Greetings from New Mexico

Hola!  I am currently sitting in a little internet cafe here in the Land of Enchantment, reading a few blogs and answering 20 questions from Andrew.  Here are a few of his ridiculous questions....you'll know why I needed to take a little break after you read these questions I ponder from him:

- how to work on a consistent routine to get psyched up for running
- picking music to run with (when is it good / when is it bad)
- how much do levels of testosterone and estrogen matter if you are a runner
- how much does stride, strike rate, and foot plant matter to speed, endurance, and energy conservation
- how much does a coach help in improving your running?
- how can you judge what is achievable?
- are there test runs you can do to tell you what level of fitness you are at and how much work you need to do to get where you want to go
- what can we expect are the fitness losses as we age

Yeah....I know....

The Rio Grand River

 

Anyway, I've been down here a few days and am so ready to go back home.  Tomorrow.  Yay!  I actually managed to get out for a little run along the Rio Grande River the past two days.  Yesterday's 5 were brutal -  turns out this little exercise program (click HERE to find out what I'm doing) that one Mr. Kova suggested I try the other day, left me unbelievably sore for THREE DAYS, and all I could crank out with my sorer than sore glutes were 5 slow miles.  Actually, I felt better as I progressed, but decided that I'd be better off trying to get a few more out today (today as 6 miles...which left me so frustrated).  I'll talk more about that workout next week, but just know, in case you are foolish enough to try it and not in very good condition anymore, it'll KICK YOUR BUTT!!!   Well, maybe just mine.

 
(ok, sorry for the crazy highlighting, I'm about ready to scream at blogger!!!)

Anyway....

After a little jaunt along the Rio, the boys and I made our way the National Museum of Nuclear Science and History (aka: museum for total science nerds - right up my alley!!).  Actually, the museum wasn't too bad - for about the first 20 minutes, and I kinda got into the Marie Curie (10 bonus points for the first one who can tell me why she's famous!!  THINK back to elementary school science class....I know this was a long time for many *ahem* aside from me), but after that I about fell asleep during the exhibit.  Until .... I spotted this puppy....

....back in the 40's, this machine was in shoe stores and you put your feetsies in this box and then pressed this button and instantly, you were given an x-ray picture of the bones in your foot.  Apparently, the shoe store dude knew what type of shoes to get you....but whatever....HELLO!!!!!   I was practically in tears - this little device could give me the diagnosis to my HEEL issuse!!  I begged the nice 90-year old question-and-answers man, who was just a simple volunteer at the museum, if he'd fix it so it'd actually work again.  I'm not asking a lot am I??  Here I am, with the machine that can actually give me a clue to my mystery heel pain and I'm not sure why, but he thought I was a little strange and continued on to some more sane people with sane questions about nuclear bombs.  So I tried to look excited about the Fat Boy and Little Boy bombs (yawn), as I had to leave my little machine behind.  Rest assured, I'm scouring ebay when I get home for said little machine - I don't really care how harmful this piece of equipment was due to extreme radiation exposure ... very small minor detail.

B52 - it's humongous.  Those are my boys standing there

Today we made our way for a little hike and exploring the Cinder Cone volcanic remnants, east of the city of Albuquerque.  We've always had a great time over here (remember, science geek girl here) and despite being blown all over the place due to high winds,we still had fun.

Inside a little cave located in one of the volcanoes

So my kiddos are sitting here glaring at me so it's time to close and get them fed and get our stuff packed up so we can get back to Colorado tomorrow.  Sorry in advance for the typos, I don't have time to proof-read.  I, for one, am very anxious to get back home and get back to some sort of exercise routine - I have eaten way too much food and spent way too much time sitting (it's a long car ride...) - I love to travel, but there's no place like home....

...but stay tuned for a post later this week, a little treat you could WIN!!!  Win??  From me???  Yep, that's right!!  And it's a doozie, unlike anything ever seen in blog world, something from the Land of Enchantment. 



Until then....  Happy Miles!!  Can't wait to catch up with all when I get back.