Wimp

I’m not going to call you out specifically, but really, no long sleeved shirt keeps you inside? On a gorgeous 40F day like today?  Really?  Well both of you, so you know you aren't alone.  Women maybe the slower of the sexes however we are the more hardy, a little chill in the air doesn't keep us inside.   And if you need a long sleeved shirt, I usually have an extra, and sometimes they aren't pink!  HA!  Extra because I’m not sure which is going to go with what, because after all it doesn't count if you don’t look cute doing it! 

Yeah, I’m a little amped up today.  First run since Sunday.  Monday was batshit crazy, with what I have a hard time remembering, but wow, by the time I got to TRX my head was spinning and I practically talked Joy’s ear off.  Tuesday I was in NY and managed to find 40 minutes to take a few block walk, I was driving my boss bonkers with all my wiggling.  She said “Beth, do you need to go out and take a walk?”  That was my not so subtle hint my leg wiggling was reaching a 10 on the Richter Scale, time to scrub off some excess energy with a brisk walk around mid town.  She is so funny.  Wednesday was a whirlwind of meetings and no free hour. I lost focus about 3 p.m. and remembered Dave and I needed to straighten up the house before his parents arrived Thursday afternoon.  4 hours of epic cleaning and putting away resulted in a respectable level of chaos on the first floor, we really need a garage to put the bikes in, or maybe a decorative stand for them in the dining room, make them into some sort of an eclectic mobile hanging from the ceiling?  I can only imagine what that Zoning meeting would be like trying to get a variance, even for a shed in the back yard. Pass on that...

Today, finally, a run, not quite 5 miles (totally forgot about the 10K anyway challenge I still have a few days), it was beautiful out, probably didn't really need a hat or gloves, but they were nice as the wind picked up just a skitch towards the end of my run.  I took a left out of the guard shack and not my usual right.  I need to mix it up a little and thought maybe I’d nip down Thomas and do ‘the bitch’ or just stick with the long slowly rising hill climb on Shennecossett. I picked the climb and focused on keeping stead on my pace, I slowed a bit...

My watch is still set to biking, I have to remember to switch that after I get off the bike.  Or just leave it on running and not mess with it.  I ran about 6 MPH so 10 minute miles, I’m happy with that.  Just a gorgeous day to be outside even if it was a little chilly for some!

 


I skipped back into the office to deal with a stack of papers I've been using as weight training for the last several weeks.    They get lifted from my drawer, walked across the hall to my desk, deposited, scattered about, re-stacked, lifted, walked across the hall and deposited back in my drawer, repeat daily.  Well not when I’m slogging half the stack and my lap top around midtown Manhattan, in heels, medals should be handed out for that, I’m NOT kidding! 

A big project launched on Monday and about half that stack were drafts and notes and things that could just be recycled, very little had to be filed.  I even found a stack in my only filing drawer to recycle, whoop!  Yeah, someone needed to run if recycling paper is getting this big of a cheer…

Took Ro's Spin class, cleaned up, and scampered home to see what Dave cooked for the dinner with his parents.  Indian Chicken, well done.  We use the same recipe and no matter what his turns out different than mine.  Funny how that works isn't it?  Pumpkin Pie for dessert and the FIL and I polished off a couple bottles of champers (hence the spin class), not a bad night.  

Sincerely,
Beth, planning ahead for the eating season!

My Alarm Clock is in Maine

The title of this should be Pell-Newport Bridge Run - Recap, it isn't...

I'll start where I left off...

Friday - Thoughts about running the Gold Star Bridge, al la Mike was preempted when   "Lunch with Friends" popped up on my calendar and well running, food, booze, and biking are in my top 5 favorite activities.   Figured maybe I could sneak in a loop at Burlingame post picking up my bib and shirt in Newport.  Well that didn't happen, timing was really off and while I do want to run the woods in the dark, I didn't have my headlamp, and probably should let someone know what I am doing.  (To quote MAC  "Ya, think?") Next best thing is a run around town in the dark. I donned my Choucas hat courtesy of Kristina and my head lamp and headed out the door, to be stopped by Dave, just arriving home from riding Burlingame, laughing at my hipster braids.  There isn't a ponytail hole, so what was I to do?



Big sorry to the guy I nearly blinded. Whoops...  

Saturday - 2.5 beach walk with Gizzy, the eldest boxer and my curmudgeon.  

Noble beast my Gizzy!!

Decided we would check out Napatree.  I haven't been there with him since last year, post-Sandy.  He is approaching 13, old for a boxer.  I figure his curmudgeon-ly-ness helps extend his life time?  In any event, we had a nice hike up and over the hill to get to the beach.  It was funny to see him at the top of the hill.  He sat, like he used to do with Diesel and Sage, he was waiting for the "GO" .   We would make them sit and be still, to check out if it was clear, and if it was we'd say "GO" and all three of of them would run down the hill, ok take off like bats out of hell doing their crazy boxer thing.  I teared up a little bit.  Diesel has been gone a little over 3 years, and Sage passed this January. We've both been thinking a lot about Sage lately.

