Rants and Raves

RAVE:

I have three things to rave about this week:

1. I watched a man offer his seat on Metro to a mom and her kid. This occurred one stop after another rider offered a seat to me. (Just because.) I declined -- I actually prefer to stand when I ride -- but it was so very refreshing to see kindness among fellow commuters.

2. 2 new shoes mean my hips aren't bothering me any more!
Never ever again let me put 1,000+ miles on a pair of running shoes. I'm a veteran runner. You'd think I'd know better. But somehow all those miles I walked while pregnant didn't seem like "shoe miles."

3. 3 mother runners + 4 miles = 1 gorgeous run completed before 8am!

... a few more runs like this and I might actually feel like a "real" runner again.


RANT:

I hate the idea that I'm not a "real" runner right now.

I am a firm believer that anyone who runs is a runner. I tell that to other people - and believe it - all the time.
But somehow, when it's me, I can't keep the same perspective.

Rants & Raves

RANT

A friend of mine recently asked on Facebook, in a none-too-pleased way, "Why do people at the gym insist on standing right in front of the weight rack when they're lifting?"

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This morning, I ran into one of these inconsiderate creatures.

The lifter combined the worst of free weights etiquette: grunting his rep counts out loud AND blocking the weight rack while he did it.

There's a giant weight lifting area. Why would anyone choose the exact space in front of the weight rack? Is it so hard to take a couple of steps back? Do these people realize they're blocking others from getting a different size weight, or is it just benign negligence?

Also, while I don't love loud lifters, I can understand an occasional grunt on the last rep of a hard set... but grunting with every rep?

Ungh...four-uh! Ungh...five-uh! Ungh... six-uh!

Um. Dude. You sound like a rutting donkey, and by counting out loud, you're messing up my rep counts.

To his credit, at least he re-racked his weights when he finished...


RAVE

I cannot get the new Calvin Harris & Florence Welch song "Sweet Nothing" out of my head.

Like a sixteen year old girl, I've had it playing on continuous repeat for more than a week...


What are you ranting and raving about this week?

Rant & Rave

RANT
(Alt. title: Leave my clock alone!)

Springing forward.

Oh, how I hate the twice-yearly time change foolishness.

Mornings are finally light enough that waking up at 6 a.m. seems reasonable. Yet some genius decided we have to turn our clocks back this weekend. The fact that the time changes throw off everyone's internal clock (and leads to an increase in car accidents the day after the spring time shift) doesn't seem to be sufficient reason to get rid of this antiquated clock-changing rubbish.

(I should take bets on how many of my students will miss class on Monday morning...)


RAVE
(Alt. title: Kid does good.)

From Yosemite National Park...

"The rangers that answer the phone and mail in our public information office receive a lot of letters, but this might be one of the best in recent years."

What are you ranting and raving about this week?

Rants & Raves

RANT

BP sucks.

This week testimony began in the trial to determine whether BP was somewhat negligent or grossly negligent in the lead-up to the Deepwater Horizon oil spill that befouled the Gulf of Mexico and continues to affect the coastline.

There is no question as to whether or not BP is guilty - they already plead guilty to 14 counts of criminal misconduct. The question, now, is what restitution they will be required to pay to the affected communities

Early testimony is uncovering some pretty damning evidence that while BP had a safety plan, they did not actually implement the safety requirements at the Macondo well...

This story hits close to home because these are my beaches we're talking about.

How could anyone do anything to spoil these beaches?

And if you think the oil is gone, you're sadly mistaken. (Though BP's marketing campaign would have you believe otherwise...)

On Sunday, at the end of my 4 mile walk on the beach, I had a souvenir from my trek: a sticky clot of tar lodged itself on my foot. After 20 minutes of scrubbing, I finally removed most of the nasty goo, but no amount of scrubbing erases the disgust I feel about how often this happens.

Every time the surf is up - whether from a storm or just a swell - more tar is washed onto the beach. Clumps of tar, from tiny droplets, to manhole-cover-sized chunks, wash up and litter the shore. Workers pick them up, weaving between beach-goers as they do, but no matter how many workers go out with nets and trash bags, the tar balls keep coming.

Last year my nephew was diving for seashells, and pulled up a fist-sized tar ball. The "put that down, honey, it's toxic" conversation is not one I wanted to have with a 9-year-old. And I'm bloody tired of getting gooey feet...

