Category Archives: Running

Rock and Roll Course Revealed

June 14, 2011 hannahviolin

This morning I was excited to see that the course for the Rock and Roll Half Marathon was in the “paper” (by that I mean I saw it on twitter and went to the website).

The race is on October 23 here in St Louis. Here’s the link to the article about the course.

It’s a nice course, I think, and it’s different that the Go! course from April which is awesome, since I am still pretty scarred from that. What’s funny is that now I’ve run in much hotter weather, though not as far, but still, I would probably do FINE if the race were held today. And maybe Jen wouldn’t have almost died. Grrr. I love that the course goes really near my house though!

It’ll be my second rock and roll race of the year (the first being P.F. Chang’s Excellent Tempe Phoenix Rock and Roll Adventure…or something like that…) which means I’ll also (upon completion) get another medal for doing two in one year. I’m VERY fancy like that!

Anyway, so I’m excited! I would post it on facebook…but I’m on facebook break. Honestly it hasn’t been so bad, and in some ways being away from facebook has been a relief. Yes, I’ve stepped up my twittering, but I think that’s okay.

In other news, I have a blister like thing on the bottom of my foot. I decided to do a treadmill walking workout last night, just something easy, and ended up hurting my foot so I can’t run today. I remember it hurt while walking but I dismissed it as my foot callous needing to get built up again (which is probably true) and then decided I would be more hard core if I just pushed through the pain. Which was probably pretty stupid, but I don’t believe any lasting harm was done. Honestly I should have taken yesterday as a rest day, but I felt guilty since I had done that on Saturday as well, and plus seem to have gained a pound this week…and I just wasn’t thinking terribly clearly. Besides, it was just walking. Stupid blisters.

Practicing, Running, Weight

Summer Retreat Day 5: Body Image

June 6, 2011 hannahviolin 2 Comments

Before I start today’s post, a few things to keep in mind for the upcoming week:

Tuesday, June 7: My birthday! I have some plans with friends, and naturally will tell you all about it later! It involves a delicious dinner.

Thursday, June 9: Concert starting at 7:30 pm with Chamber Project St Louis at “The Chapel” (location here). (This is the group that I was ON TV with in January.)

Recent posts (from the weekend) you should read if you haven’t:

A Night at the Circus

Feeling Good

Okay! Business concluded. Now for the fun.

Happy Monday, loyal blog readers. Today I have a few students and a meeting with a woman who makes invitations. I am also thinking of either going for a run or hitting the gym for some cardio (if it ends up being just way too hot to run in the afternoon, since I didn’t get up early). Should be a really great day, though hot.

I am not entirely up to date on the virtual summer retreat, but I think that’s about par for the course and perfectly acceptable. I’m doing what I can. It’s been an odd week—I feel like I’m on summer vacation, yet I still have work and stuff to do. Plus that constant feeling that I am forgetting something but not being able to recall what it is.

Anyway, I decided to look over Day 5: Body Image for today. As a woman, obviously I have body image issues. On the one hand, I’m in better shape today than I have been since I started dating Chris. On the other hand, it’s not as if I was happy with my body THEN either. So it’s a double edged sword. I’m strong, I’m capable, I can run for miles, I can lift heavy objects, I’m in great health. I can wear SHORTS in public without worrying too much about it, and I can run wearing only those shorts and a sports bra and feel confident. But it only takes a look, or a thought, or a pair of jeans that are too tight out of the dryer, for those ugly fat thoughts to reenter my head. I definitely still think of myself as overweight (even though my BMI is not overweight, it’s still on the top end of the scale) but I want OTHER people to think of me as thin. (and the most beautiful girl in the room…isn’t that what everybody wants?)

(yes, I always dress in those colors, why do you ask?)

So, what does the VSR recommend?

writing
write a letter to yourself filled with self-compassion. in part 1, you will forgive yourself on any perceived ‘flaws’, and in part 2, detail the many gorgeous and delicious features you have that you LOVE [both inside and out].

Forgive myself for my flaws? Is she crazy? How will I improve them if I forgive myself for them?

Oh, I get it. I’m supposed to be happy in my skin right now. Rather than consider myself a work in progress… I am not sure I’m ready to do that. I am fine with being positive about some of my “gorgeous and delicious” features, but how can I forgive myself for my flaws? Do I stop with teeth bleaching and hair removal then? Start eating cheesecake every day? Quit the gym? I’m certainly not ready to do any of those things (though the cheesecake is tempting).

