Weekly Log – June 2nd – June 8th --- Editorial note on Friday's entry

Monday – 13.6  /  dog walk / TRX

Ran with the Housewives of Narragansett – recap here.

Late afternoon I needed to move a bit, I was stiff and cold from sitting so long after a long run.   Gizzy and I went for a walk around the high school.  Westerly HS has an amazingly beautiful campus, the school opened in 1938.  While the exterior is gorgeous the inside is still being refurbished, and even being childless we always vote for school funding.  The school always seems to make top marks so they have to be doing something right!   The school makes the community and one of the reasons Dave and I decided to live in Westerly.  

After TRX Ella’s pup, Henry got to meet Joy’s rabbit, Kabookie.  It was funny.   The rabbit is all of 7 lbs and the dog 11.  We had fun watching them to interact and Henry get into his big dog attitude, then Ella sweeps him off his feet and he is all confused, silly pup!

Tuesday – 16 on the bike / afternoon walk with the usual suspects

Tuesday kicked off the Dog Watch runs for the summer and I was bummed I wouldn't be running the first one (the story isn't really all that interesting - mostly be being annoyed by changing plans).  I decided I would bike out to wish well the folks I knew running.  I contemplated turning this into a brick, nahhhh… another time.  

When Dave and I were out riding on Saturday he said, why are your breaks loosened?  I gave him that screwed up looking face he hates so much and a “Huh?”  Then he pulled the lever down on the back and the front break.  I tested them.  Wow they worked great!  Very touchy and grabby,  I’d been wondering if something was off because my breaks didn't seem to be working.  Must have been like that since the Tour de Lyme, I took off the back tire when learning how to change a tire and then the front tire to put the bike in the car.  DOH!!!  Now I know, those lever thingies are supposed to point down…  must be why I was having such a hard time stopping quickly?

Wednesday – 3.7 / dog walk

National Running Day!   I celebrated by running in Bluff Point, one of my favorite places to run.  Recalling my run with Ro last week I focused on pushing myself and not backing down.  I lost focus on this a few times and just ran to enjoy the run.  The woods are losing their Day-Glo green and are starting to become a more rich deep green.  It was so beautiful along the tree-lined fire roads.  Dave and I met for lunch at St. Sophia to load up on Greek food.  YUM. Perhaps not the best lunch before a run, oh well.  We were clued in on this dessert: Galaktoboureko  AKA Greek Gold.  OMG it was delicious!

Bailey came over in the evening to take a walk with Gizzy and me so they could get to know each other better and she could see what his habits are.  She will come back in a couple weeks to take him on a solo walk.  He was far more energetic than he usually is and once we got home and Bailey was gone he crashed on the couch big time.  Silly dog.  

Thursday – 5.1

I was supposed to go to NY for a meeting, it was supposed to rain.  I decided not to go, I’ll run in the rain, I’d rather not deal with NY in the rain.  Probably not the best political move on my part.  Honestly my time was better spent on work rather than 6 hours of commuting and 8 hours of work and being exhausted on Friday.  I got a little kudos for my 15 year service anniversary (6/14) whoopie twang...  

The rain was scheduled to be done about 4 p.m. as was the 2 hour meeting I was supposed to go to NY for, kismet, right?  

5 miles after the rain felt good and helped drum out a big hunk of the apathetic grouchies I'd been accumulating since Tuesday.  

Friday - Nada 

Annual "Got Tossed" party at a co-workers house.   While my boss suggested I finish out the work day like a good girl when he gave me my lay off notice by phone, these gals boss said "You can take the rest of the day off."  So they did, stopped at the packy for booze and another store for swim suits and 'enjoyed' the afternoon in the pool.  I still flip the hipster doufus the finger (behind his back because I'm classy like that) when he dares to show his face in Groton.  Who uses a weekly catch up call to drop the "your laid off bomb"? a hipster doufus that's who!   Phtttt....    Point of clarification - this was the ANNUAL "Got Tossed" party, celebrating the anniversary of lay off notices.   Some bosses are human and say -- "Go home, no point in finishing out the day."  While the Hipster Doufous told me that it was his preference I didn't leave work early, or discuss our conversation. Sorry to alarm anyone!! And thank you all for your concern!!

