Foto Pherrets: Fly

Hump Day Hunt - Week Seventy-One

Birds do it...
Bees do it...

Our word for the week is:
Fly

It's been a while since I've participated in Foto Pherrets because my husband and I were busy training for the Hamburg Marathon (which we ran) and I've been busy studying Anatomy and Physiology (I'm working on a Masters degree in physiotherapy.) Now that the marathon is over, I have time to participate in some of my favourite memes again. So here is my "Fly" photo.

When my husband and I were in Switzerland in February, we went paragliding. It was an amazing experience. We each went tandem, strapped to an experienced paragliding instructor, and we flew through the air. It was awesome to be flying, just like a bird. We took off at the top of a mountain, and just drifted under canopy.


I've skydived before, but didn't enjoy free-fall. Once the parachute opened and we were under canopy, however, I loved skydiving. So paragliding was perfect for me, since there was no free-fall and we were under canopy the entire time. It was a fabulous experience.

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Tags: Paragliding, Switzerland, Foto Pherrets

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Hobby

I know some of my friends have been wondering where I've been lately, since my blog hasn't been updated in a while. Lots going on. My husband and I are running the Hamburg Marathon on April 29th, so we've been training for that, and our highest mileage week was last week, culminating in our second 20-mile training run. (A marathon is 26.2 miles or 42.2 km.) I've also been busy studying. I have an "Anatomy and Physiology" exam to write a week after Hamburg (I'm working on a Masters degree in physiotherapy) so that has kept me busy too. During my study breaks, I've been busy acting as "secretary" for our Sphynx kitten, Dragonheart. As my husband says, it's clear the cat runs the house, since his blog gets updated daily! Anyhow, that's where I've been.

On to this week's topic. I have so many hobbies, it's hard to choose just one. My husband and I don't have any children, so we have lots of time for our hobbies, and many of our hobbies we enjoy together. We run together, we lift weights together, we both enjoy reading, and we both collect and read comic books. We both enjoy some TV: Mythbusters, Stargate SG-1, Stargate Atlantis, Battlestar Galactica (the new series), M*A*S*H (on DVD), and various Star Trek series (again, on DVD or in re-runs). Separately, he plays basketball and I teach group fitness (aerobics) and horseback ride (hunter seat and dressage).

Out of all of these hobbies, however, I probably enjoy Step the most. I love teaching a basic or intermediate step class, and I really enjoy taking a good advanced step class. Putting together a class is a lot of fun. Developing the choreography (putting the moves together in a logical way that makes sense), deciding how the choreography will be broken down, choosing what sequence the various combinations will be taught in, etc. Of course, in class, you always have to be prepared to change things on the fly, depending on how the class is responding. If you end up with a lot of beginners in class, you end up simplifying and doing a lot more repetition. If you have a large group of advanced members, and everything is flowing well, you have to be prepared to offer options for making things more complicated or more intense.

Teaching group fitness is a lot more complicated than most people realize. You have to know how to put together a balanced class, you have to know about biomechanics and exercise safety. You have to know about proper warm-ups, cool-downs and stretching. You have to know the major muscles in the body and the most effective and safe ways to work those muscles. You have to know about class design - how to correctly increase and then decrease the intensity, and how to modify moves for various populations (beginners, pregnant women, seniors, etc.)

Aerobics music is specially created to be at the rate speed, and it is all "32 count". 32 count music means that the music is arranged in 32 count phrases. So all the choreography you design for a class is put together is chunks of 32 beats per combination (or multiples of 32, like 64.) This makes the class flow more smoothly and helps in breaking down the choreography. You don't just put on any old CD and just stand at the front of the class, shouting out moves. You have to buy the right music and put a lot of thought into planning a class.


There's nothing quite like the adrenaline rush you get when a class just flows and the room is filled with energy! There's a wonderful glow you develop when a class just "rocks". It's even better when the members come up to you after a class and compliment you on the class and tell you how much they enjoyed it. It's also wonderful to help people get fit or help them to maintain their fitness, all while having a lot of fun.

