[katholeenie]

<p>Yeah......I got nuthin yet. Super super humid here already today. </p>

 

[BigGahoona]

<p>We're supposed to hit 97 with a heat index of 103.  Has Mother Nature never heard of MODERATION?  bitch.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>My upper back is doing it's thing again. I think it involves overuse - so the recently added gardening is probably making it flare.  The trapezius muscle on the right side just gets super tight and it goes all the way up into my neck and feels tight and burny and by the end of the day I am miserable and stabby.  grrr.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Looking for fun....anyone got any fun to report??</p>

 

[NCRG71]

<p><strong>Goon</strong> - can you get into a chiro?  An adjustment might help?</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Add me to the hot and stickies today.  And I have golf league this afternoon.  My group is going out earlier than usual.  I'm planning on a cart and lots of adult beverages!</p>

 

[wipaddler]

<p>it's going to be hotter than hell here today and I FREAKING LOVE IT!!!  I love hot weather!!</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Tonight I have to go water the garden and then I'm going to head out to the deck and finish the book I've been reading. </p>
<p> </p>
<p>I also have to get some melon for snacks!  I love mixed mellon salad!!</p>

 

[clare]

<p>I'd rather have warm weather, too.  We're getting drowned out around here.  So much rain and grey and dreary.  So depressing.  At least the trees and things are blooming so we have some color going on.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Our back yard is still a mess.  But it's coming along.  We need to finish the topsoil.  Then bring in more rock for the rock wall and raised gardens.  Sod.  Plants and shrubs.  And the new pool liner should be in this week.  We're planning on having a big "grand opening" party once it's all up and running.</p>

 

[Ailarie]

<p>Greetings, all.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>No fun here, per se.  Add me to the "It's too freakin hot/humid!" group.  The high today and tomorrow is 97.  (unsure of index).  Ugh.  I'd gladly trade some non-stormy gray clouds and rain for this crap!  Our company has an annual picnic event on Friday.  Why oh why can't we have this in May every year when the temperatures are at least somewhat cooperative and we won't all be roasting and sweating profusely?!</p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>

 

[gatorbob]

<p>When I was younger, I used to love the heat.  But that was before I ever tried running long distances.  I used to hate the cold... that's one reason I went to grad school in Florida.  Frankly, I'd rather it just be 60-80 degrees all the time.  So call me Goldilocks:  I prefer it not too hot and not too cold...</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Oh, here's a potential bit of fun.  I'm going to Las Vegas starting on Sunday for a conference.  That means I'll be in Vegas for 3.5 days, all on my company's dime.  Well, they probably won't pay off any potential gambling debts.  <span id="user_yui_3_3_0_8_130745311866215"><img alt="biggrin.gif" id="user_yui_3_3_0_8_130745311866214" src="http://files.kickrunners.com/smilies/biggrin.gif" style="width:16px;height:16px;"></span>  But they are paying for my flight, hotel (Caesar's Palace, where the conference is held), and my food.  Problem is, the conference will keep me really busy, so I won't have much time for playing around.  I may almost try to keep my body on East Coast time, so that I can wake up really early every day to get a run in first thing in the morning before the sun comes up, since running around Las Vegas in June in the afternoon might not be fun.  (Speaking of heat).  Of course, the bad thing about waking up really early every morning is that I'll probably have to go to bed really early every night.  And that's not something most people do in Vegas.  Hmm...</p>

 

[praecipua]

<p>Morning, all.  Apparently, I slept through a minor earthquake that hit near St. Louis overnight.  Apparently, when the New Madrid goes, it's going to be a doozy, but this one was only a 4.2.  As for temps, high today and tomorrow is supposed to be 94*.  I have my stress test today at 1:00, but I'm going to drive to the gym, do the test, and then drive home for a shower before heading back to the office.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>I may need that rug shampooer sooner than I thought.  For an unexplained reason, Darcy seems to be shunning his litter box for urination.  I spot cleaned the carpet this morning and tried to cover the scent with an orange-scented spray (which cats are supposed to hate) and moved the litter box across the room.  Hopefully that solves the problem.  Of course, this did have to happen right before I leave for two weeks.  Hopefully it's not a problem for my house-sitter.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>To continue on the complaining front, I have a gigantic blister on my heel which hurts like a mofo when I wear shoes.  So, I'm going to wear sandals this morning and bandage it up before the stress test.  It's a grayish/greenish color.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>In fun news...ok, so there's no fun.  I'll look for some today.</p>

 

[NCRG71]