Yes, folks, this saga is not yet over...


RAVE

As runners, we've all done our fair share of dodging cars.

Sadly, a few of my friends have not dodged quickly enough and have been struck by reckless drivers (when they shouldn't have to dodge in the first place). Some have walked away with minor scrapes and bruises, some with more serious injuries...

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Given the danger of a person vs. vehicle crash (The vehicle always wins. Always.), wouldn't it be nice if we had a superhero to protect us from reckless or distracted drivers?

In Mexico City, which allegedly has the world's worst record for pedestrian safety (an average of one pedestrian death each day, according to The Atlantic Cities), one man has taken the issue of pedestrian safety into his own (superhero) hands.

Dressed as a luchador (a wrestler in the Mexican tradition of Lucha Libre), Jorge Cáñez and his superhero colleagues...

"get out into the street and physically block cars that are infringing on pedestrian space, paint crosswalks where they are lacking, give speeches about pedestrian rights, and clear sidewalks of obstructions so that people on foot can pass through. The reception, he says, is good -- because he always stays positive."

Bravo Jorge! (...or should I call you Peatónito?)

What are you ranting and raving about this week?

Rants & Raves

RANT
(Alt. title: Cover that cough!)

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Last Saturday night, Hubby and I went to see a theater production of Servant of Two Masters. The performance, a 3-hour marathon of slapstick comedy, mistaken identities, and other hijinx, was marred by the person sitting immediately behind me.

This person, we'll call him Patient 0 (like they would in an epidemiology investigation) decided to show up to the theater with a cold. He sniffed and sneezed his way through the first act, and by the finale he was coughing -- mouth uncovered -- over my head.

I was so disgusted that I took my scarf and wrapped it around my face. I'm sure faux pashmina doesn't stop germs, but I was hoping Patient 0 would take the hint.

No such luck.

Next time I'll carry a bottle of disinfectant spray and spray it at him between acts...


RAVE
(Alt. title: Another one bites the dust!)

At last weekend's Millrose Games, a total of 7 (SEVEN!!!) records fell. Competitor magazine writes:

"In a span of nearly 85 minutes at the Millrose Games on Saturday night at The Armory, a total of seven records were broken in the distance disciplines, making for one of the most memorable renditions of the meet in its 106-year history. Five of seven evening races measuring 600m and up saw either an American, junior, collegiate, or meet record go, causing the capacity crowd to stand on their feet for a majority of the evening session."

Among the record-setters:

• Mary Cain broke her own record (this time she didn't have to take the SATs before the meet)
• Edward Cheserek broke the 2 mile high school mile record
• Bernard Lagat ran 2 miles in 8:09.49
• Alysia Montano set the record in women's 600 meters
• Underdog Erik Sowinski set the men's 600 meter record
• Chris O’Hare set the collegiate mile record
• and last, but not least, Doc Patton set the 60 meter record

That sort of speed is motivation for any runner, no?

... and I've got a couple of other stories rave about this week.


What are you ranting and raving about this week?

Rants & Raves

RANT

$178 for a yoga sweater that doubles as a meditation blanket?

$995 for yoga sweat pants?!

#$%@#$%

I'm so disgusted by the idea of paying a month's rent for a pair of sweatpants that I'm not even sure where to begin this rant...

What I will say is that clearly these people have missed the entire point of yoga... Yoga is a practice of non-attachment. It is about observing your current situation and being ok with things as they are.

Yoga can also be an excellent form of exercise, both physical and mental. But no matter what yoga means to you, what you wear is of little, if any, importance.

From Yoga Journal...

A couple of years ago, when I had just returned to Yoga Journal after six months of traveling to ashrams and holy sites in India, I got a call from a writer for Mirabella magazine who was researching a fashion spread on exercise wear.

"I was wondering" she said, "what is the traditional outfit for doing yoga?"

I thought of the naked yogis I had seen on the banks of the Ganges, their skin smeared with ashes from the cremation pyre to remind themselves of the body's impermanence, their foreheads painted with the insignia of Shiva, the god of destruction. I couldn't resist.

"Well, traditionally, you would carry a trident and cover your body with the ashes of the dead," I told her.