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Water


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My husband and I were in Prague last weekend to run a half-marathon (13.1 miles or 21.1 km). You can read my half-marathon report here. The day before the race, we wanted to stay off our feet as much as possible, so we took a cruise along the Vltava River, the river that runs through Prague. One of Prague's famous landmarks is the Charles Bridge, a footbridge decorated with many beautiful sculptures. The construction of the Charles Bridge started in 1357 under the auspices of King Charles IV, and it was completed at the beginning of 15th century.

Tags: Photo Hunters, Prague, Charles Bridge, Czech Republic

Thursday Thirteen

My birthday is on Monday, March 19th. To celebrate my upcoming birthday, here are:

#24 - 13 Things About My Birthday

1. I was born on March 19, 1972.
   
   
2. So this year I will be 35 years old.
   
   
3. I was born in Selkirk, Manitoba, which is not far from Winnipeg.
   
   
4. My birth mother was 16 years old, and gave me up for adoption, because she wanted me to have a better life than she could give me at that point in time.
   
   
5. My parents were able to adopt me because they were Catholic. My birth mother was Catholic and she wanted me to go to a Catholic family.
   
   
6. My parents had tried to have children for many years, but were unsuccessful, and so wanted to adopt a baby. I was that baby.
   
   
7. My astrological sign is Pisces, although I was born just a few days before Aries begins. If you believe is astrology (I don't, but find it entertaining) I have some Pisces characteristics, and some Aries characteristics.
   
   
8. Throughout elementary and high school, there was about a 50-50 chance that my birthday would fall during March break.
   
   
9. In Grade 12, my friends threw me a surprise birthday party, the only surprise party I've ever had. And I was surprised! I thought I was going over to a friend's house to work on a school project.
   
   
10. Here is a list of famous people born on March 19. These include Bruce Willis and Glenn Close.
    
    
11. The best birthday present I ever received was for my 15th birthday. I chose a Seal Point Siamese for my present, whom I named Whiskers, because he was missing the whiskers on one side of his face when I adopted him. He had lost them playing with his brother. Whiskers went to the Rainbow Bridge on September 1, 2006, just two months shy of his 20th birthday.
    
    
12. Back in Canada, I would normally celebrate my birthday with my family: my husband, my parents and my sister. We all lived in the greater Ottawa region, so it was easy to get together for holidays and birthdays.
    
    
13. This year, I will celebrate with my husband and our Sphynx kitten, Dragonheart. Hubby and I will celebrate by going out to dinner either on Saturday or Sunday. I have a massage scheduled for Monday, on my birthday.

Tags: Thursday Thirteen

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Architecture

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This is the Neues Rathaus München, Munich's New City Hall. "New" being a relative term, of course. It was built from 1867 - 1909 in the Flanders Gothic style; its facade, over 300 feet in length, features strikingly elaborate stone ornamentation. The city hall features a famous Carillon/Glockenspiel (below).

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This carillon was put into place in 1908. The figures of the carillon show elements of Munich'’s history. A joust is displayed in the upper part. This joust took place upon the marriage of Duke Wilhelm V. and Renata of Lothringen.

The lower part of the carillon shows one of Munich's famous dances, the “Schäfflertanz”. It was first performed during the plague (1515-1517) and since then it has been traditionally performed every 7th year in Munich.

To learn more about Munich's New City Hall, check out the following link:

• Muenchen.de - Neues Rathaus

Tags: Munich, New City Hall, Neues Rathaus, Photo Hunters

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Salty

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My husband and I were married on April 22, 2004, on the Mayan Riviera in Mexico. It was a beautiful location to be married and I felt like a princess! A true fairy-tale wedding. So what does this have to do with salty? Well, in that photo, behind us is the Atlantic Ocean! Lots and lots of salt water!

(For those who are interested, the rest of our wedding photos can be seen here)

Tags: Photo Hunters, Saturday Photo Hunt, wedding, Mexico, Mayan Riviera

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Soft

For Christmas 2005, before moving to Munich, my husband and I received this beautiful Newfoundland quilt as a gift (my husband is originally from Newfoundland.) It is very soft, and warm, and is a wonderful reminder of home (Canada.)

Tags: Photo Hunters, Saturday Photo Scavenger Hunt

Friday's Feast

Feast One Hundred & Thirty Two

Appetizer
Where on your body do you have a scar, and what caused it?

