1. I love my job. After laughter yoga on Tuesday night, I met another new group of youth on Thursday night. They're activity of choice for our first meeting? Cycle Fit at the Y. I was stoked because I've never done a spinning class, and I've always wanted to try it. With the limited running I've been doing, it was great to SWEAT for an hour, and even better, no hip or knee pain during or after and my legs felt great today. AND even better than that, it was so great to see a group of young people so excited to work out and acknowledging their own accomplishment afterwards. I love it!
2. Tonight I met yet another group and the activity on tap was exercise for our brain - activities to practice our second language. 3 members organized a game for the whole group where questions were asked in French, and if you answered yes, you moved one space to the right. If your answer was no, you stayed put. So, if the person to your right said no and you said yes, you moved and sat on their lap. Only the person on top of the pile could move in the next round, so at times we had 4 people sitting on top of eachother, but everyone was using their listening skills and helping with translation when needed. Again, so great to see a group of youth laughing and smiling and enjoying learning. (It's almost as if they didn't realize that's what they were doing).
3. I have been dragging at work for a little while now, but a week like this was just what I needed. It's weeks like this that make the tough ones worth while. Now I remember why I do what I do. :)
Thursday, October 6, 2011
Wednesday, October 5, 2011
Laughter Yoga
Sometimes, my job is hard. Sometimes, I deal with situations that are challenging, difficult, emotional, heart-tugging, anger-inducing, stressful or downright ridiculous. Last night, my job took me to Laughter Yoga.
We have new groups of young people and last night was my first time meeting one of my groups for dinner and an activity. Their activity of choice? Laughter Yoga.
If you've never tried it, you should. You will feel down right silly, and maybe even a little bit awkward at first, but I guarantee, that especially if you go with a friend, you will end up having a really good, belly laugh.
The idea behind laughter yoga is that when you laugh, you feel good. There is science behind this, as when we laugh, we release hormones that make us feel better. Apparently, our endocrine system doesn't know the difference between a real laugh and a fake laugh, so those feel-good chemicals start whirling around even when you let out a false chuckle.
Last night's session started with going around the circle with introductions and a silly laugh. The only rule was that nobody laughs alone. Sure enough, the fake giggles had turned into real laughs before we were a quarter of the way around the circle.
We did other activities that included mingling and making eye contact and greeting each other with a little laugh, circling the room with new dance moves, forming an inner and outer circle and turning opposite directions while laughing, forming two lines on opposite sides of the room and approaching each other laughing, and the grounding laugh, where you "ho, ho, ha, ha" in rhythm. All was interspersed with brief deep breathing exercises, reminicent of the type of yoga you might be more familiar with. To end, we did a laughter meditation, where everyone lied down, heads toward the centre of the circle, and started laughing. This went on for several minutes, and as cheesy as it sounds, I found my laughter was uncontrollable, and a full body laugh.
If it sounds silly, that's because it is. I mean, it's ridiculous really - a room of adults, moving around a room, laughing for no good reason. But that's the point. You can't help but laugh!
I've been to laughter yoga a few times, with a few different groups that I've worked with. My experience has often been the same, one or two minutes of feeling awkward, followed by 45 minutes of hard laughter and a rush of energy afterwards. I have been and felt that I really needed that laugh, that it had been a long time since I had laughed so hard. Last night I realized that I have been laughing a lot lately, and that made me feel even better. :)
If you're interested in learning more or finding laughter yoga near you, check out www.laughteryoga.org
Have you ever tried laughter yoga? When is the last time you had a really good laugh?
We have new groups of young people and last night was my first time meeting one of my groups for dinner and an activity. Their activity of choice? Laughter Yoga.
If you've never tried it, you should. You will feel down right silly, and maybe even a little bit awkward at first, but I guarantee, that especially if you go with a friend, you will end up having a really good, belly laugh.
The idea behind laughter yoga is that when you laugh, you feel good. There is science behind this, as when we laugh, we release hormones that make us feel better. Apparently, our endocrine system doesn't know the difference between a real laugh and a fake laugh, so those feel-good chemicals start whirling around even when you let out a false chuckle.
