Wednesday, October 27, 2010

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.


44 comments:

All Things Jaime said...

New Mexico ... I drove through there once - that's about all! It's a good thing I don't have your email b/c I would be filling up your inbox with even more questions!! :)

That machine is crazy ... very interesting!

Kate Geisen said...

Ohh Ohh! She discovered radium!! And I think later died of cancer? ...now back to finish reading your blog. Lol

Teamarcia said...

Nice fall break!
I don't think I've ever been to NM.
Marie Curie=Radium in my book.

Happy Feet 26.2 said...

Great pic in the cave - so cute! Looks like you guys had a great time all sciency and stuff :)

This summer I ran 7 miles @ Rio Grande Valley STate Park @ Tingley Beach, and I ran 9 miles on the trail at Tramway Blvd. in ABQ, near the Sandia Crest Tramway - nice! Loved it!

Welcome Home Jill!

Matthew Bradford said...

I've really enjoyed New Mexico when I've spent time there; also the home of such infamous science feats as the Manhattan Project deserves a trip to the museum!

Your routines as a family sound pretty awesome and I hope that I can expose my baby to similar ones when he comes in February.

Thanks for the updates, Jill!

Emz said...

How I love the "in the cave photo" - awesome.

Damn Kovas - he knows all the great hard runs [that he's never personally run]. ;)

Like NM but isn't "land of enchantment" a wee bit of a stretch?! ;)

Aimee said...

I've never actually "been" to New Mexico, just driven through it. But, I've heard that Santa Fe is beautiful!
I like the pic of you and your boys in the cave! It sounds like you had a fun time, but I know what you mean about how there's no place like home. Have a safe trip back!

Anne said...

Sounds like a nice trip overall...hope you're feeling better and not so stiff :) I wish there was some way for you to get that x-ray...would it be super expensive to go private? Just curious...

ajh said...

Love the picture of you on that machine! I knew right where you were going with that one. Sounds like some fun time with your boys! What a great picture!

Andrew Opala said...

X-raying your feet!!!!! LOL

Love the pictures ... and from those questions you can't tell that I'm going on 46 could you!

I'm just a wannabe - what can I say.

Oh there are four more questions for runners here.

Julie said...

I am so jealous that you got to take the boys for MEA!!! We sat home and did nothing! The land of enchantment was one of the states that I was not able to make it to when I was a flight attendant. I have heard it is a great place to visit. Very cool picture the three of you in the cave:)

I am pretty sure that you charmed the socks off of that 90 year old man:) You probably made his whole day!

Have a safe trip home! Hugs!

Tara said...

Ohhhh, so THAT is the sparticus workout you were telling me about. Hmmmm, Liz always puts something similar on my schedule and I always ignore it. Wonder why I am injured......

Looks like you are having a lot of fun, but I would have given anything if that DAMN machine had been working so you could see what the hell was wrong with your foot!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Anyway, have a safe trip home tomorrow!

Tara said...

That last post was from me BTW, logged in to the wrong gmail account. Finally trying to get caught up on all the blogs!

Anonymous said...

fun in new mexico! madame curie = radioactivity. i'm pretty sure she won the noble prize for it too.

Running and living said...

I've always wanted to go there! Jealous! Enjoy the time with the boys:)

C2Iowa said...

radioactivity

Unknown said...

It sounds like you had a fun trip! I loved the questions from Andrew, you better get busy researching some of those answers!!
Have a safe trip home!

C2Iowa said...

Safe travels home. Looks like you guys had a great trip.

Kenley said...

Ha, looks like you are having a blast. Back in 95 I was stationed there at Clovis NM, Cannon AFB. We called NM the Land of Entrapment. lol. Hope your training is going super stellar. You are looking great btw.

Karen R said...

"The land of enchantment" - it sounds so fairytale-ish. And yet, when I think of a fairytale, the state of New Mexico doesn't spring to mind right away :)

Looks like you are having a good time though! Enjoy!

The Boring Runner said...

Nice!! That museum is right up my alley too!

Chris K said...

OMG, Andrew CRACKS ME UP. I'm surprised he didn't ask you what's the meaning of life. If it'll make you feel any better, I don't think that X-ray machine would help. Now, if they had a little MRI machine in those old shoe stores.

HappyTrails said...

Awesome - New Mexico has so much to see! Glad you got away with the kiddos for a bit and enjoyed some down time. Welcome back home!

Molly said...

hmmmm, I may have to try that scary Spartacus workout, I'm already getting sick of my Jillian Michaels/Jackie Warner workouts.....love the pic of you guys in the cave!!

Anonymous said...

Love the photo!

I want to know why every shoe store doesn't have that machine still!!!

Marlene said...

Sounds like fun, but I am always ready to get home too. Have a safe return trip!

Christi said...

Sounds like you had a great time! I can't wait to hear what the little prize might be!

ShutUpandRun said...

Is it a meteor?

KovasP said...

Since you are fit again and running and in NM, I'd suggest hopping over to AZ to do the RimToRimToRim run - I'm sure EMZ would be happy to accompany you. I hope the giveaway is what we talked about!

RunToTheFinish said...

I have never been to NM, but it looks beautiful and I want to go!

great questions to really think through too!

Shellyrm ~ just a country runner said...

Love the photo of you and the boys!

Everyone already answered your pop quiz. that's what happens when you are behinding in commenting on blogs.

Great to see you having fun! I'm going to go check out the workout link now.

elaine said...

You are so cute staring into that x-ray contraption foot machine/thinger! I can totally relate to you being totally sidetracked by it

Glenn Jones said...

What a cool trip! I've spent little time in NM - Framington - up by the Navajo Nation. I once drive from Albequerque to Farmington - a beautiful drive. I thought that New Mexico was going to be barren desert. Wow. Was I suprised!

DRog said...

Great pics!
and totally LOL @ the Xray!!!

Hope you are well
have a great weekend

I have no idea how you made it thru 5 year old twins:)

D

Irene said...

NM is beautiful this time of year! Enjoy!

misszippy said...

Darnit on the x-ray machine! ; )

Sounds like fun little getaway. Enjoy your return home.

LMC said...

Jill, that workout is crazy hard!! Not that I tried it, just looking at the pix for each of the 10 stations made me hurt!

Sounds like you had a good trip to NM. Hope you had a safe trip back home. Also, hope your heel is improving somehow!

Jamie said...

Looks like it was a fun time in NM! Hope you are enjoying home now and back in the swing of things :)

Petraruns said...

Oh you teaser! I want those answers! Sounds like you had a great trip and do you know what I haven't even DARED look at that workout. It will be TOO hard for me..

Christy said...

Great pics!

Christina said...

I like caves! Love the pictures. Looks like y'all had a good time.

Anonymous said...

Science, sounds fun! Wish I hadn't skipped that class. Bubbles

The Green Girl said...

Looks like you've got the traveling bug, too, my friend.

The Rio Grande looks amazing - I'd love to run there someday.

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