One in a Bazillion

There is always that one guy in a girls life, well I hope there is for all girls.

The one who you rode the school bus with, who never teased you, who always looked out for you.  Who fed you your first taste of moonshine in the back of that big yellow school bus.  Probably would have taken you to prom, if you really wanted to go, because he knew you never had a boyfriend and weren't going to get asked.  The guy who went in to hiding and on the bud light and salad diet to lose 100 lbs in a summer to shed the nickname he hated Hogger and scared the living crap out of you laying on your parents couch talking to you like he knew you!!    The one who got it that we never fit in and taught you there was no point in fitting in.   The one who borrowed your car and got a ticket for going the wrong way down a one way street.  I told him not to take that pink duck off the rear view mirror!  Did he listen? No!  The one who knew you were pretty before any of the other boys noticed or you did for that matter.  The one who taught you how to shoot pool and you spent most weekend evenings hanging out in his parents basement with his brother and your brothers and a smattering of different friends you still have in common.  The one who had the New Years Eve party, where you learned to play euchre and to sit with the bathtub to secure you were the winning team.  The one who dated a crazy girl and asked you to be friends with her so that he could keep an eye on her from a distance after he dumped her.  The one who gave you such a huge bear hug every vertebrae cracked from the top to the bottom and you felt an inch taller.   The one who just knew when you were going to do something stupid and if he couldn't talk you out of it he bandaged the wounds. The one who told you about this new girl with a sparkle in his eye you'd never seen before, and when you finally met her you knew he found the one. The one who told your husband, in the receiving line, at your wedding "You ever hurt her you will regret it."

A dear friend, a son, a father, a husband, a brother, a brother-in-law, a neighbor, and an uncle.

Rest in Peace Andrew, you were one in a bazillion.

More About Eating, Less About Running

Hubb's birthday was Monday, he is now older than me, again, pshew. It has been a tough 81 days!

Monday my work schedule was all bunged up, and I didn't get out for a run, I was kind of bummed but had a productive day which is probably more important, seeing as that is what pays the bills.   TRX was just me, we had class since I was already there, usually two is the minimum.  It was nice to spend an hour talking with my friend about subjects all over the map and noting that my core strength has dramatically improved since I started class, late last summer.  Guess regular conditioning does that for a person, eh?  She laughed about how I couldn't do a curl under plank to save my life and now I was managing a solid 9 on each side.  Huh...  

Hubb wanted to go to Captain Scott's Lobster Dock for dinner, cool, when he got there the line was outrageous so we went up to The Plum Tomato in Colchester.  Yes, a ridiculously long way to drive for pizza, it is simply the best pizza, large white, with chicken and triple pesto. Their pesto is ridiculous and the combo with a little romano cheese sprinkled on it, YUM.  Washed down with a couple beers, acceptable birthday dinner.

Tuesday I got in a double run.  Or really a triple.  3 at work, 1.5 warm up with Jana, which was damn close to my race pace, and 1 lap (1.5) of the Dog Watch 5K with Crutch and eventually we caught up with Jana.  I was done, that was mile 6 for the day.  It was fun watching every one come in and of course the beer afterwards.  Good to get some time to talk with Mike and Crutch about running and non-running things.   Great to meet 5K!  Hi!

So that brings us to Wednesday, wrapping it up quickly my legs were a bit sore, go figure.  Time to take it easy and do some walking.  What better place to take a walk, watch cows munch on sunflowers, and have ice cream, because no birthday dinner is complete without dessert, off to Buttonwood Farms!  

Sincerely,
Beth, see more about eating, less about running...  but if you were curious about the stats

Work Run 3 miles 9:51 pace
Warm up 1.5 miles 9:13 pace
One lap 1.5 miles 9:13 pace

See Mike, 8:30 isn't an easy warm up for me, it is a goal pace!!  Eventually I'll run a few yards with y'all!