The Treacherous Trio Gizzy, Sage, Diesel

Sage's birthday is today (11/10), I think it is very appropriate, being the birthday of the Marine Corps and all.  She would have made a spectacular Marine!

"Is that a pledge pin on your uniform?"

OK enough of memory lane. Gizzy curled up with me on the couch for a post walk pre dinner nap, one I planned on to make up for the sleep I was going to not get....

Dave had plans to go to Maine to cut down a red spruce or two.  Again, I don't ask a lot of questions, so I don't know the quantity.  He told me he was going to leave around midnight to get to the Baskahegan forest at sunrise.  I questioned (shocking IKR?) the reasonableness of this plan and was told, "Well what was I going to do in Brookton, ME for the evening?"  Fair enough, I suppose, so leaving at bed time, upsetting the dogs was his plan....  hence my 3 hour nap in the afternoon, making sure I had some sleep for my pending Pell-Newport Bridge race, I needed to be up and moving by 4:15 a.m. to meet up with Nicole.  

As an aside, in case you are scratching your head on this whole cutting down a tree or two business.  Dave is a Luthier.  A Luthier, not a Lutheran, he is Catholic (not by choice, guess you say a recovering Catholic?  I dunno this whole organized religion thing is lost on me) actually, but we aren't discussing religion.  His craft is making stringed instruments.  specifically bluegrass Mandolins in the Lloyd Loar style, and as the economy wound up to take its big *expletive* the bottom dropped out of selling hand crafted Mandolins.  Put food on the table or buy a bluegrass Mandolin, a pretty easy decision.  What he has found success in is supplying the tone wood (red spruce) to companies and individuals at a reasonable cost for top quality wood.  Hunting, harvesting, and processing the wood is time consuming.  The tree needs to grow straight (most trees grow with a slight twist), have few branches, and tight growth rings.  The part of the tree he can use he will bring home and the lumberjack he works with will have a buyer for the rest of the tree.  

 The dogs were up and down until about 1 a.m., as I expected.  I didn't expect Jax to make a beeline for the back yard and start barking up a storm at midnight... oops.  Well figuring nearly all the neighbors leaves fall and blow into our yard (there is some sort of leaf magnetic vortex in our front stoop, I'm positive) I didn't feel too bad, because yeah, I can be a bitch like that sometimes.  I got him inside, shut the basement door to prevent any further barking and waking me up, screw the neighbors and their leaves on our front lawn.   Oh, Bob, I didn't want to disturb Bob, because well, he has a snow blower and the leaves from his trees magically stay in his yard.  Of course we do pay him enough Corona over the summer to help ensure he ventures over to our side walk after a big snow storm?  Puffy heart Bob!! 

Sunday - You may have guessed where this is heading.  Long about 6 a.m. I rollover and look at the clock, normal time for me to wake up.  I look at the clock and ponder "hmm there was something I was supposed to do today."  I panic and remember, "Meet Nicole at the park and ride at 5:15 a.m.!!!"  No I don't remember the race, I remember my commitment.  

Check my phone texts from Nicole and Dave.  I have my phone set to do not disturb between 10 p.m. and 7 a.m. only calls from family will come through or calls that are 3 in a row.  Nicole called twice... point of reference if you really need to wake me up call three times... and no I'm not passing out my cell phone number, ha!!!

Nicole is understandably worried as 'Ms. Dependable' is no where to be seen and she can't get a hold of me.

Dave, on the other hand, is trying out voice texting on his phone and hoping to send hilarious texts.... don't ask me why this relationship work, it just does.  We, and our respective families, put the "fun" in dysFUNction is possibly the reason?  Although I'd love to meet a family that doesn't put the "fun" in dysFUNction.  If you know of one, introduce me!

So, yeah, he will not be thrilled I posted this, whateves... Goofball...

Time to re-think my day, well I definitely have time to see Crutch run in Warwick.  Crazy, running for 6 hours? Who does that?  (har har har)  Ro posted something to my timeline about the race and Don mentioned he was running the Conservation 5K in Avondale at 1.  Oh I could see Crutch run, meet Kristina and Sara in person and then get home in time for a bike ride through Avondale to Watch Hill and watch the guys run.  Yes, ALL of you, I'm too shy to say HI, however I will cheer you on!!  Great job Tommy 5K, Gazelle, and Gazelle Jr.  Nice to catch up with you John!!

Crutch looking strong  and determined at the end of lap 7!!

Tommy 5K in the lead, of course!

Gazelle!!

Don, taking it easy in the beginning

Phil running strong!!

As the awards ceremony was finishing up the clouds were gathering, was I going to make the 6 miles home before it started raining or not?  Fortunately it was just spitting as I cranked my way down Elm Street and up U.S. 1. to home.   A quick shower to warm up and meet Don and and Suzan for a beer at the Malted Barley then home to run around the house with the dogs (they were staring daggers through me when I walked through the door - can you blame them?). Yippiee my Sunday was complete!! 



