Mmmm, there are certain sweet nothings my husband whispers to me that send shivers rippling down my spine and cause a bloom of sweat to form over my skin. The line, You know our half Ironman is in less the 16 weeks wasn't necessarily sending the kind of shivers I like following a sweet nothing being whispered. But it is the truth, we have less then 16 weeks to prepare ourselves for this race.
My husband is ready I think. He goes out on his hellaciously long bike rides with his fellow spandexed buddies. He typically rides for 40 plus miles. Me, I have been hopping on the trainer and riding for an hour and a half. I might be covering 24-25 miles. Then I follow it up with a half hour or so run right now. I need to get myself back into the pool. I know I can swim a mile, I need to add a quarter of a mile to that. Those words sent me into such a panic, I keep telling myself I cannot miss a day of training. Today I did core work and yoga to build my muscles to be up to this task. Not nearly enough, not nearly enough training. Where am I going to find the time, how is everything in my life going to get done?
I keep thinking to myself, why did I agree to this? Why? I mean it's one thing to think you can do a sprint triathlon, heck that's nothing really, you're done in around an hour and how many minutes. A Half Marathon, shoot that's nothing more then a training run anymore. A full marathon, I want to make that a yearly event in my life. An Olympic distance triathlon, yeah, I can do those too. Not nearly as scary as I had feared, but now we are talking about a race with Iron in the title. We're not talking about something where you're going to see a tremendous cross section of weights and abilities. We are talking about something that you can qualify for Kona with. The mother of all triathlons, the holy grail for Pete's Sake!!! Ugh, what am I doing??? I have only done one Oly to Brad's ten thousand!
Maybe, while the sweet nothings I like were being whispered and I started to shiver, my husband threw in the "Let's do a Half Bits" (his nickname for me but that is a blog for another day) And in my delirium from those whispers I like, I choked out an exasperated yes I'll do it, sending shivers down my husband's spine and the bloom of sweat across his skin because those are the sweet nothings he likes to hear....
Friday, December 26, 2008
Sunday, December 7, 2008
Bear Creek and the Magic Bus
There are some things you do and you wonder why. This morning, when my husband woke me up before six so we could go freeze our heinies off and trail run for 10 miles, I questioned the wisdom behind my Yes to this race.
Let's rewind a week, I went trail running as practice for the race. We got invited by the people we were doing the race with. I was having a fabulous time. The run was great until mile 6 or so. I tripped and broke my fall with my face. I still have the remnants of a black eye as the reminder of it. But I have to say, the people we ran with were just wonderful and I enjoyed the run even with my face plant, swollen side of my face and subsequent black eye. I still have bruises down my thigh as well.
Anyway, fast forward until today. We all met at Primrose School. One of the people we were going to the race with said we could all ride on the magic Primrose School little bus because she owns that Primrose School. There was a flurry of pre-race emails from all of the people we met because each of us volunteered to bring something. Jay brought bagels and bananas, Erik brought this yummy Irish bread, John brought coffee from Starbucks, and I brought an Italian smooshed sandwich for us to eat afterward.
We got to Bear Creek State Park a half hour before the race started. The ride there was sooo much fun, we ate, drank and joked around. I have to admit I was pretty nervous, Jim made the comment about falling three times last year and my stomach lurched. It snowed last night, so the ground was all covered with white, it was so pretty. We parked, got out of the bus after a bit and decided to hit the loo. There were three porta potties for the 150 runners. The lines moved quickly, I got in one, sat down and the thing tilted backwards. It reminded me of a scene from Jackass. I was scared the thing was going to flip and got out in a hurry. I got out and did a quick warm up with Brad. We came back from the warm up and lined up.
The race started and it was a herd of people running along this narrow trail. We were all clumped together save the really fast people up front. Brad was towards the front with Erik, who is the fastest trail runner I have ever seen, Jay, a man who has this obsession with bananas, Jim and John. Deb and I lagged back and really decided to take it easy during the race. I chatted with Mike, another Tri Club member for the longest while until he ran ahead, he was in front of me, and chatted with Deb for the rest of the race pretty much. We had the best time. Right off the bat we hit a creek crossing, I was thrilled I made it across without getting my feet wet. It was one of many, and unfortunately my feet did not stay dry. Did I mention it was around 30 degrees?
