Tho visiting Nancy & Scott in Massachusetts, I still managed my run. It was partly sunny & unseasonably warm (42 °F), making it very easy to put on my running gear & get outdoors. I tried to map a route of 2 mi. in advance (w/my laptop & MapMyRun), around their neighborhood… but once I went out (no laptop & I don’t have a SmartPhone), there were some “missing” road signs along the route I chose. I had to fumble along, backtracking a short distance once I realized I had missed a turn & then going a bit longer, to be sure I did a minimum 2 miles. When I returned to their house, I remapped my actual run via laptop: 2.8 miles! Had I known I was so close to 3, I’d have stayed out a bit longer.

Chinese food for dinner again, which I love, so I ate too much… but I got a great fortune in my cookie!

I tried this a month ago. Now I do it about once a week! It works. It’s fun. It’s loud. It’s active. Everything a hyperactive child I could want in a cooking tip! If you cook with garlic, you have to try it. I’m absolutely counting it as part of my rigorous Janathon cross training :-)

In other news, I ran today. Yes, at the gym. 2.5 mi. on the treadmill. Did a few core exercises, then a short virtual course on the Expresso bike — a 3 mi. ride called “Lost Trail.” I’ve done that one before, but I needed a short ride today, as I was pressed for time. At least I beat my Ghost! There’s a Ghost Rider who appears on screen each time you ride a course you’ve already ridden. The Ghost Rider represents my best pace from a prior ride, so today’s ride is a new personal best on the “Lost Trail” course! Looks like my Ghost will get harder & harder to beat :-)

I’m in a bit of a pinch this weekend. Overbooked with social plans & will be with other people a lot on Saturday & Sunday. I will have to excuse myself from a group at some point on both days, to go for a run… but they will understand. Saturday, I will be cutting out on friends briefly. Sunday, I’ll be ditching family members for a short time. They all know how compulsive I get over fitness challenges. Not to worry. I’ll get my runs in. I’m just thankful that the weather forecast is agreeable (partly sunny, with no snow or rain). A real blessing, since I will have to do quick outdoor runs both days.

That’s the name of this sculpture (1938) by American sculptor, Paul Manship. I saw it at the Detroit Institute of Arts a few months ago & liked it very much. I often think of it when I’m sleepy. Like now. Aren’t the owls divine? The way the figure is afloat in the air, lifting up as her bedclothes unwind? I have to say, that “cloud” beneath her is the weak link in this work. In the artist’s defense, however, something tells me it may be quite impossible to create a convincing cloud made of bronze. Nevertheless, this sculpture comforts me. It makes me want sleeping & dreaming. I cannot wait to go to bed again tonight!

Milestone today: it was the unitard‘s debut in the gym’s pool area, HA! That’s right, I wore it for a test run — literally, as I wore it under my shorts & t-shirt for my 2 mi. treadmill trot beforehand. Then, after my obligatory Janathon run, I peeled down, rinsed & shower-gelled politely by the pool & got in the water. No one was there, save one older gent, who was kind enough to point out features & equipment there for use in water exercise… but oh, my favorite were the jets!

The shallow end of the pool is a bench with water jets, just like a jacuzzi. Have I mentioned I love my gym? Because it’s hospital affliated, they don’t have a full length pool, but instead, they have 2 smaller therapy pools. From what I remember so far, one pool has warmer water than the other & patients come there for physical therapy in the water during daytime hours. At night, there’s no one in it, so I can swim back & forth freely… or simply sit in front of the jets. I did a little of each tonight, as I only had 20 min. between my run & the start of my Vinyasa yoga class.

After running, a little swimming/soaking & that hour of yoga, I spent 15 min. in the sauna, showered & came home. I can already see that the pool might trump the Expresso bikes. There is so much to do at this gym, I can never seem to do everything while I’m there… but I sure wanna try :-)

Meanwhile, I ran 2 mi. at the gym. Ho-hum. Two miles, two miles, two miles – I may not be ambitious, but gosh, you can’t say I’m not consistent. Love that rhythmic breathing, so good for relieving stress :-)

Today’s photo display features Squirrel Nut Cookies & Squirrel Nut Zippers, both tasty treats. I made the squirrel cookies at Christmas, only because I found a “squirrel” in my box of cutters. I have no idea how I got it, or why… but it had to be a gift, because I wouldn’t buy a squirrel cutter. Anyway, I used it, just for fun. The cookies were decorated with chopped nuts, of course. What else would you cover squirrels in? The Squirrel Nut Zippers caught my eye at a candy store, because I once bought a CD by a band of that name. The band is good & the candy is really sticky. Almost tore the fillings right out of my teeth, but worth the risk, mmm.

Norovirus precautions still in effect (see Day 23 blogpost), which dampens the whole post-workout hangout — in the sauna, shower & taking my sweet time getting lotioned & dressed. Mask on, mask off, mask on, mask off. It’s a bummer. Of course, getting norovirus would be a bigger bummer, as would not working out at all… so whatever. I went, I ran, I came right home. 2.5 mi. on the treadmill, done. I took an hour long strength training class beforehand. My first time on a Bosu balance trainer. Eh, it was alright. I won’t be getting hooked on Bosu like I did on the Expresso bikes, tho. By the time I finished Bosu & the run, I didn’t feel like riding a bike. I just wanted to go home. I’m hoping that tomorrow, the face masks are no longer mandatory.

