I am quickly settling into a routine with this summer class and internship business. Monday and Wednesday are the busiest. Tuesday and Thursday are the reading-est. For example, today I read about 400 pages for class tomorrow. Ouch. Monday and Wednesday look like this:
5:00 a.m - run
6:15 - smoothie for breakfast
6:30 - bike to school
7-8 - yoga.
9-12 - international political theory class
12-1 - bike home, shower, take the bus to internship downtown.
1-5 - internship
7 - dark - bike to park/pick up frisbee in the park
after dark - crash.
A few clarifications -- Smoothies are my newest obsession. There's just so much cheap fruit and it's a really fast way to get lots in my belly. The usual smoothie includes milk, yogurt, dollop of honey, vanilla protein powder and fruit (banana, bluebellies, strawbellies, etc.) Any suggestions for combos I must try?
Yoga! I am so happy my usual teacher Natasha is back. I definitely have a girl crush on her. No more psycho, slave-driver "I love making you guys do abs" teachers. Phew.
International Political theory class - this deserves a post (with a video impersonation) all to itself. But, yes, I'm taking grad classes this summer. Woo!
Internship - also deserves its own post. I'm working at one of the Colorado State government offices. Up on the 27th floor of the World Trade Center. Swank.
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
Sunday, June 21, 2009
What goes up, must come down
Okay, here's the run-down on the running last week. (Did you see what I did there? Pretty clever, huh?) I had motivation issues this week. Sigh, I'm embarrassed to already be faltering! I'm sure it was a lot of things: tired from the week before, started classes this week, had a bad run which made me not want to go the next day, [insert excuse here]. Anyway, for what it's worth, this is last week's running. I'm feeling inspired by Saturday's run and hope this coming week will be great!
Sunday - Awesome run on Mags (Mags = Magnolia Road, up in the mountains past Boulder). I went with Katie and John on a nice, cool but sunny morning. Mags is at about 8,000 feet and is well-known for it's killer steep/long hills. We went out 5 and back at at 8 min pace (a decent pace considering the hills and altitude!). After, we went to breakfast, got Chai to-go and had an ice bath in the Boulder Creek for 20 minutes. GAH! I was a whiny wimp but have to admit my legs felt awesome after. Total: 10 miles/1:20 min.
Monday - Bike, yoga, class and internship. No run.
Tuesday - Track workout at too-hot time of day. 3 miles jog down to South. Miserable, horrible workout. I stopped when my 1K pace was slower than my 1/2 marathon pace. Useless. Major cramp and struggling ont he way home. Total: 8.5 miles
Wednesday - Bike, yoga, class, internship. No run
Thursday - No run
Friday - 7:00 a.m. with the gals. So nice to run with them and get myself back on track. We were chatting, and moving along at a good clip (little did I know what we would run on Saturday!). Total: 6 miles/46 min
4:00 p.m. Ran with a friend. Felt great to loosen up for a few miles in a sunny afternoon down Cherry Creek Path. Total: 3 miles/30 min
Saturday - Met the girls again and drove down to Waterton Canyon in Englewood. Man, I was struggling because they are so fast! It really makes me want to be serious so I can keep up with 'em. 6.5. miles out of steady gradual uphill (already at 6,500 ft!). Then hanging on all the way back. Felt awesome to be done! Total: 13.2 miles/1:39 min
Total Mileage for the Week: 41
P.S. Clearly, I had a problem running on days when I bike to yoga, have class, bike home, and then go to my internship. Attack plan for this week: Suck it up and run early in the morning before I am tired from the long day!
Sunday - Awesome run on Mags (Mags = Magnolia Road, up in the mountains past Boulder). I went with Katie and John on a nice, cool but sunny morning. Mags is at about 8,000 feet and is well-known for it's killer steep/long hills. We went out 5 and back at at 8 min pace (a decent pace considering the hills and altitude!). After, we went to breakfast, got Chai to-go and had an ice bath in the Boulder Creek for 20 minutes. GAH! I was a whiny wimp but have to admit my legs felt awesome after. Total: 10 miles/1:20 min.
