fall morning musings

Sorry for the brain dump. I have no time to edit this into a more coherent post. But I do think it's important to check in on how training is going. We're post-liminal space now. We're "in season." I've been relying on B-vitamins and ginseng to give me the energy to get through semester weeks 4 and 5. I'm starting to really look forward to the Mission Inn Run.

9/14 Morning run routine and motivation for consistent workouts

Good morning, runners of the world. I'm now here, it's a Monday morning. My feet are already hurting. This workout is kind of questionable. Don't know if I should be doing this right now. But I'm up. My husband woke me up. I'm ready to get my workout in and get on with my day. It's not a big deal, right?

People everywhere get up, do a workout, and get on with their day. I try to keep it simple. Follow the training plan. I trust the training plan. Sometimes life gets in the way. My son has been saying every food tastes like something else. Cucumbers taste like lime. Blueberries taste like dirt. I'm pretty convinced it's the sickness that we're dealing with. And as usual, my husband got it really bad. I'm in denial. And our child is just turning into a tiny Tasmanian devil. Because he doesn't know what to do with himself. He's sick and tired, and he's just running on adrenaline.

I don't know what I'm doing. I do know. I'm okay. Doing my little warm-up here. I'm getting my heart rate up walking up a big hill. I know how to do this. I trust my body. I trust my instincts. Although, my instincts today told me I just need to stretch, and not do a workout, but here we are.

At least the weather's kind of nice, 66°. I'll take that. Better than it has been. One morning last week it was 80 degrees at this time, so 66 feels nice. I felt really good after yesterday's run. I felt a lot of positive vibes. Which is why I decided to go out today.

I did my first upper body workout with my friend, Erik. That was good. I'm not that sore. I feel like I did something, I really did. I did something different. I did something brave. I did something that I would normally not do. And I'm okay. I don't feel so sore that I would never do it again. I will do it again. I will do it again. I will do it every Saturday. I will put it into my schedule. Do it. I gotta take a closer look at Coach David's plan.

I am at the top of this hill. Keep going. I tried to listen to a podcast, but it didn't really inspire me today. So I'll probably listen to music. Catch you next time.

9/22 Recovery and training routine after illness and donation

It's a good morning, it's a good morning to not get hit by a car. Hopefully these cars stop, they have a red light. You just never know with people, but I'm here, I'm out here training.

It's 24 weeks till the marathon. And despite all the foot issues that I've been having, I figured out that I just need to sleep with my feet in a flexed position. And that has helped greatly. Yesterday at work, my feet were feeling really good. Of course, I didn't run yesterday, but I'm gonna try a run today. See how that tracks.

I've had a lot going on in the past two weeks with my foot issues. We got sick. We got the flu. We've got diarrhea, nausea. I couldn't heal properly, I'm so tired. And this weekend, I donated blood. So we're gonna see how we feel going into the Bimbo race this weekend. Do a little couple laps around the Rose Bowl just for funzies.

I kind of switched up Monday and Tuesday. My husband got a little agitated by that. He likes it when I do my rest day on Tuesday. I wrote about how I felt like I was in a liminal space. A liminal space between 2 training plans. At the end of summer, the beginning of school, I almost feel like I'm probably in the groove of school. I don't say I'm thriving yet, but starting to get some traction. Trying to figure out what I can do. What I can do comfortably. And not have a total body breakdown. Because we want to train productively. My husband reminded me I usually find my groove mid-semester, like week 8 or 10 and then the semester ends. And I get a whole new schedule. And then it's chaos again.

By training, we want to cause adaptations in our body that lead to greater fitness. And what we don't want to do is break down to the point where we can't go on. I don't know how, but I was kind of there. If your body's not recovering, then you're just digging a deeper and deeper hole. Can't rest your way out of it. Can't eat your way out of it.

I've added on some other recovery things. I try to do it every single night. Magnesium foot soak and athlete's foot cream (1% clotrimazole NOT tolnaftate). Foam roll a bit. A little bit more on the muscle scraping right now to remove adhesions. I'm putting a lot more time and energy into recovery now. But it is pushing bedtime back by 30 minutes.

9/24 LARR Coach's call

What is 80/20 for runners? 80% low intensity, 20% high intensity. But that's not the perfect plan for everyone. It is what is used in Coach David's Level 4 plan for the LA Marathon.

As you age, you need to go down a level because you have less growth hormone. Level 1 is for age 70. Level 5 is for someone in their 20s. It has nothing to do with experience.

Run so slow that you're bored. So that you need company. That is your easy pace. Easy = fat-burning, aerobic, zone 2. MRP = zone 3, could maintain this pace forever. T-pace raises the pace at which you still can use fat as a fuel source. R-pace is neurological, engaging fast-twitch muscles.

Speed, volume, hills all increase the risk of injury. Fartlek is Swedish for speed play. Choosing a random object and going fast to get to it. Something you can see.

Morning & evening runs are the best. If we could all do it. On the same day. To increase volume efficiently. You can do 30 minutes in the morning. Then eat protein to rebuild muscle. Take a nap. Do some body work (massage). Then run again in the evening. Break it up if you can. That's what the pros do.

Why is the training plan in minutes rather than miles? Your body knows heart rate. It doesn't know miles. It knows time spent in anaerobic. You don't need to rely on an expensive heart rate monitor. You can just pay attention to your breathing.

Key Takeaways

I think based on what Coach was saying, and this was one of the questions I was going to ask him, if I got injured following the level 3 plan for the Santa Monica Classic, which plan should I follow for the marathon? I think he said that if you get injured, drop back to level 1. 

Coach also said that as you get older, you may need more strength training than what is written in the plan. He said if you're Travis Kelce and you're already built like a truck, you might not need more exercises that build muscle. But if you're frail, with less muscle tissue, then you might need more strength training than what is in the training plan.

