Just Another Hump Day

Happy Wednesday! I don't have anything super substantial to speak about today, so I'm going to do a quick post about my life! Which means, my friends, it may be all over the place. And I'm not apologizing, ya hear?

I've been a big, big Maroon 5 fan for a while now, so I bought this yesterday in a crazily excited state. I've listened to it a couple times now and I like it! I'm not sure it's my favorite CD of theirs, but we'll see. We'll see. "One More Night" passed the run test yesterday! So that's always a good thing! I think it just got released recently. So this is probably old news already. But give it a try!

On a completely unrelated note: I need a great banana bread recipe. I took a picture with instagram but I'm pretty dysfunctional when it comes to that app. Is there a way to get those pictures on your computer so you can (for example) put them on your blog? I can only get them when I tweet them. And I don't want to tweet everything!

...Then I tweet about it anyway.

BUT YES. THIS IS A CALL FOR BANANA BREAD!

[pinterest]

Lately I've been wearing skirts on my bike when I commute. I wear a pair of booty shorts underneath every time unless I forget. I think for the most part it's fine, until the wind blows and people stare. SOMETIMES I WANT TO DRESS UP, OKAY!? I should be able to do both.

My plan for today.

Speedwork confuses me. I've never done it before. I'm new at this. I feel so dumb but I really don't know how to do it. I don't have a track available to me that I know of. But I'm on the hunt, trust me. Good old Hal Higdon says this:

If you want to run at a fast pace, you need to train at a fast pace several days a week. This training schedule for intermediate runners alternates interval running with Tempo Runs..An interval workout usually consists of fast repeats separated by walking or jogging...Walk or jog between each repeat. The best place to run 400-meter repeats is on a track, although you can also use an accurately-measured road course. Run the 400s at about your pace for 5-K, or 10-K. (from here)

This just intimidates the pants off of me. Which is bad because people are already staring because I don't wear them on my bike.

So much to discuss. Sorry for making you work. :)

Well, That's Done

Today I woke up feeling exhausted and with a headache. Maybe that's because you worked out a total of four times yesterday, Amanda. Clearly you're not in your peak condition anymore. Let's get there. Don't worry. It's not over exercising for the sake of over exercising. Just because I like doing fun things and those fun things require a lot of energy. What can I say?

POINT IS.

I did not work out this morning, as I've been slowly slothing through trying to get accomplished. So I decided to make this the first day I commuted to class! I got there on time and everything like that. No trouble finding a spot to put my bike. I mean. It was 8:30am during the summer, there had better be a spot. Class was nice. Then I biked home.

And I don't know if you know this about North Philadelphians. But they like to jaywalk a LOT. I can't exclude myself from that group. But. Do not cross Broad Street when there are cars (AND BIKES, THANK YOU VERY MUCH) coming at you. Thankfully (I guess) I hit him and not a car. He got my tire against his shoe. I got a bloody ankle and a banged up knee.

LAME. PEDESTRIANS, PLEASE DO NOT SUCK.

But I digress. Today's a busy work day for me because I bop around from class to internship to Rita's. So this is just a mid-day, "hey how are you?"

And because it's Thursday, I want to leave you with something fun/motivational/nonsensical from now on. Most likely from Pinterest. Thursdays, frankly, are awfully long for me. So sometimes I need a little something to get through. Maybe you do too! :)

I would really, really, really love this. PLEASE. {p}

Do you have any rules for pedestrians out there? Or. What's your favorite animal?

I Get It Now

When I was a little kid, I was the one who wanted to be outside most of the time. I would INSIST upon playing catch with my dad until he complained that he couldn't see the ball anymore because it was too dark. I'm sure he just wanted to go in at that point, but I wanted to stay out longer.

My partners in crime. Kate and Greg. :)

My best friend, her brother, and I would play games involving balls and swings, backyard soccer, and ride our bikes in undeveloped developments. That last thing right there. That was my favorite. :)

Well, last night, I suited up once again.

Er. Helmeted up.

Helmets can be sexy too, see?

Out to Kelly Drive we went as the sun was setting. I didn't want to come back in. Sure, my shirt had awkward sweat points and my head was schweating. Sure, my butt hurt every time I shifted a tiny little bit. But I loved every second of it. We went for around 7 miles, although I can't quite be sure. Next time we'll have to track it. Or at least take notice of when we turn around.

There are our bikes all cozy in the corner.

Please, do me a favor and go for a bike ride. Even if you don't have a bike, a bunch of places will let you rent them! That might just be in the city, I suppose, but it's worth a try to search for a place! I know for certain Philly has bike rentals along the river. It's quite lovely!

It's a great option for low impact cardio and it is a HECKUVALOT nicer than sitting inside on a stationary bike, but that's an option too! Spinning is wonderful and it gets your heart going. But sometimes I think it's nice to have this option. It's quite relaxing, for those of us who have problems sitting still and relaxing!

DO IT!!!

But I can't promise you you'll be comfortable sitting the next day. :)

And with that, I leave you with my artwork of the day:

You didn't think it was actual art, did you? You're welcome, Chiang and roommates.

What was your favorite activity as a kid?