February 2005 Archives

Wow, I am a super-flaky fitness blogger. It looks like I haven't done anything, and yet I have!

Last week, I went to martial arts Tuesday and Wednesday, and then had belt testing on Thursday which was pretty intense. Then I sat around like a big old slug for F/S/S (was going to run with Amy on Sunday but it rained, boo hiss).

Today, I'm back to running! I can't go to martial arts tonight so I ran 2 miles and I'm happy to report that it was *fun*. No, really! Fun. Not terribly fast but I'll take it... I want to try to start getting in a run every other day regardless of martial arts. Especially in this season of Girl Scout cookies, it is very important!

Wow, I am a super-flaky fitness blogger. It looks like I haven't done anything, and yet I have!

Last week, I went to martial arts Tuesday and Wednesday, and then had belt testing on Thursday which was pretty intense. Then I sat around like a big old slug for F/S/S (was going to run with Amy on Sunday but it rained, boo hiss).

Today, I'm back to running! I can't go to martial arts tonight so I ran 2 miles and I'm happy to report that it was *fun*. No, really! Fun. Not terribly fast but I'll take it... I want to try to start getting in a run every other day regardless of martial arts. Especially in this season of Girl Scout cookies, it is very important!

Wow, I am a super-flaky fitness blogger. It looks like I haven't done anything, and yet I have!

Last week, I went to martial arts Tuesday and Wednesday, and then had belt testing on Thursday which was pretty intense. Then I sat around like a big old slug for F/S/S (was going to run with Amy on Sunday but it rained, boo hiss).

Today, I'm back to running! I can't go to martial arts tonight so I ran 2 miles and I'm happy to report that it was *fun*. No, really! Fun. Not terribly fast but I'll take it... I want to try to start getting in a run every other day regardless of martial arts. Especially in this season of Girl Scout cookies, it is very important!

I would hope that with a long weekend I'd get lots of time to knit. Hah! I seem to have contracted an annoying cold so I had lots of time to sleep, instead. Oh well. I did get my hair straightened on Thursday, it's pretty darned cute now. You can see my previous funky hair in this fabulously flattering picture from the race pics on my fitness blog. And another with it nice and straight:

... which makes me happy. Yes, I am aware that some people use "blow dryers" and other new age equipment to make their hair behave in this way, but I do not have time for this kind of nonsense. It's a lucky day when my hair meets a brush on the way out the door. So this hairstyle is great for me.

I swore to Michelle that I would not post a picture of my sock before turning the heel. I lied. Man, there are a *lot* of rows of stockinette. I know you're all on the edge of your seats hoping to see the tubey top of a sock, so I won't disappoint my adoring fans. Look, I even photographed it at a jaunty angle to conceal the dullness of the progress...

Next time you see it, it will have a shaped heel!

Moving on... my next project (which may sneak in before I'm done with my socks) will be with this luscious yarn:

It's Fiesta Yarns, 100% Silk Chenille, in the Poppies colorway. I got it for $20 at Stitches West. Had no idea what a great score it was until I looked it up when I got home - it goes for $40/skein normally... It feels even more fabulous than it looks.

Anyhow, what does one *do* with a $20 hank of yarn? Well, actually, I plan to do something very silly with it. Since my friend has some stitches on her head, I'm going to knit her a silk hairstyle that she can wear when she wants, until her hair grows in. It should feel and look fabulous. I'll be sure to take pictures of it before gifting it to her.

Short run yesterday - ran 2 miles on the treadmill and discovered that at 4.5 mph my legs get tired before my heart rate goes above 165. This is very cool, because that's what I've been looking for. No, 4.5 mph is not very fast. But now I can start really training my *legs* instead of having my workout completely driven by heartrate. A very nice thing indeed!

Martial arts tonight, no running to speak of.

Measurements! I promised measurements. I have updated them in my sidebar (start/current). My waist has not shrunk, darnit. But my hips, which were annoying me greatly, have. And my arm is a bit more dainty, that's kinda nice. And I lost 5.5 pounds during the month which is also pretty groovy.

Tomorrow my hair will go from the wacky mess you see in the pictures on the previous entry to a smooth and flat wonderland. Can't wait!

