Winding Down

My weekly recap was thwarted by a marathon of Breaking Bad season 2.  I know you are as bummed about this delay as I am...

Monday - 3.7 / TRX - Took a nice slide around campus, it was icy in spots and not so much in others.  Felt good to get out even though it was late in the day.   It was pretty windy out and I was assured "It isn't that bad." by a couple of runners coming in from their run, yeah, it wasn't all that bad, but still I cut my run short and didn't run down by the water.

As Monday goes, it is time for TRX.  We have a long windy steep driveway to navigate after a snowstorm it gets a little dicey.  My second try, I made it up the driveway!  One of the gals bailed and wouldn't even park her car at the bottom and have one of us drive her up.  She hates driving in snow.   We did get to initiate a new member to our TRX hen party, well it isn't a hen party anymore.  Poor Don, no topic is off limit, including snot rockets!    And with a new member we all get re-schooled on the right way to do things.  I kind of appreciate the reminders!  

Tuesday - big fat 0 -  I thought I might have time for spin before venturing off to Richoni's Lounge in Groton.  Alas, I was assured I did not, 5:00 sharp.  After waiting for 30 minutes for the rest of the gang to show up, I most certainly did have time for spin.  Blargh.  My fault.  Nothing like a couple of drinks in a dive bar.  Plus it gave some time for the snow to stop and the roads to clear!!

I am not too hip to pop culture, anyone know what this means, besides the obvious?

Wednesday - 2 - NYC day.  I was a little concerned about black ice on my way to the highway, the roads seemed fine at the frightfully early hour of 5:30 a.m.  I used to be up and running at that time, once upon a time.  I've been contemplating reconsidering sleeping in.  I'm landing on the side of, no.

I decided to turn Strava on and see how far my walks were, 2 miles, not to shabby!  Eventually I will get an overnight in the city and I can run in Central Park.  For now, a few block walk down to Bryant Park is the only thing on the agenda.  

A little snowy and chilly to take a seat!

Love how all over the place the lines are.  The triangle on 41st between 3rd and Lex is a mystery to me!




Thursday - 5 - was able to get out for a run pre lunch.  It was yet another holiday lunch... when will the madness end? This was a nice run, windy again, not bone chilling cold, I could have done with two tech shirts instead of the heavyweight shirt I did have.  When it gets near the end of the week my gym bag gets lighter and lighter.   The office pretty much cleared out before the lunch, most people weren't coming back.  It was nice and quiet and productive and I was able to get to Ro's spin class! She claimed to be tired from her plane back from Jamaica getting in late.  Tired for this woman is still energized!!



Friday - big fat 0.  Lunch with the girls, ANOTHER holiday get together.  I had to go back to work so only one glass of wine to their bottle each!  My first time eating Pho too!  Yummy stuff.  I have no idea why I've never eaten Vietnamese food before Friday.  After finally getting my inbox to a manageable size and cleaning up the last few things on my to do list it was time to pack up for the year!  I decided not to text the girls and see where the party had ventured off to.  Instead I went home and took a nap, I even slept through all the dog dinner time commotion!

Saturday -  5.1/3.9 - Ah, Yule, Winter Solstice, the shortest day and longest night.  It was a while before I wrapped my mind around that concept, the day was still 24 hours but a short day and a long night?  Huh...  sort of like the realization that a gallon of milk is the same as a gallon of paint, just different size and weight, a gallon is a gallon no matter the container or the liquid.  

I took an enjoyable run when I got up, wasn't really sure where I wanted to go so just did one of the usual routes.

Took the old guy out to walk around Napatree Point.  He enjoyed it, mostly, 3 miles is pretty much his limit, so we pushed it a little bit and it is harder walking on sand and through the rocks.   The fun part of our little adventure was trying to determine if the water was shallow enough to walk across from the jug handle.  Alas, it was not.  Although there was a part that was, as we walked the long way around I saw some people manage to get across without having to take off shoes and socks (as I did) and wade!!

Sunday - 3.6 / 2 After giving Crutch a hard time for stealing my running buddy Nicole it was my turn to run with him, yeah.   The message was simple, meet me at the park and ride for the Green Falls loop if it wasn't pouring out.  Ok sounds good.  I was told it had technical parts and very runnable parts.  As long as he didn't lose me I figured it would be ok.

Wow, what a beautiful trail!  Wish I would have brought my iPhone for pictures, but with the rain and the rocks I'd of surely slipped and broken the damn thing.   Crutch was a very good tour guide and kind with his pacing, plus the stops to check out the beauty of the forest were welcome!  The descending grade road back to his truck was welcome to.  Stretch the legs a bit and not worry so much about tripping and slipping!  



With the nice weather and the fact the pack hasn't been out in a while Dave suggested a trip to East Beach in Charlestown he drove a few miles down the beach and we walked to the breachway and explored the cove.  Always a fun time.  Dave spied a snowy owl and I tried to catch a picture of it in flight.  It is a bit blurry.  

Ok it is a lot blurry....

For some reason once we get back there Jax and Gus play like crazy, in and out of the water, and all in and around the scrub trees.  It is hysterical to watch them going berzerkers.  Even Gizzy got a little goofy with them.  When it was the three of them he, Sage, and Diesel also used to go berzerkers back there.

