Slow Is Me: Yay New Things!

Monday, March 24, 2014

Yay New Things!

I love new things :) Materialistic? Yes. Ashamed? Not a bit. I tried on a couple of race vests when we passed through San Francisco on our mini adventure, and liked the fit but not that I could pay a lot to get a vest and bladder, or not a lot for just a vest. While I can order bladders cheap online, I wanted to be able to test it prior to next weekend's race. Quick scan online and I found a good deal from Running Warehouse on the Nathan Intensity pack, and ordered it instead. Love the free overnight shipping, it was waiting for me Friday night when we got home so I could use it Saturday morning.

The verdict? I LOVE IT! Will get its own post when I have more time and more miles with it.

After trying packs, I picked up some new socks to try (still searching for feet bliss). Tried the Balega Ultra Plush - I didn't realise how thick they were. It was enough to snug down my shoe fit so far as to cause crampy aching feet two miles into a nine miler. Not a fan, though they will be great in my winter riding boots when the extra cush is nice.


Cute skirt - not much to say here

Also got some new Altra Superior trail shoes. These started me on my Altra kick (Intuition 1.5 for work/errands, original Lone Peaks for riding, can't wait to be able to get a pair of the new Olympus). They just released the new version so I got some originals at a great deal. Tempted to buy an extra new pair in case I don't like the updated version when it's time to replace again... They lasted me a year, and nearly 500 miles in running/hiking/riding combined. On one of my flooded runs the other week, we spent probably two total miles in standing water, and this happened in the same spot on both shoes:

Sad times

Old and scuzzy Shiny and new

New gaiters from Dirty Girl:

I've been looking to replace my phone pouch for a while but not really trying too hard. I decided on a SpiBlt, which I've been eyeing since they were given as prizes at a ride I volunteered at last summer, but never bothered to order one. But since there was a pretty pink one right in front of me, I picked it up. This is the small version, and it still comfortably held my iPhone and bulky rental car keys, no issues on a four mile run (which was not a TRAIL Monterey - paved and in town is not what I was looking for when I asked for a trail run recommendation but not enough time to venture elsewhere. Looks like some great parks to explore next time though...)

Expands as needed, and no bounce :)

Had some great runs recently, and feeling fairly confident for the half, though we drove out to the start area at Rodeo Beach so I don't stress out race morning getting lost, and there's just up in every direction! But that means it's down to finish :) My fancy new pack has space for my phone, so will take pictures along the way!

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Oh! The Places You'll Go!

Congratulations!
Today is your day.
You're off to Great Places!
You're off and away!

You have brains in your head.
You have feet in your shoes
You can steer yourself
any direction you choose.
You're on your own. And you know what you know.
And YOU are the guy who'll decide where to go.

You'll look up and down streets. Look 'em over with care.
About some you will say, "I don't choose to go there."
With your head full of brains and your shoes full of feet,
you're too smart to go down any not-so-good street.

And you may not find any
you'll want to go down.
In that case, of course,
you'll head straight out of town.

It's opener there
in the wide open air.

Out there things can happen
and frequently do
to people as brainy
and footsy as you.

And when things start to happen,
don't worry. Don't stew.
Just go right along.
You'll start happening too.

OH!
THE PLACES YOU'LL GO!

You'll be on your way up!
You'll be seeing great sights!
You'll join the high fliers
who soar to high heights.

You won't lag behind, because you'll have the speed.
You'll pass the whole gang and you'll soon take the lead.
Wherever you fly, you'll be the best of the best.
Wherever you go, you will top all the rest.

Except when you don't
Because, sometimes, you won't.

I'm sorry to say so
but, sadly, it's true
and Hang-ups
can happen to you.

You can get all hung up
in a prickle-ly perch.
And your gang will fly on.
You'll be left in a Lurch.

You'll come down from the Lurch
with an unpleasant bump.
And the chances are, then,
that you'll be in a Slump.

And when you're in a Slump,
you're not in for much fun.
Un-slumping yourself
is not easily done.

You will come to a place where the streets are not marked.
Some windows are lighted. But mostly they're darked.
A place you could sprain both your elbow and chin!
Do you dare to stay out? Do you dare to go in?
How much can you lose? How much can you win?

And IF you go in, should you turn left or right...
or right-and-three-quarters? Or, maybe, not quite?
Or go around back and sneak in from behind?
Simple it's not, I'm afraid you will find,
for a mind-maker-upper to make up his mind.

You can get so confused
that you'll start in to race
down long wiggled roads at a break-necking pace
and grind on for miles across weirdish wild space,
headed, I fear, toward a most useless place.
The Waiting Place...

...for people just waiting.
Waiting for a train to go
or a bus to come, or a plane to go
or the mail to come, or the rain to go
or the phone to ring, or the snow to snow
or waiting around for a Yes or a No
or waiting for their hair to grow.
Everyone is just waiting.

Waiting for the fish to bite
or waiting for wind to fly a kite
or waiting around for Friday night
or waiting, perhaps, for their Uncle Jake
or a pot to boil, or a Better Break
or a string of pearls, or a pair of pants
or a wig with curls, or Another Chance.
Everyone is just waiting.

NO!
That's not for you!

Somehow you'll escape
all that waiting and staying.
You'll find the bright places
where Boom Bands are playing.

With banner flip-flapping,
once more you'll ride high!
Ready for anything under the sky.
Ready because you're that kind of a guy!

Oh, the places you'll go! There is fun to be done!
There are points to be scored. there are games to be won.
And the magical things you can do with that ball
will make you the winning-est winner of all.
Fame! You'll be famous as famous can be,
with the whole wide world watching you win on TV.

Except when they don't.
Because, sometimes, they won't.

I'm afraid that some times
you'll play lonely games too.
Games you can't win
'cause you'll play against you.

All Alone!
Whether you like it or not,
Alone will be something
you'll be quite a lot.

And when you're alone, there's a very good chance
you'll meet things that scare you right out of your pants.
There are some, down the road between hither and yon,
that can scare you so much you won't want to go on.

But on you will go
though the weather be foul
On you will go
though your enemies prowl
On you will go
though the Hakken-Kraks howl
Onward up many
a frightening creek,
though your arms may get sore
and your sneakers may leak.

On and on you will hike
and I know you'll hike far
and face up to your problems
whatever they are.

You'll get mixed up, of course,
as you already know.
You'll get mixed up
with many strange birds as you go.
So be sure when you step.
Step with care and great tact
and remember that Life's
a Great Balancing Act.
Just never forget to be dexterous and deft.
And never mix up your right foot with your left.

And will you succeed?
Yes! You will, indeed!
(98 and 3/4 percent guaranteed.)

KID, YOU'LL MOVE MOUNTAINS!

So...
be your name Buxbaum or Bixby or Bray
or Mordecai Ali Van Allen O'Shea,
you're off to Great Places!
Today is your day!
Your mountain is waiting.
So...get on your way!

Slow Is Me

Motivators..

Monday, March 24, 2014

Yay New Things!

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Trails

Countdown!!

Rocko :)

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