Tour de Graveyards

Thank you all for your support and comments.  Truly that was a tough race for me and my whine fest is over. The race photos came a couple days after the race.  There were a few worth the price of admission. I may fork over the $$ for now I'll violate the no copy rule.  I sent this one to my mom and dad and they were glad to see me smile.   I'm kind of tickled with both feet off the ground...

There were also those, are you kidding me?  I look like THAT? Photos...  We all have them, or at least I HOPE we all have them.

Other than a bit of a twisted ankle on my 'recovery' run on Wednesday all has been well, a little stiff and sore, nothing to horrific.  All the rest of the body is getting back to normal too. Good lord what 26.2 does to a person inside and out.  And we do this for 'fun'...  (yes, I'm considering which marathon I'll run next year, OBX is on the radar...  I'm a glutton)

Had a nice walk on Tuesday with the usual suspects, Don and Ro.  So nice to just talk with them, they've been there done that with bad races, injuries, high expectations, and it was nice to talk and walk, the sun seemed to come out just for us too!!  Don had a stellar race in NC, over the weekend.  Great to hear all about it.  Hopefully he will update his blog and tell the story as only he can!!   As I left my desk Gary stopped me and said "No, running."  I assured him I was only going for a walk.  He reiterated "No, running, Beth."  His wife is an ex-runner (knee issues) with a few marathons under her belt.  He gets it and knew I was thinking about a quick mile...   

Wednesday there wasn't time for a run during work so I figured I'd head out to Bluff Point after my last meeting and get in 3 ish on the trails.  I love those trails.  I learned to run on them.  I remember knowing the first split was 0.1 mile and that was my first goal to get to that point, then I was so thrilled to get 0.7 cut off to go up the hill, the small rolls till you get to see the Long Island Sound, then up and around the up hill with its crushed stone, and a spectacular view of some rocks and usually sailboats on the Long Island Sound, back into the woods, the muddy corner, and so on and so forth till the point where there is one mile left at the cut off for Mumford cove, here there is one small hill and then the big hill down to the bottom and back out.  I remember the first time I ran the whole loop, no walking.  Made me wonder what happened to that girl.  

Lots of leaves on the trail and I do get a bit spacey and wasn't paying as close attention as I should and rolled my right ankle.  I yelled "Son of a Bitch"  (my favorite and very first swear word, oh yes it was!) and caught the attention of some bikers ahead of me, they seemed to take off with a start, like a heard of deer...  I hobbled a bit and all seemed ok, just tender and off I went.  Pushing it just a bit on that final downhill and watching for the rocks under the leaves.  Ahhhhh, definitely felt like I was getting back to me.

And look at that I'm QOM (Queen of the Mountain) for the fire road decent.  Yippieee!!!!  The fire road climb was where I twisted my ankle, guess I have a goal for the next run at Bluff Point?

Thursday was supposed to be a fun run after work, all I wanted to do was go grocery shopping and get home to soak in the tub, again.  Fortunately (?) it was rainy and icky and we bailed on the fun run.  Sad to have missed spin class, I had a late meeting, work, damn it,  does get in the way of fun sometimes.  All in all a good meeting, it is getting towards the end of the year and everyone seems to be remembering they set goals in the beginning of the year and now the adage "Poor planning on your part does not constitute and emergency on my part" rolls through my mind as people are in a panic about what they haven't finished and I've become the road block to completion.  Whoopie twang, folks, whoopie twang...  the process is the process.  

Friday was a complete down day, 88 page corporate procedure to review, fortunately they took on board the comments my group offered so it wasn't too horrific, mostly consistency issues. Happy hour with the girls at one of Dave's favorite restaurants; he came a little later and we stayed for dinner they all went off to Pings (Chinese with some sort of a bowl drink), one day I'll be able to go to Pings.