Monday - Big fat 0 and TRX.  Being the first day of vacation and relentlessly rainy I decided  to tackle  some indoor projects I'd "get to when I had time".  Holy cow do they pile up!!!  

A member of my knitting club was 'gifted' a knitting machine, she couldn't get it off her hands fast enough.  It made it home with me last week and I put it together and fiddled around with it and its bazillion parts, I'll stick to my knitting needles.  Way to many moving parts.  If we still had cats they would go bazonkers for it, I'm sure.   Hopefully the next person on the list gets my eMail and I can pass it along.   Yeah, honestly, I need another hobby like I need a hole in the head.  Discretion is the better part of valor.  Does that apply here?

The tree is up, Jax has destroyed one gift bag, fortunately it was empty.  Previously it held some goat milk soap and caramels, so yeah, I'm sure the smell was driving him bonkers.

I have no idea how this tissue paper got stuck in my mouth!!

Sincerely, 
Beth, getting caught up!

It isn't Saturday?

Thursday - Earlier in the week a running buddy sent around a note about a local fun run at a local bar.  She had to teach spin class, would we be interested in spinning and then going over to the fun run, we wouldn't run fast.  Sure, I'm up for a new challenge plus I love hanging out with this woman, she oozes positive energy and happiness!!

Of course Wednesday I biked to the beach and ran, Thursday my legs were a little tired, actually my whole me was a little tired.  Still I committed to this plan, and I kind of had a vision of Lucy and Ethel on the candy line...  "Yeah we can handle this."

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8NPzLBSBzPI

Ro devised an amazing class, 2 minute seated sprint, 2 minute seated hill climb, 2 minute sit stand jumps, 2 minute standing sprint,  2 minute standing hill climb, 2 minute hover stand jumps, 2 minute hover sprint, 2 minute hover hill climb, 2 minute stand hover sit jumps  followed up by progression seated / stand / hover sprints / climbs for 10 20 then 30 seconds.  Ending with a weights and a cool down spin then stretching. This may not make a lot of sense, lets just say it was an intense class, but then with Spin you can 'fake it' but then what is the point, seriously why bother if you aren't going to work?  Getting off the bike and stretching my legs felt a little wobbly then the lead set in...   Probably could have used a few of those chocolates?

As an aside, spin is helping my actual biking. I'm far more comfortable and confident getting up out of the saddle for climbs and just to stretch my legs on a long straight away. Sometimes it just seems the right thing to do, who woulda thunk it?

During the class she kept encouraging people to come out to the fun run at Sneekers.  Think she may have found a few willing participants for a future run with spin as a warm up! Anyone else, Buller?

The run was fun, it starts (6 p.m.) and ends at Sneekers and set up to run what you want to run 2 or more miles meet back at the bar.  The Mohegan Striders worked out the details with the bar owner, a free drink after the run and a place to hang out.  Supposed to go on all winter!  Super awesome!

Concerned about it getting dark so wicked early?  Well the accurately named hill and its sibling hills are well lit!! After that hill work out you will have earned your beer!

Oh yeah and Amby Burfoot showed up!  Very cool!  Running greatness right there!

We ran 2.4 at a decent pace. Progressively faster splits, who could ask for more?



Friday - I woke up to Dave saying something about "Weren't you getting up at 6:30?"  To which I responded "It is Saturday and I have nothing planned, why would I get up THAT early?" in THAT tone...  poor guy.  He more than enjoyed telling me it was Friday NOT Saturday, he was taking the dogs to the beach, and I was now late for work.  Blargh...  Even in the rain the beach sounded way better than going to work.

Hey Beth, so sad you had to go to work, we had an awesome time at the beach!!!

I eased my disappointment with an apple filled frosted and drizzled with caramel doughnut.

Ro sent out a note about a walk at lunch, sure... I am now completely exhausted with a sugar buzz... ironically it was another 2.4 miles at a bit slower of a pace and it looks like it was walked by a drunken sailor, how's that for an accurate GPS map?




And so ends the work week.

Sincerely,
Beth, looking forward to tomorrow actually being Saturday!

Peace

Monday - Just a little sore from Sunday's bike adventure.  TRX was supposed to be cancelled unless I wanted to work out with the instructor.  Sure thing! I planned to run Bluff Point, probably better not to.

Tuesday -  Figured a few miles would do me some good; and maybe work out a combination of a soreness I just could not shake from my hamstrings and gluteus maximus.  I'm guessing the bike ride on Sunday is a partial culprit?  It is a good sore feeling, not a bad sore feeling.

Dennis, a schoolmate, posted a couple pictures from Jalalalbad and commented Helos, Heat, and Mortars...  He needs to stay safe, only one purple heart buddy!  I gave him my usual stay safe and thank you.  He asked if I could run there.  HA!   Right, how about you get the next 5.  So the next 5 and change were for him.  Also fitting was the figure I ran, our HS mascot was a Redskin, the Indian, not the potato.



Pretty pleased with my pace on this one.  Nice breeze of the Long Island sound and who knows what just kept me clipping along nicely and fairly effortlessly.  Nice for a change.

