Since You’ve Been Gone – Not Much But a Sore Butt

by Carilyn on January 7, 2013

Sun rising over the mountains of El Paso – 12/31/2012

 

Oh, hello.

How is everyone? I did another holiday “unplug”. I’m just finding it too complicated to travel back and forth from LA to Texas (and all the relatives’ houses in between), to keep up with blogging without stabbing someone with a fork. So, consider your patience with my silence as instrumental in saving someone’s life. See? You’ve already started the new year out as a hero.

But time to get back to it, don’t you think? What have you been doing these past few weeks? Has anyone kept any of their New Year’s resolutions?

Me? Not so much. Well, other than vowing not to stab anyone, I really didn’t make any other resolutions. I knew I wouldn’t keep them, so I decided not to torture myself (and those around me) any further. Besides, I don’t think “Renew my subscription to People magazine” actually counts as a resolution.

But, I did do a few things that weren’t completely slothful or self-indulgent (very few, but this blog isn’t all that long). On New Year’s Eve day, I went out and did an 8 hour speed walk. I know this sounds kind of lame to you runners, but it was hard.  I’m always giving myself “walk” breaks when I’m tired or bored with running, but I wanted to do a “long” workout, so I thought, “What’s the big deal?’

Well, the big deal is that my butt hurt for 3 days! Yes, walking a lot will work your butt. Maybe not as much as say, stair climbing or that weird Suzanne Somers video, but WAY more than running. I’ve always known I have weak glutes and hamstrings from only running, but I never realized how weak until I did The Walk (which is what I’m calling it since it will never happen again). Sheesh! Clearly (not that I’m making a resolution) I need to get busy on my backside.

The levee of the Rio Grande River

I also did a lot of running on the River, one of my favorite places to run. It’s like running on a road – flat, not too gravelly – but with no traffic. For nearly every run, a beautiful white crane kept me company, flying from tree to tree as we went. I think it was a sign, but I don’t know of what. (If there are any psychics reading this blog, let me know). I named my “sign” Ned, and talked to him throughout my runs. He never answered back, even when I sang him my full rendition of “Daniel” by Elton John.

Anyway, it’s back to reality. Back to LA. Back to obsessively checking the Ultrarunning calendar for fun races. Back to trying to con friends and strangers alike into going on “adventures” with me (hint hint). And if you agree to go with me, I promise not to sing.

Happy New Year of Running!

PS – I’m having a HUGE problem with spam (like 300 “comments” a day trying to sell me fake Gucci bags and designer Viagra), so please forgive me for missing some of your comments. The “legitimate” ones are getting lost in the deluge. I’m frantically trying to find a way to stop this, but so far, haven’t come up with anything that is working.

 

 

 

{ 14 comments }

Char January 7, 2013 at 12:06 pm

Do you get spam from Anonymous who wants American men to stop marrying American women? I’m not sure why he keeps targeting my blog. I can’t work out if he thinks I’m American and therefore a self-absorbed Princess (his words, not mine) and not worth marrying or if he thinks I’m the sort of foreign bride who’s perfect for American men.

Olga King January 7, 2013 at 12:12 pm

Walking for real is not easy, and my husband, who is not a walker naturally, always gets sore and hurt when he does this workout.
I am getting a crazy amount of spam too! So far Blogger was able to filter it through into separate box and not post it, but today I still went and turned on a verification. I hate it (and hate to do it on other blogs), but am tired of this bs.
Happy New Year!

Carilyn January 7, 2013 at 12:12 pm

No, I don’t get that one, but I get other weird ones – many in some language where I don’t even recognize the letters. Surely WordPress has a filter, but I haven’t found it yet and it’s maddening to be taken over by these fake “comments”!

Carilyn January 7, 2013 at 1:44 pm

I will keep trying to find something that works, Olga. I think most people have gotten used to the filter your using, so I don’t think you should feel bad for using it if it helps. I haven’t seen that version for WordPress, but I hope they have a version.

Happy New Year to you and your family!

Marcia January 7, 2013 at 2:59 pm

Oh so that’s why my behind hurts so much–it’s all my friggin walking! I get literally thousands of Gucci type spam every hour I think. Maybe they’ll send a sample one of these days.

Kirstin C (@ultrarunnergirl) January 7, 2013 at 3:22 pm

Thank you for making me a hero. 🙂
I need to do more walking – it’s really a great way to workout. I get into this rhythm like no other.
Sorry about your spam issues, what a pain.

Anne January 7, 2013 at 3:38 pm

I had a major spam issue with Wordpress (on a work blog) until the programmer installed something beyond Askimet and I’ve been spam-free since. Maybe it’s time to Google?…

Carilyn January 7, 2013 at 4:10 pm

I will definitely keep looking, Anne, but I’m glad to hear there is a solution for WordPress 🙂

Carilyn January 7, 2013 at 4:10 pm

My pleasure, Kirstin 🙂 And the people I didn’t stab thank you for your service 🙂

Carilyn January 7, 2013 at 4:11 pm

I know, Marcia! I’m thinking about keeping some of the walking in my training. My butt needs all the help it can get!

Kate January 7, 2013 at 7:00 pm

My blogger blog has been fielding a LOT of spam lately. Most of it gets caught, but some of it gets through. So annoying. I haven’t had the same issue on my wordpress version, but it gets much less traffic.

Walking will wear you down for sure! That orienteering meet we did was all walking/hiking except for a little bit of run/walk, and I was aching big time afterwards.

I was wondering where you were! Glad to hear your writing voice, but it’s definitely worth missing you a bit to keep you from going over the edge (the rest of the way. :D)

Carilyn January 7, 2013 at 8:34 pm

Glad to catch up with you, too, Kate! Happy New Year! (And I’m glad everyone lived 🙂

pensive pumpkin January 8, 2013 at 8:48 pm

Glad to know I’m not the only one getting the Gucci spam. Problem is, if my experience is any indication, now that you’ve mentioned Gucci you’ll get more.

Also: I am available for adventures. Hell, I could use some. Maybe it will keep me from throwing things at Chevalier like I did a little while ago.

Carilyn January 9, 2013 at 9:07 am

I would love to go on an adventure with you, PP! We could combine running with drinking cocktails and stalking Alan Rickman! 🙂

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