Weekly Recap: 5/23 - 5/29 Week 3

Wow we are at Week 3 of 28 weeks of training - I was ready to throw in the towel, not so much anymore.  I'm going to give it a few more weeks and I'll be able to run the course on June 4th, so that may be the kicker to make me get my butt in gear.

Monday (3.5) - Rest day, but I swam and biked on Sunday so really I needed to get some time on my feet in, and I wanted to see what the old attitude was doing.  It's better.

Tuesday (6) - Back on track mile wise, my mind is catching up.  A friend suggested a person to talk to, he's done several 100 milers, and may be able to help.

Gizmo left this earth peacefully, and that has gotten me out of the bit of a fog I have been in.  I've been struggling with his declining health and Dave's in ability or just plain not wanting to face the sad fact G's quality of life was close to zero and he was miserable.  I'll miss my buddy.  It's been a year since I'd been on a real walk with him, he lost use of his back legs about a year ago. And a couple months ago he stopped shuffling across the floor, on a rare occasion would he get off the couch and shuffle, to greet me.  We had our routine and he was happiest snuggling in bed, and if we went to bed early, all the better, he snuggled in to my back and was calm and content leaning against me, he was at peace.  He liked the occasional adventure, it was clear on our last one, he was ready for all of this to be over.  I could see it in his eyes, he was tired of not being able to to what he could do a month ago, let alone a year ago.

Wednesday (8.4) Power hills with Ro.  I'm counting this as running, it is a solid well earned 5.6 miles at about a 14 pace and some wicked steep hills.

Spin class in the evening.  I was tempted to bail but knew it would be good and i was able to get the new spin bike they are testing out.  It tracks RPM, Mileage, calories all sorts of things.  I tracked 17 miles for the class so I'm satisfied my 15 I've been using is accurate, some weeks may be more some less, depends on how much climbing she has us doing versus interval work.

Thursday (3.2) -  Got some new shoes, ON Cloudcruiser, I was really looking forward to try them out for the scheduled 6 miles.  I forgot a sports bra. I did a 3.2 mile walk and that was it. The shoes felt nice, my knees didn't give me as much trouble as they usually do...  6 miles would have been the true test.

My mouth engaged before my brain in the locker room at work. One of the gals was going on about her daughter and make up and another about her son and clothes and bitch moan crab complain....  

Then it happened, the though bubble came out of my mouth:

"You ladies make me so glad for my decision to never have kids."

Crickets

"You never seem to have anything nice to say about them. It really sounds like a horrible experience."

Then it was like chickens cackling over a bug, a cricket, perhaps?

The gal next to me, one who never remarks about children so I assumed she had none, told me the story about how her daughter found a dating website for professional women with a very strict criteria for clientele and how this would be perfect for her if she did want to date.   I said "Thank you.  You raised a very thoughtful loving daughter.  I knew there had to be an upside to kids."  the conversation drown out  all the cackling about grades or athletic ability. 

Dave went off to Maine to visit with a friend and pick up some curly maple and walk in the woods.  He needed to get away for a couple days.  It took A LOT of encouragement to get him to go up for a 2 day trip versus a 1 day trip. I was happy for a quiet night at home with the boys.  They are stressed, I am stressed, Dave is stressed.  They crashed after dinner, I kind of expected that.  I cleaned up Gizmo's feeding area and replaced Gus's station with Giz's.  Gus got Diesel's and the foot rusted off.  Jax had his own and he inherited Sage's so all three matched.  Guess we are down to two dogs and two feeders, other than the odd shaped one in the attic.

Rambling... it's my blog, I'm allowed!!

I probably won't catch up on my miles however I will get the full 16 on the schedule for Saturday. The long runs are the important ones, right?  And it's 5 months away...

Friday (6.3) - Got out in the a.m. for 3 miles.  The Cloudcruisers are nice, I think they may be a bit big in the toes, but who knows at this point.  I'm not really pleased with the laces, they are hard to tighten up, I do love the soles and my knees didn't scream at me so that's good.

I caught up on work work and a bit of house work, working at home is really distracting for me, I can't do it when I have actual things to accomplish.  I know my limitations.

After having to wake the boys for dinner.  Guess they had no clue since G wasn't there to start the whining chorus!  It reminded me of my parents cat Frick.  When Frack died he was lost, he had no idea how to get the people to open the door to let him in or out how breakfast got served.  My mom said he would sit at the door quietly, waiting to go out, he never did learn to make a ruckus so one of the hoomans would open the door for  him.  Poor Frick.  If you ever watched My Name is Earl, it was like when Earl went to jail and his brother, Randy, was clueless.

Evening walk with Gus, it cooled off nicely so I was hopeful the 16 in the a.m. wouldn't be complete torture.

Saturday (16.6) - Met up with the 'Gansett Gals at 7am for some miles.  Nicole committed to 10 with me last weekend and totally stuck with that promise!!  The rest were in for 6, cool!!  Nothing was going quite right internally, I haven't quite nailed it down yet, but it has something to do with porter I'm pretty sure.  Despite the monster in my bowels, I really really enjoyed my 6 with the gang and then Nicole and I got to catch up for 4.  It's nice to be with my people, we all get out there and give it a go and have no desire of BQing we just love to run for the camaraderie and to save what little sanity we have.

Finished up my last 6 with 5.6 on the beach.  I'll call it good for a 16 mile run, it's the first one I've come close to completing since I started training.  I forgot how much I love to run barefoot on the beach, nothing hurts and when I'm done I can actually walk pain free, it is so lovely.  I enjoyed a little stroll with Gus to return a library book and at least get him out of the house for a few minutes.

