California Dreaming......

Today I went into work after waking up at 6am just to find that I was NOT supposed to be in, but be in tomorrow morning. They changed the damn schedule so many times I didn't even realize it. BUT I got 3 hours of work extra in, finished my take home exam for a class, gonna start another take home exam soon, and i stole the coat keys from citysports. So, if anyone wants a coat...i have the keys. ooops. Two more classes to finish up and I am home free! I finish my last exam a week from this thursday then jumping on a plane on the 19th. I haven't been homesick this whole time, except now I just really want to relax and head back. Soon.....

Anyways, UPDATE. I am symmetrical. Thank you very much. After taking my musculoskeletal (physical therapy) class, I have figured out a good program to try to help/prevent any furthur crap that may happen. There's many things i cannot fix, but if i can at least lessen any symptoms that'd be good. I am back outside on the road running...even in the snow and ice. Let me tell you, it makes for an interesting run when you have to look down to watch the ice and up to make sure you don't run into anything/one (trust me, come close many of times). I decided to go ahead and sign up for a half marathon in the dead of winter down in the Cape. Yes, I know. OH well. I need to actually sign up for it first, though. Next, I need to get back on the bike. I will be attending tons of spin classes while back at home. yay free gym membership. I think club one still might think i work for them. score. If i had more time...i would write something about prevention exercises for runners...swimmers...triathlets...whatnot. but i don't. i need to start researching articles. stay tuned later when i am on break.

Well, good luck to everyone getting through finals. I am happy half way (remember...swimming sets?) All i have to say is...... do not carry an umbrella in this god damn weather we are having in Boston. Snow, rain, sleet...wind that has no direction. I think my umbrella flipped too many times..possibly in someones face (i am ok with that). peace out.

injured? no problem...

As long as I can remember, I've never been that simple kind of athlete. Basically, I am quite challenged. At 12 years (or so) I remember getting out of the pool telling my coach I can't move my arm above my head and somewhat laughing about it. High school, college...it never ends! I finally quit swimming in college due to certain reasons i won't even bother getting into. Taking a few years off reminded me how much I still wanted to be an athlete and compete. I never imagined doing a triathlon, but I did a sprint...then another...then an olympic distance...now I am doing a half ironman in July. It's hard to explain, but competing and training for something is an amazing adventure. 2010 I have BIG plans for myself...some maybe a bit over my head, but hey that's what it's all about right? Here's a peak into it...

Feb 28th- half marathon (well, i'm not sure how that's looking right now. i haven't signed up)

April-collegiate nationals (triathlon)

May-200 mile running relay. repping city sports. it's a 12 person relay.

July-half ironman

August-oct- collegiate season (most likely i will be too busy to do majority of these races)

Sometime- marathon!!!! then qualifying for boston marathon (i know, i told you im over my head)

This is going to sound ridiculously cheesy (yay cheese) but every time I get injured or have to stop doing something I learn quite a big deal about myself, being a better athlete, or just training in general. I suppose I should know a hell of a lot about myself by now. hah. Well this time around this isn't anything new. Well, sort of. The source of the problem is no different than it was probably 4 years ago. Make sure you find the source of the problem......don't just fix the knee or ankle and ignore the rest. It will always haunt you! Since I am in a physical therapy class I understand the problem a lot more...and can probably give myself a rehab plan (i probably shouldn't though). My professor used me as an example for class for an evaluation. sweet huh? Here it is. If you have any running problems and back pain, perhaps this could you too (it's pretty common).

Basically, the SI joint (joint between the sacrum (the end of the spine) and the illium (well..your pelvis)) on my left side seems to be sprained..or misaligned/dislocated, etc. It can be put back, but it comes out pretty much all the time. Sometimes the damn thing hits some nerves while its out too. I am asymmetrical. Go figure right? I think i am asymmetrical in life pretty much. Anyways, this misalignment causes a tilt in my pelvis...thus causing my left leg to be longer. When i was running my body tried to compensate by making my left foot pronate (go inward) and be even with my right leg. So the lateral side of my ankle was being compressed and bam it's painful. Last time it was my pelvis pulling on my groin because it was tilted. I think i need to get that thing back in place. I was told it will pretty much come back out again, but I just need to strengthen the muscles to try to hold it in better. weird eh?

So as nerdy as i am, i bought a running book to try to create a better training plan and do things right this time. So, if anything don't be frustrated with an injury (although it can be), but use it to your advantage so when you do get back you kick more ass than before. The only thing, though, is that I am almost going crazy using the damn cardio machines at the gym. I hate being next to undergrad girls who have resistance at 1 and move their legs as fast as they can (and think they are getting skinny doing it). I pretty much read my running book and stay on there for about an hour. The machines also make my back pain much worse. This is because machines keep your feet grounded the whole time. so these means i am asymmetrical the entire hour .... straining my left side even more (i feel like i shouldnt be doing this). running you lift up your leg (obviously), so i get a relief from the asymmetry for those brief moments in the running gait cycle. Basically, a lose lose situation. Lets become symmetrical again so i can get back out there and run! base running first...start out running nice and slow.....

