Three Things Thursday

One:
Gentle readers I think that is over, for now, and maybe we can get back to my dull and boring life filled with running, biking, beer, knitting, reading, dogs, and NOT FREAKING OUT a list of people, including my mother, who are concerned about the commenter on my blog.  Yes, I have each and every one of the comments kept in a safe place.

Two: 
The headache episode has passed and seems to be related to allergies.  Made for an even more miserable week last week. 

Three:
My husband's first selfie.  He was welcomed into the world of iPhone this week...  This is way better than him trying to smile, he looks less deranged.

Sincerely,
Beth, taking it one day at a time

Three Things Thursday

“Data mining ...is nothing else than torturing the data until it confesses…and if you torture it enough, you can get it to confess to anything.”  -- Fred Menger

FitBit – I’ve had one since June 2013, I’ve been through about 8 of them!  They die after about 6 months, not sure why.  The latest version I have, the Charge, seems to soak up moisture from my skin and cloud over then freak out.  A quick chat with a Fit Bit rep and I get a new one, I’m without it for a few days and that kind of sucks.

I had a banner month in January!



January 2016

Garmin – I remember questioning why anyone would need a watch.  The reply was, well some people like to track how far they’ve gone and how fast they’ve gone.  I can’t remember exactly why I bought my first Garmin, it was in July of 2011, and I remember it being a big deal.  My first Garmin run, with my 110 and when I used to get up early to run, so no one could see my slow fat ass lumber along!

I’ve been through a 110, 410, 610, and now a 220.  I’m quite happy with my 220, it does the basics and uploads with Bluetooth so I can then see my Strava Kudos right away!

Strava – I started with Strava starting with my first Marathon in 2012 to record the mileage on my shoes and then slowly started seeing the social networking of it all. 

I back loaded data to Strava from the first use of a new pair of shoes, and some races from the past to see the trend.

So what to do with all this data?  

I don’t do much, when I’m having a tough time I look back and notice I’ve come a long way in the 6 years since I started running. 

Sincerely,
Beth, who likes having the data it makes her feel warm and fuzzy.

Three Things Thursday

Another installment of Three Things Thursday.  It's hard to come up with three things...  

 

Quotes:

 

They can be as thought provoking as they are annoying.

This Runner’s World quote fanned a thought that sparked last night when I put together my training plan for my next Ultra.

 

I only remember some of the pain, mostly I remember the joy of accomplishment. 

Plans:

 I was vowing to not run a lot this summer.  Then I put together this plan (it starts June 6th):

 

 

Well shit, that’s all summer and some long runs, when will I bike?  Maybe a fall Ultra isn’t where it’s at?

Reality:

 

Sincerely,
Beth, realizing "It's better to cross the line and suffer the consequences than to just stare at the line for the rest of your life."

Three Things Thursday

While I'm on the train from NYC to New Haven, CT this will keep me busy!

I write about our (my no one believes he exists husband) three dogs from time to time, so that’s my three things Thursday

They are all Boxer boys and all rescues, each with their own sad story.   Only one of the original three is still with us.

Gizmo the eldest of the original three turned 15 on Christmas.  That is a long time for a boxer to be alive.  His back legs don’t hold his weight anymore and he is not too keen on the wheels we had from when Diesel (rip) needed them recovering from paralysis.  He wasn’t too keen on the back leg leash either, until he realized this was his only method of getting around.  Now he barks to let us know he needs something.  This could be any number of things, he got a leg stuck in the couch and can’t roll to the other side he has to go out (usually accompanied by a greenhouse gas emission), he is bored, he is hungry, Jax is touching him, Gus is standing by him, or who knows.  When you are that old I’m sure it could be anything.

Gus, the poor middle dog, he is 8 and embracing every second of being a middle aged boxer boy, he doesn’t want to play rough with the youngest, and wants to be taught by Gizmo on how to be the old and favorite dog.  He is the one I usually walk, he likes a nice long walk, he stays focused on the task, rarely getting bored or misbehaving, limiting his sniffing to reasonable amounts of time.  Not much of a cuddler however he mostly enjoys getting his neck scratched and will sit for hours and let you do this. 