Sunday (2.5) - Got out for a bike ride.  Decided I should see what was on the schedule for my PMC training long rides - 50 miles.  I mapped it out and set out for 50.  I may have started out a little to optimistically attacking the Wyassup Hills as part of a long ride when I haven't been riding long.  No matter.  I still did it and stopped for a break at 15 miles, then at 20 miles and slugged down a icy creamy sweet drink to hopefully recharge my batteries.  It didn't kick in for a while, but it did for a bit and by the edge of 30 miles I was toast.  I took the direct route home and shorted myself 10 miles.




I'm not disappointed, it was a tough ride, and one of the first humid sunny days we have had.  I've learned there is no point beating myself up, it is stupid and I need to not do it, bottom line.

40 miles and 2,270 of elevation gain is respectable, I wonder what the Gazelle's fancy watch would get for elevation on this one.  I'm a little concerned about the hills from Sturbridge to Bourne, well actually Sturbridge till we join up with the riders from Wellesley.  I think I'll be mostly by myself on this portion, and hopefully link up with the LUNGStrong gals coming out of Wellesley for lunch time.   Feh, gives me some nonsense to obsess about.

Dave and I took the dogs to Grills, they enjoyed it, mostly, it was humid and the air was still in the woods, probably not the best choice.

Jax does NOT like bridges!



Jax struggling across the Polly Coon bridge
(he wasn't sure of the two small ones before this one either)



But they were having fun running ahead and waiting for us!

Weekly Mileage:
Feet:  46.5  Run:33.7  Walk: 12.8  Yearly:  881.2 against a straight-line target of 826.5
Bike: 55  Yearly:  335 against a straight-line of 826.5

Sincerely,
Beth, gaining focus on training for the 100K and the PMC

Weekly Recap: Week 2 - 5/16/16 - 5/22/16

Monday (8.8) -   Run with Faith has changed to Monday due to her rotating work schedule.  After my 10 or 14 whatever you want to call it miles on Sunday I was feeling less than stellar and told myself if Faith could run nearly 20 miles with 13.1 of them being racing, I could suck it up and not bitch and moan during our run.  She had run 8 with Crutch on the trails before meeting up with me.  

Crutch was finally getting in a long run before his upcoming 50 mile race (June 4th)  I cannot fathom how he can piece together short runs with lots of elevation and still manage to successfully complete long and ultra races.  Boggles my mind.  Running really does have a HUGE mental component to it and his positive happy go lucky attitude serves him well.  

So anyhow, Faith and I met up and went the way we'd been running, both a little dubious about the gusting 20 MPH NW winds up the back side of the route along the golf course.   The wind really was all over the place and the back side isn't a true North there is a bit more of a West to it, so we catch the West wind, and it's a long but not steep, just relentless up hill of over 80 feet.  

So we ran and she pushed me, she claims I pushed her.  A 5+ mile run at a sub 10 pace for me is not ordinary anymore.  Clearly I have gotten lazy.  Or maybe I really do enjoy running with people because I have someone to talk to and to keep up the tempo? It's not like I can't run faster...

Gus got a walk, boy oh boy is he adamant about these things.  I had dinner out and was home by 7, so not a late night by any stretch of the imagination.  Still Gus was there tapping his doggy watch at 7:25 letting me know I wasn't getting off the hook.  We took a bit over an hour stroll in a quiet neighborhood.  Now that I know which house is Jeff V's I will wave.  Gus really enjoys the empty lot between you and the crazy barking beagles.  There are all sorts of good things to sniff in there. 

Tuesday (4.7) -  Meetings sucked up the middle of my day and I ate a salad around 11:15 and figured that would be done and dusted before my run after 1.  Yeah, it sat there like hunk of tres leches cake and combine with my aching joints made the run miserable.  I cut it short and ended up with a whopping 2.5 miles.  Yeah me....    After my shower I noticed I only had in one earring.  I know I had two before I ran.  Perhaps taking off the buff that was supposed to collect the sweat before it got in my eyes I snagged it? Hopefully it ended up in the shower drain because the maintenance guys and gals are super good about saving them and putting them up on the front desk.    If not my collection of single earrings is growing and I need to start wearing them in the second hole in my left ear...  

Dinner out again!  This time I was home just at 7:30, but Dave had just fed the hounds so Gus wasn't giving me that disapproving look while tapping his doggy watch immediately, he finished his meal and wiped his food face on my pants first.

Gizmo has mellowed out and is rather calm and relaxed so we are holding off on any euthanasia for the time being.  He has his routine in the evening and seems content.  I've talked this situation through with several people and ultimately it is our decision to or not to...  as long as he holds his bladder, can navigate around on his front feet, and is happy we are all happy.

Wednesday (o) - After spending the evening ignoring all of the Metro North inbound/outbound delay alerts I realized at 5:35 a.m. that the trains were running on a Saturday schedule and not all tracks were being used.  Due to a fire under the tracks in the vicinity of 118th street in Harlem.  A garden center was ablaze to a 4 alarm fire.  One of my co-workers who lives two blocks from there was rather surprised to hear about this happening.  I asked if perhaps she noticed any increase in the noise level, perhaps the air having the smell of a fire? She looked at me thoughtfully and said, "Um, no. But I did find it odd to get a Taxi right away when I left my building to come to work."  Needless to say she is, has been, and always will be a favorite co-worker.

