Phoebe Buffay

First of all, with respect to HBBC, can I just say that eating 7 servings of fruits and vegetables a day is hard? Like, harder than running a mile? Who knew?

Okay, I am feeling so much better now! I'm still coughing but I think (I hope!) I might finally have recovered from pneumonia. It was gorgeous outside today, 1°C and sunny, so I decided to go out for a run. I chose a hilly route of 4.26km (2.65 miles) and planned to take my time and enjoy the fresh air, the sunshine and the exercise. The run felt slow while I was doing it but considering that I'm just coming back from being sick, was running 10 and 1s, hit two red lights and ran up three hills I think thirty minutes is a pretty good time. My legs didn't feel strong but that's from lack of recent practice and activity. More running, regular activity and muscle memory will take care of that pretty quickly, I think. Since I haven't been out much lately so I wasn't sure what to wear and overdressed. I should have used this handy "What To Wear" chart that appeared in the National Post last week. D'oh!

The beauty of running at a certain time of day is that the sun hits your back at that perfect angle so your shadow looks long and lean in front of you. You can imagine that you look like a real athlete and not what you fear you might actually look like: Phoebe Buffay.

Or perhaps this little beauty:

HBBC Weekly Tally - Week 2

I'd love to win a Gymboss to make sure I hold my stretches long enough!

November 26 - December 2 (still sidelined by pneumonia)

26
27 +2: run 2 miles
28 +3: run 1 mile on the treadmill, 20 minutes of stretching, 7 servings of fruits & vegetables
29 +2: stretching & hand weights, 7 servings of fruits & vegetables
30 +1: 7 servings of fruits & vegetables
1 +3.5: run 2 miles, walk .5 miles, 20 minutes of stretching
2

Additional challenge and question points:
+1: HBBC participant with up to date points
+1: Tweet, FB or link back on blog


Weekly Total: 13.5

Challenge Total: 22.5

HBBC Weekly Tally - Week 1

November 19 - 25 (sidelined by pneumonia)

19 +4: run 3 miles and 20 minutes stretching
20
21
22
23
24
25

Additional challenge and question points:

Bonus points:
+1: link on Facebook
+1: Tweet with link
+2: HBBC linked badge on this blog
+1: Resolution Run sign-up

Weekly Total: 9


Challenge Total: 9

Pneumonia? I hardly know ya!

I guess I'm sicker than I thought because Saturday's effort knocked me flat on my a$$ for two days. After trying to get an appointment first with my doctor and then with my husband's, I made a trip to the local walk-in clinic. Surprisingly I was in and out in two hours during which time I was seen, x-rayed, diagnosed, prescribed and medicated. Pneumonia. So my 10k running clinic is sidelined and I'm at a real disadvantage for HBBC. It was kind of cool looking at my bones and lungs though!

Energy Begets Energy

The Holiday Bootie Buster Challenge starts today! I think I'm more of a Builder but I signed up as a Doer. As Sam says, go big or go home.

Unfortunately I'm starting the challenge at a bit of a disadvantage because I've been sick in bed with the flu all week. I am shaky and exhausted but still, on the premise that energy begets energy, I decided to try to earn some points. I would have loved to go for a run but settled for a walk on the treadmill. I walked three miles at 4 mph then followed up with 20 minutes of stretching. 4 points!

I used to run on the treadmill all the time but I haven't used it for a while since I've been running outside. Today I noticed how much further 3 miles seems on the treadmill than it does outside. And it sucked. It felt like the treadmill belt was a Möbius strip...endless!

Garmin To A Go-Go

I want a running device. I want a gadget or tool or accessory that tells me how fast and how far I've run, something that spits out data that will allow me to track, measure and compare, something that will motivate me. There are so many options to choose from and oooooh, how I covet them all!

I've been using a borrowed Nike+ for several months (along with a borrowed iPod; thank you, J!) and I lovelovelove it when that saucy minx whispers "200 meters" in my ear so I seriously considered buying one. Unfortunately the Nike+ only works with an iPhone or an iPod. I don't have either and I'm not looking to replace the phone and mp3 player that I do have. They work just fine and it would be an expensive proposition. Oh, and I'd need an armband too. More expense. So as much as I've enjoyed using the Nike+, that's out.

What about a new phone then? iPhones, Android phones and some of the other new smartphones have gps built in and a wide variety of apps that would do the job for me. You can use them as music players too so they'd be multi-purpose tools. A new phone would be expensive, though, especially since mine is still under contract and not due for an upgrade for a long time. A phone is a bit cumbersome too, even with an armband (and it's hard to see the display on something strapped into an armband). So that's out too.

Sports watch? Excellent idea! A Garmin. But which one? I'm torn between the 305 and the 405. The 405 is definitely sexier but is anything that big and bulky truly sexy? The 305 offers an extra field of data on its larger clearer display. The 405 has a touch screen (not sure that's a plus for someone like me) and has a wireless autosync feature. Otherwise they seem pretty even on a feature-by-feature basis, and right now they are similarly priced too. I'm leaning toward the 305 but uuuuuurgh! Decisions, decisions!
What device(s) do you use, and what advice can you offer to help me choose?

Run Like A Girl

I have finally earned my husband's respect for my running. All along he's been kinda "Yeah yeah, whatever" or "I could do that. It'd probably be easy for me since I play hockey" but ever since I described Sunday's route to him (7.6k of hill after hill after hill) he's all "Wow, that first hill alone would kill me. That's impressive!" Yeah, baby, that's right, it would! And it is! AND I AM!