The herd finally started thinning out and we all fell into our own paces. It was probably the longest ten miles of my life though. We went up and down and up and down and up and down. It was really tough. At one point I got to live a penguin's life. I fell and skidded on my belly like a penguin on the ice. I thankfully didn't get another black eye to match what's left of the one I have, but do have a whole slew of new bruises all over my legs and tummy.
Deb and I were doing great, until we hit this really mushy spot. It got mushier and mushier as the race wore on, and in the muck there was a root or rock, something. I tripped over it and rolled my ankle badly. But it was weird, there was this stabbing pain all the way up to my knee. I had to stop running and try to walk it off a little. It hurt when I walked and figured I would keep running. We had around 5K to finish and I was truly over the race after that. So plod on I did, it was the pits. It hurt particularly to go up hill, so I had to walk a lot of my uphills. I started recognize where I was after awhile so I knew I was close to the end. Holy cow, by the time I finished, my knee was aching so badly I was limping. But finish I did, in 2 hours and 10 minutes. It would have been at least 5 minutes faster if I weren't hobbling the way I was. I still managed to come in fourth in my age group, still managed to get to the buss. Still managed to have a fabulous time on the way home and dole out my smooshed sandwich.
Deb said to me as we walked to the bus, I am never doing that again, and at that time I heartily agreed. Ask me if I am going to run Bear Creek again after my knee stops hurting, I just might, or I just might go along for the ride and the food and the company...
Let's rewind a week, I went trail running as practice for the race. We got invited by the people we were doing the race with. I was having a fabulous time. The run was great until mile 6 or so. I tripped and broke my fall with my face. I still have the remnants of a black eye as the reminder of it. But I have to say, the people we ran with were just wonderful and I enjoyed the run even with my face plant, swollen side of my face and subsequent black eye. I still have bruises down my thigh as well.
Anyway, fast forward until today. We all met at Primrose School. One of the people we were going to the race with said we could all ride on the magic Primrose School little bus because she owns that Primrose School. There was a flurry of pre-race emails from all of the people we met because each of us volunteered to bring something. Jay brought bagels and bananas, Erik brought this yummy Irish bread, John brought coffee from Starbucks, and I brought an Italian smooshed sandwich for us to eat afterward.
We got to Bear Creek State Park a half hour before the race started. The ride there was sooo much fun, we ate, drank and joked around. I have to admit I was pretty nervous, Jim made the comment about falling three times last year and my stomach lurched. It snowed last night, so the ground was all covered with white, it was so pretty. We parked, got out of the bus after a bit and decided to hit the loo. There were three porta potties for the 150 runners. The lines moved quickly, I got in one, sat down and the thing tilted backwards. It reminded me of a scene from Jackass. I was scared the thing was going to flip and got out in a hurry. I got out and did a quick warm up with Brad. We came back from the warm up and lined up.
The race started and it was a herd of people running along this narrow trail. We were all clumped together save the really fast people up front. Brad was towards the front with Erik, who is the fastest trail runner I have ever seen, Jay, a man who has this obsession with bananas, Jim and John. Deb and I lagged back and really decided to take it easy during the race. I chatted with Mike, another Tri Club member for the longest while until he ran ahead, he was in front of me, and chatted with Deb for the rest of the race pretty much. We had the best time. Right off the bat we hit a creek crossing, I was thrilled I made it across without getting my feet wet. It was one of many, and unfortunately my feet did not stay dry. Did I mention it was around 30 degrees?
The herd finally started thinning out and we all fell into our own paces. It was probably the longest ten miles of my life though. We went up and down and up and down and up and down. It was really tough. At one point I got to live a penguin's life. I fell and skidded on my belly like a penguin on the ice. I thankfully didn't get another black eye to match what's left of the one I have, but do have a whole slew of new bruises all over my legs and tummy.
Deb and I were doing great, until we hit this really mushy spot. It got mushier and mushier as the race wore on, and in the muck there was a root or rock, something. I tripped over it and rolled my ankle badly. But it was weird, there was this stabbing pain all the way up to my knee. I had to stop running and try to walk it off a little. It hurt when I walked and figured I would keep running. We had around 5K to finish and I was truly over the race after that. So plod on I did, it was the pits. It hurt particularly to go up hill, so I had to walk a lot of my uphills. I started recognize where I was after awhile so I knew I was close to the end. Holy cow, by the time I finished, my knee was aching so badly I was limping. But finish I did, in 2 hours and 10 minutes. It would have been at least 5 minutes faster if I weren't hobbling the way I was. I still managed to come in fourth in my age group, still managed to get to the buss. Still managed to have a fabulous time on the way home and dole out my smooshed sandwich.