Last night's session started with going around the circle with introductions and a silly laugh. The only rule was that nobody laughs alone. Sure enough, the fake giggles had turned into real laughs before we were a quarter of the way around the circle.
We did other activities that included mingling and making eye contact and greeting each other with a little laugh, circling the room with new dance moves, forming an inner and outer circle and turning opposite directions while laughing, forming two lines on opposite sides of the room and approaching each other laughing, and the grounding laugh, where you "ho, ho, ha, ha" in rhythm. All was interspersed with brief deep breathing exercises, reminicent of the type of yoga you might be more familiar with. To end, we did a laughter meditation, where everyone lied down, heads toward the centre of the circle, and started laughing. This went on for several minutes, and as cheesy as it sounds, I found my laughter was uncontrollable, and a full body laugh.
If it sounds silly, that's because it is. I mean, it's ridiculous really - a room of adults, moving around a room, laughing for no good reason. But that's the point. You can't help but laugh!
I've been to laughter yoga a few times, with a few different groups that I've worked with. My experience has often been the same, one or two minutes of feeling awkward, followed by 45 minutes of hard laughter and a rush of energy afterwards. I have been and felt that I really needed that laugh, that it had been a long time since I had laughed so hard. Last night I realized that I have been laughing a lot lately, and that made me feel even better. :)
If you're interested in learning more or finding laughter yoga near you, check out www.laughteryoga.org
Have you ever tried laughter yoga? When is the last time you had a really good laugh?
Sunday, September 25, 2011
Sunday Stroll
We had an invasion yesterday....to the chicken coop.
The BF had let the chickens out for some free run time on the grass, and I was periodically checking that they didn't get out on the road. [Insert obvious joke here]. At some point, between my checks, the chicks disappeared. There were feathers around the yard, and after a bit of searching, we found 3 of 9. One in the bushes, and 2 in the neighbour's garden. A 4th was spotted but was so skittish that we couldn't catch it. The BF found the rooster, minus the head, left in the woods behind the yard. We found another this morning in the garage (with all its parts). That leaves 4 more, MIA.
Aside from losing 5 chickens (including my favourite), the downside of this is that the BF was intent on catching the wily fox who caught the chickens, so despite it being a BEAUTIFUL day, we had to cut our usual Sunday hike short, so he could be home in time to stalk the fox.
For the record, I don't know what he plans to do if he catches that fox. He's hiding in the garage with a shovel, and I'm not asking questions.
Despite cutting the hike short, we caught a glimpse of salmon fighting their way up the creek, and had a beautiful, if short, walk in the woods.
The BF had let the chickens out for some free run time on the grass, and I was periodically checking that they didn't get out on the road. [Insert obvious joke here]. At some point, between my checks, the chicks disappeared. There were feathers around the yard, and after a bit of searching, we found 3 of 9. One in the bushes, and 2 in the neighbour's garden. A 4th was spotted but was so skittish that we couldn't catch it. The BF found the rooster, minus the head, left in the woods behind the yard. We found another this morning in the garage (with all its parts). That leaves 4 more, MIA.
Aside from losing 5 chickens (including my favourite), the downside of this is that the BF was intent on catching the wily fox who caught the chickens, so despite it being a BEAUTIFUL day, we had to cut our usual Sunday hike short, so he could be home in time to stalk the fox.
For the record, I don't know what he plans to do if he catches that fox. He's hiding in the garage with a shovel, and I'm not asking questions.
Despite cutting the hike short, we caught a glimpse of salmon fighting their way up the creek, and had a beautiful, if short, walk in the woods.
 |
| There are salmon in there! |
Saturday, September 24, 2011
Same same but different
Welcome to my new blog! Well, it's still the same blog, but it's different.
I started the blog when I decided to run my first marathon, and I continuted it as I trained for my second marathon, and when I started to train for my third. But when I stopped training, my blog title seemed a little silly. This doesn't mean I'll never run another marathon, but I want this space to be about more than marathon training. So new title, new direction!
I'll still be writing about running, and getting ready for whatever race distance I choose to train for next, but also about yoga, cross training, strength training, hiking, yummy food, and rest and relaxation!
I have lots of ideas for upcoming posts, so stay tuned!