Inside and out? I can embrace my inside—my sense of humor, my quick wit, my patience with children, my kindness, and my guilt. Yes, I shall embrace my guilt! (Guilt over what, you ask? Why, you name it, anything that I could have done that I haven’t! Constant sense of guilt!)

Outside…I do love my hair, I love that my teeth whitening is working, I love my smile, I love my eyes, I love my height, and yes, I do love that I can wear shorts this summer. Do you know the last time I wore shorts comfortably all summer? Without too many worries of people staring at my fat thighs?

But that doesn’t mean I’m ready to settle yet, do you hear? I want more defined muscles and a smaller waist. I will get there. I hope for smaller thighs and butt too, though we’ll see how genetics serve me there.

And I need to quit biting my fingers. Less mutilated hands would go a long way. Chris generally thinks I am beautiful all over…except my fingers. And you know, negative self-hating thoughts. Meh.

meditation
5 minutes focused on loving yourself — and forgiving yourself for any perceived ‘imperfections’. [emphasis on the word perceived]

I haven’t really embraced the whole meditation aspect of this retreat…yet. But maybe practicing the violin is sort of like meditating? You are alone with your music, focusing on the HERE and NOW and concentrating on yourself. When I watch myself in the mirror playing, sometimes I notice my strong arms, my nimble and able fingers, and I love the profile of myself playing the violin…I think that is when I am most beautiful. I also know it’s something I do well, better than most everybody else (statistically speaking, there are really so few excellent violinists in the world, that with a margin of error, I could be considered the best. You know, with a plus or minus 2 percent or something.) I feel a great sense of confidence when playing, backed up with years of experience and tens of thousands of hours of practice.

Haven’t changed that much either!

Running, Teaching

Feeling good

June 5, 2011 hannahviolin 1 Comment

Jen and I ran the park today. 5.6 miles in 1:09. No walking! I was lagging behind her almost the whole time but it was a good run. Not too hot either, and we went extra early because we thought it might be.

We also found a new boyfriend for Jen. He passed us, and we considered turning around and running after him, but he was going too fast for us. We also considered getting the car and going back around and finding him, then getting out and pretending to be running, but decided that was a little crazy. Instead we just went home. Such is life.

Now I’m taking a short break from house-cleaning. Today is the student recital at my house. 6 of my students are playing, and I am naturally super stressed out for the company. Even though these people come into my disheveled house every week, they don’t see as much of the house as they will today, so I’ve been frantically cleaning. Those who know me know that cleaning is NOT my forte. I enjoy a clean house as much as the next person, but I rarely do a really good job cleaning, instead simply doing a cursory vacuum and dusting around objects. Today is really no different, just that I am doing that all over the house! (Good thing I’m engaged already, right? What man would want a woman who can’t clean properly??)

Last night I had a wonderful time hanging with friends at Sasha’s on Shaw and then to the Amsterdam Tavern. The Amsterdam is actually where the Pumpkin Run started, and is also (evidently) a great place to watch soccer. I am not a big soccer fan, but Jen is, and it seemed that she knew everyone in the place! (When I say not a big soccer fan, I mean, seriously pretty bored by the sport. I prefer baseball and the Olympics.)

After all the work today, we have a movie date: the final installment of the Lord of the Rings, Return of the King. Will Frodo live to destroy the ring?

Running

Workout Sunday

May 29, 2011 hannahviolin 2 Comments

I think I’ve mentioned that I wanted to try to work out more in the summer, since I have more time. Some of you might say, how can you work out more? Others would say, thank goodness, you ARE getting married in 218 days and you really need to shape up. It’s time to get serious! (Because if I’m not at my thinnest for my wedding, then there is something wrong with me?)

In any case, this morning I planned a run with Jen, and then in the afternoon I planned to lift weights with Chris and Jon.

Last night I went to Pi in the Central West End with my friends and then we hit up Cafe Eau at the Chase Park Plaza. It was a nice evening, other than a bit of rain, so we enjoyed some outdoors time.

This morning it was 77 degrees when I got up so I knew it would be a hot day. I am sure it was over 80 by the time we got to the park, and much more in the direct sun. However, we dug deep and managed to finish the run with only a couple of VERY necessary walk breaks. If we’re going to run a race in Chicago in September (we are considering this race) we need to be able to run in the heat.

