Post #40 Mini Rant on Speed Shaming, plus some other stuff

Fitness

Today is the 2 year anniversary of when I started using a FitBit. The FitBit company sent me a Happy Anniversary E-card. I kind of wish they had also included some statistics on how the past two years have gone; how maybe days I hit my step count, how many miles I have logged, or at least my average daily step count. Regardless, two years of tracking my fitness with the FitBit.

In August, I will mark three years since I started running. I started the ZenLab's Couch to 5k app in mid August 2016. I don't use the ZenLab apps anymore, but they were very helpful for the first two years of my running journey.

I did a ten mile run on Saturday, and then Michael and I went to breakfast at a DC institution - Jimmy T's. I love it, they only take cash, but I love it, and I hope Michael and I can start going there regularly, maybe once a month or so. While we were there, there was some guy sitting behind me talking down about someone who did a 5k at 13+ min/mile pace. I was about to attack him!

I would never speed shame another runner, even if it is only a 5k. I do a little passive distance shaming, but speed shaming is something I cannot stand for. I finished my first marathon with at 17+ min/mile average pace. Sure I have come a LONG way since that March finish in Little Rock, but I am still a run/walker, and I truly believe if I can do it anyone can.

When it comes to running, I like to believe the only person I am competing against is myself. I am getting faster, and I can't compare myself to anyone else. I also need to keep in mind that my progress can be gradual. I am not going to wake up one morning and pound out a sub 30 minute 5k, that isn't me.

For me, my run:walk 1:1 pace is exactly what works. You know what else works for me, chicken and beer as my meal the night before a long run. Two weeks ago my 10 miler was only 5 miles long, this past week I had chicken and 4 beers the night before and my 10 miler left me feeling really good. I have another 10 miler this weekend.

My monthly 18 miler will be on the 22nd. I need to make sure I get out early for that one. I am flying to Santa Fe, NM the night of the 22nd - my flight leaves at 8 pm. I am looking forward to running in Santa Fe again, it will be interesting to see how I do in comparison to last year.

As of yesterday I weighed in at 144 pounds, I ate a bunch of candy today so I am not particularly happy with myself; old habits die hard.

Makeup

As of today I have used up $710.68 worth of product, that is 143 items. I have only purchased $220.41 worth of beauty products, this includes three shampoos and 3 conditioners that I will have purchased before the end of the year (I did "subscribe & save" on Amazon).

Post #39: Another long hiatus

Today is May 24, 2019, my last post was on June 1, 2018. It has been almost a year.

Erie Canal Half (5/19/19)

At one point I was pretty good about blogging fairly regularly. There is a part of me that wants to get back to that. Not for any useful reason, but I think blogging about my running, my makeup, and my career can be interesting to random people, or my future self.

Updates since my last post, using the last post as an outline:

I said I would try to be more consistent at blogging. Since it has been 8 days short of one year since I last posted I am gonna say that I failed miserably at that. Maybe I will do better this year.

Step Count

I did not make it to 100 days in a row with hitting my 10,000 steps per day. I made it over 50 days, but then failed. For the year of 2019, I have hit my 10,000 steps per day everyday except for (pause for counting) 16 days. That is 16 days out of 143 days I did NOT hit 10,000+ steps. I am pretty proud of myself for that.

Houston Half (1/20/19)

Running

I have also been running a lot more. I ran the Boilermaker 15k last July. I did the Houston Half Marathon in January. I did the Marine Corps 17.75k in March. Just this past Sunday I ran the Erie Canal Half Marathon. I run daily and actually feel pretty terrible when I don't run. I am training for the Marine Corp Marathon (Oct 27). I expect the majority of posts over the next 5 months will be about my marathon training.

Fitness/Health

I am also 40 pounds lighter than I was when I last posted. My last weigh in was at 147 pounds. For those of you doing the math, I am officially a healthy BMI. I am loving it, and I have lost enough weight where I have actually had to do a wardrobe refresh. I have spent over $200 in the past month or so on new clothes.

Wardrobe Refresh

Makeup

I stopped tracking my makeup use up and purchases last year, but I have been doing it this year. As of today I have used up (pause to check spreadsheet) $623.98 worth of product, that is 124 items. I have only purchased $137.65 worth of beauty products (44 items - 18 of which are eyeshadows in a palette), this includes face wash and hair care items too. I was able to resist the temptation of the Sephora VIB sale.

 Work/Career

The Boyfriend and Me at a baseball game

I am still trudging through the life that is Graduate School. More on that as information becomes available.

Other

Now for something completely different: I have a boyfriend, he is wonderful!

Well, back to writing and working on a presentation for my next conference. 

Post #26: Marathon Training v. Suzanne Point Oh

I registered for the 16th Annual Little Rock Marathon at 9:24 EDT on August 1st. Technically, I registered for the Marathon/5k combo. I was lucky enough to get ten percent off the price too, because I had signed up for the training program.

