Ready to Run

I'm really making a concerted effort to tackle this running thing head on. Since I already workout regularly, I have a lot of clothing that will at least get me started, but I wanted to make sure I was set with good shoes and had a music set-up that would motivate me when I start dragging.

Last fall I went to get fitted for shoes at Road Runner Sports in Torrance on the recommendation of a few friends. While the guy that helped me was nice, I wasn't thoroughly impressed with the whole experience. I also wasn't really shopping for running shoes so much as just a good shoe for general fitness. I learned that I needed a neutral shoe with lots of cushioning. Fair enough. However, my biggest complaint was that they only stock one, maybe two shoes in narrow widths and even then, they didn't carry most of them in my size (10.5 narrow).

In an effort to try the whole shoe fitting thing again, I tried FrontRunners in Brentwood. I had heard great things about this place from my step instructor. While everyone was very nice, they had only ONE shoe that they stocked in a narrow width. ONE SHOE! ugh. Although, I did feel a bit better when I looked at the sale table and saw these little babies on it:
They actually had my size and I scooped 'em up! Which led Jim to remark "Good job honey. I'm sure you can just run in those. They'll be perfect." Hmph.

I've now decided that while not the most popular places for buying running shoes, New Balance South Bay and Zappos are really my best bets. I've had the best customer service at that particular NB store and Zappos shipping and return policies are my besties. I have a pair of shoes that I've run in a few times and they are comfortable and offer quite a bit of support, so I ordered another pair in the new spring color so when my blue ones give out, I have replacement shoes ready to go!


After hearing great reviews about the Nike+ system, I decided to jump on the bandwagon. I remembered Jim and I had each been given the 1G ipod nanos as wedding gifts (engraved and all), but we had never used them since we already had ipods. Well, seeing as how the Nike+ only works with nano model, this was a perfect opportunity to give mine a whirl. And after using an Apple giftcard to purchase the Nike+ sport kit, my financial outlay was basically zip. Yay! I'm still need to get it all set up and finish putting my playlists together, but that should be done in the next few days.

The only downside to using the old 1G nano is that the armband that accomodates the Nike+ sensor has received pretty tepid reviews. I've heard that the new armbands for the 3G are fairly good, but no such luck for the older models. Ah well. I think I may get one anyways and see how it works. I'm just bummed that I don't have a lot of options. :(

Once I start running outside regularly, I'd also like to snap up some athletic sunglasses and a mesh hat or visor. But I think I can wait a bit on these fun accessories.

And I'm really thankful that my recent injury was a bicep strain and not something affecting my lower body. Even though I need to lay off the weights for a bit, at least my running schedule doesn't have to be altered. :)

Bring it on!

Music to my ears

Last weekend I was just thinking about how funny it is that a specific song can bring up such strong emotions or bring you back to a specific moment in time. And then I was catching up on Nanette's blog and saw this. I love this post so much that I've been inspired to re-create it with my own little ipod. Here are the first 10 songs that came up on my ipod (after putting it on shuffle) with a little commentary about each song:

1. You've Got a Friend by James Taylor - The last time I volunteered at Camp Ronald McDonald for Good Times, it was a winter session specifically for the kids aged 15-18. One of the counselors, Judge, who has been around forever brought his guitar and during one of the activities a small group of us counselors were sitting outside together and he started playing. And guided by Judge, the rest of us joined in singing. Lots of old stuff from Paul Simon, John Mellencamp and James Taylor. I specifically remember this song because I just felt so happy at that moment to be outside, enjoying the gorgeous winter afternoon in the woods and being surrounded by such a wonderful, talented bunch of volunteers and campers.

2. Too Much by Dave Matthews Band - I didn't even know who this band was until I started dating my husband. But Jim was obessesed with them and would constantly play their music in the car. The is one of the songs I came to love and we would often sing it together while he was driving me home after our dates that first year.

3. Gangsta Lovin' by Eve & Alicia Keys - I love listening to Pop and Hip Hop stations in the car when I'm driving around. This was a popular song a few years back, I always found myself grooving in my car when it would come on, so I finally downloaded it onto my ipod. And yes, I still find myself groovin' to the beat when I hear it.

4. Cherry Bomb by John Mellencamp - Another artist that my husband introduced me to when we started dating. It is such a happy albeit somewhat sentimental song and it reminds me of many car trips with Jim, just driving down the road singing our hearts out.

5. London Rain by Heather Nova - I was introduced to Dawson's Creek by my 2 best friends my senior year of college. I fell in love with the show and became quite enamored with a lot of the music that was used. This led to buying both Soundtracks for the show and downloading many other songs from itunes. This specific song was used in several different episodes and I really enjoy listening to it.