There was a long pause, during which I could practically hear her thinking, "This will never fly with the Beauty Editor." Finally I took pity on her. "But alternatively," I said, "a leotard and tights will work just fine."

Naked, or covered in ashes, or in spandex, or in your pajamas... Whatever you wear, yoga is most certainly not about acquiring material possessions or showing off your wealth.

The silver lining in this story is that very few people were willing to pay $178 for a yoga sweater. So now it's on clearance...

Now on the Clearance rack

RAVE

High school runner Mary Cain finished her SATs then shattered the all-time high school mile record with a pace of 4:32.78 - a pace 6 seconds faster than the previous indoor mile record and more than 2 seconds faster than the outdoor mile record!

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But she wasn't done yet...

For her encore Cain went on to finish third place overall in the 2 mile race, with time (9:38.68) that crushed the prior high school track record by more than 17 seconds.

Coached by Alberto Salazar, it looks like Cain's running future is bright.

I hope she also nailed the SATs...

What are you ranting or raving about this week?

Rants & Raves

RANT

We are running a race, not a fashion show.

Earlier this week I received an email from a running group. The email explained when, where, and how the group would meet up before an upcoming race. (Seems innocent enough, right?) The instructions:

arrive wearing your team jersey AND lipstick
(capitals included in the original.)

A similar pre-race email last year suggested that women should have a little respect and put on lipstick before a race.

My head nearly exploded.*

Don't get me wrong... I have no problem with whatever you want to wear to a race. I don't care if you run shirtless or in long sleeves and leggings. I don't care if you wear lipstick that matches your shoes or show up with bed-head. I don't care if you run in decades-old clothes, a hula skirt, an Elvis costume, or dressed as a fairy princess. (In fact, I sort of love running Elvii...)

And more power to you if you can find waterproof mascara that doesn't run faster than you do.

But don't you dare tell me (or anyone else) that I am doing something wrong by not wearing makeup on race morning.

I'm here to run. Not to preen.

As fellow runners, we should support one another in our athletic accomplishments, not belittle people for their appearance.

No amount of makeup covers bad manners or poor sportsmanship.

(*Time to un-subscribe from that running group! And in case you're wondering why I didn't un-subscribe earlier, I thought the first jab was just a joke. Clearly I was mistaken...)


RAVE

Lest you think the rant, above, is anti-makeup... (It's not. It's anti-peer pressure and shaming.)

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This week I'm raving about the new "strength" collection from MAC cosmetics. Specifically, I'm impressed by the non-traditional model they feature in their ads.

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Bodybuilder Jelena Abbou flexes her muscles proudly in the campaign's iconic poster.
This advertisement is a refreshing break from the stereotypically slim model and Photoshop horrors.

Bravo, MAC!


So, tell me, what are you ranting or raving about this week?

Mascara wand image from LeCosmetique, graphic design edits made by yours truly.

Rants & Raves

RANT

The things you see when you haven't got a baseball bat...

On Monday I was wrapping up a tempo run when I pack of hoodlums sped toward me in their car, blaring their horn. When they were close enough to make eye contact, the punk in the passenger seat threw the remnants of his lunch out the window at me.

I'm not even sure how to describe how pissed off I was. I was close enough to home to call the police soon after the incident, but the cops did not find the car. The kids will get away with their prank, fluffing themselves up with pride for terrorizing a defenseless woman.

I don't like to think of myself as defenseless.

But on that day, in that situation, no other word fits. What was I going to do?

Chase them down?

Even on my best day, I couldn't keep up with a car traveling at 35 miles per hour. And if I could catch the car, what then? Remember, I wasn't running with a baseball bat, and pepper spray is hardly effective against plate glass windows and steel. Even calling the police felt vaguely useless.

The feeling of frustration I have at not being able to retaliate or defend myself is, by far, the worst part of the whole incident. (Luckily I was not physically hurt by the flying debris -- just suffered a case of wounded pride and had my faith in my neighbors shaken.)

What I want to do is get the perpetrators cited for littering and harassment. (Or, let's be honest, find their car parked in a dark parking lot and smash out the headlights.)

What will happen is...

...absolutely nothing.

And that's what makes me furious.


RAVE

After my misadventures on Monday, I needed a dose of relaxation. You know: good ol' fashioned brain candy.

