More Anger

After my rant last week about the people who walk slow and in my way, I have another one today.  Those damn mofos who catch the lift up or down one floor.  WTF?  I’m going to ask tomorrow if we have internal stairs in our building that we can use (I only ever go from ground to 11 and back so have never had to use them) and, if we do, I will truly punch anyone who gets in the lift for one floor.  It’s my last day on the job so I can get away with it.

Not only are they lazy shits but they are coming between me and my coffee.  That’s dangerous.  Very dangerous.

Monthly Stats:

Kms ran: 91.5

Calories burnt: 7440

I will update my weight tomorrow when I get weighed.  Or not update since it’s not really going anywhere — except my underarms.  I swear all the weight I’ve put on has gone to my armpits!

The kms and calories don’t include walking to and from work because I record my running and other training on mapmyrun.com and I don’t want my walking kms added to my running ones.  I reckon at 5 kms a time X 4-5 times a week I’ve clocked up over a 100 kms walking as well.  I’ve also done 2 go-go classes, ) 2 yoga class (should have been more) and around 10 weights workouts.

Next month I want to start getting back to boxing classes plus do more yoga to stretch out my tight muscles and more go-go.  Plus more running.  About the same weights.

Kinda Horrible Run

I met with Simon for a run tonight.  Much drama and stuff ups were involved.  Firstly I got my phone out to check if he’d called cos he’d said he wasn’t sure if he could get away from work early enough for a run.  He had an interview scheduled for later.  I’ll be honest and say I did not want him to have that interview since it’s for a job overseas.  That will make our runs very hard to organise indeed.

Anyway, my phone battery was dead flat so I had to try to call but his number is in the phone of course.  After a few calls around the place I got his mobile number and go the run organised.    Since he couldn’t contact me, we agreed on a meeting spot for 5.30.

I started leaving work at 5.00 so I had plenty of time to walk down to the river and get changed but my boss grabbed me for an impromptu meeting on my way out.  I couldn’t really say anything since I get paid by the day and definitely have been doing less than 8 hours most days.

Finally got away and changed in a scary, urine stinky toilet.  Well except the shoes because no way was I putting my feet on that floor.  Then Simon turned up (later than me) and we got running.

My legs just weren’t interested in running today.  I think they are suffering post-BDO stress or something.  We did the same route as last week along the river but started at Fed Square instead of the other end so added an extra km or so.
Then, coming back, huge dramas.  I decided to put my ipod on to get me running better.  Slipped it into the waistband of my running skirt instead of my bra like I normally do and went bolting down one of those bouncy ramps, feeling good when wham!

My hand got caught in the cord and the ipod went flying.  There was water each side of the ramp.  I felt sure my poor little Semlly ipod (so named cos Andy registered it and he can’t spell smelly!) would end up in the big, stinky Yarra.  It arced through the air in slow-mo then bounced down on the ramp and skidded before I could catch it.

Luckily the ramp had a little raised edge… phew.  That raised edge is my best friend tonight

Run some more then stopped to do up my shoe lace.  I noticed the guy on the bench beside me looked all battered and bloody.  He’d fallen off his bike.  I asked if he was okay and he hesitated then said yes.  He had his mobile in his hand so I asked if he’d rang someone to come get him and he said he though he had but was a bit concussed.

Yikes.  I felt like I should do something but I have no first aid knowledge and am absolutely hopeless at taking control in those situations.  Meanwhile Simon had kept running down the river so I wasn’t sure what to do.  I asked him if I could do anything and he said he’d be fine so I caught up to Simon but I really felt like I should have done more.  I hope the poor guy is okay.

So then after much walking and struggling, I said I’d put a song (the oh-so-wrong Snow Patrol song) on my ipod as it goes for 6 minutes and run the whole time.  Yeah that’s how sturggling I was.  Well I tried but the back button and the menu button wouldn’t work.  I threw a bit of a tanty and called my ipod bad names and may have even stamped my feet.  I’m doomed to listening to the same playlist in perpetuity!

Finally got a song I wanted and started running.  Except the song was “Through the Fire and the Flames” by Dragonforce.  If you’ve ever heard that song, you’ll know that no way could I run that fast.  It’s awful long too.  If you’ve not heard it, imagine Iron Maiden on speed.  Really good speed.

So about 30 seconds later, I spotted Em.  Luckily I’d finished my dummy spit by then and was running along quite happily

Finally finished the run then realised I had to walk through Flinders St station in running gear.  Running in running gear is one thing, wearing it in a non-running environment is another, fully embarassing thing.  Unless you’re wearing a fun run number, then you can wear anything and not feel embarassed.  I tested this theory by walking through Sydney in thongs, sun visor, daggy pants and running tee after the City to Surf.