I started the blog when I decided to run my first marathon, and I continuted it as I trained for my second marathon, and when I started to train for my third. But when I stopped training, my blog title seemed a little silly. This doesn't mean I'll never run another marathon, but I want this space to be about more than marathon training. So new title, new direction!
I'll still be writing about running, and getting ready for whatever race distance I choose to train for next, but also about yoga, cross training, strength training, hiking, yummy food, and rest and relaxation!
I have lots of ideas for upcoming posts, so stay tuned!
Wednesday, September 21, 2011
Yoga Mat For Sale
I haven't been posting much lately. Work has been hectic and I'm trying to regain work-life balance. I've been working on being more efficient during work hours (ie. no bloggy breaks), and then staying away from my laptop in pre and post work hours to stop me from straying from fun stuff back over to work stuff.
I do have some ideas for upcoming posts, so I will be back soon! In the meantime, this came across my desk today. You may have already seen it, but I think it's pretty funny! It was actually forwarded by a colleague as a pick me up because of all of the stuff that's been going on. I laughed outloud and I think you will too!
Yoga mat for sale. Used once at lunch hour class in December 2009. Usage timeline as follows:
11:45a
Register for hot yoga class. Infinite wisdom tells me to commit to 5 class package and purchase a yoga mat. I pay $89.74. Money well spent, I smugly confirm to myself.
11:55a
Open door to yoga room. A gush of hot dry air rushes through and past me. It smells of breath, sweat and hot. Take spot on floor in back of room next to cute blonde. We will date.
11:57a
I feel the need to be as near to naked as possible. This is a problem because of the hot blonde to my left and our pending courtship. She will not be pleased to learn that I need to lose 30 pounds before I propose to her.
11:58a
The shirt and sweats have to come off. I throw caution to the wind and decide to rely on my wit and conditioning to overcome any weight issues my fiancée may take issue with. This will take a lot of wit and conditioning.
11:59a
Begin small talk with my bride to be. She pretends to ignore me but I know how she can be. I allow her to concentrate and stare straight ahead and continue to pretend that I don't exist. As we finish sharing our special moment, I am suddenly aware of a sweat moustache that has formed below my nose. This must be from the all the whispering between us.
12:00p
Instructor enters the room and ascends her special podium at the front of the room. She is a slight, agitated Chinese woman. She introduces me to the class and everyone turns around to greet me just as I decide to aggressively adjust my penis and testes packed in my Under Armor. My bride is notably unfazed.
12:02p
Since I do have experience with Hot Yoga (4 sessions just 5 short years ago) I fully consider that I may be so outstanding and skilled that my instructor may call me out and ask me to guide the class. My wife will look on with a sparkle in her eye. We will make love after class.
12:10p
It is now up to 95 degrees in the room. We have been practicing deep breathing exercises for the last 8 minutes. This would not be a problem if we were all breathing actual, you know, oxygen. Instead, we are breathing each other's body odor, expelled carbon dioxide and other unmentionables. (Don't worry, I'll mention them later.)
12:26p
It is now 100 degrees and I take notice of the humidity, which is hovering at about 90%. I feel the familiar adorning stare of my bride and decide to look back at her. She appears to be nauseated. I then realize that I forgot to brush my teeth prior to attending this class. We bond.
12:33p
It is now 110 degrees and 95% humidity. I am now balancing on one leg with the other leg crossed over the other. My arms are intertwined and I am squatting. The last time I was in this position was 44 years ago in the womb, but I'm in this for the long haul. My wife looks slightly weathered dripping sweat and her eyeliner is streaming down her face. Well, "for better or worse" is what we committed to so we press on.
12:40p
The overweight Hispanic man two spots over has sweat running down his legs. At least I think its sweat. He is holding every position and has not had a sip of water since we walked in. He is making me look bad and I hate him.
12:44p
I consider that if anyone in this room farted that we would all certainly perish.
12:52p
It is now 140 degrees and 100% humidity. I am covered from head to toe in sweat. There is not a square millimeter on my body that is not slippery and sweaty. I am so slimy that I feel like a sea lion or a maybe sea eel. Not even a bear trap could hold me. The sweat is stinging my eyeballs and I can no longer see.
