While it was great seeing family and friends in the UK, living out of a suitcase for 5 weeks was a little tedious after a while. Although when I did get back it took a more than a little while to get all my washing done and I am embarrassed to say some of it is still laying around the apartment, I really must sort that out.
The highlights since I've been back are first and foremost getting back to running with my friends at PRR. Strange how you come accustomed to the abuse and mockery, sorry I meant advice and support of course :) While I was back in England I was lucky enough to be invited to the local running club for an evening to see how it was ll done back there. I have to say I was shocked. Mandatory warms-up and cool-downs were involved and even star jumps! It was a great evening and looking at the results that the Wellingborough and District Athletics Club (WDAC) achieve their methods definitely work, but a big departure from what I'm used to where tying your laces is considered stretching and the cool-down is done at the pub.
The first weekend after getting back the club took part in the Birch Bay Road Race down in Washington state. The were 5k, 15k and 30k distances and I'm proud to say PRR cleaned up. Barry won the 15k with Sarah coming in 3rd overall female and there were many over placed runners in there age categories. Due to me having done the LA Marathon the Sunday before I stuck too the 5k race, and yes I know Ross and others had raced further the same weekend as I and they did the 30k distance but hush this is my blog. In my completely valid 5k distance race I came 7th overall and 1st in my age group, unfortunately as the race organisers didn't seem to realise the validity of the distance I got a thick cotton t-shirt unlike the nice technical t-shirt that the others got and I didn't get a medal unlike the others got, but am I bitter?
The main reason for us all crossing the border for this race is that it is a club event and one in which historically we have done very well, winning the club trophy for the previous two years. This year was no exception to doing well but due to some silly point scoring system where clubs got 2 points for each member running we lost out to our rivals who brought out 35 people compared to our 16. With this in mind we started out with a 38 point handicap and we only lost by one point, maybe, there is some discussion on this point as well, mainly by me, but am I bitter? :)
It was a great day for the race and after all of our runners had tremendous personal runs we all headed back up into Canada for our celebration meal and after that our celebration naps, as getting down to Washington and crossing the US border had called for a far to early Saturday morning.
Easter has also been and gone and finally over the long weekend I got to get up to Whistler for some skiing. Barry kindly drove us up there and after warning me several times about having to accept a certain level of cloud at Whistler we got there to a beautiful day. I am completely sold on the place, the snow was great the runs were brilliant and we only covered some of the slopes on Whistler mountain, not even touching Blackcomb. We got to tryout the Olympic downhill slope which was insanely icy and fast which called for so much scrubbing of speed that my legs were practically on fire when I got to the bottom. I need to get my skis sharpened before I try that again and also another 5 years of practise.
Towards the end of the day the deep powder had taken some toll on my legs and I had started to fall with some frequency so it probably wasn't my best plan to go into the terrain park and introduce Barry to ski jumping. But never let it be said that common sense has stood in my way and with the thought of 'how hard can it really be' in our heads we plowed on in. After the first jump I was very concerned that I may very well have broken Barry :( But like a trooper he carried on and we finished the day in one piece more or less and with a panda face tan to show for it too.
Even tough it may come as a shock to some of you I have also been to the cinema a few times since I have been back. Quick reviews as follows:
Clash of the Titans - Meh, not my thing, 3D seemed an after thought and just didn't grab me.
Bounty Hunter (ROM/COM, Gerard Butler and Jennifer Aniston) - Was fair, didn't expect much was disappointed, very formulaic but passes the time.
Repo Men (sci-fi/thriller, Jude Law, Forrest Whittaker) - Was okay, interesting idea but felt it went for more gore than necessary, ending was a bit pants too, reminded me of Total Recall quite a bit but not the good bits.
Chloe (drama/thriller, Julianne Moore, Liam Neeson, Amanda Seyfried) - Good film, strange but good. Acting is great and nice cinematography, also odd how they make the love scene between JM and AS more disturbing than sexy. Nice twist and turns as well, the plot not the love scene.
After having a month of no fast food in January, due to over eating at Christmas and a month of no alcohol in February, due to that fact I can't remember most of Karen's party. I decided that April was the month of no meat due to gorging myself back in the UK. That is right I'm being a vegetarian for a month. Initially I was still going to be eating fish but due to some well raised points, fish has also been cut out for now. After mentioning this on Facebook, friends have risen to the challenge and supplied me with many fantastic sounding recipes for veggie dishes. I'm a week in and so far so good. I have enjoyed cooking the new foods and while a a lot of the dishes I have been doing have been quite spicy to make sure of flavour I have had quite a good variety of things. Mood has been a little funny once or twice and I wasn't sure if that was to do with low iron levels but have taken steps to address that if it was the issue and will look forward to the next few weeks.
Last thing to mention that after seeing the film Chloe, Ed and I had been left to grab ourselves a drink we happened to end up in the Revel Room in the Gas Town District where I'm 99% sure we were sat next to Laura Vandervoort, not a hugely well known actress but she has started in Smallville and has now got a large role in the new remake of 'V'. I love Vancouver! With that and seeing David Hasslehoff in LA, I'm on a role. :)
You need plenty of dark green leafy veg to keep up your iron. Best examples are Kale, Savoy cabbage, watercress and spinach. And they don't have to be bland. The key to cooking them all well is minimal water and minimum time so they're still a good bright green, they only really need heating- not cooking.
ReplyDeleteAnd yes, you do sound rather bitter about the rubbish prizes dished out for the 5k and the points handicap against the other club. But you know what? I would be too! Pleh to 'em all!
Stella