The only goal I had for today was sleeping in and a nice long bike ride with Dave.  I accomplished both and a few other things (more grocery shopping at my most hated grocery store, ever, disgusting that the employees smoke outside one of the entrances in front of the propane exchange - oh I've written comments and chatted with the store manager about this) chicken was on sale and well, we were out and it wasn't at the store I like, and yes I will drive out to Wakefield...  can't believe our store was closed...  blargh.

Sunny and low 60s for the 2nd of November in New England, Holy Wow!  Perfect weather for a bike ride.  Dave got home from his morning flying RC planes with his buddies, we had a little lunch and off we went for a mellow pedal.  Ahhhhh....



So it wasn't totally mellow, it was mind clearing and FUN!!!  We explored a little 'peace sanctuary' off River Road in Mystic, I pointed out all the old graveyards, love them!!  I wasn't sure about taking Dave riding through them, he puts up with most of my quirks, sometimes it is best not to push the envelope, even after 16 years.   He was surprised there were so many, I don't think it is something he really pays attention to.

Sincerely, 
Beth, approaching normal!

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

MCM Training - Week 11

Four Seasons Run for Hope this a.m. didn't happen, well for me.  I was there in plenty of time, no on-site parking resulted in a nice tour of Boston and the Commons and my frustration level reaching an epic high.   Well crap...  another day I will run along the Charles River, so I had a nice long morning in the car. BLARGH. Poor planning on my part.  It happens, we live, we learn, and we make adjustments.

Dave was sympathetic. He suggested we ride out to Buttonwood Farms for some ice cream.  Sure, that would be good, let's go at 2:30, I need a nap, frustration wears me out.  By 2:25 he woke me up, remarking how amazing it is that 1) fell asleep with the the obnoxious neighbors and their dirt bike, and 2) slept through the chain saws taking down the 40 foot tree across the street.  Hey I am an expert napper, what can I say, we all have our strengths. 

Off we went on our adventure!  It was fun, we both had a blast and enjoyed our ice cream.  

So there you have it...  a nap, bike ride, and ice cream cures all ills.  Oh yeah and that downhill (9% grade) on 201 was AMAZEBALLS!!!!  The down hills on this route are truly a treat for the up hills. 

And so ends MCM Training Week 11 - the numbers:

Monday - 11.5 miles bike
Tuesday - Spin class
Wednesday - 6 mile run 2.5 mile hike
Thursday - 13.5 miles bike 2.8 mile run on the beach
Friday - 0
Saturday -  3.1 race 11 mile run
Sunday - 32 miles bike

I didn't get in all the miles on my schedule, or to the track... next week is another week!  

Next week is also the Surftown 1/2, last year 2:16, my PR is 2:10. Looking fun to seeing lots of familiar faces! 

Sincerely,
Beth, moving forward

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!

Marine Corps Marathon Training - Week 9 - Recap

Ok, so I've really not been in a story telling mood, and if you don't have anything funny or sarcastic to say, just don't say anything at all...

Today wrapped up week 9 of MCM training, half way there!  Guess it is all down hill from here?  

On the positive side the only injury I am nursing is a sore left knee.  Think I need one of those under the knee strap thingys, but will investigate PT first.  Amy of the pointy elbows figures it is something to do with how the muscle is tracking over the kneecap and mentioned something about Piriformis Syndrome.  She has always been spot on, so I will listen!!  Last year it was PF and the left knee in pain, like stopping at mile 4 and 10 and screaming, not just sore...  probably something else.  In any event I am pleased and enjoying training far more than last year!!

Monday:  0 for the run and TRX

Tuesday:  4.1 run and 1.5 walk - I went out for a run mid day.  Things in the open space were getting dicey and I needed a break from the guys.  I ran a mile then saw Don and Ro and well barged in on their conversation and walked back to the site with them.  They chastised me for running when I had a race that night... oh pshaw... 