12:55p
This room stinks of asparagus, cloves, tuna and tacos. There is no food in the room. I realize that this is an amalgamation of the body odors of 30 people in a 140 degree room for the last 55 minutes. Seriously, enough with the asparagus, ok?
1:01p
140 degrees and 130% humidity. Look, bitch, I need my space here so don't get all pissy with me if I accidentally sprayed you with sweat as I flipped over. Seriously, is that where this relationship is going? Get over yourself. We need counseling and she needs to be medicated. Stat!
1:09p
150 degrees and cloudy. And hot. I can no longer move my limbs on my own. I have given up on attempting any of the commands this Chinese chick is yelling out at us. I will lay sedentary until the aid unit arrives. I will buy this building and then have it destroyed.
I lose consciousness.
1:15p
I have a headache and my wife is being a selfish bitch. I can't really breathe. All I can think about is holding a cup worth of hot sand in my mouth. I cannot remember what an ice cube is and cannot remember what snow looks like. I consider that my only escape might be a crab walk across 15 bodies and then out of the room. I am paralyzed, and may never walk again so the whole crab walk thing is pretty much out.
1:17p
I cannot move at all and cannot reach my water. Is breathing voluntary or involuntary? If it's voluntary, I am screwed. I stopped participating in the class 20 minutes ago. Hey, lady! I paid for this frickin class, ok?! You work for me! Stop yelling at everyone and just tell us a story or something. It's like juice and cracker time, ok?
1:20p
It is now 165 degrees and moisture is dripping from the ceiling. The towel that I am laying on is no longer providing any wicking or drying properties. It is actually placing additional sweat on me as I touch it. My towel reeks. I cannot identify the smell but no way can it be from me. Did someone spray some stank on my towel or something?
1:30p
Torture session is over. I wish hateful things upon the instructor. She graciously allows us to stay and 'cool down' in the room. It is 175 degrees. Who cools down in 175 degrees? A Komodo Dragon? My wife has left the room. Probably to throw up.
1:34p
My opportunity to escape has arrived. I roll over to my stomach and press up to my knees. It is warmer as I rise up from ground level - probably by 15 degrees. So let's conservatively say it's 190. I muster my final energy and slowly rise. One foot in front of the other. One foot in front of the other. Towards the door. Towards the door.
1:37p
The temperature in the lobby is 72 degrees. Both nipples stiffen to diamond strength and my penis begins to retract into my abdomen from the 100 degree temp swing. I can once again breathe though so I am pleased. I spot my future ex wife in the lobby. We had such a good thing going but I know that no measure of counseling will be able to unravel the day's turmoil and mental scaring.
1:47p
Arrive at Emerald City Smoothie and proceed to order a 32 oz beverage. 402 calories, 0 fat and 14 grams of protein -- effectively negating any caloric burn or benefit from the last 90 minutes. I finish it in 3 minutes and spend the next 2 hours writing this memoir.
3:47p
Create Craigslist ad while burning final 2 grams of protein from Smoothie and before the "shakes" consume my body.
4:29p
Note to self - check car for missing wet yoga towel in am.
Source
I do have some ideas for upcoming posts, so I will be back soon! In the meantime, this came across my desk today. You may have already seen it, but I think it's pretty funny! It was actually forwarded by a colleague as a pick me up because of all of the stuff that's been going on. I laughed outloud and I think you will too!
Yoga mat for sale. Used once. - $1 (Bellevue)
Yoga mat for sale. Used once at lunch hour class in December 2009. Usage timeline as follows:
11:45a
Register for hot yoga class. Infinite wisdom tells me to commit to 5 class package and purchase a yoga mat. I pay $89.74. Money well spent, I smugly confirm to myself.
11:55a
Open door to yoga room. A gush of hot dry air rushes through and past me. It smells of breath, sweat and hot. Take spot on floor in back of room next to cute blonde. We will date.
11:57a
I feel the need to be as near to naked as possible. This is a problem because of the hot blonde to my left and our pending courtship. She will not be pleased to learn that I need to lose 30 pounds before I propose to her.
