Chatty Thursday AKA Friday Eve!

Catching up on blogs looks like most everyone had a sloggy run on Friday.   Wonder what that was all about?  Planetary alignment?  Weather?  Mercury isn't in retrograde again until October 20^th, oh yippie just in time for fall marathons, well if you go for that kind of stuff…

Monday –

My schedule was pretty full and wasn't going to allow for a run mid day, I bring my stuff, just in case, plus I had TRX so it wasn't going to be completely sedentary desk jockey day.  Well the schedule went into spastic fits freeing up the middle of my day.  Well, what a bummer.  I went out for a mid day run, and discovered the reason I was having such difficulty saving runs and hikes on Strava on the iPhone, seems you have to turn ON the GPS.  Whoopsie!  So that was at least 4 in 40 or 45 minutes, I’m going to grade myself easy on that one.

TRX was good, I wasn't as sore as I should have been on Tuesday I better step up my game a bit.  But I am getting 10 solid curl under planks on both sides, kinda pleased with that!

Run:  at least 4

Tuesday –

NYC.  The boss left early to co-sign a lease on an apartment for her eldest daughter in Brooklyn, leaving me to skip out an hour early and attempt to catch what used to be the 4:34 train.  Apparently it now is the 4:39.  Someone has been monkeying with the schedule and now leave earlier from New Haven (the 6:42 a.m. now leaves at 6:33 a.m.) and arrive later at GTC and outbound leave later and arrives even later, go figure.  Supposed to be temporary and no printed schedules to be found.  I know my quirks, I need that pretty red schedule tucked away in my wallet to be sure I’m on the express and not the local and when the train leaves and arrives.

I’m all snuggled in my seat, if you’re curious about this idiosyncrasy, right hand side against the window.  And the announcement is grumbly mumbly and something didn't sound right, fortunately I was on a new train and could see the stops flashing --> Greenwich, Stamford, New Cannan.  Oh great.  I'm on the wrong train?  Me and many other people who either couldn't read the train board correctly or the train destination changed.  I’m going with the train destination changed.  Quickly, quite a few of us, found the right/new train and snuggled in there.  Everything is so overly air-conditioned.  4:39 the train took off and the car I was in was practically empty?  Seriously?  The post 5:30 trains are all standing room only, huh.  I feel odd enough leaving after 5, but I do get in the office well before 9 and have left my house by 5:30 a.m.  why am I justifying this? Catholic Guilt?

I was home before 8 and before Hubb!  Ah, just me and the boxer boys.  Rustled up some dinner for all of us, well their meal is pretty easy, I decided on chopping up a lone baked potato in the fridge tossing it in a nice hot frying pan, a little butter, onions, egg, and topped that off with cheese.  Healthy?  Well lots of potassium, a bit of calcium, some protein, sure, healthy…

Run: 0

Wednesday –

Late meeting meant no 5K that night.  Bummer.  I did get to take a spin class so got some exercise in.  Hubb was home when I got home and I asked if he wanted to go down to the Y to see the runners finish.  He was game, but take the bikes.  OK.  Everyone was just lining up so I was able to give Don a high 5!  Takes like a minute to bike down when it take 10 to walk, huh.  These things still amaze me.  Nice to see everyone finish, y'all looked great!!!  SO nice to see you actually running, a rare treat for me. Made it home at dog dinner time, so Gizzy, Mr. Schedule, was happy about that. 

Nice evening of nothing planned.  Since I've been putting off unknitting (I didn't notice my big stars to check directions at that part of the pattern and just kept on knitting) four rows of a Fair Isle vest I've been working on since November.  Way back last summer a girlfriend and I bought an on-line knitting class, and finally got started watching the lessons and knitting in the Fall.  She moved to Manhattan in February and that threw a big monkey wrench in our Saturday night knitting get together (oh yeah, I know how to party).   

