Descent into the Cult

I've been meaning to share my disappointment with the world at large that the formerly enjoyable running blog of Little Miss Runner Pants has turned into a bit of a snooze-worthy recitation of accomplishments in the cultish world of Crossfit. Of course, moments after posting this, I visit said blog to see what's been posted lately, and what do I see but two non-crossfit-centric items... so perhaps I should withold judgement and see if LMRP can redeem herself.

Yeasty

Have been in quite a whirl of breadmaking since my new bread machine arrived a week or two ago. The biggest challenge is adjusting recipes to the high altitude conditions here in the eastern sierra, but I've successfully made a loaf of white bread, a loaf of cinnamon raisin (same recipe, but with cinnamon and raisin folded in - nyum) and today a freakin enormous loaf of wholewheat bread. I think next time I will divide into two smaller loaves as (ahem) the recipe suggested, which may help with the evenness of the cooking.

I also attempted to make a multigrain loaf last week entirely in the bread machine, based on a recipe in the usually reliable Pie in the Sky but it didn't rise well (maybe not enough water) so was more of a multigrain brick....but we ate it anyway :)

Fueled by all this yeasty goodness, I ran 10 miles at Casa Diablo last Sunday, with no walk breaks as before, and the extended trail loop in Mammoth (5 miles), and managed to make one express and one yoga class at the gym. Today I'm waiting for it to cool down a little, then perhaps a wee jaunt up the pole road to round out the miles this week to 20.

In other news, while enjoying my regular dose of Jogblog, I recklessly said I would participate in Juneathon (exercise every day, and blog about it, for 30 days in June. There is a winner, determined by some hazily defined criteria, but mostly I just want to see if I can get out there every day and do something.

Catchup

I have been shamed into updating my blog by the ever diligent Lazy Bitch, who apparently is not so lazy about maintaining her blog.

Things have been modest on the training and exercise front, with several alternate recreational pursuits conspiring to waylay my long runs over the past couple of weeks. That said, I've managed to get in a few midweek runs, including a lunchtime 5.5 mi. up in Mammoth, and some treadmill plods with SPEED INTERVALS, god help me.

And also, visits from family, two downhill ski days (now that I can take advantage of my low price 2010 MVP pass at Mammoth Mountain during the end of the season) and a 10 mile canyon hike in Death Valley last weekend. Also being quite diligent about the Monday/Wednesday circuit training (as my increasingly buff arms attest) -though it makes it hard to motivate for a Tuesday or Thursday run on the days thereafter.

My friend Laura's successful finish of the London Marathon made me think again about signing up for one...but that means actually committing to a training program, not shirking the long runs, etc. etc. Perhaps it's the way to increase my consistency though, which I think is the major shortfall in the running program right now.

Anyway, gotta go, because my cinnamon-raisin loaf is about to come out of the oven!