Short run yesterday - ran 2 miles on the treadmill and discovered that at 4.5 mph my legs get tired before my heart rate goes above 165. This is very cool, because that's what I've been looking for. No, 4.5 mph is not very fast. But now I can start really training my *legs* instead of having my workout completely driven by heartrate. A very nice thing indeed!

Martial arts tonight, no running to speak of.

Measurements! I promised measurements. I have updated them in my sidebar (start/current). My waist has not shrunk, darnit. But my hips, which were annoying me greatly, have. And my arm is a bit more dainty, that's kinda nice. And I lost 5.5 pounds during the month which is also pretty groovy.

Tomorrow my hair will go from the wacky mess you see in the pictures on the previous entry to a smooth and flat wonderland. Can't wait!

Short run yesterday - ran 2 miles on the treadmill and discovered that at 4.5 mph my legs get tired before my heart rate goes above 165. This is very cool, because that's what I've been looking for. No, 4.5 mph is not very fast. But now I can start really training my *legs* instead of having my workout completely driven by heartrate. A very nice thing indeed!

Martial arts tonight, no running to speak of.

Measurements! I promised measurements. I have updated them in my sidebar (start/current). My waist has not shrunk, darnit. But my hips, which were annoying me greatly, have. And my arm is a bit more dainty, that's kinda nice. And I lost 5.5 pounds during the month which is also pretty groovy.

Tomorrow my hair will go from the wacky mess you see in the pictures on the previous entry to a smooth and flat wonderland. Can't wait!

Odds and Ends #1: I fear I have been a horribly ungrateful Secret Pal recipient. When I detailed the niftiness that was my Secret Pal Package I neglected possibly the coolest thing - some adorable stitch markers made, I believe, from earrings. She even mentioned them in her helpful note but being the airhead I am, I missed the mention entirely and didn't see the markers until I dove into the candy this morning:

Aren't those cool? Thanks again, SP! And especially thanks for not saying something like *Ahem*, did you actually read my note?

Odds and Ends #2: A couple of months ago I taught my friend (the one in the ICU) to knit. She promptly started on a scarf but found herself short yarn to make the length she wanted. She intended to get herself another ball, but I wasn't sure if she'd succeeded, so while I was on my whirlwind Yarn Tour I got another ball for her. She'll be getting better enough to need some entertainment soon, I have faith:

Socks: OK, this time for sure. I have cast on for these socks 6 times. First, I used some Bamboo DPN's with Lorna's Laces. After 3 tries, I was unable to create anything but a fuzzy amorphous blob. I did what any good knitter would do. I blamed the splittiness of Lorna's Laces and the snagginess of the Bamboo DPNs. So I got some more sock yarn and DPNs (see Sunday's post for the gory details) and cast on my lovely Lantern Moon DPNs with Lana Grossa yarn and a new pattern. Not splitty, not snaggy. And yet it took me *3* more tries to get something remotely resembling a rib for the top. I felt so fumbly and klutzy trying to wrangle the triangle. But I think I'm getting the hang of it! Look, it even looks kinda socky!

I am aware that I have yet to get to the fun heel turn but please don't harsh my buzz right now. The ribs look ribby, the stripes are cute, I have finally made some progress on the Sock. I am no longer a SockTard. I now have 6 inches of fascinating stockinette stitch before the next exciting section of the sock. Perfect timing, too, we have Desperate Housewives on the Tivo!

My friend is still slowly improving, but I've nonetheless been in a pretty deep funk despite my best efforts to the contrary (how can someone stay funky at Stitches? But, I was still gloomy in my heart.

In this kind of state, what is the best thing to cheer me up? I know, I know, candy! No wait, maybe yarn. Hmm... candy, yarn... hard to choose. Both are good, sweetness for the inside, snuggliness for the outside.

So what did my excellent SP4 Secret Pal send me? (yes, I know, I am a Secret Pal Harlot. So sue me :-)

Look! Candy *and* stash enhancement. Noro yarn! And more sock yarn - goes to show how well my Secret Pal has been following along. There will soon be a sock post which doesn't feature a picture of me tearing my hair out. I'm actually starting to enjoy this porcupine wrestling. Sort of.

Thank you so much, Secret Pal! It's all great stuff. I love the Noro, and can't wait to knit something with it.