Fair Isle knitting is stranded knitting, each row has two colors and there are no more than 7 stitches between colors, makes some beautiful fabric.    It is all knit in the round, so you just go round and round knitting and changing colors and decreasing as the pattern specifies.  This makes a tube, or really a cone.  To put in the neck edging and the arm edging (this is a vest – if it were a sweater then sub in sleeves) the knitted fabric needs to be cut, yes cut the knitting, this is known as steeking.  Then the appropriate number of stitches are picked up around the hole and more knitting.

More tedium is going to be weaving in all of the little ends of yarn.    Now to urge Elizabeth to finish up her vest so we can steek together.  I don’t want to do that by myself for the first time.  Yikes!

Run - 0
Biking - 5 + spin

Thursday - 

Howie “I’m an idiot”

Tim “Yes, yes you are, if there was an idiot contest you’d come in second place.”

Howie “Why?”

Tim “Because you are an idiot.”

The guys were in rare form, between today being the eve of a long weekend and a week-long vacation for some, one of their hens finally laying their first egg, and the jackass, well being the jackass, lots of laughs all around.  

It was tolerable to deal with this knowing I was going to run with Nicole tonight!!  I was also enjoying the book I've been listening to. Generally I go for more historical fiction, but I love the way Binchy tells  story!! Driving to Narragansett I was zoning out waiting for Fiona to finally dump Sean the asshat, I didn't even notice the flashing red and blue lights behind me then the siren.  Well crap...  I know I was speeding, I speed, I'll fully admit to that.  The second point was a bit of a shocker!!

Debated on using the "So how fast was I going?" line from when I got pulled over in North Carolina...  And decided against that.  I never know if it is OK to fumble through my glove box for the registration and proof of insurance.  I wait until the officer comes to the window.

CT State Trooper:  "You were going 80 in a 65 and following two closely. Licence, registration and proof of insurance."

Me:  "That isn't good.  Is that the right insurance card, I know the insurance flips in September."  Thinking:  Well actually I wasn't following too closely, you should see how close on someones bumper I can get, and I wanted to hear how Fiona dumped Sean so I was not tailgating, tailgating takes concentration.

CT State Trooper: "Either one is fine."

Me:  wondering can I turn back on my book?  wonder if I can get a picture of his lights in my rear view.  Oh wow there were TWO cop cars as the second one pulls off to nab someone else.  I'm a scofflaw!!

CT State Trooper: Walking up to the window with an envelope, well crap...  "I decided to give you a break and only give you a ticket for following too closely. That is how most accidents happen."

Me:  "Thanks!" Grin

CT State Trooper: "Have  nice holiday weekend."

Me: "You to!" Grin

Huh...  I haven't gotten a ticket in over 30 years.  I'll be contacting a CT Trooper buddy and see what would happen if I plead not guilty, the guy didn't have any sort of way to measure my distance.  Not saying there aren't occasions where I follow too closely, this wasn't one of them.

Hubb's only comment on this was "You weren't following too close by Michigan standards, even when you leave space, it is still a little close.  Set the cruise at 72 and just listen to your book, try leaving 3 white lines between you and the next car."   3 white lines!!  A car length, I'd loose my MI driving edge!! 

Anyhow, Fiona did dump Sean the asshat and I was 10 minutes late meeting up with Nicole.   We had a nice run and TONS of things to catch up on.  I'm amazed we kept a decent pace for all the flapping our gums were doing!!!  I really missed running with her and hearing her stories!

Run - 5.1

Sincerely,
Beth, perhaps needs to slow down and back off...  it is tough being such an intense person.

Newport 10 Miler - Recap

Again, can't recall what, other than the thought of running in beautiful Newport, prompted me to sign up for the Newport 10 Miler wayyyy back in January.  Must have been running in beautiful Newport?  The United Healthcare Newport Half Marathon  was so beautiful, even though it wasn't the most perfect weather day, wicked windy and not much sun.  Newport is just an awesome place to run!

