Running Journey

Snow Day

Nickie and I stayed home today to take a snow day.  We were out briefly yesterday and were looking for chains for our car.  Chains are required on all Portland vehicles even if they are 4-wheel drive.  Either they were sold out or the tire store wasn't even open.  It was a mess out there.  I spent 30 years in MN and I can say that the snow and ice this week in Portland has been brutal!  Portland is breaking 40 year snowfall records.  The roads don't get cleared very well here and it's a lot more hilly, etc than in MN.  That creates a big mess.  The side roads aren't even plowed.   Cars are stuck everywhere.  Public transit is running behind and somewhat limited.

When I called in to work I knew I'd have to take an unpaid day off since the office wasn't officially closed.  Well.. The office IS closed now.  At least one person went into work and couldn't even get into our parking lot so turned around and went home.

Tomorrow we are supposed to drive to CA for what would be a 10 hour drive.  With the snow in OR it could take us 15.  Yikes!!  I just heard on the news that we've had 14 inches of snow so far in December.

Anyway...

Happy Holidays and Merry Christmas to you all!
Jessica

Lack of Blogging

My blogging lately has equaled the level of my running which so far this week has been = zero.  I'm hoping to get out for a run tomorrow though.  I had the intention of running last night until we got home and the temp was in the low 40's with about 10mph wind gusts.  Brrr!  Not used to that.

Not much else has been going on aside from Twin Peaks planning which keeps me busy.  Last night we went to Pioneer Square downtown for an annual Winter Ale Festival.  I didn't drink too much but it was a fun night out and a different experience for sure!

Happy Running & Dirty Feet,
Jessica

Verizon "One Bill" Service is a NIGHTMARE!!

About 2 months ago when we set up our Internet on Verizon FIOS, I asked about bundling my verizon cell phone together with verizon FIOS on one bill.  Well... I talk to 3-4 different people on 2 different phone calls and spent 1.5 hours before finally getting my services bundled together.  I was then informed that I would be auto-billed for this service because "it had to work that way", and I could change it at a later date.

Since then, I have talk to about 15 different people on a bout 10 different phone calls, taking up HOURS of my life trying to get this all sorted out.

Last night I finally got them to send me a paper bill (I think) but I'm not holding my breath.  Getting them to send me copies of my previous two months bills is proving to be impossible.

For a communications company they sure can't communicate worth crap.  First, every division might as well be a different company.  They don't seem to have access to each others data.  At one point someone told me how one-bill supposedly works:  The One Bill department (company?) gets your wireless and FIOS bill (or whatever combination) then they bill you for the combined bill and pay off your other bills separately.  Sound convoluted?  It gets worse!

Who do you call for one bill?  If you call wireless they can't help you because they can't access your FIOS bill.  If you call FIOS they can't access your wireless bill. If you call Verizon Residential they can't help because you don' thave a Verizon home phone.  What happens when you call One Bill?  They tell you to talk to residential.

Last night I finally got someone in One Bill who said he would send me a paper copy of my bill going forward.  He then said he would email me my last two months bills which he did.  I checked after the phone call only to discover that what he emailed me was a link to the Verizon Residential site where I could look up my bill.  Only problem is I don't have (and can't get) access to that site.

Seriously???  Why can't there be one site where I log in and look at my bills?  Why can't there be one number to call?  Why do they sometimes have to tell you to hang up and call a different number becuase they can't even transfer you to a different "department"?  Verizon One Bill is a joke.  I'm starting to think Verizon is a joke.  How can a company seriously function when it is so inept??

I dare you.. Do a Google search on "Verizon one bill is a nightmare" and see how many results you come up with.  If you are thinking about One Bill - Don't do it!!!

Jessica

6 Random Things

Tagged by Neece!

1. I want to run a Grand Canyon R2R2R in the next year or two
2. I don't like salmon jerky
3. I went to school for Broadcasting, want to make it as a filmmaker, and work in Information Security
4. I designed a house once that got built but I never lived in it
5. I think Skinny jeans look stupid (sorry - they just do)
6. I don't really know how to swim

That's about it.  Not tagging anyone but feel free to play along :)

My Picture Friday

Here are some pictures of me running in the newly open Whiting Ranch  (taken by Dave).  I like the first one because it makes me look fast.  Notice I'm holding my  Nokia N82 in my right hand.  If only they had a sport strap for that thing...

And here's one of our future soccer star:

Getting ready for a Bulldog Training run this Sunday.  We're doing 1 loop of the course (25K).  There's about 6 of us so far.   If anyone wants to join us - let me know!

Happy Running & Dirty Feet,
Jessica

What's the difference?