Ha, after all that, I still ran a slightly faster pace than last week.  That’s weird since it felt so easy last week and oh so hard (and full of stops) this week.

Anyway I’m thinking of doing Go the Tan this weekend.  Looks like fun. But now I must sleep.

Tuesday

Not much happening today on account of I’m buggered from yesterday.  I even skipped my Tuesday morning run *gasp* but I did work to and from work (10 kms) so I figure 10 km walking = 5 km running.

Hoping to get in a long run tomorrow.  We’re planning on doing a run the same as last week but meeting at Fed Square this time since I’ll have to meet Simon at 5.30 so don’t have time to get home from work.   Must remember to pack running gear.

Since I started this job, I’ve been leaving my work shoes at work and wearing runners to and from the office.  I used to bitch about people wearing runners with their work clothes but it’s damn handy.  Of course I still do if they’re only walking a couple of blocks to the train station.  What a wank.  Still I’d rather wear runners that look obviously like you’re wearing them than casual shoes that look like you are clueless and wrong.

Anyway, my contract ends this week so I must remember to take my shoes with me.  I’ve got work lined up for next week already, back at the same place I was before Christmas.  Life is weird.  I’ve not even been trying to get work and suddenly I’m never without it.

Big Day Out of Awesome

Best BDO ever.  I ended up wearing my fave short dress with jeans.  Then it got hot so I took the jeans off and then it got cold so put the jeans back on.  Very versatile outfit.  I had my Volleys on my feet but a dress and Volleys is cool and cute (and you can’t tell me otherwise).

We parked the car near Tim and Simon’s in Kensington then caught the tram up to the racecourse.  We weren’t sure of the stop to get off so I said to follow the young dude with the faux-hawk (my sister had never heard that term before and was ROFLing).  He got off the tram and we went to get off and the driver told us to stay on cos it was the wrong stop  but “those young kids can have a long walk, it’ll be good for them to walk in the sun”.

We got there earlier than planned so went for a wander and caught a bit of Billy Bragg.  He is very funny with his between song banter but I always feel like I should like him more than what I do.

Then we went back to the main stage to see Grinspoon, but went to the other stage cos my sister wanted a top spot for Arcade Fire.  We got one row back from the D barrier so not bad, then the stupid bint in front of us called her friends over and they pushed in.  This girl was so dumb – she had a cut out from The Age on the “Five Essential Bands to catch”.  Seriously, if you can’t think of 5 bands you want to see without consulting The Age, maybe you should stay home.

Grinspoon are awesome.  Phil Jamieson is the funniest guy in Australian rock.

I wasn’t that keen on seeing Arcade Fire.  I think I decided ages ago I don’t like them so never really listened to their music but I can’t remember why I decided that.  They were pretty awesome on stage anyway.  One of the chicks with them was unbelievable.  At any point she could be anywhere on stage playing any instrument.

After them, Silverchair came on so we went to get food.  Silverchair – have they had a decent song since they hit puberty?  I think not.  And Daniel Johns, he used to be so hot *sigh*.  But they did “Freak” as their finale and that made me happy.

We got a spot for Bjork but it was right at the edge of the barrier and when she came on (with a bunch of musos in bird costumes or something wacky) she stood so far back on the stage we couldn’t see her so we went to the other side to get a good spot for RATM but there were no good spots and it was kind of a downer seeing Bjork from amongst the RATM crowd cos they were so not into her.

I got a bit bored during Bjork – maybe because of the lack of energy around me but I felt like it was the totally wrong venue to see her.  I did enjoy the last song she did though (dunno the name).

I looked at the crowd and said I didn’t think they raged against much but my sister reckoned they raged against their mums if she told them to clean their rooms and stuff and like that.

Ha, this was funny – there were a couple of real meathead guys sitting on the ground beside me and when Bjork started her final song they stood up and one of the meatheads started explaining the symbolism and meaning behind her costumes and staging to his mate.  You just can’t tell with people.

Then there was a break and some guy climbed up into the tree behind us.  The crowd didn’t like that so the crowd threw water bottles at him.  No exaggeration – I reckon there were about 500 water bottles thrown.

Then RATM started – and I was surrounded by pumped up teenage jumping up and down and raising their fist in the air while clouds of dust rose up from the dry ground.  Luckily being a Melbourne crowd, that only lasted for the first few bars (and the chorus).

I can’t even begin to describe how good RATM were.  I don’t have the words in the English language.  It’d be a big call to say that they are the best band I’ve ever seen but definitely the best band I’ve seen at the BDO.   Plus they did “Down Rodeo” which is my favourite ever RATM song and I didn’t think they’d do it so I feel a million kinds of happiness right now

I do have one teensy problem – I really want to go see their sideshow plus The Nightwatchman show but both are sold out.  Since I’m banned from Ebay, I asked Andrew to bid on tix for me but then he decided if he could get a cheap ticket, he’d keep it for himself.  Did I go through 20 hours of labour for that?