My friend Lyssa called me the Lion of Willpower, referring to my behavior while we were at Stitches West on Sunday. Methinks she might be engaging in a tiny bit of sarcasm. I started off well enough, petting (but not buying) the irresistable Lobster Pot cashmere and Honey Hill Alpaca, along with all the other fabulously soft and expensive yarns. Oh, no, I don't need more yarn. I'm good! I have many projects to do, and the yarn to do them with. I bought enough stuff when I was here Friday, I don't need to buy anything today. Really.

But flashing in the back of my head was this image of Michelle sitting on my couch and casting on for her Clapotis. I had a little whispering voice stuck in my head like a song you can't shake... "Clapotis, clapotis, clapotis" the whole time I was wandering the aisles of the marketplace. There were these wonderful colorways at the Hand Jive booth. I love the Nature's Palette yarn. I will own some soon. It would make a nice clapotis. But no! I am good! I do not. Need. More. Yarn. (clapotis, clapotis, clapotis) No, no, no!

We were almost through our first circuit, the marketplace was closing soon, so I went ahead and opened my wallet to buy some more roving. Yes, I know, I'm not very good at spinning yet. I am hoping I might get my friend to give me a lesson at spinning on a "real" wheel. Pretty harmless, one 4-oz ball of roving... well, maybe two. They're so pretty...

... once I opened my wallet, the floodgates were opened, but I still figured I was safe. After all, the marketplace closed in 15 minutes, how much trouble could I get in? Lyssa wanted to go check out some more of the cool needles near the Nature's Palette yarn so we headed back there... and on the way I happened to see some Koigu. In my favorite colors. For $11/skein. I wrested myself away and went over to pet the Nature's Palette. I found several colorways that I liked. But they were all *just* short of having enough for, you know, that project. (clapotis, clapotis, clapotis) I thought... well, I don't know what I thought. I suspect I was beyond conscious thought at that time. The Koigu was calling me, from 4 aisles away. I don't remember crossing those aisles but then there I was, standing in line, Koigu in hand.

Koigu. It's hip, it's now. It's happening. A Clapotis in Koigu, well, you can hardly get more trendy than that. I will be the coolest knitter in blogland.

Yup, tower of iron will, thy name is DomestiGirl!

On our last quick pass through, I noticed that Cat Bordhi was signing her books at the Knitters Studio booth. She is cool. Her books are cool. I had to get them because of the jester's bag (which you can also wear on your head!) I own them both now and they are both signed.

In one of her notes to me she said I had a great laugh. How could I not laugh after hearing the Mistress of Moebius telling me that the Fanny Basket was more properly named the Moebi-Ass (pictured here, lower left hand corner)

So maybe I'm not the Lion of Willpower. But I sure have some great new stuff! My Secret Pal sent me an excellent package but it deserves its own entry, so I'll do that one in the morning.

The pictures are finally up from the Santa Cruz Super Bowl 3k. As it turns out (from the results) I actually ran 12:47 miles which surpasses my expectations (it helps if you keep your expectations low, I suppose).

Anyhow, without further ado, I present pictures from the race...

My children:

My mom:

Me:

Me and Amy:

I've been doing well with martial arts, but won't have a class tomorrow so I'll use that day for a running workout (woo!). Looking forward to it. I sure wish the Ipod shuffle wasn't sold out everywhere. I reallyreallyreally want one!

I remember now that I promised measurements. I'll get those up tomorrow.

The pictures are finally up from the Santa Cruz Super Bowl 3k. As it turns out (from the results) I actually ran 12:47 miles which surpasses my expectations (it helps if you keep your expectations low, I suppose).

Anyhow, without further ado, I present pictures from the race...

My children:

My mom:

Me:

Me and Amy:

I've been doing well with martial arts, but won't have a class tomorrow so I'll use that day for a running workout (woo!). Looking forward to it. I sure wish the Ipod shuffle wasn't sold out everywhere. I reallyreallyreally want one!

I remember now that I promised measurements. I'll get those up tomorrow.

The pictures are finally up from the Santa Cruz Super Bowl 3k. As it turns out (from the results) I actually ran 12:47 miles which surpasses my expectations (it helps if you keep your expectations low, I suppose).

Anyhow, without further ado, I present pictures from the race...

My children:

My mom:

Me:

Me and Amy:

I've been doing well with martial arts, but won't have a class tomorrow so I'll use that day for a running workout (woo!). Looking forward to it. I sure wish the Ipod shuffle wasn't sold out everywhere. I reallyreallyreally want one!