Battle of Stonington - recap I ran this last year.  My splits last year were a bit faster, and my time was 20 seconds faster.  But hey, tis what it tis and I am just getting slower, probably because I am getting fat?  HA!  Well, there is a little truth to that.  But that is neither here nor there.  I've immensely enjoyed the fun runs on Tuesday nights.  I missed them last year as Tuesday was my NYC day as I had a class on Thursday night and well my boss is in the city on Tue and Thur and what would be the point of going in on Wed, if she isn't there?  Well other than to meet up with friends, share some drinks, and laughs after work?



29:40 was my time on this 5K, I'm pleased, it is under 30.  Let's not look back a the beginning of the fun runs when I was seeing times in the 28s, ok?  (oh yeah and I was running 5 miles during the day - must be the heat and the high dew point?)


Wednesday:  big old ZERO!  I had a full day of meetings and dinner out with a couple girlfriends.  I did treat myself with some ice cream from Drawbridge in Mystic and walked around for half an hour or so....  hardly makes up for lobster tacos and a tall tall cocktail...  whaeves...  but we did see Inge's new yacht!!  Ok it is Rupert Murdoch's, but Inge appreciated me saying, "Hey your boat is here!!"

Thursday:  Oh you guessed it NY, watched that 5:23 pull away from the platform and had to stick around for the 5:48, blargh.  I didn't even manage to get in a walk to Bryant Park, double blargh.

Friday:  6 on the road and 15 on the bike.  I enjoyed my 6 mile lunch run until I got back to the office to find out this was actually Lauren's actual last day and her really, this is her final going away lunch, lunch.  Damn that girl out did me with going away lunches and happy hours.  Although I have a sneaking suspicion she will be back as an Employee versus the Temp she has been for the better part of 18 months.  Hmmm... how long has it been?  Well in any event.  I only managed two going away lunches and one HUGE happy hour before I managed to get off a lay off wave and land a permanent job.  That was a miserable 14 months...  it all turned out ok and I am keeping my fingers crossed for Lauren!!



There was much talk about how legs felt heavy and fortunately one of the guys said, well my 9 is compared to my usual 7, so I didn't feel so sluggish for a 10:47!! 

I took advantage of a compressed work week and was home by 4 to get in a ride out to Watch Hill and explore a bit.  It has been years since I've been down to the light house and took the paved?  Wait, when did that get paved? Road.  Observe the magnificent view and take the opportunity to snap a pic of TS house, I think I see a couple guys I recognize running down the beach?  Bwahaaa...

Saturday: 26 on the bike.  Hubb goes out to fly RC planes in the a.m. leaving me to sleep in (like that ever happens with Jax the wrestling king) and get some house work done.  

Dog (Giz) as his co-pilot!  He designed and built this P-29!!

So we go on our ride in the early afternoon.  Quite enjoyable.   I took some cues from Jeff and 5Ks ride and an overwhelming curiosity to see what was on 216 plus wanting to take a ride through Watch Hill with Hubb and show him some of the places I run.  




Sunday: 16.5 run and 5 on the bike.  The Saturday night dinner choice was breakfast for dinner or baked potatoes....  OK so breakfast for dinner (waffles and sausage) was not a great idea.  We both had a sugar buzz and then Hubbs phone making noise from the texts he was getting about Sunday a.m.s ride, seriously, set your phone to QUIET or leave it downstairs, blargh.   We both got late starts.  All in all not a bad run.  I looked at my 17 milers from about this time last year and I ran it a little faster, so yeah, me! 

I enjoyed my run down to Watch Hill and over to Misquamicut last week so decided to try the same thing and add commit to the rest of the miles.  OK I went out for 18 and did 16.5, still and all.  I'm not disappointed and got asked out by some guy taking money for parking.  Woot... old smelly lady still has it.  HA HA HA!!!  



Hubb and I took a pre dinner ride in hopes to just work out some kinks from our sore legs.  Apparently he had a difficult time keeping up with his buddy who rides a single speed mountain bike.  DAMN!!  Impressive!!  We did see one of his other biking buddies out with the wife and kids for a Sunday evening ride.   Nice!

Sincerely, 
Beth, training is on track, fundraising is not...