Afterwards I fought through the streams and streams of people to find my sister (she’d been to see LCD soundsystem and Paul Kelly) then the long, slow shuffle to the gates.  I called into the supermarket which was full of tired kids stocking up on junk food then came home.  Right now, I’m trying to get the energy to wash my dirt-encrusted body before collapsing between my white sheets!

Shoes

I got ditched by my running partner this morning.  I kinda figured that’d happen when I started getting drunken texts at midnight promising he’d turn up!  I managed to quite nicely by myself anyway – a couple of laps of Princes Park.  Was going to do Yoga in the Park afterwards but by the time I finished running the class had already started.

I really want to find somewhere that does handmade/custom made shoes.  I’ve got a fave pair of shoes that I’ve worn to death.   The heel has collapsed on one side!  They are the best shoes though and I want another pair although I doubt I’ll find them so I figure if I get some made the same I’ll have them forever.  I’ve been doing a net search since I remember someone telling me about a place on Gertrude or Smith St but can’t find it.  Meanwhile I’ve found <a href=”http://www.prestonzlydesign.com/products.html”>this place</a> – I warn you though, don’t even look at that site if you have any kind of shoe buying problems.  Personally I want to take all the beautiful shoes home and look after them and love them.

The plan for this arvo is to go buy cowboy hats for the Big Day Out tomorrow.  Or maybe I’ll wear my trucker cap which will be much less annoying.

Happy Australia Day

I had a pretty quiet one today.  We lolled around on the front porch, listening to the JJJ hottest 100 and complaining about the music taste of the kids today, ha ha.  Triple J is weird, it’s like there is this generic sound and it’s the same now as it was 10 years ago.  It’s not that the yoof are listening to stuff I hate, just that it’s stuff I’m bored with.

We kept trying to guess the bands and I was like it’s the Beatles or it’s Led Zeppelin.  The only bands/artists I knew were Regina Spector, Soko and the White Stripes (who I really haven’t liked since their first couple of albums even though I hate being THAT person).

At one point I guessed Snow Patrol and the band was actually Muse (lucky my son wasn’t here or he’d KILL me for that).  I actually have a theory that everyone is a secret Snow Patrol fan but they don’t want to admit it.  I developed this theory cos my sister and I both secretly (or not so secretly now) have that Snow Patrol song “Run” on our ipods.  I call it the dead people in TV shows songs cos they seem to play it every time someone dies.

After that, I thought I’d better get my lazy butt to the gym.  I did a huge weights workout + some running on the treadie between sets. My gym isn’t air conditioned – what do you expect for $4 a visit – so I was sweating like a pig when I finished.  I love to sweat at the gym; it makes me feel like I’ve achieved something.  I also polished off a 1.5 lt bottle of water.

Got home and cooked dinner.  I’d got some freshly made pasta at the market the other day.  I asked for pumpkin gnocchi but they gave me tortellini and the filling was a bit tasteless but I made the most awesome pasta sauce ever – a combination of heaps of vegies including fresh corn, chicken mince, a bottle of tomato sauce (the Italian stuff not like ketchup), low fat ricotta and a decent dollop of pesto.  I am very much satied now.

Unhappy Feet

I walked to work today and ended up with big horrid blisters on my heels.  I thought I’d be okay wearing my Skechers instead of runners.  Big mistake.  As well as the blisters, the stupid velcro straps came undone about every 5 steps.

At lunch time I decided to go buy a pair of cheap slip on shoes instead of limping around.  I ended up walking down to Swanston St cos I can’t afford to buy shoes in the “Paris end” of the city.

You know how this country has an obesity problem?  Well I reckon we could solve a lot of it if people didn’t walk so freaken slow.  What’s with that?  I had my feet shredded to bleeding point with blisters and I was still trying to get around them.  Plus have you ever noticed that the slow people walk, the most footpath space they take up.

I think it should be legal to punch people who hog the footpath with their slow walking while using their mobile phones!  In fact it should be illegal to NOT punch them.

I checked out the shoe shops in the mall.  What the hell is with shoes atm?  I could get those canvas ballet flats or I could get thongs.  Nothing else.  And I am NOT wearing thongs to work even if they are fancy thongs.  I refuse to be one of those people.

Then I went to Target and the best I could do was a pair of canvas slingbacks.  It took me ages to find the right size while a bunch of feral kids ran around the store screaming their lungs out.  I wanted to tell their parents to control the little shits but, of course, the parents were nowhere to be found.  Then this white trash women started screaming at her kid to behave (he was the quietest kid in the store anyway, prolly to scare to make a noise).