Even with all these setbacks, I only completely skipped 1 training session. The other days, I inserted stretching or yoga or walking. It took me 2 weeks to reach out to my sister and ask for help. Why am I so stubborn? haha! Next time I'll try to reach out sooner.

Thank you to summer me who decided to order new shoes. I went through all my shoes and did a test to see if they would bend easily. Even though they're new, the Ghost 17 and Glycerin 22 bend so easily. But thankfully, the Ghost Max 2 does not. I kept preferring to run in the Ghost Max 2 but I didn't really know why. So I bought two more pairs from Amazon. Amazingly I have 3 pairs of shoes that I can rotate and I wear the running shoes during the day while teaching. So I don't have any dedicated running shoes, at the moment. But at least I am getting the plantar faschiitis under control.

https://bitchonabike.blogspot.com/2026/08/marathon-shoes.html

Goodbye free time

This is a brief post to discuss a last-minute schedule change. I was awarded more units, which means I will have less free time. I enjoyed the work-free Tuesday and Wednesday while they lasted, and I completed some tasks around the house that needed to be done. Or didn't need to get done, but I wanted to spruce up the place and complete some things that were left unfinished.

• 📝 Attach ladder to bunk beds
• 😄Setup new modem Charter
• 📝 Upgrade phone T-Mobile
• 😄Finish setting up new phone
• 🧽Mop floor of office

Crowned Athletics had a 70% off sale sitewide, and I ended up purchasing a number of items. I also bought some things secondhand from the Facebook BST group. The first thing I got was the Arabian Nights mint skort and bra. I knew I loved the AN red bra that I've had for a while. Then I got the Barbara Girl Pink and Blue Bra, Biker Shorts, and Reversible Jacket. Arabian Nights red flow top. I loved it so much I decided to get more from Facebook. Like me, people jumped on the 70% off sale, and some ended up with sizes that didn't work for them, so they let them go for a low price, around $28, when they're usually priced at $52 or more. So that's how I got the Changed Fate Flow and Solstice Sister Flow top.

I got one Golden Dreamer athletic cap (purple) and liked it enough to get another, the Poisoned Heart athletic cap (red). I organized all my caps in a rainbow and realized that I now have enough hats to cover the entire spectrum. I promised myself I wouldn't buy any more athletic wear this season, but the sale was too good to miss. I got to try some pieces that I wouldn't have otherwise bought. Now I am more aware of what sizes I like.





Given my new work situation, I don't feel so bad about buying these items. I was having some guilt. But after wearing the cotton Color Run shirt, I realized I can't run in cotton. The Flow tops are just so breezy, I can't wait to train in them more. I don't know what to do with my hair besides just letting it grow out. Therefore, the hats with the high ponytail holes are just right. It's turning cool in the mornings, in the 50s, and I'm grateful to be able to enjoy wearing pants and even long sleeves again. I registered for the Clueless and Breathless half-marathon race on Dec 20th, it was only $35. I might also register for the third race in the Run Riverside County Challenge series, the Palm Desert Half Marathon & 5K in February 2026. We were considering skipping it due to my pay drop, but now that I'm making more, I want to do it.

Also, probably because of the Bimbo race and the stress of adding two more classes to my week, I got sick. My symptoms started on Wednesday and got worse on Thursday and Friday. It was congestion and sinus pressure, then on Saturday, it felt like there were razor blades or sand in my eyes. Very uncomfortable. On Sunday, I tried to run, and my heart rate immediately increased into zone 5. It felt like the congestion was trying to push into my ears, so I just walked and covered fewer miles. I haven't run since last Tuesday (a week ago), but it's the best course of action to rest and focus on hydrating. The Mission Inn run is two weeks away, and I bet I'll be healthy by then. I just have to trust my training and enjoy it no matter how I feel on race day.

August 2025 in Review

It's only a few days into September, but it's been a whirlwind the past couple weeks. I have to pause and remind myself that Albert has only been in Kindergarten for three weeks (as he reminded me today is day 14). I have only had one week of school so far. Since I'm teaching labs, there are no class meetings this week since it is the week of a Monday holiday (Labor Day), so that no sections fall behind. When I look back at what we did during August, I can see why I feel so whirly.

The month kicked off with the Dopey Strong 7 Dwarves Challenge. Each day, we were supposed to dress up like a different dwarf and add a few strength moves into our running plan. Then on the 7th day we were supposed to do all the strength moves. I'm not a big fan of run streaking but there were only three days in the month that I didn't at least walk a mile (Aug 8, 10, 12). Sometimes I wonder why I track everything, but then I remember that tracking helps me make sense of the pain I'm in when I can't understand or remember why my feet hurt so much.

  

There was also a collaboration between Valley Runners and the Goodr Cabana. A group of us from Glendale, Sherman Oaks, Northridge, Winnetka, Burbank (all over the 818) met in Venice Beach every Saturday throughout August.

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A post shared by VRLA| ValleyRunnersLA Est. 2014 (@valleyrunnersla)

And to end the month, Crowned Athletics inspired us to dress up for World Princess Week.

I had fun with the challenge, and it got me to do some micro-blogging reflecting on what the Disney princesses mean to me.