Friends

Each friend represents a world in us, a world possibly not born until they arrive, and it is only by this meeting that a new world is born.
―Anaïs Nin

Thursday I had lunch with an old friend, someone I've only only known two years, yet know deeply, inside and out, hence 'old friend'.  Our conversation revolves around whats going on at home, at work, a myriad of what ifs, I think we've only discussed current events once or twice, odd isn't it? Never the weather, always something of substance to one or the other or both of us. Each taking turns to bounce ideas and thoughts off the other, I always leave those conversations with more thoughts roiling around in my brain and sometimes a different direction or perspective.  Wonderful mental stimulation.

Saturday I had coffee with a new friend, someone who will quickly fall into that old friend category.  We share a connection over Lung Cancer.  Her mother passed away 6 weeks after diagnosis with stage 4 lung cancer, at age 57, she turned 30 the day her mother died.  Hell of a birthday present.  Being able to quickly get into such a serious discussion is normal to me.  It wasn't until after an hour of discussing lung cancer,  cancer advocacy, and cancer in general that we got to the general information, and only briefly.  There will be time for all of those details as we conspire together to bring more attention to the ugliness that is Lung Cancer.

I've met so many different people in so many different ways, each bringing something new into my life.  They may enter like a freight train  and stay for a very short time, making a lasting impact and always being in my heart.  They may stumble into my life through work and stay forever.  They may slowly creep in until I can't remember them not being there.

Sincerely,
Beth, grateful for all my friends and friendships.

Superstorm Sandy - Catch Up

Wow, what a week it has been.

Friday in Yoga Heidi talked about what we learned from Superstorm Sandy.  She asked us: "From this experience what have you gained."  I like that she asks to seek out the positive in experiences, what should we be grateful for?  While the devastation was horrific, I saw people and neighborhoods pulling together, and that is wonderful, I am grateful people can pull together.  I also am grateful to have made three new friends, fellow runners, female runners, who get each other.  Glorious.

Monday I was supposed to be on Amtrak heading back from DC to RI.  That didn't happen.  In fact it NEVER happened.  By Wednesday, my three new friends and I were ready to head back home.  MAC lives in New Jersey so we rented a car on Thursday and drove.  A and G were able to get their flights re-booked to Denver for Thursday.

We had a fun week.  Tuesday I went for my first run, post Marathon.  I intended on going for 3 miles and went for 5.  I'm slightly directionally challenged and altered my course a bit.  After running into the wind for about a mile I remembered that I ran into the wind away from the hotel so running into the wind wasn't going to get me closer to the hotel.  I got myself all unturned around and back to the hotel.  It was cold wet windy run and I enjoyed it!  Later on, MAC and I went exploring and shopping and picked up a couple of Italians.  I have a hand bag problem and of course MAC has one too, go figure.

What sort of Italians were YOU thinking?

Wednesday the four of us Marathon Chicks went exploring the National Mall in DC.  I was the only one who had never been...  it was amazing and chilling and beautiful.  This picture says it all for me, the past and the future in the present.

The past and the future, in the present

Thursday MAC and I got in the car and drove her to New Jersey and then I got myself to RI.  The national news wasn't exaggerating about the gas lines in NJ.  There were lines on the thruway service areas backed up nearly a mile, amazing.  In town most of the gas stations were closed and had a police officer standing guard.

Friday I went back to work, medal in hand!  Due to power outages and possibly lack of interest the office was sparsely populated.  I was able to get out for a 5 mile run in the morning and check out the damage along my route.  Wow.

The tattered American Flag moved me

Saturday was a dog focused day.  Took my eldest to the trail to hike, not a lot of damage, all the trees that fell across the paths had been removed and Gizzy enjoyed mommy and me time.  Took the girl to do a beach survey.  Wow.  Lost a lot of sand. It ended up behind what used to be big dunes at two of the beaches we went to.

Sunday was a long run, I went out to Watch Hill to see what there was to see there.  The sand that used to be under the cabanas was in the parking lot.  It was a nice run.  I wore my new bright orange "Runner 4 Life" long sleeve shirt, I am sure I was visible to the awful drivers out here.  My IT band was acting up by the end of the run, but a little ice and stretching and being kind to it will be back to normal soon.