• I have two scars in my bellybutton (along with three other scars on my abdomen) as a result of two laparoscopies for endometriosis. Sadly, this chronic disease has no cure, and I have periodically needed surgery to help control the pain.
  

Soup
What is something that has happened to you that you would consider a miracle?

• I can't think of anything that I was truly consider a miracle. I have experienced some good fortune where I was clearly blessed, starting with my birth, but nothing that I would consider miraculous. My birth mother was a 16 year old Catholic, and fortunately for me, she did not abort me, but carried me to term as gave me up for adoption after I was born. If not for that, I wouldn't be here. But I consider that a blessing, not a miracle.
  

Salad
Name a television personality who really gets on your nerves.

• I don't watch a lot of "regular" television. There are only four shows my husband and I don't miss: Stargate SG-1, Stargate Atlantis, Battlestar Galactica (the new series) and Smallville. Otherwise, I mostly watch Discovery, Discovery Civilization, National Geographic, and the History Channel. So I'm not familiar with television personalities.
  

Main Course
What was a funny word you said as a child (such as "pasketti" for "spaghetti")?

• I'm sure there were some, but I don't remember any!
  

Dessert
Fill in the blank: I have always thought ______ was ______.

• I have always thought reading was fun.
  

Tags: Friday's Feast, memes

Cats on Tuesday

Gattina is hosting a new meme for those of us who are owned by cats, called Cats on Tuesday. Visit her blog and join in the fun.

Sometimes the simplest toys are the best. Although Dragonheart loves his store-bought toys, especially his wand toys and anything that has feathers, he also enjoys playing with some common household items. One of his favourite toys is the clear plastic top off a bottle of Powerade/Gatorade. I guess in some ways cats can be like children! Often the box that a toy came in can be more fun to play with than the toy itself!


It's amazing how much fun he has batting these bottle tops around! He really enjoys playing "hockey" with these bottle tops, as you can see in the video below. These tops frequently get lost under the couch or the treadmill. Fortunately, it is easy to reclaim them from underneath the furniture, plus, there is always a new supply of them, as my husband and I are training for a marathon, and therefore consuming a great deal of Gatorade/Powerade.

If you have trouble viewing the video, you can try clicking here.

Tags: Cats on Tuesday, Sphynx, cat, kitten, hairless cat, hairless kitten, Canadian Sphynx, Canadian hairless, movie, video

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Antique

From Merriam-Webster Online:
1 : existing since or belonging to earlier times : ANCIENT <antique trade routes to the Orient>
2 a : being in the style or fashion of former times <antique manners and graces> b : made in or representative of the work of an earlier period <antique mirrors>; also : being an antique

(Click photo for a larger image)

This is a tablet of hieroglyphics from Munich's Staatliches Museum Ägyptischer Kunst. It has certainly existed since, and belongs to, earlier times. It was wonderful to visit the museum and see and touch real ancient Egyptian artifacts! Ancient Egypt has always fascinated me and my husband and I hope to visit Egypt next fall and visit the pyramids and many other ancient Egyptian sites.
You can read more about Munich's Egyptian museum and see more photos here.

Tags: Photo Hunters, hieroglyphics, Munich, Egyptian

Friday's Feast

Feast One Hundred & Thirty One

Sorry I haven't feasted in a while! My husband and I are training for the Vienna Marathon on April 29th, and we've been doing our long runs on Fridays, which makes Friday a very busy day! This week our long run is shorter (only 13 miles - just over 20km) so I have some time to participate.

Appetizer
What sound, other than the normal ringing, would you like your telephone to make?

• A cat purring would make a nice ring tone!
  

Soup
Describe your usual disposition in meteorological terms (partly cloudy, sunny, stormy, etc.).

• Mostly sunny with occasional clouds
  

Salad
What specific subject do you feel you know better than any other subjects?

• Fitness and Exercise Science. I'm a certified group fitness (aerobics) instructor, a certified Resist-A-Ball (stability ball) instructor, I have an undergraduate degree in Biological Engineering, and I'm working towards a Masters degree in Physiotherapy. So I feel I have a good understanding of the human body and its response to exercise, and how to appropriately design and deliver and effective fitness class.
  

Main Course
Imagine you were given the ability to remember everything you read for one entire day. Which books/magazines/newspapers would you choose to read?