My 1 hr 47 minutes a.m. commute was 2 hours and 30 minutes and the train was stuffed to capacity. I didn't get my right hand side seat by the window, so no nap.  I didn't really mind the guys hip hitting me in the ear from time to time.  I was rather concerned he'd let go some gas and I'd be hard pressed not to have a frothing fit about it, especially being at nose level and all.  But he was fine.  It was the girl who bathed in her fragrance that squished into the wee space left in the aisle I wasn't so sure what to do with as my head started pounding and my eyes watered and I berated myself for fearing a Methane and Hydrogen Gas emission.

The horrific commute to led to a day of downs and up and fortunately it was not an even more horrific commute home...

Thursday (8.7) - Hills with Ro.  I feel a little guilty for a crap run then a day off, and then a power walk.  I think it was what I needed.  I fully woke up, finally, on that walk, I felt like I'd been in a haze since Wednesday morning.  I don't do well when I don't get my hour nap on the train!  Even two huge vats of coffee never shook me fully awake yesterday.

Gus got me out for walkies and that helped me feel a little less out of sorts. 

Friday (4.6) - Lunch run thwarted due to lack of socks.  I could have run sockless and run (ha ha) the risk of mangling the skin on my feet and making my 14 mile run on Saturday miserable.  I opted to not do that and deal with some work and then head home and take Gus, still a little out of sorts from liberating what was left of a box of Lara Bars from the pantry counter, to Grills to pick up empty beer cans and go for a hike or run.  Gus wasn't in the running spirit and actually spent most of the walk behind me! 

Saturday (7) -  Shit run.  Shit mood.  Shit nights sleep.  Ready to throw in the towel.  I had a good cry,  took the old guy on a trip to DQ and he finished up his DQ and we had a sit in the park doing some people watching.  

We got home and had a nice 2 hour nap that included drooling.  I always know I've slept well when I drool.

Sunday (3) - After attempting to pour my coffee into the wrong side of the mug (yeah another crap nights sleep)  I thought I better not do anything risky today.  So I went swimming at the Y.  In the drizzle I walked so I could run some errands on the way there and on the way home.  I forgot my credit card so getting milk was kind of out of the question now.  Whoops.

Made more coffee, then took Gus out for a walk on the beach.  Crap May 2nd starts no dogs on the beach from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.  we broke the law, there were maybe 10 people on  a 3 mile stretch of beach in Watch Hill.  He loves the beach and I've not been taking him there and I'm not really sure why.  Probably because I used to take Giz and Sage to the beach every Sunday afternoon and after she passed I stopped and never got back in the habit.  I really forgot how soothing the sound of the ocean is.  It's 3 miles from the house and I don't get there often enough.

He is a handsome boy for sure and happy to be out on the beach and in the surf

The rain never really materialized so I switched my seats on my bike, I think the seat is the problem not the chamois, and took off for not exactly sure but I was going to get the part of Jeff V's Tour de Farms correct and I did then I decided to test my crown and see if it would hold up through the craptastic road - Clarks Falls - this is where they put all the pot holes when they are finished filling them.  The crown stayed and I managed to not chip any teeth so I decided to explore, got a little turned around, so glad for the maps in my Garmin.  This meandering took me to Chase hill where I was tired but still wanted to see what I had left in me for the Chase Hill Gut Punch to be able to enjoy the long winding cruise DOWN the back side, ahhhhhh....

View atop the climb on Chester Maine - Heaven

My butt was much happier in the bike shorts they used to hate.  Figured I might as well go for the gusto and test the hypothesis I worked up in my head with the most offensive bike shorts I had.  At the end of the nearly 30 mile ride, when even after a summer of cycling my butt would be unhappy, it wasn't at all concerned, huh, it really was the saddle.  Crap I endured pain for a whole summer with that seat and this was such a simple solution.

Weekly mileage:  36.8  (r: 20.7 w: 16.1)
Yearly mileage: 834.7 against a straight line target of 787.9

Bike mileage:  279,9 against a straight line target of 787.9  - I'll catch up!

Sincerely,
Beth, at the end of a not a great week, not a bad week, a week.

Weekly Recap: 5/9/16 - 5/15/16 Week 1 100K Training

Not sure how to do these recaps, so my format may change as time progresses....

My schedule:

Monday (6.4) - yeah I know I'm already violating the rest day Monday - this may be a fairly common occurrence, I plan on biking on Sunday and running on Monday and probably should update my schedule but I'm not quite ready to do this at this time.  Monday was my Birthday recap here.  Because it was my birthday I ran and because I was driving back to MI on Tuesday I also ran...

Tuesday (0) - Drive from MI to RI, the worst part of this drive is getting through CT.  As soon as I hit the border everyone loses their bloody minds...  It is the most painful part of the 12+ hour drive.

Wednesday (8) - 5.5 miles of power hills with Ro and a walk with Gus rounds out this 8 miles for Tuesday - also off my plan a bit, however there is importance to time on feet and to maintaining friendships through training.  And now I may have discovered why I've not slept more than 4 hours most of this week!!

Thursday (6) - Solid run for me, however I have a mild sun burn.  My Irish ancestry (and as a result of the raping and pillaging through that tiny island there is some Nordic blood) never fails me!  Being nearly 70F with a UV index of 5 (yes, 5) I wore a tank top, and I have the burn to prove it, yes, after an hour in the sun.  Tis very sad.  Time to get the super SPF out!  Shoot!

Friday (4.5) - Took Gus out for an outing in Grills, it was drizzling and miserable and that perked us both up!