Deb said to me as we walked to the bus, I am never doing that again, and at that time I heartily agreed. Ask me if I am going to run Bear Creek again after my knee stops hurting, I just might, or I just might go along for the ride and the food and the company...
Saturday, November 29, 2008
Honey, is it supposed to hurt this much??
My husband and I are running in the Bear Creek ten mile trail run this next weekend I think it is. We haven't been doing any really heavy training, especially with Thanksgiving being this past week. So when Brad was invited by Jim, a really nifty guy, with a fabulous wife, to join a group of people trail running this weekend Brad said we'd be there. We were running trails in downtown Richmond. Jim had a route set up along the North bank trail, across the Nickel bridge (which actually costs like 35 cents to cross anymore but no one is willing to change the name to reflect the increase)the Buttermilk trail and across Belle Isle (which I swear you can feel the spirits of the people who died there in that Confederate Prison camp). It's neat running in downtown, you get completely swallowed up by the trails, the trees, the foliage, and suddenly you aren't downtown, in a city, at least in your mind anymore. It is really something.
Trail running is fun, and totally different from running on the road. You are so busy trying to stay vertical, and not trip over something, at least I am anyway, that it takes your mind off of the fact that you are running.
When we started running this morning, it was a nice pace. We were looping around, going back and forth, this way and that. It felt we kept going from point A to point B and back again. Indecision is an awful thing! But foraged on we did until the pack started to break apart and I felt like we were actually running somewhere and not stuck on a treadmill from hell. You had the speedy guys, running like we were on a flat surface, you had some runners just a bit behind them, and those of us who were the caboose on this train. After the first two or so miles, the lead pack waited for the rest of us to get there. Then we started up again, part on the road, about a mile or so, then back to the trails. We were all trotting along happily, and over the misleadingly named Nickel bridge, which reminded me eerily of the 59th St. bridge during the marathon, it's all uphill I swear. After the top of the hill, we looped around and back to the trails. Again, we broke into the groups and started speeding up and down the hills of the trails. Then it happened. Someone in my group fell. A really, really nice woman named Jan. I liked her a lot when I met her this morning. Anyway, she bit it big and went down. We all stopped to help her, but she waved us off and told us she was fine, only her pride was hurt. So we loped along again. It was pretty treacherous and I wondered how people mountain biked the trails. I would have been flying off of the cliffs, crashing as I hit the huge rocks and chunks of concrete, but these trails are really cool and makes me wish I could ride my mountain bike well, but I digress. Where was I, oh yeah, we were all running along after Jan fell, we hit a particularly steep down hill, all covered with leaves and then the next thing you know Craig, another super nice guy we ran with, wiped out. If you have never seen a person who is 6 foot, 8 inches tall fall, it is something. It was a jangle of arms, legs and wham. So we all stopped to make sure he was okay, which he was. Besides a bruised ego, he had a cut knee. Okay, we finally meet up with the rest of the crew. Jim was kind enough to have a rest station set up for us at mile 5. He had Gatorade for us, which was really so nice, but that's what you'd expect from him. Did I mention he is genuinely nice guy?? If you're reading this Jim, you are you know!! It was at this point I decided I had to use the restroom. As luck would have it, there was a Port-O-Potty. I went to it, blessed it with a giant sign of the cross to drive out any demons of grossness I could, held my breath, and went it. Grandma Tav would have been proud, I put toilet paper on the seat so if I accidentally touched it while I hovered, I wouldn't get germs. Now if I just had that giant purse of hers with the stolen packets of sugar and wet naps in it to wash my hands with, I would have been set! Okay, back to the run.