Monday - Bike, yoga, class and internship. No run.
Tuesday - Track workout at too-hot time of day. 3 miles jog down to South. Miserable, horrible workout. I stopped when my 1K pace was slower than my 1/2 marathon pace. Useless. Major cramp and struggling ont he way home. Total: 8.5 miles
Wednesday - Bike, yoga, class, internship. No run
Thursday - No run
Friday - 7:00 a.m. with the gals. So nice to run with them and get myself back on track. We were chatting, and moving along at a good clip (little did I know what we would run on Saturday!). Total: 6 miles/46 min
4:00 p.m. Ran with a friend. Felt great to loosen up for a few miles in a sunny afternoon down Cherry Creek Path. Total: 3 miles/30 min
Saturday - Met the girls again and drove down to Waterton Canyon in Englewood. Man, I was struggling because they are so fast! It really makes me want to be serious so I can keep up with 'em. 6.5. miles out of steady gradual uphill (already at 6,500 ft!). Then hanging on all the way back. Felt awesome to be done! Total: 13.2 miles/1:39 min
Total Mileage for the Week: 41
P.S. Clearly, I had a problem running on days when I bike to yoga, have class, bike home, and then go to my internship. Attack plan for this week: Suck it up and run early in the morning before I am tired from the long day!
Thursday, June 18, 2009
Moral Progress
I'm reading a book right now called "Democratic Individuality." It's the type of title that makes me want to skim over it quickly under the assumption that I don't know - no, no, that I couldn't know - what the elitist, academic lingo means. I make myself think about it and take a stab at what the title means. Maybe I'm wrong, but my guess is that it's about this: how can we be individuals if our entire democratic system is bent on making us all equal (i.e., the same)?
The question of individuality in democracy is tied to morality. Why? First, remember that morality has to do with proper behavior. Is my behavior proper, good, right? But, it's not simply a person's behavior in the abstract. Instead, proper behavior is only known by looking at it in the context of other people. The connection comes, then, because proper behavior, doing good, and being right, being moral is all in reference to other people. Determining morality means looking at the impact of an individual's actions on other people. So, we see that one person of many in a democratic system must be careful in trying to be an individual, because their actions may be immoral (improper, evil, bad, wrong) with respect to the other people in the system.
Still with me? Okay, good. Here's the real question: is there morality relativity or moral realism?
Moral relativity = morals are subjective, changing, and relative to particular cultures, eras, situations, etc.
Moral realism = morals are absolute, fixed and universal. There is one standard that holds for all people, across all time, and all situations.
I'm not saying whether I think there is relativism or realism (because I don't know!), but here's something to think about. Some say that because we can see changing morals, our morals must be relative. We used to think slavery was fine and dandy. Now we (the American people at-large) generally think slavery is a moral wrong. Our morality has changed = evidence that we have no fixed, absolute morality.
BUT, what if morality is like science. Scientific work establishes universal truths. Gravity. F=MA. The quadratic formula. But, science also continuously overturns "universal truths" when new discoveries are made. We don't say there are no scientific universal truths, or that other scientific universal truths are now wrong, just because we realize that one past "truth" was actually a mistake. What if morality is the same way? What if we make discoveries about what is moral. If that's true, our changing morals wouldn't show unfixed, subjective morality. Our changing morals would show that we are making progress in the field of morality. And, just as in science, a new universal truth does not undermine all truths of science, a new moral (e.g. that men and women are equal, that we shouldn't have slavery, that homosexuality is a-okay) does not undermine all truths of morality.
Think about it. Tell me what you think.
The question of individuality in democracy is tied to morality. Why? First, remember that morality has to do with proper behavior. Is my behavior proper, good, right? But, it's not simply a person's behavior in the abstract. Instead, proper behavior is only known by looking at it in the context of other people. The connection comes, then, because proper behavior, doing good, and being right, being moral is all in reference to other people. Determining morality means looking at the impact of an individual's actions on other people. So, we see that one person of many in a democratic system must be careful in trying to be an individual, because their actions may be immoral (improper, evil, bad, wrong) with respect to the other people in the system.