Running buddy Nicole had signed up for this 10 Miler with designs on a PR, which she then tacked on being  no more than 10 minutes behind me. She lamented blogging about getting a PR and hoping she hadn't jinxed herself.  Well, she killed both goals with a 1:45 (12 minutes off her Blessing of the Fleet 10 Miler and 4 minutes behind me) way go Nicole, very proud of you!!  I also PRd at 1:41 (4 minutes off my Blessing of the Fleet 10 Miler, and a minute over my expected finish of 1:40).  Fellow NRA runner Jen was also in the PRing pack with her own PR of 1:15, Woo hoo!!  This was the first time I met Jen, a very accomplished runner, hope to get to know her better! HI JEN!!

Last night Nicole sent out a message asking if the three of us wanted to carpool.  Sure, I'm all in for that, it is SO difficult to find people in crowds anyhow, at least we would all be together.   The plan was to meet 6:40 - 6:45 a.m. in the park and ride.  All three of us were there by 6:35.  I, a chronically early person, TOTALLY digs other chronically early people!  This was boding well for the day.  We piled in Vinnie and off we went for this inaugural race in Newport.

It was a little chilly at the start, we had on warmer clothes, arm warmers (that were once knee socks, Nicole's matched her outfit perfectly, me not so much) and a bag to check it all in.  I'm slowly getting the hang of this bag check.  Unfortunately I forgot to tape my bib number to the bag, but they had a marker, solved that problem!  Despite the slight chill it was going to be an absolutely gorgeous day.

Very different start to this race than yesterday's Color Me Rad.  Lots of colorful shirts, predominantly Boston blue, yellow, and orange.  And a couple flags.  

He ran the whole race with the flag draped around him.  I kept him in my sights pretty much the whole race!

The race started with a cannon shot after a moment of silence for Boston.  We were given black ribbons to wear during the race.  I pinned mine to my bib so I will always have it with my bib.  What a nice touch.

The Bib Number holds a bit of significance for me, my birthday with a mumble for the finish!!

The course wound its way around Ocean Drive, along Bellevue Avenue with the mansions and rural scenery complete with stone fences and animals!  Nifty video of the start, sort of reminds me of turning on the light and hearing the cockroaches skittering across the linoleum in my apartment in grad school, otherwise cool to see the string of 1,500 runners!

I spied coach Julia from Team Lung Love, running up the left side and quickly tapped her on the shoulder to give her a quick hello!  Awesome runner, she ran Boston last year, in the heat, an absolute inspiration to me!!

Route

Racing on the shore one never thinks of hills, there are hills!  I remember when we first moved to RI and a girlfriend from the vast flat lands of the Midwest came to visit her comment of  "Beth I never imagined the coat to be so hilly."  always rings through my brain. The hill at mile 7.5 wasn't going to get the best of me.  The perfect cheery perky well paced song came on at that point and I nearly skipped up the hill to Jason Mraz singing "I'm Yours" and that hill was mine!  The previous ones offered spectacular views and the ones after? Well they are a hill, just get over it!

Pace / Elevation - consistent and I walked the water stops

That and they were getting me closer to the finish.  Julia spied me in the final yards of the finish and cheered me on.  It was almost like mile 23 of MCM all over again and I got a good burst of joy to get me across the finish line, which seemed like it would never come as we looped around inside Fort Adams.  Ugh...

VICTORIOUS WOMEN RUNNERS!!

We ambled to the car, back to the park and ride, and then on to breakfast!  Discussed our running history, families, and what we were going to do with the rest of the afternoon.  Jen and Nicole are smart cookies as they had nothing on the agenda, while ding dong thought she might (and did) take Lord Giz of the Mo out for a hike in Burlingame.  It was fun.  I managed to figure out where I lost the Sammy C trail  (it is a beautiful and technical trail - plan to attack that post Ice Age Trail 1/2 Marathon) and met one of Hubbs riding buddies out on the trail.  Gizmo enjoyed his outing and exploring the trail and the woods, he was especially thrilled with the running streams to wade in and get a drink of water.