We take off again except we split into two groups. One group, the smart group, the group with my fellow fallees, went on the road trail. Me, I hadn't fallen yet, so I didn't think anything of saying, I'll keep with the trails and my husband. Trot, trot, trot, look at me. I am keeping up with the big boys, trot, trot, trot. Brad kept turning around to talk to me. It was nice, like when we run on the road together. As we started to go up a hill that was peppered with rocks and roots, it happened. *Insert the music from Psycho here* I'm going down, I tripped over a root, but this other root is sticking out like a spear, and I am coming down on it. Thankfully it was more horizontal then vertical. But I thought I impaled myself right through my left boob. That hurt and I grabbed at that root and my boob, but wait, I wasn't finished falling yet, duh. KABLAM!!!!!! *insert Flintstone style bonk here* Hold on a second, if my hands are grabbing my boob, what's breaking my fall????? My face of course!!! As I lay there and pondered the meaning of life, the mathematical substance behind the theory of relativity, the space time continuum, my husband is standing over me trying to make sure I am alive. Here come two other trail runners, inquiring as to my status. I hear myself say I am okay. But I swear I feel like someone else is saying it on my behalf. Brad runs to catch up with the rest of the group after making sure I didn't split my head open, which it felt like I did, to tell them what happened. I, on sort of wobbly legs and an ever spinning head, start walking and wiping off the dirt from my face. Thankfully there's no blood, but enough swelling underneath and on top of my eye that I am catching it with my peripheral vision. I get to the group and everyone looks at me with gaping mouths. Yep, I must look good. So they go on ahead and Brad and I let me walk for awhile, getting my legs underneath me. We walked about a half mile, and started to run again. We ran across Belle Isle, feeling the tortured spirits around me, and to the parking lot. Jan was there still, the road group beat us back. I told her I fell for her because she actually fell twice while we ran and I felt badly for her. It was the least I could do.
I got in the car and viewed the damage. Yikes, I look like I have been in a fist fight, yeah but you should see what the other guy looks like...Hahaha. That's when I quipped, Honey, is it supposed to hurt this much, to myself. Hey, I wasn't going to be the best at anything today, I might as well be the best out of everyone who fell. And that I was, no one even came close to the damage I did.
Listen up Jim, I am not wearing a helmet next week. If I can do this sort or damage today just training, I am really looking forward to what I can do next week!! A personal worst and bodily harm, wow, how can I refuse??
Trail running is fun, and totally different from running on the road. You are so busy trying to stay vertical, and not trip over something, at least I am anyway, that it takes your mind off of the fact that you are running.
When we started running this morning, it was a nice pace. We were looping around, going back and forth, this way and that. It felt we kept going from point A to point B and back again. Indecision is an awful thing! But foraged on we did until the pack started to break apart and I felt like we were actually running somewhere and not stuck on a treadmill from hell. You had the speedy guys, running like we were on a flat surface, you had some runners just a bit behind them, and those of us who were the caboose on this train. After the first two or so miles, the lead pack waited for the rest of us to get there. Then we started up again, part on the road, about a mile or so, then back to the trails. We were all trotting along happily, and over the misleadingly named Nickel bridge, which reminded me eerily of the 59th St. bridge during the marathon, it's all uphill I swear. After the top of the hill, we looped around and back to the trails. Again, we broke into the groups and started speeding up and down the hills of the trails. Then it happened. Someone in my group fell. A really, really nice woman named Jan. I liked her a lot when I met her this morning. Anyway, she bit it big and went down. We all stopped to help her, but she waved us off and told us she was fine, only her pride was hurt. So we loped along again. It was pretty treacherous and I wondered how people mountain biked the trails. I would have been flying off of the cliffs, crashing as I hit the huge rocks and chunks of concrete, but these trails are really cool and makes me wish I could ride my mountain bike well, but I digress. Where was I, oh yeah, we were all running along after Jan fell, we hit a particularly steep down hill, all covered with leaves and then the next thing you know Craig, another super nice guy we ran with, wiped out. If you have never seen a person who is 6 foot, 8 inches tall fall, it is something. It was a jangle of arms, legs and wham. So we all stopped to make sure he was okay, which he was. Besides a bruised ego, he had a cut knee. Okay, we finally meet up with the rest of the crew. Jim was kind enough to have a rest station set up for us at mile 5. He had Gatorade for us, which was really so nice, but that's what you'd expect from him. Did I mention he is genuinely nice guy?? If you're reading this Jim, you are you know!! It was at this point I decided I had to use the restroom. As luck would have it, there was a Port-O-Potty. I went to it, blessed it with a giant sign of the cross to drive out any demons of grossness I could, held my breath, and went it. Grandma Tav would have been proud, I put toilet paper on the seat so if I accidentally touched it while I hovered, I wouldn't get germs. Now if I just had that giant purse of hers with the stolen packets of sugar and wet naps in it to wash my hands with, I would have been set! Okay, back to the run.
