Run, Lucy, Run

A Race and a Remodel

This past Saturday Brian and I ran a 5K at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena-it was called the Ernie Van Leeuwen Memorial Run, and it was honoring Ernie, who apparently ran many marathons up until his death at age 94. Most of Brian’s marathon training group was there but we had an agreement that he would run with me. As a handicap, I made him push Ashok in the jogging stroller which slowed him down a bit and made it easier for me to keep up. I had my best 5K time yet-27:25-with the last mile coming in at 8:13. I was pretty happy. It was a small crowd but enough of one to make it difficult navigating with the stroller at the start. It didn’t help either that there was a triathlon going on at the same time (they were running/biking in the opposite direction), in addition to the people who are just out for a walk or run every weekend at the Rose Bowl. Still, I can’t complain-it was only 10 minutes from our house and a course I’m really used to running. I’m enjoying working on my 5K time, I think if I can find a flatter course, I could get an even better time eventually.

We have finally, finally, begun Phase 1 of the work on our house. Today, demolition began on the scary extra room attached to our garage. I’m thrilled to have this bonus space and I think it will eventually make a great studio/guest room but its pre-demo state will not be missed:

Glorious, isn’t it? It really has everything you could ever dream of in a scary back room-wood paneling, disgusting stained carpet, nasty ceiling tiles and even more that couldn’t fit in the frame of this picture. Add to that the lingering smell of cigarettes left behind by the previous owner (a chain smoker) and you have a little slice of paradise. We’re hoping to have this project done in a couple of weeks and then on to the rest of Phase 1-the kitchen which is when the true remodel hell will begin, I’m sure.  Yeah, I can’t wait to not have a kitchen for 3-4 months-that’ll be loads of fun.

4 comments September 18th, 2007

Today’s Stats

My Stats:

3.1 miles - 27:57

Splits were

• 1 - 9:55
• 2 - 8:51
• 3 -  8:25
• .1 - 0:45

Ashok’s Stats:

•  1  5:30 am wake up call to parents
•  1 poopy diaper
• 3 fistfuls of cat hair in mouth

2 comments September 5th, 2007

11 Months

Ashok turned 11 months old this week.  I could start rambling about how quickly this year has gone by and where did my little baby go and wah wah wah but I’ll save that for his first birthday.  Speaking of which,  party plans have begun, the park has been booked and I’m starting to work on the guest list and menu.  Should be a rager.

Running has been going well despite this wicked, crazy heat.  As I write this, it is 9:15 am and already 87 degrees.  We still don’t have AC in the new house so it has been pretty miserable, particularly upstairs.    This weekend promises to be record-breaking, just in time for some of my favorite bloggers to head out here on vacations.  Anyway, I have managed to stay on track with my schedule and did a long run of 5 miles last weekend.  Of course, it was much milder then, so we’ll see how tomorrow’s 5 goes.

In other Ashok news, he has been working on several new skills.

• Putting everything in mouth.  Not excluding cat hair, dog hair, grass, old raisins found on the floor, and any number of unidentifiable particles.
• Calling everything and everyone “doggie”
• Playing the guitar and piano (these need work)
• Climbing the stairs

Doesn’t he look so proud of himself?  And doesn’t Brian look less than thrilled?  Yeah, we’re not particularly excited about this one.

At least no walking yet.  Thank you, assorted multi-headed and limbed Hindu Gods.

2 comments September 1st, 2007