OMG school holidays end next don’t they?  Please, please tell me they do.  What the fuck are these people doing shopping at lunch time anyway?  They have the whole freaken day to go shopping but no, they have to shop during that half hour window I have to run into the city and get shoes for lacerated feet.

So I finally found a pair of size 10 canvas slingbacks and went to the check out.  The slowest check out in the history of check outs.  The girl folded every single thing with meticulous care.  It’s freaken Target – since when do they even fold shit?

Got the new shoes on and they were a mile too big!  Yeah I should have tried them in the shop but I’d tried a similar pair that fitted perfectly.  Not only did the new shoes not fit, the sling back rubbed on my sore heels.  They I tucked the slingback under my feet but my feet kept slipping out of the shoes plus they rubbed on the front of my feet and gave me MORE BLISTERS.  I ended up putting my old shoes back on.

What a waste of time, I ended up doing more walking in the old shoes than I would have if I’d have just sucked it up in the first place.

So after work I went to my fave cafe and it was filled with more kids.  Well teenagers.  Why are all these teenagers at the cafe? Why aren’t they out tagging trains and skulling Stone’s Green Ginger and sniffing glue?  They were very loud teenagers.  Then two women came in and one of them spent the whole time telling her friend what a horrible person she (the friend) is.  I dunno about you but if I went out for coffee with a mate and she abused the whole time, she’d be wearing that coffee.

So, to sum up, it’s been a shitty day and people suck.  I did have an awesome vegie parcel (in pastry – oops) and some chocolate coated dried strawberries.  I think I could have early PMT.

Weigh In – Arrrggghh

I’m up 1.4 kgs this week to 86.1 kgs.  Oops.  I think that’s a combination of water retention and bad eating.  Time to stop that.  It’s amazing how quickly I can get into bad habits.  Anyway, my tactics for this week are:

• record eating – I’ve been using Calorie King but when I have stuff that I know isn’t in their database then I get slack about it.  I might start keeping a paper journal so it keeps me honest.
• eat less crap, cook more

Pain

You know what the most painful thing about running is?  Not the knee problems or the feet.  Not the hamstrings or anything like that.  It’s when the hot water of your post-run shower hits the spot on your back where your bra strap rubs.  Last night I was saying words that made the baby Jesus weep.

Despite not working today, I didn’t make it to the gym.  I thought about it, I thought about it a lot then realised I could do all the stuff I wanted to do at home.  I only wanted to go to the gym cos I’ve got a month’s membership and wanted to get my money’s worth.  I don’t think I’ll get a membership again since it’s only $4 per class and I don’t go that often.

I’ve actually been thinking of getting more stuff for working out at home.  I’m paying for go-go class and boxing (when I go) plus I want to start going back to yoga.  That’s a fair wack of money a week then add on entry fees for fun runs etc and I really can’t afford gym fees.

The main reasons I go to the gym are for non-running cardio (but their cardio equipment is rubbish anyways) and weights and the occasional pilates/yoga class.  I reckon I can do weights without the gym – I have dumbbells at home and a fitball – and still cough up the $4 for pilates.

Anyway, I spent my day off (apart from procrastinating) by going to the market and then to the pictures to see Juno.  Is Micheal Cera the funniest actor alive?  I think so.  He just had to look at the camera and I’m falling off my seat laughing.  It’s an awesome movie and I wanna go back – hilarious and a refreshing lack of moralising considering it’s about teen pregnancy.  I also tried to do the Sudoku puzzle in the paper.  I’m getting addicted to those bloody things.

More Stuff

Went for a run tonight.  Didn’t want to go to the Tan because I’m over it so we were discussing various alternatives and I had the Beat the Boat brochure beside me so we decided to do that.  I had to meet Simon in Burnley but took a wrong turn and ended up on Burke Rd!  Then I waited in the wrong spot and didn’t have my phone on me but he found me anyway.  Sometimes you just can’t avoid that running.

I said we had to go to Flinders St but Simon insisted we turn around at Swan St.  When I got home, I checked and it is Flinders St so we did less than 10 kms.  I was right, he was wrong, I can sing the I am right song.

We’ve decided to make Wednesday night our long run night because it’s been too hard to organise weekend running.  The slightly less than 10 kms we did tonight were pretty cruisey even though we’ve not been doing long runs at all for the past few months.  Go us!

Yah, I don’t have to work tomorrow.  That rules.  I can sleep in then go to the gym then the market then maybe a movie.  Then I only have work Friday and it’s a long weekend.  That means I don’t have to wear work clothes again until Tuesday.