Took Giz to the beach after I got home from work.  It has been a long time, he was ecstatic.  Seriously, once he caught that ocean breeze his head was out the window and I swear the old guy smiled.  So nice to see him get all playful on the beach, till I needed to leash him.  The WTAC race at the beach, I was too late to participate, figured I'd lurk / take a peek and see who was down there.  The usual suspects and a VERY handsome boxer boy!   Gizzy and I walked along the water and he didn't even get all wigged out when a wave came up a bit higher than either of us expected.  He can be a little funny about getting his toes wet, silly boy.    It was nice to get him out for a quick trip for both of us to get some sand in our paws.

Wednesday - NY was put on hold, there are some shakeups in the senior leadership and it has my boss a little wiggy and her boss even more wiggy.  In a nut shell the VP of my department is moving on to a new assignment in January.  Her replacement has been named.  Now it is just the shake out at the level below her (VP minus 1).  Who does her replacement get along with, the usual corporate crap to suss out.  My bosses boss is in that VP minus 1 level...   It was just easier to stay put and not immerse myself in the middle of the quagmire on the 19th floor, besides it was going to be like 90 some odd degrees, blarg.  Work schmerk...

I was able to duck out a little early and get in a ride to the beach, a run, and a ride back home.  It was a bit too dusky for comfort half way home.  Better get myself some lights or something.  I have a headlamp and reflective gear for running in the dark/dusk...  Oh more shopping, what a sacrifice!

The way out was nice, wind at my back, the ride out and the run out, the run back was a bit windy but that ride back, wowza, that was a strong wind!!

Last year I ran 9.11 for 9/11. Absolutely not planned, when I looked down at my Garmin to press stop, there were those numbers...    Perhaps this was my 9/11 tribute?  A little heat, a little sand, a little sweat?  Gave me plenty of time to think about my friends who serve and have served this country.  Doubtful this is of any consequence to them.  More for me to reflect and say a quiet thank you for their service and sacrifice,  my quiet way to remember them and our friendship.  In this grand universe I believe these simple good vibes make it to the person when they need them, giving them peace in a turbulent time.

Out to Quonnie



Run at Quonnie.  The tide was perfect, the sand a little squishy and very very sloped!!



And back home, into the wind holy wow it was a slog up Atlantic Avenue!!




Sincerely,
Beth, always wishing peace to those around me

Brick

I bailed on my run with Nicole tonight, of course there is some guilt in that.  Damn my grandmothers for making my mother baptize me... sorry grandma and grandma, but really... this guilt thing is tough. We are running a race on Saturday and will get to spend some time together so I'm not a complete butt munch for bailing.

I've been wanting to experiment with riding to the beach running the beach then riding home.  This thing is called a brick.  I suppose what I did counts? 7 miles ride to the beach 2.5 mile run 6.5 mile ride back home.  I really wanted to see what it would feel like and it felt great.  Not hot fudge sundae great or Jack Daniels great but wow look what I can accomplish great, and honestly that is a better kind of great feeling.  Shhh don't tell anyone!

My legs don't feel like bricks, though, probably the excitement of just doing it?

After chatting with Mike B about this plan and which beach to run Napatree sounded best, nice hard sand. Plus I haven't been to Napatree since Sage died, thought that would be fitting as Sage was built like a brick outhouse and I've been missing her a lot lately. Sage and/or Giz and I got out to the beach nearly every weekend last fall and the previous winter, good memories. Although I lost some of the video (when I reformatted my iPhone) of the two old fogies getting crazy at the beach, I'm most bummed about that.

Sage and Giz - Jan 2012 Quonnie

I digress...

My ride out was uneventful.  Although I needed to reroute a little as Elm Street was torn up and then decided to not deal with the collection of filled potholes on Beach, wise move, I think.  The ride out to Watch Hill (just like the run out there) seems to get easier every time, funny how that works isn't it?

The run was as I remembered it.  I had only been out on Napatree a couple times since Super Storm Sandy and it's new normal is still pretty!  Not many people either!

Then to ride home.  I got harassed by some teenagers driving by close, then turning around to drive by close again and their capstone was to drive by close and screaming.  Fortunately I didn't flinch, well too much.  Of course I kept repeating the licence plate 466 448 sounding like Dory repeating "P Sherman 42 Wallaby Way Sydney" name that movie and now I'm not sure if that is the right licence plate.  Dave suggested the better idea would have been to stop and write it down, smart guy that husband of mine plus he knows that my mind is like a sieve sometimes, ok MOST times....

And a some of my favorite pictures of my tough girl 11/10/02 - 1/30/13

On the look out for some asses to kick!

Whaddya mean we have to go home, I OBJECT!

So young, so obnoxious August '03 with Diesel @ Napatree

Take this off or I swear I WILL bite you!

Sincerely,
Beth, enjoyed the run down memory lane on Napatree!

Work and Running

Ok, Monday sucked because it was a 'rest day' the weather was perfect for a run, or so it looked from inside the overly air conditioned office building.  I bundled up and kept on working, begrudgingly.    TRX was a nice distraction, and with only two of us torture was on full bore.  Yippiee!!

Got out for a little run today!!  After two failed attempts.  First my iPod was dead.  Chris, the awesome guy he is, offered to tune the music to what ever I wanted if I ran inside.  Awww puffy heart him!! Then I got out to the guard shack and realized I forgot my badge.  I skulked back in the building, drafting off of some contractors out smoking, back down to the fitness center, telling Chris, don't ask, I forgot my badge.  Again he offered what ever music I wanted, awww....  I went out anyway, telling him I hoped I make it back, it wasn't starting out to well.  He laughed!