Saturday - 41 bike / dog walk

Dave was my back up biking partner for the morning.  Nicole was debating on a swim and bike clinic.  She went and I'm glad she did.  Her first open water swim.  I'm incredibly bummed I won't be there to cheer her on for her first sprint tri....   I'm running up a mountain the day before and well who knows what shape I'll be in.  Dave is getting a lot of mileage out of being second choice and if 30 miles gets me ice cream what does 40 get me?  (A kick in his perpetually sore shin?)

After mapping out a route on Friday night, I sent it to Dave so he could load it to his super cool Garmin Edge 800.  That thing worked great! It told him when we were off course and on course and worked very well.

All in all a good ride, I feel like I'm going slower, there is some physics lesson in here somewhere, I'm sure.  Not too many comments from the peanut gallery (Dave) just to not lock out my arms.  A lesson I learned very well when the road got choppy on a down hill in a shady part and there was a stick and things looked like a big pile of crash for a moment before I got it all righted.  After asking what happened the peanut gallery suggested had my arms not been straight that wouldn't of happened.  Thanks, thanks a lot and so noted, I was much more careful and probably too cautious on the rest of the down hills from that point forward.

Sunday - Brick the first, 12.9 / 3.6 / 8.3

Went to bed with the idea of a brick for breakfast.  You don't even want to know what sort of dreams my subconscious came up with, suffice it to say I"m glad this part of my personality only comes out in my own mind, and occasionally Dave is subjected to it when I talk (or sing) in my sleep.  Fortunately for him I stopped throwing punches before he met me.

Up and at 'em for a nice day.  Dave's ride didn't start until 9, so I could skate out with out a lot of hullabaloo (really that is a real word, huh).  I aimed for a minimum of a 10 mile ride to Weekapaugh Point to run Quonnie Beach (just shy of 4 miles), and then take the most direct way home.  Isn't it funny how you spend enough time running and riding the same roads  you know just about how many miles (or in some cases exactly how many miles) from one point to the next? I wasn't sure I wanted to go all the way into Watch Hill and ride up that hill by Taylor Swift's house (If she was home I'd probably trip over most of the male population in the WTAC, ha, ha. ha ).  I did want to see what I could manage on the Ocean View Ave Yosemite to Bayberry segment.  1.1 miles nearly pancake flat with no wind this a.m. with my probably tired legs from yesterdays adventure.  Dave teases me unmercifully about these segments.  I think they re a good measure of my progress.  This particular one is a favorite, it is a beautiful stretch of road in one of the most scenic and beautiful place to run and ride.  That helped me determine how I'd get out to Weekapaug.

Once I got 'down the beach' lots of vehicles lined up to get into the State Beach at Misquamicut, huh.  I'm not a spend the day at the beach person, it certainly looked to be shaping up for a nice day for those who do.

Got to Weekapaug, took off my shoes, wandered around, took some pictures, and then ran.  It was lovely, low tide was at 11 a.m. so the nice to run on  hardish softish sand was getting exposed little by little.  There were very few people out.  I ran along remembering when I'd take the old fogies there, before Sage passed away.  I should take Gizzy out there soon before it gets too warm for the old guy.  They used to have such fun running around in the sand and the surf.  After she passed I really didn't go out there much with any of the dogs, I did ride out there to run to the breach way and back.

July 17th 2012 - they were having a fun time being crazy boxers -
Sage the brindle on the left, Gizmo the fawn on the right.

Rinsed off my feet with the members only foot shower, shhhh.... put back on the shoes, socks, helmet, and gloves.  Time to go back home and deal with being a grown up... or maybe I'll mow the lawn with my space watch on and see how close I can get to a mile in my teeny tiny yard!  