11:58a
The shirt and sweats have to come off. I throw caution to the wind and decide to rely on my wit and conditioning to overcome any weight issues my fiancée may take issue with. This will take a lot of wit and conditioning.
11:59a
Begin small talk with my bride to be. She pretends to ignore me but I know how she can be. I allow her to concentrate and stare straight ahead and continue to pretend that I don't exist. As we finish sharing our special moment, I am suddenly aware of a sweat moustache that has formed below my nose. This must be from the all the whispering between us.
12:00p
Instructor enters the room and ascends her special podium at the front of the room. She is a slight, agitated Chinese woman. She introduces me to the class and everyone turns around to greet me just as I decide to aggressively adjust my penis and testes packed in my Under Armor. My bride is notably unfazed.
12:02p
Since I do have experience with Hot Yoga (4 sessions just 5 short years ago) I fully consider that I may be so outstanding and skilled that my instructor may call me out and ask me to guide the class. My wife will look on with a sparkle in her eye. We will make love after class.
12:10p
It is now up to 95 degrees in the room. We have been practicing deep breathing exercises for the last 8 minutes. This would not be a problem if we were all breathing actual, you know, oxygen. Instead, we are breathing each other's body odor, expelled carbon dioxide and other unmentionables. (Don't worry, I'll mention them later.)
12:26p
It is now 100 degrees and I take notice of the humidity, which is hovering at about 90%. I feel the familiar adorning stare of my bride and decide to look back at her. She appears to be nauseated. I then realize that I forgot to brush my teeth prior to attending this class. We bond.
12:33p
It is now 110 degrees and 95% humidity. I am now balancing on one leg with the other leg crossed over the other. My arms are intertwined and I am squatting. The last time I was in this position was 44 years ago in the womb, but I'm in this for the long haul. My wife looks slightly weathered dripping sweat and her eyeliner is streaming down her face. Well, "for better or worse" is what we committed to so we press on.
12:40p
The overweight Hispanic man two spots over has sweat running down his legs. At least I think its sweat. He is holding every position and has not had a sip of water since we walked in. He is making me look bad and I hate him.
12:44p
I consider that if anyone in this room farted that we would all certainly perish.
12:52p
It is now 140 degrees and 100% humidity. I am covered from head to toe in sweat. There is not a square millimeter on my body that is not slippery and sweaty. I am so slimy that I feel like a sea lion or a maybe sea eel. Not even a bear trap could hold me. The sweat is stinging my eyeballs and I can no longer see.
12:55p
This room stinks of asparagus, cloves, tuna and tacos. There is no food in the room. I realize that this is an amalgamation of the body odors of 30 people in a 140 degree room for the last 55 minutes. Seriously, enough with the asparagus, ok?
1:01p
140 degrees and 130% humidity. Look, bitch, I need my space here so don't get all pissy with me if I accidentally sprayed you with sweat as I flipped over. Seriously, is that where this relationship is going? Get over yourself. We need counseling and she needs to be medicated. Stat!
1:09p
150 degrees and cloudy. And hot. I can no longer move my limbs on my own. I have given up on attempting any of the commands this Chinese chick is yelling out at us. I will lay sedentary until the aid unit arrives. I will buy this building and then have it destroyed.
I lose consciousness.
1:15p
I have a headache and my wife is being a selfish bitch. I can't really breathe. All I can think about is holding a cup worth of hot sand in my mouth. I cannot remember what an ice cube is and cannot remember what snow looks like. I consider that my only escape might be a crab walk across 15 bodies and then out of the room. I am paralyzed, and may never walk again so the whole crab walk thing is pretty much out.
1:17p
I cannot move at all and cannot reach my water. Is breathing voluntary or involuntary? If it's voluntary, I am screwed. I stopped participating in the class 20 minutes ago. Hey, lady! I paid for this frickin class, ok?! You work for me! Stop yelling at everyone and just tell us a story or something. It's like juice and cracker time, ok?
1:20p
It is now 165 degrees and moisture is dripping from the ceiling. The towel that I am laying on is no longer providing any wicking or drying properties. It is actually placing additional sweat on me as I touch it. My towel reeks. I cannot identify the smell but no way can it be from me. Did someone spray some stank on my towel or something?