Not a bad run.  And I do think the tunes have something to do with my pacing.  Amy, of the sharp elbows, massage therapist, concurs on this point.  I didn't check my watch until mile 3 and you can see that is all started falling apart.  Crap, Beth, hold it together, will ya?  OK it wasn't REALLY that bad....



I could figure out how to set up some segments to gain some achievements but Mike B would kill them?  Why learn something new, right?

I saw Ro out walking  @Beach Pond and Eastern Point, while I was running and she said I looked good.  Ahh, what a great friend. I'm sure I was a hot mess.  I was just happy to beat her to the corner of Meech and Eastern Point!!  

No Dog Watch, Gdogg had a bad day and suggested Richoni's (don't judge) for a drink.  He, #1SmartGuy and WolterD and I went out for some cocktails and chop busting.  Great group of guys.  WolterD may be zooming up to my favorite person as he called me a "tiny little thing with a high alcohol and low bullshit tolerance".  

Hubb is showing a bit of his competitive streak and went out for 'time trials' on the mountain bike in Arcadia.  8 out of 20, good on ya hubb!  Now, can I get a road bike?  

Sincerely,
Beth, happy to support a co-worker deal with someone unleashing the flying monkeys on him

Theme of 3

Bounced out of the house on time this morning, surprisingly perky after being visited by Mr. 3 a.m. insomnia for 90 minutes.  I keep trying to break up with him, yet he won't let me go.  Alas, what is a girl to do?

I arrived at work and for some reason I was compelled to check the shoe compartment on my gym bag.  There were shoes in there alrighty, the shoes I wore to work yesterday.  I completely forgot to repack the running shoes when I got home from TRX, unloaded the bag of the stinky clothes and the work clothes and reloaded with extra socks and bras because, well THOSE are what I generally forget.  So there you have it 3 bras, 3 pairs of socks, several shirts a couple skirts a pair of tights and no shoes.  Well shit.  Guess who ran in the dark tonight?  Moi.  And since 3 seemed to be the theme, I'll run three miles!

I did have a couple tanks in then gym bag, so at least I was prepared for my chair massage!  I snagged that out of the bag and stuffed it in my purse and off I went, feeling rather light not lugging my bag.

Ah, Tuesdays, chair massage day with Amy of the pointy elbows.  We caught up on the Tough as Nails run and me figuring out how to get my SI joint realigned and vanquish the pain.  She said "Beth, how did you figure that out?"  When I told her what I was doing to relieve the pressure.  I said "You Tube, I found a video."  She laughed and said "You are something alrighty."  Puffy heart her!!!   My back is nice and tenderized from her pointy elbows and my neck is a few millimeters longer.  Ahhh....

Hubb called to tell me he was going out for an evening trail ride on the bike and to remember to pick up salad and coffee at the warehouse club.

When I arrived home, the young pups were in their crates and I felt so horrible just saying HI and dashing upstairs to change in to my running gear (complete with a reflective vest!) to get 3 hilly miles in.  They do this incredibly cute thing of spinning around clockwise in their crate and then downward dog all in unison.  They did their routine and looked at me as I was heading out the door with this "Really?" look on their faces.  The elder dog just whined because he thought he was going somewhere.  I said I'd be back in less than 30 minutes and it would be dinner time when I got back.

Quick three miles. Starting to get some of my speed back!

My time is getting there.  Really what I liked was the representation of my Orangie and Taig heritage.
Not quite in the right order, the flag of  Ireland is the green white orange order. 

Stats:

I love this course!

Worked with the hills, just have to push harder on the mile 2 up!

Sincerely,
Beth, who should probably find some theme of three to go with the third month of the year

The world didn't end, huh....

Friday I committed to an End of the World Run, 12.21K, anywhere, anytime, any place.  I like those because you do have to commit and honor the commitment. It had been raining like hell for days, so what a better time to hit the long trail at my most favorite place on earth!?!?!  Friday was the last work day for the year for MOST people, being stingy with vacation time I am not wasting a vacation day for 12/31 and will go in.  It was just me and Gdogg in the office, both of us dragging in with the same excuse "the alarm went off at 6:30 and I thought there is no way it is 6:30 it is still dark"  a dark raining day, perfect way to start off the end of the world, right?

Around noon, the sun started peeking through, by 1:30 it was looking wonderful, I skipped out of work in my running gear and was on the trail by 2:10.  I noted the entrance was flooded, high tide and all the rain, and the lower parking lot was flooded, and I KNOW this means the lower trail will be flooded...

Huh, are those whitecaps?