I remember now that I promised measurements. I'll get those up tomorrow.

My friend is doing better, making small improvements in the ICU. It's heartening to hear this after she struggled so hard for 2-1/2 weeks. Her son got to go visit her today and that was very important. So a good day on that front.

On to knitting news...

First, I received a few cool surprises in the mail.

A couple of RAOKs - a beautiful card and calendar from Uli and some excellent valentine candy from a different Kirsten.

Many thanks to both of you, it's wonderful receiving surprises in the mail!

Also, I received my second package from my Knitty Secret Pal. I must have the worlds coolest and most psychic SP ever. Seriously. I came in from dinner at my favorite Thai restaurant to find this in the mail:

Her favorite cookbook, and it's beautiful - the pictures look phenomenal - I can't wait to try them. She also made me some adorable little knitted flower pins and sent along some flowery notecards - a very springy package to be sure. I am totally feeling spoiled now :-)

Now... if anyone had told me it was possible to hit knitting shopping overload, I would have scoffed at them, but I believe I may have finally found my limit.

First, a couple of weeks ago I won a contest here, my prize was a fabulous $40 gift certificate to the Yarn Market. Thrilled with my fabulous luck, I bought a couple of lantern moon storage accessories - a Silk Needle Case and a Silk & Seagrass Drawstring Box. Yes, I'm aware that the total is more than $40. But they go together. I could hardly buy one without the other.

Then, my friend Michelle flew up here to go with me to Stitches West. I took the day off work. A mental health day I was badly in need of. We headed over there yesterday to peruse the marketplace, which was packed even on Friday. We did one circuit, petted (but did not buy) lots of yarn, bought ourselves each a swift and ball winder, dropped them in the car and then came back in for a second round.

Let me digress a moment to remind you, gentle reader, of my current sock dilemma. I have to make a pair of socks for Sockapalooza. I will not fail to do so. I need to send it off within a month. A couple of weeks ago, I bought some Lorna's Laces and cast on in a vain attempt to just gut it out and make my very first pair on size 1 dpns. I used some bamboo dpns I had purchased for this purpose. Well, between myself, the snaggy bamboo needles and the splitty Lorna's Laces, I have had some major issues getting any progress made toward some reasonable socks. Deep Breath. OK, here I am at Stitches West. Surely there is something to be done here. I know, I'll buy a few new sock things and start again. A couple of books, maybe... and some yarn, and then of course some DPNs. In a few different sizes. Just in case.

Let's take a closer look at that spiffy Lantern Moon box, shall we?

Looks kind of magical, doesn't it? All that yarn, all those needles. Not just any needles. Lantern Moon needles. In 1,2,3,4 and 6. Surely I will be able to make a usable pair of socks now. I'm sure I didn't overbuy. Heck, I need socks. Lots of socks. There's so much magical Lantern Moon Energy going on there, Michelle suggested that perhaps I should just put all of the needles and yarn together in the silky case, pull the drawstring, and let the socks knit themselves. Strangely, this doesn't seem to be working. Yet. I've got a couple more weeks, maybe I should give it a little longer, or sacrifice a goat or something.

What else did we do at Stitches? Here's a conversation we had:
Michelle: I want to try spinning! They'll give you a lesson at this booth for only $5.
Me: OK, go ahead, I'll wait
Michelle: No, you should try! I'll pay $5 for your lesson and for mine. C'mon, it'll be fun.
Me: No. I Do Not Need Another New Hobby.
(need I remind everyone that Michelle is to blame for my knitting obsession?)
As you can see from this picture, I stood firm in my convictions:

Or maybe not. The roving is totally beautiful though. And as you can see I'm doing a fair to middling job of the whole spinning thing.

Today we went on a whirlwind tour of Northern California knitting shops. We went to (in order): Fengari,Knitter's Studio,Uncommon Threads,Knitting Arts, The Golden Fleece, and The Yarn Place. I scored some cool Noro Lily in emerald green at 40% off at Knitting Arts, and I'll use that to make myself a nice tank top for the summer. Michelle found some incredibly beautiful yarn to make her clapotis from, I may have to do that after I master the art of the sock!

Now, I am tired. I am completely sated. I have tucked my new Lantern Moon needles safely away in their case, consolidated my new goodies into a few innocuous looking bags so it's not too scary for my husband, and I'm ready to settle in for a long evening of sock knitting.

