<p>Oh, dear ID, that is exactly what I was afraid of!</p>
<p>I don’t know where the Games will be held. I just check the website because I will soon have to register to qualify at the state level for next year. My friends and I chuckle that when you are dealing with seniors, qualifying the year before may not be the best idea. Who knows what injuries will happen in a year. And as for drug testing - well, let’s put it this way, I think most of the participants are on some kind of medication. </p>
<p>We were sooo spoiled last year at Stanford. Usually, they are held at a university because it provides venues for all sports. Hosting the games is a nice economic boon to a city. Everyone eating out, sightseeing, etc.</p>
Ugh! It will be bad. I grew up there and absolutely avoid going back in the summers when at all possible (literally, unless it’s a wedding, funeral or reunion, I avoid it like the plague). </p>
<p>That being said, those who live there somehow adapt. My niece is a competitive bike racer and runner, and does not let up a bit in the summer. Mornings are particularly humid, and the mosquitoes… don’t get me going on that state bird!</p>
<p>Doing an event at Stanford spoils you (same with San Diego). Back in the day Corporate Nationals (track) was held at Stanford every year and our corporate running team would fly in from Dallas and just delight in the wonderful weather. They eventually started moving it around, but usually stayed on the west coast Well, there WAS the year in Iowa…</p>
<p>When I say that Houston is rough heatwise, that’s coming from a guy who was living in Atlanta the whole time I was travelling to Houston, so I wasn’t a namby-pamby when it came to heat and humidity. All of the southern coastal regions are bad in the summer time. There’s a humidity that is physically shocking to the unacclimated body. A New England runner showing up in Houston in July for an event would be in real trouble and likely putting themselves in harm’s way without a period of acclimation. When you live in the South, you learn to take heat stroke seriously.</p>
<p>I’m back in the saddle after TWO weeks sans exerceise. Life just got too complicated and then the inertia set in.</p>
<p>Yesterday I did a gentle run walk on the tread mill, then today the cycling class followed by more treadmill. I’m just boring. Enjoy repetitive aerobic exercise. Would run outside but am afraid of too many stray dogs in our neck of the woods.</p>
<p>I used to run with a stick - some property owners in my neck of the woods let their dogs roam the streets freely, and I tell you, even the most well-mannered, pedigreed Maltese would turn into a ruthless predator at the sight of a runner! Once I had to stop and make a stick out of a fallen branch because some lady decided to walk her dog without a leash, and the beast charged towards me with his inch-long teeth shining through the foam on his snout. The lady had the gall to tell me, “Oh, why are you so defensive - he doesn’t bite, he just barks!” Yeah. Even an unloaded rifle fires once a year.</p>
<p>Since I didn’t cook the omelet at home I guess they put lots of oil in the skillett. Made me very sick and still not recovered. sheesh…this non-fat low carb eatring has really taken a toll on me when I eat out! Maye it’s my delicate disposition! :)</p>
<p>northminn…hope you feel better soon. I eat out less and less lately since I’m so darn picky about food and I HATE all the extra fat, salt and sugar they put in restaurant foods…especially at chain restaurants. I have gotten to be a royal you-know-what when I DO go out. Whole wheat toast, dry, and one scrambled egg. Yes, just one. And no hash browns please. No I don’t EAT bacon. Or ham. Or sausage. Can I get a substitute? No? Why not? Do you have fruit? What kind? Yeah, I’ll pay extra for it if you insist. Poor servers…</p>
<p>yesterday H and i went for a kayak to our favorite clamming spot (inexcessible by land.) Fierce, fierce winds, plus tide against us–the winds were gusting more than 20mph on our way back–hardest I’ve ever paddled in my life. (whoever asked here if you can get a cardio workout on a kayak needs to come out with me.) Had the clams (cooked by H) with snow peas on the side picked from garden. H calculated that the amount of effort needed to gather and prepare dinner far exceeded calories taken in.</p>
<p>And that doesn’t even count the biking and walking and mowing the lawn with reel mower.</p>
<p>Yet my scale says I gained a pound and a half since yesterday. Sigh!</p>
<p>We used go oystering when I was younger. Wade across a tidal channel in the hot sun, hammer away at oyster clusters to break them loose. And, that’s before shucking them. You’d waste away to nothing if you had to do that to gather every meal! Crabbing was easier. Just tie a piece of raw chicken on a string and throw it in.</p>
<p>Well, I went for my 40 minute hilly walk today. 62 degrees at 4 pm, so I was actually a little cold in t-shirt. I intentionally took it nice and easy. Legs felt great after the layoff. Couldn’t really get my heart rate up much. But, the breathing, ugh. Exercise and chest colds don’t go together. It felt like the first time I walked up those hills. It was good to get a little “move more” in the last two days. I’ll give iPod nazi exercises a go tomorrow.</p>
<p>Really glad to hear some others don’t appreciate being jumped by the neighbors’ dogs. I used to carry mace but can’t find anymore. I think the war on terror made it harder to buy.</p>
<p>We walk our dog A LOT, and I can’t STAND when other folks have their dogs off leash. They come charging…and yeah, they sometimes don’t get along (growling and tangling ensues). Yet, they’re always very FRIENDLY…and don’t worry. Grrrr…</p>
<p>Just checking in. Went to the gym and got my miles in. My buddy cancelled out by text this morning. Had mixed berries and a breakfast sandwich made with Thomas’ multi-grain Light English muffin and morningstar veggie sausage patty. Really hit the spot. Gym was packed again as the rain continues to fall here. Heading to the grocery store today to find some new food ideas. Anyone want to share their favorite light lunch or dinner menus???</p>
<p>Dinner? Organic field mix topped with freshly roasted red peppers and portabella mushrooms. A sprinkle of goat cheese. And 4- 6 oz pan seared wild salmon or “dry” scallops on top. Even haddock or cod. I make a dressing with a little olive oil and some flavored vinegar or barrel aged balsamic. I’ve also been making cedar plank salmon lately…and I’m getting addicted.</p>