See the daylight under the cabanas?  You didn't used to be able to see it.

Today I went on a short run during work, 3 miles.  It was slow, my legs felt like lead.  I think it is time to take a couple day break and let them heal.  They gave me a lot of good miles in the last week, they need a rest.  I am fearful of getting soft, but that can't happen in 3 days, can it???

Stats:
NONE my Garmin is acting pissy...  maybe later...  I really really want to see my MCM splits!!!

Sincerely,
Beth who now has internet access and can blog more regularly about running

Enablers

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Stats:

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

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

Pacing is consistent!

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

"But It's Just a Tiny Island"

A few months back a girlfriend and I had this awesome idea for her to join me on Block Island for the Race Around the Block 15K race.

I rented a room in a B&B on the water and we took the ferry over to the island.  I could tell something was amiss when both me and my bestie were hungry, over heated, and didn't remember me as being insane.

We arrived on the Island on Friday (9/7), the race was on Saturday (9/8).

I had this bright idea to walk the route, well only one loop of the route, it was a loop and a half route to make up the 15K which is 9.3 miles.  The fact that a loop would be 6 miles did not really register with me.  It registered with my husband and my mother who said, "are you sure this is something she would want to do?"  I thought, well yeah, we did the Cliff Walk in Newport 18 months ago and that was like 9 miles....

"But it's just a tiny island" were my famous words, or my famous last words when I was met with.  "Ah we have to walk TO the route, and BACK from the route, and OH YEAH, the route."  The look on my face was as incredulous as hers.  We both had no clue what the other was talking about or thinking, or which orifice the others head was in.

My bestie being logical methodical well grounded person she is, suggested I rethink this plan.  About this time I was beginning to see the massive flaws in my logic.  Firstly, we have no way to get to the start, about 3 miles inland.  Secondly, the last time I took a long walk before a run I was in incredible pain.  Thirdly, well we really don't need a thirdly at this point, do we?

Once we were on the same page and had a uninspired lobster roll, we took a stroll to see some yarn, and this calmed us down. Yarn has that affect on us.  Pshew.

So race day comes and it is hot and humid and still.  As the school bus to us to the starting line, we climbed this HUGE hill.  All I could think was, "Oh this would not have been fun to walk up, in the heat and sun".  Little did I know my bestie was thinking "She is effing insane, we have to take a BUS to the starting point?".

The clouds that were promised disappeared and the sun came out in full force as the gun went off at 1:30 p.m.

As I ran the route I was reminded of this conversation we had and couldn't help but notice the route itself was a nice route to run, hilly and windy, however rather not so scenic in all but a few places.  Compared to the Cliff Walk with a surprise view around ever turn, I was even more sure that yes, indeed, my bestie had a point and I am effing insane.

So on the race recap.  It was a nice race, there was little shade, and a bit of a breeze.  Four water stops, one with a man with a hose spraying the runners.  I may have proposed to him the second time I saw him, I'm not sure, it was H.O.T.  I was delirious.  Of the nearly 350 people who started the race, just under 300 finished, the weather was brutal.

Pace and Elevation:

You can clearly see the water stops, yes I did walk three of them!

Right before the second water stop I looked and saw my bestie with her camera.  OMG that was the best part seeing her in the middle of the race.  I've never actually had someone cheer me on during a race.  This was so freaking cool!!!  So if anyone thinks that maybe they would like to cheer on a friend, DO IT.  It really is a lift for the runner.

6 miles!  Wiggling it for the camera!

As I approached the finish line I was greeted with, a hill.  Lovely.  Well Marine Corps Marathon ends on a hill at 26.2 miles, this was 9.3 miles I do need to get used to this last and final hill business.  Plus, reality, I live on a hill and have to run up one to get home anyhow.  Suck it up sister and RUN.

