Wednesday, October 9, 2013
Monday, October 7, 2013
Marathon Training - Starting week III Counting Down to MCM 2013
I started a post about family, not genetics, related, as in connected to in some way. Not really sure I remembered where I was going to go with it. I started down one path and fizzled out. Writing has a way of doing that. What SEEMS like a good idea when you are driving through PA and you pull over and make some notes, just doesn't pan out, it happens.
On my drive back I made a stop at Pymatuning Lake. My paternal grandparents used to take me there during my two week vacation in the summer. My vacation from my parents and my parents vacation from me and my opportunity to be the Number One Special Grandchild Ever. We were ALL quite happy with this arrangement. I remember going to feed the carp, and that is about it. My 2 weeks with my grandparents stopped in 1975 when we moved to Wisconsin, bummer, understandable though. But hey, I remember bits and bobs feeding the carp, and there may be some photographic evidence some where.
Checking in with one of my groups, we post our miles weekly towards a goal, I have no recollection what the goal IS however apparently I have surpassed it. Anyhoodles, I noted on my marathon plan I was off, way off. Yes, I do have knowledge on my marathon training plan, I carry the damn thing around with me - yes, geek, I own that!
On my drive back I made a stop at Pymatuning Lake. My paternal grandparents used to take me there during my two week vacation in the summer. My vacation from my parents and my parents vacation from me and my opportunity to be the Number One Special Grandchild Ever. We were ALL quite happy with this arrangement. I remember going to feed the carp, and that is about it. My 2 weeks with my grandparents stopped in 1975 when we moved to Wisconsin, bummer, understandable though. But hey, I remember bits and bobs feeding the carp, and there may be some photographic evidence some where.
 |
| This was the beauty I saw. |
So, I have this very cool training plan with the miles I’m to run. I mark
off what I did to what was planned. I’m behind. I’d do the math to figure out
how much but that would make me cry. Instead, this is a new week and a new
start and there is no doubt in my mind I can run 26.2 miles, I mean really, not
a problem. Not being arrogant, but when I truly set my mind to something, it happens. Right Scott? Breaking 5 hours, well, that is in question. Yeah yeah, there are
plenty of sub 4 and sub 3 marathoner runners out there, yippiee!!! That takes serious work and dedication, I get that and I ADMIRE it!! For me, I figure it
takes A LOT of patience and stamina to stay on your feet for 5 hours, I’m just
the patient person to manage that! (Mike and I talked about this in the fitness center - along with how awesome a show WTAC put on for their races this weekend). Anyhoodles, as I finally figured out, I’m a runner not a
racer, I enjoy the running part, no matter how long I'm on my feet. Just wait, 50K in WI next year, could take me 6 hours... LOL!!!! Just a little poking fun at
myself, no harm no foul, no whining intended, not a pitty party.
 |
| Tis' a beautiful thing, no? |
Maybe NEXT year I’ll get focused on this whole business of speed work and
being faster, or maybe not, life is a crap shoot and I’m all about enjoying it. So I'm behind on miles, I'm over the top with fun and enjoyment, guess it all balance itself out, right?
The only thing that does worry me (oh I have worries, believe you me, I'm over the top with those too) is being part of a parade, or some insult to the prestige of the Boston Marathon as a charity runner. I may always keep the note from Mass General Cancer center to run Boston as a charity runner. Acting on it? Probably not. Surely I shouldn't offend the elites like Chuck Engle and those of that ilk? Besides I'd rather run the LA Marathon and see family (oh yeah and a beach house in Oxnard for a week is pretty DELUXE, no?). No disrespect to Boston and the qualifiers, but really if you want a qualification only race outside of the Olympics, run Gansett. Seriously.
Ok enough of my soapbox, if it can even be called that...
I've COMPLETELY lost the point of ANY of this... if you can figure it out, let me know, please!!!
Oh wait! Some of y'all may remember Burr-lingame in 2012, I was the person who came in last, dead freaking last. What you may not know was that was my FIRST 15K race, ever. I was so ready to hang it up after the first loop when I KNEW I was last. Mike and Becky just said KEEP GOING. Thanks for that! Even when I finished I think Becky said, "Oh there is someone else out there." There wasn't and all y'all were probably waiting for me to get out of the woods so you could collect your Gansett beer and go home!!! Thank you for your patience, little did I know all y'all were really cool and warm people!!
To sum it up: Family is not genetics, it is being connected through a commonality, through a community.
Sincerely,
Beth, sorry if I kept you from your beer, but hey, what I know of REAL runners, all y'all aren't wigged out over the slower of the pack!!! Thanks for that!!
Friday, October 4, 2013
Friday - I haven't a creative title....
Another family weekend....
Saturday night my cousin Michelle, and her husband and their 7 month old, Dawson, are having a Life Celebration. Kind of an impromptu wedding took place, in a helicopter, in February after Dawson was born and well the bleeding just didn't stop. Michelle is not someone to let a little thing like bleeding out stop her from being a mother to her son. She and Steve were married on Life Flight from Girard OH to Cleveland. At 41 Michelle was quite healthy enough to have a normal pregnancy, well, apparently not a normal birth. Michelle is a tough woman, no doubt. She is at about 85% of what she was pre-near death/birth. Yeah, the nurses said, "well we've never seen someone live through that"... Yes, women still die in childbirth in the 21st century. Scary.