• I would read all of my textbooks! As I said above, I'm working on a Masters degree in Physiotherapy, so there is a lot to know. The human body is very complicated. I'd start with my anatomy and physiology textbooks (anatomy in particular is a lot of memory work) then move on to my biomechanics and exercise science textbooks as well as some of the more specialized texts. I'd also try to read as many Physiotherapy and Physical Therapy journals as possible.
  

Dessert
If a popular candy maker contacted you to create their next confection, what would it be like and what would you name it?

• I'd love to have a low fat chocolate bar. Although it sounds like an oxymoron, a few years back Hersey did make some lower-fat chocolate treats (called Sweet Escapes), but I guess they weren't very popular since they didn't stick around. I'd love to create a product like that. A name? Hmm, maybe Guilt-Free Pleasures?
  

Tags: Friday's Feast

Thursday Thirteen

#22 - 13 Things About our Trip to Switzerland

My husband and I were in Château d'Oex, Switzerland, last week. Here are 13 things about our trip

1. We had no internet connectivity, so I was out of touch with all of my internet friends for a week. It's also the reason my blog hadn't been updated for a while, and why I wasn't able to visit all of my blogging friends. I'll get around to visiting all of you sometime today or tomorrow!
   
   
2. We had absolutely gorgeous weather. It was sunny and warm for most of our trip. The only day where the weather wasn't nice was Thursday, when it rained. It was still warm though.
   
   
3. It's a good thing neither my husband nor I are skiers. All of the ski slopes in Château D'Oex (the town where we were staying) were closed due to a lack of snow. There were some slopes open in other nearby towns, but it was mostly manufactured snow on those slopes.
   
   
4. Our Chalet was way up on the side of one of the mountains, with the town of Château D'Oex far below in the valley. Fortunately the weather was nice, so we didn't need chains on our car tires to get to and from the chalet. We did hike down and up the mountain a couple of times and it was a good workout!
   
   
5. Our Chalet was beautiful, although the bedroom had two small single beds in it! Fortunately there was a very comfortable sofa bed in the living room, so we pulled that out and used that as our bed. Not only did my husband and I want to sleep next to each other, but our Sphynx kitten, Dragonheart, is accustomed to sleeping with us and we thought he would be very confused if he had to choose one of us to sleep with!
   
   
6. We only went running twice while we were in Switzerland. So we took a bit of a break from our marathon training. It was impossible to run anywhere without running up and down lots of hills! So we got in some hill training, which is great for leg strength.
   
   
7. We went horseback riding once. We had a beautiful day for a trail ride. Since I am an experienced rider, I was given the opportunity to tack up (and untack) my horse by myself. I rode a very nice horse named Cherokee. My husband, who has only ridden a handful of times, was given a very calm, easy-going horse named Nicki, who just followed the other two horses. And they tacked up and untacked the horse for him. I was very happy that we rode English (hunter seat) for the trail ride, since that is what I am used to. I ride hunter seat and also take dressage lessons.
   
   
8. Although the weather was warm during our trip, we still enjoyed lighting a fire in the fireplace every night. Dragonheart really enjoyed the fire, especially the warmth it gave off! He also enjoyed starting at the flames.
   
   
9. We spent a lot of time just relaxing in the Chalet, reading books (I'm re-reading the books in George R.R. Martin's Game of Thrones series), playing computer games (Civ IV and Neverwinter Nights 2), playing with Dragonheart, enjoying each others company, and I managed to do some crochet, making two sweaters for Dragonheart.
   
   
10. We had a gorgeous view of the surrounding mountains from our balcony. It was just beautiful. Since the weather was so warm, Dragonheart was able to explore the balcony in his harness one day, when the temperature climbed to +15°C.
    
    
11. We were in the French part of Switzerland, so I had a chance to practice my rusty French. I was considered perfectly bilingual (by the Government of Canada) before my husband and I started German language training in preparation for our posting to Munich. I quickly discovered that once we started learning German, I lost a great deal of my ability to speak French! I still understand French perfectly, and can read and write French very well, but often when I try to speak, German words come out instead of French! It's as if my brain can only handle one foreign language at a time! *grin*
    
    
12. Dragonheart was very well behaved throughout the trip. We had water, food, and a litter box for him in the car, but he ignored all of them, and spent most of the car ride curled up in my lap, or curled up on the seat behind me. He had his harness on, so he was restrained, and we didn't allow him into the front of the car where my husband was driving. He also seemed to really enjoy being in the Chalet. The only thing he didn't like was his smaller litter box! He used it, but would dig around in it a lot, and jump in and out of it many times before finally doing his business!
    