Sincerely,
Beth, feeling a less blah and unmotivated...

SkirtSports 1/2 Marathon - Recap

For the second Monday in a row I ran long (I define long as 10 miles or more).  A few weeks ago Nicole posted about #runcelebration, a virtual half marathon hosted by SkirtSports.  

Background:  This was the second year SportSkirts held an actual 1/2 marathon in Colorado supporting their SkirtSports Kick Start Program.  They got an overwhelming response from the rest of the country who couldn't get to Colorado and support this great cause, they offered a virtual option.  

A little bit about the Skirt Sports Kick Start Program:

"Our Cause: Skirt Sports Kick Start Program
Kick Start is a women's beginner running program founded by Skirt Sports. We pair Beginners - women who want to start running but can't due to their barriers to fitness - with Personal Motivators - women who have found strength, confidence, freedom and more through running. The Beginners' barriers include health problems, family crises, weight issues, financial difficulties and more. Skirt Sports pairs these women with empathetic Personal Motivators who act as mentors while they guide and support the beginners through an 8-week training program that culminates in their first 5k - and transforms them along the way.

Skirt Sports provides the runners with a training program, running apparel, nutrition advice, free entries to their first 5k, and most importantly, support of other women who have been there before. Many of our graduates go on to become Personal Motivators - the power to give back is so strong! We are proud to have helped so many women change their lives and move down a more positive path - with the strength and courage they found through running.

The current Kick Start chapter is training for the Skirt Sports 5k on June 1. Currently, each chapter of Kick Start costs approximately $1,500. Our goal is to contribute to the next chapter through our Virtual Racers - it's your way of giving back!"

Nicole had a plan, her usual Monday morning run with the gals (once the kids were on the school bus) would mean a big chunk of the 13.1 wouldn't be solo and dangled a discount code to the rest of us, sweet!  Slowly one by one nearly all the gals committed to 13.1 and signed up for the virtual race.  Despite my loner runner ways I was up for a group run, it would mean a little finagling of the work schedule. (Muddy, Lori thanks you for letting her know where I really was for my 3 hour meeting on Monday a.m. lemme know if I can return the favor some day! ha ha). 

The course would be two laps of the usual route through Narragansett with a 3.1 mile intermission between laps to run with a new runner. Perfection.  

The course, two laps and an out and back then a little pigtail at the top to get me the extra 1/2 mile I 'lost'

The first few miles things were not clicking, oh this isn't good.  Time to switch focus from how I felt to catching up with the gals I haven't talked to since we ran together on Thursday nights last summer/fall.  Doubts, get into the back seat (and no messing around like teenagers - we don't need you multiplying)!!  My other oops:  I managed to turn off my watch trying to switch from bike to run mode and lost 1/2 mile, damn...  Great to catch up with everyone.  It was a long winter, for sure.

The 13.1 gals!

Right on time we finished the first lap meeting up with Tara for 3.1 miles out and back along the water, well a quick stop at Bethany's for a bathroom break - THANK YOU BETHANY!  That quick water and GU Chomp break seemed to revive me.  I felt much better coming back to the gazebo this time.  Ok I can do this, it is only 5 more miles, well 5.5 for me due to the watch screw up.  I was certainly not stopping short!!

We all took off and I was in the tail, fine to be back there, not moving very swiftly, keeping my eyes on the gals ahead of me.  Nicole slowed up and hung back with me.  We laughed at the change of roles, she got to drag me along for the last 5 miles!!  No making excuses, simply stating, we are supposed to enjoy this so enjoy it, damn it!  

We remembered our numbers!

My favorite part was along the country club road where Nicole and I talked about marriage and relationships and she asked why I wanted to get married since kids were never a goal of mine.  Love this question!  Such a great conversation.  I think it was about a year ago she asked me along that same part of the route why I didn't have kids.  (You'll have to run with me if you really want to know, ha!)

When we got back to the cars Jenn was the trooper who went with me for the last 1/2 mile.  So sweet and so appreciated!!