Enough of the drama. Michelle has always been someone you didn't mess with, started at birth, and continues on. Tough bitch, nice, actually; she doesn't take too kindly to being crossed, ever.
Saturday I am off to Austinburg, OH to see her and as many family members as are able to gather. I'm told there is a nice running trail by the Ramada. We shall see. I remember the farm she grew up on and that was in the midst of a nice Midwest grid, so I'll get some miles in when I arrive and hopefully before I leave on Sunday. My youngest brother will be there and well, there could be drinking...
I still remember when Mark visited me in Grad School (Kent State University) he had just turned 21 and we went to the QD (like a 7-11 but with booze, I'm still, after 14 years, trying to get used to this Packy business in RI) to pick up some beer and the cashier carded ME the OLDER sister... Mark got a charge out of that. Let's just say now that I'm way closer to 50 than he is, he looks much older. Muwahaaaaa!!!
Nice run at work today. I left the usual way and went a little further figuring maybe I'd tackle "the bitch" or not.... I did it (I'd say her, but well, yeah) actually a little longer than the hill on Meech, just as steep and not as long as the hill on Oak (local to me at home). Aptly named, no doubt about that. Next time I'll run on the asphalt instead of the rocky curb. Did that and went back to my usual loop. Logged 7.7 miles. Not too shabby.
Nice high 5 from Mike got me through that last mile!!
Felt pretty good when I got back to my desk as evidenced by my glossy eyes and smile. Made the rest of the afternoon bearable including paying for Vinnie's latest repairs. He needed two rear wheel bearings, that makes a full set in the last year. Blargh. At 170K he is pretty much rebuilt and should last for another few years. Better start planning what to get when I turn 50! BMW? Thoughts?
And that wraps the week up.
Tuesday - Spin and TRALP (Tuesday Running And Libations Professionals - I had a nice Blue Pointe at the Harp and Hound in Mystic after 2 miles)
Wednesday- 4ish mile lunch run and a nice mind clearing bike ride out to Watch Hill. Getting faster! Woot!! I need to take that segment back from M, now that I know what QOM means - thanks Jeff!!
Thursday - rest day, Spin and what did I do when I got home, mail I think...
Sincerely,
Beth, thankful for the miracles of modern medicine and looking forward to meeting Dawson in person! (oh yeah and seeing her parents and one of her brothers)
Saturday night my cousin Michelle, and her husband and their 7 month old, Dawson, are having a Life Celebration. Kind of an impromptu wedding took place, in a helicopter, in February after Dawson was born and well the bleeding just didn't stop. Michelle is not someone to let a little thing like bleeding out stop her from being a mother to her son. She and Steve were married on Life Flight from Girard OH to Cleveland. At 41 Michelle was quite healthy enough to have a normal pregnancy, well, apparently not a normal birth. Michelle is a tough woman, no doubt. She is at about 85% of what she was pre-near death/birth. Yeah, the nurses said, "well we've never seen someone live through that"... Yes, women still die in childbirth in the 21st century. Scary.
Enough of the drama. Michelle has always been someone you didn't mess with, started at birth, and continues on. Tough bitch, nice, actually; she doesn't take too kindly to being crossed, ever.
Saturday I am off to Austinburg, OH to see her and as many family members as are able to gather. I'm told there is a nice running trail by the Ramada. We shall see. I remember the farm she grew up on and that was in the midst of a nice Midwest grid, so I'll get some miles in when I arrive and hopefully before I leave on Sunday. My youngest brother will be there and well, there could be drinking...
I still remember when Mark visited me in Grad School (Kent State University) he had just turned 21 and we went to the QD (like a 7-11 but with booze, I'm still, after 14 years, trying to get used to this Packy business in RI) to pick up some beer and the cashier carded ME the OLDER sister... Mark got a charge out of that. Let's just say now that I'm way closer to 50 than he is, he looks much older. Muwahaaaaa!!!
Nice run at work today. I left the usual way and went a little further figuring maybe I'd tackle "the bitch" or not.... I did it (I'd say her, but well, yeah) actually a little longer than the hill on Meech, just as steep and not as long as the hill on Oak (local to me at home). Aptly named, no doubt about that. Next time I'll run on the asphalt instead of the rocky curb. Did that and went back to my usual loop. Logged 7.7 miles. Not too shabby.
Nice high 5 from Mike got me through that last mile!!
Felt pretty good when I got back to my desk as evidenced by my glossy eyes and smile. Made the rest of the afternoon bearable including paying for Vinnie's latest repairs. He needed two rear wheel bearings, that makes a full set in the last year. Blargh. At 170K he is pretty much rebuilt and should last for another few years. Better start planning what to get when I turn 50! BMW? Thoughts?
And that wraps the week up.
Tuesday - Spin and TRALP (Tuesday Running And Libations Professionals - I had a nice Blue Pointe at the Harp and Hound in Mystic after 2 miles)
Wednesday- 4ish mile lunch run and a nice mind clearing bike ride out to Watch Hill. Getting faster! Woot!! I need to take that segment back from M, now that I know what QOM means - thanks Jeff!!
Thursday - rest day, Spin and what did I do when I got home, mail I think...
Sincerely,
Beth, thankful for the miracles of modern medicine and looking forward to meeting Dawson in person! (oh yeah and seeing her parents and one of her brothers)
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