I recently started experimenting with LSD. And I'm finding out that it's really good stuff. Now, before you go and call the authorities or commit me to a drug rehab place, I need to define LSD. In my world, it's not the psychedelic drug of yore, although some people claim they've experienced hallucinations while doing it. In my world, it's...
Long Slow Distance
There's a training method where you run your long training runs at a much slower pace (to keep your heart rate low) than you ordinarily would. The idea is that over time, the slower run builds up your aerobic capacity and you'll eventually be able to run faster with less effort. I started trying this a couple of weeks ago, even though my method isn't very scientific (I just pulled a number out of the air for the heart rate I didn't want to go above). My runs this weekend seemed to be at a slightly faster pace and definitely with a lower average heart rate than runs earlier in the year (and that's with continuing running through the winter). It will be interesting to see what kind of improvement I see over the summer. And it will be interesting to see if this method of training (along with interval training) will help me reach my goal of qualifying for the Boston Marathon. We'll see...
For now, I'm focusing on the Big Horn 50K, which is in Wyoming towards the end of June. It's in the Big Horn Mountains and should be an absolutely gorgeous run. It's also at a higher altitude than what I'm used to running, so that should be interesting. Once again, I'm not going for speed but just to finish. I've got 11 hours to go 31 miles.
Shower of Love Blanket
Tensleep left a comment on my post about the Shower of Love blanket, wondering if I had problems with row 12. Given that I finished the blanket almost three years ago, I really can't remember if I had problems with row 12. However, after reviewing the instructions, I most likely had problems with row 12 and all the subsequent rows. I'm notoriously bad at reading instructions carefully and can't count my way out of a paper bag.
Tensleep, to figure out where you are tripping up, work through the instructions stitch by stitch (after you realize you didn't get the 195 stitches). It's tedious, but most likely you'll discover that you missed a YO or two, or forgot to decrease, or forgot to increase when the increase is not a YO. Feel free to email me at TLHSimondsATverizonDOTnet if you would like more help.
Current Knitting
The current knitting is progressing slower than I run. I'm working on another baby blanket, and am very pleased with the way it is turning out. I've also got a couple of pairs of socks on the needles, both of which are making very little progress. A number of factors conspire against me: a trip to Jamaica (I actually did make some progress on the blanket while I was there), not getting home from work most evenings until after 8:00 and not finishing dinner until after 9:00 (thank goodness for a husband who cooks, otherwise we wouldn't eat until 10:00!), long runs on weekends followed by dust buffalo wrangling, working at a couple of 100-mile races, which pretty much shoots the entire weekend (either because I'm helping runners or else too tired to knit from pulling an all-nighter).
I'm hoping to squeeze in some knitting time today, after I do the dishes and empty the fetid water in the bottom of the dishwasher (which refuses to drain). Given that it's now 2:00 in the afternoon, it's not looking good. Sigh...
I hope you had a wonderful weekend and managed to squeeze in some knitting time.
P.S. Nicole, there are plenty of 10Ks in this area. Visit the Washington Running Report website and take a look at their calendar: http://www.runwashington.com/archive0209/calendar/smu.html. The Leesburg 10K is in August and is a pretty good race, running out and back on the W&OD bike path.