After the run we hit up the crepes restaurant for a much needed lunch (brunch?).

Looking GOOD! And by good I mean really tired.

Kind of like that.

So I’m having a great Memorial Day weekend so far. I am going to a barbecue tomorrow (did you know barbecue was one of my "spelling bee words?" you know, the word that you missed in the spelling bee? I spelled barbeque.) and have some things to make. I can’t wait! Tonight will be movie night with a friend, and tomorrow morning we are meeting with another wedding officiant.

Local readers: mark your calendars for Thursday, June 9 at 7:30 pm. Chamber Project St Louis has their annual Audience Choice Concert at the Chapel and I’m playing on the concert. It will be a good concert and a good time! The Chapel is a really nice, relaxed, nontraditional venue, and they always do a great job making chamber music accessible to the audience.

source

Hope, Running, Weather

Tornadoes

May 25, 2011 hannahviolin

Today we are under another tornado watch. These storms are just ridiculous. I don’t know if it’s global warming, or simply the Midwest being a crazy place to live, but the past few months have been just awful. First it was the New Year’s Eve tornado in Sunset Hills, then the Good Friday tornadoes, the tornadoes in Alabama, then the destruction of Joplin, Missouri. And there are more today.

Here’s an article on what you can do for the people of Joplin.

You can text REDCROSS to 90999 to donate $10 to American Red Cross Disaster Relief. Or you can go directly to the website here. If you can afford to donate and haven’t, please do. I see lots of folks on facebook who say they are praying and that sort of thing. Give money. Or go volunteer, if you have the skills. Do something tangible. Don’t just update your facebook status.

Here’s an article summarizing the awfulness.

Okay, back to me 😉

I need to go to the Ballet School this afternoon for teaching. I plan to leave early to get there (hopefully) before the storm hits. It’s been a great day so far. This morning we met with a possible officiant for our wedding (we are looking at one other person) and the meeting was really enjoyable. After that I ran in the park. I have made Wednesdays my official speed day so today I alternated sprinting with walking until I made it all the way around the park. It was a very impromptu workout but I think, very effective (at least, I was sweating all over, hyperventilating, and felt somewhat nauseous. If that’s not a good workout, I don’t know what is.)

Tonight I look forward to relaxing at home and perhaps catching up on a couple of television programs (the Borgias and maybe the Office.) Long term I am looking forward to my sister Leslie coming to visit at the end of August, and hopefully my other sister Carrie as well!!

Edited to add:

So I should have called ahead before heading to the ballet school, but I didn’t fathom they would close…right when I got off the exit. So then it was a race back home whilst the sirens were going off. Lots of worry and fingernail biting ensued, but I made it home without incident or death. Then I holed up inside watching the weather, and heard some CRAZY hail outside.

I haven’t gone outside to inspect my car yet…my friend Jen says hers has some hail damage, and I’m just avoiding it. From across the street it looks ok…

These are what we found in the immediate vicinity. Nothing like this photo I stole from Jen:

from www.stltoday.com

Running

Benton Park 5k Recap

May 16, 2011 hannahviolin 1 Comment

Saturday morning was the Benton Park 5k, “Reclaiming the 80’s”.

I worked hard getting some friends to sign up. Ultimately– my trainer Mike was running, along with my friends Jen, Jon, and Vanessa. Since Mike lived very near the course start he invited us to all rendezvous at his house, so that was the plan.

I woke up before my alarm, as is becoming the norm, and was ready early. Texts were already flying in the morning and I could tell everybody was pumped up! I decided to get to Jen’s early to borrow some makeup and hairspray.

We got to Mike’s place around 8:15 am and of course we decided we all needed to take a bunch of photos. Honestly, I was MORE excited about the costumes than the actual running. I had certainly spent more time the week before working on my costume than running.

Oh HAI! It’s a picture of Mike and me together! Yes, he’s wearing a mesh shirt.

And I think that expression is the answer as to why people think I am about to hit them.

Next, I like my cool casual background look here…

Mike decided to start posing with the balance ball—I THINK he enjoyed having people take his picture (not that I can judge).

So we took turns—this is Vanessa—and she has the world’s greatest shorts.

Then my turn!

Not sure what I was doing there.

