Dipity

I'm re-posting this from TreeHugger more because I really like this application; I've no desire to dwell on the myriad environmental failures of the Bush administration. We just have to move forward and fix the damage.



If you head over to Dipity you can create your own personal timeline drawing from online sources or by populating the line yourself.

How to run a 10K

"I started running at the age of 47 in June of last year and couldn't run a mile at that time, but I ran my first ever 10K on Thanksgiving."

How I did it: I just kept going. I trained and read a lot about running, talked to other about running and JUST KEPT RUNNING. I ran a little further each time I went out running. Once I could run a mile the rest really came easily. Soon it was two miles, then I ran my first 5K and I was halfway to a 10K right then and there.

Next stop - a 15K in March. Then hopefully a 1/2 marathon in May.

Lessons & tips: Just keep running. Find a friend if that works for you. Set a goal. Pick a 10K race 3 months or so ahead of time and train with that in mind.

Resources: Here are some great resources:

Map My Run
Runner's World
Daily Mile

It took me 6 months.

It made me

See more progress on: run a 10K

A quick note regarding ring tones

I've not much of anything today. I'm a bit worn out from my first day of work after a four day weekend plus a 2.6 mile run after work. But I thought I'd share this link for free ring tones from the Center for Biological Diversity. I'm quite liking my new Barred Owl ring tone.

Syrinx

I like to think I know a little something about birds, but even after years of study, I'm still discovering new information. I received a bookmark in the mail some weeks ago from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology which showed a picture of a Wood Thrush on one side and factoids about the bird on the other. From the bookmark:

"Thrushes have a complicated syrinx (song box) that allows them to sing two notes at the same time and harmonize with their own voice."

From the website, pertaining to all birds, not just thrushes:

"All calls and songs come from the syrinx, a unique organ in the bird's body cavity at the division of the trachea and bronchi. The elaborate syringeal muscles enhance the frequency of their songs. The syrinx consists of two independent halves that can produce two different sounds at the same time."

In Greek mythology, Syrinx was a nymph and a follower of Artemis, well known for her chastity. She unfortunately encountered the randy Pan whilst on a hunt and rather than submit to his attentions, cried out to her water nymph friends who turned her into a clump of reeds. Not one to waste an opportunity, Pan harvested the reeds and made a musical instrument, known today as panpipes or the syrinx.

Wood Thrush photo by Badjoby on Flickr.

Halls Creek Woods

I found a little nature preserve I'd not been to before by way of a Flickr photo group I was invited to join last week (Ohio Dedicated Nature Preserves). Halls Creek Woods is near Morrow and Oregonia in southeast Ohio. It's a little park, just under 300 acres and not much trafficked from what I could tell. There was only one other car in the parking lot when I arrived and I didn't encounter any other people while hiking around. I startled a flock of wild turkeys and a small herd of deer while I was walking, which was only fair since they startled me a great deal.

The trail, which was not blazed, would be a bit hard to pick out after a fresh leaf or snow fall. The website says the trail is two miles long, but my pedometer told me about 1.5. There's a steep climb to get up to the main loop of the trail and I would imagine it would be a bit treacherous descending after a wet spell; wear something with good traction! The trail doesn't follow along Halls Creek itself, which is a shame because it's a lovely creek with lots of small waterfalls and an abundance of fossil-bearing Ordovician stone. However, Halls Creek Road, just around the corner, follows along the creek and there are a couple of spots to pull off and snap photos.




After Halls Creek I drove over to Caesar's Creek and hiked the gorge trail loop. I did my best to find a decent specimen of bryozoan to photograph (or pocket) but it eluded me. I found scads of brachiopods though, and a bit of crinoid stem and a partial cephalapod shell, but no good bryozoans. I think I'll have to hit Keener Park in West Chester - I know there's loads in that creek.

My new waterproof Kamik boots did well! They are slightly too big for me, nothing a thicker pair of socks won't cure. They felt really stiff at first but I got used to them quickly. I've been needing a proper pair of winter boots.

New Year's Day

I'd love to say that I bounced out of bed at six AM to greet the dawn of a New Year with an invigorating hike in the woods. But, that would be a lie. I got off to a slow start, but I did get in a couple of hikes in my two nearby city parks for a total of 4.5 miles this afternoon. Somewhere along the way my scarf slipped from my shoulders; I'll try hiking the same trail tomorrow to see if I can find it. I liked that scarf.

It was the first time I'd hiked French Park since Hurricane Ike blew through back in September. The park was closed for weeks after and today I could see why - there is still plenty of evidence of the massive damage done by the winds.

I also made a big pot of black-eyed peas and sausage stew today - the peas and the pork are supposed to bring luck and prosperity in the new year. I could use a little of both.

I hope to get back to my regularly scheduled blog in the coming weeks. In the meantime, an inspirational quote:


"No matter how slow you run, it's faster than someone sitting on a couch"

My New Year's Resolutions

My New Year's Resolutions for 2009:

• Run a 15K mini-marathon
• Run a half marathon (I don't know if this will happen, but I'm going to train for it)
  
• Get my weight down to xxx (you don't need to know the exact number now, do you?)
  
• Complete three ArcGIS classes
• Develop the perfect recipe for whole wheat bread in my bread maker
• Finish three knitting projects and six sewing projects
• Update this blog on a regular basis
  

Petrichor

I want to be able to use this word, petrichor, soon. It means "The pleasant smell that accompanies the first rain after a dry spell." We haven't had any significant rain in weeks. My rivers are running low... too low to get out and kayak much, except for the mighty Ohio, and the kayaking season for this year is fast running out.

Besides, I like rain. As much as I like to get outside and run or hike or kayak, there's also something wonderful about being inside with the rain beating down and curling up with a good book.

Rain please. Soon. Now.

My First 5K

So, at the tender age of 48, I've completed my first ever 5K race. I ran in the Reggae Run and despite the challenging course, I not only finished, but I still had a smile on my face near the end. It really was a lot of fun and I can see why people get hooked on running races.

I finished in 41 minutes. Obviously I'm not going to be breaking any records but I'm tickled that I did that well and that I never broke out of a run even on the hills. I just ran slower - much slower. Walkers could pass me by, but that's fine and dandy. Now I've set my sights on the 10K Turkey Trot on Thanksgiving morning - training begins tomorrow.

World Rivers Day

September 28th marks World Rivers Day, established in 2005 to promote a greater awareness of the role rivers play in our lives. Unfortunately I won't be out on a river tomorrow, since I've already made plans to attend the Ohio Renaissance Festival with friends, but I did paddle the mighty Muskingum River for sixteen miles last weekend with a good friend (pictured). The village of Dresden, Ohio held its first annual Melon Festival last Saturday along with the first annual Paddlefest.

The Muskingum River flows 111 miles through Ohio, joining the Ohio River at Marietta. The river begins at Coshocton, which is where we put in and paddled down to the historic suspension bridge at Dresden. In this section it is a broad, sleepy river, tree-lined and peaceful if one overlooks the power plant at Conesville. Bald eagles are known to nest along the river, though I didn't spot any on this trip, we were lucky enough to watch an osprey dive and catch a fish while we were having dinner later that night at Muddy Misers in Zanesville.