I'm getting there with the Bluff Ave climb, every time I'm a few seconds faster!  

Sincerely, 
Beth, who's alarm clock, the one who will wake up and poke her and say "Don't you have someplace to be?" was in Maine, and who apparently can't figure out how to work the one on her nightstand.

When all else fails, chase your tail.

Sunday morning I was greeted with a very short note from my mother. We eMail everyday but Monday,   Monday she has her Cancer support group and Yoga and that pretty much does her in for activity for the day.  It was a simple, very mom note.  She had something to say about my run on Friday.

There were a couple other Mom words of wisdom in there, I know she reads this blog from time to time so yes, mom I only pulled out the part germane to my story.  I do believe she would appreciate Mike and Seth calling me crazy.  Hubb didn't because well, he knew I'd be more tolerable.

Today, I did my at work run.  The Native American route, as my kid brother calls it.  Hey would you rather I called you Markey?  I think a balding gray haired nearly 43 year old male would appreciate being called a kid, no?



By mid morning the sky was starting to turn from cloudy to sunny, no sunglasses and nothing to catch the sweat dripping into my eye. We've established that I don't always think ahead, right?  Anyhoodles, as I rounded the corner to go up the hill, I was greeted with a big old exhale of cigarette smoke, and a look, lovely.  Listen, I always give a wave and say "Hi", I don't give you a look for smoking. Gimme a break, please?  I know, I know the rest of the running community turns left out of the gate, so it must be my bad for turning right.  But I like that route.

Skipping the first "feather" out and back, to hurry up and get to the breeze I'd feel off the Long Island Sound.  It was a nice breeze.  Then around to the hill on Meech, I didn't do to bad.  It did help that I spied a couple other runners heading my way.  Come on, that puts a little kick in your step too!  Still, even the last downhill I wasn't inspired to run any faster.  Soaking wet I was happy to get to the guard shack and retrieve my badge and get into the overly air conditioned building.

Looked like it was going to rain about 6:15, just in time for the 5K at the Dog Watch.... hmmm what to do what to do.  I figured I'd put on my running stuff and see what happened.  Well, the rain happened early, and with lightening.  Hmmm... maybe mom is on to something with her proclamation "Running in the rain is not a good idea."  I think the bad idea was me telling her, don't you?  She used to run, I think she preferred not to run in the rain, so hmmmm...  I got out of the parking lot and on to the road and the first sign something was amiss, besides the gallons of water in every drop of rain was all the traffic coming towards me, and turning to get to a different Northerly route.  Still this did not deter me, it must be an accident on the South bound lanes not the North bound lanes.  Yeah, quite apparent trying to enter the high way the accident or slow down or what ever was on the North bound lanes and the rain wasn't letting up.  Well, crap....

Tis what it tis, right?  Guess Mom knows best.  After a 20 minute commute taking 75 minutes I was greeted by a very ready for dinner Gizmo letting me know in no uncertain terms dinner should be served soon.  This was backed up by the ever goofy Jax practicing his Flying Wallendas across the foyer and Gus chasing his brown nub of a tail.  When all else fails, chase your tail??

If you were a white Boxer with a brown tail wouldn't you be curious what is going on back there?

Hubb went out for his usual Tuesday night ride and was met with the down pour. He arrived home a muddy wet mess and seemed rather pleased with himself that the runner didn't run in the rain after giving the biker some sort of snide comment about mountain bikers not biking in the rain before the runner left for work this a.m.  This was the perfect opportunity for him to say, what he just loves to say "God got ya."  Thanks, thanks a lot hon.

Long way to say, I didn't get in my double on Tuesday.  There is plenty of time for more doubles between now and the Bourbon Chase.   I also need to get in some night runs.  My second leg is in the middle of the night.  It is described as "Leg 17, 8.6 miles, once you leave Stanford behind, this monster of a leg runs on narrow country roads in serious darkness"  I'm thinking I should have sucked it up and volunteered for the most difficult section, being the new girl and all...  so, any of you ultra runners out there have any head lamp or night running suggestions?  The theme for this Bourbon Chase is the '70's so gimme the skinney, dude.

Sincerely,
Beth, wondering if it is too late to listen to motherly advice?

Friday Catch Up

I didn't do a really great job of scheduling my week.  It happens...  Didn't even have time to update the blog... oh well, it happens...

Monday I didn't schedule in my run and didn't get to run…  so off to TRX to catch up with the girls and work some muscles.  I still haven’t hooked up the rig I bought for home.  Need to find a door that closes or I could use it in the hall and deal with the dogs being curious AKA their version of "helping"?  Hmmm…  I better just freaking get it done.