Saturday (2.8) - I had a morning appointment I couldn't move and really needed to get into the gardens and move plants around so I knew this was not going to be my long run day. Plus it was hot.  And I may have had one too many beers with dinner on Friday and stayed up past 11...  Got Gus out for a walk while dinner cooked, and so went Saturday.

Sunday (14.1) - 12 on the long run schedule I ran 10 and then called it, filled with doubts about my mental stamina for 100K.  A little early in the training cycle for that nonsense, none the less there it is...  My left knee hurts, my hips ache, I'm old and maybe this isn't an achievable goal for me.  And we will segue from the morose diary part of this to the happy go lucky blog part of this.  I ran/walked the last mileish home, knowing I'd take Gus to Barn Island later in the day and we'd run the 3 mile loop and call it good.

I haven't been sleeping well and that is a combination of the nerves I get at the start of something and the end of Gizmo's existence on this planet.  He isn't going to make this easy for us like Diesel and Sage did, so the appointment will be made and the deed done.  This is a real struggle, do we or don't we, when he isn't sleeping he is anxious and miserable.  There are the rare times where he sits and snuggles and is content.  I ask Diesel and Sage to come get their big brother, I think they aren't listening or don't want to deal with the old curmudgeon.  The two of them always did gang up on grouchy Gizmo.  It wasn't until after Diesel passed that Sage and Giz bonded.  Although Sage did enjoy her rambunctious outings with Jax, she was never quite sure about Gus.

Mileage:

Week:    41.8  (R: 29 W: 12.8) - missed the 34 miles running target, I did get over 8 hours on my feet.
Year:     797.9 against a straight line target of 749.3

Sincerely,
Beth, who needs to be reminded to "suck it up buttercup" and give it a month before throwing in the towel.

Weekly Recap: 4/416 - 4/10/16

Monday (6) - The Cherry Blossom race sent out a note that we should take a couple days off and resume running 2 days after our race and maybe run 2 or 3 miles at an easy pace.  Hmmmm, but it's Monday and it's time to run.  So I did.  And well if I run, I run 6.  I really don't think this applies to me, and honestly, I didn't race the race, I ran it, and damn if running those flat flat flat roads was so easy on my knees!  Brrrrr-lingame beat up my knees pretty well.

It was a good run and I enjoyed being out, bummed I missed the last of the snow and ended up running in the rain.  Took a peek at where the car went into the drink at Eastern Point Beach.  This is a huge fear of mine! Fortunately she is OK.  But really I do double check that I'm in the right PRNDL since starting to drive an automatic.  At least with a stick you have a bit of a warning you are going the wrong way, automatic and step on that gas solidly and whosh there you go!

We are having weather some people dislike (snow) again and people are losing their minds.  Really?  I thought New Englanders were a hearty bunch.  OK, the runner ones are, the rest of them, wow, go pull up your big girl and boy panties and move somewhere else.  Meanwhile, despite the ballerina neckline this totally suits the ones not whining!!

Moral:  Make the best of your situation!

Gus didn't get a walk, he did get his teeth brushed, to say he wasn't pleased is pretty accurate.  He enjoyed the 'poultry flavored toothpaste' but the brush not so much.  This is going to be a long process.  SO he didn't get a walk post brush to reinforce good things happen when he cooperates.  Guess we shall see if he curls up with me Tuesday a.m. if he forgives me.

Yeah, no this wasn't the case.  It was more me talking sweet and getting the toothbrush in his mouth and trying to hit one of his 4 teeth, although it felt like there were more teeth in there, hmmmm....

Tuesday (9.1) - Dave was up and out by 6 a.m. to get some instrument wood in New Hampshire, leaving me with solo dog duty, I wish he'd of let me know before I left work Monday so I could have made Tuesday a work from home day.  Oh well.  The dogs were all ready for me to hunker down on the couch. When he's not home I'm perfectly content to work from home.  Besides I may have actually been able to get started on the dreaded taxes!!

The day started with a headache about 4 a.m. some acetaminophen was all that dumped out of pill bottle on my table so I took those.  Gus took the opportunity to curl up with me in the space Gizmo and Jax weren't using.  Didn't even put a dent in it so when I was up at 7 I rooted around for the Vitamin I and dealt with Dog Breakfast.  Got into work and immediately downed some coffee, yes, that was going to help.  Um no...  Went out for my lunch run a bit early.  Maybe the sun and the fresh air would do me some good?  Not so much.  I enjoyed the run for its ability to take me out of my mind and blared my music maybe a little Pop Evil, AC/DC, and Motley Crue would drive away what ever demon was twisting my brain lobes in to ever tighter ropes.  Guess the good thing was I couldn't feel any other aches!!

After some food more Vitamin I downed with iced tea for more caffeine a bit of the edge came off.  When I got home I took Gus for a walk and that helped clear my head a bit more and the twisting and poking in my brain seemed to go away, really the evil little thing was hiding behind my left eye.  Yippieee....

Thinking it's either because I'm a girl or I have a sinus infection.  Guess if my teeth hurt tomorrow I'll know it's a sinus infection.

Wednesday (2.8) - The little demon headache was running around trying to hide in my brain, but eventually went away and my teeth felt fine.  Girl logic, don't question it, it's really not worth it.

Ro and I used to run on Wednesdays, till the skiing accident.  She can't run, and hasn't run.  She begged off, I insisted we walk if she could do that.  We walked.  I thought I might run after, but for whatever reason I'm hungry and can't even fathom running, so I had lunch.  Feh, tis what it tis.  I can run on Thursday, more important to catch up with Ro and her torn meniscus.