As much as i know you like to ignore your injuries...they will bite you in the ass later. So listen to yourself and get it checked out. oh and be symmetrical. it will help.

happy thanksgiving! if you have any injuries you feel like telling me about I'll try to figure them out :) *cough* BERGEN

Random stuff

The other day I was called into work for some extra help in Citysports because the painters took down allllllll the freaking sports team merchandise and some of the equipment (didn't put it back of course). I banged my forehead against a fixture, dropped a 12 pound medicine ball on my toe, and then banged my shoulder into a hook. It was at that moment that 8.75/hour didn't sound too good for waking up at 5 30am. Plus, our senior manager is leaving (he's a cool guy). However, I get the best discounts ever...for instance Saucony Progrid Triumph 6's 125 dollar shoes, I can get online for 50 dollars. North face, Marmot, Under Armour, anything I can get so much cheaper (70% off retail). Tough it out, get a raise soon enough. They seem to like me there (or pretend to at least).

Friday night, after work managed to meet up with some classmates. Of course the night ended with me stranded alone in the cold while my friends jumped in a cab. Apparently no one followed me when i tried to catch the train. SWEET. I jumped a few fences and eventually got home to find my backpack filled with knives, forks and even one of those tabletop menus in my bag. That's what happens when you hang out with guys who are too afraid to steal stuff on their own haha. Um....Saturday night I enjoyed a lengthy skype date with an old friend.... which ended with some serious facebook commenting on both our parts. Happy birthday to yuka :D

Nothing too exciting. I'm not that exciting. Ok, I actually am. Low and behold I have yet another exam this week. Half the material I need to teach myself because the new teacher in cardiopulmonary doesn't exactly communicate the lecture too well to us. For instance, she said less surfactant increases surface tension then she'll say it decreases it 2 minutes later. We'll catch it and she won't even realize what she did! She did a lot better 1st lecture, but seemed to lose it this time around. She always looks tired anyways. We seemed to lose it too. I was making paper airplanes for my neighbor next to me and holding my breath for fun (how long can i do it!?). Pulmonary physiology isn't so bad, plus we have a good book. It'll be ok....except for the fact this is graduate school. Oh well. One thing i might add is this: appreciate a UC Davis education. I've never felt so prepared for graduate school. It's a lot easier than undergrad. well, so far. GO AGS!

Until next time?

halloween?

So, thanks to daylight savings it's not 3am, it's actually only 2am. So thank goodness for that since I work tomorrow. err...today. Anyways, happy halloween everyone. how did everyone's go? Mine was.........odd. go figure.

Well, despite efforts to plan ahead for Halloween, that didn't happen. So last minute I ran to a store and thought...what can I be without spending lots of money. Well, since I already own lots of pirate things (ya, I'm part pirate), I might as well be that. Of course right? So I went ahead and bought a few accessories to make myself look like a badass pirate. Success. I spent today actually being reaaaaaaaaaaalllly productive. Studying pharmacy for 3 hours at starbucks, doing laundry (that rarely occurs) and even sitting on my bike. I hung out with the roomies for a bit, had some left over beers from before and headed out to the t (the train). Apparently faneuil hall has some good places (aka way downtown not that close). We eventually get to Kitty O sheas (sounds super weird to begin with). I had to pee so badly that I went in somewhere else first. Apparently when I peed...the world did too on Boston. I came outside and literally there was a freaking DOWNPOUR. and wind. Wind plus downpour= extremely wet/soaked people in costumes. Lucky for me i had a pirate bandanna so not like I cared what the rain did to my costume. Waited...and waited...and they stopped letting people in. Lame. Moving on.

We decide to head to the place where no line was (the black rose). Well, there was a reason why there was no line. No one was dressed up, there was some random country trying band playing, and all the people were staring at us like we were out of place. Maybe that's because we were with a guy that dressed as a beer bottle. But i think that's cool, so oh well. we left fast. so long black rose.

Next random place: red...um...sky? i don't even know. I walked in and immediately was attacked by a telephone cord. I look up and see some random guy hitting me with this cord which was attached to his head by a swim cap? I asked him what the hell he was supposed to be...a telephone? Of course not. He's sperm. I should have known? He looked nothing like it, what a douchebag. He thought he was funny and kept bothering us with his stupid telephone cord (or should i say...sperm tail?). I took my pistol from my belt and shot him. Of course it just made a loud sound and that's it...but the idea was good. I turned to my right to find an abandoned sword. Perfect, a sword and a gun. I'm the perfect pirate. So i took the sword and gun and attacked sperm boy with it. Too bad it was all plastic. I went to the bathroom and the sword spontaneously broke in half (it was taped). I threw it in the toliet and left. Half a sword is alright...I guess. We continued to watch sperm boy make a fool of himself. On our way out I attempted to de cord him, but failed. Beer bottle guy behind me pushed him down to the ground. Excellent.