    
13. The highlight of our trip was going paragliding on Friday. Both my husband and I went paragliding. We each did a tandem flight, which meant we were strapped to an experienced instructor. It was an amazing experience! Just incredible to be flying like a bird. I've skydived once before (tandem again, strapped to an experienced jump instructor) but I didn't like the freefall - once we were under canopy I loved it, but I didn't enjoy freefall. So paragliding was perfect for me. No freefall, under canopy the entire way. Just a wonderful, amazing, incredible experience. We haven't received our photos yet (they are coming in the mail) but you can check out some photos from the company we paraglided with here.
    

To see more photos of our trip, check our Dragonheart's Thursday Thirteen, or read his report of our trip!

Tags: Thursday Thirteen, travel, Château d'Oex, Switzerland

Thursday Thirteen

#21 - 13 Things About our Trip to Switzerland

My husband and I leave Saturday morning for a trip to Château d'Oex, Switzerland, here are 13 things about this trip

1. My husband and I (and our Sphynx kitten, Dragonheart) will be spending a week in a Chalet in Château d'Oex, Switzerland.
   
   
2. Neither my husband nor I downhill ski, so we won't be doing any downhill skiing.
   
   
3. We may cross-country ski however.
   
   
4. We may also snowshoe.
   
   
5. Château d'Oex is known for its hot-air baloons, and in fact, their International Hot Air Baloon Week and Festival ended on January 29th, so we may take a hot-air balloon ride.
   
   
6. Parachute jumps are also available. I've already done one tandem jump (which was amazing) and my husband, as an airborne engineer in the Canadian Forces, has done more jumps than he can count.
   
   
7. I horseback ride (hunter seat and dressage) and since there is a riding school and bridle paths in Château d'Oex, I hope to go horseback riding at some point.
   
   
8. There are also sleigh rides available, which would be a lot of fun.
   
   
9. My husband and I will get to add another country to our list of places where we've run. We're in the middle of training for a marathon (Vienna Marathon on April 29th) so we'll have to keep training while we're on vacation.
   
   
10. It will be our first road trip with Dragonheart, so it will be interesting to see how he reacts. Hopefully he'll enjoy all the new sights, sounds and smells (since he is very curious and adventurous, we think he'll enjoy it.)
    
    
11. We won't have internet connectivity while we're away, so we'll be out of touch.
    
    
12. Our chalet has a fully-equipped kitchen, but we will definitely sample some of the traditional Swiss food at the local restaurants.
    
    
13. Our chalet has a fireplace, and we are looking forward to relaxing in front of the fire. I'm sure Dragonheart will enjoy the heat of the fireplace (well supervised of course!)

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Silver

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The silver-coloured ring on my little finger is my Iron Ring. However, it is neither silver nor iron. Modern Iron Rings are made out of stainless steel.

The Iron Ring is the symbol of Canadian engineers. All graduates of a university engineering program in Canada have the opportunity to participate in the Iron Ring Ceremony, known as "The Ritual of the Calling of an Engineer."

The Iron Ring obligation (statement of ethics) and the ceremony, were written by Rudyard Kipling.

The object of the Ritual can be stated as follows: The Ritual of the Calling of an Engineer has been instituted with the simple end of directing the newly qualified engineer toward a consciousness of the profession and its social significance and indicating to the more experienced engineer their responsibilities in welcoming and supporting the newer engineers when they are ready to enter the profession.

The Iron Ring has been registered and may be worn on the little finger of the working hand by any engineer who has been obligated at an authorized ceremony of the Ritual of the Calling of the Engineer. The ring symbolizes the pride which engineers have in their profession, while simultaneously reminding them of their humility. The ring serves as a reminder to the engineer and others of the engineer's obligation to live by a high standard of professional conduct. It is not a symbol of qualification as an engineer - this is determined by the provincial and territorial licensing bodies.

