Saturday, November 28, 2009

Running

I want to run a marathon. Seems a simple enough goal, but I am smart enough to know that I can’t use my usual show up and run philosophy. I think that I top out at 15 km with this method which luckily for me is exactly the length of the River Run here in Jacksonville. Caroline and I have decided to start off with a half marathon to test the waters and see how we go. Caroline started a training program to get into shape and the goal at the end was to run a 5k race. I went with her on race day and we finished together. The next step was to extend it to the half marathon in February. Because I know I need to train too, we both joined her training program. It is called Galloway Training and is based on a walk run method. Depending on how fast you go you run for different intervals, but everyone has to walk at some stage. I was skeptical at first because the first couple of weeks were a little disorganised and I wasn’t happy with the pace of my group. Before Caroline went to Arizona for tennis we had to do what they called a magic mile which helps to put you in the right pace groups. I ran Carolines with her then did mine and emailed it to the guy in charge. He said that instead of running in the third group I should move to the second group so that is my plan for next week. This morning there was no official run because there was a 5k race that they wanted people to run. We didn’t do that because it was $50 to enter. This entry fee included a ticket to the Players Golf tournament but we were not at all interested in that. Instead we went out to Jacksonville Running Company for what they called a Renegade Run. Basically it was just like a normal group run but with less people. I ran with a couple of people and a dog we didn’t take walk breaks like we were supposed to but that was fine with me. It was 6 miles and we ran a 7:30 pace which is fast for me but I felt pretty good about it (we will see how I feel tomorrow at soccer). After I was done I ran back and met Caroline and ran to the finish with her at her pace which I know has improved since she started. I am actually enjoying running again we run with the group every Saturday and then by ourselves Tuesday and Thursday.

Monday, November 2, 2009

Knitting

I am not sure when Caroline started knitting but it was at least a year ago. I think she started because she wanted to give a friend who was having a baby a present. Of course things snowballed from there with more babies and more knitting. I don't mind the knitting that is fine, its the trading and stockpiling of wool that seems a little over the top to me. She started with just a couple of balls of wool for the project she was working on, but then she discovered the Ravelry website (facebook for knitters is how she describes it) and then things really took off. Through the website she found others selling wool or for trading wool with other people. There is even one, based in Germany , that has super rare wool that they sell once a week and people stalk it online. She managed to get a couple of those which she then traded away. We currently have wool, needles and patterns stashed everywhere around our house. That is not the point of this blog though. Just after she started knitting Caroline said she wanted to knit me a scarf. Since I already had a black and red Essendon scarf it was decided that a green and white Celtic scarf was in order. And thus began the saga of the scarf, about a month after she started and a couple of stripes in she wanted to restart it because it was too thick, I disagreed and negotiated a continuance. The scarf knitting went on for the next year almost, in between other projects - most of which were baby related. Finally last night she decided that she wasn't going to bed until the scarf was finished, at around 9pm the last tassel was put on and official photos were taken (available in the gift shop on your way out). I love my new scarf and hope the weather only gets colder so I can wear it every day. Thank you Caroline. Now I can't complain about our house full of wool ever again.