So what do I do? Yes, I take off on the lower trail.  It is cold and windy and the sun has started to disappear.  When I get to the flooded part I debate, 7 miles with wet shoes or no?  I turn around. And take the trail backwards figuring I'll do an extra loop in Haley Farm to make up the miles, to reach 12.21K  It was a lovely run, a few nice muddy spots and rather enjoyable.  Then I figured the tide must have receded and I could go left and not right once I was back on the main trail.   Then I did a quick calculation and knew I needed another 1/2 mile to get to 7.6 mile to be at 12.21K...  I thought, well I'll just do a loop around the parking lot to make up the lost miles from the flood.  My brain decided that I'd do a little out and back on the main trail and then finish up at the trail head...  I think, well was I thinking?, I think, I was avoiding the inevitable flooded area.  It was still flooded, I plowed through, water up to my knees halted the running and I was more wading.  The women standing on the other side of the flooded part debating to walk across or not decided that I was 1) crazy and 2) their boots weren't tall enough to wade across.  We all laughed as I emerged from the water.  They asked "Isn't that cold?"  I replied that yes, yes it was, but it felt good.  The sad part about this is, all the wonderful mud I collected on my shoes and legs was now gone... poop...

Route...

I squished my way back to the trail head and clicked off the Garmin at 7.63 miles (7.58 is 12.21K).  Rummaged around in my gear bag to find some dry warm socks and drove home, satisfied, and a little chilled to the bone.

Friday night was a Secret Yoga session at a beautiful building down town.  It was a bank, and just has such a wonderful vibe inside, and a beautiful cupola letting in the moonlight.  We all placed our mats in a circle around a bowl of lit crystals and did our yoga practice.  It was 90 minutes and team taught, I'd never been to a team taught practice.  I hadn't met any of these Yogis before and the leader welcomed me and asked how I found out about Secret Yoga.  I said "I received an eMail."  Technology a wonderful thing, isn't it?  Keeps us close to the ones we love and allows us to meet new people along the way, people we may have never met before.  It is also not such a good thing for keeping secrets, eh?

I left practice feeling centered and ready for a new beginning, if, in fact, the world did not end on the 21st of December 2012.

Waking up Saturday morning, I was, yes, alive on the 22nd, the day after the world was to end, unfortunately not quite feeling my perky jump out of bed and greet the world self...  damn...   Hubb and I had a trip into Manhattan planned and I wasn't going to miss it!  I pulled myself together and we went on our adventure. By Saturday night it was blatantly obvious I was under the weather, welcome to my bones, chest, and neck some sort of ick and ache with a side of laryngitis, whoopiee twang...

A day of rest on Sunday and I'm feeling better, still with the laryngitis.   I want to run, I also want to get better.  I haven't been sick in a long time and what ever ickies befall me tend to land in my throat and chest, which is pretty critical for running...  I'm erring on the side of caution. I put in some miles tomorrow a.m. I have a Santa hat, just perfect for the season!  Ding dong here has a marathon in less than a month and needs to be healthy AND trained....

Sincerely,
Beth with 7 more running days and 2 races left in 2012!!!

2012 Drawing to a Close

I left work with Jackass giving me a hug and a kiss saying, "You've had an awesome year, it has been fun cheering you on.  See you next year unless we can get together for drinks over the break."  We are off the 24th - 28th, with everyone but me taking the 31st off.  I'm not wasting a vacation day...  Hopefully the guys and I and the spouses can get together for drinks over the break.  If not I made them all some rum balls.  I'm a girl after all and like to do these dorky homey things.

It is hard to believe we are nearing the end of the year.  I finished up my self review at work with the goals I had set out how they were achieved or delayed and the other things that were not on the plan and accomplished due to always changing business needs.

Runningwise I set a goal to run 1 race a month in 2012, continuing on from running one race Oct, Nov, Dec of 2011.  Athlinks tells me I ran 14 races last year.  Definitely my goals!  I should go count my bibs to see if it all matches... I'm sure I have more than 14 bibs from last year...

The last race I ran in 2011 was a 5K trail race in Wakefield RI, at Old Mountain Field, this is part of Off Rhode Racing 4th Season Trail Race.  The race director set a series of 5 races for the winter, with the last ending in March when the time changes back to Daylight Saving Time.  The cost to enter is a minimal fee plus two canned goods to go to the Johnnycake Center.  The last series raised over 1,000 lbs of food! 

Sunday was the kick off for the second year of the series.  The course was a bit different and more challenging.  Instead of a good distance of  wide open spaces the race director kept it to the first 0.1 and last 0.1 being open field and the rest were single track.  Which means you need to pick your place early on in the race.

I picked a nice pace, not a fast pace, and was semi-content to run at the end of a string of runners were were less aggressive than I am on the trails.  Not that I am wickedly aggressive, I do push myself to jump over stumps and rocks and pick a route over obstacles that doesn't require me to stop and walk across and obstacle.  I do love running through the mud...  It was a little frustrating.  However passing on single track takes A LOT of energy and was a I willing to expend that much that early in the race and risk having them pass me later or just end up passing me on a less technical part of the trail?  I ran conservatively until the last mile.

A woman in pink over took the glom of us, 9 runners I think.  There were some nice S curves coming up ahead and perfect for over taking someone and getting more than a few steps ahead of them.  She over took. I over took. Then she slowed down and I over took her.  I felt great, and confident and then WHOMP tripped over a rock and I was down, she whizzed past me.  Oh well.  I lost my cadence.  Ok I gave up a little bit, too.  There was no way I was going to beat my time of last year, well perhaps there was...  I finished strong on the nice wide open flat.  The next race in the series is the 6th of January Beach and Trail in Narragansett.

Comparison of this year to last year...  Interesting, eh?

