Making marmalade. This is day one.  Poach fruit, boil pulp, squeeze out pectin and chop rind.
Day two is today, dissolve sugar, simmer until it will set - about 3 hours, jar.
Tomorrow, eat!!

There are many things i love about running, but up at the top of the list has to be cute
running skirts and new shoes.  I bought this skirt with the $75 gift card i won on Dailymile
(spare change for a sale 2nd skirt on sale too).
The weather was so lovely i wore it with no running tights.  Great day.

Curious about what this would say about my run yesterday. I did my usual route but in Fartleks. It ended up with an average pace of 8:10.  I'm doing a half marathon in 3 weeks, but i hardly think i will do a sub 2 hours. But, i wont be properly trained either.  This does state that my 10k time is actually over my personal best though. This makes me want to run a 5K to see how i would actually do.

Would you believe me if i told you i didn't realise how dirty my trainers were?
 I had no idea until i got my new ones.  They are a little white aren't they?!

As an Orthotist i find this very interesting (i look at the wear patterns of all my patients shoes), but even just a runner, its nice to be able to see what kind of runner you are.  These clearly show that i a a mid-foot runner.  There is basically no ware on the heels. The red arrows are to show that these areas are not worn, they just didn't have the blue on them. There is about 2mm of tread missing from these sections. I do love these shoes, i was properly fitted for them, but that was before i knew what kind of runner i was.  Though i have just repeated them (almost - new one are Cumulus 12 the old were 11's) but for my next shoe purchase i will investigate if there is a better shoe to provide mid-foot cushioning.  Until then, i need to dirty up my new ones so you can't see me in the dark!!

My kind of Weather

This morning when i woke up, it was raining windy and what appeared to be cold.  There was a haze over the town.  This is what Americans think our weather is like all the time.  Regardless of what mother nature does, i still have to run but was not looking forward to it.  As i sat eating my breakfast looking out on a typical autumn day i had to remind myself that when i started running it was in the freezing temperatures of Wisconsin's winter.  I believe i ran when it was negative10C (15F) so a meek little blustery English autumn day should be nothing. 

I donned my running tights, running skirt, a tech T, wool beanie and my windbreaker and headed out.  It was LOVELY.  The dampness in the air was nice, the wind cool but not cold.  I took my hat off after 5 minutes.  As i climbed Olivers Mount my view was restricted to maybe 100feet on the road.  It felt really good to be running.  The air smelled sweet and fresh and felt i was running on clouds. It didn't even bother my that Sally died after .98miles.  I ran my usual 3 so didn't really need her anyway.

In general i prefer autumn and winter clothes.  I always have.  I like to wrap up. Love leather gloves and woolly hats.  I've never been a scarf person, but I'm slowly changing that. I have missed wearing my down body warmer, i love the cozy pockets and that i can carry things without a bag. Its great to run in, i can carry a phone and camera and not even notice it.  I am truly looking forward to Autumn in the UK for the first time in 7 years.

Bring on running tights, chunky warming soup and leather gloves.

Almost a 10K

A Wat in Hua Hin

I'm feeling pretty damn good today. I got up at 6:40am and put on my new Nike running outfit I purchased when in Phuket. As Nike and Adidas are made here they are cheaper than in the States. Which means that they are way cheaper than in the UK. So I admit, I spent a bit of money at the outlet stores on running stuff. And some none running Adidas tops too, totaling er..7 tops and one pair of capri's. I was thrilled, one of the best shopping days in a long time, including before traveling.

I rarely buy workout 'outfits' just grabbing what's on sale or the like. But with my new out look on fitness, I have a new desire for sports wear. I don't need to match labels or anything, in fact I think I'd rather not, but having a matching top and bottom was quite nice. Short grey capris with a modern floral flash of pinky-tangerine at the hem and a top, in same pinky-tangerine, that compresses the girls more than my sports bras but not uncomfortably so. I felt good.

Ah, our trusty 7 eleven, and the sun rising.

