I'm running the Disneyland Half in a few weeks (August 31st). I've also been training for the Long Beach Marathon, 6 weeks further out. Basically Disney is falling on a cutback week, so I'll have a bit of a built-in taper in my schedule for the week before. I know it's "traditional" to do a real race as a test run, to get the bugs out, get experience in a big race, and cut down on the jitters - and Disney was a race I wanted to run anyway. That's one fancy medal, and you can't beat the scenery!

Anyway, I want to do well in both races, and not run Disney just to run it. Not spectacularly well, just personally well. I'm sure I'll PR, since I'm still "new" enough to be seeing consistent improvement as I keep up the training, and I've surpassed my previous race time in training. The Half should be "easy", distance-wise, since I've been doing double digit long runs weekly for 6 months now and have a decent aerobic base. I just want to do as well as I expect I can based on my current level of fitness. I'm wondering though... should I taper more than the week of the race for the half, or will that mess with my marathon training too much? I'm thinking I might stretch the cutback/taper to about 10 days prior, tops, easing up on the prior week's long run (since I won't be cutting back on effort during the Half, effectively that week's long run). I know traveloggerlikes to point out that changes/improvements from specific workouts take that long to have an effect, so I figure it's a good number to work with. 

Secondly, most of my runs can be described as endurance/stamina workouts (3 hour+/week, +1 long run). 30 something mile weeks, pace 9:30-10:10ish. Recently I've been trying to speed up near the end of an easy run to help with my kick - and get used to regaining speed if I slack off <g>. I'll usually fartlek, hill, or tempo once a week when I can do a fifth day, sometimes getting in strides when I can do a 6th day workout (it's been a while since I could do that). Honestly, I tend to "wing it", looking at a variety of training plans for ideas on those 5/6 days. So, I'm looking for advice on specific workouts that could help me be my best in the couple weeks I have before the half. My numbers are falling in the range of an expected low 4 hour marathon, 1:54 half. I did 3x1 mile intervals at about a 7:50min/mile yesterday, which felt great. Still, I'm wondering if the more experienced/advanced folk have suggestions for workouts that have proven successful for them a few weeks out from a big race. I just want to try working a bit harder now that I can and get a bit of a better performance at the end of the month. (I've only just gotten home from a long time on the road, which made it tough to keep a consistent schedule - I'm finally settled in, have familiar places to run, and am gonna take advantage of it while I can!).

Thanks for the input!

Sooo, opinions.

I have this older wooden cabinet that I tried to paint but was unsucessful in that. I plan to "decoupage" it this weekend. The cabinet will be used to hold books/dvds. It looks kind of like this, but without the end drawers.

My room has a colour theme of pale blue, chocolate brown and bright red. The walls are the pale blue. I want to use a japanese paper for the decoupage, but don't know what colour I should do.

Opinions on what would look best. A combination of red and chocolate brown? or one or the other?

Thanks!

X posted to saucydwellings, ourbedrooms and iheartmyroom

I can't decide what color I should paint my kitchen. It has honey-brown oak (?) cabinets (very nice) and a laminate countertop (hate it). The countertop looks sort of pinky beige until you get close, and then you can see that it has tiny little spots of blue and grey and pink and white which all blend together into ( this )

It is SO not my style. Laminate is not my style. None of the colors in it are my style. Nothing that matches it or looks good next to it is my style. But replacing the countertops is out of the budget right now, so I need to find some paint color that I can live with and that will make the pinkish countertops look fresh and happy and bright. Oh, and I need a color that will not look too filthy after a few months of life with animals and toddler.

It also needs to look good next to my dining room paint colors, ( seen here )

Any ideas? The best I can come up with is a light-colored latte or ivory, and that's pretty boring.

Sooo, opinions.

I have this older wooden cabinet that I tried to paint but was unsucessful in that. I plan to "decoupage" it this weekend. The cabinet will be used to hold books/dvds. It looks kind of like this, but without the end drawers.

My room has a colour theme of pale blue, chocolate brown and bright red. The walls are the pale blue. I want to use a japanese paper for the decoupage, but don't know what colour I should do.

Opinions on what would look best. A combination of red and chocolate brown? or one or the other?

Thanks!

X posted to saucydhelp, ourbedrooms and iheartmyroom

Today I was bored at work (haha i know..) and was surfing the New York Times when I found this article.  Basically it's about whether or not stretching really does help as much as people say it does.  There's even a study to test out the importance of pre-run stretching that you can join online. (clicky, clicky).  It sounds pretty cool and for a good cause so I'm considering joining it myself.

Personally, I think that stretching before runs really helps me loosen up and run better.  During my warm up runs, my legs are almost always sore and tight but after a good stretching? Almost always they're nice, loose and pain free. :)  It's magic! *starts humming "do you believe in magic"*  When I first started running last summer I never stretched though and made it through training for a 10k race just fine with no issues at all...

I just wanted to get your thoughts on the subject though.  Do you guys normally stretch before runs?  Do you think it really does help you and prevent injuries?

Sooo, opinions.

I have this older wooden cabinet that I tried to paint but was unsucessful in that. I plan to "decoupage" it this weekend. The cabinet will be used to hold books/dvds. It looks kind of like this, but without the end drawers.

My room has a colour theme of pale blue, chocolate brown and bright red. The walls are the pale blue. I want to use a japanese paper for the decoupage, but don't know what colour I should do.

Opinions on what would look best. A combination of red and chocolate brown? or one or the other?

Thanks!