Year	Final Position	Age	AG	AG Place	State	Time	Pace
2012	111	45	40-49 F	9	RI	34:20	11:05
2011	112	44	40-49	9	RI	33:53	10:56

Sunday afternoon was reserved for the most awesome massage therapist in the world to come over and un-stick my sticky muscles.  As I screamed and writhed in pain I could hear Hubb downstairs chuckling.  He said, "You seriously find benefit in that torture?"  I assured him that I do.  He shakes his head and says he will never understand me sometimes.  I really really need to make friends with my foam roller more often.  Amy just said "Beth you are a mess."  I am feeling exhausted and must more flexible.  That was the point, right?  Tonight over dinner he said, "You seem a lot less stiff, I'm surprised.  I hate massages."  Well, to each his own, right?

Tonight was TRX, what happens in TRX stays in TRX, I took the opportunity to tell a story I've been DYING to tell.  OMG, it felt so good to tell it in a safe environment we all got a bit of a chuckle and the others shared similar stories.  Ah.....  Do you have any safe environments you can let your ass show and not have any repercussions?

In what I can report on TRX, I managed 6, yes 6 plank rolls on the right side with out having to cheat by resting my elbow.  On the left 8, but I cheated a bit with a teeny rest on the elbow.  Hoorah!  I'm happy with that progress.  Last week I couldn't even get one unassisted on either side.

Oh goodness this is full of words and no pictures....  well sorry folks...  next time?

I could show you my knitting?

Sincerely,
Beth, master of the plank roll (well at least for today)

Focus, Focus, Focus

Quick catch up on Friday, Yoga Detox!  I was scattered and bumbling into Yoga, muttering 'focus focus focus' to myself when Heidi said "Hey, Beth we are having a session on balancing the overactive mind next Saturday, think that might help?"  My reply: "focus focus focus, huh? oh yeah, yeah, I think so!"  At this present moment I can't think of what was going on other than realizing that I had to be up at 4:30 a.m. to get myself together to volunteer for a local breast cancer walk.  This is year number seven of the Terri Brodeur Breast Cancer Foundation Walk Across SE CT TBBC Foundation for more information on this wonderful foundation.  They give 100%  of donations received to research!  I've been volunteering for the Traffic and Safety committee for now the third year.   The Traffic and Safety people are so important to keeping the participants safe in any walk or run.  I appreciate the volunteers at the races I run, this is the least I can do.

Yoga was good, once I got focused on the task at hand.  We did a lot of hip opening poses, which was nice prep for this Sunday's 20 miler!  Of course the Friday Night Yoga Chickens were up to their usual antics.  At one point Heidi instructed us into Child's Pose and to put our hands on our butts.  Debbie named this the Ass Asana.  Yeah, it as funnier at the time.  We closed Yoga with a nice Oooooommmmm all feeling much more centered than when we ventured into class.

The walk on Saturday was great.  The weather could not have been more perfect.  It was a long day, so very worth it.

Today was my second 20 mile run.  I had a stretch of 23 miles.  I ran 20.5 partly because I was running, ha, into logistical issues with parade goers in our little town, streets being blocked off and parade watchers putting up chairs.  Instead of fighting through that frustration I took the hill to home.  I ran up the hill at nearly a steady pace!  I think all the people lining up to watch the parade were a bit of an encouragement?

When I got home and guzzled down my chocolate coconut water while walking up and down the block something on the back of my right shoe caught my eye.  Blood?  Wha?   New shoes attack again (dress, not running), I had a little blister thing I put a bandage on and well the rubbing on the sock and the back of the shoe, wow, there was a lot of blood, I'll spare you those details.

Of course this needed to be documented!  While I was taking the picture a neighbor came up and said "Hey, Beth I hear you are a marathoner!  Congratulations!"   I corrected him and said in three weeks, hey, lets not count our chickens before they hatch, right?  He said it was rather impressive and wished me luck!   Sweet guy.

Well that is gross.

The run was good, really good.  20.5 miles in 3:56!

I kept pretty consistent through the run it was tiring and parts frustrating, all in all I got out of my own head about running while I was running and let my thoughts take over on other matters.  I haven't figured a solution for world peace, yet, but there is always hope, right?

On my run back into RI from CT one of the bikers who hang out on the bridge was grinning ear to ear and said "You go girl" and held out his hand to give me a fist bump.  Rock on dude, thank you!  That was a good lift nearing mile 14! Never underestimate the power of giving someone encouragement, even someone you don't know.

It was a beautiful cool, sunny, fall day, perfect for a run.  A few walkers out, a couple other runners and the usual bikers.  Really nothing much to report about the run.  I think I am fairly tired.  But it goes to show you what a little focus does for a person.  My last 20 miler was 4:16 with a pace of 12:47 pace.  Think how much better my 1/2 at Newport will be Sunday after a Saturday Meditation session?

Stats:

Summary

Route

Splits - Mile 17 - 19 were a little tough the rest pretty consistent!

Pace / Elevation.  Kinda explains mile 17 - 19, eh?  HILL!

Sincerely,
Beth, satisfied with today's run.

Rambling

I forgot to check my schedule for today before I left work yesterday and plan out my day.  I knew I had a 15 minute chair massage.  My priorities are as out of whack as my neck.  My neck is slowly getting shorter as my shoulders and ears get intimate, grrrr...  This is causing a fun NEW problem with my jaw going wacky, can we say stress?  Yeah, think so. 

