When I first moved into the good ole West End, I always figured it was a sketchy area. I thought, I have dogs and I take precautions; it can't be that weird. Wrong.

Take, for example, the random guy carrying a shopping bag who asked me if I wanted to buy some lotion? Door-to-door traveling lotion salesmen? And today, some fat kid holding up a white handbag asked me if I wanted to buy a brand new baby phat purse. WTF??

I have lived in a lot of different neighborhoods, but I have NEVER seen strangers sell miscellaneous scrap on the street. Who does that???

I've been tagged by The Mother. These are the rules ~

Once you have been tagged, you have to write a blog with 10 weird, random things, facts or habits about yourself. At the end choose 5 people to be tagged, list their names and why you tagged them. Don't forget to leave a comment that says you are 'tagged' on their profile and tell them to read your latest blog.

Here they are in no particular order:

1. I can pull my shoulder blade out of its socket at will.

2. I cannot stand to be in a large crowd of people, the closeness really freaks me out.

3. I'm allergic to most raw fruits & veggies, though I can eat them after they've been cooked.

4. I have slept under my computer desk at college on more than one occasion.

5. I have gone 5 days and 4 nights without sleep.

6. My dog eats his back leg.

7. An old man once accosted me though the cops wouldn't charge him cause he was TOO OLD!!

8. A man asked me to have sex with him for $100 when I was on my way home from school one day.

9. My father was schizophrenic and a heroin addict.

10. I had a 10% chance of inheriting schizophrenia until I was 13 years old.

I now have to tag five new people. I choose Brittany, Tara, Debs, Andy and Leah. Why? Because I'm really nosy, that's why!!



Cough it up!

Well after slacking off for a week and a bit, decided to put foot to pavement and get back into gear. Sunday I stepped out for a 5-mile tempo run and felt fairly good. Yesterday, I was supposed to do intervals but I couldn't seem to unglue myself from the couch. I forced myself to get out there tonight and ran a quick 3-miler. I wouldn't let myself eat dinner until after I came back. I felt good though my lungs weren't feeling strong. It felt like the air was thin, that I couldn't quite get enough air. Frustrating.

I really have to start eating better. I bought lots of veggies & fruit after work, have to start front-loading my carbs on training days and bring my lunch to work.

Gotta run, dogs need walking. Though they'd love to take themselves, that would NOT be a good idea!

So after a week of no running, decided to get my ass back in gear. Ran 3 miles with the dogs, THAT was a mistake! Surprisingly, Lexi was the problem. She kept trying to attack people as we ran by. Ewen on the other hand, ran nicely beside me aside from the occasional nose bump to try to knock me over.

Met with a dietitian today. We talked about what things I should be eating pre-run, post-run, and pre-race. She was really quite good. She's sending me a nutrition report that includes all we talked about and recipes and resources. Even better, my health plan will cover the cost. If anyone needs an excellent dietitian, I highly recommend her!

Jorie Janzen, BHEc, RD
Registered Dietitian
Nutritian and Wellness Consulting
410 Sutton Ave., Winnipeg, MB R2G 0T3
(204) 669-0672
joriejanzen@shaw.ca

I was supposed to run the 12-miler on Saturday, but I was tired and cranky and it just wasn't a good day. So Sunday, I put on my running clothes. I drank lots of water. I had a bowl of oatmeal and a peanut butter sandwich. I watched a little South Park. And forced myself to hit the road.

It was a good run, despite the flooded sidewalks. I felt strong. My feet were sore and my boobs hurt; but other than that, I felt pretty good.

As I ran my last mile, I caught a glimpse of myself in a storefront window. Sweaty, soggy, red-faced, snot-nosed, girl covered in splashes of mud. Attractive. No one ever said running was a glamorous sport.