Still with me? Okay, good. Here's the real question: is there morality relativity or moral realism?
Moral relativity = morals are subjective, changing, and relative to particular cultures, eras, situations, etc.
Moral realism = morals are absolute, fixed and universal. There is one standard that holds for all people, across all time, and all situations.
I'm not saying whether I think there is relativism or realism (because I don't know!), but here's something to think about. Some say that because we can see changing morals, our morals must be relative. We used to think slavery was fine and dandy. Now we (the American people at-large) generally think slavery is a moral wrong. Our morality has changed = evidence that we have no fixed, absolute morality.
BUT, what if morality is like science. Scientific work establishes universal truths. Gravity. F=MA. The quadratic formula. But, science also continuously overturns "universal truths" when new discoveries are made. We don't say there are no scientific universal truths, or that other scientific universal truths are now wrong, just because we realize that one past "truth" was actually a mistake. What if morality is the same way? What if we make discoveries about what is moral. If that's true, our changing morals wouldn't show unfixed, subjective morality. Our changing morals would show that we are making progress in the field of morality. And, just as in science, a new universal truth does not undermine all truths of science, a new moral (e.g. that men and women are equal, that we shouldn't have slavery, that homosexuality is a-okay) does not undermine all truths of morality.
Think about it. Tell me what you think.
Saturday, June 13, 2009
Week's running
Phew - decided to step it up this week and I really felt it!
Saturday - Ran at 7:00 a.m. with Bridget and Judy. They are so fit it was really inspiring! I also learned a new route along the Highline Canal, but with a hilly road interlude. Great stuff, but I was ready to be done by the end. 1:50, probably 14.5 miles.
Sunday - Felt inspired, had the time, and wanted the challenge. There was serious hail mid-afternoon, but it cleared out. I ran up to REI on Cherry Creek Path and then down the Platte path to Santa Fe, and back up Logan. I tried a new little sucker that I bought at the farmers' market instead of a goo package. The sucker was actually Vermont-made pure, hard maple syrup. I saw it and immediately thought, "Huh! That would be a good thing to have for energy on a run, like an all-natural goo-type." Small, easy to carry, didn't melt and tasted delicious. I was really struggling by the end of the run so the little sugar rush helped big time. 1:37, probably 12.5 miles.
Monday - Easy recovery East on Cherry Creek then up through York/back streets. The hill from 6th up to 11th really stretched out my Piriformis and I picked up the pace for the last 15 min home. 1:02, probably 8 miles.
Tuesday - UGH, return of the dreaded track workout. I set myself out to do the first track workout in over a year. Wow, ouch. More on this in another post but here is the quick and dirty. Run through Wash Park to South High dirt track, 3 x mile @ 6:40, with slow 400 jog/active rest in between each, straggle home through Wash Park. Miles ended up being 6:40, 6:41 and 6:50. probably 9 miles total.
Wednesday - Easy shake-out after work through the city. Legs were obviously dead and I was SLOW. 43 min. 5 miles.
Thursday - Went to Matthew Winter's park for a trail run with friends. Woo-wee. I didn't know what to expect because I'm usually just along for the ride to run whatever distance, at whatever altitude, and whatever speed. I think my legs were still in shock from the whole week of running so this was incredibly tough for me. Also, my running friends kick my butt! Endless energy, friendly boyfriend-girlfriend rivalry ("Oh, he's coming! Let's sprint the last mile back to beat him" - Gah!), great adaptation to altitude, and strong up the mountain. These trails always start high (over 5000) and start with a huge uphill. And by "uphill" I mean "up mountain." Great views of Denver, Red Rocks and beyond. 1:35. 8.5 miles.
Friday - 7:30 a.m. Ran to Wash Park, 2 loops, Back to friend's house. We had baby-stroller and all, but we got excited and a little carried away. Usually it takes my friend 55-58. We did it in 51. Maybe 7?
3:50 p.m. A friend and I rallied big time after a divine lunch at WaterCourse Foods by deciding to go running instead of falling victims to the food-coma nap. 20 min. 2 miles.
