New Shoes

Tuesday (my NYC day) I wore my new kitten heels.  Love them.  A couple of friends posted the picture of these shoes on their FB page and I just HAD to have them.

Ruby Slippers

Lovely aren't they?  Well I got an itty bitty blister on the inside of my right ankle.  I have a race coming up on Saturday and a girlfriend visiting Thur - Tue and we plan on doing a lot of walking and touristy stuff.  A blister is out of the question.  I'd normally slap a mole skin on it and just suffer through, but this is IMPORTANT to be fully functional.  Yes, I'm trying my flair for the dramatic, not working well, is it?  I've been told to let the drama folks handle the drama.  I should just do sarcasm....

All went well for the NY stint, the weather cleared up.  I guess it rained cats and dogs on the train ride.  I slept!

Today, Wednesday, back in CT offices.  I haven't seen my crew in what feels like a week.  I was glad to have the work hubb and A #1 Smart Guy there to keep me company along with the finance twins.  Gdogg was no where to be found, bummer.  It was a humid day, bound to be a wicked wet run.  I juggled my schedule around so I could sneak a run in from 9:30 - 11:00 and that worked out perfect.  I got in just as the lightening started and was soaking wet from the what had to be 100% humidity, luckily the temps were in the 70's and there was a strong wind coming off the water.    Weird now that school is back in session, the lot at UConn Avery Point was full of cars and very few people out an about.  Although the weather may have had something to do with that, thanks Isaac!  I got in a good 3 miles in, wait for it, another pair of new shoes!

Brooks Trance 10

They were great, nice and stable feeling.  I forgot my foot strap for the PF, the arch support was normal, I could use a bit more and this is where the foot strap comes in handy.  I need to consider getting inserts...  Nothing hurt at the end of 3 miles, so I'll call it good.

Route / Stats:

Route

Splits

Elevation

Sincerely,
Beth, who is 2 for 2 on the latest round of new shoes!

Big Butts and 'The Soundtrack to My Life"

Today started with a song in my head, this isn't unusual, my brain is wired very strangely.  Times past it has been something sedate like Jimmy Buffets "Cheeseburger in Paradise" maybe a little George Thorogood "I Drink Alone".  This morning was Sir Mix-A-Lot "Baby Got Back" could be a combination of this song being on my running play list and I've been thinking about a promise a friend aka "Sir GIS A-Lot" made to me to run a 1/2 marathon with me and he seems to have welshed on this promise, disappeared off the face of the earth.  Knock Knock you out there?  I may start running by your house if you don't answer!

Fortunately the miracle of Facebook I could post this as my status and a friend, Thank You Amy, helped me along getting the lyrics out of my system.  I think I am nearly depleted of this song running through my head.

Once up on a time my husband's banjo playing was, as my brother who lived with him for a few years dubbed it, the 'soundtrack to my life'.  I have to admit that I do miss that banjo playing, on occasion.  See, my brain is wired weird.  Hubb recalls me not liking this 'soundtrack to my life' I think that is only because he once decided to 'serenade' me while I was on a phone interview.  Ever try and remain calm and focused on a telephone pre-screen interview? well imagine it with a banjo being played in the next room.  Fortunately I passed the pre-screen and the interview and got the job.  A job actually that changed our lives.

This is a declared rest day, I travel to NYC to meet with my boss, the project leader, and several other people.  Today was actually quite stellar, of the 58 open issues we resolved 23!  Getting the project leader to actually focus on issues is close to impossible.  My boss and I devised a plan to get her to focus and quickly ticked off our action item list.  Essentially easy stuff to get an answer to, the problem is getting the project leader to actually focus on the actual question we need answered instead of the millions of questions floating around in her brilliant all-be-it scattered mind.

While it is a long day, starting at 5 a.m. and not getting home till nearly 10 p.m., it is always worth it both professionally to spend time with my boss and my project teams and personally as I meet up with friends who work in or are visiting NYC, this ALWAYS makes the day even better!