PS You've gathered I am very passionate for Lung Cancer advocacy, well really any cancer (my family is riddled with it).  I became addicted to running training for my second Half Marathon (Providence Cox in 2012 - Providence Cox 2011 was, well, a very valuable lesson in proper training) and went on to sign up for the Marine Corps Marathon with Team Lung Love mid way through my Providence Cox 1/2 Marathon training...  

I'll beg and plead with family, but if you want to get in on the action supporting me, I'd be completely OK with that!  Yeah, I am not one for sales and feel weird posting this here but here goes.... because maybe my cancer discussions/rants reached you or you know someone with Lung Cancer, or have it?

My Team Lung Love page

Focus Shcmokus

Wednesday’s 8 miles were usurped by a bike ride.  I really need to limit these distractions and get focused on my training plan for Marine Corps.

I had my ahem yearly exam and the usual discussion on health, medication, and activities:  Medications, all but one I’m off and I’m not giving that one up, ever.  How’s mom’s lung cancer? 6 years surviving fit as a fiddle other than the tumor, good, good.  Still running? How was the marathon? Oh you've done two, nice. Anything else, I bought a road bike and have been biking.  Nice!  Any Dualtholons or Tris in your future?  Ah, thinking more I'd work on biking to the beach and running and biking home (apparently these are called bricks) into my training but the whole swimming in the ocean thing has me a little wigged out. 

We had something to discuss during the process.  Bike routes! Doc is a biker, I've seen him out on his Saturday group rides when I run. Well I've not been very far on the bike so he suggested some routes. The Borough/Mystic, and yes the Greenhaven loop is much nicer than that narrow part of U.S. 1; Avondale/Watch Hill/Weekapaug/Noyes Neck is nice; of course Narragansett for a long ride, there are plenty of places to get away from U.S. 1 and the cars. 

Sounds like a fine plan! The plan was for both of us to be home by 6:30, finish up the rest of that fluke for dinner and go down to the park to see Taming of the Shrew (with a quick stop for cookies at McQuades).  Since I had a couple hours, Avondale/Watch Hill/Misquamicut/Weekapaug was a good goal.  

Avondale, RI

Weekapaug, RI

23 miles of beautiful views I’ll call that a good mid week ride.  I suppose I could say it was nearly an 8 mile run?  What is the ratio 3:1 bike to run?  Does that even count?  I’m not so sure.  I felt like I used my legs, I wasn't going all that fast, I probably should wear the HRM to see what my heart rate is doing.  I can’t see the watch to see the BPM, when I run and wear that fool thing it scares the crap out of me I don’t want to know, I can feel it beating and that is just fine by me.




Taming of the Shrew was well done.  Much less shouting of lines and more emotion in the voices of most of the actors.  Maybe it is being outdoors that prompts this yelling of lines?  Feh, I do love Shakespeare in the park.  The Bard meant his plays to be seen and not read.


Today was back to the track.  I found an article on track workouts and they said start with running the straights and jogging the curve, 2 - 4 laps.  It was as fun as it could have been and I enjoyed a few mile run afterwards.



Sincerely, 
Beth seriously taking a rest day tomorrow, hiking with Gizzy, he is feeling very neglected and has been telling me all about it!!

Quiet Monday

Arriving home from TRX Hubb's truck was gone. He was convinced it was going to rain today, I wasn't so sure.  Then again only one of us (not me) regularly tunes into the National Weather Service.  Since it was a beautiful evening I figured he went out riding and I braced myself for the onslaught of three barking boxer boys. 

Quiet, absolute quiet.  I snuck into the kitchen wondering if they were in the back yard?  or one or two of them were...  no dogs.  Oh a quiet evening for me!  

Did the things that take concentration.  Then caught up on blogs.  And now I'm kinda bored, it is nearly 9 p.m. I've been home for two hours...

Saturday hubb and I went for a nice bike ride.  After I bought a road bike, hubb looked around for a used road bike.  Because, yeah, we need 4 bikes in the dining room!   He found a nice used one at Stedmans. 