Because of things going on with my company my evening meeting wasn't necessary (I had to forgo spin for this meeting and I was on the wait list but still didn't get a bike) so I found a massage appointment.  I'm always leery with a man masseuse,that they will be too gentle, they won't be as aggressive with their elbows in my difficult to break apart fascia to get to my problem muscles.  Well, lemme tell you, Warren rivaled Amy tonight.  I finally had to say UNCLE when he got at the bound up crap on the right side of my lower spine.  PERFECTION!  I'd totally let him and his elbows go after my pirifomis.  After 55 minutes on my back I can finally turn my head and see over my left and right shoulder.  Hmmmm... since Amy seems to have fell off the planet, it may be a good idea to see if I can get another appointment with Warren.

Thursday (5.3) - It was raining and I needed to run.  So run I did.  I didn't make my 6, but Muddy still gave me kudos.  It looks like I put in effort, I kind of did and kind of didn't.  It was really a fun run aiming for the puddles and enjoying being outside drenched.  It reminded me of the one Girls on the Run 5K I did, poor Sophie, her first 5K and pouring rain.  She skirted the first puddle, I suggested she run through it and I stomped through it and she looked at me like I was nuts.  By the end she was plowing through the puddles too!  Good effort on my part and I enjoyed being out for the run and the novelty of being a weirdo.

An evening of chaos and not home till nearly 9, as a result Gus is a little ticked with me.  I'll take him out on the trails over the weekend.

Friday (5) - No I'm not back sliding.  I ran with Faith and let her push me a bit.  I need it once in a while instead of my usual shuffling.  Plus I'm tired, whine whine whine...  We had a nice run which I managed to take us into the wind the whole time!  Whoops!

Saturday (4) - Yeah it looks like I'm backsliding, seriously I'm not.  I took a zero today and went to the most killer Yoga class with Jennifer at LA Fitness in Cranston.  Wow, excellent.  Then we swam, it felt good to get back in the pool.  Laps on my front and laps on my back.  I prefer swimming with my face out of the water.  We all have our things.  The class was late a.m. and we all slept in so even a morning walk with Gus didn't happen.  Neither of us could remember the last time we slept till 9 a.m. we both needed it.

After I got home Giz and I went to the beach dragging him around for 1/3 of a mile in the sand is exhausting so I took Gus out to Barn Island for a walk to relax.  He hasn't been out and I feel guilty.  Dave takes Jax out a couple times a weeks to Burlingame he rides and Jax runs. As Dave says "all dogs all the time" yeah, it's kind of true.  They are so sweet and they let us sleep in this morning, no 6 a.m. WOOHOOO IT'S A NEW DAY LET'S GET IT STARTED, WHERE'S MY BREAKFAST, OPEN THE BASEMENT DOOR I GOTTA PEE running up and down the hall jumping on and off the bed crazies...

My plan is a long run on Sunday, 10 miles or maybe 11.

Sunday (13.5) -  There may be a dog walk later who knows.  I really need to clean out the flower gardens and it would be nice for Gizmo to get some time to sit in the sun and get some fresh air.  There was a dog walk, Gus is rather persuasive.  The grocery shopping didn't get done... oh well, who needs food.

For whatever reason this long run took a lot out of me.  I am more tired than after Brrr-lingame or the Cherry Blossom, how can that be?  I wanted to stick to a slow pace 11:30.  Hey, even 11:30 is slow, for me!!  ha ha ha.  I peeked at my watch every couple times it buzzed and it seemed like I was reading 11:40ish pace.  Imagine my surprise when 11:30 on the nose popped up as the pace for the run. Weird.  All in all a good run, I felt good for all but a few miles when I was desperate for a porta potty.  This is happening regularly and beginning to disturb me.  Mile 7 there was one in Avondale.  I went by the boat yards, in season they have them, off season, not so much.  So the track of my run goes hither and yon a couple times as I was on the hunt for the blue or green box of relief!

Weekly Mileage:  45.6  (run:32.9 walk: 12.7)
Yearly Mileage: 587 against a straight line of 556.5  (for a bit of a bank going again)

All in all the week ended better than it started.

Sincerely
Beth, off to do some gardening she guesses....

Weekly Recap: 3/28/16 - 4/3/16

Monday (3.5) - Rainy and cold and unmotivated I took a 0.  My left knee feels much better and more solid so I think it was the right "decision" to not run.  Gus and I had a rather brisk walk after dinner.  Wowza I forgot how energetic he can be.  Gizmo woke up not being himself.  I was pretty sure this was the end.   We think his schedule was thrown off from us being in MA on Sunday and not getting home until late.  Plus it was a rainy Monday, perfect day to spend on the couch sleeping like the near dead.

Ok maybe not COMPLETELY appropriate, only a wee bit?  A friend of mine sent this to me after telling me I take the adage "treat every day like it's his last" literally.

Tuesday (10) - What is that idiom: "March comes in like a lion and out like a lamb"  March has been a lion pretty much all month, and there are just a few days left!!  Today we were treated with 20 MPH NNW winds.  There really isn't anywhere to go to get out of them, it's best to gird your loins and JFGID.  I'm sure there are scientific surveys that say running into the wind doesn't slow down your speed more than running with it speeds up your speed and there are others that say you get back about 25% of what you lost running into a substantial wind.  The last three miles of my 6.66 today were slower not only because they were the last three but because of running in a wind tunnel.  It took everything I had to pass a walker.  How embarrassing.