<p><strong>Fun</strong>:  I needed new golf shoes and just scored the sweetest deal at Sierra Trading Post - on sale AND a 20% off coupon!!</p>
<p> </p>
<p>have fun in Vegad <strong>boB</strong>!  I've never been, but would like to go.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Boo for <strong>Prae</strong>'s blister.</p>

 

[mmoonptdeux]

<p>Fun is getting off work early (TBD) though the reason really isn't fun (have to pick up my dad from a doctor's appointment in town), but getting off work early is almost fun by default</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Ooh, that sounds fun <strong>boB</strong> - Vegas is one of those places I haven't been in awhile</p>
<p> </p>
<p><strong>Prae</strong> - with all the earthquake stuff on TV spurred by the Japanese tremor, I've been learning some pretty fascinating stuff about the New Madrid.  I guess the prevailing theory is that earthquakes there happen as something of a prolonged recoil effect from the tons of ice which used to weigh down the area.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>I saw this on another site I visit and I thought this would be a fun <strong>QOD</strong>: <strong>What's the best tasting food you had in the month of May?</strong></p>
<p> </p>
<p>For me, that would be the rum cake my mom brought home from a co-worker of hers (I admit I had thirds on that), some lemon quark from a local cheesemaker, and a scoop of Rhubarb Lime Cardamom from Jeni's Ice Cream in Ohio.</p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>

 

[phdatc]

<p>Fun for me today?  Well, I forgot to do some work yesterday in preference for some other work, so now I have to be in the office on a day I normally don't. </p>
<p> </p>
<p><strong>QOD</strong>: best thing I ate in May?  German Chocolate Cake from a restaurant in Traverse City on vacation.  <em>drool.</em></p>

 

[NCRG71]

<p><strong>QOD</strong> - The fish tacos I made with chipotle slaw, my first burger of the season off the grill, and the thin crust pizza from Junior's the night before the VT City relay</p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p>Now I'm hungry <span id="user_yui_3_3_0_8_130745780568617"><img alt="sad5.gif" id="user_yui_3_3_0_8_130745780568616" src="http://files.kickrunners.com/smilies/sad5.gif" style="width:17px;height:16px;"></span></p>

 

[Auntie Moe]

<p>morning peeps.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>didn't sleep well again last night.  This sucks.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>My house guest has been a ghost and it's sort of weirding me out. He's staying with for June while he's between apartments and that's fine but I've literally seen him ONCE in a week in the apartment. I've seen him more often out at bars than in the house.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Also, I'm really struggling with some anxiety right now and it also sucks. I'm doing everything I do to control it and it's helping but it's still there.  I'm having the weirdest triggers too, like I went to a poetry slam last night and one of the poets' stuff set me off.  Meh.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>I did have a nice dinner before the slam with my friend Brian, we went for Nepalese food.  Delish!  And we hit Toscanini's for ice cream after.  Yum.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>FUN:  We're going to the <a href="http://www.scooperbowl.org/faf/home/default.asp?ievent=467579" target="_blank">Scooper Bowl</a> at lunch time today!  Mmmmmm, ice cream!</p>
<p> </p>
<p>FUN:  I'm heading to Philly next week for a conference...and visiting Beaker for the weekend!  <strong>Solar, Alexis, Gov</strong>...hope to see you!</p>

 

[runningINnyc]

<p>Helllooo all!</p>
<p> </p>
<p><strong>Shannon</strong> - yay for new shoes!</p>
<p> </p>
<p><strong>Wippy</strong> - I used to really dig the heat too when I spent my summers in a pool and not riding underground, sweating to death or sweating to death above ground, while running. </p>
<p> </p>
<p>Fun:  going back to <a href="http://eatalyny.com/" target="_blank">Eataly</a> tonight to show J's mom and her boyfriend some good eating times</p>
<p>Fun:  following up dinner with seeing our friend's new show, <a href="http://www.vineyardtheatre.org/show-now-here-this.html" target="_blank">Now.Here.This</a></p>
<p>Fun:  another summer dress, once it gets warm I pretty much go with a dress or skirt every day, too sticky to deal with pants  (I think <strong>Maureen</strong> would look great in this one!)</p>
<p> </p>
<p><a class="H-lightbox-open" href="http://www.kickrunners.com/content/type/61/id/88418/width/1000/height/800/flags/" target="_blank"><img alt="Green Dress.png" class="lightbox-enabled" data-id="17045" data-type="61" src="http://www.kickrunners.com/content/type/61/id/17045/width/300/height/500" style="; width: 300px; height: 500px"></a></p>
<p> </p>

 