Gotta love that gray mug and muddy paws on my old guy!

Sincerely,
Beth, happy with her racing weekend and ready for Monday to relax!

Group Run

Today fellow blogger and runner Nicole and I joined the Thursday night run with the NRA.  No not that NRA, the Narragansett Running Association, silly.

The last time I ran with another person was with the Hare to my Tortoise pace, the supportive and ever awesome Don way back in July last year.  The forces converged and I found someone who runs my pace who also wanted to join these group runs and this running club.  Woot!!

Having met several people at the dinner before the Gansett Marathon and while volunteering and committing that I and a friend were going to join the group run on the 18th, was a good idea!  It was nice to see familiar faces, that always puts me at ease, and they were happy to see we were participating!!  Mostly what put me at ease was seeing Nicole's bright yellow vehicle!!!

A note reminding the group that the group runs were back at the beach, per tradition, post Boston Marathon and that one of the women runners was bringing spare Boston Marathon shirts for anyone who didn't have one so we could run for Boston.  That was super sweet.  Nicole and I both put on the Marathon shirts over what we had on.  The two new people were introduced and the process explained.  Run for an hour, so what ever that works for you with miles.  For us 5 miles seemed reasonable.  Dave and Jim ran with us.  Jim only for a mile as he had participated in the pre-run for 8 miles and only wanted to run 10 tonight.  Have to say it was awesomely impressive to see a group of 6 runners running towards the meeting point all wearing Boston Marathon shirts.  These are the moments I wish I had my phone with me to snap a picture.

The faster runners took off at their pace and the four of us hung back, which is fine.  Dave explained that he runs generally in the middle and would hang back with us till the cut off for our 5 mile loop as he was doing 6 or so.  When we realized Jim had cut out and Nicole was alone, we stopped and waited for her.

For some reason my potty mouth was in full force.

Slight digression... I was able to catch a train out of Grand Central with my pal E  for a much needed therapy session.  She explained this as just my agitation over the bombs at the Boston Marathon.  She is a former runner, her knees took her out of the race.  Her mother in her 80s still runs. The two of them have been discussing this and was it about marathoners?  No I don't think it was, neither did E, her mom did.  It is nice to say what I needed to say about how I was feeling.  She said someone stopped her mid sentence and said "When did you start swearing?"  she realized that this was just her angst over the bombs in Boston.  Probably me to, but then my language has always been a bit on the saucy side, just not usually with people I don't know well...

When we got all regrouped with Nicole I told the story of a group ride hubb led where he left someone behind.  The biker did understand the rule of three.  After the third time you say, don't wait, go ahead, you get left behind.  I think that is a fine rule.  Hubb has had to drop back on group rides and he says it is a tough on both sides, knowing you can't keep up and don't want to hold people back and knowing the person is struggling to keep up and knowing you don't want to leave them.  When hubb told the story I did actually call him a jerk for leaving a biker behind and then when he told me it was a girl I called him prick for leaving her behind.  I think the story is funny. I'll need to be more mindful of my language!!!

What I noticed was how people described their runs, the NRA runners, like Don, describe them in pace per mile.  I describe them in total time to complete.  The pieces of this puzzle started to fall together when Nicole and I were running and talking about the Newport 10 Miler next Sunday.  She wanted to know what I was aiming for, and we both speak total time.  I figure I want to be under a 10 minute pace so 100 minutes and I take 5 minutes off for some arbitrary reason so came up with 95 minutes.  I have to go to a pace calculator to figure out what actual pace that is that I need to aim for (9:30).  Think I am beginning to get the connection between talking pace rather than time, because if you don't know what pace you need to maintain how are you going to finish with in the specified time.  That and the horror of doing math in your head!!

We ran a respectable 5 miles in 52 minutes (or a 10:24 pace)!!  Chatting the entire time!!!