(Much of the text taken from The Iron Ring, which you can check out for more information.)

Tags: Iron Ring, Iron Ring ceremony, Photo Hunters, silver, The Ritual Calling of an Engineer

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Wild

Panther at Xcaret, Mayan Riviera, Mexico

Tags: Photo Hunter, Photo Hunters, big cat, panther

Thursday Thirteen

#20 - 13 Races I've Run and Plan on Running

1. Terry Fox Run - I've run this race every year for as long as I can remember. Even before I was a runner, I used to walk the 5K or 10K. Back in school, we would also do the Terry Fox Run during a school day. The Terry Fox Run raises money for cancer research. For those of you who don't know who Terry Fox was, he was a Canadian single leg amputee (due to bone cancer) who set out to run across Canada, a journey called the Marathon of Hope. Sadly, the cancer spread to his lungs and he had to stop before he had finished his journey. But every year, in his memory, Canadians across the country and around the world, participate in the Terry Fox Run in his memory.
   
   
2. Run For The Cure - I've run this race every year since becoming a runner. The Run for the Cure is a 5K event that raises money for Breast Cancer Research.
   
   
3. Do It For Dad - My husband and I ran this race for the first time last year, doing the 10K run, while my mom and dad walked the 5K. This race raises money for prostate cancer research, and I wanted to do this race after my dad was diagnosed with, and treated for, prostate cancer last year.
   
   
4. HBC Run For Canada - Taking place on July 1st (Canada Day) my husband and I have run all of the "Run For Canada" 10K races taking place in Ottawa. The race is run early in the morning on Canada Day, before all the Canada Day celebrations start in downtown Ottawa, and has been a fabulous way to celebrate Canada's birthday. Entry fees from this race go to support local charities as well as Canadian amateur athletes.
   
   
5. Run For Lunch - This was my first "real" 10K race, timed, with an entrant's bib and number (the Terry Fox races, being charity events, aren't officially timed and you don't have an entry number or bib.) This entry fee from this race went to help the student food bank at the University of Ottawa, hence the name "Run For Lunch."
   
   
6. Ottawa Fall Colours Half-Marathon - In 2004 I ran this race as my first half-marathon. It was a great race. Small, but well organized, and the weather that day was perfect for me for running - overcast and cool. The photo in my Thursday Thirteen header this week is from this race.
   
   
7. National Capital Half-Marathon - My husband and I have run this race the past two years, when it has been incredibly hot and humid, so not ideal conditions for running. The course for this race is lovely, along the Rideau Canal in Ottawa, but there is little shade along the route. So with the half-marathon starting at 10 am at the end of May, it is hot out there for the runners. For 2007, they are finally moving the half start to an earlier time.
   
   
8. Prince Edward County Marathon - My husband and I ran this race in 2005 as our first marathon. A small, rural marathon, the route is quite nice, through rural farmland, small villages, and through Sandbanks Provincial Park. Unfortunately, the year we ran it was also a very hot day, much warmer than usual for October, and so the conditions weren't ideal for running. Still, it was an accomplishment to finish my first marathon.
   
   
9. 20 km de Paris - My first race in Europe. I ran this race this past October, meeting a group of friends from the Runango Running Forum. The race went well, although not as well as I had hoped. There is a lot of smog in Paris and my poor lungs couldn't take it! But it was fun to see Paris on foot and to socialize with my running friends.
   
   
10. Vienna Marathon - My husband and I plan on running the Vienna Marathon this April. It will be our second marathon, and our goal is just to finish, running the entire race (unless the weather doesn't cooperate.) I am very fortunate - my husband runs much faster than I do (I'm very slow for a variety of reasons, including poor biomechanics due to the way my bones come together at the joints and a permanently compressed vertebra from a fracture in 1993) but he enjoys running and racing with me, so he happily runs with me for our long runs and for races. He does get runs in at his own pace when he runs at lunch at work (as an army officer, he is expected to stay fit and has time in his workday to do PT - physical training.) He is a great running coach and supporter.
    
    
11. Winterlaufserie 15K - My husband and I plan on doing this race as a training run on February 15th. It will be an opportunity to run through Olympiapark, where the München Frühjahrslauf will take place.
    