We take off again except we split into two groups. One group, the smart group, the group with my fellow fallees, went on the road trail. Me, I hadn't fallen yet, so I didn't think anything of saying, I'll keep with the trails and my husband. Trot, trot, trot, look at me. I am keeping up with the big boys, trot, trot, trot. Brad kept turning around to talk to me. It was nice, like when we run on the road together. As we started to go up a hill that was peppered with rocks and roots, it happened. *Insert the music from Psycho here* I'm going down, I tripped over a root, but this other root is sticking out like a spear, and I am coming down on it. Thankfully it was more horizontal then vertical. But I thought I impaled myself right through my left boob. That hurt and I grabbed at that root and my boob, but wait, I wasn't finished falling yet, duh. KABLAM!!!!!! *insert Flintstone style bonk here* Hold on a second, if my hands are grabbing my boob, what's breaking my fall????? My face of course!!! As I lay there and pondered the meaning of life, the mathematical substance behind the theory of relativity, the space time continuum, my husband is standing over me trying to make sure I am alive. Here come two other trail runners, inquiring as to my status. I hear myself say I am okay. But I swear I feel like someone else is saying it on my behalf. Brad runs to catch up with the rest of the group after making sure I didn't split my head open, which it felt like I did, to tell them what happened. I, on sort of wobbly legs and an ever spinning head, start walking and wiping off the dirt from my face. Thankfully there's no blood, but enough swelling underneath and on top of my eye that I am catching it with my peripheral vision. I get to the group and everyone looks at me with gaping mouths. Yep, I must look good. So they go on ahead and Brad and I let me walk for awhile, getting my legs underneath me. We walked about a half mile, and started to run again. We ran across Belle Isle, feeling the tortured spirits around me, and to the parking lot. Jan was there still, the road group beat us back. I told her I fell for her because she actually fell twice while we ran and I felt badly for her. It was the least I could do.
I got in the car and viewed the damage. Yikes, I look like I have been in a fist fight, yeah but you should see what the other guy looks like...Hahaha. That's when I quipped, Honey, is it supposed to hurt this much, to myself. Hey, I wasn't going to be the best at anything today, I might as well be the best out of everyone who fell. And that I was, no one even came close to the damage I did.
Listen up Jim, I am not wearing a helmet next week. If I can do this sort or damage today just training, I am really looking forward to what I can do next week!! A personal worst and bodily harm, wow, how can I refuse??
Friday, November 14, 2008
Running like a girl and other bits of training
When last I wrote, I was recovering from the NYC marathon. It was truly an experience. I told my coach, I think she was sending hypnotizing mind waves through the phone as we talked, that I would consider doing the Marine Corps. Marathon in DC this October. I know she was, otherwise WHY would I agree to such a crazy thing??? I have until next summer to reneg. We shall see about it.
Anyway, my husband and I are signed up for technique classes all off season long through Endorphin fitness. We finally made it to a running class on Wednesday night. I loved it. First of all a bunch of my running buddies from my previous class were there. Brian, Fred and Tom are a hoot to run with. Second of all, it's outside so you don't have to worry about overheating. It was a perfectly chilly 48 or so degrees on Wednesday. I actually was pretty frosty, then we did our 10 minute warm up. It was really nice. I got to hear Fred's stories about the Ironman he and his wife did the same weekend we ran the marathon. Fred you and Charlotte are such BEASTS and I mean that with total awe and admiration dripping from every pore!!! Brian ran the NYC marathon too. So we got to chat about that. Funny, I never could talk while I ran before. I think running for almost 5 hours of my life put my lungs into a totally different category of functioning. My legs too. I was like 10 mins of running???? Really now, I could do that with both legs tied behind my back, hahahaha! There'd be a sight for sure.
Anyway, we warmed up, and went back to our two coaches. One is my coach, HI BRENDA, I know you're reading my blog so I though I'd give you a shout out. And the other was a very nice guy named Bob. I think it was Bob, I could be wrong, but I think his name was Bob. He had an Ironman hat on and an Endorphin Fitness sweatshirt, so I know it wasn't some random guy who decided to teach the class. Some hobo with nothing to do but make a bunch of people sprint around like idiots.