It was time to get a cab...we were far from home and daylight savings wasn't quite kicking in. No cabs were open. None. We kept walking then beer bottle guy flagged down a random honda civic. the guy said he would take us. I was about to get into the back when he said no, someone in the front. I extremely nervously sat in the front....thinking it was ok since we had the beer bottle in the back. Strangely enough I didn't get stabbed/hit/thrown out of a strangers car and he took us home to my friends house. We devoured cream cheese, bagels, and wheat thins since no place was open. It wasnt till the cab dropped me off that i felt (and still do) extremely sick. no, not from any sort of alcohol. from cream cheese! I'm never eating that shit ever again. I wanna vomit. but not really. but ya. As i walked passed CVS I chucked the half a sword i stole from the bar....wasn't as cool as my pistol anyways. So...all in all. Halloween was weird. Not awesome. not horrible. just plan weird. I feel like never eating again and not heading to faneuil hall in a while. But all in all, something to share....i guess.

i leave with one thing. arrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr. ay matey. pirate, at heart. 8 hour workday tomorrow. that'll be fun. peace.

birthdays, nachos, cheese, margaritas, parking lot bars, and one long run.

So, I am finally getting myself to write in this blog thing whatever you want to call it. It's for my beloved friends far away from me (and my new ones of course) who want a little entertainment/see what I am up to sort of deal. Anyways, feel free to comment how much you dislike me, love me, think i am an idiot, or just want to make fun of me. I'll appreciate it :)

To make this short... I moved to Boston mid July for graduate school...going to become a registered CEP, bitches. CEP=clinical exercise physiologist, fyi. I'll most likely work for a little after I'm done, but there may be more school in the future. I'm LOVING Boston so far. It's the coolest city with tons of stuff to do. Not to mention the best running ever. Ok, enough about that.

Last night I came home extra excited from class to begin a birthday celebration with my roomie! The family room got Halloween-ized with tons of decorations and a pumpkin shaped birthday cake! I quickly got ready, downed a beer, and ended what was a slightly disappointing gchat conversation with a certain someone. We all headed out for Cactus Club, I put a smile on and attempted to regain some excitement for the night. That didn't take long because Cactus Club makes delicious Margaritas!!! Plus, I decided to splurge and ate cheese for the first time in so long. I was in heaven. Nachos, guac, cheeese, taquitos, chips, salsa, margs, cool people. What could be better. Good thing I took my um, well...stomach medicine before I came (I have a slightly oversensitive stomach these days which I am trying to not ignore too much...I often fail).

Anyways, eventually a few of my classmates joined in when we ventured to Whiskey's down the street. We were served martinis with chipped glasses and whiskey cokes with bottle caps on the bottom. Low and behold, there's whiskey's for you. They gave us a discount on the tab at least. The roomie and friends went home early while our night was just beginning to get interesting. We then went to this place called Lir, where we ran into Harvard guys in tuxedos (they were kind of weird) and sang at the top of our lungs "don't stop believin" by Journey. Bukowski's was next, which happens to be in a parking lot. More or less. We hung out there, watched a girl fall asleep and nearly fall out of her chair (no that was not me) then apparently left without paying one of the tabs. Looks like the parking lot bar won't be a destination for us anymore. We all then walked home, no cab. This is not a close walk. maybe close to 3-4 miles back. We amused ourselves with a game of how long can we keep kicking this can and walking in the middle of the street. I think I got home at around 3 30, fell asleep quickly.

Woke up a little groggy, but no hangover ( i actually didn't have much last night, believe it or not). Decided I was going to run. Running in Boston is always so pleasant, even when I think I might fall over from calf pain. So I ran to Fenway park, past BU, then to the Charles River. It was closer than I thought, only about 3 miles. I then enjoyed the view of the river and the fall trees everywhere. Fall is such a great season...living in California I guess I forgot what it was like. I decided what the hell, I am going to keep going.

Before I knew it I had passed North End (like little italy, more or less) and was next to the waterfront. Turned around, headed towards Boston commons, through the Public Garden and realized how hungry I was. I had only grabbed an apple and toast before leaving due to eating too much cheese the night before. I ran passed starbucks on Boylston, disappointed not to see homeless harry (i see him everyday when i go to work...i dunno his real name). I passed Citysports, thanked them for my employee discount and the nice shoes I had just bought. Then, I ran passed a camera crew and intentionally ran right in front of the them hoping that I'll be in some tv show or movie. Ben Affleck and Tom Cruise were just here shooting some film. It was at that point I needed food. NOW. I stopped into Boloco slightly disappointed because I couldn't make it to Chipotle, which is in Fenway. I literally DEVOURED my burrito bowel with an intense amount of guac on it. I hopped on the T, headed home. 8.11 miles later. Definitely never ran that far before. 6.5 was my longest last week. My calfs are slightly hurting and slightly satisfied.

At least I broke in my new running shoes.

Now, to clean up and study some pharmacology. Just another day. and another interesting night tonight to come, I'm sure.