Now I've done it—or, do I REALLY need an iPad?

One thing I'll say is this—it's much easier to type on an iPad than on my iPhone but then again I won't be placing iFitness on my iPad. I'm find an interesting contrast between my home screens on both devices in that the iPhone functions as the little extension of my Brain that resides in my pocket. My little brain comes to the gym, helps to remind me when my metered car is running out of time using the built-in timer,is a handy little camera, allegedly keeps heed of my appointments and schedules, and serenades me when I need it too. My iPhone both a blessing and a curse, mostly a blessing.

So then what, aside from being an Apple gadget fangirl, drove my urgent need for the iPad? It will not likely accompany me to the gym, nor will it remind me to return to a metered parking space before the meter expires, but I can read the "Helmet for a Pillow" book and create a wireframe for an iPad app concept on my iPad. The productivity factor. And that's precisely what lead me to the Apple store in Santa Rosa last night. I too am chasing the rainbow of mobile and iPad app design and after a day of playing around with a few apps, in particular Drawing Pad, iBook, the Kindle app, and OmniGraffle, I'm appreciating the productivity aspect of it and want to be part of this new world.

Maybe I won't use JoggyCoach on the iPad but I can't wait to read Haruki Murakami's thoughts on running while lounging in in my Puerto Vallarta hotel room. I'll just need to stay away from OmniGraffle while on vacation...

One unexpected bonus is my niece and nephew all of a sudden find auntie to be "sick" :-)

When I grow up I want to be Harriet

I meant to post three weeks back when I completed my first 5K ever over here in my back yard on Southshore in Alameda. It was a small little event to raise funds for Alameda elementary school sports programs, the weather was gorgeous and it was time for me to take my C25K training to the task by running someplace other than on the treadmill at Mariner Square Athletic Club. Mind you, I have done 5Ks, 6 miles (Portland), Bay to Breakers, 10 milers (Big Sur), and even a marathon (Anchorage with TNT) but all as a walker with a *tiny* bit of running thrown in.

The truth is that I've never felt I had running in me until recently. I flirted with it, on a treadmill, a couple of years ago but gave it up as I started to work crazy insane hours. The other truth is that before I quit the gym to honor crazy insane hours I have to acknowledge that my time at the gym probably enabled the energy to work so much to begin with. Ah, live and learn.

My first 5K as a runner meant a lot to me and after meeting a couple of very nice women involved with the Mermaid Series Triathalons I had seriously considered the Mermaid Series Duathalon in September. Yes, I can run four miles and yes, I can definitely bike 11 miles, uphill even.

And this is where Harriet comes in. I watched her finish Kona Ironman this year and shed a tear of joy watching a 74 year old woman cross the finish line before the cut off time. (And trust me, having the patience to watch Ironman on a computer is also an endurance test ;-) Thanks to Athleta, the money pit that tends to swallow a few of my hard-earned bucks more often than not, for giving us young whipper snappers more insight into Harriet Anderson. Because now I have a counter to everyone that politely suggests I am too old to start jogging aspirations, and I now have a beautiful grey-haired babe to inspire me to keep going. I will definitely think of her as I walk up the 11% grade that is Hayes Street during Bay to Breakers on Sunday.

The conclusion of this post is that Harriet has inspired me to officially sign up for the Mermaid Series Duathalon event in Santa Cruz after all. Thank you thank you Harriet. And here's to my 72 year old mother for a speedy recovery after knee surgery... you can do it!