I did get a new toy in the mail. A Fitbit Flex. Setting that up was interesting, it doesn't come with instructions, just log onto www.fitbit.com/setup and set it up. After a few problems between the seat and the keyboard it was all set up and operating.  I logged a whopping 204 steps that night and didn't manage to get the sleep setting correct. I did eventually find some instructions and *gasp* read them so I understand how it works.   Yes, I am one of the few people that actually read instructions.  GEEK!  You can track all sorts of things with this thing. Tracks steps and then converts to miles (I'm not sure what they use as the algorithm  but it was pretty accurate when I ran with it at tracking the miles I ran).  Track your calories out, and your sleep patterns.  You can input calories in and water in, plus additional activities.  It didn't track my Wed night bike ride.  I was really curious about the sleep pattern, which is why I waited for the Flex to come out.  I didn't manage to get it set for the first night, and the first night seemed a little off, although who knows.  Wed seemed reasonable as I have to get up at 5 to catch the 6:42 or 6:55 train in New Haven, an hour away, so yes 30 minutes to get all gussied up for NYC I'm amazing, no?  Thur looked about right.

Top Tue, Middle Wed, Bottom Thur

So yes, it is a toy and it is interesting.  I'll have fun playing with it and seeing what I can learn.

Tuesday was a twofer.  I ran 5 at work and then did the Dog Watch 5K after work.  Took 30 seconds off my time and am standing at 28:18.  Hmmm maybe that 5 mile warm up is working?  Hopefully I can make it next week, feeling pretty positive I MAY break 28.

Wednesday there was a health fair at work.  I tinkered around with the Wii and the putting green.  Holy cow it has been years since I've golfed.  Really need to get those clubs out of the attic and use them.  I do miss golf, or rather I miss spending an afternoon outside with a couple friends and some beer having a good laugh!!  I didn't get in a run, between a new project at work and a 5 p.m. meeting.  WHO schedules a meeting for 5... Hubb had a meeting for his RC club and I dug up the bike rack and packed up the bike for a 10 mile bike ride around the camp roads.  Looks like a chicken running with a sword, no?




Thursday - NYC.  I was surprised at how much walking I actually do do.  I didn't hit the 10,000 steps or the 5 miles but I did hit 7K steps and 3 miles.  In heels, I think that merits a pat on the back or maybe a cupcake from Crumbs?  Guess if I add in a walk to Bryant Park I may hit the 10K mark? 

Thursday's Tally

Friday - Holy rain batman.  I ran after work around the block at home in a brief slowing of the rain.  3 miles, good enough to lift my mood and put me in that goofy post run mood. 

I did find out what happens when you don't pierce a potato before you bake it.  I wondered what that pop sound was!!  Fortunately it cleaned up easily and I had three four footed helpers...

No races this weekend, there are plenty to run, it is nice to have my only commitment be to have "Amy of the pointy elbows" work on me Saturday afternoon and then go to Connecticut College to attend the Relay For Life Luminaria Ceremony and cheer on one of the walkers I sponsored.  Otherwise the weekend is mine to have a nice long run, read, and do housework.

I did get signed up with a team for a Glow Bash 5K in Bristol RI the 22nd of June.   Scanning through the website after I committed to this, having absolutely no clue what I was signing on for, I was pleased to know there is a benefit for Childhood Brain Cancer.  I'll do this with the memory of Alex Ahrens who passed away on February 28, 2012, age 10, after a 3 year battle with brain cancer.  I went to High School with his father, and the family also lives on a neighboring farm where I grew up.  Seems like a great group of people and will be a blast, a run at night with a scavenger hunt and the opportunity to dress up in glow in the dark stuff.  How could anyone NOT have a great time!?!?!?  Kind of a the city version of a Snipe Hunt!  Any of you participated in a Snipe Hunt??

So there you have it.  Not a lot of running miles, a whopping 11 and 10 on the bike.  Feh, no worries.  I can get in at least a 10 long run and explore a new route.

My dizziness seems to be only when I get up from laying down.  Hopefully this is temporary, because, wow, it sucks.  I'm fine, nothing to worry about!!

Sincerely
Beth, recapping the week and looking forward to a no race and no illness weekend.

Musings on a Monday

Hubb was asking me about Strava last night.  Something about QOMs / CRs or something and what did I use to track my runs other than the Garmin?  He isn't quite ready for tracking his rides, competitive, he is very very much, but to own up to it?  I'm a little dubious…   I know a few people who use Stravat and Rhody Seth mentioned you can track shoes.  So, yeah, I signed up last night.  Thanks for the follow Michael.  I can sync with my Garmin, so very cool, quite pleased with that.  I spent the evening downloading and adding in the shoe data for my post MCM race data.  That is when I switched to new shoes.  This is a pretty cool program, I still need to really spend sometime and poke around.  Definitely a data junkies paradise!

I have the Map My Fitness app on the iPhone and I've used that when I forget my Garmin or I haven’t charged it…  that is OK, but nothing I’m really attached to.  I did find I could load my Garmin data but then there was really nothing to do with it, so, yeah, kinda pointless...  I use it more to see what my few MMF friends are up to, and give them some encouragement.  Then there is Daily Mile, Map My Run, and a boat load of other apps I think Nike has one.  I was a little dubious starting yet another tracking devices...

