All posts by hannahviolin

I am a violinist. I also enjoy running, working out, reading, and hanging with my friends and cat.
Running

Lululemon 5k Race Recap and Ramblings

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I am not one of those Lululemon girls.  I don’t care about fancy workout clothes, AS long as they are in bright colors.  I don’t get super excited over new tanks or yoga pants.  I don’t aspire to work or to have worked at Lululemon.  (It seems that many in the blog world do, that’s why I am clarifying.  Then again, it’s just making me sound cranky.  Oh well, it’s Monday.  I’ve a right to be mildly cranky.)

If you are saying to yourself, what on earth is Hannahviolin even talking about?  What is Lululemon? then let me just tell you, it’s a store.

Okay, glad we’ve cleared that up.  The Lululemon store at Plaza Frontenac (a fancy mall nearby…well not that nearby as it’s fancy) hosted a 5k.  And it was FREE to sign up and run.  Free, I tell ya.  And they say nothing in life is free.

My friend Maddie was running it and that’s how I found out about it.  I signed up (free) but I was still waffling over whether or not to run as it was early the day after the first SLSO concert of the season.  (The concert was fantastic!  All Stravinsky.)  In any case, I wanted to run 8 to 9 miles (really, 9) on Sunday so I thought, well 3 for the race then I only have to run 6 more.  Also I had off all day Sunday so there really wasn’t a good excuse not to run. 

I picked up my packet.  Let me clarify that I did not carry my phone or camera.  I just didn’t want any extra stuff on hand, plus it looked like it might rain and I didn’t want to ruin anything.

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For free, not bad.  Got a little bag with mainly race flyers inside, with a pack of playing cards and a tiny Lululemon change purse as well.  I guess that’s for what little you have leftover after you purchase one of their products.

We hung around waiting for the race to start, and it started raining off and on, and then more on than off.  The race started, and it was coming down pretty hard…and then by mile 2 it was absolutely pouring.  I felt like my shoes were buckets of water that I was stupidly running in.  I was completely soaked and to make matters worse, the course was quite hilly—it went through a neighborhood near the mall and was just uphill then downhill, uphill then downhill.  I pushed through though, because I was hoping to beat my 5k PR from May (31:11, though at the time I couldn’t recall the seconds, so I just knew if I beat 31:00 I would beat it).  I got a bit discouraged during mile 2, what with the hills, the rain, and my shoelace coming untied.  Did I also mention my blisters from some adorably cute shoes I wore Friday night?  Nonetheless, what is it THEY say?  Pain is weakness leaving the body, I believe.

The rain started to let up and I knew I was in the home stretch.  I turned into the mall parking and starting sprinting towards the finish line.  Maddie was yelling my name as I ran through so I tried to run with really awesome form and such.  The finish line was actually closer than I thought…so for once I finished a race without feeling like I was going to throw up…though I bet I could have finished a few seconds earlier had I pushed it a bit harder.  Nonetheless.

30:40

New Personal Record!!!  (PR, as we in the biz like to say)

Didn’t even want to do it. (Okay, I did.  It wasn’t the involuntary luge.)

After the race there was water, bananas, and bagels.  For a free race, it was super well organized with lots of amenities.  Since it was at the mall, we got to use the mall toilets (which at Plaza Frontenac are probably the nicest bathrooms I have ever used.)  It was a really nice race and the price can’t be beat. 

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Rob, me, Maddie, and Dave (thanks to Dave for the picture, just met him for the first time at the race.)  Yes, it was early.  I look tired, I felt tired.  Definitely not my greatest race photo…but hey, a PR is a PR.  I’ll take it! 

It started POURING after the race, and we made a quick trip to Starbucks for Pumpkin Spice Lattes.  I took a nap, then ran around Forest Park with Vanessa.  Again in the rain.  AND I didn’t get any side stitches or take any walk breaks. 

I got my running mojo back, I think!  Jen even called me hard core in a text message.  Things are looking up.  I think 🙂

Running

More Cowbell (really!)