When I saw my watch at 6.66 and I was at the gate, it was perfection.  No point in getting to an even 6.7

Gus and I had a brisk walk in the wind.  Can't wait to get him back out on the trails.  That will have to be next weekend as I'm in DC this weekend.

Wednesday (3.7) - Finally Ro and I can get back on our run/ run & walk /walk time.  I've missed my 40 minutes with her jibber jabbering about this and that.  She had a wicked bad skiing crash a month ago and her right knee is giving her fits and is swollen.  So she is very limited on the amount of running she wants to do however a walk is not out of the question!  Goodie.  I thought I MIGHT get in some more miles running after the walk.  I didn't, I was hungry.  I'm happier having this time with my very few friends!

    

   


Spin was an interval class, wow Kim teaches a great class!  I'll probably miss these over the summer when I'll be out on the road bike...

No dog walk, Dave and I were finally home together, time to get caught up on TV and eat pizza.

Thursday (9) - This wind, ugh.  I know I live on the coast and run on the coast, but really has it been 20MPH++ this consistently ever?  I've only lived out here 17 years...

The run was good, it was a struggle into the wind, I got my 6 and was satisfied with that.

I packed some Skirt Sports shorts I've been iffy on for a while.  I had my usual shorts, but as I picked up those Aimee popped into my head.  She is a HS girlfriends recently diagnosed with Breast Cancer (stage IIIC) so she is pretty far along with the progression of the disease, there is no stage V, and I don't know if they ABC stage IV.  What great news to get on your 49th birthday, eh?  Anyhow Aimee loves purple, and I mean OBSESSED with purple, her wig is lavender!!  These shorts have purple polka dots on them and oddly enough the latest pair of my favorite running shoes came in purple.  I think of her when I run, I pray and send good vibes.  I don't honestly know if this helps, it does make me feel like I'm doing something being 760 miles away from her.  In our private FB group started so she could let us know what is going on I posted a pic of my outfit explaining that: "While I am far away, you are always in my thoughts and prayers and apparently also in my gym bag."  Laughter is good medicine.  While I thought the shorts were too short, they are just fine because Aimee loves purple and knowing you have people rooting for you, her mantra is Go! Fight! Win!, it will be good luck for her when I wear the shorts.  The chemo will attack the cancer and she will survive and live to see all her grandchildren born and at least turn 21.

Gus and I went on a walk, he likes his hour of Gus time, sometimes it is a struggle to get him into the house.  Noooooooo...... I don't want to go in I want to go further.

Friday (0) -  I took a zero, it was a bit of a battle.  Like a few people today I had meeting issues.  Some went out and got their miles.  I had Chicken Schwarma salad (that counts as healthy?)  fortunately not the resultant borborygmus my tripod mates usually get from this lunch (or taco salad which was Mon and Tue).  Finished up some work, edited a document for publication, tinkered with a spreadsheet and went home for Friday afternoon nap.  I'll give myself a pass what with a race on Sunday and all.  Although I've been doing that a bit too often lately and my March numbers show it compared to my January numbers.  Still and all I'm on track to meet my goals.

I am ahead of 2015 for my running miles and I'm very pleased with this.  Walking isn't pulling me along as much as it could.  I've got about a 22 mile bank for the first quarter.

Saturday (2) - The day was spent driving to DC for the Cherry  Blossom 10 Miler.  Happy to get out of the rain and ick of New England.

Sunday (13.2) - Cherry Blossom 10 miler recap to follow. 

After and uneventful ride home I took Gus for a stroll.  I have to start brushing his remaining teeth, I was working up a strategy for this  torture.  He is so schedule orientated I am going to try with the teeth brushing (he has 4) before the walk so he knows he gets something he wants after the torture.  I started last night by sticking my finger in his mouth, he was not pleased with that.  You'd of thought I stuck the finger somewhere else!!  We had a nice walk and he decided to treat me to an early morning snuggle on Monday to let me know I was missed.  Awwwwww..

Weekly Miles:  41.1  (run: 22.7  walk: 18.4)

Yearly goal:  541.4  against a straight line target of 517.9

Sincerely,
Beth, sallying forth to the 2nd quarter of 2016!

Weekly Recap: 2/29/16 - 3/6/16

Monday – (8.1)  Last day of February, it’s finally over, the extra day and all.  I struggled on this run, still sore from Saturday is the only thing I can put my finger on. 

Weights at the Y, I’m pitching out the leg extensions and curls, they really bug my knees.  I miss TRX, have to find another class.  

Jax’s turn for a walk, two hiking adventures for Gus and he needed to give up his walk to his little brother.  Jax was good for nearly the whole walk, usually just before mile 2 his eyes start spinning in his head and he is looking for trouble to get into.   

Disappointed there was not a Downton Abbey to catch up on.

Tuesday – (6) The weather alert on my phone said 45 MPH wind gusts, but I couldn’t figure out the time frame.  Crossed my fingers it would be the usual amount of windy on my run.  Pulled the trigger on the fall ultra, all signed up, I’m terrified in that fun roller coaster ride sort of way. 

Yoga was much needed to settle my mind.   Dave was out for the night, so I made a quick stop at the Packy on the way to Yoga and picked up some new to me stouts and porters.  No I didn’t get them cold, I got them warm.  My brain was not engaged.  I did have a few things I like in the fridge at home.  My MI beer stash is very sparse,  and I need to go visit my parents,  how fortunate! 