I've seen this nifty graphic in blogs and wowza, so easy to pull into my blog.  None of the cropping and pasting and rigmarole with the Garmin graphics.



So cool they give you the code to down load into a blog.  Nifty!!

Not even a whole day with this and I'm digging it.  I've only spent an hour looking at this so, all y’all experts happy to hear your advice, comments, and/or suggestions smart or smart assy.

Had a nice little 4.1 mile run at work today.  For some reason I had convinced myself it was rainy and chilly outside.  It was when I left for work, and even on my walk to the fitness center it didn't register it wasn't raining.  I even checked the temp, partly sunny 59F with 95% humidity and WNW wind at 8 MPH.  Still I just HAD to wear my long sleeve shirt from the Ice Age 50.  As I ran up the first hill I was greeted by a very wimpy car horn.  One of my co-workers driving back to site.  Oh goodie, I can tease him about his girly car horn.  It went something like this “ahem, excuse me” “beep” and his big burly hand waved out the car window.  Tee hee…  Because yeah, he commented,  Beth are you ALWAYS cold? It was a little warm for long sleeves.  And you really don't wear pants do you...  Oh stuff it Gar, stuff it and turn up the heat, please!!

Nice run, three days in a row, I’ll probably take tomorrow off and go on a hike with Gizmo, he hasn't been out of the house in a while.  Although Gus has been sticking like glue to me since I got home last Wednesday… poor guy, he must have missed me, maybe he needs a hike?  Feh, tomorrow is another day, depends on who is the most pitiful when I get home from work.

Gus, watching me leave for work last Friday, he does pitiful well, doesn't he?

Catching up on current events I found a story in National Geographic on Mount Everest http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/2013/06/125-everest-maxed-out/jenkins-text?src=longreads  got me thinking about nature and trail running and endurance.   Somehow I expected that people trained for this feat of endurance and was surprised to learn that 90% of the climbers aren't experienced and expect they will summit.  I guess if you are forking over $30K - $120K you are coming at this from a different expectation level?  4,000 people have reached the summit and the author went on to say it makes it mean a little less than it did 50 years ago.

4,000 people really isn't that many people, far less than complete marathons and ultras.  Got me to thinking about my two marathons in 90 days, my 5:09 and my 5:01, I am incredibly proud to have these times.  I did it, and it felt great don’t get me wrong, but really isn't this kind of like the more people who summit Everest make the prize that much less.  I recall back to a blog post from The EJN Show, about finishers medals and tourists in races.  I’m incredibly torn up inside over this…  I’m not fast by any means, I need to put in the effort and I will be.  It is enough to just have done it? Or not?  I think about the Gansett Marathon, the only means of entry are qualification.  I like that.  Those are some impressive runners, and with only 3 marathons in the state of Rhode Island, adds just a touch more prestige to qualifying and running in it for those folks striving to run a marathon in all 50 states.

Yeah yeah, I get the ‘you are lapping everyone on the couch’ thing.  I love my friends who think I am amazing, special, inspirational.  I love even more the ones I've been able to inspire or support to do things they've only dreamed about doing. (ahem LN)  Either physical or life changes.  But deep down inside of me I wonder, should I even call myself an athlete?  Am I a problem with the runners of today?  Am I tourist in races? To someone who finishes in the top 10 or 20 is my presence an annoyance? I don't need a medal for a 5K but that was a cool medal for the St Pat 5K in Providence... Then I think back to my second lap on the Ice Age 50 ½ marathon.  There were 50K and 50 Milers passing me cheering me on.  Oh you better believe I cheered them on!  

5K Medal...  nifty? no?

Oh good lord, do I need to go to Sports Therapy?  Maybe I need to suck it up buttercup and just do it and not worry about anything? Any of you feel like this?  I can’t possibly be alone, can I?  It’s ok if I am.  

Ok enough of that whiny girly horse crap...  The other part of this article was about the litter, both garbage and human, as in bodies and excrement along the trails.  Oh my…  I've often wondered about the process of climbing a mountain and what gets left behind, I was thinking more of gear, things shoved in the cracks in a rock to harness ropes too, that sort of stuff, not bodies, feces, or even trash.  My hubb rides the trails I run and if he ever found a discarded GU package that could be by a remote chance mine, there would be words, and vice versa.

And I kind of stop musing at this point... and pause in wonder...  I can't imagine having the privilege of climbing to the top of the world and leaving behind those sorts of traces of my presence...  I get that we all have to eat and shit and we die.  But wow.  Fortunately it isn't out of control and can be cleaned up.

Over my vacation things got all out of sorts, I misplaced my nip bottle and found it when digging for running clothes at the gym... that and just a 'few' Hammer Gels my cousin horked for me...  thanks Tobi!!

Someone used my desk at work and readjusted everything and nosed around in the box where I keep my illegal space heater.  Fortunately I don't have to deal with going to Manhattan this week, because wowza it would be car, train, bus, train after the disaster on Friday afternoon.  When exactly would I sleep?  Feh, it is what it is and can all be righted!!