To get back to my original thought there, we went back to the coaches who had us line up on one end of the football field. We were practicing our form tonight. So we had to remember to not slouch, lean at our ankles, and land on the middle of our foot. Kind of like the ball of it, but not on your toes. Not unless you want a world of hurt. We had to balance on one foot, things like that, all to drill the proper form into our heads.
It was so cool out there, and I was feeling awesome. All of my running buddies were around, my husband was next to me and Brenda was one of the coaches. The perfect storm in my running world. Brenda had us running 50 yards practicing this or that drill regarding our form. I was all focused, and really trying. I wasn't intentionally running in the front of the pack of the 15 in our group. I was just trying. But I was out in front, cause the next thing you know I hear my husband's noisy sweatpants swooshing for all they were worth and another person busting it on my other side. Fred and my husband were trying to catch me. Hmmm, must be a male testosterone-y thing, you were being housed by a girl! Oooooooooooo, you want some ice for that burn boys????? That was it! It was ON BIGTIME. Brenda got laughing she saw what they were up to. Then Tom threw himself into the mix, I should mention Brian is running the Richmond Marathon this weekend so he was just doing many, many laps to our technique drills. I had my I know I Run Like A Girl Shirt on that I wore to the Marathon. When the guys were busting it to keep up with me, they started to tease me about how I ran like a girl. It was all in good fun, I do believe I heard a bunch of admiration when they teased me. At one point after many, many 50 yard drills, Brenda and Bob had us run the inside, grassy perimeter of the track. I took off, and was eating up the weather. It was perfect for me, I couldn't overheat if I tried, MS be damned, you will not touch me tonight!! It felt so good, then all of the sudden, as I was in my happy place and feeling sort of invincible, the peanut gallery of male runners started cat calling to me. BWAHAHAHAHA! Run, run as fast as I can, you boys can't catch me I'm like the gingerbread man!!!!!!!!
After that lap, we did what seemed like ten thousand more 50 yard drills. Each time the bunch of us getting faster and faster. I think our coaches loved it. We were so enthusiastic, laughing, bantering, it was AWESOME! I had so much fun, I can't begin to tell you. The only disappointing thing was we didn't get to do the barefoot striders. Too cold and the grass was sort of wet, so maybe next week. Unfortunately Brad won't be there, boo!!!! I love running with him. But my other buddies will. We are trying to plan a get together with a glass of wine or beer and the spouses and/or girlfriends too. I would love it.
We swam a bunch yesterday, that was my other bit of training. Actually, we did weights, it is absolutely hysterical to watch me bench press anything, then we road these nifty new bikes they have at Am Fam. It has a screen, you pick a course and you race other riders. We did a couple of miles of that, then we hit the pool. I did 30 full laps, which makes for 1500 yards. It felt really good. Once I found my rhythm I could have kept going. I didn't though, I hadn't been swimming in a bit, so I needed to remember how I would feel the next day, being today. My shoulders hurt and my lats, but that's good. Means I was using proper form and the right muscle groups as I pulled through the water.
I think I forgot to mention that my coach wants me to qualify for the Boston marathon this year. Is she nuts???? The marine corps marathon is a qualifier for Boston. That would mean me running the whole thing in like 3 hours and 30 minutes. It took almost 2 hours longer to do for NY, will a year of training really be enough to do that I wonder???? Where she get that type of faith in me, I have no idea!
I am training for a 10 mile trail run. Brad entered us in the Bear Creek 10 miler in a few weeks. It is supposed to be wickedly hairy and I am guaranteed a personal worst! That's what a group of Brad's triathlon friends said about it. I am so excited, the people we are going with (another group of really fun people), a personal worst, you can't beat that with a stick, or beat me at running clinic when I am running like a girl....
Anyway, my husband and I are signed up for technique classes all off season long through Endorphin fitness. We finally made it to a running class on Wednesday night. I loved it. First of all a bunch of my running buddies from my previous class were there. Brian, Fred and Tom are a hoot to run with. Second of all, it's outside so you don't have to worry about overheating. It was a perfectly chilly 48 or so degrees on Wednesday. I actually was pretty frosty, then we did our 10 minute warm up. It was really nice. I got to hear Fred's stories about the Ironman he and his wife did the same weekend we ran the marathon. Fred you and Charlotte are such BEASTS and I mean that with total awe and admiration dripping from every pore!!! Brian ran the NYC marathon too. So we got to chat about that. Funny, I never could talk while I ran before. I think running for almost 5 hours of my life put my lungs into a totally different category of functioning. My legs too. I was like 10 mins of running???? Really now, I could do that with both legs tied behind my back, hahahaha! There'd be a sight for sure.