CREATIVITY. As a mom, I get creative with my son as we paint, build, dance, cook, sing, and play. As a teacher, I find creative ways to incorporate all that into a college environment. Keeping everyone's spirits up while still enforcing safety rules and regulations. Chemistry doesn't have to be boring! I've got a dream. I want to make chemistry accessible to all students, allowing them to enjoy and learn. 👩‍🔬🥼🥽🧪 Rebel princess 👸✊ My first thought of creativity was Rapunzel, who had to pass away the hours locked away in a tower. But I think I'm a rebel princess at heart. Every day, finding creative ways to resist the empire. @crownedathletics #spacebuns #onebadmotherrunner

STRENGTH in motherhood is sometimes carrying your child, carrying your 50 lb folded stroller as you board the bus, bringing in the entire load of groceries from the car to the house in one haul. 🛒🛍️ Sometimes strength in motherhood is breaking generational trauma, escaping the unreasonable expectations of society, and giving other women a leg up. We all show our strength in different ways, and sometimes just showing up as the best version of you takes strength. 🥂 🙌 Here's a high five to celebrate all of the invisible unpaid domestic labor. Sometimes we carry the weight of the family on our shoulders, And even though every day isn't a ball, We still find big and small ways to sparkle and shine through. Thank you for being a part of my family, And thank you for helping to keep me inspired! #gratitude #strengthinmotherhood If I could add one piece to my Powerful Hermana set, it would be the Force Fighter flow tank top. 🛸💫🚀 I recently introduced my son to the Star Wars movies, and I was so inspired by Rey Skywalker. I'm not sure if she is considered a princess, but she is definitely a role model of strength. She never stopped fighting for freedom, and she never lost hope. No family is perfect, but finding your identity and drawing strength from your ancestors has always been a powerful force for me.

KINDNESS. The story of The Little Mermaid reminds us to practice kindness with our own bodies. There may be some part of your body that you wish were different. #bodypositive Ariel is doomed to want something she cannot have. She is willing to gamble her voice in exchange for the opportunity to experience her heart's desire, but only for 3 days. And if she is unable to achieve a nearly impossible task, she loses everything. The mermaid princess reminds us to appreciate everything our bodies can do. Today I am grateful for my legs. 🦵🧜‍♀️ 🐚🐠 Thank you, legs, for being my favorite form of transportation. Today I am thankful for my voice. 🎵🎶👩‍🎤 Thank you, voice, for allowing me to express myself. Staying inspired is sometimes a challenge. I have to do whatever motivates me to get out there and stick to my training plan. 

BELLA IN SELLA. is a phrase that I learned from the cycling community 🚴‍♀️ #cyclomania. It means riding a horse or bicycle and looking good while doing it. Often, I wear bright colors while riding or running for safety purposes. If you're seen, so much the better, because it lowers the risk of getting into a collision. And a close family member of mine was killed while running because she was hit by a minivan. But sometimes, like this week, I enjoy dressing up just for the fun of it. I find inspiration in the stories I grew up listening to. I wanted to represent Belle today, who didn't start out as a princess, but through her kindness, she came to love the Beast. I identified with Belle because she loved books and was a gorgeous brunette, like me. And, like her, I fell in love with a man who had a great bookshelf. 📚 # Bibliophile: I get to refresh my memory on Disney princesses, villains, and heroines by telling bedtime stories to my son as he falls asleep. He doesn't consciously remember every story, but I know he hears me. He puts princess figurines all around our bedroom for protection. Loving the energy from @fit4mom_west_sfv this morning. Showing up and being surrounded by kindness, moms supporting other moms, makes the journey of motherhood so much better. #communityinmotherhood #raisekindhumans #momssupportmoms #ourvillage #motherhoodsisterhood #worldprincessweek

GRACE. If you are newly postpartum or raising small children, you've got to give yourself grace. It's going to take time to get your energy back. Motherhood has been a powerful motivator for me. I want to be able to keep up with my son, so I keep pushing myself to stay strong and ready. Initially, when I thought of grace, I thought of Mulan. I'm not sure Princess is part of her back story, but she was a strong influence in my childhood. I was a tomboy. I ended up in a male-dominated career field. I've always tried to keep up with men and fit in among them. To be just as smart, fast, and strong. Mulan did what she did to protect her father and bring honor to her family. She was an epic failure at being a #tradwife but an epic success at leading an army. She exceeded her family's expectations and ended up with an even better match than any matchmaker would have found for her. Mulan reminds us to gracefully pursue our destiny, even if it doesn't fit with society's expectations for us. I thought about the graceful movements of a swords(wo)man. I realize that the modern military is different than the fighting style depicted in Mulan. I feel grateful for our military service men and women. Thanks to our veterans and first responders as well. ⚔️ Finally, I thought about how some workouts are tough. You have to give yourself the grace to suck sometimes. The law of averages will balance it out eventually with a workout that kicks ass in a good way. Today I felt so strong, graceful, and fast. ⚖️ Keep showing up. #ownthecrown #stronglooksdifferent

BRAVE. The brave thing I did today was bring my kid to work. His school has a holiday but my school did not. Today's theme got me thinking about various times in my life where I took a leap of faith. One of the biggest leaps I took was when I moved to California. I knew the cost of living was going to be really high. But I also knew that ultimately it was where I wanted to be. I wasn't sure how it was going to work out, but I was brave enough to go for it with the faith that I would figure it out. The second biggest leap of faith that I took was going through IVF. It was so expensive with no guarantees. It was like going through puberty again at 39 years old. I had to confront some of my biggest fears and misconceptions about becoming a mother. Thankfully for us, it only took one round. I'm so grateful that I was brave enough to take these leaps of faith. Finishing my PhD at UC Riverside was such a significant moment in my life. Training for and completing the LA Marathon (while wearing my Changed Fate set) was no big deal after becoming a doctor and then becoming a mother. If you're thinking about chasing a big goal or taking a leap of faith in the direction of your dreams, consider this a gentle push in that direction. Be brave.

STROLLER MILES. On my way to inspire the next generation of chemistry and biochemistry graduate students with my stroller and kindergartner, I dictated a lot of these microblogs while walking to and from school. Thanks to my bestie, Mykel for reminding me that it's okay to parent in public and that allowing students to see the joys and challenges of having children is a good thing. It's essential to make the work-life balancing act more visible. And this is also a post of appreciation for @bobgearus. I brought all the necessary items for my child and myself, as well as the supplies for my students. We had a fun day on campus. I love this stroller so much. I'll forever remember this as the vehicle that made all of our Disneyland dreams come true. BOB is an acronym for Beast of Burden, which is also a great song by the Rolling Stones. My Changed Fate set gives me powerful mama bear vibes when I need to remember how being a mom is my superpower. I also love how Merida was the shot caller in her story. She repairs the strained relationship with her mother and learns how to be more selfless. Even though Fit4Mom now pairs with Thule as their official stroller, I will never forget the BOB as my favorite part of strolling with my mini-me. My stroller model is BOB Revolution CE = City Edition which weighs ONLY 23 lbs.