Sincerely,
Beth, kinda whiny, apologies, and really geeked over Strava!

Home again...

"Running can be anything you need it to be, big or small. It can help you beat addiction or disease. It can burn off five or ten or fifty pounds and change your life. Or in the time it takes to watch a few YouTube clips, it can clear the cobwebs in your head, give you a shot of endorphins, and salvage a forgettable day." -- David Willey, Editor-in-chief, Runner's World

I saw the above quote on Facebook last night, I can't remember who posted it.  The picture linked back to jessicaalrabbit Instagram site.  I should credit who I horked it from, and will be more careful in the future.  BECAUSE it makes me nuts when there isn't a credit given to the 'author' of the quote.  I searched  the interwebs for the quote and came up with David Willey as the 'author'.  OK I'm satisfied.

This struck me as a great quote, my running buddy and I had crazy weeks, I woke up in a different state every morning this week and she had house guests for the last 10 days.  Even though both have their fun and enjoy able attributes, deviation from normal throws a person off.    Plus, neither of us had run since our Sunday long runs and were feeling the need, desperately, to run.

Last night was the group run in Narragansett.  Met some more new folks and one familiar face, or rather POOF of curly black hair from trail runs and cheering him on during the Gansett Marathon, I was happy to formally meet.   It was also so nice for both Nicole and I to be recognized, we were told this was a great group of people and they are!  Of course once the run started, they all took off like bats out of hell and we ambled along at our pace never lacking for a subject to discuss!  The nice part is everyone runs for about and hour and we all meet back up at the starting point to chit chat and stretch.  Eventually the runs will start and end at the beach. The Narraganset beach is in great shape, all they have left to do is resurface the parking lot.

Parking lot post Sandy.  The sand has been returned and the lot ready for resurfacing!

Our local beach still looks like a war zone.  

Our local beach, days post Sandy - there used to be dunes and you couldn't see the ocean from the parking lot.

Earlier in April - parking lot and dunes are back!  Still some repairs needed to the pavilion!

One of the guys mentioned that everyone tends to end up IN the water after the run.  His sentiment was you are running along the shore miserably hot and just can't wait to dive into that water.  Good to know. Someone is really going to have to get over her water intimidation!

On tap for the weekend:  Saturday is the Color Me Rad 5K in Hartford, for one of my friends this is her first 5K.  Have to admit it seems pretty freaking cool, good choice!!  Sunday is the Newport 10 Miler, hope to see a few familiar faces in Newport!   Maybe a trail run, but more likely a trail ride.  Hubb got my aged mountain bike all fixed up and ready to go.  His comment "You are going to need a new bike" wasn't followed by, and your birthday is in a few weeks, so huh...

Whats on tap for your weekend?

Sincerely,
Beth, happy to be running and maybe biking and to be home!

Leprechaun 5 Miler

I am a fairly bashful person who observes the world with great wonder and excitement.   Running has helped quell a bit of this bashfulness, we are all in this together lined up in the start chute, battling it out in the finish chute, cheering on other runners on an out and back course, I feel a sense of belonging.  I also get a little goofy after races, sort of like a couple Jack and Diets in to the night goofy, and have been known to talk to strangers.

Yeah yeah get to the point...

During the Leprechaun 5 Miler I was sure I had seen Syracuse, so hey, if that was you, how the hell are you? You owe me a race and I'll be stalking you soon. Then I was nearly certain I had seen an old boss, it certainly looked like him although the woman he was running with didn't look like his wife, hmm, then I thought, wait do either of them run?   After the race, making my way to the water I stopped and had a conversation with someone who I was certain was a former co-worker. I asked how the job was treating him and if he liked the new company,   how was his time, then he said to his son (wait, son, he has a daughter) tell her your time.  The son proudly said 42 minutes and we clinked water bottles.  I wished them well and wandered off to get a banana. Wow, that guy must think I am some weirdo, he wasn't who I thought he was.   After finishing my banana and finding a garbage can, I saw a couple guys trying to take their pictures with the Long Island Sound in the background.  I knew I didn't know them, but hey they needed some help and I know I've asked plenty of people to take my picture after a race.  I managed NOT to not take a picture of my own face, love the iPhone for that flip the camera around feature, but whoa  not expecting to see my freckled forehead!  They were pleased to have some help.

The race was held in Madison CT on the water, beautiful place for a race.  It was and out and back (I'm starting to like these) beautifully sunny, and a bit of wind from the west, so yeah, finishing into a wind.  There was a woman with a double stroller running about the same pace as me.  OK, a little faster...  I am amazed by these women.  More power to you!!

Out and back along the Long Island Sound

Very nice running weather!