Arriving home Hubb asked how it was I smiled and said "Awesome, can't wait for the next one!"

Sincerely,
Beth who thinks she may be a joiner

Sharing Meals and Discussions

A long time friend of Hubb is in for the long weekend.  They've been off catching up on what is going on in their lives and I've had a bit of a chance to chit chat with him.  We all went out to dinner last night.  Late, like we didn't eat until after 8.  I was tired from my run yesterday and both guys agreed I looked exhausted, thanks guys.  So they let me lead the conversation.  Nice, the tired girl gets to babble...

Sage - Running

So we talked about running, or rather I talked, they listened and offered some opinions on things that have been bugging me.

A few months back in a locally written publication on running "Level Renner"  (yeah, take a minute and study the title, see what it is?  nifty eh?)  SO anyhow it is about old school running in New England and the writers write on the talent in the area and there are a few opinion pieces.  I find it interesting and inspiring and one article just ticked me off (read: made me think) I just had to talk about it. The article in Issue 8 July/Aug 2012 ( Page 22 "Taking the Race out of the Run" article).

Gizmo and Sage - Running

I want to be PERFECTLY clear I have total respect for the Level Renner magazine, the publisher, the contributors, and the articles.  They are well written, insightful, helpful, and inspiring.  What I love about other people's opinions, even if they irk me, is the simple fact they make me think.  Something or someone that can get me into the "whys" of my own thought process and belief process is freaking AWESOME.

Diesel and Gizmo - Running

The article in a nut shell was on how finisher medals are ruining the sport of running, that there has to be a winner and not everyone can be the winner, so why does everyone get a medal?  EJN makes fair points on the medal upping the cost of the race.  He notes, he doesn't disdain the finisher medal as it represents the time he took to train for the race.  He also makes a not so nice points about 'tourists' in races which is what I think I zeroed in on.  As I look at my bulletin board with all of my race bibs, and my three finisher medals pinned to it (my race bibs all have the time, date, race name on them - can we say geek?) I wonder, what difference does the finisher medal make?  To me, not a bit of difference.  What difference does the finisher medal make to someone else?  Well my conversation with Deb yesterday sussed that one out.  Remember Deb, the woman I met up with on my run back to Watch Hill?  The cancer survivor?  She said that there was such a thrill when she finished the Disney Princess 1/2 Marathon and they put that medal around her neck.  To her it signified (eeriely similar to EJN) what she had accomplished.  She a cancer survivor, completed a 1/2 marathon and was given a medal by a princess.  This, my dear reader, nearly brought me to tears when I was running.

Jax - Running

So fast forward to pizza out with the boys last night and my blathering on about running and this subject of finisher medals came up and this article and my insecurity over runners who are faster than me thinking I'm not a real runner or worthy of running the same races as them.  Well, really, there are qualification only races out there  Boston Marathon, Gansett Marathon, to name two local to me.  So anyhoodles, both Hubb and his friend said that there are 'wackjobs in every passion' Hubb runs into them with his business, with his latest hobby of RC planes, his friend runs into it with furniture making and with wood carving.  In the span of 90 seconds these guys made me feel a lot less like a 'tourist' and more like a real competitor.  So yes, I have a passion for running, and no matter what the 'wackjobs' opinions are I belong and shouldn't feel insecure.  Thanks guys!

Gus - Running

Today was a long past due brunch with two gal pals.  We met at a swanky resort on the Long Island sound and had brunch and chatted for the better part of three hours.  I also got to deliver some Vernors to one friend and had both of them tell me if my feet looked fat in these new shoes.  My feet did not look fat in the shoes and they were both wicked jealous of the shoes.  Yes, guys, feet can look fat in shoes.  There was no "Margaret Thatcher" going on with my pretty red patent Joan & Davids with a cute bow on the toe box.  Guess which shoes I'm wearing on Tuesday!

