Inspiration

Wednesday afternoon I did a 50 minute 4.8 mile loop around campus in the afternoon.  It was a little warmer plus I had a shirt with built in mittens which helped keep my poor fingers warm.  As I was leaving the gym, with my bright green cap on because it is one of the few with a pony tail hole, plus it was sort of dismal and the cap is noticeable. (This outfit was far less of a train wreck than the Blossom / Pippy Longstocking inspired get up from last week)  Still Chris felt the need to make a crack about my hat, "Well, Beth at least the hat goes with your shoes. Have a great run."  I thanked him and motioned my head back to the slogs on the dreadmills and said "Outside in any weather is better than that!"  He laughed and agreed.

Thursday I was in Manhattan for the day, productive.  Wrapping up a huge project at work and I received some wicked cool kudos for my work. The radio station I had selected to wake up to forgot to start broadcasting so my 5 a.m. alarm didn't go off, I did manage to wake up at 5:38 a.m. (I should be on the road by then to make the 6:42) get my self put together and out the door. Number One Smart Guy also had to be in the City for meetings  and he nearly ran into me in the parking lot.  I'm fairly certain neither of us were paying attention me because I was trying like hell to see the teeny tiny print on the train schedule and he was looking for a parking spot.  I was in time to make the 7:06 train however that would mean I would have to change trains and stand for the last hour of the trip.  I settled in to wait for the next express.  Number One Smart Guy caught up with me once we arrived in NY and asked why I didn't sit with him on the train I said I'm not much of a conversationalist because I sleep on the way in and didn't want to risk drooling on his shoulder.  He thought that was a good reason.

The drive home it was time to change Audio CDs.  I started listening to "Born to Run" by Christopher McDougall

Friday back to the office, with designs on a muddy trail run after work.  YIPPIE!!!  It was slow muddy and wonderful.  Could have been muddier, I am sure.  I felt so great afterwards.  Reflected back on my awesome week and the first few chapters of "Born to Run" and how far I have come from when I first started running this trail. It really was a nice decompressing end of the week run.

Well not so muddy on top!

I bagged Yoga, I really should give Preeta and her Asana class another shot, I stayed home and snuggled with dogs and knitted.  I think that was just better overall for completing my decompressing.

Today was a non-running day, just errands spending time in the car means more listening to "Born to Run" O.M.G.  AWESOME!  I'm now 4 discs in and reinvigorated to attempt a 50K trail race.  Thinking maybe June?   It is incredibly inspiring and reminding me why I love to run and what I want to accomplish by running, to just feel good, not to win races.  Although we are at the part with Ann Transon and the Tarahumara Indians are competing in the 1994 Leadville 100.  I'm so tempted to go for a drive to hear more however my windshield wipers have died and that would be dangerous!!!  Yeah, yeah, I could bring the CDs in the house, but it just isn't the same...

With the rain (and warm weather because it is raining and not snowing) means the Vin Gormley trail will be nice and muddy tomorrow.  I think 8.5 miles of mud will be delightful tomorrow.  Oh yeah, I know I have a marathon to run next weekend I'll be fine.  I am far less nervous about the AZ Rock n' Roll than I was about Marine Corps.  I've done it once I can do it again!!!

02/03/12 Run of Vin Gormley

Vin Gormley Trail Map - Red single track.  

I need to remember to look for that trail to the left after the yellow road trail.  Remember I run clockwise so I will start from the white mark.  I also need to look for trail extension.  I think those make the trail closer to 10 miles.  Woo hoo!!

Sincerely,
Beth, seriously contemplating a 50K ultra and not expecting to PR the upcoming marathon

Wordless Wednesday

My favorite trail....

Decisions, Decisions, Decisions

Yesterday was all bunged up to squeeze in a run with oddly spaced meetings.  Then a 5 p.m. deliverable that no one but me took seriously became a 6 p.m. deliverable.  As a result I missed TRX.  I have to leave by 5 and that was not happening.  These things happen.  I miss it after two weeks off, and now it is three weeks off.  Next Monday!  Although missing things seems to be a trend for the first 8 days of this year...

Today was an open calendar with an opportunity to run I took advantage of.  Ding dong would have taken a few more mile advantage had she not forgotten her gloves.  The wind off the water was cold and now I think I know why people run clock stupid, the coldest wind is off the water and at their backs running the direction they run.  I had gloves in my bag, I just failed to put them on.  Lesson learned, took a good hour for my hands to really warm up.

It was a lovely and sunny 4.4 Mile 45 Minute run, when my hands weren't taking the brunt of the wind chill.  The air temp was 40F, I did not factor in that wicked wind chill off the Long Island Sound.

A friend sent me his race list for the year and this got me going on picking races for 2013.  Of course one thing leads to another and I start looking for 1/2 marathon per month. Can we say over committer??  I'm good for all months but December. Perhaps TX or FL?  I think the list is good and now I need to pick which ones and leave room for the 'oh that sounds like a cool race'.  OH yeah and family....

How do you determine which races to run?  Any thoughts on my list? Run any of these races? Suggestions for a December 1/2?

Sincerely
Beth, weighing options