Runners Itch

I get itchy in my fatty areas when I run once in a while, and it's always perplexed me. My dad told me once that it was my body creating new veins/arteries. I felt it today again, so I thought I would google it and I am SHOCKED at the amount of responses that have no clue. Most blame it on sweat, work out clothes, detergent, or even allergies. Allergic to exercise? Luckily there is some valid information out there and I think everyone should know that my dad was right. It basically just means you've been too dang lazy for too dang long, so keep working out regularly and it will go away. This jogger had a good description:

It usually occurs during exercise performed after a long period of inactivity. The itching is not on the skin, it’s inside the actual limbs. There are millions of tiny capillaries and arteries inside our muscles which expand rapidly due to the demand for more blood that is brought on by exercise. When fit, these capillaries remain open allowing maximum blood passage, but when unfit and inactive they tend to collapse, allowing only minimal blood passage (which is sufficient for a sedentary person however). The rapid expansion of these vessels causes adjacent nerves to send impulses back to the brain which are interpreted as an itch. That’s why after a few sessions the sensation tends to go away. Just another indication of increasing fitness levels.

The Half

Pictures! So, here we are, around mile 10ish. Exhausted!!! Yes, the glasses are humungo, but I never have to adjust them depending on my angel since the cover my whole face! Haha. Isn't the scenery amazing??? Wow.

MOTIVATION with MONEY to workout

I came up with a brilliant way to save money and motivate myself to exercise!!! Okay, well I didn't completely come up with the idea. It was briefly mentioned by Connie E Sokol during a lecture (Fit and Fabulous) at education week: "I know a woman who pays herself to excercise 10 dollars for every half hour."

This spark sat inside my head for a while. The race is what was really motivating me at that point. But that is over, and I really need some more motivation. I modified this idea a lot so it would really work for me and not against me. The fact that I worked out well one week shouldn't give me right to go out and spend money frivolously. Here's the brilliant plan rules:

• I workout for 10 minutes (any exercise), I get $1.


• Must stop time for breaks (only credit for moving time)


• Run 3 miles, get $5 (to my advantage to run faster and harder)


• May not spend any money on non-essentials unless it has already been earned (no tabs)

Now, the non-essentials part may be interpreted broadly when I really want something, so I have been specific with myself. Unless it is a business expense, food, gas, or basic toiletries (special shampoo/makeup do not count) then I must buy it with my workout fund. That means for more than a basic $8 trim from dollar cuts, I need to earn the $30 haircut by working out for 300 minutes or run 18 miles. I recently bought hangers with the money I accrued running the race. Now I'm completely broke. But my closet looks amazing and I'm really motivated to workout tonight so I can get more organizin materials. This really makes me think about what I'm spending and what my priorities are. Plus, no fee for the gym! Some people pay for the gym to motivate themselves because if they don't go, they are loosing money. What a waste!

Go money-saving, fat-ditching ME!

Little Grand Canyon Half Marathon

We did it! We ran a half marathon, that's 13.1 miles. The longest we have ever run at one time! It makes me feel so good to cross off one of my "do before I die" items on my list! And to do it with Jake was so fun. When we first started training back in New York, I was pushing him a bit, but once we got home he had to drag me out of be and push me to go the full distance, he had so much drive and energy. And during the race it was the same thing. I would slow down almost start walking and then coach Jake would chime in, "We can do it, come on." We held hands across the finish (how romantic) at a satisfying 2:28:06.

It felt so much shorter though. The view, I'm sure, had something to do with that. It was the most exhilarating view I have ever seen. Especially when experiencing it in person, outside the car at a jogging pace, where you can really soak it all in. The red rocks are so majestic. The different era's of the Jurassic, Triassic and Cretaceous Era’s are evident in it's horizontal layers.
We ran right by this huge ancient Native American pictograph panel (The BuckHorn Panel see below) and saw many petroglyphs along the rock walls along the way.

It was one of those awesome life experiences that was worth the pain and one days waking at 3:45. Maybe a full marathon next time?

Olymics 2008 Opening Ceremony

Friday's opening ceremony was fantastic, wasn't it? I have never seen such an amazing show. What I would have given to be there..... It also made me want to learn more about the Chinese culture and travel to there! My favorite part (besides all the bang wam pow of fireworks) was the Tai Chi performers. They do free Tai Chi in the park here in NYC, but it's at 7:30 AM! Maybe I'll sacrifice my sleep for just one class tomorrow. Skip to the middle of the video to see over two thousand masters performing in unison. Amazing. What was your favorite part?

ta i ji @ Yahoo! Video

Riverside Park

Jake and I went running in Riverside Park last night. It was the perfect length for us last night, about 3.5 miles. Great since we were running 7. Yes, 7, our longest yet! Lance Armstrong even congratulated us himself! (Albeit, in a recording on my Nike +, but it still felt good).

It was the most beautiful run I've ever taken. Unfortunately I don't run with a camera, so I have no pictures. Running along the Hudson by all the boats felt like we were in Seatle. Then when we came upon an outdoor restaurant after the sun went down atop a stone terace it felt like Paris. Near the south end a Jazz band playing on the peir made it feel like New Orleans, and all the flowers and wide paths just made it so pleasant. I haven't felt so good in a long time!