Anyway, we warmed up, and went back to our two coaches. One is my coach, HI BRENDA, I know you're reading my blog so I though I'd give you a shout out. And the other was a very nice guy named Bob. I think it was Bob, I could be wrong, but I think his name was Bob. He had an Ironman hat on and an Endorphin Fitness sweatshirt, so I know it wasn't some random guy who decided to teach the class. Some hobo with nothing to do but make a bunch of people sprint around like idiots.
To get back to my original thought there, we went back to the coaches who had us line up on one end of the football field. We were practicing our form tonight. So we had to remember to not slouch, lean at our ankles, and land on the middle of our foot. Kind of like the ball of it, but not on your toes. Not unless you want a world of hurt. We had to balance on one foot, things like that, all to drill the proper form into our heads.
It was so cool out there, and I was feeling awesome. All of my running buddies were around, my husband was next to me and Brenda was one of the coaches. The perfect storm in my running world. Brenda had us running 50 yards practicing this or that drill regarding our form. I was all focused, and really trying. I wasn't intentionally running in the front of the pack of the 15 in our group. I was just trying. But I was out in front, cause the next thing you know I hear my husband's noisy sweatpants swooshing for all they were worth and another person busting it on my other side. Fred and my husband were trying to catch me. Hmmm, must be a male testosterone-y thing, you were being housed by a girl! Oooooooooooo, you want some ice for that burn boys????? That was it! It was ON BIGTIME. Brenda got laughing she saw what they were up to. Then Tom threw himself into the mix, I should mention Brian is running the Richmond Marathon this weekend so he was just doing many, many laps to our technique drills. I had my I know I Run Like A Girl Shirt on that I wore to the Marathon. When the guys were busting it to keep up with me, they started to tease me about how I ran like a girl. It was all in good fun, I do believe I heard a bunch of admiration when they teased me. At one point after many, many 50 yard drills, Brenda and Bob had us run the inside, grassy perimeter of the track. I took off, and was eating up the weather. It was perfect for me, I couldn't overheat if I tried, MS be damned, you will not touch me tonight!! It felt so good, then all of the sudden, as I was in my happy place and feeling sort of invincible, the peanut gallery of male runners started cat calling to me. BWAHAHAHAHA! Run, run as fast as I can, you boys can't catch me I'm like the gingerbread man!!!!!!!!
After that lap, we did what seemed like ten thousand more 50 yard drills. Each time the bunch of us getting faster and faster. I think our coaches loved it. We were so enthusiastic, laughing, bantering, it was AWESOME! I had so much fun, I can't begin to tell you. The only disappointing thing was we didn't get to do the barefoot striders. Too cold and the grass was sort of wet, so maybe next week. Unfortunately Brad won't be there, boo!!!! I love running with him. But my other buddies will. We are trying to plan a get together with a glass of wine or beer and the spouses and/or girlfriends too. I would love it.
We swam a bunch yesterday, that was my other bit of training. Actually, we did weights, it is absolutely hysterical to watch me bench press anything, then we road these nifty new bikes they have at Am Fam. It has a screen, you pick a course and you race other riders. We did a couple of miles of that, then we hit the pool. I did 30 full laps, which makes for 1500 yards. It felt really good. Once I found my rhythm I could have kept going. I didn't though, I hadn't been swimming in a bit, so I needed to remember how I would feel the next day, being today. My shoulders hurt and my lats, but that's good. Means I was using proper form and the right muscle groups as I pulled through the water.
I think I forgot to mention that my coach wants me to qualify for the Boston marathon this year. Is she nuts???? The marine corps marathon is a qualifier for Boston. That would mean me running the whole thing in like 3 hours and 30 minutes. It took almost 2 hours longer to do for NY, will a year of training really be enough to do that I wonder???? Where she get that type of faith in me, I have no idea!
I am training for a 10 mile trail run. Brad entered us in the Bear Creek 10 miler in a few weeks. It is supposed to be wickedly hairy and I am guaranteed a personal worst! That's what a group of Brad's triathlon friends said about it. I am so excited, the people we are going with (another group of really fun people), a personal worst, you can't beat that with a stick, or beat me at running clinic when I am running like a girl....
