I have had suicidal squirrels wait on the curb and run in front of my car as I drive by at 30-40 miles per hour. I thought that was dumb. Today, I was running on the Monon Trail and saw a squirrel ahead of me on the edge of the asphalt. Just as I came close to him or her, the squirrel darted across the trail, right in front of my feet. It’s not like it couldn’t see me coming at 6 mph; it had plenty of time to make its move. If I hadn’t stutter stepped, I may have kicked it. If I had, would I have fallen, or would the squirrel have flown through the air? I guess that would depend on the angle of my foot and the point of impact. As funny a sight as that might have been for other users of the trail, I’m glad I did not touch that furry rodent.
Archive for the ‘Fitness’ Category
Sadly, Squirrels Are Stupid
Posted in Exercise on April 15, 2012| Leave a Comment »
April 1…I Was Fooled
Posted in Fitness on April 1, 2012| Leave a Comment »
We went to Wisconsin to visit my husband’s family for the weekend. The weather was forecast for the 60s and 70s, but only reached the 40s. I did not have the proper running gear for cooler weather, so I decided to wait and run when I got back to Indiana. My thinking was that I would enjoy the run more in warmer weather than fight the cold wind improperly attired.
April Fool! Who would have thought that it would be in the 70s at 7:15 p.m. on April 1 in Indiana? After mile two, I thought I was going to have a stroke; I am not a warm weather runner. I ran in a tank and compression shorts, with a two-toned, padded sports bra underneath. After a drink stop, I took off my tank. I figured my sports bra was stylish enough to wear by itself; besides, it covered more than a bikini, and let’s just say there isn’t much to cover, anyway. My husband and I passed each other in opposite directions, and all he said was, “Hot enough out?” with a smile. He knows I hate running in the heat. A family on bikes came toward me, and at this point I wondered if I was under dressed. As I ran by, a little boy of 6 or 7 said matter-of-factly, “Yep, it’s a bra.”
Would I do it again? Probably. I don’t want a little boy riding by and saying, “Look at that old lady on the ground.” I would not make a habit of wearing that ensemble, though; I would reserve it for emergencies only.
A Perspective of Wealth
Posted in Fitness on March 30, 2012| Leave a Comment »
The lottery jackpot is $500,000,000. I would just like to eat bread, spices, fruits, and veggies (besides green beans) without my throat swelling and my body itching. I have a whole new appreciation for the important things in life.
Search Engine Oops
Posted in Fitness on March 28, 2012| 2 Comments »
I googled for info on my itchy skin. What is causing it? Is it diet related? Allergy? I found a site that seemed to answer my questions, until I read that the itching is noticeable around the muzzle, ears, and underbelly. I looked at the title of the webpage: Great Dane Lady. The article was about an itching dog! At least I got a laugh after being miserable with this itching.
I do have some idea what is causing it. One diagnosis could be a salicylate sensitivity. When I eat, sometimes my throat swells. Then, I itch a few hours later. Salicylates are found in all fruits, all spices, perfume, most vegetables, and beauty/cleansing products, etc. That might explain my scent sensitivity and ear trouble. The result is eating only beef, chicken (not injected with broth), peas, green beans, plain oatmeal, and eggs. As the levels lower in the body, the symptoms will hopefully decrease, letting me add some of the foods back into my diet. I am taking prednisone to help lower salicylates, to see if I can get off of this restricted diet quicker than 6 months.
For now, I will use more caution when surfing the web. No more canine treatment sites for me! Although, the laugh was healing, so the article wasn’t a total loss.
First Race of the Season
Posted in Fitness on March 25, 2012| 2 Comments »
After several health related issues recently (bruised shoulder, bruised nose, some weird food sensitivity: itching, swelling, etc.), I feel pretty darn good about finishing my first half marathon race of the spring yesterday in 2:21:24. I knew it would be somewhat painful, since I had only completed 8 miles in training. The weather wasn’t ideal. The temperature started in the 50s, but it was very humid, and there was a headwind during the second half of the race.
My recovery is going pretty well; I only feel a little soreness. It must have been the post-race play time with my grandson, Gavin, that helped work out the tight muscles. It doesn’t get any better of a day than that!
Better to Laugh 