WTFS no, seriously, Wed, Thur, Fri, Sat

And again between my hectic work and social calendar it is Saturday night and I could have sworn it was just Wednesday.  Time really does go faster as you get older, and that sucks.  Youth really is wasted on the young.

I took Wednesday completely off.  I was sore and stiff and was scheduled for a Chair Massage and just wanted to do nada well harass those who did not complete their assignments by the 12th of July.  Muwahaaaa...   The Chair Massage never happened, why am I capitalizing this, it isn't' a defined term or a proper whatchamagigger.  Someone spent a little too much time editing this week.  I'm not exactly sure how the accounting major ended up in a job requiring technical writing and editing skills, but she did.

Which versus That and Shall versus Must were the bane of my existence on Thursday, seriously people, if I, not an English Major who has a very loose grasp on both the English Language and Grammar can figure it out, well...   The best part of Thursday was the group run with the girls.  The weather was still looking a bit iffy, like it might not cool off, it did,

and we ran by the water and Nicole's hubb and kids met us at the half way point of our 9 miles with water and Gatorade!  

That was a nice few minute break before heading back down Ocean Ave to the frosty Gansetts awaiting us at the Coast Guard House, oh yeah and our dry clothes waiting in the car hard to pick which was more important, truly competing priorities !  I am always amazed that despite how disgusting all of us felt we are all smiles and happy.  Running truly is wonderful!

I ran with Jackie on the way back, I am not sure what it is about the way back but I certainly

 have a bit more energy, although I think the Gatorade was more the reason.  Even with it sloshing around in my stomach, I kept hoping at every turn I would see this

the water, the final turn and then the run is along the sea wall.  Pshew, we made it.  Negative splits for me to.  Maybe that is it running just a bit faster?  Hmmm...  there really aren't any hills to take advantage of, curious. 



There was a new novelty on our run.  The R.I. Redneck, he hangs out at Monahan's Dock in the back of his pick up truck, his back yard, sipping beer, smoking his cigar, chilling in his lawn chair with the trusty Igloo cooler next to him.  

Friday was more of the same at work, tracking down the laggards, and prepping for the next round of policy and procedure review.  Finalizing a redesigned website and negotiating with the IT to delay launch by a week as there is one piece I'm not satisfied is working appropriately in test.  I took the noon Yoga class, ah, that was nice.  I really miss yoga and just haven't found the right class and instructor combo that fits into my schedule.  This 45 minute class might do the trick!  And yes, that is used correctly, as a restrictive clause! 

Today, Saturday, MY plan was to sleep in, pick up by bib for the Blessing, get a massage and be a bum. Two of the four were accomplished bib pick up and massage, my irritation at not getting to sleep in fueled the accomplishment of a few lagging chores. 

Sincerely, 
Beth, with 13 miles on tap for tomorrow, the weather should cooperate and I'll wrap my mind around running alone and keeping up on my trend of negative splits... 

Catching up!

Ok so how many of you were inspired to take in YOUR Goodwill piles?  Funny how that stuff sort of stacks up in a corner and/or on the guest bed...


Per usual the week gets away from me to keep up with the blog.  Quite a few late nights does that to a person.  

Now I'm catching up and trying a new font!

Tuesday was NYC, even with the heat and humidity I wasn't going to miss the opportunity to get outside for lunch.  I took a walk up 41^st  on, yep,  Library Way.  Very cool.  I am sure I was annoying as I stopped to read many of the quotes and take a picture of a few.  I hardly care if I look like a tourist.  Which I doubt,  because I am not wearing capris and Teva sandals, right Heidi?  There is just so much beauty to see and appreciate in the city. I love it when I have the opportunity to take a walk at lunch absorb what I can around my office.  Sadly I missed the Dog Watch Fun runs.  Next week!

Can you name the location?

Wednesday I started tri training.  Well, if hanging out in the pool with some girlfriends and swimming a bit counts!  I’m really not a big fan of the water and her pool is 5 feet deep at the deepest part and perfect  for treading water, which I’m fairly good at.  We polished off a few bottles of wine, our share of chicken,  lots of grilled veggies and grilled fruit.  YES!  Grilled fruit, apples, pears, peaches, and pineapple are the best, cut them up, soak in some Captain Morgan spiced rum and a little honey and grill 'em. YUM!  There may have been a strawberry shortcake!  Someday I’ll get up the nerve to train for a tri.  That whole swimming thing,  I can swim, my mother made sure of that.  But as to doing it with any skill or speed, hardly. 

With a side of strawberries, of course!

I did get a run in before lunch, 3 was going to do it because I knew I had a longer run on Thursday.  I’m getting more used to the heat/humidity/dew point factors and this one felt really good.  Soaking wet and only out for 31 minutes…  wowza.

Thursday night Nicole suggested we meet up with a couple more of her running friends to run 8 in Narragansett.  Sure, why not.  I know one of the gals is a speed demon in the short distances but just wanted a nice easy longish run a few weeks out before the Blessing of the Fleet Ten Mile Road Race.  So off the 5 of us went, trying to figure out how to run in pairs and not have one person be alone!  Of course I wave at everyone I see and running along the sea wall in Narragansett a persons arm could fall off!  I could just hear Nicole say, oh she waves at every one.  This launched into a discussion on what is your signature wave (which started as the 'signature move' from Seinfeld).  Really helped break the ice,  get us all laughing, and remove any apprehension anyone may have had.

Do you wave at other runners, walkers, bikers, people in cars?

I think I do with just about everyone I see. And definitely all the cars I see along my long run routes.  Occasionally someone waves back, other times not so much.  To each their own!  I always love when the driver of a car sticks their hand out and does a thumbs up!  And if they flip me off, well then, again, to each their own!

This was a great run.  I was a little apprehensive, I think we all were. I am really pleased with this run, it was super fun to run in a group and I was amazed at how smooth our pacing was.  Everyone gets tired at different points and slow down but having someone else getting a second wind was great!  Seriously I had no idea it would be this fun.  At the end we were all winded and sweaty and had big smiles on our faces at our accomplishment after our busy busy days getting in an 8 mile run in the heat and humidity (thank you to the sun for staying behind the clouds)! 



Nicole, Jackie, and I went to the Coast Guard House for a Narragansett Summer Ale and some chips.  

Friday, oh how I welcomed today, finally a bit of a break.  HA!  Famous last words.  What is it with the Friday in-box clean out?  Either answering questions or a tome on why they can't meet a deliverable date after I've reminded them twice... I'll get to it on Monday if it didn't need to be done today, blargh.

Picked up my bib for the Jamestown Half tomorrow and now it is time to get some sleep!

Once I see this, I know I will be close to the end, and damn that hill at mile 13~

Sincerely,
Beth, wowed by how time flies

Home again...

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

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

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

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

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

Our local beach still looks like a war zone.  

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

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

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

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

Whats on tap for your weekend?

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

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