1:30p
Torture session is over. I wish hateful things upon the instructor. She graciously allows us to stay and 'cool down' in the room. It is 175 degrees. Who cools down in 175 degrees? A Komodo Dragon? My wife has left the room. Probably to throw up.
1:34p
My opportunity to escape has arrived. I roll over to my stomach and press up to my knees. It is warmer as I rise up from ground level - probably by 15 degrees. So let's conservatively say it's 190. I muster my final energy and slowly rise. One foot in front of the other. One foot in front of the other. Towards the door. Towards the door.
1:37p
The temperature in the lobby is 72 degrees. Both nipples stiffen to diamond strength and my penis begins to retract into my abdomen from the 100 degree temp swing. I can once again breathe though so I am pleased. I spot my future ex wife in the lobby. We had such a good thing going but I know that no measure of counseling will be able to unravel the day's turmoil and mental scaring.
1:47p
Arrive at Emerald City Smoothie and proceed to order a 32 oz beverage. 402 calories, 0 fat and 14 grams of protein -- effectively negating any caloric burn or benefit from the last 90 minutes. I finish it in 3 minutes and spend the next 2 hours writing this memoir.
3:47p
Create Craigslist ad while burning final 2 grams of protein from Smoothie and before the "shakes" consume my body.
4:29p
Note to self - check car for missing wet yoga towel in am.
Source
Monday, September 12, 2011
Ready to Run
My Garmin says my last run was August 4th.
Huh?
I know that was the weekend I decided togive up on my marathon, relax a little more this summer, and relished the sleep in on Saturday...and Sunday. I know I spent 4 days of the following week on the road for work and though I wasn't running, I was running around like a crazy person getting ready for our trip. Then there were those two weeks of vacationing, which included a lot of hiking, but not a lot of running besides from the camper to the drop toilets in the middle of the night. Then there were 3 days in Whitehorse for work, where I tried to do about 2 weeks of work in 3 days. And then...
Well, then I procrastinated. I knew it had been long enough since my last good run, that my next run was not going to be a good one. I was using every available excuse: the weather, time, upset stomach, not drinking enough water, tiredness, coming down with a cold, hip pain...
Wait.
What?
How do you get a running injury when you haven't been running?
It started a few days into the trip to Alaska. Not pain, really, but tightness. A feeling. I thought maybe I was just stiff from sitting in the car, but on a couple of our hikes that feeling kicked in a little more. I went back to doing the physio exercises I was given back in February while we were on the road and I lacked internet to figure out anything else, but this is a different spot.
Today I was dying to get out to run (enough is enough), and though I should know better than to run through pain, I'd pretty well convinced myself that maybe running would make this pain go away, since it started when I wasn't running. You get my logic, right? Besides, it wasn't really pain. It was a feeling.
I went at a comfortable pace and set my Garmin to 5 minutes of running, 1 minute of walking. I didn't look at my pace at all, because I didn't want to push myself. I just wanted to stay in a nice, comfortable zone on a nice, flat, 5K loop.
I could feel my hip throughout, and by about half way through, I could also feel my knee. Not sharp pain, but not right, either. Once I got home, I stretched well, but by part way through this afternoon, I could still feel my hip, even when I was sitting at my desk.
I tried to take pictures with my iPhone to show you where and how it hurts until I can get into physio, but they turned out like this:
Ok, so really not very useful photos, but I thought they were funny.
My mind is ready for running, but my body might need a little more convincing. Foam rolling tonight and heading to the gym tomorrow to see what the eliptical and bike feel like....
Huh?
I know that was the weekend I decided to
Well, then I procrastinated. I knew it had been long enough since my last good run, that my next run was not going to be a good one. I was using every available excuse: the weather, time, upset stomach, not drinking enough water, tiredness, coming down with a cold, hip pain...
Wait.
What?
How do you get a running injury when you haven't been running?
It started a few days into the trip to Alaska. Not pain, really, but tightness. A feeling. I thought maybe I was just stiff from sitting in the car, but on a couple of our hikes that feeling kicked in a little more. I went back to doing the physio exercises I was given back in February while we were on the road and I lacked internet to figure out anything else, but this is a different spot.