I felt I had a good lay of the land here in Chiang Rai, we have plodded these streets for two days and it's not that big of a place. I headed south on a familar street and took it to what I consider the edge of town. Then headed east in to the morning sun. It was a hazy morning and looked very pretty but my photos don't do it justice.

The stunning clock tower (is a round-about). This is gold as gold can be.  Last night we walked past and they were lighting it up in changing colours from blue to purple to red and yellow and green. It was spectacular.

There are plenty of stray dogs in Thailand and I was nervous running past them at first ,but they completely ignore you, lazying away the hours in the sun. So i was shocked and a little scared this morning when running past a german shepard and another little thing that they started following and barkng at me. And you know what? They werent strays. These had owners, owners I was pissed at. I'm not a dog lover, nore am I scared of them, but chasing and barking at me is not freaking cool!!

After that incident my run was calm, I ran past the monument we hadn't seen yet so I stopped for a couple of minutes, took off my shoes and photographed the temple and monument. This was at mile 2.65 and i paused Sally.

The temple in the middle of the road.

All that glistens is not gold.  Or is it?

Onward on my loop, I ran now with the sun on my back. I use the sun a lot to determine if I'm going the right direction. Thank goodness it always does the same thing, though mid day help me not one bit.

My loop took me 3.7miles but that wasn't enough. The temperature was lovely at 77f/25c with a nice breeze so I did a pit stop and drank the bottle of water I had placed at the front door, stashed my camera under my shoes (no shoes allowed in the house) and decided that I was going to do the 6 miles I had in mind as I started. My first ever 6 mile run. New territory for me.

An out and back would mean that I had no choice and I wouldn't have to battle my brain to complete the whole thing. As it turned out, I felt really good and probably didn't need that mileage insurance of the there-and-back. I almost took a wrong turn but in the end I ran 6.15 miles in 1:02:57

My splits:
9:52
10:05
10:14
10:38
10:25
10:03
1:40
Average pace 10:13 Score!!

I'm pleased with these splits. Though no, they are not negative, they are quite consistent.  I focused on pushing my last mile to make it negative, but i hit some traffic along the way so only managed a slight negative direction.

Shopping at the market was fun and confusing.  This is just around the corner from where we are staying, and we have cooking facilities so have cooked for the first time since starting our trip. 

I'm really quite thrilled with my run. I really enjoyed it. I felt the same at mile 6 as I did at mile 3. I have been slacking with my core and strength training in general but hope that I can change that.

I'm really looking forward to doing longer runs, not necessarily here in Asia but when I'm home in the easy temperatures of the UK. I still can't get my head around that I will soon be living back in the UK. It's strange to have been away so long and I feel like I have changed a lot in my time away. I certainly see a lot of things differently. It's an exciting time.

Felt the Urge...

...to run, so screw rest day!

So it went down like this:

• last night we went to a Sheepshead Marathon.
• I didn't get much sleep about 6.5 hours.
• I have this head fog and a frog in my throat, but i feel fine in my body and chest. 
• Its lovely and sunny out and17F.  
• So did a 2.67 mile jog. 
• Very happy me  

Sheepshead has fast become my favourite card game. So simple in practice so many things to think about.  Given we were playing for 8+ hours, i though id be will be shelling out some spondoolies come home time.  We ended up 10c up. (me -13 him +15) Ooo moneys :) i told him not to spend it all at once.

And to report, i have two healthy boobs still.  February's self breast exam - two thumbs up!

And a side note: I needed a few more sports bras and went shopping to TJ Max - my favourite store.  There were few choices but i know i like champion bras and there were three, white, grey and hot pink.  Well if you know me, you know i don't wear pink. But i wanted two and there is no way i'm buying white, it just wouldn't stay that way. So i bought the hot pink one, used it today and i think it turned me on to pink (not baby, jut hot). I love it! I love it so much, that i'm going to show you!  