Oh wait, I just thought of something exciting! A milestone: I passed the 50-mile mark today. I’ve run 52 mi. in January so far. Not bad. I could probably beat my 76.5 mi. from Juneathon, if I really wanted to… but oh, I’m so tired & it’s winter. I’m cold, unmotivated. I don’t think I wanna run 25 mi. in the last week. Whatever I do for the month is fine by me, cuz I did far more cross training than I did in June, so technically, I think I already surpassed my summer fitness effort :-)

Today’s photo: flowers from my cutting garden, in the bathroom window. Ah, the window was open then. Can you feel that warm summer heat? (I wish!)

After running on our dangerously old at-home treadmill with the herky-jerky belt on Saturday, then running outdoors in the cold with Jaime on Sunday, I was really looking forward to a comfy run & long workout at the gym tonight. My husband is out of town til Wednesday, so ahhh, sweet time! I could ride the virtual-course bike straight thru dinner til closing, if I wanted to. I drove happily to the gym in late afternoon, parked & as I was walking along the front offices (which I can see into from the sidewalk), I saw employees in face masks. Stupidly, I thought “… that’s new. Maybe someone in the office is sick, or it’s some kind of protest?”

Then I got in the door. Apparently, there’s a minor outbreak of norovirus in the hospital & the administration has put contagion precautions into effect. So in order to enter the building, you must sanitize your hands & wear a mask for the duration of your visit. How am I going to breathe while running in a face mask?

Thank God, a reprieve. Persons on the fitness floor do not have to wear masks while actually exercising, nor do patrons have to wear masks in the pool area or in shower stalls. But masks are required to & from the fitness floor, around the front desk, in the locker rooms, hallways, etc. The precaution is in effect “until further notice,” which means I saved my mask as I might need it tomorrow.

Needless to say, I ran 2.5 mi. on a treadmill & then came right home. No dallying on the bikes, no sauna, no shower. Who can relax in a face mask? We’ll see what happens tomorrow. Oh, & you know what else is a downside of a gym with physical therapy programs? Old codgers with poor sphincter control exerting themselves on the treadmill next to me. (Sweet Jesus, what’s that smell?) Maybe I should try running with the mask on after all.

Busy day, but not like yesterday. I had made plans to run with Jaime & run we did: 2 mi. outdoors in sunny & reasonable temp (21 °F). Then I stretched & planked. Tomorrow, I should be able to get to the gym in the afternoon – one good thing about Mondays!

In honor of my continuing to peck away at run mileage, today’s photo is a handsome Red Bellied Woodpecker on a suet cake! (Click the photo to see him larger.) We have many feeders & lots of feathered friends, but this woodpecker is one of our larger patrons. When he flies in, he startles the others & hence, always dines alone! That’s all, folks. Goodnight :-)

That was the bad news. The good news is that I had an awesome day in Boston with our friends. The Shen Yun dance troupe was fabulous! The pics shown are the inner lobby of the Boston Opera House (photos were not allowed inside during the performance) & my serving of Fish Maw Soup w/Black Mushrooms, accompanied by a slice of scallion pancake. Tomorrow, I will have to exercise all the more because I sampled a lot of good food at the East Ocean City in Chinatown.

My fitness report is more of the same. I ran 2.5 mi. at the gym. I’d planned to do 3 mi. & had just passed 2.3 when a maintenance guy came to work on the defunct treadmill right next to mine. The treadmills are close together in a row & the guy had to squeeze between the rails, then crouch down between, to finagle the cover off & get to the mechanics of the belt, etc. I grabbed the handrails as I stared nervously down at his backside, thinking if he bumped my machine, would I stumble & go flying? I was hoping he would get up & go around the front or something, but instead, he took some tools out of his shirt & started operating. I wanted to hiss “Hey buddy, can you work on that later? You’re breaking my stride!” but I was running during non-peak hours (3pm), which I’m sure is why he chose to work on the machine then. My bad. I was too nervous about the guy right there (practically under me!) so I stopped @2.5 mi. & did my weight-machines circuit instead, then stretched out, iced my foot & hit the shower.

Tomorrow, I will have to get up early & run before 9am, or I’ll blow it. I’m going to Boston for the day with friends to see a Shen Yun performance, then eat out in Chinatown. Happy Chinese New Year, Year of the Dragon!

I rode the “Farmers Bluff” course (7 mi.). Just as hilly as yesterday’s route & the same length, but spacious digital views of farm fields, barns & livestock on one side, overlooking a great lake on the other. A challenging ride. Once again, my rear end ached & my legs were shaky as I dismounted. Ahh, shower, sauna & home.

OK, now the news: my SwimOutlet.com unitard arrived yesterday! That’s right, I said “unitard.” A synchronized swimmer friend suggested I get one for pool workouts, as she said it’s not likely to give me a wedgie, bind on the chest & best of all, the one-piece shorts eliminate the need for obsessive grooming of the bikini area, HA! When I first saw it, I was stunned by its ugliness. ”Only $29.99, & looks every bit the price!” But I tried it on. I did some jumping, twisting, flapping & high kicking. (No one saw me, you can be sure.) No slippage, it held fast & comfortably! Suddenly, it didn’t look that bad. In fact, I kinda like the retro ”1920′s bathing beauty” feel of it. Now I wish it came in bold sailor stripes. That would be something!

(Note: That’s not me in the unitard photo… yet. Gimme another 6 months to get there, HA!)