I tried my darndest to get through August without overdosing on ibuprofen. However, on August 31st, I finally took some ibuprofen, which relieved the pain in my feet. It was an increase in miles, too much, too soon. I forgot how school drop-off adds extra mileage to the week. But as I say, we're trying to ease into the school year, and it's okay if there are some growing pains. Albert asked me to make him a social battery indicator so that he can have time to recharge without us bothering him too much. He's always had a high emotional intelligence, and this just shows that he can ask for a way to communicate with us.

   

Another thing Albert did recently was create two paintings contrasting a poor person's house, which was small, only one story high, and made of reclaimed materials. Versus a rich person's home, which he called the Eiffel Tower, which was multilevel, taller than trees, and made of gold. And for some reason, the poor person is during the day, and the rich person is painted at night, surrounded by stars. This is likely due to my lighter teaching load, which results in less income, and we often discuss this. We tell Albert that we can't afford some things because mommy won't be bringing home as much money. We discuss how we'll need to acquire more items on Buy Nothing, as we can't purchase them. September was a "normal" paycheck, but it will probably be the last "big" one for the next 6 months.

I saw the hashtag #RecessionCore and others, such as #economytok or #costofliving, to express a theme of economic hardship and austerity. We're not the only ones affected by this change in lifestyle. #budgetfriendly #economicanxiety #savingmoney #thrift #tariffs I've never been overly concerned with being trendy, and I know I'm talking about budget here, but here are some things I did buy this summer (or last summer) that I (still) love. 

• ENERBLOOM Women's Yoga Jumpsuits Workout One Piece Rompers with Pockets Bodycon Backless Bodysuits Padded Berry Red X-Large. I wore this on a run, and someone told me I was a whole vibe. I had a SheFit bra underneath and my sequin headband. $19.99 I also wore it to the pool as a swimsuit. I don't know why they don't make more swimsuits like this.
• Neely Gracey, the mom and running coach, recommended this product as the most comfortable item for summer, and I wholeheartedly agree. I bought one of each color and walked out paying around $50. I like them a lot. I'm glad I bought them when I did. This athletic all-in-one dress trend reached Crowned Athletics, and they sold each one for $118. I know, girl math, but I feel like I saved over $300. https://www.costco.com/elle-sport-women's-active-tank-dress.product.4000293912.html
• WEBGGER 12 Pack Sequin Headbands Elastic Stretch Sparkly Fashion Headband for Teens Girls Women Hairband Sport Head Band Party Favors Multicolored now $5.94, usually $9.99 https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09Z2TH288 Honestly, these are the best for summer. The airflow through the sequins is peak performance, and the sparklyness and color choices in this variety pack make my heart happy. I didn't bring one on my trip to Nebraska this year, but thankfully, I had left one the previous summer, and it was still there for me to use while I was visiting. Honestly, lifesaver. Somehow, the sequins are a great way to keep baby hairs from straying. I can't stand when my hair tickles my neck.
• IDALOP 20 Pairs Cute & Colorful Striped Quarter Crew Women's Colored Socks, Size 9-11 $19.99 So I'm midlife. I have mostly ankle socks. But I noticed when I wear a short skirt, it looks like SO MUCH LEG all the way down to the ankle. People nowadays say that ankle socks are out. So I got these crew socks. I wouldn't care fashion-wise but I do teach college-age students and I don't want to appear too out of touch.

I also found three pairs of jeggings at ALDI this week. Light blue, dark blue, and light grey. I have some Levi's jeggings that I purchased in the Spring 2023 semester for $27 each. They're finally starting to show daylight in the inner-thigh area after 5 semesters (2.5 years). So these ALDI ones are about half the price. I can't comment yet to their durability since I haven't even washed them yet, but I will use them to teach in for several years probably. I tried on XL and L and the large I couldn't even button / zip. There was a gap in the back of the XL but I guess I can wear a belt. https://www.aldi.us/product/serra-ladies-premium-light-blue-jeggings-m-0000000000072022 $12.99

My aunt noticed my Instagram is looking more colorful these days. I appreciate all the people who inspire me to keep being expressive. I'm glad summer is over, but is it really? We just had our AC fixed today, thank goodness. I know we're in for a few more months of heat. Sometimes it's in triple digits even through the end of October. Albert and I decorated the house yesterday for fall. He was insisting that it be fall but not spooky. Which means leaves and pumpkins, but not haunted houses and jack-o-lanterns.

Albert is dedicated to being a ghost for Halloween, and I've got 3 costumes already, so that the whole family can participate. I'm not sure we're doing the Boo at the Zoo or the Enchanted Halloweekends at the Discovery Cube. We've let all our memberships go. So we need to find a trick-or-treat thing we can do for free. I'm trying my best not to buy the Bath & Body Works Disney Villains collection. I know it will sell out quickly, but do I really need more lotion and hand soap?

It's the weekend of the Santa Monica Classic and the Disneyland Halloween Half-marathon. I'll be sitting these races out and preparing for the Bimbo Global 10k on September 28th. I haven't done that one before, but registration was free, and it's closer to our house. I received a free sample of Ever&Eden Premium Mineral Sunscreen Lotion SPF 50, but I'm not impressed with it so far. These are more of my favorites that I buy again and again and use daily.

