Back to normal life, slightly

Finally families are allowed to enjoy the evening much more. Yesterday, in the evening, I was so glad to see the nice atmophere along the alleys of the old part of the town. Families, children, and young people, were enjoying, shops, coffees, restaurants, etc. 

They were trying to get back to normal life. 

Have a nice Sunday 

Christmas decoration are still on road

According to tradition, we should take our Christmas decorations down on January 5th 🎄

Today, in the late afternoon, I walked fast 45 minutes in the dark. While I was walking through the urban environment of my town,  I noticed many people are keeping their Christmas decorations up longer this year.

Happy new year!

Physical exercise

I've just finished reading posts of our blogging community, and I've noticed that most blogger friends are still running, in spite of cold wind and snow.That's really a good thing! Since February 1st I have run twice along my favourite track close to the seacoast, where I can enjoy the smell of sea salt in the air. Wind and waves kick up spray, and bits of sodium chloride can permeate the air while I am running.

 



The palm trees in the sidewalk area close to the seacoast 

 

I noticed that since January motivation is increasing slightly, that's why I'd like to say just a note to focus on one of the most important fenefit of running. We always see a relationship between running and phisical benefits, such as lower blood pressure,  healthier heart or a more attractive physique. But running magazines have recently suggested that there is another benefit of regular walking/running: exercise enables us to soak in more information. Our lifestyle is related to the way we think.  

Some friends of mine say they don't have time for an activity. But I think they don't consider it a priority. In my opinion, there are two ways to relate the time we have available and physical exercise:

• first, becoming part of a group (running, walking, dancing, etc.); 
• second, reframing physical activity as part of our job.

Happy running/walking to everyone!    

Sitting in the air

I have been living crazy busy since the last week of October because of job issues and my mother's orthopedic injury. At the moment my mother is recovering slightly as she is in a rehabilitation centre situated here, in Civitavecchia, 60 km North from Rome. Its location is perfect as it is close to the see (picture on the left). I'm going there twice a day and this gives her motivation.

On the job front, I went to Rome three times last week and I was happy to see a lot of people, mainly from Japan, who were gathering the Vatican Square. This means that people around the world are still interested in my country. While I was walking next to the Vatican Museum I saw a particular show along the street: a Pakistani, who wore orange clothes, was sitting in the air. You have probably seen that in many different towns around the world. Here below there is a link of a Youtube web page which shows how those charlatans work:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DKktRZ9QEXE

The picture below shows the Vatican Square.

Of course, since November 1st I haven't been running three times a week and I've lost my training. At the moment my training in not adequate for a 10 or 21 km at a sub 5 min./km pace. 
Happy running, cycling and swimming to all my blogger friends.

Blood cholesterol levels

Since last week I have had another thought which gives me motivation on the running front: I've noticed that my blood cholesterol levels are high enough. In Italy and other European countries Cholesterol levels are measured in milligrams of cholesterol per deciliter (mg/dL) of blood and total cholesterol level below 200 mg/dl is desirable. At the moment, my cholesterol level is 254 mg/dL. It's so high although I always do the best cholesterol-lowering exercises, such as are walking, running, and swimming (in summer only). Actually, a combination between an active lifestyle and healthy food can help to lower cholesterol levels.
I'm afraid I can't forget to keep my cholesterol levels within healthy limits and have no choice but avoid high-cholesterol food. I need to avoid foods that are high in saturated fat and can raise cholesterol levels in the blood. As it is known, there are two different types of fats, saturated and unsaturated, which can make a huge difference in meal planning. I'm trying to replace foods containing saturated fats with foods that are high in unsaturated fats such as healthy oils, fish, beans, and nuts.
Last week our Dutch blogger friend, Fran, from Netherlands, said (through her comment left on my blog) that she would plan to cook spaghetti carbonara next week. So she reminded me that traditional Italian dish: unfortunately, that carbonara recipe combines cream, eggs, cheese and bacon ... which contain saturated fats :( 

The first picture above shows the starting line of the 2013 Rome's Race for the cure and the second one has been taken on the same day before I ran that Race. It shows an old church with a simple architecture, located in a green neighborhood of Rome. The photo mentioned also shows some runners, before the race, while they were doing the warm-up next to the church.



Just a little bit no more time to show two old stone houses that have only recently come up for sale (In the last two pictures above).
Those characteristic flats face south and are located in a lovely village of Tuscany. The name of the village is Piancastagnaio  and I wrote down a post about that place last year on November 3rd, after I had visited it. Last month I saw those particular stone houses whose price is good enough. I would advise those old stone houses to a friend of mine who would want to own and run a characteristic and unusual "Bad and Breakfast" in Tuscany.
Nice weekend to all my blogger friends!

Back running as a beginner

During the first week of  March I had  tracheitis and sore throat: it was difficult to handle. I haven't been running since March 5th,  and I hope to be back running  tomorrow.

The weather is still  cold enough and it doesn't seem that Winter is going to an end. Moreover, I need new running shoes and likely I'll buy them next week if I go to Rome for job. In Rome I can buy the same running shoes, as I see here where I live,  paying  about 25% less.

I used to take photos only on holidays: since I have been writing a blog I take photos every week. And I think that blogging gives us the motivation to take photos. More and more of us are carrying a camera during a race and our blogging community gives me the opportunity to see the world through the eyes of other. In this perspective,  I'd like to share the photo below that I took this morning.

My neighbour is a woman who love cats as you can see in the photo of  her window: the two cats are really nice but I don't understand the combination with her black bra. Do your  neighbours put their bra on the window? :)

Nice week to everyone!

Lists

I'm trying to run three times a week, despite this Spring is rainy enough, because I've to find my motivation. Thanks to all the blogger friends who supported me.  Their comments really help me while I'm trying to find my motivation and inspiration back.
I'm busy (family and work) and I'm making lists because it is relaxing. Somebody says that making lists, where you can write everything to do, calm you down, especially at the end of a stressful day.

How do you remember everything you have to do each day, week or month? A lot of people write lists  but they sometimes forget where they put them : )  And few people write key words on the back of their hands !!!

I saw that young people relied on their personal organizer. Anyway, an old cell phone is good for this purpose.

On the running front, on Saturday, June, 4th, a 6 km race will be held in support of South America's Children who live in poverty and emargination. The race's total gain will be useful to help those children  (school, sports and vaccinations) who live in that special part of the world. 
That race starts at 06:00 p.m. and the running path will be around a beautiful park in the centre of Rome. The following website shows the race's track.

http://www.acorp.it/italiano/acorp_mappapercorso.php
I'm running it as training.
I hope all my blogger friends will  have a nice weekend!