The race was well organized with plenty of volunteers.  I was going to try the Water Stop Pro Guidelines at the water stop but they had hard plastic cups not paper cups, so oh well.  I slowed down and gulped and ran on my way.    Nice race, one I will be on the look out for next year.  I finished at 48:45.  The Garmin didn't start right at the start.  I was pleased that my pacing was pretty steady all but mile 4.  Huh...  musta been the head wind?  HA!!

And something completely off point, but makes me laugh and maybe I can tie into the talking to strangers theme?  Hubb came home from his Friday afternoon ride with a story about a girl he has seen on the trail a couple times. She was extremely serious and focused the last time he saw her. There was a race on the trail this a.m. and she must have been getting in some extra practice on Friday?  Anyhow, Hubb and his buddy saw her, then she got in her car and moved it a few rows away, and then got back in the car blasting music and parked near them again.  She was fiddling with something on her bike and eventually came over and said "Hey, like I don't usually like ask dudes for help or anything.  My pedal is stuck."  Hubb said he looked over at his buddy and said "Dude, I think you are the Dude in this situation." and winked at his buddy.    I think he was still a little ticked over getting a strawberry and banana GU in trade for a Honey Stinger Waffle, two things he can't stand in a texture he isn't a big fan of.

Hubb asked if I ever ask for help.  When it comes to porta pottys, buses, and water I tend to not be so shy.  He said, "Well duh, but what about equipment issues?"   I looked at him and said, "Hon, if I can't tie or untie my shoes I have no business running."

Sincerely,
Beth, talking to strangers

Brutal

Saturday's "Tough A Nails" Colchester 1/2 Marathon was, in a word, brutal.  From the weather to the course to the beating my body took. On the upside, I freaking did it and the course was, besides freaking hilly, gorgeous.  The race director was out in various spots running down the hills to run up the hills with us.  I have no idea where this man gets his energy from.  Amazing.

I had the privilege to run with him twice.  The first time we chatted and I mentioned I loved his race description however I had not seen any cows yet.  He assured me that the second half there would be cows.   The second time I saw him there was 0.3 left in the race and I said, "I"m coming I'm coming as I hobbled/ran."  He laughed and said, "Just another 0.3, oh yeah and it is all up hill."  I smiled and he said "You're smiling through the pain, that is a good thing."

Let me get some order to this before it becomes a disorganized brain dump.

The race started at 10, in a town about 45 minutes away from where I live, so I hit the road by 8:30 giving me enough time to be sufficiently awake and biologically balanced.  The start was at a school called "Bacon Academy"  Unfortunately it was not an academy dedicated to the study of bacon, instead it is a school started by a donation from Pierpont Bacon in the early 1800's.  I'll spare you the Cliff Clavin monologue.

Checking the weather it was expected to be cloudy, mid 30's, slightly windy, and 30% chance of rain.  It misted pretty much the entire drive over and the bigger mist, what I'd refer to as spitting held off until after I was off the course.  Talking with a running buddy after the race he did confirm that it felt like it got progressively colder during the race.  I thought it had.  The weather history isn't confirming anything other than the wind speed increasing, and being sweaty and tired that would make it feel colder!

Handy dandy weather thing from the Garmin!

I was really not feeling this run, my 3 miler mid day on Friday was pleasant, I felt good and was looking forward to Saturday's challenge albeit a little apprehensive about the distance, hills are hills, you just get over them (famous last words).  As I ran I figured a good yoga session would help relax and went to Friday night Yoga, new instructor, different sort of class, complete violation of the nothing new rule.

Cutting to the chase:  out of 501 finishers I came in 489 and 157 out of 164 for my age group.  Chip time of 2:40 12:15 pace.  Yes you read that right.  The hills did a number on my back, specifically my SI Joint and I ran walked the last three miles.

Pace / Elevation at about mile 10 after that long down hill it started falling apart...  

Some fun facts about the Cochester 1/2  Marathon besides 2013 being the 21st running!


2013 Colchester Half Marathon Fun Facts:

• 10:00 a.m. sharp start time – Saturday February 23, 2013 (always the last Saturday in February)
• USATF Certified course (CT112001JHP) certified 13.10938 hilly miles
• Volunteers on every corner
• No t-shirts
• Lots of hills
• No Awards
• Pre-race & post race massages
• Bacon Academy cafeteria post race hearty carbo re-load party, open to runners, volunteers, and their guests
• Mile marks painted on the road
• Some dirt roads
• Bacon Academy High School for a warm & sheltered area to register, pick up your race bib, stretch, and to shower after the race
• Cows & donkeys too
• Professional timing and results
• Rural scenery
• Three Gatorade & water stations out on the course
• More hills
• Camaraderie, tales of woe, and a great bunch of runners
• An Awesome bunch of volunteers
• A loud and encouraging race director
• Sweep car - just in case someone needs a ride back, (f you do hitch a ride you’ll be the last one back!
• The run has a total ascent of 351.05 ft and has a maximum elevation of 620.08 ft. 