[NCRG71]

<p><strong>Maria</strong> - I was just looking at dresses online (Boden) and was thinking of you! </p>
<p> </p>
<p>It's very pretty and I agree about it looking adorable on <strong>Maureen</strong>!</p>

 

[Auntie Moe]

<p>I wear a dress or a skirt (more dresses) every day, including winter.  In fact spring weather is about the only time I wish I had a couple of pairs of pants that I liked because I find I hate wearing tights once it's in the 50s but if it's rainy, it's cold to be bear legged.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>I love that dress Maria!  Not sure it would look good on me but it sure is cute.  OTOH, I'm wearing a dress today that couldn't be less flattering. It's a little too big and just a bad cut for me...I'm going to wash it...and donate it.</p>

 

[praecipua]

<p>Epic fail on the stress test.  Not fail in the sense that I died while doing it (obviously), but I stayed on all of 0:02 longer than the pre-test.  My VO2 max increased from 31 to 32.  I was so mad (and disappointed) when I finished that I started to cry.  I mean, I've gained weight, my waist and hips are apparently bigger, and my body's ability to process oxygen has remained approximately the same after 10 weeks of moderate exercise.  Give me a break!  Also, the recovery afterward was so fast that I was doubting about whether or not I should have tried to stay on longer.  The study leader said that my levels were tapering off, which suggests that I stopped at the right time and that some people's genetics make them have to work harder to see improvements in their results.  They're betting that my Dexa comes back as very improved as does my cholesterol scores.  And the cardiologist said that my cardiovascular output was "rock solid" which is good.  If I were not me, I would be happy about getting back into a fitness routine, having to work harder on the TM to keep my HR in the right range, etc.  But I am me and it'll take a while to get over this.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>I bought a bunch of dresses because I have some desire to dress like a woman every once in a while.  I've worn 3 of the 4 dresses I bought and got compliments on all of them.  If only I could figure out how to wear nice shoes without hose and without blisters, I'd be set.  I'm just sick of buying shoes right now.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Doom/gloom/doom/gloom.  I'll snap out of it.</p>

 

[Auntie Moe]

<br><br><div class="quote-container"><span>Quote:</span>
<div class="quote-block">Originally Posted by <strong>praecipua</strong><br><p> </p>
<p>I bought a bunch of dresses because I have some desire to dress like a woman every once in a while.  I've worn 3 of the 4 dresses I bought and got compliments on all of them.  If only I could figure out how to wear nice shoes without hose and without blisters, I'd be set.  I'm just sick of buying shoes right now.</p>
<p> </p>
</div>
</div>
<p><br>
I wear peds with my closed toe shoes. They help...and you can get some really low profile ones now, so they won't show.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>sorry your test didn't go as you'd hoped.</p>
<p> </p>

 

[KP]

<p>[exercise physiologist voice]</p>
<p> </p>
<p><strong>Prae</strong> - Don't beat yourself up over the performance of your VO2 test today.  The fact that you increased your VO2 max at all within the design of this study is a good thing!  This study's focus wasn't increasing VO2 max, or if it was it was as a byproduct.  The main dependent variables in this study were the cholesterol measurements, DEXA, resting heart rate - things that are easily influenced by moderate exercise.  The only way to significantly increase your VO2 max is with vigorous exercise at, or near your VO2 max.  This study most likely used the VO2 max pretest as a means to determine what the appropriate heart rate level (60-70% of max?) for the moderate exercise.  The level needed to improve VO2 max would have been 90-95% of max.  The design of the study limited your ability to improve that one variable - it was nothing you did.  If anything your prior level of fitness and activity improved your VO2 max to the point where your starting point was way higher than the rest of the people in the study.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Plus, VO2 max alone is not a good indicator of fitness and in fact I think, along with a growing population in the real exercise physiology community, too much emphasis has been placed on it.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Not sure this will help or hurt, but this one was beyond your control.  You did what the design of the study asked ya.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>[/exercise physiologist voice]</p>

 

[praecipua]

<p>Thanks, <strong>KP</strong>.  That was a very good and useful pep talk!  I appreciate your input and expertise.  I guess I'm just frustrated with myself that I let myself decline so much in fitness, and as most of us know, it's easier to get un-fit than it is to get fit.  In my head, I'm a stellar athlete, but my body doesn't reflect that.  But at least it's in my head, which is probably the first step to making it a reality.  And by the way, I think we exercised at 65% of max.  When I get back from Israel, I think I'm going to meet with one of the grad students on the study and talk about realistic exercise and food plans for the rest of the summer.</p>