Jax, the baby, he is 5 and showing no signs of slowing down.  He enjoys body checking Gus to get him to play which is usually met with a disgruntled Gus leaving the room. When he body checks Dave or I he is met with “Taking out my knees is not a good idea.” Jax gets bored with walks, as they progress he spends more time smelling, he’d prefer a trip to the beach to run around like the wild child he is.  Of course, a good wrestle on a lazy weekend morning is never out of the question.

Sincerely,

Beth, sharing a little snippet into the dogs

Three Things Thursday

Runaway Bride:

I was asked to stand up for another runner in her wedding!  This was very unexpected and I am honored to be asked and to participate!  They will be getting married before a road race and the wedding party will run the race in matching tech shirts with the bride and the groom in their special wedding attire.  It is a second wedding for both and they are runners, seems rather fitting. 
 

Reunions:

My 30^th High School class reunion is next month; I’m not sure about going.  The people I want to see I keep in sporadic contact with the others, I’m mildly curious about.  The onset of Facebook helped get a glance into many people’s lives so it’s not like they are all total strangers, yet they still are to me.  I graduated with 85 people, two have passed away.   As it was for most, High School wasn’t something I recall with fondness, the teenage awkwardness got a hold of me and didn’t let go till I was in my 20’s, shy, bespeckled, acne faced, frizzy haired insecure me hasn’t really changed much, I have contacts and thankfully the acne is at bay!  Do I make the trek out to Michigan for an evening with other late 40’s folks trying to figure out why they never fit in?  Or not? Granted it would be nice to see my mom after her yearly CT scan (scheduled for early October).   But would making plans to visit bring bad luck? I've never visited in October!  Like my travel plans could prompt activity in a dead tumor, but who knows.  Hey, even the paranoid are right sometimes!

 

I’ll continue to ponder this until someone presents a go or no go that resonates.

 

In the event you counted pictures and names.
Yes there are 86, the girl in the top middle died of Lukemia just as our senior year was starting.
(the bottom three middle are faculty)

 

Gizmo:

 

Gak it is so hard watching his back legs fail.  He’s a perfectly good dog other than those damn back legs.  He gets himself around and takes full use of the times we put on the back leg leash and take him out for little walks.  He seems happy and adjusted well to the new normal in his life.  So this is how it will be until his health takes a turn, the vet declares him probably the healthiest 14 ¾ year old boxer she’s ever met.  

 

Whenever I think of giving up he inspires me.  My mom and her cancer support group also find comfort and hope in the stories I relay of the canine curmudgeon.

 

Hanging in the front yard!

Sincerely,
Beth, and life goes on!

Three Things Thursday

Competition versus Challenge 

Embarking on week one, I'm struggling with either the Narragansett 1/2 training plan or the time goal.  

The plan – it’s totally reasonable and I am capable

The time goal – it’s totally reasonable and I am capable

So what’s the issue?

I'm not sure I really want to put in the effort to get to a 2 hour 1/2. 

Is that wrong? 

I don't feel like it's wrong.  It's taken me a long time to get to this point of not feeling like I need to be a competitor to be accepted in the running community.

I'll put in the time, the speed-work, and the miles, I enjoy the challenge and I enjoy seeing the progress.  What happens happens?  Or is that wrong?

Rest Days

So my knitting student had a conflict on Monday, which was my rest day for a number of years.  We flipped to Thursdays because Tuesdays are speed-work with the EB boys, Wednesdays running with Faith, Friday’s she works from home a lot.  I kinda got used to the running on Monday thing, and I kinda didn’t.  Wednesdays I found myself exhausted and not always enjoying my Faith runs.  Thursday mornings I wake up wanting to run, but it’s my rest day.  Is that because I am supposed to rest I want to run or is this just how my biorhythms work?  Dunnno 

