Athena

I am considered an Athena. Bet you are surprised to hear that, right? I mean, who knew? I signed up for the Spring Classic Duathlon and according to their weight chart I fall under the category of Athena. You don’t have to check the box, but I did. Men that are over a certain weight are called a Clydesdale. Hmm. Who chose these names? Cause they are pretty poor choices.

It’s still amazing to me that I can run and work out this much and still be overweight. When I first started the marathon training, I dropped 4 pounds so fast, it was amazing. I was really excited to think that I would drop ten or fifteen pounds with just running. But alas, the holidays pounced on top of me along with my intense love of baking. The 4 pounds came back and I’ve heard rumblings that they are here to stay.

I’ve been reading blogs written by overweight athletes and have come to the conclusion that there are ALOT of us out there. Really!

Here are some of my favorite blogs:
CJ Runs (and walks)
The Fat Runner
Fat Girl on a Date

and who can forget:

Punk Rock Tri Guy
Confessions of a (not so fat) Runner

These are just a few. There are thousands out there. Maybe even millions. I know I should focus on eating better and sticking to my training schedule but part of me can’t help but long for a lithe slender body. The other part of me says who cares?I don’t know if I’ll ever look like a ‘runner’. But I do know that I’m pretty strong and can bike and run for hours. Literally.

Oysters and Unflattering Photos

Last weekend Andy and I traveled to Wilapa Bay for oysters. Yeah we’re crazy for driving two hours to Top Notch (our favorite bar in Raymond, WA), drinking a beer, and then heading to Eastside Seafood for clam chowder and oysters. Sometimes we stop at this weird little cafe that grills oysters in the shell. We were celebrating Andy being done with school (two A’s and a B).

Top of the oyster mound

No caption needed

We ate a pint of oysters at Eastside and bought a quart of the extra smalls and bought them home. Andy made 3 kinds of cocktail sauces for us to enjoy them with.

Andy looks mad but isn't.

To bring joy to millions (well to the few people) that read this, I present a series of photos I am calling “Unflattering Photos” (this is what happens when you give people like us a camera)

Unflattering?

I'm sleeping! Leave me alone.

Enough of this.

Blessed

There are times that life seems dismal and all hope is gone. Then I talk to my mom. She talks about her job and more specifically her boss. Then I know that all hope isn’t lost. Everything is going to be okay. Or I check the mail and there is a letter from my mother-in-law with two gift cards in there. And I know Andy and I will soon be drinking some two buck Chuck (actually it is 2.99 in Oregon)!

What my pathetic brain is trying to say,despite the overall lack of sleep, is that we are so blessed to have such a wonderful family and great friends. I know I can call my father-in-law (and overall favorite good guy) Bill and ask advice anytime he’s not teaching or flying (which I believe might be sometime in August 2010). I can bug my brother for financial advice or brag about my current GMAT practice score (over 500 so far!!) My dad sends us care packages with enough peanut products to keep me happy for at least a few weeks. What an awesome family!!

My friend Amy has patiently (really!) listened to me talk about grad school for almost a year without complaining or smacking me. She’s always good for a game of air hockey and a few beers. Andy’s friend Dave has helped both of us out too many times to count. Our other friends like Anne, Leah, and the rest of the gang are too awesome for words (mostly because I am so exhausted).

Love you all! And thank you. For everything.

Things I Love

So if I wrote a post on the things I hate, I have to write a post on what I love, right? I Google both “Things I hate” and “Things I love”. I am happy to report that there were a lot more results for “Things I love”.

1. The first cup of coffee in the morning.
2. Sweet treats. It can be cupcakes, cookies, brownies, etc.
3. The good hug when you really need it. The both of arms around your body kinda hug. The one that says take your time. I’m here for you.
4. Sites that allow you to share content without setting up an account.
5. Carbs.
6. Beautiful scenery.
7. Friend and family.
8. And a husband who understands that his wife has had a rough week and doesn’t fault her for her crabby attitude.

Things I Hate

I read Penelope Trunk’s blog and she’s done a few “Things I Hate List”. I found this hilarious blog as well so I decided to make my own.

1. When people talk in questions. You know they have that lilt at the end of their sentence that makes it a question. Think Stewie from Family Guy.

2. People who post updates on the obvious: how there are starving children in this country and our government isn’t doing anything about it, how 1 in 3 people get cancer, blah, blah, blah. These are the same people who do absolutely nothing to improve the world other than posting this useless information on Twitter or Facebook. Go volunteer with Meals On Wheels, be healthier to avoid being the 1 in 3 people that gets cancer, etc. I’m on board with helping make things better but against useless information.

3. People who think they are better than other people because of . No explanation is needed on this one.

4. People who put their bags/purses/leg on the seat while riding on the bus or MAX while other people are standing. Unless that bag/purse/or leg has purchased it’s own ticket, it can go on the floor and the poor person who’s been working all day, can sit and rest their swollen feet.

5. When people get frustrated by long lines. You know who they are. In the cattle herding line at the Southwest counter at the airport they stand behind you seething in anger crossing and uncrossing their arms while they sigh loudly shifting from one foot to another. Yeah like that’s gonna help. How ’bout you just relax? Or better yet don’t book your flight on the most popular travel days or get to the airport earlier. Either way, cut it out. It’s annoying.

It’s 5am

I just started waking up at 5am to go work out rather than after work. Too many things happen at 4:30pm in my department so I never knew when I was going to get to the gym or if. Then if Andy was making dinner, he needed to know when I would be home (evidently he can’t read my mind or see into the future). It was very frustrating for both of us.

5am. Not only is it early but its cold and dark. I’m as clumsy as a twelve year old girl hitting a growth spurt at that time in the morning. Everything I touch falls on the floor, the door makes the most awful squeaking noise, and the cats are a little freaked out by my sudden appearance in the living room. So not only am I clumsy and loud but I’m slow. My body longs for the warmth of my bed and my head isn’t putting together the various things I need to do to get ready in the correct order. Put shoe on, no wait! We need a sock in there somewhere..

So in a process reminiscent of the first day of school after a blissful 3 months off for summer vacation, I get my stuff ready the night before. Not only do I put water in my bottle, get my towels, and move my iPod from work bag to gym bag, but I lay my clothes out in the correct order. The order they need to be put on to maintain dignity, not get arrested, and have general comfort while working out. I put part of my hair up so when I’m standing in front of the mirror, I only need to brush it a bit and add a pony tail. I even start the car right after I’ve pulled on my clothes. By the time I make it to the car, its warm.

I have cut down the amount of time it takes me to get ready, the household is more peaceful, and I can relax knowing I’m not waking Andy up by dropping the hairbrush for the fourth time. As an added bonus, because I’m not taking so long to get ready, I get to the gym earlier which means I leave a few minutes earlier. It’s like I bought some extra time that I didn’t need to wake up earlier for.