Diesel - Running

One of the things we chatted about was my run with Deb yesterday.  I run by myself, I train by myself, this is a very singular inwardly focused thing for me.  Part of my running insecurity is why I don't tend to run with people, and I am just not used to being with people when I do things.  My passions have all been very single user focused, knitting, yoga, reading, see not really a group activity sort of thing... Although each lends it self to have some group components, but not a mandatory thing to be in a group.  Anyhow, I griped a bit about not really wanting to run WITH someone, but yet I found the conversation refreshing and it didn't bother me, but still I was having a lousy run and wasn't sure I wanted to run with someone.  Both my gals agreed that she just plopped into the middle of my "me time" it was OK for me to wave her off when I did, and either one of them would have waved her off sooner.  I do think she is very much accustomed to running with someone, as she belongs to a running club and goes to 'track practice' while I run on my own and run hills and do speed work on my own (which apparently takes discipline, who knew? it was on my schedule so I do it, I didn't think I had a choice).  Again, in the span of 90 seconds my feelings were justified, perhaps validated is the better word?

Jax and Gus - Running

It truly is amazing what the ability to just talk through something with someone or two someones who know you and what makes you tick brings such clarity to a situation.  It is OK to feel the way I feel.  I never want to harm or hurt anyone, and there is this ever present fear of disappointing someone or hurting their feelings that compels me to, well, not just say or do what I want.  Interestingly enough, in the end, like with Deb, I really learned something and got to meet a really inspiring and wonderful person.  Had I just said "Hey, not in the mood." I probably would have kicked myself for being mean and self centered.  Instead, I did learn something about someone else and about myself.  Or is this the optimist in me making silk out of a sows ear?

Sage - Running

Sincerely,
Beth, who's dogs have taught her sometimes it is fun to run alone, and sometimes it is fun to run with someone.

Beth runs with a Friend!

On tap for today was a 10 mile run.  I committed to running with a co-worker.  Boy was I nervous!!!  I did run with Carrie (fellow Team Lung Lover) in the Providence Half Marathon, and we did pretty well.  For starters she was a girl.  My co-worker is a guy, a fast guy, like 7:30 5K pace guy.  Needless to say I didn't sleep well worrying if my paltry 10 pace was going to bore him to tears.  Yeah, yeah, I should have factored in that 10M is 3x as long as a 5K and he is a friendly runner guy, not an elitist runner guy, and he was warned I was 'slow'.  But still, I do like to worry on occasion.

My runner friend mapped out a nice route with water and pit stops.  I don't know the area so it didn't make much sense to me, I just knew it was 10.35 miles per his mapping program.  I was good with that.  I can run 10 miles, not a problem.

Let us not forget I ran 6 miles, barefoot, on the beach Saturday morning and didn't even factor this into the whole, lack of sleep nervous state I had gotten myself into.  I felt my usual craptastic miles 1 - 3.  Seriously, anyone else feel this way?  Is it mental?  How do I over come it? Mile 4 I was feeling pretty great and we kept on keeping on.  For starters it was down hill, and back towards the shore, shady, and yes back towards the car.  Did I mention downhill?

We chatted and ran, so I wasn't struggling with my pace, we were around 10 - 10:30, which he claimed was fine, and it was.  Mile 8 things began to fall apart a bit and we walked and ran till I just called it quits, apologizing the whole time.  We walked the last mile and called it a good 9 mile run.  Point of information, his Achilles tendon hurt, so he was happy for the reprieve walking allowed.

The surprise was the view at the 'end' of the run, where he planned we would walk.  OMG, stunning.  The picture doesn't do it justice, but here it is anyhow:

I got home, iced my left foot as my Plantar Fasciitis is acting up.  Didn't bug me when I ran on the beach, hmmm... and spent the balance of the day playing with the dogs, reading, and playing Words With Friends.

What did I learn?

1. If someone says they want to run with you, they do
2. It is not a race
3. If you need to take a break take a break
4. It is a little stressful running with someone for the first time, for both of you, cut yourself some slack