Wednesday (6) The wind was at it again, I know living and working on the coast it should be expected, but wow, this has to be some sort of record of windy days.  Always reminds me when my youngest brother asked our father “Where does wind come from?”  Dad pointed him to the encyclopedias in the library, “Look it up.”  Back in the days before google I wonder if he ever did find his answer, he sat on the floor in the library surrounded by the encyclopedias for most of that afternoon.  I don’t know if he ever bothered to ask another question after that. 

This 6 was a struggle for me, I zigged and zagged a bit to mix it up.  Maybe next week 6 will seem normal to me.  I have some mental block with 10 miles that I am going to conquer over the weekend. 

Spin another interval class wiped me out further.  Hopefully I'll sleep like a rock tonight.

Thursday (3.2) Non-running day, and I really wanted to make it a super slug day and do nothing.  Dave took Jax out to Burlingame and he was nice and tuckered out after dinner.  Gus, on the other hand, hadn't been anywhere since Sunday and was bouncing between the silent treatment or breathing in my face.  Clearly, he was not going to let me get out of a walk, so at 9 p.m. we went for a walk.  The wind had died down so it was actually pleasant weather, and a stary night with the clear skies.  Of course this made me wired before bed fortunately Gizmo was very snuggly, Jax was happy to have someone to curl up with, so they pinned me down and the three of them serenaded me with calming boxer snores that lulled me off to sleep.

Friday (6) Probably the last snow globe run of the 2015 - 2016 winter...  it was very joyous until "The Last Train to Clarksville" popped up on the iPod.  Huh?  There have been a few songs lately that have me scratching my head 1) I don't remember putting them on one of my Running play lists 2) I don't remember even adding them to iTunes 3) Maybe the being that stole the filler hose for my windshield washer reservoir also has been messing around with my iTunes?  So that passed, eventually.  While I did like the Monkey's at one point in my life and played the hell out of my Mother's album I can't for the life of me understand how this happened.

Saturday (9.3)  Mystic Hare Hop 5K recap here.  Fun 5K.  I needed to push myself more than I did.  I'm satisfied with my time and I had an awesome time on the horrible hill out and back because I got to see everyone!!  

Took a quick shower to make it out to the spot where I planned on spectating for the Ocean's Run 1/2 Marathon, I knew quite a few people running it.  Crutch was also planning on the same spot.  Great minds.  We were at about mile 7.5, and I though the race started at 9:00 so 9:30 would get me there a bit before the front runners would be rounding the corner of Shore Road and Noyes Neck.  Well the race started at 9:15 whoops.  Crutch thought it started at 10 so he would have totally missed them, better early than late?

I wish I could have gotten an athlete list so I knew more people to look for!!!  I missed quite a few.  Got pictures of may, I probably should post the ones of the people I don't know to the event page, I won't.  I'm not in all that giving and kind mood, of late.

It was very sad to see that the RD wasn't able to get someone to marshal that corner, it was fairly busy with turning traffic.  

Took Gus out for his first trail run, we went to Grills, it seemed like if (when) I got turned around (lost) it would be easy enough to get un-turned around (found).  Yes, staying ON the marked trails would be the smart thing to do that didn't happen after I found "The Big Hill" and Gazelle's secret fort plastered with Rod Stewart album covers and empty bottles of Cherry Schnapps.  

My plan was to go on the Blue trail to the Yellow / Red trail to the Yellow trail and then the Blue trail and back to the car.  Somehow I got on a Red trail and the "Big Hill" then no marked trails.  I missed the Yellow marker?   Guess back in the day this was a big dirt bike course?  After I got down from "Big Hill" there were 'trails' unmarked and definitely worn in just not used a lot, my legs were scraped and bloodied, nothing picture worthy.  I followed a few till I really felt completely disorientated and knew the RR tracks needed to be to my right and the sun to my back to find my car.  Well I found the RR tracks so we ran along them for a while, till I found what looked like a cut in, then a Yellow trail, then no markings and well I should have stayed on the Yellow trail, we turned around.  Then found the Orange x-country ski trail, ahhh, I knew that would lead back to the car, and BOOM there was "The Big Rock" from last week.  And eventually Vinnie.

Grills Trail Map (I should probably have with me)

My GPS - the black circle is where the "lost" happened.
The yellow dots are Big Hill (the lower dot) and Big Rock (the upper dot)

Garmin gave me 5.28 miles, WoofTrax gave me 5.7 miles.  Nothing is ever exact with GPS. I'll take the 5.3 and call it good. 

Took a mile for Gus to figure out what we were doing, then he was great about letting me "chase" him, and we'd take walk breaks as needed.  Eventually he'd stall and sniff for a while and then race up behind me and pass me and look over his shoulder with this "ok runner girl, catch me if you can" look.  It was SO fun.  It has been a while since I've seen him run like that.  I think this is going to be a lot of fun for both of us.

Gus on top of "Big Hill"

Sunday (7.3 + whatever I lost in my first attempt) My plan was for 10, my bodies plan was to rebel. I got to the end of the street and it was clear I needed to turn around.  I did that.  Fixed that problem, Gizmo was on edge, comforted him for a while and contemplated this 10 miles (the mistake, thinking).  I'm having a real hard time with that number for some reason.  It is completely mental because clearly with the double yesterday I was nearing 10 and with the GPS fudge, lets call it 10....  Next weekend is Faith and Joe's wedding and the Bolton 5 miler with this hill Faith won't shut up about.  So that's got me wiggy.  I 'ran' up Mt. Washington Auto road, not once but twice and this 'hill' has me wigged.  I need to reprogram my brain!!!!