    
12. München Frühjahrslauf - My husband and I plan on running this half-marathon on April 1st of this year here in Munich. I'm hoping that the weather will be cool enough for me to have a good race.
    
    
13. Munich Marathon - If, after Vienna, I still have the desire to run another marathon, it will be the Munich Marathon. The course runs through many of Munich's neighbourhoods and past some of Munich's most famous monuments, buildings and sights. The highlight of the race is the finish in the Olympic Stadium.

For those who are curious about the various race distances, here are some conversions:

• 5K = 5km = 3.1 miles
• 10K = 10km = 6.2 miles
• 15K = 15km = 9.3 miles
  
• 20K = 20km = 12.4 miles
• Half-Marathon = 21.1 km = 13.1 miles
• Marathon = 42.2 km = 26.2 miles

Tags: Thursday Thirteen, race, running, memes

Cats on Tuesday

Gattina is hosting a new meme for those of us who are owned by cats, called Cats on Tuesday. Visit her blog and join in the fun.

Here is a video of Dragonheart enjoying one of the wand toys he received for Christmas. This was filmed just over a week ago. Yesterday, he was at the vet being neutered. He is doing well now, happily curled up asleep in my lap. You can read about the entire adventure on his blog.

If you can't see the video, try clicking here.

Tags: Sphynx, hairless cat, hairless kitten, toy, play, cat, kitten

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Technology




These are my two favourite pieces of running technology. The top photo is my Garmin Forerunner 305. It's a running watch/GPS/heart rate monitor. I love it, because it gives me the freedom to go out and just run wherever I want, and not worry about having a distance pre-measured out. It uses a Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver to measure distance and pace/speed. The 305 also includes a heart rate monitor, so I can tell how hard I'm working, and it also measures time. So it is a great training tool. I can just go out and run anywhere, and it tells me how far I've run, my pace/speed, my heart rate, and how long I've been running. At the end, it gives me my average pace/speed, the number of calories I've burned, and my average heart rate. I can also set it to give me "splits" every so often (every mile or every kilometre for instance) and it will tell me my time, average pace, and average heart rate for that split. I love mine.

The second photo is, of course, a treadmill. We have our treadmill in our living room, in front of the TV, so that we can run on it for hours and not be bored. I love running outside, but sometimes it just isn't safe to do so - usually when it is very icy out in the winter or very cold. I will run outside in temperatures down to -20°C if there's not much wind, but when there's a biting wind, or when there's ice on the roads and running paths, it's just not safe to run outside, and so I prefer to run on the treadmill. Also, in the summer, when the temperature climbs to above +30°C, it also isn't safe to run outside. Or when the temperature isn't quite that hot, but it's very humid, you also run the risk of dehydration and heat stroke. So running inside, where it's air-conditioned, is much safer. The longest run I've ever done on the treadmill is 18 miles. I've also run several 15, 14, 13 and 12 milers on the treadmill, as well as many many shorter runs, too numerous to count. With a couple of good movies on, and a partner to change the DVD when required and to supply you with fresh Gatorade, it is quite do-able. I do prefer to run outside, whenever possible, but when the weather is uncooperative, the treadmill is a great piece of technology.

Both of these pieces of technology help me to stay on schedule, when training for a marathon, half-marathon, or a shorter race, or when I'm just running for fitness. When following a training program, they help to ensure I'm running the correct distance at the right effort, for that day of the program.

Tags: Photo Hunters, photography, technology, Garmin 305, Garmin Forerunner, treadmill, running

Friday's Feast

Feast One Hundred & Twenty Six

Appetizer
What comes to mind when you see the color orange?

• Orange juice
  

Soup
Did you ever get in trouble while you were in school? If so, what was it for?

• No, I was very much the "proper Catholic girl" (I went to Catholic schools my entire life), a "goody-two-shoes", and a straight-A student. I was also involved in so many extra-curricular activities that I didn't have time to get in trouble!
  

Salad
Which topping(s) make up your perfect pizza?

• My perfect pizza consists of a whole wheat crust, topped with pizza sauce (naturally), double mushrooms, baby shrimp, and low-fat mozzarella cheese.
  

Main Course
Do you believe in UFOs/aliens/etc.? Why or why not?