Monday is going to be my rest day starting next week and we shall see how this goes.  I did enjoy my Monday runs, I’m sure I will miss them.  I could always get up early and run?  Nahhhhhhh

Gizmo 

My posts generally include something  about my favorite canine, Gizmo AKA G, Gizzy, Lord Giz of the Mo, his health is fine, it’s his back legs that are failing.  When a Boxer is 14 ½ he is old, ancient even, like 103 in people years ancient.  I’m thinking that is a bit of an exaggeration, but hey, that’s what I extrapolated it out to from the Pedigree “How old is my dog” website.  Anyhoodles, he gets himself around the house, a combination of walking and scooting.  Nothing is keeping him from his food and water or the couch, that is for sure.  He will bark his fuzzy head off until his hooman’s come and say hi to him, he’s not going to bother going to find them. 

The back leg leash was good for quick little jaunts and lately he wants to take longer walks.  Usually at 11 at night when Dave takes him out before bed.  This week I got him out on his leash and he took off, he was moving, fast and furious and not stopping.  (I took a short video for posterity.)  Ok.  I figured we’d do our usual to the end of the block and back.  Nope, he turned at the corner and was determined to keep going on one of his routes.   We got in about a mile!  I’m rather impressed with his perseverance? stubbornness?  My shoulders were a little sore as the last two blocks were more me carrying him than him walking with assistance.  

The trooper Lord Giz of the Mo
He ducked off into the neighbors bushes to bark at Yoko the crazy orange cat.  Yoko was decidedly unimpressed.

Sincerely,
Beth, who thinks the lesson to be learned is going after what pleases you and flexibility!

Three Things Thursday

One:  Lessons Learned are Lessons Earned

Wow, the world did not end because I quit a race.  But damn is it ever hard to even say that word quit.  Thanks to friends and my mother things are in perspective:

"I get that you didn't finish the mountain race. So how did you quit - turn around and go back to your car? I sure can understand needing to stop when you have had enough - I learned that the hard way. Love, Mom"

I love learning, and I learned a few more things about myself and other people as a result.  Loved the comments I got from various interactions:  topping the list:  "you're one of the guys"; "you're a strong woman"; "you're playing it smart"; "DNF = Did Not Fail"; among other things...  all very much appreciated!

Will I ever tackle those crazy bitches again? Of course, I won't be 'racing' them.  That's not my cup of tea.  I'll enjoy my runs along sane and sedate Burlingame trails, even more now!

Two: Sportsmanship is important

The mark of an athlete, to me, is how well and quickly they recover and how they treat others.  One of my work running friends finished his first 50 miler on Sunday.  Rock the Ridge in the Mohonk Preserve in NY State.  He finished 15th 8th in his age group.   Training for this over the brutal New England winter was quite the challenge for him.  I ran into him in the cafe on Monday morning, looking great and fresh, yes, a tad bit stiff.  Tuesday he was back to his usual peppy self.  I had to comment on how awesome it was he was in the right kind of shape to run the race he ran in the time he ran it for his first go at that distance.  I don't think he bothered with the intermediate 50K step!

I remember when I was training for my 50K, Eric always was right there asking questions and encouraging me.  I did the same while he was training for his 50 Miler.  The gleam of anticipation in his eye when he told me what he had committed to was memorable.

Yeah sure we all have bad days and temporary bad attitudes, they come and go.  Holding on to that glimmer of positive does draw in the grouches, I need to remember to not feed on that energy and let them suck the positive out of me. 

Three: Blather

Hmmm I don't know if I have a third thing....  Top of mind are yoga and stretching and how important they are and having yoga'd on Tuesday and slept well, I know how much my body misses it...  but I don't want to give up my Tuesday rides.  So maybe this is about prioritization and compromise?

After my run today I wound up stretching with two gals I talk to fairly often about a variety of things.  I generally keep to myself so it was odd to engage with not one but two people at the same time.  We talked about cooking and cleaning, and how there is so little time for these domestic chores.  One offered to send me the info on her house cleaner, as we live fairly near each other.  Someone to dust, vacuum, clean the bathroom and kitchen would be lovely.  At least I'd have less guilt about not doing these things as often as I should!