No work out stats to record for today, I walked a few blocks in heels and did a few flights of stairs in heels.

Thinking trail run with my 'dirty girl gaiters' is on tap for tomorrow!  WOOT!!

WTF... Wednesday Thursday Friday, What Were YOU Thinking?

So we last left off after the Anywhere 5K and my first training walk for SGK...  That leaves Monday, Tuesday, and today...

To recap last week:  Running:  27 miles  Walking: 6 miles.  I am a little under my weekly mileage, but hey my weekly mileage is aggressive and it is freaking hot and humid (fact not an excuse).

Monday is TRX and a 3 mile run.  I enjoy TRX, eventually I will get the roll over plank with my feet in the straps.  Monday was not the day for this, so feet on the floor, and I managed for the full 30 seconds, 2x on both sides, that is a LONG freaking time! I didn't feel the muscle soreness I had felt in the past weeks, so it is time to step it up a little bit, I suppose.  Because of the heat and my absolute paranoia about passing out I didn't run till after TRX.  Took my happy little feet down to the ocean to run Quonnie.  Cute cute cute little beach, easy 3 miles at low tide.  Well it was high tide.  Kinda hard to tell from this picture of the Weekapaug Breechway how freaking high the tide was.  Still in all it is a pretty picture.

High Tide Weekapaug Breechway 

The sand was soft soft soft, the breeze was off the land so warm warm warm, but hey, it was the beach and I could run through the surf, and I did, and I loved it.  At the end I just stood in the surf letting it splash me.  I really should have taken off my shirt and dove in, it was just me and a guy who rode to the beach on his bicycle who jumped in and then sat at the bench at the top of the dune to take in the awesomeness of the Atlantic Ocean.  Next time I won't be so shy, my sports bra isn't revealing and if I am ever going to do a tri-athalon I need to get over my fear of the water!!

Tuesday was my New York day and a rest day.  Up at 5 a.m. and home by 10 p.m.  L.O.N.G. day.  I did get to see one of my gal pals and that makes the day A-OK!

Today, Wednesday, Hump Day, the beginning of WTF...  3 miles are on the schedule, remember I swapped my Thursday short run for the Wednesday long run.  So far this is working out well.  I am a little tired, and a teensy bit crabby on Wednesday so 3 miles is good.  I ran them after I got home from a very long and productive and rewarding work day.  Yeah, I'm one of those people who actually LIKES their job and LOVES their boss and and works with GREAT people.  We are one in a bajillion, we do exist!!!  3 miles around my neighborhood is hills and more hills, good thing I like hills!  The first 1/2 a mile wasn't as rough.  I tried something new.  Coach Julia said she walks the first 2 or 3 minutes and then runs.  I did this, and it actually did help that first massive uphill I need to do!  I can reset my Garmin to make that first bit of walking a lap and then I can accurately clock my slow as molasses in January pace in the heat and humidity.

Wednesday is also when I see Amy for a chair massage.  She always makes me feel like a rock star, and I love it!  I've been having problems with tight back and neck muscles for years, when she first started working on me 4 years ago, when I came to her unable to turn my head from side to side, she said it was like dealing with cement.  Eventually all the solidified fascia and muscle started to give way and the muscle memory went to a place of relaxing and letting her get her wonderfully pointy elbows in and break up more of the cemented together muscle tissue.   So I love my nearly weekly 20 or 40 minutes of Amy time.  My left trap has been tight, to the point of "standing at attention" as Amy calls it. I was worried it was the water bottle I carry when I run, and maybe it is, but she said and I noticed, that it was much more relaxed and my left shoulder wasn't trying to 'kiss my ear'.   Perhaps it was a bit of stress from the 1/2 on Saturday?

I did use the water belt on Sunday, for the 3 mile run and 6 mile walk.  I liked it.  I do need to run more than 3 miles with it to really get a good feel for it.  As a runner co-worker said about the belt, he likes it because it feels like it gives his lower back some support.  I don't know if I noticed that or not.  Possibly...