But I definitely almost fell over right here—balance is NOT my strong suit 😉

Then some group shots–

And some more posing and stretching–

This is my friend Jon-

And Jen

All the ladies—Aimee (friend of Mike’s), me, Jen, Vanessa, and Tricia (friend of Mike’s)

After all the photos we “yogged” the few blocks to the race start. Jen still needed to pick up her packet so a couple of us went ahead. We were worried we wouldn’t find the others again, but then we saw them from about 3 blocks away due to the brightness of everybody’s outfits. Guess we shouldn’t have worried about that.

A few notes about the race conditions—it was cold and drizzling. (At least it wasn’t hot.) A lot of folks were dressed in costumes, but a bunch weren’t. Our group looked pretty fantastic, if I may say so.

The race was chip timed, and we lined up towards the middle of the front. Mike went to the very front since he’s all fast and stuff, but we didn’t think that was a good idea for the rest of us.

I had wisely decided to run holding my camera so we could take more pictures of our awesomeness.

Getting ready to go!

Flexing…as usual. You can also really tell I’m getting rained on here!

The view in front of us. You can tell how awesome we were dressed in comparison to these losers.

Not sure what was going on here, but note the Rubik’s Cube guy. Well done, sir. Well done. He also ran pretty much at my pace, while wearing that.

Finally we were off! The start was a little crowded to get across the timing mat, but then it was fine. We ran REALLY fast, and did the first mile in under 9:00. I was still with Vanessa and Jen at that point (Jon had gone on ahead) but shortly after I was getting a bad sidestitch/cramp and I waved them on. I had a really hard time the rest of the race. I walked a short while due to the pain and then tried to push myself on. Towards the end I saw Mike running back towards me and he ran with me a bit. I was in no position to be my usual chipper self though as I was in pain. After a bit, he said he was going to head back further to find his other friends. I got a bit of a push from that as I didn’t realize I was ahead of them!

The course was pretty hilly and mainly went through the neighborhood of Benton Park. It was a very nice run, except for the pain I was in. As I rounded the last corner (uphill) to the finish line, I saw the clock was under 31 minutes. My PR was just over 32 minutes, and I didn’t know how long it took me to cross the start (not long) so I kicked it as hard as I could. I crossed the finish line under 32 minutes and saw my friends cheering for me (which was AWESOME!) and then I had to sit down.

Rough. I did NOT feel well. I probably sat there for at least five minutes, and then I was still shaky after that. I was both faint and nauseous. Sign of a good race I guess?! *how skinny do I look???*

We got a group photo then—well Jon took this one first (can you spot Waldo?)

Then a stranger took this one (luckily we were with people who are not embarrassed to ask strangers for photos because I tend to just stand there awkwardly holding my camera attempting to catch someone’s eye rather than interrupt them).

I’m definitely leaning on Vanessa as to not fall over. And Jen doesn’t look too good either…but we did way better than our last race together 😉 But as a group we look fantastic!! *leg warmers do not help legs look skinny*

The water was pretty far away though, and we slowly made our way there (I needed to go very slow. I did NOT throw up, but I thought I was going to.)

There were bananas, snacks, and beer—I did not partake, but the others did!

(I love that Waldo is in another picture—do you see him?)

There was a guy selling lettuce too–

Some of went to breakfast afterwards—we tried a few places before finding one that didn’t have a terribly long wait. We were in Soulard though, and the only ones dressed in 80’s clothing…

The makeup held up surprisingly well! And I should have taken my jacket off for the picture but it was seriously cold outside.

Mike was trying to not pose because he knew he was going on the blog…

Oh and the restaurant wasn’t good at all. Oh well.

So how did we all do?

Well, Mike came in 2nd…which he was acting like he didn’t really care that much. If I came in second in a race I would probably put it on a billboard! Seriously awesome—his time was 18:40. That’s crazy fast. And the guy who won did NOT wear a costume.

Jon was next out of our group with 26:31, and then Vanessa with 28:21 on her first race, and Jen PR’ed with a 28:49. I have athletic friends!

I still PR-ed too with 31:11. I am very pleased with myself!! I need to work on my cramping problem, but overall I’m happy with the race. It was a lot of fun too, and we rocked out on the costumes.

I would run this race again—it was a great time!

And it came with a tech shirt. I’m not convinced of the color, but a tech shirt is a tech shirt.

I decided to wear it on my run the next day though– (evidently I’m still in “posing” mode.) I like that it provides a very modest neckline for when you are afraid of showing too much neck.