6. You Can Do It by Ice Cube - Oh man. Senior year in college, we're at a formal date party for my sorority and we're all having a swell time dancing and drinking and just hanging out. My friends and I hear that one of the younger girls is not feeling well and we head into the bathroom to check on her. And there she is in her big party dress worshiping the porcelain god. I grab a hairband and start gathering up her hair to make sure it doesn't fall into the toilet when this song comes on and you can softly hear it in the bathroom. And wouldn't you know, this girl starts boppin' her booty while she is still being sick. I think I started laughing from the sheer ridiculousness of the situation. Amazing.

7. You and I by Michael Buble - No real specific memory or moment tied to this song from me, but it's from his first album, which happens to be one of those great CDs that you can play straight through and enjoy every song. Love that!

8. Jive Talking by The Bee Gees - I'm not sure why I like this song but I do. It's just so happy and upbeat. Fun!

9. Life, In a Nutshell by Barenaked Ladies - Yet another artist I wasn't terribly familiar with until I started dating Jim. Sure, I had listened to One Week on the radio when it was really popular a few years prior, but I didn't know their old stuff. We listened to their live album often that first year we were dating and then when he left for school that next year, it became bittersweet. I was so sad he was gone and listening to the album would alternately make me happy remembering the good times together and also heighten the sadness of him no longer being in California. Even now, hearing that album can totally put me in a melancholy mood.

10. The Glamourous Life by Sheila E. - In high school, we used to warm up to this song in jazz dance class and I will forever associate it with stretching and doing across the floor kicks and turns.

And now, I want to hear about the first 10 songs that come up on your ipod and what memories and stories they evoke. :)

my ipod: a history

Stats
Name: ipod mini
Color: pink
Capacity: 4GB
Condition: slightly beat-up, but still kickin'

My ipod is not the newest model on the block, but I will have this little gal til she finally bites the big one (hopefully not anytime soon). Why, you ask? Ah, that is a good question, but requires a look way back to 2004....

After my husband finished law school in '04 he moved back to LA to clerk for a year. We got engaged the summer before he started clerking, so by the time September rolled around, we (well, really me, but whatevs) were knee-deep in wedding planning and pinching our pennies for all the upcoming festivities over the next year. On top of that, I chose not to move in with him for the year we were engaged (too long of a story for this post), but instead made frequent trips back and forth between our two apartments: mine in Redondo and his in Beverly Hills.

We knew before he started his clerkship that he was going to be working for an amazing judge, but one that demanded a lot of time. "A lot" wound up being 7 days a week, 10-14 hours a day for the entire year. Yup, you read that right. I think I can count on 2 hands how many completely free days he had that year. Granted, it was all worth it in the end, but it was grueling while he was going through it.

To help alleviate some of the strain, I started to play "good wife" before we had made it official and fell into a habit of sending him to the office with breakfast, lunch and dinner all prepped and ready to pop in the microwave whenever he finally got a spare second to eat. Since I couldn't help him do the work, at least I could make sure he was properly fed. I mean really though, that was about the extent of the help I could provide.

Skip ahead to Valentine's Day. We promised not to spend much on each other because of the upcoming honeymoon and other wedding expenses. No problem. I got him I think a new coffee mug and a DVD or something and called it a day. That night, we did take out from Cheesecake Factory for dinner and he swung by to pick me so I could go with him to get the food. I get in the car and start chatting away. He then says that maybe I should look under the blanket on the floor. And there is a small little box with a pink ipod mini inside.

What? Why? We said we weren't going to get anything big for each other! And there is a silly little coffee mug and some stupid DVD back at the apartment for him ... and that is it. Ack!

He tells me to just wait a second and explains that he really wanted to let me know how much he appreciated the fact that I was sending him with food everyday, keeping his apartment somewhat organized and basically being so understanding of the crazy schedule he was keeping. And just wanted to say thank you for everything. Hence, the adorable little pink ipod that was now sitting in my lap. Best. Gift. Ever. (okay, maybe the e-ring was better, but just barely)

Since that night, my little pink ipod has been with me everywhere. It accompanies me to the office, on flights, to the gym, in the car... you name it, and my ipod is there. I love it not just because it is an ipod---because let's be honest, they are just inherently cute---but because of what my specific ipod means to me and the reason for which I came to own it. So even though I think all the newer, smaller and more colorful models are cute and sassy, I don't have any plans to upgrade mine. Instead, I'm just hoping my little gal holds on for at least a few more years.