At the finish, in the chute

I finished at 1:40:38, my goal was 100 minutes.  I think I did pretty good and my bestie was very proud of me and gave wet sweaty me a hug after the finish line.  This is a very brave thing to do.  And then she had to sit with me on the bus ride back to the ferry dock.  She had a Jack and Coke to prepare for being on a bus full of stinky runner, smart girl.

On the bus!

I didn't stop my watch until nearly a minute after I finished, I was just glad to be done.  I am getting a teensy bit more consistent with pacing.  I'm still going out of the chute too fast.

Sincerely,

Beth, who has no concept of reality at times.

P.S.  But doesn't it LOOK like a tiny island?

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.

Divas Dine

Dinner out with three gal pals tonight.  I ate my worth in pasta primavera, bread, and garlicy oil.  Hubb commented that I am belching up garlic, tee hee, sorry dear.  The company was divine and always inspiring.  Yeah to my GF who passed her latest breast cancer re-occurrence scare!!!  Seriously this woman does not need any more to test her mettle.  Open heart surgery and Breast Cancer in the last 5 years all before age 45, seriously?  All is fine and the biopsy came back negative.  Pshew!!!  Yeah to my GF raising wonderful children and embarking on the 'turning into a woman' process with her eldest,  you can do it!  Yeah to my GF for muble years of marriage and two beautiful successful grown children!!!

I squeezed in a 4 mile run post work, pre-dinner.  Felt really good!  It was sans-tunes!  OMG, IKR?  No music, what is a girl to do when she can't hear her "Mambo #5" and just gets to hear herself sucking wind?  Well, it was nice to focus on my breathing a bit, and after a mile or so I didn't notice anything and enjoyed the peace and quiet, mostly.

I lost the left earbud thingy that goes over my ear.  Such a COOL invention, they snap on to the regular Ipod earbuds and make an over-the-ear thing. I was going through a Belkin sound converter thingy.  Oh, let me back up a bit.  My tunes are on an iPod shuffle 3rd generation.  The controls for the volume, FF, RW, and Pause are on in line, not on the unit.    The Ipod ear buds do not stay in my ears when I run, I need an over the ear hook.  I found a nice over the ear hook headphones, and this Belkin adapter so I could have in-line controls.  Ok so that catches you up, oh dear reader.  I was going through one of these $20 converters every couple of months. I always had a back up in my gym bag.  Then I found these over the ear hooks that snap on to the Apple iPod buds, to freaking cool, they were like $8 or something totally ridiculously cheap.  Well the left one has been coming off, I don't know why, I never really think about investigating the reason because I am running or about to run when it happens.  I just hope it lasts for the run and I'll deal with it later.  Well, later never happens, natch.

Oh, where was I?  Yes, I lost the over the ear adapter thingy, so I was sans tunes.

I had a in-line over the ear earphone set (and a Belkin) waiting in the wings.  Pshew the in-line over the ear worked with the iPod.  Now to just find the charger.  I need my tunes for the 1/2 marathon on Saturday!!!!

It was still a skitch warm, just about 80, the humidity on the rise, the sun blaring down, however a bit of a sea breeze to cool me down and shade for most of the run back to campus.

Cute little GPS, eh?  Damn I do love the wonderful area I live and work in...  could. not. ask. for. better.  I just hope to remain employed and our location remains open...  if not, feh, we will figure something out.

I redid my training plan, I know I know, once it is done it is out the window.  Well, I needed to do this for me.  I also track my total miles for the week against scheduled.  

Unveiling the latest schedule.   You will note I have swapped Thur and Wed miles and opted for Sat as a walk.  I think this will do just fine.

My Work Husband agrees this is the ultimate in geekdom.  Oh crap, now he knows what I call him...  erh, ah, well... there you go...

Tomorrow I am going to discuss why I run and Lung Cancer Alliance and start begging for donations.  I also send my note around to my work peeps and my friend peeps, possibly with a link to this blog...  Yes, I am crazy.  But hey, there is nothing wrong with a little bit of crazy, right?

Carpe Diem!