The theme is Medieval, and to reveal that they did a cute video that was Monty Python themed. A lot of people were confused or upset about the theme, poo on them!! I loved the video and I am super excited for the theme. Thank you to the Chicks in Charge #CIC for loving what they do and having fun with it!!

I started the "ramp up to training" training on August 7th. The ramp up training is particularly for first timers, and people who are not at the point of running/walking/crawling 6 miles. I specify running/walking/crawling because from now on when I say running, I am channeling Hobbit, and I mean all it: running/walking/crawling, getting through the milage. I would love to be able to run all the way through all of my training runs, but all I am gonna focus on is getting through the milage. The actual training started on September 18th.

09/08/17 Update: My 3 mi build up training run yesterday (9/7) I ran the whole 3 miles, no walking, at a 13 min per mile pace.

10/19/17 Update: As I have already mentioned, I am using the marathon training program provided by the Little Rock Marathon. The focus of the training program is mileage, not time. Sure it is going to take me 5+ hours to finish my 20 miler on February 10th, but you know what I am gonna do it.

Things I need when I go for my long runs (> 6 miles):
1. Water
2. Running GU(s) (1 for 10/12/14 milers, 2 for 16/18 milers, 3 for 20 miler, and 4 for my marathon)
3. Sweatband/sweat towel
4. Lip balm

10/23/17 Update: One year ago today, I finished the ZenLab's Couch to 5k training program. If you had asked me on that day if I would ever run a marathon, I would have laughed in your face. I never intended on running a marathon. It wasn't until June (after I started listening to podcasts regularly), that I stumbled upon the Not Real Runners Podcast and after 5 weeks of listening I decided 'Why not?' It was them talking about the Little Rock Marathon in the first episode 34 (the one from July 11th) that put it in my mind that I wanted to complete a marathon.

I use the run/walk method for my weekend long runs. I don't have a nifty watch that tells me when to run and when to walk so I rely on the ZenLabs Marathon Trainer app. In the app it has daily training prompts, including short runs (45 - 60 minutes), cross training sessions, rest days, and long runs. The long run days are the only ones I use. In particular, I am using Week 11 Day 6 for runs less than 11 miles and Week 20 Day 7 for all above 11 miles. Week 11 does 23 repetitions of run 4 mins, walk 2 minutes. Week 20 does 52 repetitions of run 4 mins, walk 1 minute.

5k Costume?

As of now, 4 ish months before my Marathon weekend, I am thinking of doing a plague skeleton for my 5k costume and a Monty Python Spanish Inquisition themed outfit for my Marathon 'costume' (red shirt, red bottoms, running with a cross, and the hat).

Clif Energy Gel Reviews: I got the multi pack from Amazon so I could try out a bunch of different flavors. (1) Chocolate Cherry w/caffeine: 10/22, not bad, but a little too heavy on the chocolate taste, could have used more cherry flavor. But to be fair, I am not a chocolate fan.

Marathon Costume?

Post #17: Run Suzanne, run!

I am going to run a marathon!

So contrary to what I wrote in Post #13, and then again in Post #15, I have decided to run a marathon. The decision was thanks to a podcast I listen to: Not Real Runners. The two hosts have made running a marathon seem accessible, and after episode #34 I decided. So, as soon as the registration for the Little Rock Marathon opens up, I am registering. I think having this goal will help me stay on track with my running.

As of right now I have a couple goals in mind:
1. Finish the 10k Trainer by ZenLabs by the end of October
2. Pick up with the Marathon Trainer, also by ZenLabs, after completing the 10k Trainer
3. Take at least 57,000 steps on one day per week from now until March (when the marathon is)

After completing that first goal, I am going to go and get myself a real pair of running shoes, getting them fitted and everything, that I use just for running.

I worked on my vision board for this plan over the weekend, and I am almost done with it. The only thing that is missing is the marathon theme. The race directors have not released the theme yet. This is important because it will be the theme my costume is based on. When it comes to my vision board half of the content is the training for the marathon itself, and the other half is brainstorming my run costume.

A back of the envelope calculation, with running 3 miles/walking 1 mile, has me finishing 26.2 miles in 5 hours, 38 minutes, and 24 seconds - which is a 13 mile/minute pace, totally realistic - I think.

Post #15 Making up for lost time

Updates!

Sewing

I have still been doing a bit of trial and error when it comes to getting better at sewing. Since my last sewing post I made another circle skirt and a simple dress, both in the same fabric. The fabric I used is a black and white, tribal print pattern. I saw it at Joann's and I wanted it. It is a thick, knit fabric, aka it is stretchy, but not prone to runs like the navy blue knit fabric I used for my first dress (post #11). The circle skirt was only one piece, so a true circle skirt, that all I had to do was add the elastic waist band and secure the hem. I am pretty pleased with it. and it is one of three skirts I wear on a regular basis. (I have only worn my first skirt once). The dress is also a big hit, I am consistently getting complements on it.