X posted to saucydwellings, ourbedrooms and iheartmyroom

Anyone else running this? This is my first half marathon... any tips for a first half marathon?!

I've quilted before, but on this particular piece, I want to finish the raw edges in the traditional way (this is the first time I'm doing it this way), and I'm going to make my own bias tape to do that, but how to I get the binding tape at the corners perfectly square ?

Am I explaining myself well at all ?

Is there a place I can have a look at directions with drawings or illustrations ? Because for example, if I have to read directions to make an origami swan, when I'm done with it, it will look like a bunny.

I'm going to be over here on the couch researching this while I'm waiting for answers, because the way I explained this, I may have made it sound like I need to know how to make a dart or something.

Anyway...

Edit: I'm talking about making mitered corners with the binding, I've found a few instructions but Holy. Cow. Confusing ! I need pictures and haven't found a good resource yet.

It's a longshot, but I'm wondering if anyone here knows of any gay friendly doctors in NYC aside from Callen Lorde.
I prefer to have a gay or at least gay friendly doctor, seeing that the last thing I want is a doctor who is passing judgement on my lifestyle which has happened before!

Any advice would be great!

I just got through watching bits and pieces of the opening ceremonies. Mainly I just wanted to open up a connection and test my live feed before the events begin tomorrow. Some announcers were saying these ceremonies were the greatest ever...they probably say that every time. They kind of all seem equally as extravagant to me. The fireworks at the end were good. I figured China would come through there.

After fresh painting, I finally cleaned up and thought I may show of how its rearranged now :)

( click me )

The conditions were perfect for this photo. Outside it was overcast, and my room is so dark, so with the light reflecting off my [pallid] face, the background was completely black.

Obviously I shooped the hair (which I need practice on).

Sister & I are going house-hunting today on-campus. Wish us luck!

Hi girls! I have a problem with my jewelry. The boxes I find either look horribly cheap or they aren't big enough for all my stuff. I want to make something or put things together that would help organize my mess.

I don't have a ton of jewelry, but do have a LOT of rings and necklaces. I have more rings then I know what to do with. I have a vanity dresser I will be putting in my room soon and wanted to use the top drawer for my jewelry. It's not a DEEP drawer so it wouldn't work for clothes thats why I thought of using it for something else.

What can I use to hold everything nicely? I like the idea of little cube sections, almost like a grid across the whole drawer with little square cups I could put everything in but wasn't sure where to find something like that. I don't want to use those plastic craft bead boxes. I'm thinking wood organizers (I've seen some somewhere but can't remember for the life of me) I can put felt on the bottom of or those little spice tins with clear lids I can also put felt bottoms.

My necklaces would need to be in their own little area too so they don't tangle.

If you kind of have what I'm thinking of doing can you show me a photo? I need inspiration. Also if you know of good nice looking organizers I can put in my drawer and where I could buy them either by ordering or actually going there that would be GREAT! P.S. if you know of something at IKEA that would be even better since the furniture in our apartment is pretty much ALL IKEA. LOL.

new layout.
it's an excuse so i have something to update. lawl.
i love studying,

I just went on my second official morning run (like just-just, I'm still sweating)! Wednesday was the first. Things are going wonderfully. I'm already looking forward to running more than I thought I would be -- it doesn't feel like a chore -- and I'm running a bit more and walking a bit less every time.

I do have a question. This isn't from running, per se, but it's something I figure people here might know about. On and off for the last few months, I've had this awful sharp, warm pain in my left ankle. It's kinda vertically oriented along the back, just in from the achilles tendon, and feels like something inside goes out of whack and hurts really badly until it decides to relax -- while it's happening, it's that weird feeling of ow-I-absolutely-can't-put-weight-on-this and ooh-putting-weight-on-it-feels-like-it'll-make-it-go-away. Sometimes it sticks around for a few minutes, and sometimes it disappears in seconds, and I get it every few days or so ... like hiccups, or something.

In retrospect, I haven't had any problems with it at all for the last couple of weeks since I started walking-and-now-running, which is unusual, so I think those activities are really helping it; today, though, for the first time, it happened during a run (well, during the cool-down walk at the end). I'd be thrilled if someone has any insight into the situation!

Thanks. :)


Love,

~ Emerald

hey, nyc-ers...

i work for a non-profit performing arts organization and we've got an orphaned show on the 30th of this month, because our usual space decided to close down for labor day weekend. does anyone know of a good spot, 85 or more capacity, preferably all ages, maybe with an outdoor area, and open to playing really loud, fun electronic music? i'm open to pretty much any possibility here, since we're down to the wire on finding a venue, and, while my backyard is pretty awesome, i don't know that i want to throw it there.

any and all recommendations greatly appreciated!

I am looking for a nutritionist and/or holistic medicine specialist that is both really good and really affordable. I'm a very broke student who is getting very terrible headaches, back pain, neck pain, etc - beyond the scope of a normal migraine even. Like, have to take up to 3 percocets per day just to be able to function. I'm also always exhausted, kind of feeling depressed, stressed out, anxious...I get ringing in my ears pretty often - I've had a cat scan, gone to the chiropractor, wear a bit guard at night to rule out TMJ; do yoga, stretch, i'm a vegetarian....etc, point being, I've tried literally almost everything, I am now thinking I might need someone to look at my diet or see if I am deficient in vitamins. I have been a veg for almost 16 years now, so, I figure, since no one else seems to be able to find anything wrong with me, I might look into the natural approach...see if what I'm eating or some kind of vitamin deficiency or stress might be the culprit...

Anyone have any experience with this?

I have a big crush on Cat Stevens.