I started out on my usual route to see the cows, twice.  Made it along Canal, and stopped, and turned around.  I was done 2.1 miles, done.  I cursed myself and wondered what the hell was my problem. As I'm slogging back a Volvo Station Wagon slows down and stops and a big hairy arm comes out the window.  Ahhhh Gary on his way to Agway for chicken feed.  That made me smile, I'm looking forward to the boys stories on Monday morning.  They all got together and played cards at Gary's on Friday night.  Still didn't perk up my pace.  I did remember I do this for fun and at least I attempted the run, so no point in beating myself up.  This gem popped into my head on and off as I self medicated with the small amount of endorphins I could pull from this run.  As I passed Grey Sail Brewery Gary was back by with his chicken feed!  At least I was still running at that point.

Editor's note: Gary said I looked like I was suffering.  Not sure if this is validating or if it makes me feel better.

The afternoon was a trip to the beach for Gizmo.  It is a project getting him loaded in the car then 'walking' him through the heavy sand.  I look forward to this and I don't.  He had a grand time dragging me this way and that on the beach and finally had enough and hightailed it back to the car on the hardtop parking lot.  Goofball.  We went about 1/2 mile, easy.  

Giz at Misquamicut

Feet: 45.9 (37.4 Run 8.5 Walk)  3958 against a straighline target of 363.7

Sincerely,
Beth, Wondering if it is time for a cutback week or integrate longer runs and one more rest day?  And I wonder if it is going to be warm enough to bike to work next week!

Weekly Recap: 7/20 - 7/26 (final)

I'm still on a high from the Mt. Washington Century.  It truly was fun and I'll be remembering that ride for a long long time the pure thrill of the long grinds and the long coasts downhill.  What an amazing place to cycle and I'll be doing it again next year.  Which probably means missing Running with the Beavers.  Dunno.

So on to the week....

It was tough getting back to running, my pace and breathing are a bit labored from recovery as well as the humid hot and hazy weather we have been having, either all three or two, make it miserable for me.  Perhaps digging out the inhaler may be a good idea?

Decided to rotate in a new pair of shoes for something to look forward to.  I get about 300 miles out of my shoes, before my knees give me grief.  I think that is awfully low and will try and push a bit more out of them.  Or maybe not.

	Run	Walk	Bike	Notes
20-Jul	3.0	2.5
21-Jul	8.1
22-Jul	4.2		19
23-Jul		2.7
24-Jul	10	1.5
25-Jul
26-Jul		2.1	23
	25.3	8.8	42	Total

Monday - 3 was on the schedule and that is what I did.  It was a HHH slog, it was done and I was glad for it to be done.  Gus really wanted a walk and we went for a walk.  He is picking up where Gizmo left off.  Gizmo is done walking any distance.  His legs are giving out.  He is determined to be mobile and is happy, his love of life is what is important.  A 14.5 year old boxer boy is old, very old.  I was talking to the neighbor about Gizmo's apparent determination to outlive everyone.  He may, who knows.  We enjoy our time in the front yard where he hobbles about and visits with the neighbors and watches the cars drive by and the occasional biker and runner.  Everyday is a gift.

Tuesday - lunch run and then a run walk at the Dog Watch fun run with Ro and Pam.  Pam is getting back to running and these are great training for her and it was a perfect way to get some more miles for lazy me!  The run was nicer, still sweltering.  Always good to see Mikey B out there.  I was hiding from speedwork, I missed last week and knew Steve wan't back from where ever he was so it would be me and Dave.  Dave recruited Josh who then had a grand time giving me hell for ditching them.  Thanks pal...  Next week I'll get back to running around the parking lot.  Gak.

Wednesday - 4 mile run, 3 on the schedule, I hemmed and hawed about going around the UCONN Avery Point campus, to make it 5,  I bagged it, and ran into Dave, Josh, and Steve!  High 5s all around and that perked me up for a few seconds. I was ready to be done running when I got to the point of 1 mile left.   Speed was a bit better than Tuesday, still felt sloggy.

Went for a bike ride when I got home.  Nice and flat along the coast.  All seemed fine, pshew.

Thursday - Rest day walk Gus in the evening.

Friday - Blessing of the Fleet Sufferfest which may turn into a torturefest... recap here

Saturday - Volunteer Fat Clam / Bachelorette Party

What happened:  Volunteered at the first water stop for the Fat Clam Sprint Tri.  The family manning the second water stop (across the road) assured me this was the easiest job.  Usually I flag.  The mom (sorry I forgot your name) said that was too stressful.  I'll go back to flagging.  Passing water out was not easy.  A lot ended up on me and the runners and I think some actually made it into the runners.

Passed on all three party invitations for the day, opted to nap and meet up with Dave when he took the  young pups to run. Giz and I met them with a pizza and some french fries.  Gizzy is getting used to the back leg leash and was trotting around pretty well, I had to run a couple times to keep up with him!  Good to see him up and about and adjusting to his new normal.  I was so sad driving out there, remembering how he used to run with such ease last year.  Getting old sucks.

Sunday - Lil' Rhody Round Up as a possible bike ride, or just bike solo

What happened:  Biked the Coventry / Washington County / what ever other name it has bike path with Jennifer.  Therapy, totally therapy.  It's been weeks since we talked.  Guess the guys talk about bromances this is a sismanace?  Who knows.  She's the sister I never had and didn't know I wanted.  We biked and talked and stopped for iced coffee because the bike path ended sooner than we thought, doesn't it go all the way to Providence or Lincoln?  and then biked back and took her son (embarrassed him unmercifully, what a good sport) to lunch.    

Sincerely,
Beth, doing her best to enjoy this weather...