• Sun Bum Baby Bum Mineral SPF 50 Sunscreen Stick - Hawaii 104 Act Compliant (Without Octinoxate & Oxybenzone) - UVA/UVB Face and Body Protection - Unscented for Sensitive Skin - Travel Size 0.45 Oz $12.50
• Eucerin Sun Sensitive Mineral Baby Sunscreen Lotion SPF 50 with Zinc Oxide Protection, Hypoallergenic Mineral Sunscreen for Babies, Tear Free and Fragrance Free, 4 Fl Oz Tube $20
• Banana Boat Kids MAX Protect & Play Sunscreen Spray SPF 100, 6oz | Clear Spray Sunscreen, Kids Sunscreen Spray, Kids Sunblock Spray, Kids Spray Sunscreen, Kids Sunscreen SPF 100, 6oz $14
• Neutrogena Pure & Free Baby Mineral Sunscreen Lotion with Broad Spectrum SPF 50 & Zinc Oxide, Water-Resistant, Hypoallergenic & Tear-Free Baby Sunscreen, 3 fl. oz, 3 pk $37
• https://thinksun.com/products/think-everyday-face-sunscreen-2oz-naturally-tinted  $16.50

In my efforts to save money, I also cleaned out my cabinets and put all my backstock of personal care products in rotation. Our good friend used to work at Paul Mitchell and would always gift us products whenever we visited him. So I have some shampoos, conditioners, and gels that will be on our bathroom shelves until they're gone. I lived so frugally when I started this blog, while in grad school. I know how to do it, I just wish I didn't have to.

Finally, I realized we're only six weeks away from the Mission Inn Run. I'm totally looking forward to that. I haven't thought about my outfits for race day. But I have time to come up with something. 

New Shoe New You

Our campus got a new toy, the BrandU photo booth. Mike and I went over there yesterday to take our headshots. It was my previous CSUN headshot that led me back to running, so I'm grateful for that. But I was hoping for a do-over because I feel like I have at least one less chin now. And it's subtle, but I have new glasses. They're the same frame style but a slightly different color.

FA23

FA25

I want to devote a short segment to gratitude for my shoes. Honestly, I don't know how many miles are on the current shoes I own, but I do think it's time to retire the Ariel 20s. It's also time to let go of the Ghost 13s that I got from Poshmark. The reason is that I can feel my toe hitting the end of the shoe. It's actually uncomfortable and after a day of wearing them, I feel my toenail on my big toe hurts.

https://bitchonabike.blogspot.com/2024/10/consumables.html

I have to be very frugal, and I hate throwing things away that aren't completely obliterated. However, I don't want a massive pile of shoes by the door that I'm afraid to throw away. 

• June 2024 grey green Ariel 20 via Amazon = $92
• November 2024 grey green Ariel 20 via Amazon = $106.33
• March 2024 black/grey/white Ariel GTS 23 via Fleet Feet Encino = $160
• August 2024 Grey/Black/Pink Ariel GTS 23 via Amazon = $119.95
• February 2025 New Balance Fresh Foam X 860 v14 via Fleet Feet = $140.00
• April 2025 Ariel GTS 24 COCONUT / CHATEAU / PORTABELLA via Amazon = $160
• August 2025 Ariel GTS 24 EBONY / BLACK / WHITE via Fleet Feet = $160
• August 2025 Ariel GTS 24 MERCURY / EBONY / SWEET LAVENDER via Fleet Feet = $160

So I think I'm feeling okay about this now, seeing that I've had the Ariel 20s for a year and I still love them, and I had two other pairs in the intervening time, which I didn't love, probably because they were the wrong size. So I will likely want to buy more shoes around the holidays or afterwards (before the marathon). I actually hate the New Balance shoes. My feet hurt so much the day after I wear them. Like they're comfortable but not supportive. I understand that some people might want a lightweight shoe, but I prefer a supportive shoe that is heavier and more durable.

I had a really good summer. We did a lot of decluttering, and I'm preparing to sell some items at the consignment sale. I did a lot of cleaning. I didn't do a lot of running. June, especially, but also July, were light on miles. But the goal I had set for the year (2 miles per day), I have already met and surpassed.

Goal achieved!

I had an episode where my blood pressure surged. My doctor says it could be because of stress or excessive sodium. I came across the video below that discusses exactly the problem I've been having with histamine. It's so helpful to see this type of content, so I don't feel gaslighted. Gaslit?

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A post shared by Elevate MD (@elevatemdohio)

Looking forward to a new season with the LA Road Runners. Guessing the Santa Monica Classic (which I'm not running) is in 2 weeks.🌟 Orientation Sunday is 9/14 🌟 First Sunday of the season 9/21. I do feel like I've been doing my base building starting in July and continuing in August so I will be ready to get back in season. My run club that I oversee was a non-starter for this session. I'm not super optimistic about the Oct-Dec session either, since the holidays occupy many of those weekends, but we'll see if there's any interest.

The Disneyland Halloween half is also about 2 weeks away. I'd like to go down to Anaheim for a meet-up with the Run Fit Mama herself, Kristin Wentworth, troop 486 leader. Next week is World Princess Week, which is a holiday made up by Disney Parks. There are daily themes that have been set forth by Crowned Athletics.

https://www.runfitmama.net/trainingprograms/core-workout-plan-cinderella-royal-core-7j8s6 

https://www.crownedathletics.com/blogs/crowned-connections 

If you interact with each day's social media post, or for an extra entry, share a photo of yourself, you might win a Crowned Athletics set. Here's my loose plan for which princess goes with each day's theme. Depending on how you feel about the Disney movies, you might assign a different princess with each trait: creativity, strength, kindness, grace, and bravery.