We went out for 25 - 30 miles, Westerly to the Borough to Mystic and back.  He let me set the pace for the most part and was rather impressed at my speed being a runner and not a biker. He is also my hubb so there is that to factor into the equation.

We had a lovely time and we reviewed routes for next weekends ride over dinner on Sunday night!



Sincerely, 
Beth, surrounded by barking boxer boys!

Dog Watch - Recap / First Real Ride on the new Bike!

Dog Watch Fun Run 

After a “I double dog dare you to ask me how my day was” Monday, I was a little fragile Tuesday a.m. not to mention really worn out from two races, a bike ride, and being on my best behavior (and out past my bed time) at the Worcester Country Club for the in-law’s 50^th wedding anniversary dinner Sunday night.

 I tooed and froed about an easy run during the day.  My aching hip and exploding eMail won out and I decided the fun run on Tuesday would be an easy run, 11 minute mile, what do the pros call it a ‘shake out’ run, just to keep things moving help the aches and pains calm down a bit. 

Well it ended up being a decent 5K for me, huh.  When Stephen shouted out something that sounded like 14:30 at the ½ way mark I thought, huh, and checked my watch.  Wow…  I just ran along not really pushing it and enjoying the scenery.   The Borough really is an interesting and beautiful place.  My tight calf felt better, my hip, well it is still a little tender and I need to pay some special attention to it and get back to my at home PT.  I've been slacking. 

It was nice to catch up with Buzz and find out he is feeling ok after kidney stones kept him out of the Blessing.  The usual crowd was there to enjoy a beer and good conversation!

 
 
First REAL Bike Ride

As I was leaving the house this a.m. recapping the agenda for the day, explaining that I had a late meeting and was going to take a ride tonight and wouldn't be home for dinner, Hubb pitched in that he had his RC club meeting so he wouldn't be home till late ahhh, I have the evening to goof around and do Beth stuff, yeah!!  He did ask if I’d been to spin class lately?  Oh awesome idea! I quick grabbed my shoes and stuffed the bike gear into my overstuffed gym bag.  I am so glad I did this.  There is a spin class at noon (Mon and Wed).

After the 20 minute discussion on clips and pedals at the bike store, my head spun.  I like my mountain bike shoes, and even more that the clip is protected or rather the floor is protected from the clip by the lugs.  Sure the shoes may be a bit heavier, nothing that I notice.  

After Spin class I noticed one of the gals shoes and asked about them.  She said that they are mountain bike shoes, so not exactly the right shoe for road cycling, however they are much more comfortable than her road shoes, plus the whole lug protecting the clip or floor thing.  Another gal pitched in that she too used the mountain bike shoes the lugs protect the clip and the floor and if you intend on doing any type of walking, even a few feet, you were better off, even with the few extra ounces. They both agreed their mountain bike shoe was way more comfortable than the road bike shoe.  I felt so validated that I stuck with the same shoes I already had.   I’ll figure the whole shoe thing out as I go along.  I am sure there are many more things to figure out, there were with running.  Trial and error till you get what works for you. 

Decided to bike to Watch Hill then out to Misquamicut after work.  Thinking I needed a little side view mirror for my helmet I stopped at Mystic Cycle shop on my way home and they sold me this mirror that went on the handlebar cap...  I had a good view of my leg, I already know what that looks like, I wanted to see traffic behind me.  Guess that will be going back?  Or I may read the directions?  Could go either way.

It was a nice ride and I didn't feel scared with the traffic.  The only heart stopping moment was someone coming out of no where on their bike and me nearly crashing into her and her looking at me like I had 2 heads.  She was going the wrong way, bikes are supposed to follow the traffic pattern right?  She was coming up a one way street she should have been going down...  I'm sticking to that story and being a bit more careful.


Sincerely, 
Beth, digging this bike and looking forward to a NYC rest day and a little stroll to Bryant Park for lunch!