to Sausalito, where you can pick up the Ferry for a nice ride home on the SF Bay.

I was able to get the hang of it pretty quickly, even shifting gears and putting on breaks. :) Learning to ride a bike kind of makes you feel like a kid again. With all of the hustle and bustle and stresses of every day life, it is always good to take the time to remember the simplicities of youth.

I still feel like I am visiting San Francisco, and I am on an extended vacation to the West Coast. (A vacation filled with lots of work all week long). Home is really all about being with the people you love, and has less to do with the physical location of your whereabouts.

I sometimes miss Atlanta, reminisce about my long runs there, training for a marathon, running through Lenox Park down Druid Hills Road. The running then was really all about running away from the loneliness, dealing with the pain of separation, and becoming a stronger better person throughout the process. The finish line is only icing on the cake.

Atlanta was home to me until Kent came along, and it wasn't home anymore after he left. I guess home really is where the heart is. Now my heart is here, and one day I will reminisce about our days here. I just keep reminding myself to make the most of every single moment and soak in all of the wonderful things life has to offer!

Workout Updates

I apologize to the few of you who might actually look for updates on this blog. I have not been very diligent with my blogging lately as it has been hard to find the time. Like anything, it just needs to become a priority.

Today, I am going to post my goal workouts for the week, so I can keep my self on track, and hold myself accountable. Will keep the blog updated througout the week, so you can know if I succeeded or failed.

Monday- Run 45 minutes down the Embarcadero and back- total of 1 1/2 hours
Tuesday- Cross Fit
Wed- Run to Coit Tower and back
Thur- Bike 30 minutes and then upper body weights
Friday- Stair master 30 minutes and then lower body weights
Sat- Kayaking in Monterrey
Sun- Hiking in Angel Island

Thursday, August 6, 2009

From Muir Woods to Stinson Beach




Hi everyone! I know that I have not been great about updating my blog in the past week or so, and I promise to get better!


Everything is moving along quite nicely out here in California. (I wonder if I will always use "out here" as a way of describing where I live).


Last weekend, Kent and I decided to organize a big hike. Jud and Ali drove down together from Palo Alto area early on Sunday morning to meet us in the city to begin our big adventure. We also had a surprise guest- Masha- a friend of Albert's that wanted to take the opportunity to get out of the city. Albert wasn't able to join, but he sent Masha in his place. She was wonderful to hike with, and I hope she can go on many more with us. I love being able to meet new and interesting people in a variety of different ways.


Kent and I went to Safeway early Sunday morning to prepare for a picnic at Stinson Beach... our named place of destination. On a sidenote, I love the Safeway grocery store. I truly enjoy shopping there. I do miss Publix from time to time, "where shopping is a pleasure," but Safeway gives you the "ingredients for life." We do have a variety of people that "hang out" in the store and roam the isles just staring at things. You can tell that they need help and that they probobly don't even know where they are. The homeless situation in San Francisco is really terrible, and I am continually amazed at how many there are in this city. I just wonder what is being done at a local level to help? Maybe this is something that I should get involved in. I guess that is a blog for another time.


Back to hiking... We departed with backpacks filled with food, water, blankets, etc. We started off at Muir Woods National Monument and hiked through the Mount Tamalpais State Park.


Our goal was to reach Stinson Beach (about 6miles one way), picnic there, and then head back. We met our goal, and we had a great time. Alot of the hike was uphill. On the way back from Stinson after eating a good solid lunch, the hills were harder. In order to help us lose focus on our pain, we played a word game called Contact. We had played once before in Tahoe over spring break, and we found out that Masha, our new friend, had brought the game to the US after leaving Russia.


The scenery was beautiful, and the company was great. More pics to come!