Mon 8/25 - Creativity 

   Rapunzel / Tangled

   Tiana / Princess and the Frog

   Raya / and the Last Dragon

Tues 8/26 - Strength 

   Luisa / Encanto

   Elsa / Frozen

   Moana

Wed 8/27 - Kindness

   Snow White 

   Cinderella 

   Ariel / Little Mermaid 

Thu 8/28 - Grace

   Mulan

   Aurora / Sleeping Beauty 

   Belle / Beauty and the Beast

Fri 8/29 - Bravery

   Merida / Brave

   Jasmine / Aladdin

   Pocahontas

So I want to put together five outfits. Monday, I can wear my purple jumper and call that Tangled. Tuesday, I could wear my Powerful Hermana set. On Wednesday, I could wear my mermaid skirt / visor / tank top from Sparkle Athletic. Thursday, I teach two labs, so I'm not sure how I could represent any of those princesses, but the jumper I have to wear that isn't already taken is slate grey with a red shirt underneath. I could run in my red Arabian Nights top with the Poisoned Heart Villain athletic skort. Friday, I could wear my green jumper and my Changed Fate set. 

And finally: Monday 9/1 is Labor Day and also the kickoff to the RFF Cinderella Royal Core program. The fun thing is to go out and get a Cinderella latte, which is a pumpkin spice latte with a half pump pumpkin sauce and a half pump white mocha. In fact, I'm heading out now to pick up these sauces so that we can make it here at home.

https://athome.starbucks.com/recipe/pumpkin-spice-latte
https://athome.starbucks.com/recipe/homemade-pumpkin-spice-syrup 
I bought this but it's taking ages to arrive https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0D1TX4TL6

I'll end here. It feels like there's more to say. I wanted to do a quick check-in before the semester starts to have at least one post for August. I'm at peak optimism at the moment.  

lost my hearing

In a strange turn of events, I have a double ear infection and I can't hear. It started off pretty innocently, just a little runny nose. I kept up with my training. I remember doing my 10-mile training run and wondering if it was the right thing to do or not. That was Sunday, November 10th (10 days ago). I did do two 2-mile runs the following week, but it was a taper week and it got pretty cold. Later on Thursday, November 14th, I started to lose hearing in my left ear. By Friday, November 15th, I couldn't hear in the right ear either. I tried to rest all day Saturday, thinking it would clear up. But after sleeping most of the day, both ears were still plugged up late Saturday afternoon. We went to urgent care around 4:30pm and returned home at 8:30pm with antibiotics. People have been telling me that it should resolve after a couple of days. So now we're on day 4 of taking amoxicillin, and I still can't hear. 

This semester came in so challenging. I got a change to my teaching schedule on August 9th. That was the Friday before my kiddo's first day of TK. Within a few days, he came down with COVID. Then my husband and I got it too. I was behind from the first week of classes all the way until about week 4 or 5 (end of September). After things settled down, I got a bit sad because we had low participation for RunClub. Just when I thought that was canceled, it was back on!

Being without hearing for a week has been odd. I feel like I'm forced into a meditative state. I can't be entertained by podcasts or music right now. It's a lot of work to have a conversation or watch TV because I have to read the subtitles or people's lips and really strain to pick up what they're saying. So I'm really in my head. What's nice is I've found a bit of gratitude there. It's the lead-up to Thanksgiving now. I'm in the home stretch of the semester. I don't have to hear the students ask me what each piece of glassware is. I don't have to listen to my kid whining. I can't hear the brakes on our minivan squeaking. It's all diminished. And what remains is an overwhelming sense of gratitude for the people in my life.

It's that time of year where we trim the tree and send out holiday greetings. I did get to send a few care packages to loved ones in advance of the holiday break. I bought holiday stamps at the post office. I cut up photos of kiddo to include in the cards. There are just so many steps to sending these out, but I'm ready this year. I'm ready for the end of this year. I'm looking forward to the Holiday Half Marathon. I'm looking forward to the Rose Bowl Half Marathon. I'm taking these setbacks (like this double ear infection) in stride because my training has been strong up until this point. I'm on track to submit grades early. Amazingly enough!

I've been working on my holiday bucket list. Or should I say, a list of holiday traditions that are meaningful to me. Given that we only have a few weekends to plan stuff, I want to make sure we're prioritizing things that are meaningful and not just "staying busy."

Nov 23 - Birthday Party 10am - noon
Nov 24 - Grand opening of Boeckmann park 11930 Mason Ave Porter Ranch 2-6pm (11 miles)

Nov 28 - Thanksgiving
Nov 30 - Holiday Train / Downtown Disney
Dec 1 - Pick up Fitlicious / Hot Chocolate Run (13 miles)

Dec 7 - Discovery Cube?
Dec 8 - CicLAvia + GH Holiday Parade 1:30pm - 4pm (14 miles)

Dec 14 - kids race
Dec 15 - Half Marathon + Chatsworth Holiday Parade noon-5pm

Dec 22 - Discovery Cube?
Dec 23 - 15 miles

Iceoplex Winter Wonderland 
Dec 23-Jan 5 
three sessions (9am-noon, 1pm-5pm, 6pm-10pm)

ALL ABOARD! We got our tickets for
Saturday, November 30 - Anaheim (A.M.)

Welcome Event: 8:30 a.m. at Anaheim Station. Train Departs: 10:00 a.m.

Discovery Cube

🍪Cookie Decorating – Guests will learn about primary and secondary colors and decorate a cookie to take home

🎅Visit Santa Claus: November 23-24, 29-30, December 1, 7-8, 14-24. Appearances from 11:00 am – 2:00 pm.

👨‍🍳Meet a Pastry Chef! Gingerbread demonstrations on November 23-24, 40, December 1, 7-8, 14-15, 21-22, 28-29, January 4-5. Demo times: 11:00 am and 1:00 pm.

Westfield Topanga Village Snow falls Friday-Sunday evening Dec 3-23. 6, 7, 8pm.