Today I was dying to get out to run (enough is enough), and though I should know better than to run through pain, I'd pretty well convinced myself that maybe running would make this pain go away, since it started when I wasn't running. You get my logic, right? Besides, it wasn't really pain. It was a feeling.
I went at a comfortable pace and set my Garmin to 5 minutes of running, 1 minute of walking. I didn't look at my pace at all, because I didn't want to push myself. I just wanted to stay in a nice, comfortable zone on a nice, flat, 5K loop.
I could feel my hip throughout, and by about half way through, I could also feel my knee. Not sharp pain, but not right, either. Once I got home, I stretched well, but by part way through this afternoon, I could still feel my hip, even when I was sitting at my desk.
I tried to take pictures with my iPhone to show you where and how it hurts until I can get into physio, but they turned out like this:
 |
| When I lift my leg this high, the "feeling" kicks in right around the side of my pocket (Ignore the mess in the background) |
 |
| When I lift my leg as if to march on the spot, the "feeling" hits around this height, right at the bend of my hip, at the flexor |
Ok, so really not very useful photos, but I thought they were funny.
My mind is ready for running, but my body might need a little more convincing. Foam rolling tonight and heading to the gym tomorrow to see what the eliptical and bike feel like....
Saturday, September 10, 2011
No running, more photos.
Here's the rest of our trip!
Overall, the trip was amazing! We had a lot of rain, but it didn't stop us from getting out and doing lots of hikes. We didn't have any set plans and enjoyed the freedom to just go where we wanted, when we wanted. We were surprised by how little wildlife we saw, but seeing muskox, which are so weird and prehistoric looking, more than made up for it. The photos of the Dalton Highway don't do it justice. This was a breathtaking drive, but all we heard about it before we left was how tough of a road it would be. While services are few and far between, the highway is paved more than half of the way, hard packed dirt the rest, and very well travelled by pipeline workers, trucks, government and hunters. Though it was nice to get a break from all of the tourists in the south, there is no reason not to drive this highway and I don't know why more people don't do it!
Now it really is time to get back to reality - and running!
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| The photo here was as close as we got to seeing Denali/Mt McKinley, but here I am at the viewpoint. |
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| We climbed a mountain in Denali State Park for a better look - but we just got a view of rain clouds... |
 |
| ...and then the rain got closer, but we kept going up |
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| ...and got a rainbow view before we got POURED on (we never learn our lesson on this!) |
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| An abanonned 3 story igloo |
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| Still no mountain view, but a beautiful day in Denali National Park |
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| Where there were also the nicest drop toilets of all time! |
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| After a quick stop in Fairbanks, we were off on the Dalton Highway - as far north as you can go in North America! |
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| We crossed the Arctic Circle! |
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| And had lunch here. |
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| If you're passing through the Coldfoot Visitor's Centre, look for us in the new video - we were asked to drive by with our camper while two girls were setting up their tent in the background. |
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| The trees just stopped as we went north. (can't rotate) |
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| But we got a great sunset before we stopped to camp... |
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| And this view in the morning when we woke up before the mountains stopped too. |
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| Then the tundtra got very flat... |
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| Which made for easy wildlife viewing! |
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| We even spotted wild muskoxen (those dark things). |
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| Deadhorse was just a big industrial zone, so we turned around quickly so we had time to do another hike |
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| Back to reality...we'd been out of the loop for so long, we didn't know why the flag was lowered when we got back to Kluane National Park (Jack Layton had died). |
Overall, the trip was amazing! We had a lot of rain, but it didn't stop us from getting out and doing lots of hikes. We didn't have any set plans and enjoyed the freedom to just go where we wanted, when we wanted. We were surprised by how little wildlife we saw, but seeing muskox, which are so weird and prehistoric looking, more than made up for it. The photos of the Dalton Highway don't do it justice. This was a breathtaking drive, but all we heard about it before we left was how tough of a road it would be. While services are few and far between, the highway is paved more than half of the way, hard packed dirt the rest, and very well travelled by pipeline workers, trucks, government and hunters. Though it was nice to get a break from all of the tourists in the south, there is no reason not to drive this highway and I don't know why more people don't do it!
Now it really is time to get back to reality - and running!
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