My first entry into the Sugar High Fridays. I went ahead and used the freezer pastry dough because as I recall Jacques Torres said it was just fine to do. So here it is. Frankly, it's a little oozier than I would have liked, I probably should have cooked it for longer but I was tired of stirring - sabayon takes some serious arm strength! Still, it tasted great and the raspberries really set off the sabayon nicely.

Freezer pastry shells, 1 pkg
Raspberries, 1 cup

Sabayon Filling:
8 egg yolks
1/2 cup sugar
4 Tbsp Marsala Wine
4 Tbsp Lemon zest
2 tsp Lemon oil
2 Tbsp Lemon juice

1. Pre-cook the cups as described on the package
2. Mix together lemon zest and sugar
3. Add sugar mixture to egg yolks and whisk till 'sunny' yellow
4. Add lemon oil
4. Over double boiler, heat mixture whisking constantly until mixture thickens
5. Drizzle marsala in a little at a time to thin
6. Heat and thicken sabayon over double boiler again
7. Let stand 2 minutes. Set up cups
8. Fill cups with sabayon, let set for 5 minutes
9. Cover with raspberries and powdered sugar or whipped cream

My first entry into the Sugar High Fridays. I went ahead and used the freezer pastry dough because as I recall Jacques Torres said it was just fine to do. So here it is. Frankly, it's a little oozier than I would have liked, I probably should have cooked it for longer but I was tired of stirring - sabayon takes some serious arm strength! Still, it tasted great and the raspberries really set off the sabayon nicely.

Freezer pastry shells, 1 pkg
Raspberries, 1 cup

Sabayon Filling:
8 egg yolks
1/2 cup sugar
4 Tbsp Marsala Wine
4 Tbsp Lemon zest
2 tsp Lemon oil
2 Tbsp Lemon juice

1. Pre-cook the cups as described on the package
2. Mix together lemon zest and sugar
3. Add sugar mixture to egg yolks and whisk till 'sunny' yellow
4. Add lemon oil
4. Over double boiler, heat mixture whisking constantly until mixture thickens
5. Drizzle marsala in a little at a time to thin
6. Heat and thicken sabayon over double boiler again
7. Let stand 2 minutes. Set up cups
8. Fill cups with sabayon, let set for 5 minutes
9. Cover with raspberries and powdered sugar or whipped cream

I've been quiet but I *have* been working out! I went to martial arts Monday, Wednesday, Thursday which was great. I should run today but I'm taking the day off to be a complete flake. My friend is coming in today for the Stitches West convention, maybe we can get in a run tomorrow morning before we head over the hill, that would be great.

Looking forward to my Mental Health day today! I'll try to get in a couple of 2 mile runs over the weekend. That 12K is in a month, gotta be ready!

Looks like measurement weekend again, I'll update my numbers after I wrestle with the measuring tape. I *seem* smaller to me, but I may not be the most objective source around.

I've been quiet but I *have* been working out! I went to martial arts Monday, Wednesday, Thursday which was great. I should run today but I'm taking the day off to be a complete flake. My friend is coming in today for the Stitches West convention, maybe we can get in a run tomorrow morning before we head over the hill, that would be great.

Looking forward to my Mental Health day today! I'll try to get in a couple of 2 mile runs over the weekend. That 12K is in a month, gotta be ready!

Looks like measurement weekend again, I'll update my numbers after I wrestle with the measuring tape. I *seem* smaller to me, but I may not be the most objective source around.

I've been quiet but I *have* been working out! I went to martial arts Monday, Wednesday, Thursday which was great. I should run today but I'm taking the day off to be a complete flake. My friend is coming in today for the Stitches West convention, maybe we can get in a run tomorrow morning before we head over the hill, that would be great.

Looking forward to my Mental Health day today! I'll try to get in a couple of 2 mile runs over the weekend. That 12K is in a month, gotta be ready!

Looks like measurement weekend again, I'll update my numbers after I wrestle with the measuring tape. I *seem* smaller to me, but I may not be the most objective source around.

Yes, it's true. An entry without pictures. I'm too lazy to take a picture of the sea urchin of needles and thread that is my first sock attempt. Maybe tomorrow.