Beautiful day to run by the ocean!

So there you go, starting the week off with 13.1 and another week of breaking my Monday active rest day protocol.  It was for a good cause and some sweet swag!!

Kudos to Bethany, Tara, and Mary who were out for most of the 13.1!!

Sincerely,
Beth, who probably won't be running next Monday, but who knows maybe it is time to turn over a new leaf!

Back Road Ramble 5K - Recap and Other Musings

The local YMCA hosts a "Back Road Ramble 5K" at camp Watchaug.  I signed up, knowing that it would be on somewhat familiar grounds and with the usual suspects and really a reason to push me to run with a bit of intention and support the Y, or who knows...   plus one the WTAC president mapped out the course and I was curious to see what hell fun he would come up with.   If I was smart I'd of paid attention to his Strava feed, wait, I like surprises so why ruin the fun?

Mike B mentioned it started up hill, why of course it would...  At least it wasn't this run in the RI desert the same day! 

Camp Watchaug was somewhere I've never been, beautiful facility on Watchaug Pond.  I had a deprived childhood, no summer camp -- in my parents defense I did have 80 acres of fields, woods, ponds, dirt bikes, and go karts -- I really didn't know what to expect and was just stunned when I walked down the hill to the camp and thought what an awesome place for kids and families.  I think Friday the 13th movies were my impression of summer camps!

Anyhow, I pre-registered, easy bib pick up, forwent the t-shirt, I have plenty of them.  It was hard, it was red and that is my favorite color.  Did a little warm up mile, I hadn't run since Wednesday, plenty of biking and dog walks.  My legs were tired or I'm not really sure and decided I'd stop thinking about running and enjoy the view.  

The course was well marked and easy to navigate, showed the best of what the area has to offer with back roads, tarmac in the camp area, and single track  (well that SHARP left off the single track was a little bit hard to see).  I think this was the first time I'd run Burlingame since I did 3 laps of the 8 mile loop back in April.  Tons of volunteers cheering people on.  I always like that.  I got passed, passed a few people towards the end and the guy on my tail, who I said "Just let me know when you want to pass"  he said he was fine with my pace and then the last little incline on the dirt road before the finish, my weak spot, he over took me and while I tried to watch his feet to close the gap, nope, oh well.  I was still on track for a good off road 5K for me and that was just fine and dandy.

Results here

My results  32:13 

Photo Courtesy of Jana Walker!  Thanks for waiting for me to finally get to the finish!!

Overall  I am happy with the race.  50K in May and a 5K in June, I think the 5K was harder, ha!!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Went for a no real route in mind bike ride after the race.  Dave was out fluke fishing so just me, no planning required!

A dangerous time for a biker is when they are going straight and someone is turning left.  Yep the left cross.  Had I trusted the driver I might have gotten smushed. Fortunately I noticed he had on his left turn signal was turning left and not looking at the road.  I was more shocked he used his turn signal not that he wasn't looking where he was going!  

And again, it seemed like the route I chose was into the wind most of the way...  good training right?    Saturday North on Rte 91 was into the wind, today South on Rte 91 was into the wind.  Gahhhh, can I ever catch a break?  Um... no?  Oh well...

A long slog West, wind, of course, on Atlantic, by the ocean wasn't too awful, again, good training and always an interesting glimpse into humanity 'down the beach'.  It seriously cannot be warm enough to be on the beach sunbathing or even in the water, can it?  There were quite a few beach umbrellas up, so maybe yes? Then again I'm not a lay on the beach sorta person, so what do I know?

Got home to discover --> no food in the fridge!!!  Crap.. guess my dad doesn't live here and isn't doing the grocery shopping (he took over for mom after she got sick).  Time to be done being a child running around in the woods and biking in the neighborhood, time for grown up stuff, grocery store (yuck) and a trip to the Pack (always fun building my own 6 pack).

Sincerely, 
Beth, not so keen on this grown up stuff, well the grocery shopping part.