Day 32 Lorac Alter Ego Celebrity and the dress I made

Makeup Artistry

I have not done any movie makeup looks since my Alien/Sea creature, but I did start a Pan Project on June 28th (Post #16). That is gonna be a big improvement because I was able to declutter some makeup that was dried up and was a waste of space. I also found that I have some darker foundations and powders that will look better with my summer skin (I managed to get a tan somehow). I am also currently partaking in a 100 days of lipstick (Post #17), which I will post about once it is all over, I am 30 days away. If you haven't seen pictures, you must not be following me on Instagram (neon8919). It is on Instagram that I am keeping track of what I look like in each lipstick. I am also writing down all the lipsticks in a little notebook, which is a helpful way to keep my life organized. 

Running

I restarted the Marathon Trainer for a third time, I am on week number 4, GEM kind of derailed my progress, but the hope is that I will be able to keep it up and get to a point where I can run without the Trainer. As I have said before, and I will say again, I am not intending to run a marathon any time soon, but I would like to be able to run a 10k (~6 miles), that would be awesome. 

Physics

June was a month of travel: the 2nd MMS community workshop (in Boulder, CO) at the beginning of the month, and then GEM 2017 (in Portsmouth, VA) the third week. I am one of the GEM Student Representatives so that kept me busy leading up to, and into, the meeting. 

This summer I have two things that need to get done:

(1) My paper - which I have been working on, but it is not in a completed stage yet...

(2) My thesis proposal - I will be turning it in at the beginning of the Fall semester, so as soon as my paper is done my efforts will be turned to coming up with my title. The title cannot be changed from the one I submit in the Fall, this means it has to be broad enough, because I don't know what results I might get, and it must be narrow enough to still be a PhD title. 

Post #14 *blows off dust* May

I've been MIA. Things got disorganized.

Tomorrow is a fresh start, albeit it is not the first of a month, and it is not the start of a week, but I know I have been slacking with stuff I want to make happen in my life. One good night sleep, followed by an early morning tomorrow.

Eleven days before I leave for Boulder (I have a MMS meeting there). I want to take care of a few things before leaving. I'm going to get through 11 more days of the Marathon Trainer. I am going to read a bunch of relevant papers, I am going to come to a conclusion about my research so I can finish writing my paper and send it to coauthors, I am going to use Memorial Day weekend to see a dress or two and do a makeup look or two. All these things just to kickstart myself back to productivity in all aspects of my life.

Post #9 January Summary - February Goals

Motivation

I was sick at the beginning of January, and unfortunately had to take a number of days away from the office. In my recovery I popped a number of Halls cough drops (they are my favorite cough drop). Recently, Halls has included 'a pep talk in every drop' on the wrappers of each drop, so I would like to write out a couple here:

1. Turn "can do" into "can did!"

2. You got it in you.

3. Don't wait to get started.

4. Tough is your middle name. 

Stuff I finished this month:

1. A circle skirt (to be revealed in the February sewing blog)

2. Three makeup looks (Post #8)

3. Chapter 1 in Gurnett and Bhattacharjee

4. A first & second working draft of my first first-author paper

5. A first working draft of my thesis proposal

6. Weeks 9 and 10 in the C210k Trainer = 34.15 miles

Stuff I am hoping to finish in February:

1. Sew my first dress (will also be in the February sewing blog)
2. An alien makeup inspired by a deep sea creature

3. Chapter 2 of Gurnett and Bhattacharjee

4. Submit my first first-author paper

5. Have my thesis proposal mostly done.
6. Finish the C210k Trainer

Overall January was pretty productive, there is room for improvement, as always. February might be a short month but I am going to make it a good one. (I even rearranged my 6 goals for February to match the categories of stuff I finished in January, yay organization!!)

Post #4 Well... At least I am writing something

Fact: I am procrastinating.

GT: I have plenty of material to write my first first-author paper. No more discovery necessary.

I was about to Google "tricks to sit down and write". I would predict that the first tip would be:

#1 Get off the internet and start writing!

I am not going to search for that list though. I am going to write here and hope that just the act of writing something, anything, gets me motivated to work on my paper. I have started it. I wrote up a very rough draft of the previous work. That was written over a month ago though. My outline looks great (Fig. 1). I have even listed the authors and written up some of the reference I know I will be citing. 

Fig. 1 My outline

So looking at the list, I know I know all of it. I've gone as far as to think that I should use voice to text, just so I can get it out of my head and on to paper. Once I do that all that is left is editing, albeit A LOT of editing, but hey, that is what my coauthors are for.