USATF is a governing body over many road, trail and ultra races in the US.  Personally I'm not a big fan of too many sanctions on sporting events, especially when road sanctions get applied to trail events (can we say no headphones policy?).  The USATF has a recently added category called "MUT" which stands for Mountain/Ultra/Trail.  But what's the difference?  See below:

Mountain Running
Any running race with extreme amounts of climbing or climbing and descending – generally more than 300’ per mile.  While most mountain races are held on trails, there are many – generally hill climbs – held on steep mountain roads.  The oldest and most prestigious of which is the Mt. Washington Road Race in Pinkham Notch, New Hampshire.  First held in 1936, this classic mountain race climbs 4200’ in 7.6 miles (www.mountwashingtonroadrace.com).  While mountain races can be any distance, the World Mountain Running Championships are generally 9k in length for women and 12k for men.   

Ultra Running
Races longer than a marathon (26.2 miles) are considered ultra-marathons, or “ultras”.  Ultra races can be any length over 26.2 miles, but many have been standardized at 50k, 50 miles, 100k, 100 miles or 24 hours.  Ultra races are held on both on and off road as well as on flat, hilly or even mountainous terrain.  One of the most famous ultra races is the Western States Endurance Run (100 miles) held in the Serria Nevada mountains of California (www.ws100.com).

Trail Running
As the name suggests, “trail running” races are held off-road.  There are many long trail races that could also be considered ultra races.  Likewise, there are many very hilly trail races that could be considered mountain races.  While there is no specific world championship in trail running, this sport is growing in popularity and is enjoyed by both elite runners and the occasional “jogger”.

My Princess

The season finale of Scrubs was last night.  One of the few shows I still watch.  I thought it was pretty creative but probably would have worked better as a 1 hour season finale like they are doing with The Office next week.  And season finale??  It seems like the show just started up again.  Darn writer's strike.

NBC Sports put out a list of the best female athletes.  Missing from the list is a runner or a gymnast.  Included in the list is a power player and bowler.  Go figure...

Tomorrow is my race.  I might eat Advil for breakfast.  I know it's supposed to be bad for running but I think that's just with the longer distance running and I should be okay for a 14 miler.  I like this race and I'm looking forward to it.  I think my sub 3 hour is in reach if I don't have an off day or my back doesn't interfere.

I'm sure I'll run into some familiar faces at the race though many faces I know will be running the PCT50 in San Diego.  Good luck to you all who are racing this weekend & Happy Early Mother's Day to all you moms out there.

Happy Running & Dirty Feet,
Jessica

My Map My Run

Had a good weekend in Laughlin.  More on that with pictures later!

I started using a new site to track my run data.  I've been a fan of BreakingtheTape but switched to Map My Run because it pretty much offers all the same features (at least what I need) plus it has options to map runs (it uses a mapping tool that is like Gmap-Pedometer but seems a bit better).  I have a profile here with the runs I've mapped so far (including a possible alternate Twin Peaks 50K course).  I plan to map all the runs I do eventually.

I also like the fact that I can export data which is nice because I can that have my own archive of it and I can manipulate it how I see fit if I want.  It does a feed of my recent workouts.  It doesn't currently have a widget or script to automaticaly update numbers on my site though and that's kind of a bummer.

I'm in Tahoe for sure.  I got an email back from the RD.  Training starts in earnest this week.  The race is just under 100 days away.  In addition to ramping up my miles and my hill training, I need to lose some weight.  I've been feeling it and if the scale I stepped on this past weekend is even close to accurate I'm hoping to lose about 10 pounds before race day which equates to about 1 pound per 10 days.

Happy Running & Dirty Feet,
Jessica

My Slow Week

It's been a slow posting and slow running week.  I'm looking forward to a 12 mile run with OCTR Saturday morning and a 5-7 miler with OCTR on Sunday.  It's also my birthday weekend so I'm looking forward to some fun with a small group of friends bowling and eating on Saturday and hanging out with Nickie on Sunday.  The weekend should make up for my slow week this week :) 

I was in Santa Barbara for the "last" time Tuesday night.  Now that Nickie is down in OC - no more commuting to Santa Barbara!  I'm sure we'll be up there to visit and will be back for sure in November for Nine Trails.

That's about it.  I need to run.  I'm gaining weight and feeling out of shape for upcoming races.  Most notably 33 miles in the beginning of June and my 50 mile plan for the end of July.  Run Jessica run.

Happy Running & Dirty Feet,
Jessica

The Joke's on Them

Don't miss out!  I have a super secret promo code good for 40% off one item at Atalanta Athleticwear, makers of my favorite running skirt.

Use the promo code "SpringBonus" at checkout.  Valid today (April 1st) only. 

Enjoy!
Jessica