So anyhow this schedule business.  My a.m. was sporadic with meetings and no 90 minute blocks of time, damn.  My afternoon did have a 75 minute block before a 5 p.m. meeting.  Krikies can I squeeze in a run?  Yep!  3.6 miles.  Down to Avery Point and back.  Pshew.  Post run I was hungry and as I was printing out what I needed to reference for the meeting I spied Peanut M&M's in the department 'kibble dish'.  Skipping back to my desk, paper and candy in my hands Jackass said, "Oh great, you're all goofy from visiting one of your boyfriends and now you're adding chocolate and sugar to the mix."  The conversation degraded from there.  We are going to end up in HR... *sigh* 

All in all it was a nice quick run.  And I felt much better, and yes goofier from it.  There was going to be no way to squeeze in a trail run after a 5 p.m. meeting, the sun goes down before 6:30...  blargh....

One of the many things I like about Avery Point are the sailboats! Someday I will be brave enough to take a sailing lesson...  or swim in the ocean....

The view is just so beautiful, even with clouds.  My approach was what my exit usually is so, mixing it up a little! Clockstupid versus Clockwise!  

Stats

 

Sincerely, 

Beth who loves chocolate and running!

Enablers

The weather was perfect for running today.  Breezy, sunny, slight chill in the air.  I packed my long sleeved Team Lung Love jersey in my gear bag and was quite happy to wear it for my lunch time run.  What I forgot was my Garmin.  Luckily I have an iPhone and Map My Fitness so I could see what I did pace wise once I was done.  And since I had my iPhone I also stopped a few times to snap some pictures.  Worked out perfectly as the next run after a long run be a recovery run?  Leaving the Garmin on it's charger in the kitchen was my enabler to run at what ever pace felt right.

My usual route at work.  I seem to run it clockwise while everyone else runs it clockstupid.  I'm not sure why.  I really like the steep hill at the end and the long slow climb at the beginning, rather than the other way around.  But then again Sir GIS Alot was the one who showed me the route to begin with and that is how he ran it so, well, there you go. I'm a creature of habit and training.

The lovely weather and blue skies were my enablers to just stop and snap a few pictures here and there.

I love all the neatly stacked lobster pots and fishing gear!

My route takes me on one out and back and there was a small out and back I took just after that one.  I may explore down there a bit more.  No pictures snapped.  My boxer buddy wasn't out guarding his yard at the end of out and back #1.  My next 'stop' is UCONN's Avery Point Campus, the view of the Long Island Sound behind the buildings was so sparkly.  There are also a bunch of ducks perched on the rock in the middle, sunbathing I imagine!

Then we get into campus a bit and this is the first bit of beauty I see.  Up a set of stairs and on to a brick walk way, and around the point. Lots of interesting sculptures.  I started thinking about how awesome a place this is to work and to run in, and why didn't I marry for money instead of love so I could spend more time enjoying the scenery.

Then I saw this bench, I had never really noticed it before, the flowers caught my eye.  This is why I married for love instead of money.  The feeling of love and contentment just radiated out of that granite bench.  Awwww.

And then it was back on the road and up and around and back to Crazy Land.  

This run enabled me to bear through the rest of my work day, that and a note saying "Sunday 10 a.m. - Inaugural Lions Club 5K in Misquamicut"  Sundays are my long run days, they have been for such a long time that I hate to mess with that equation.  But hey Misquamicut is 5 miles from my house so I can run to the race, run the race, and run home and I'll get in 13. How could that plan fail?

Further enabling me to focus on my work and just plow through and be productive was this popping up in my in-box "6 p.m. Dog Watch, Be There" I haven't heard from this friend in ages.  She is going through some crap and sometimes people just need to be left alone.  I was there at 6 and so was she.  Couple of cocktails and probably the messiest and best burger I've had in eons!  Of course the gossip and chit chat was awesome.  She seems to be doing better, or at least is realizing that she is completely normal.  Don't we all need to be reminded that we are completely normal?

Stats:

Not a fast run, but I did enjoy it and snapped a few pics!

The lines are blurry but there is a second out and back before the Avery Point loop and I have no idea what that blue segment is all about

Pacing is consistent!

Sincerely
Beth who appreciates all who enable her to live each day to its fullest!

Another Mixed Up Week

After yesterdays fiasco with no sports bra I packed two last night.  At least if I keep packing appropriately I'll always have a spare or save myself in the event I mess up again!  Smart cookie, I am.

40 days until Marine Corps Marathon.  Holy crap.  I'm nervous, my stomach is doing flips.  I guess this is to be expected.  I saw someone had posted a walk/run combo they were going to try.  It is too late for me to change my training, less than 6 weeks to go I shouldn't do anything new, right? I did do one thing new, based on today's run I think I am fine with the small personal tweak I made.

I snuck in a 4 mile run this morning, pre lunch.  It was nice.  The humidity spiked up with some weather system due to make tonight a wild night.  Tie down your boats and put away projectiles!  It was 73 F with a breeze and higher than expected humidity.  I kept it at about a 10 pace for my run.  It felt really good.  It has been a while for a coolish day to run during work.  Many of the other runners were out taking advantage of the weather.  Nice to see!  I always seem to be going opposite of them.  I like to do the steep hill towards the end.  (see pace/elevation).  My pacing was a little off.  Not sure what was going on, seemed to be all over the map. I wasn't checking my watch much, just running and waving and generally enjoying being outside away from my desk.