Cooking?  I leave that to the weekends, otherwise it is chicken on salad, boom, done.   Like I tell Dave, if you wanted a housewife you shouldn't of married me, and he seems fine with that, most of the time.  

Sincerely,
Beth, trying this three things Thursday again.

Three Things Thursday

The spring weather is springing forth like the damn clocks on Sunday.  I'm still not recovered from that lost hour of sleep.

When I opened up this post I had three things top of mind and now that the post is open and I'm typing, I'm clueless.

Oh yeah

1)  vocabulary.  In an effort to "tart up" the jackasses I work around we've all subscibed to a word a day thing.  Not many of them stick.  This one did, of course it did.

bor·bo·ryg·mus

ˌbôrbəˈriɡməs/

noun

technical

noun: borborygmus; plural noun: borborygmi

1. a rumbling or gurgling noise made by the movement of fluid and gas in the intestines.

So when I sat down with my lunch of some sort of taco salad created by the cafeteria, it started flying...  the banter, not the gas. 

 

Of course a little googling around and wouldn't you know a comic...

 

Fitting considering we work on a research campus

 

 

2) it is a small small world.  Jennifer went to Chariho High School, as did her brother, some how it came up in conversation that many of the fast runners in the Westerly Track and Athletic Club are Chariho graduates.   

 

3) no good deed goes unpunished.  I was attempting to solicit some support for a project out of headquarters.  In my notes I put "commitment issues, finding someone new"  meaning, the person was upfront and said Beth, I can't, I'll find you someone who can.  I forwarded my Excel spreadsheet list of 'champions' and notes to the team leader to let her know where I was with the project.  Well, she forwarded this on, to let the rest of the team know good progress was being made, and then my phone starts ringing.  First, a call with the persons boss about the 'uncooperative' person.  Then a follow up call with persons bosses boss to make sure that what I said I meant by what I wrote was the truth.  Holy guacamole.  I'll never get that time back. 

Sincerely,
Beth, happy it is Thursday!

 

 

Three Things Thursday

Weekly recap as my only post is getting kind of boring...

I'm cribbing Christy @ My Dirt Road Anthem.  I started following her for the title of her blog only, had to be a farm girl.  Little did I know she was a TRUE farm girl generations of cowboys and ranchers in Montana and a super runner and just a fantastic to read blogger!   One of my uncles and aunt live in Plains Montana and have been inviting me out, their latest ploy was, you could run a race.  Her pictures make me want to start looking for a Montana Road trip!  My family, gotta love 'em!

So three things I'm happy about:

1) I gave up Diet Coke in January.  It's been good.  The first week was tough, the withdrawal from all the crap in them was a week worth of headaches and crankiness.  I'm not giving up caffeine, just Diet Coke.    Decided I'd give coffee a try.  Hooo boy, good stuff!   Now I'm slowly figuring out hydration with the coffee.  It tastes best hot and black with a little bit of cream.  However, it doesn't stay hot long and I slug it down like a beer after a run.  And it always seems wise to get a large.  Then I get cold in the chilly office and get a second so that's 40 oz of fluid in 3 hours... and well not always so good when I run between 11 and 1.   All in all I feel bunches better!

2) I'm adding in weight training for reals!  Squats with the bar in that contraption thingy (oh you didn't expect me to know the technical terms), Deadlifts, various leg and ab machines.  Seems like the squats and deadlift are two most recommended.  Of course planks!  I'm up to 90 seconds!

3) After years of fearing pressure cookers, my mother used to use them a huge giant pressure canner/cooker and smaller one.  The spinning hissing pressure relief valve was a thing of nightmares. Jennifer bought an electric one, and when I go over for one of our workouts her house smells amazing.  I bit and bought one.  The first meal is being pressure cooked tonight.  Teriyaki chicken.  Smells pretty good, waiting for the dogs to start milling with their noses in the air.

Sincerely,
Beth, never a bad thing to try something, or three things, new!