I will leave you with a picture of Gus, he turned 5 on Monday, we celebrated with some carrot cake all around, we all LOVED it!!  He is a handsome guy.  A rescue, I can't imagine our life without him.  It isn't easy to rescue a dog, challenging for both, most rescues have been abused in some way or another and they need to learn to trust humans again.  The first 3 - 6 months is an adjustment period, for every one.   Us figuring the dog out the dog figuring us out, everyone figuring where everyone else fits in the pack.  He is loved and he knows it and he loves us back.  Although I only think he loves me the most in the morning because when I get out of bed he jumps right into my spot, nestles his head on the pillow and falls back to sleep, awwwww.....

Gus at Quonnie, on the Quonnie Breachway

Monday and Tuesday are a Wrap

Mondays schedule was a 3 mile run and an hour TRX class.  Tuesday is a rest day.


I ALMOST managed the plank curls in TRX.  I did a couple and then ‘cheated’ through the range of the rest of the 30 seconds.  On both sides.  Hey, two weeks ago I didn’t even have my feet in the straps, so phooey… All in all, I love this TRX stuff, you are using your own body weight and leverage, it is very cool.  I can feel a little bit of a difference three weeks in, I expect there will be more changes as I get better and continue.  Saw a little bit of a triceps popping out in the mirror this a.m. OH yeah, I’m bad ass!  HA!


I ran before TRX class not sure if that was wise or not.  It wasn’t wise, or make that fun, to run without water. I know I know, it is 3 miles Beth, you can’t run for 30 minutes without water? You wuss.  Well, actually not at the moment I can't (or maybe won't). It may be like a pacifier for me, my big water bottle with the pink strap?  I’m claiming I needed the water due to the heat and the fact it was after 4 in the afternoon when I am tired.  So I’m just going to run with my water.  I don’t think it is a bad thing although I do worry I maybe over hydrating.  What are the signs of over hydration?  Anyone?  Buller? 


Tuesdays I am in the city, New York, that is, tourists, crazy cabbies.  There are days you can put shoes and a nice dress on me and no one would ever know I used to run around barefoot on a farm for the first 20 some years of my life…  other days, well I may be a featured DON’T in the “DO’s and DON’Ts” in the back of Glamour Magazine.  Today was not one of those days, pshew.  Thankfully a girlfriend shops with me and pulls together outfits.   What was particularly challenging was getting out of bed and staying awake.  I may have mentioned I slept in till nearly noon on Sunday, then ran at night, before bed, I was a little sleepy Monday and arrived home with the intention of going to bed by 9:30.  Well, once I got home to the chaos and confusion of four dogs and hubb who was busy working on a new project and had lots to show me my energy level zipped through the roof.  Or it was the box of Whoppers I ate in the car on the drive home?  We may never know.  So this, my declared rest day, I am grateful for.  I may take a mile or so walk at lunch, depending on which shoes I wore, but generally it is a sit on my butt and think day.  Oh yeah and eat, what is it with sitting around and the urge to cram food in the mouth?  Crazy. 



Seemed like everything in the city was overly Air Conditioned.  I wish I had a parka from one of these holiday tourists!  Grand Central Terminal is beautiful, no matter what time of year.

My boss is always astounded that I make it into Manhattan before her, I have a 3 hour commute and she has a 30 minute commute.  She walks in and shakes her head, how do you manage to be in here by 8:30, do you sleep?  I got lucky this a.m. and got on a train 13 minutes earlier than my usual train…  Have to say it is nice and quiet until about 9:30 when the rest of the office arrives.  I do manage to get a few things done.  I am sure she is home well before me, that 6:29 train isn't too terrible, it is the not actually arriving home until 9:30.  Fortunately I have a good audio book for the 60 minute drive from the train station to home and Facebook to entertain me on the train.

So this catches me up for the week.  Ah, I knew the rest day would come in handy for something!

And to my friend who said "What do you mean you don't have to run? Shouldn't that be I don't get to run?"  Point taken, noted, and believe me I do enjoy a day not running, it makes the next run so much more delightful!