Tomorrow will be my mental health day. I have taken the day off and will flee from all responsibilities in my life. I plan to visit with my friend in the ICU at 10, then go pick up Michelle at the airport, then we'll head down to Stitches West for our first visit to the marketplace. I'm hoping for more needles because I only have about 50 of them. More Inox needles would be good. Especially for socks. And maybe a ball winder, and some books, and some yarn, and, and, and... well, you get the picture. I'll be sure to provide lots of pictorial evidence to taunt all of you who don't live around here.

My friend in the ICU has had a couple of better days in a row. She's not out of the woods yet but I'm grateful to be granted any kernels of hope to brighten in my heart and share with all those who love her via the updates. I'm looking forward to visiting with her tomorrow and telling her again how much we all want her to wake up and start bossing us around again.

Depending on how everything goes I may pick up the ingredients to make a recipe for the Sugar High Fridays on Is My Blog Burning (Puff Pastry Month!) I'd have to make it tomorrow, we'll see how the timing works out. What I have in mind should be yummy so let's hope I get the time to make it.

Anyhow, sorry. No pictures. Tomorrow there will be pictures. And more on Saturday. I promise.

Man, it's been a week since I updated my site. I feel like such a flake. My friend is still in the ICU at Stanford, and I got a chance to visit her yesterday. It was really nice to be able to see her and talk to her... I felt better having visited. I've been responsible for all the updates to her many supporters and it's been a very hard week. I had a cold early in the week so couldn't work out or visit my friend until yesterday... ugh. Not a good week.

On the plus side, I finished Sherbet:

Sherbet is the "Paula's Perfect Project" pattern from The Yarn Girls' Guide to Kid Knits. I used Tahki Chat, carried double to get the gauge and warmth I wanted. I learned a lot of new skills on this project - there is no single piece I did fewer than 2 times. But I'm very happy with it, it's super cute and it will look adorable on Kaily. It was a fast knit even with my obsessive frogging, all done on 13's and 11's. One reason I like the book so much is that it uses 'real' yarn instead of tiny fingering baby yarn. And still the sweater is nice looking and I think it will work out great.

In fitness news, oday I ran in a 3K race to kick off my racing season - it was very fun and I felt great - then came home to our super bowl party and had a bunch of yummy junk to eat. Just generally a good day all around. Even my previously sick kitty was in a good enough mood to play in his cat tree... I think the insulin dose we're using is just right for him, finally.

That's my Boy peeking around from behind the tree - Stormy usually doesn't want to play with him but today he thought it was fun.

It's been awfully hard getting back on the horse this week. My friend is still in the hospital, and I had an annoying cold. Wednesday I made it to martial arts, but I was much worse on Thursday so I took a few days off and then today I did the Santa Cruz Super Bowl 3K (I know, 3K, woo, but it was fun). I walked/ran and did it in 23:30, so about 13 minute miles. It's a start, I'm proud to have gotten out there.

My kids did the kids 1k and got ribbons:

My mom did the 3k with me (I don't have a pic of me running yet):

All in all, a fun race. The next race I'm planning is a 12K across the Golden Gate bridge on 3/20 so I'd better get cracking on the training!

It's been awfully hard getting back on the horse this week. My friend is still in the hospital, and I had an annoying cold. Wednesday I made it to martial arts, but I was much worse on Thursday so I took a few days off and then today I did the Santa Cruz Super Bowl 3K (I know, 3K, woo, but it was fun). I walked/ran and did it in 23:30, so about 13 minute miles. It's a start, I'm proud to have gotten out there.

My kids did the kids 1k and got ribbons:

My mom did the 3k with me (I don't have a pic of me running yet):

All in all, a fun race. The next race I'm planning is a 12K across the Golden Gate bridge on 3/20 so I'd better get cracking on the training!

It's been awfully hard getting back on the horse this week. My friend is still in the hospital, and I had an annoying cold. Wednesday I made it to martial arts, but I was much worse on Thursday so I took a few days off and then today I did the Santa Cruz Super Bowl 3K (I know, 3K, woo, but it was fun). I walked/ran and did it in 23:30, so about 13 minute miles. It's a start, I'm proud to have gotten out there.

My kids did the kids 1k and got ribbons:

My mom did the 3k with me (I don't have a pic of me running yet):

All in all, a fun race. The next race I'm planning is a 12K across the Golden Gate bridge on 3/20 so I'd better get cracking on the training!