Will I do it again?  Hell yes!  Just need to work on strengthening my back although I wonder what hand the  vigorous yoga played in my demise....  It was brutal, it was also fun.  Next time hubb and I go out to Colchester I will drive him around the course, I'm kind of glad I didn't drive the course or study the elevation profile prior to the race.

Some of my favorite things about this race:

The volunteers at the bottom of a big hill, as I was coming down one hill just after mile 10 the volunteers at the bottom were directing me to turn right and the woman yelled:  "You are making this look like too much fun, stop smiling."  That made me laugh.  I do love to run and that helped remind me of this bizarre passion I have. 

Another set of volunteers had a big blow up monkey and was blowing a vuvuzela from a distance it looked rather strange and I welcomed the comic relief.

The cows.  They just stood there looking at me, like, I was crazy, I giggled and greeted them good day.  What else could I do?

Fellow runners, nearing the end I was getting passed, about 6 people passed me, one noted I had cute socks.  They had cupcakes on them.  I wonder if this is why I was craving a donut through most of the race?  Never fear there was a Dunkin' Donuts on the way home.  This is New England you can't swing a dead mouse without finding a DD.  (I had a brownie batter filled donut, it was yummy)

The volunteer that said, it is just a nice walk in the country.

Yep it is beautiful!

Sincerely,
Beth, who's back is not happy, but overall she is glad she didn't wave down the sweep van.

Wednesday -

Seeing as I missed Monday and Tuesday wordless Wednesday would be a bit of a, what is the word, weaselly way out of a post, yes?

Monday was TRX (no run), I do love that program and spending an hour with the girls.  Plank rolls are still tough for me, interestingly the planks balancing on my left are easier than on my right, I'm right handed so that seems off to me.  Thoughts?

Tuesday was a mid morning run.  It was lightly snowing, it felt like I was running in a snow globe, sans the water.  Actually really refreshing and I finally started feeling like I was running smoothly.  Sunday's trail run was a choppy mess, I just wasn't feeling the run, I was enjoying being outside and in the woods and it was only 7.5 miles, so suck it up butter cup and keep moving forward!! Anyhoodles I started feeling the love this run about 2 miles in.  The difference may have been I turned LEFT, yes LEFT out of the gate. Arriving back at the gate 4.5 miles and 47 minutes later I wanted to run more, I didn't, there wasn't time.

Today was an after lunch run.  Of course I couldn't pass up the egg salad and chips for lunch.  I am soooo fortunate to have an iron gut.  I got out of the gate and remembered LEFT and went LEFT and thankful I did the wind was NW and right off the water and so nice to have that at my back up the hill and then around the lower loop by the water and the upper loop through UConn's Avery Point Campus.  The last mile of my 5.1 52 minute run was all down hill and I felt like a million buck.  From the beginning I was feeling the love this run. At about mile 3 I was starting to feel the runner's high and it was wonderful.  I haven't felt anything but a glimmer of it since Marine Corps Marathon in October.  This happen to anyone else?

My pace still isn't where I want it, but I think getting that feeling back is more important and more conducive to getting faster.  Plus it is cold and my butt and thighs never seem to warm up.  Any suggestions?  Other than running inside?

Reviewing my Garmin downloads I just noticed the weather is included.  Either I've missed this for a while or it is new.  Huh...

Stats:

Tue (2/5) Weather - It was snowing!!!

Tue (2/5) Summary

Wed (2/6) Weather - but I remember it as sunny, huh...

Wed (2/6) Summary

Sincerely,
Beth who is feeling the love from the run, finally!

Clockstupid

One of my maternal Uncles, my Godfather, has an interesting way of putting things.  He tells stories, very much the Irishman, and I'll never forget him explaining that something was clockstupid.  I have no idea how old I was the first time he used this term, it has always stuck with me.  That and the smell of his potato pancakes we would wake up to as he was driving across country and just stop by to see his sister or because the state police were closing the highway during blizzards and ta da, there he was!

Route

I run my at work route clockwise.  That was the way it was explained to me and I just have run it that way.  Talking to one of the runners in the gym yesterday he noted that I seem to be going against the grain, everyone else runs the route the other direction.  I said, "Oh, yeah, clockstupid."  Yeah, he looked at me like I had three heads.

Today I decided to run the route clockstupid.  Noting that there was more of a climb at the end of the route this way, I figured it may have some benefits?  Of course running with out a day off in between makes my pace the next day a skitch slower, and it was true to form, a skitch slower, plus I ran later in the afternoon which also affects my pace to the slower end.

As I'm approaching the last set of up hills I see another runner running clockwise.  I was so jealous, that way feels so much more comfortable to me.  She waved and said HI!  Wonder if she normally runs clockwise or was trying something different?  I'll have to ask when I see her in the gym next!

Do you try routes a different direction?  Isn't it different?  A very different view, isn't it?  Does it make the run different?

Sincerely,
Beth, who wanted to use clockstupid in a post!

Stats:

Clockstupid 12/13

Clockwise 12/12

Clockstupid 12/13

Clockwise 12/12

Clockstupid 12/13

Clockwise 12/12