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As you may know, I play violin in an ocarina trio (ocarina, piano, and violin.) We are currently rehearsing and will be doing some recording soon.  One of the pieces we are playing doesn’t have violin on it, so I was asked if I would play…cowbells! 

Of course.

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I thought I’d be holding the cowbells, but since there are two we rigged up some "cowbell stands."  I’m busy playing there.

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Playing the cowbells is serious business. 

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Or maybe not.  Maybe playing the cowbells is actually really funny?  Or I’m crying because I can’t keep a steady beat due to lack of technique and left hand issues?  My right hand is pretty consistent but my left hand is a disaster.  Percussionists, HELP! 

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I have to admit.  I really just wanted one picture of me playing, but Lan Sin (our pianist) got a bit carried away with the photo taking.  I’m glad though, it was nice to have a variety of pictures.  I may need to update my business cards to reflect my new skills…perhaps hannahviolin will become hannahcowbell!

No.  Probably not.

But remember, I am running the "MO’ Cowbell Half Marathon" in TWO WEEKS.  Goodness, where did the time go?  Why am I not more prepared?

I’m sure you’ve all seen the skit.  But have you read the wikipedia article about the skit? 

All right friends, I’m exhausted.  Ran a 5k this morning, MOST likely pr’ed (it seems I crossed the line before 31 minutes) but I’ll wait for it to be official.  I’ll tell you more about it later, maybe 🙂

Practicing, Random thoughts

Quickie Friday Post

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I snoozed a few too many times this morning so let’s see if I can write a post in 5 minutes!  (Can’t wait to read it, eh?)

Today:  workout with Mike, ocarina rehearsal (was hoping to squeeze lunch with Melissa in there but her darned job made her stay in Carbondale longer), teaching, and dinner with Maddie.  (See, Melissa, if YOU had a twitter account or a blog, I’d link you too.  Think about it.  FAMOUS.)

Tomorrow:  City in a Jar’s Slow Food in the Park (make a dish for $5, check it out!  I’m going to make great use of the More-for-Less Cookbook that I rarely use), wedding, SLSO concert (RITE OF SPRING BABY!) and out with friends after.

Sunday:  Run.  Rest.  Recuperate.  Run.  Seriously, did I mention run?

OH and right now I am feeling weird and naked because my engagement ring is at the jewelry store being resized.  I’ve lost a little weight since February plus I think it was big to begin with and the darned thing was turning ALL the time and driving me crazy.  I miss it and I swear there is a little tan line on my finger, even though Chris didn’t agree.  I don’t get that back until Saturday either.

That’s it in a nutshell!  And the fun fun fun thing happening Monday is that…I am going to pick up the invitations.  For the wedding.  I am ridiculously excited about the invitations.  They are going to be AWESOME.

Last thought:  Here’s a flowchart that helps to explain why musicians are neurotic.  Because we should be practicing.

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What are you doing this weekend?  (Hahaha, I know I complained about this question.  But answer in the comments as I want more comments, pretty please?!  With a cherry on top?)

Cat

Hello I am a cat

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Last night in a facebook conversation, my friend Sarah and I got on the topic of lolcats.  Well, to be clear, we were pretending we invented lolcats.   (What’s funny is I remember when Sarah FIRST told me about lolcats and I thought it sounded stupid…I used to also think camera phones, text messaging, and boys were stupid too…then again, at least one of those still is 😉 )

Then I got an email from her.

It says:  I made one of those "cat pictures" you are talking about.

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A few minutes go by.

Another email:  Here is the nautical version.

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I replied and asked if she could make a Mexican version.  (Probably not politically correct, but to our credit we have gone on a trip to Mexico together.)

A longer period of time passed, and then:

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I was CRYING by this point.  Maybe you have to understand the nature of Sarah and my humor (and if you are reading still you surely do) but I was absolutely LOSING it at this point.  I promptly made this cat my facebook profile picture.

And then:

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Sarah’s MS Paint skills are UNPRECEDENTED.   Such talent the world has never known.