Total Weekly Mileage: 66.5
Saturday - Ran at 7:00 a.m. with Bridget and Judy. They are so fit it was really inspiring! I also learned a new route along the Highline Canal, but with a hilly road interlude. Great stuff, but I was ready to be done by the end. 1:50, probably 14.5 miles.
Sunday - Felt inspired, had the time, and wanted the challenge. There was serious hail mid-afternoon, but it cleared out. I ran up to REI on Cherry Creek Path and then down the Platte path to Santa Fe, and back up Logan. I tried a new little sucker that I bought at the farmers' market instead of a goo package. The sucker was actually Vermont-made pure, hard maple syrup. I saw it and immediately thought, "Huh! That would be a good thing to have for energy on a run, like an all-natural goo-type." Small, easy to carry, didn't melt and tasted delicious. I was really struggling by the end of the run so the little sugar rush helped big time. 1:37, probably 12.5 miles.
Monday - Easy recovery East on Cherry Creek then up through York/back streets. The hill from 6th up to 11th really stretched out my Piriformis and I picked up the pace for the last 15 min home. 1:02, probably 8 miles.
Tuesday - UGH, return of the dreaded track workout. I set myself out to do the first track workout in over a year. Wow, ouch. More on this in another post but here is the quick and dirty. Run through Wash Park to South High dirt track, 3 x mile @ 6:40, with slow 400 jog/active rest in between each, straggle home through Wash Park. Miles ended up being 6:40, 6:41 and 6:50. probably 9 miles total.
Wednesday - Easy shake-out after work through the city. Legs were obviously dead and I was SLOW. 43 min. 5 miles.
Thursday - Went to Matthew Winter's park for a trail run with friends. Woo-wee. I didn't know what to expect because I'm usually just along for the ride to run whatever distance, at whatever altitude, and whatever speed. I think my legs were still in shock from the whole week of running so this was incredibly tough for me. Also, my running friends kick my butt! Endless energy, friendly boyfriend-girlfriend rivalry ("Oh, he's coming! Let's sprint the last mile back to beat him" - Gah!), great adaptation to altitude, and strong up the mountain. These trails always start high (over 5000) and start with a huge uphill. And by "uphill" I mean "up mountain." Great views of Denver, Red Rocks and beyond. 1:35. 8.5 miles.
Friday - 7:30 a.m. Ran to Wash Park, 2 loops, Back to friend's house. We had baby-stroller and all, but we got excited and a little carried away. Usually it takes my friend 55-58. We did it in 51. Maybe 7?
3:50 p.m. A friend and I rallied big time after a divine lunch at WaterCourse Foods by deciding to go running instead of falling victims to the food-coma nap. 20 min. 2 miles.
Total Weekly Mileage: 66.5
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
How much is that baby cello in the window?
I went to Denver's First Friday last week at the Santa Fe art district. The galleries are open late with free wine and nibbles. Pretty decent people watching and as close to "culture" as I've found in Denver so far. I saw this cool cello mosaic in one of the galleries. Wow! It was so pretty, but I couldn't help feeling a little badly for the cello (it being all mosaic-ified, stuck with tiles and everything). I mean, the poor baby cello's career is over at just a half-size.
Naturally, I e-mailed my Diana-the-cellist to tell her all about it and she asked for a picture. So, the next day I biked back there and took a photo. The photo is a bit surreal and unintentionally "creative" because the sunny day made the background behind me reflect in the window almost as strongly as the actual schtuff in front of me.
Oh, and Diana said not to feel badly for baby cello because it probably likes getting all dressed up. And, sure, that makes sense because who doesn't like getting all snazzied up?
P.S. Price tag? $2,500 smacks. Sigh.
Naturally, I e-mailed my Diana-the-cellist to tell her all about it and she asked for a picture. So, the next day I biked back there and took a photo. The photo is a bit surreal and unintentionally "creative" because the sunny day made the background behind me reflect in the window almost as strongly as the actual schtuff in front of me.
Oh, and Diana said not to feel badly for baby cello because it probably likes getting all dressed up. And, sure, that makes sense because who doesn't like getting all snazzied up?
P.S. Price tag? $2,500 smacks. Sigh.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)