• I don't believe in UFOs, nor do I believe that aliens have visited the Earth. Why? Because there are logical explanations for every UFO ever reported and there is no evidence that we have ever been visited by aliens.
  
• I do, however, believe that there is life out there in the universe. The universe is so vast that I think it would be rather arrogant of us to assume that the Earth is the only planet that supports life.
  

Dessert
What color is your bedspread/comforter/quilt?

• A patchwork of different shades of blue
  

Tags: Friday's Feast

Thursday Thirteen

#19 - 13 Places we Plan on Visiting While We're Posted to Germany

My husband is an engineering officer in the Canadian Forces, and he's currently working as an exchange/liaison officer with the German military engineers. Sadly, Canada doesn't have any bases in Germany any longer, so the only army postings here are either exchange postings or NATO positions. Since my husband is in an exchange/liaison position, we know we'll only be in Munich until the summer of 2009. Between now and then, here are some places we plan on visiting.

1. Egypt - Ancient Egyptian history fascinates me. We plan on taking a trip to Egypt next fall, starting in Cairo, taking a cruise down the Nile to Abu Simbel. I can't wait to see the Pyramids, the Valley of the Kings, the Temples at Karnak and Luxor, and the Egyptian Museum in Cairo with the treasures from King Tut's tomb.
   
   
2. Rome - The history of the Roman Empire also fascinates me. I'm looking forward to visiting Rome and seeing the great Coliseum and many of the other historical sites. There is so much history and culture in Rome that I am looking forward to experiencing.
   
   
3. Mainau Island - This is an Island in the Bodensee, which is a large lake between Germany, Switzerland and Austria. Due to the island's geography and the weather conditions, it has an almost tropical climate, with many tropical plants growing here. The island is a park and flower garden, and motorized vehicles are not permitted on the island. I'm looking forward to visiting and seeing the natural beauty of this island.
   
   
4. Berlin - It goes without saying that while we are living in Germany we must visit Berlin, the capital of Germany. Must-see and must-visit locations in Berlin include the Brandenburger Tor, Berliner Dom, the remnants of the Berlin Wall, the Reichstag, and many others.
   
   
5. Great Britain - We're not sure exactly where in Great Britain we will visit, but we will definitely travel there at some point. There is just so much to see, and so many potential places to visit, that we haven't decided exactly what we want to see yet.
   
   
6. Greece - Another country rich in history. We would like to take a cruise of the Greek Islands, and also visit Athens. The Acropolis of Athens would be an amazing site to see.
   
   
7. Herrenchiemsee - A castle here in Bavaria, built by King Ludwig II. It was modelled after Versailles, as Ludwig II was a great admirer of King Louis XIV of France. This castle was built on an island, which also features a park and waterworks.
   
   
8. Versailles - Speaking of Versailles, I also want to visit the real Versailles. Both the castle and the park look like amazing places to visit. Versailles is rich in history, with so much to see and learn.
   
   
9. The Louvre - When we were in Paris in October, we had a chance to visit a great deal of the city, but we didn't have enough time to really visit the Louvre. I want to take the time to visit a good portion of the museum, and see many of the great works of art housed here.
   
   
10. Château d'Oex, Switzerland - We will be spending a week here in February, at a chalet. Famous for it's hot-air balloons, there are also many other activities, such as horseback riding. Neither my husband nor I ski, but there will be plenty to keep us busy during our week's vacation.
    
    
11. Vienna - We will be visiting Vienna at the end of April, when we will be in the city to run the Vienna Marathon. We also plan on visiting the famous Spanish Riding School and seeing the Lippizaner Stallions.
    
    
12. Salzburg - Another city in Austria that is rich in history and culture. Places to visit include Mozart's birthplace and residence, Salzburg's Cathedral, St. Peter's Abbey, and a number of museums and art galleries.
    
    
13. Dachau - This memorial site is not far from Munich. As an army officer, my husband visited the concentration camp memorial at Auschwitz when he was in Poland, and it was a moving and disturbing experience. This will not be a pleasant trip, but is something that we want to do. It is important that we not forget, and that we pay tribute to the memory of those who were interred in these camps.
    

Tags: memes, Thursday Thirteen, travel

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