Other ideas for the holiday list:

Yolanda Lights FREE

Baking gingerbread house

Sending holiday cards

White elephant @ CSUN

Holiday lights bike ride

Boat Parade Newport Beach

Rose Parade Bike Ride

Election Day

It's the 2024 presidential election day. There were many other things on the ballot, but the race for president looms large. This is a historic moment where America gets to decide between another white male or a highly qualified Southeast Asian black woman. It definitely feels like a referendum on our culture. Can we accept a woman in the highest office in our nation? Or do we want to re-elect someone who was already impeached twice? Incredibly, we have to put a woman against an epically lousy candidate. I keep trying to put the election out of my mind, and then when someone reminds me it's election day, it's like BAM, I snap back to the real possibility that America might choose a crime boss over a Barbie.

I remember the presidential elections that have happened in my lifetime:

• 1980 - Reagan v. Carter / Mondale
• 1984 - Reagan / H. W. Bush v. Mondale
• 1988 - H. W. Bush v. Dukakis
• 1992 - Clinton / Gore v. H. W. Bush
• 1996 - Clinton / Gore v. Dole
• 2000 - W. Bush v. Gore
• 2004 - W. Bush v. Kerry
• 2008 - Obama v. McCain
• 2012 - Obama v. Romney
• 2016 - Hillary Clinton
• 2020 - Biden / Harris
• 2024 - Kamala Harris

I wonder what my son, who is now 4.5 years old, will remember about this election. We did watch the live debates at home with him. And we voted around the kitchen table all together using our mail-in ballots. And we went as a group to drop off the ballots at an early voting center on campus a week early. Being Los Angeles, they had a photo-op set up for us and a volunteer took this picture. I feel like I remember President Reagan, so maybe my son will always remember President Harris. And he will have a different idea of what women can accomplish. 

I remember Bill Clinton and his sex scandal. And people say that's why they couldn't elect Hillary even though she was smart and qualified. They say his behavior was somehow her fault or had tarnished her reputation irreversibly. But what can they say about Kamala? She is very good at her job and has none of the tarnish that people claim poisoned Hillary Clinton's campaign. Don't even get me started on Lock Her Up and Those Emails.

"Leave the door open and the ladder down" ~Bernard Kinsey

I can say Biden did a very good thing by serving one term, which was fairly uneventful, and then holding the door open for Kamala. It's like he "teed up" and let her swing for the fences. I don't know if that's a golf analogy or T-ball, forgive me, I'm not a sports person. 

I just don't know if some people in our country can tolerate this challenge to their self-image. There is a real toxic masculinity in our culture; forget about microaggressions. There is straight-up racism, sexism, and violence against women. I wanted to write out my own personal thoughts for my future self, or for anyone who finds this after I am gone. On this day, before the results are announced. I feel very guarded. I don't know who to trust. I feel like there is a simmering violence that is hiding in the shadows and waiting to be invited out into the open. I feel unsafe when out running; I've already seen one pickup truck following me. I don't know what type of rage will be unleashed on ALL WOMEN if they don't get their way or if there is any challenge to the patriarchy.

I won't stay up all night to see what happens; I doubt we will have a clear answer today. But I know what I'm hoping America chooses. It will be amazing to make the Barbie movie a reality. But I'm also accepting alternate possibilities. America may decide that we're not ready for a Barbie president. America may decide that if Barbie is fairly elected, we cannot abide it. I am fearful of these possibilities. But I'm trying to live and record how I feel at this moment.

nebraska adventure 2024

Yes, I'm back from my time in Nebraska herding goats. Lots of things happened. Richard Simmons died. Joe Biden withdrew from the presidential election. Donald Trump survived an assassination attempt. My husband got into a big fight with his brother-in-law and mother. Kamala Harris was endorsed by Joe Biden as the presidential nominee for the Democratic party. I guess I'm leading off with politics because it's so controversial to mention it elsewhere (in real life). And this is my private space where I can say that I'm hopeful for change in America. I hope women go to the polls and vote for Kamala. It's going to be an interesting Fall semester.

One good side-effect of the Nebraska trip is that now I'm back in California, and I'm willing to get rid of a bunch of stuff cluttering our house. I'm implementing strategies for organizing the stuff we're keeping, and I'm ready to part ways with stuff that we don't use. But along with that, I'm also buying new stuff that I think we need. I often get to this part of summer where I realize what projects I won't be able to finish. It's about acceptance. There are only two weeks until Albert starts school!

As for the trip debrief: it is always joyful to see my parents on my birthday. I appreciate now more than ever how much work is involved in raising a child. I also appreciate what a gift it is to spend time with someone. Being present together, allowing others to know you intimately, like all parts of your day and night, all the moods good and bad. It can be challenging though, to have that much contact and to give up control over things like the thermostat, light levels, what you will eat and when and how much. But here is a brief rundown of what we did and how I felt about it at the time.

July 5 - major travel day. arrived at Burbank airport before sunrise and arrived in Burchard near sunset (with a two-hour time difference and at a different latitude)

July 6 - recovery day and my actual 44th birthday.

July 7 - cousin Camp craft #1 (4th of July) suncatchers and the kinesthetic activity was a parachute.

July 8 - waterpark! This was so fun.

July 9 - playdate at Black ranch house. I had a tough night. Lot of coughing and grandma turned the AC off.

July 10 - Cousin Camp field trip to Arbor Day Farm. Monster truck pajamas might just be part of Albert's skin now. Super fun, super hot, super buggy. Got lots of mosquito bites here.

July 11 - Sitting on the floor. Doing my stretches and self care. Not really upset. Feeling like time is passing like molasses. It is slow, thick, and sticky. I'm not really missing home (California) yet. And this environment is not really the Nebraska where I grew up. Not the place, but the people for sure.

July 12 - cousin Camp craft #2 (Christmas) salt dough ornaments and fake snow. Grandma and Grandpa were not impressed with the polymer. They were super worried about how it would effect their septic tank. And it made a huge mess. We also built Elsa's castle out of Magnatiles and put flameless candles inside.