Do you dread the first couple of miles?  It seems to be narrowing down to the first mile and part of the second, so that is good.  Perhaps it is because I only planned on 4 miles?  Curious on your thoughts/experiences.

Stats:

Right around a 10 m/m pace I walked the first "Lap"

Route, hill is the chin area
I run the route clockwise starting at the red blob

Pace / elevation

Sincerely,
Beth, not having any amazing or funny stories from today's run

Just a Quickie

I haven't run since Wednesday!  Yikes.  I must be sick or something?  I had a 3 miler this a.m. and I feel better for it.  Tomorrow is my 4th 1/2 marathon.  Picked up my race bib, shirt, and gear bag this afternoon.

I'm short 3.1 toes!!!

Hubb called to find out if he should pick up some corn for dinner, sure, that would be fine, but I'm really craving bread.  He said "mmm bread"  sort of Homer Simpson like, weird.  We don't eat many breads / pastas anymore.  He picked up a nice Italian bakery loaf and suggested garlic bread to go with our usual salad.  Oh boy, perfect, I wanted something crunchy!  We ate damn near that whole loaf of bread!  Oh, there wasn't any corn at our usual place, it is getting late in the season... salad and bread, nice dinner!

So my run. Weather absolutely perfect, cool (mid 60's), breezy, could have probably pulled off a long sleeved running shirt, but didn't.  I walked to the end of the street, and took off running down the hill.  Waited through what must have been three light changes, to get to my traditional loop in the park.  I saw someone I had not seen in about a year.  This guy, all bundled up like it is below zero outside, scampering along on his walk, hat on and gloves on. So cute.  I waved and gave him a "Glad to see you again" grin and he looked at me like I might not be quite right in the head.  Guess you'll have that on occasion.

Loop around the park, beautiful this time of year, more leaves are turning and falling.  Run through town up and around the railroad station and up Oak Street.  It is a hill, a serious hill.  I remember the first time I successfully ran up it without stopping.  A year ago October, all in preparation for the Pell-Newport Bridge run last November (I am signed up for this year too, that was so amazing).  I was reminded yesterday that I really haven't been at this running thing for very long and to cut myself some slack and be very very proud of what I have accomplished.  That single minded focus of mine to accomplish something does come in handy on occasion!

It was a nice glide back down the hill to home.  Hubb was still home!  Yeah!   Usually he is gone by 10 or so on Saturday a.m. well it still was before 10, after all this was just a quickie.  He was upstairs tinkering with a glider plane.  He yelled down "Your back already?"  I trotted up stairs and said, "Yeah, it was just a quickie I'm a wet mess!"  He just looked at me and said "You take everything to the lowest level, don't you?"  Well, yeah...

Stats:

Overall Stats

Yeah, don't ask me what I was thinking with lap 5 and 6 

Pace / Elevation

Sincerely,
Beth who has her super cute race outfit picked out for tomorrow!

Yoga on Monday? What is Going On?

Labor Day - A day to recognize the American worker who has done so much to move this country forward also known as 'the end of summer'.

No work for me today, yeah!  No TRX either, boo!

I started out my day with an 11 mile run.  It was awesome, I mean really awesome.  I just ran and enjoyed every step. The flags are out in our little down town and it looks sweet.

Downtown Westerly
Oh yeah and the intersection of chaos.
I'll have to get a better picture, later.

When I crossed the bridge into CT I noticed an area marked off with some yellow cones and some writing in chalk on the sidewalk.  The area was marked where one of the bikers that once hung out on the bridge used to park.  He is gone now.  This was a very nice memorial for him.  May he rest in peace.  

Parking Spot!

Memorial

After cleaning up, stretching, icing my knee and foot, catching up on FB, and sending my mom a knitting pattern,  it was time to tackle the lawn.  I haven't edged in years, I felt the need to edge.  It was another well spent two hours of my life.  It looks fantastic.  Hubb said, "Holy cow, that is amazing"

Before

After

I think it is a fitting way to honor the house.  Today, 13 years ago, is when we closed on this house.  It is also when Hubb asked me to marry him. *swoon*

The Westerly Community Yoga center had classes today, WOOT!  So I got my yoga on.  Hand stands were the pose we were building up for.  Heidi builds the class like my graduate school program was build, you take classes (do poses) in a particular order and the capstone course (pose) uses each of the elements you learned.   I can get my hips up over my shoulders over my hands, so I'm on my way to a full handstand, when the time is right.

The head should be hanging between the front paws, but you get the jist!

My run was great, the weather was great, I felt great, it was just great.  I was so loving it and the whole experience reminded me of why I love to run.  I was running, I was lost in my thoughts, I was enjoying the scenery.  Edging was great, I mean really look at the results, I love it when I can see the results.  Yoga never disappoints.

My stats:

Not too bad.  Getting a little more consistent in pacing.

Same old same old!

 

My pace is starting to even out!!!  Mile 4.25 is where the little spur is off to the Greenhaven Marina facilities!

Sincerely,
Beth, who is totally feeling the running vibe, hell the whole being ALIVE and loving it vibe!