Healthy Hot Pink Boobs!!

runnin' on empty

after my usual sunday three cups of coffee, i headed out for todays twenty minutes.  it didn't ocur to me before shutting the door on the way out to check the weather, and it was spitting just a bit.  but i don't mind light drizzle so it didn't stop me.  i was rocking it ninja again, so didn't even notice it.  the run was a little harder today, a few minutes in i realised i had, in fact forgotten to eat breakfast.  most days i wake up hungry, and eat with in 30 minutes of getting up.  but some weekend days i just don't, not sure why, i'm still always hungry i just don't get round to it. and today was one of those days. i was up at 7.45 and was out running at 10.30...*belly grumble*

...but anyway, i didn't have fuel and i hope that that was the reason it feel harder today.  so i didn't enjoy it quite as much but it still felt good coz i was out there doing it.  i even took off my ninja disguise at one point, for it was so warm.  it was a balmy 43f /6c, the  snow was melting, which although sounds good has its con's.  namely that its a mess to run in, there were half block patches of path under water.  but i do hope it continues to melt. not having to avoid ice when running in the dark would be a big bonus.

i love my under armour so much i took a trip to the outlet mall in kenosha which has an under armour store.  i got a pair of running tights, two tops and some jogga bottoms/sweatpants.  they were my luxury item, i don't have a full length pair but never go in store and think to buy them.  but they were right there and really nice.  i actually put them on when i got home, they were calling my name.

i was allowed that little splurge because i decided that its too much money to go to colorado snowboarding before we leave.  as sad as it makes me.  but i have a plan that will allow us to go in the next three to four years and i'm content with that.  i have presidents day off work so i'm thinking of going somewhere local for the day.  i have to get at least one more adrenalin filled day, if not two, before i go. i won't ever be as close to a hill as i am here.

ninja runner

while purchasing my cold weather running gear, i stumbled across a balaclava (which by the way is a town in Scotland) and i just couldn't resist getting it.  one of my biggest problems with being outside in the cold is that i get ear ache with the slightest breeze.  when i'm on my bike, with ear buds in, a hat over them and then my helmet, my ears still hurt, if its cold enough, and enough is merely cold, like in the 50s.  so when i saw the ninja hood, i just had to get it.  and boy did it work! with the temp being barely above freezing-its 33 deg-i didn't think i'd be so warm.  i wore two cold weather underarmor tops, my compression cold weather tights, also underarmour and a pair of synthetic jogga bottoms. and of course my new shoes.  and guess what.  i had a really enjoyable run. and it was my first!

i donned my gear and i think i look like a ninja, and even the kids down the street said so as i ran by. this photo shows my new tights, though  i doubt i will run in these alone, tonight i added purple bottoms, and i will probably buy a running skirt to cover my bum when it gets a little warmer.

because ninjas also walk like egyptians.

so, i started off going up hill due to my chosen route, its a 2 mile circuit.  i took it really easy and ran for a full 5 minutes without needing to stop. i walked for maybe 30-40 seconds and off again. i ran probably 80% of the way until i had done 20 minutes.  i had to force myself to walk the last section, it was an up hill and i had been running for 20 minutes so didn't want to over do it. also i used it as my cool down, and i did cool down, once i stopped running it got a little chillier, but surprisingly i wasn't too uncomfortable.  i realise 20 minutes of running is no indication really, but i love my shoes and really love the tights. i loved that it held my wobbly ass in place and of course the warmth.

but most of all, i just can't believe how much i enjoyed going out and running tonight.  i really do dislike being out in the cold, and have never really enjoyed running in the past so i'm pleasantly surprised and eagerly wait until i can run again.  so to reiterate as i'm so shocked:

i went in the dark.
when its cold.
with snow on the ground.
when it felt like freezing and was barely above.
with no music
and i enjoyed it!


it ocurs to me that i do enjoy wathcing football in bitter cold conditions; beer freezing cold, i think it was -13f on one occasion, and i always chose to go to cold games.  also snowboarding and waterskiing even.  so there are times when fun is most definitely worth the shivers.  so, from right now, cold is not a barrier from a run.  i will be living in a not so warm country, so get used to it.

 i actually wrote out my schedule today starting february 1st, but will just double up on week one or three fixing my mis-calculation.  sunday would normally be a rest day, but i want to run in the daytime, so i'm running!

i cant upload it right now for some reason so it will come on a later post.