Bokeh

Going outside now - may not return.



Bokeh "A Japanese term for the subjective aesthetic quality
of out-of-focus areas of a photographic image."
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T-Shirt Thursday

Memory tripping with race shirts. Send me pictures or links of your favorite shirt and I will post them here!

[Click envelope on the side bar for my email address.]
Earth Day Half-Marathon
Thanks Nick for this beautiful shirt.

T-Shirt Archives
Daily T-Shirt fix

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13 Words or Less...

Runner’s Lounge theme for this Thursday is: "In 13 words or less...share your best lesson you have learned about running."

The best lesson I learned from years and years of running...

When the run gets tough, shorten my stride and look above the horizon.

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Today's Workout

Quality of Run: first-rate
Route:









Total Miles: 8
Type of Workout: LSD
Feel Good Stretch: The cobra
Ku:
along the bridge
an old man and his dog
walking alike

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Earth Day Preamble

The last race I ran – they handed out, with the bib #, the usual goodie bag including race notices, coupons etc. But this year the bag was a paper manila envelope and inside a note saying bring this envelope back so we can re–use it! I always recycle all paper products anyways but what a cool idea.
Here’s my action list:

• Bring my own bags when I go shopping.
• Continue a Vegetarian diet - strive towards vegan.
• Turn off the lights and TV when I leave the room.
• Maintain my vegetable garden and an herb garden.
• Compost wastes using a tumbler.
• Take old stuff to the second hand store. (Actually my husband does this for me : )
• Recycle books always! Member of paperback swap and library.
• Rarely go clothes shopping.

• Drive to work.
• Still use little plastic bags for some produce items.
• Watch too much television!
• Should buy more items in bulk.
• Support local shops and buy fresh produce – even if it costs more!
• Not using recycled toilet paper.
• Wean myself off paper plates.
  

Every day is Earth Day!

Earth day – a day to re-examine our activities. Can we do better?

This site has tons of information and ideas. David Suzuki Foundation

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Monday's Run

Quality of the Run: par
Route:

Total Miles: 4.87
Type of Workout: race pace
Feel Good Stretch: spinal twist
Ku:
pink dogwood blossoms
no matter what I think
I’m not unique

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Watching Others Run

This newspaper article caught my eye last Thursday - 10 Best Running Movies.
I was surprised at her list – there were a few I had not seen. (Yet)

Her list of 10 best running movies:

1. Atanarjuat: The Fast Runner (2001) The trailer looks scenic and gritty.
2. Marathon Man (1976) I also hate dentists.
3. Chariots of Fire (1981) Ashamed to say I only know the soundtrack.
4. Run Lola Run (1998) Never seen.
5. Gallipoli (1981) Can’t remember it well.
6. The Loneliness of the Long Distance Runner (1962) Oldie Goldie.
7. Personal Best (1982) Mariel Hemingway doesn’t look like a runner but an actor.
8. Without Limits (1998)/ Prefontaine (1997) Great stuff!
9. On the Edge (1985) I want to see this one.
10. Rocky (1976) You have to love the running scene, up the stairs.

In actual fact I love watching the real thing!

Summer Olympics from Beijing
This Sunday - The Women’s Olympic trials - Marathon
Marathon Challenge NOVA This feature made me cry.

And my movie list would include:

Forest Gump – He made running look so easy – bless him.
Terry Fox Movie - A genuine hero. It will make you cry.
On Flew Over the Cuckoos’ Nest (1975) The ending…

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T-Shirt Thursday

Memory tripping with race shirts. Send me pictures or links of your favorite shirt and I will post them here!
[Click envelope on the side bar for my email address.]

T-Shirt Archives
Daily T-Shirt fix

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Kudos to Jog Blog

Kudos to Jog Blog from London.
She was interviewed and highlighted in one of her local newspapers.
[With a nicci nice picture included.]
I’ve been visiting her blog site for quite awhile – savoring every post.
She runs through the streets and the marshes of London sharing her exploits. Describing anything from historic bites, to weird folks she meets along the way.

“I go through the marshes and onto the street and run through the grassy bit that according to my sense of direction (ha) takes me towards Victoria Park and I run over a bridge that overlooks a dual carriageway."

Not to mention her eccentric play lists including: Jesus & Mary Chain, The Levellers, Cardiacs, The Mission and Primal Scream.

She makes my runs look tremendously boring!
Add her to your Feed reader – Now!

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Course Synopsis Part 2

Yesterday I biked that last part of the Eugene's Half-marathon route. Starting at the 9 mile bridge (Autzen Footbridge) I headed East towards I-5.
It’s takes you in close proximity to the Ducks stadium (home of the Oregon DUCKS) and the finish line. Then it loops out across an open field area – part of Pre’s Trail. I like this wide open area. You will be able to see runners returning from the far side.
This open space was once the city’s dump. It was closed in the early 1970's. I can’t even guess why someone would set up a landfill right on the banks of a river.
The path has lots of gentle hills or mounds with spectacular views of the river. I would give it 9 out of 10!

19 days till the big race.