Fact: This isn't helping.

PTM: I will get this done, and by this time next week I will laugh at myself and this blog, because I will have successfully written a working draft of my first first-author paper. 

GT: The weather has continued to be fall like, which is AWESOME!! 

I have been not only making good progress (at least research and education related progress) at work, I am nearly finished with my Halloween costume. Seeing as it took me >2 weeks to write this post after Post #3, Post #5 will include a picture of me in my costume. I am excited about it, and I have high hopes that people are going to like it (Fig. 2). 

Fig. 2 Not Telling

I suppose I should also put in a follow up to my follow up from Post #3: At this point, 13:31 EDT 10-14-16, I have completed the runs up to, and including, Week 7 Day 1 of C25K by Zen Labs. Wednesday's run was a 5-min warm up walk, followed by 25 minutes of running, no walking!! I had moments of doubt before and during, but I did it. I am also 5 runs away from completing the 8 week program. So...

PTM: Post #5 will also include a follow up to this follow up, saying that I graduated the Couch to 5k running program. 

Fact: I run for health, not weightloss, to be clear, this isn't a physical transformation blog.

FPI is still wowing the scientists as we progress through Phase 1B. I haven't picked any new data yet, but it is still early. I won't get nervous until mid-November. Though, even if I do get nervous, you won't read it. This is a positive thinking blog! 

Positivity in, Positivity out.

Post #3 You is kind. You is smart. You is important.

Fact: I am smart.

Yes, it may not be grammatically correct (though that could be said for some of my blog posts) but it is certainly a good message. For those of you who don't know, the title is from the book The Help. It is a good quote to recall when I am feeling down. Here I am, four years into my graduate school career, thinking how I got here. 

Fig. 1 Al had it right.

PTM: I got here because I am smart! 

I was eating lunch with a classmate and we both agreed that in physics graduate school you shouldn't waste time thinking you are not smart. I should not waste time thinking I am not smart, I got this far. I passed my comprehensive exams. I am smart! 

I have to work a bit harder because my plasma knowledge was non existent a year and a half ago; plus I am not as math savvy as some of my peers. I am working though.

PTM: I will get there. 

Fig. 2

In other news, in roughly three hours the MMS team will be able to look at the first FPI data for Phase 1B. I am excited about it because I am on the hunt for more events that are like the ones I have already been working on, but better and actually get them down off the spacecraft in burst mode. Below (Fig. 3) is an example of one of my events. 

Fact: I am only a year and four months into my research.

SubFact: I have only been doing active research since January.

So far I know that these cooler ion beams that you can see clearly on the left and right sides of the bottom plot are not often looked at. As of now they don't appear to be located near a reconnection site, or at least not near enough for the majority of plasma scientists to care. I care. I care because these ions are looking to have origins at the earth. A couple questions arise with this, 1) How did they end up out near the magnetopause if they are from the earth's upper atmosphere? 2) Once out at the magnetopause are they effecting their surroundings? There are more questions but these two are a good start.

Fig. 3 Fast (4.5 s) vs. Burst (150 ms) data from MMS

GT: It appears to be officially Fall in the DC metro area (Fig. 4). As a follow up to last post's GT, I am done with Week 4 of c25k and will be starting Week 5 tonight! 

Fig. 4 Temperature-wise anyway

Post #2 Direction: Moving Forward

Fact: I have just begun my fifth year of Graduate School.

Graduate school implies that I am working on my dissertation. Until this week I hadn't really given it serious thought. I always believed I wouldn't have control over the research I was doing (Fig. 1). This comic was released during my senior year of undergrad, maybe this was it that gave me the idea.

Fig. 1 #truth

Now I have started a working list of research questions I want to answer. With MMS, I am working the presence of lower energy ions that once were located in the Earth's upper atmosphere, but by one mechanism or another made their was to the magnetopause. My interests have been varied since I started my research career, but something that has been consistently dangled in front of my nose, but I have not taken part in, Space Weather research.

PTM: I have my chance, with my research questions.

Fig. 2 Less Dramatic

Do ionospheric ions effect space weather? (and, if so) How?

PTM: I will be able to answer these questions.

GT: Work was on the productive side last week.

1) Caught up on September's Housekeeping.

2) Actually had a meeting with my Advisor [two actually!!]. 

3) Made a plan for what to work on, moving forward.

GT: I have been working through a Couch to 5k app, I just finished week three, and I am about to start week four (Fig. 2).

PTM: 5 weeks from now I will be able to run a 5k without stopping.

This point of all research is so exciting. The literature search; where each paper brings you closer and closer to the answer. Now the question... the question is one of two. One - "Who has the answer?" The literature search may prove that my research questions have already been answered. OR Two- "Will I have to answer the question?" It may be my turn to learn something new and write a paper on it.

Fig. 3 Research Thoughts