July 13 - AM Cousin Camp (Easter) Craft #3 Bunny Garland with spray painting and wax resist. Activity: Easter egg hunt. PM Cousin Camp (May Day) Craft #4 Tissue Paper Flowers and insects. Glue is fun. Kinesthetic Activity: Ribbon dancing.

July 14 - AM Cousin Camp (Halloween) Craft #5: Yarn Pumpkins, glue was less fun today. Kinesthetic Activity: Costume parade. PM Cousin Camp (St Patricks Day) Craft #6: Coffee Filter Shamrocks Kinesthetic Activity: Scavenger hunt for hidden "pots of gold."

July 15 - We didn't do a track, we did a trail...it was good. Albert mostly stayed in the stroller today. I think he is kind of worn out from Cousin Camp. They're so territorial about stuff. They are constantly whining. Yesterday was very busy. And stressful. We went to the waterpark again. The weather forecast was 107 deg F.

July 16 - It was great to have a nice long chat with DH. I can't let myself think about it too much because then I will start getting homesick. Cousin Camp Craft #6 (Labor Day) was footprint vehicles. The boys had a great time painting their feet and mine. Today Albert and Theodore were stringing beads with emojis on them and then turning their bead strings into a story. It was absolutely so cute. Cousin Camp Craft #7 (New Year's Eve) the craft was rock painting. We painted the rocks with symbols to represent all the other holidays of the year, to represent a year in review. Mentally, I'm hanging on by a thread. In the evening, we went over to pet the goats on the ranch.

July 17 - We finished up some of the earlier crafts, such as the salt dough ornaments. They needed paint. 

July 18 - We just woke up and immediately Albert made his grandpa start reading books.  It was family picture day, which actually went very well. We got some cute mother/child shots, a nice group photo and some really cute pics of the grandkids all together. For Cousin Camp craft #8 (Valentine's Day) we used marbles to paint hearts. I had some foam letters which I stuck on there to make them conversation hearts.We went to the County Fair parade, bounce houses, and the chicken dinner. It was very chaotic.

July 19 - I felt like the end was in sight. The childhood trauma was bubbling up. I had to parent myself this week. I love my family and I don't think we will be able to do this again. I want my kid to know and love his aunts, cousins and grandparents so badly. But I am realizing that I also need to protect my child like I wished any adult would have protected me. I need to set more boundaries. I feel that I need to write out how I am feeling so that I can remember next year. It feels so yucky to go "no contact" full stop. But also I don't want my child to hear my mom just abusing everyone around her and nobody stepping up to say "that's not okay." Cousin Camp Craft #9 - Pinata suncatchers. We put on the Coco soundtrack while we did this craft, which was fun and got me some Disney feels. We went to the waterpark in the afternoon and it was another great choice.

July 20 - This track has been saving my life. Cousin Camp Craft #10 (Fall) we made yarn pumpkins and corn cob windcatchers with pony beads. The craft was supposed to be fall leaf painting with bubbles but somehow we didn't get to it.

July 21 - Last day with all 3 cousins together. Albert rolled himself over on the couch and fell asleep without me right before 8pm. Also he transferred to the bed without contact from me so he must be EXHAUSTED!

July 22 - neighborhood walk with Steph and the double stroller we found on a curb alert. We tried all the configurations of the stroller with the two cousins. And got to walk through "big house land" which is always nice.

July 23 - downtown Omaha adventures with Aunt Steph.

July 24 - another great neighborhood walk and a visit to Hot Shops. And a long travel day to get home.

Final thoughts: There's going to be coffee in hell, but it will always be too hot to drink. There's more I could say about this trip but I don't have the time. I gotta release this into the universe.

Packing list 

Carryon

Baby trend stroller

🎧 Albert's headphones

cheez-it crackers

oreos

m&ms

cherrios

🧻 flour sack towel 

🩲 clothes for Albert

✈️ CARES harness

🫧 bubble fidget toy

Fruit pouches 

Checked bag

🩲 underwear (8)

🧦 socks (7)

walking shoes (wear it)

🩴 flip flops

👖 yoga pants (1)

🩳 shorts (5)

📷 sweat pants / jeans (1)

🎽 tops (7) 

👙 lounge bras (2)

🧴 toiletry bag

🎧 headphones 

🏖️ swimsuits

🤠 hats

💊 Nsaids/vitamins 

👕 long-sleeved shirt (1)

⚡cable for versa 3

😎 Goodr sunglasses

👝 garment bag for washing

🧺 large wetbag for laundry

💰 small wetbag 🌞 Think sunscreen bag

👟 Running shoes

🧦 running socks

✨ Running skirt

⏳ Running belt

👙 Sports bras

🧂 Electrolyte tabs

🪄 Anti-chafe

👛 Park bag/purse

⚡Phone charger 

🤹‍♀️ LM rompers (2)

🕯️Fake candles

Albie

🩳short outfits (7) 

👖 long pants (2)

🌛 pjs (7)

🧦socks (7)

shoes (wear it)

👲 hat

🩲 swimsuit

👢 mud boots

🩴sandals 

Packing List:

🎀 Evelyn’s bows

❄️ Instant snow

💎 Beads

🛹 Skateboard/helmet

👕 Cousin Crew shirt

🩲 Swimsuit

🐣 Easter eggs

🧲 Magnatiles

🏖️ Beach rocks

💯 Stickers

🍜 Buckwheat Noodles

As usual, I brought way too many clothes for Albert; he lived in three pairs of PJs. As usual, I crammed too many busy activities into my carryon, we didn't use ANY of them. I didn't need to bring any snacks, it was a totally fun activity walking around the airport terminals looking for and buying food. It was wild flying home without a stroller. I had four checked bags on the way there and just three on the way home. There's no way I would have been able to get to and from the plane by myself without another adult helping me roll the checked bags / stroller. I should have brought the scooter instead of the skateboard. I think I lost the necklace with his name on it. The fake candles were great as nightlights.