Course Synopsis Part 1

We all cross this foot bridge at the 9 mile mark.
Hopefully still smiling and feeling strong!


Autzen Footbridge
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Six Word Memoir

(1) Write your own six word memoir.

"Still saves all her running ribbons."

Perhaps it’s because I never remember winning anything in grade school.
In youth, I had absolutely no interest in sports – I was to cool for that.
(How I regret that now... L:)
Today, I run up to the podium to receive my ribbon. It does not matter what color or place. After all it’s just a ribbon. But there’s something so paramount in receiving it. I guess it’s never too late to enjoy your childhood.

This meme challenge was posted by Eric over at Stubborn Running.
Feel free to jump in.

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T-Shirt Thursdays

Memory tripping with past race shirts. Send me pictures or links of your favorites and I will post them here!
[Click envelope on the side bar for e-mail address.]

23 days till the Eugene Marathon!
What will this year’s shirts look like?

T-Shirt Archives
Daily T-Shirt fix

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Running By An Old Tree

I take it as a sign. This morning I spotted a young woman performing yoga under one of my favorite old trees in Eugene. I’ve just started thinking seriously about getting into yoga. The many years of running has left me inflexible and prone to injury. Now I know it must be the right time...

--- Trees I Run By ---

I frequently divert my run off the river path to run through the
Owen Rose Garden. It’s so fragrant when the roses are in bloom. (Over 4,500 rose bushes.)
But it’s this magnificent cherry tree that really draws me in. The limbs all knarly as they reach out over the roses. Like some wise Yoda it stands guard. Sadly, some of the lower braches are now supported with metal poles – we all get old...Today it was in full bloom.

A Black Tartarian Cherry
Live Web Cam
Prunus avium

This tree is 140 - 155 years old. Its trunk circumference 21 feet!
It continues to flowers profusely in the spring.
It is considered the largest cherry tree in Oregon, and possibly the entire United States!
Ref. Eugene Tree Foundation (pdf)

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Foot Refresher

“During a 10-mile run, the feet make 15,000 strikes, at a force of three to four times the body's weight.”

As a runner you should not ignore your feet! Most of the time we take them for granted until they hurt... There is a long list of foot injuries that can slow us down and make our run miserable.

"Each foot contains 26 bones, 33 joints, 112 ligaments, and a network of tendons, nerves, and blood vessels."
- AAPSM

It is truly a wondrous device meant to propel us!

I massage my feet everyday. I apply scented oil (currently using Body Shop’s lavender oil) to the whole foot and deeply rub in over a couple of minutes.
Get in touch with your feet!

• This video massage shows some nice techniques including
  TOE MASSAGE [OMG] and delectable foot twists.
• A really good diagram illustrating 3 layers deep of the bottom of the foot.
• Foot massage techniques

Image - Henry Gray (1825–1861)

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Be Like Lance?

I had to smile while reading this months issue of Runner’s World. There is a training article on
BE LIKE LANCE
Mere mortals, such as I, always want to know the inside workings of an athlete. As if by some chance there is a secret easy method to their mind-boggling accomplishments.

The Association Game:

Lance is currently training for The Boston Marathon. His goal time 2:40!

Ref:
Trek Bikes
Wiki
Force Majeure - Lance Armstrong
Bob Schieffer interview with Lance Armstrong in 2007

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T-Shirt Thursdays

Memory tripping with old race shirts. Send me pictures or links of your favorites and I will post them here!
[Click envelope on the side bar for my email address.]

First T-shirt sent to me via iphone.
Thanks Andrew. I know a lot of runners
have competed in the LA Marathon.

T-Shirt Archives
Daily T-Shirt fix

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Running and Hydration

"Take it and run" topics are by Amy and Tom
of Runner’s Lounge.

This Week's Theme is ... Hydration.

“The brain is made up of 75% water, moderate dehydration can often cause lightheadedness, dizziness, headaches and nausea.”

Like many people I was caught up in the drink 8 glasses of water a day campaign. By the end of the day, I would have to literally force it down. Not anymore! I believe that every body is different in its requirement for water. Just as it is with calories.
I eat a lot of fruits and vegetables which naturally contain water, so I don’t require +++ glasses of water. I don’t sweat like my husband – he needs to drink more. ~ Find your balance ~
Here is a list of my Do s and Don’ts.
[WARNING - not every point is beneficial.]

DO

• Drink half glass of tap water after brushing my teeth. (4-5x daily.)
• Bring my own water to races to sip on afterwards.
• Map out water fountains along my long run paths.
• Keep a container of fresh water in the fridge at all times.

DON’T

• I don’t drink sport drinks or milk.
• I don’t drink extra water before a race - my bladder will not tolerate it!
• I don’t buy bottle water.
• I seldom drink during a race (Except during last year’s half-marathon I grabbed a cup handed to me and took a gulp before I realized it was not water but gleukos. (I ended up with sticky fingers and lips the rest of the way.)
• I don’t drink regular pop. (It can contain about 8 tsps of sugar.)
• I don’t worry about water intake during cold weather runs.

My favorite beverage -> black C O F F E E

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