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Now, you may not find these funny.  But I do.  This morning I came up with the idea of a Hawaiian cat, with ukelele.  We’ll see what happens.

Random thoughts

Off the hook

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I put quite a bit of myself into my blog posts over the weekend (particularly the 9/11 one) so yesterday I was feeling exhausted and didn’t have anything left to write.  I don’t really today either…it’s rainy, I just got back from a tough but awesome workout at the gym, and the only thing I could think of was a lame post regarding lunches.  (Which I’ll totally write later, you know it!).

I was going through my Gmail inbox and noticed I still have a couple of monthly reverb11 prompts hanging out.  I deleted one because I just didn’t ever want to write about it (totally lame), but the one from June looked interesting, so here we go:

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What can you let yourself off the hook for?

That’s a great question for me.  If you are a regular blog reader, you know I am pretty hard on myself and I like to beat myself up about…well, everything, ranging from my weight, my body image, my running, my violin playing, you name it.  Sometimes this is really productive and gets me going out to the door or into the (figurative) practice room.  Other times it just makes me lie on the couch in a pool of self-loathing.  Sadly, as of late, that last one has been what I’ve been feeling.  Sure, I’ve been getting my life done—I’m nothing if not a functioning depressive, which at least tells you I’m actually not that depressed or I would be lying on the couch more…I’ve been practicing, working out, teaching, playing a variety of concerts, and rehearsing for an upcoming recording.  BUT I feel like a lousy individual and human being and that really wears on me.

What can I let myself off the hook for?

I can let myself off the hook for being sick.  I can let myself off the hook for hurting my ankle.  I can let myself off the hook for having a recurring wrist problem that affects my violin playing.  I can let myself off the hook for feeling fat when I don’t get a workout in, because FAT IS TRULY NOT A FEELING.  I can let myself off the hook for feeling like a bad friend when I am having problems and need my friends to help me and listen to me.  I can let myself off the hook for eating less healthy food during a bad week.  I can let myself off the hook for feeling awkward and uncomfortable around my father because we never established a relationship any other way.  I can let myself off the hook for knowing he will read that, because it doesn’t mean I don’t love him.

I can’t let myself off the hook for everything.  I won’t list that stuff here.  But I don’t have to continually beat myself up every time I haven’t achieved perfection in my life.  Nobody achieves perfection.  I told a student in a lesson yesterday, “Nobody has a perfect audition.”  I believe that when I tell it to the student.

I need to relax and let myself be, or I will self-destruct further than I already have. 

(Please remember I am prone to dramatics and do not assume I am near suicidal.  Just venting here.  Everything is fine!!)

Random thoughts, Running

Time to get serious

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Did you have a good weekend?  If you missed my weekend posts, you should check them out.  I’m especially proud of my post on 9/11:

Don’t worry, we aren’t about to forget

Happy Birthday, Jen

From South Carolina to Phoenix by Bike

Here’s the weather forecast for the week…looking good!

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At dinner last night I was complaining to Chris how I felt like a total fraud runner and that I felt like I had been working so hard and wasn’t getting better.  He (wisely) pointed out that the last month I hadn’t really been running very frequently. He also pointed out that I wouldn’t be complaining about sucking at the violin if I had spent the last month sick and injured and barely practicing.  (Well, I probably would be, but I concede his point.  He also told me to stop writing about him on the blog..sorry!)

Where did this girl go??

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It’s time to get serious!  I know where that girl went, but I know where to find her again.  (She hurt her leg, got a nasty cold, and did some other stupid stuff.)

I am not sick any more, I am not injured right now, and I will be running 4 or 5 days this week.  I will be ready to PR at the Rock and Rock Half at the end of October.

Run, Shadowfax

When I lived in Cleveland we used to carpool to play gigs in Canton, which was about 1 to 1 1/2 hours away, depending on how fast people drove.  I would get into the car with my friend Jun and say “Show us the meaning of haste”.  Okay, lame story.  You probably had to be there.  Basically we wanted to get home from rehearsal before it was ridiculously late.  No, really, I suppose you just had to be there.  I crack up every time I hear that quote.

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