A friend recommended the books in Deanna Raybourn's "Silent" mystery series featuring the character Lady Julia Gray.

Witty without requiring deep philosophical thought, Raybourn's historical murder mysteries are definite page-turners. I've been staying up way past my bedtime to read "just one more chapter." These books were the perfect antidote to my foul mood.

I started with Silent in the Grave and am working my way on to Silent in the Sanctuary.

Can't put 'em down.

(Speaking of which, it's time for me to stop blogging and go back to reading. Lady Julia Grey just got called back to London from her holiday in Italy... Must. Find. Out. What. Happens. Next.)


So, tell me, what are you ranting or raving about this week?
What book are you reading right now?

Rants & Raves (rave)

This week's rant would destroy even the strongest appetite, so today I've split Rants & Raves into separate posts to protect the squeamish...

RAVE

Chinese takeout.

I was at work until 9pm. Hubby planned to cook dinner. (I even used my lunch break to buy groceries so he'd have something to cook.) But then he also got stuck working late. We both pulled into the driveway, famished, at nearly 10pm.

Fortunately there's Chinese takeout.

It's neither Chinese.

Nor healthy.

But after a 10+ hour workday the fried chicken wings, stir-fried broccoli in spicy sauce, and moo-shu pork were the most delicious meal I'd ever eaten. (Sort of like how ramen noodles taste AH-MAY-ZING when eaten beside a campfire after a long day of hiking, or how donuts are the most delicious thing on the planet when eaten after a marathon, and I don't even like donuts...)

So, tell me, what are you ranting or raving about this week?

Rants & Raves (rant)

RANT

I've had it up-to-here with dog sh**.

On Sunday I went on a long run that included long stretches of grassy trail and park. What would have been an otherwise pleasant and relaxing run was marred by piles of dog poop littering the route.



Since dogs can't pick up their own waste, I blame the owners, not the canines.

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And there wasn't just one pile left behind by a hapless dog owner who had run out of plastic baggies. There were dozens.

Dozens of mounds of dog sh**.

For a full mile of the route, rather than focus on my stride, I had to focus on landing without stepping on a land mine of poo. Poo can transmit tapeworm, roundworm, salmonella, giardia (and the list goes on), not to mention that I just don't want it on my shoes.

I was angry enough that I started designing "Please pick up your poo." posters in my head. (What can I say, ranting doesn't solve anything. A good, pro-active response does.)

Plain and simple: Dog poo is a health hazard. (Not to mention disgusting...)
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The next day, running a different route, disaster struck.

I went out for a run at dusk.

Sunset means less visibility. And apparently I stepped in an invisible pile of poo, which squished up around the sole of my shoe onto the fabric and hitched a ride all the way home.

Because it was dark, I didn't notice the contamination until I turned on the light in the entryway where I take off my shoes. By then, it was too late. The area rug at the front door was a goner.

The string of obscenities that came tumbling out of my mouth would have made a trucker blush.

If only I knew who the culprit was... I'd show up at their front door to deliver a plate of cookies. While wearing the not-washed shoes. I'd grind my feet into their carpet. And leave a delightful extra present behind in their front hall. On their rug.

Apparently I'm not the only one who feels this way...
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Maybe then, next time, they'd scoop the poop.


Click here for this week's rave.

(Posted separately to protect the squeamish... Somehow talking about food right after talking about poo seems to be in poor taste.)

So, tell me, what are you ranting or raving about this week?

Rants & Raves

RANT

The winter cover of Women's Health magazine claims that with an "8-hour diet" you can

"Eat Anything (Yes, Anything!) and Still Drop Pounds - Fast."

Riiiight... Because fad dieting sounds like sane, healthy advice. *sarcasm quota fulfilled for the week*

This headline is so ridiculous I'm not even sure it merits the energy required for a rant... I will, however, suggest that the editors should rethink the name of the magazine. Perhaps "Media Delusions" might be more appropriate?


RAVE

For EMZ's 36th birthday, she ran 36 miles.

Yes, that's pretty spectacular.

But ...

...it's the 36 random acts of kindness that deserve a rave review.
(My favorite? Anonymous gift cards tucked into random books at the local library. It makes me smile just to think that some unsuspecting reader will get a little surprise gift.)


What are you ranting about or raving about this week?