Monday, November 3, 2008
The Devastation that was once my lower half
Yes, I might have survived, but it is not without a price. My husband and I were lying in bed this morning, taking inventory and comparing aches. We both thought we were doing pretty well. Then I made the mistake of standing up. I needed to go to the bathroom and make some coffee. So I stand up and just started to laugh. I think I looked like I was cross country skiing at first. Choo-choo, my legs were sliding back and forth and all I could do was try and get to the bathroom without wetting my pants because I was laughing at myself so hard. After 20 minutes, no not really but it felt that long, I made it. Sitting down and then standing up was another neat trick to master. As the day has progressed I have been stretching and trying to feel better. I think Brad is worse then me. He ran way harder then I did, so it makes sense he should be walking like he has a basketball between his legs.
That reminds me of the guy yesterday at the first aid station with his willy in one hand and a handful of Vaseline that he was rubbing all over his chafed "boys" in the other. He was cheerfully saying to these volunteers whose eyes were as wide as saucers, "Well now you can say you've seen everything!" I am sure there were some "things" on him those poor women didn't want to see!
I might not be blogging for awhile, or I might. I am taking time off from any kind of strenuous training for a bit. Sure I'll keep up with the running here and there, but I have earned a little time off before we start training for the half Ironman we are doing in April...
That reminds me of the guy yesterday at the first aid station with his willy in one hand and a handful of Vaseline that he was rubbing all over his chafed "boys" in the other. He was cheerfully saying to these volunteers whose eyes were as wide as saucers, "Well now you can say you've seen everything!" I am sure there were some "things" on him those poor women didn't want to see!
I might not be blogging for awhile, or I might. I am taking time off from any kind of strenuous training for a bit. Sure I'll keep up with the running here and there, but I have earned a little time off before we start training for the half Ironman we are doing in April...
Sunday, November 2, 2008
I Ran, I ran so far away.....
Okay, my wish came true. It is the night after the NYC Marathon! I survived!! I actually ran the whole way, I actually finished under 5 hours like I wanted to!
I left off yesterday with my fall down the stairs I think. I do not believe I mentioned dinner last night which was okay. We had an amazing antipasto misto, too delicious, and I had ravioli with vodka sauce. My husband did too, he wanted pizza, why he got the ravioli, I don't know, I guess so he could keep saying, "I should have gotten the pizza" and he did so frequently. We were sitting shoulder to shoulder with the other patrons ala NY restaurant. The ladies sitting next to us were a hoot. Such typical New Yorkers, I have to do the voices for you to truly appreciate the whole experience. But at one point the daughter (who was around 50) is swearing at her mom for holding her purse and actually called her a drunk for dropping her fork. "You're like and alcoholic with the way you're dropping things Ma." Like I said, you need the voice over from me to appreciate the whole experience.
We got home, ate these two little pastry that we got at a near supermarket, drank our cawfee (and there is nothing like a "regular" NY cawfee, again, you need my NY accent for that) and hit the hay. Let me tell you 5AM came way too early. But we got up, I dressed in my fleece lined running tights, two long sleeved t-shirts, the top one said "I know I run like a girl, try to keep up", put my race number on, grabbed my running belt with the pouch for my GUs, and off we went.
We walked down to the Staten Island Ferry terminal with thousands of other runners. We got into the terminal, sat for a few seconds and hopped on the next available ferry. We got a good couple of seats and marveled at the Statue of Liberty as we went past it. It truly moves me every time I see it. It is such a symbol, I almost broke out into God Bless America, but controlled myself.
After we go off of the ferry, we were in the terminal on Staten Island, here is where we needed to catch a bus to the race start. I got breakfast for us and Brad stood in a line for many minutes to take a whiz. But here is the best part of our breakfast, we found this quiet corner to sit and eat and drink our Gatorade. Well more people start coming into the terminal and started surrounding us. Here comes this guy, he takes out a little towel and places it just so on the floor in front of him. Then he sits down and gingerly removes his sneaker. Then he took his sock off and folded it neatly. Before you know it, the guy pulls out a pair of toenail clippers and starts going to town. He groomed those damn toenails of his while I tried to choke down my biscuit. I kept begging him, in my mind, to brush his teeth and shave next. Hell, he should have taken a sponge bath to complete my whole experience.
We decided we needed to take the bus to the start after the show, so off we go. It was nice and toasty on the buses. It was about 30 degrees with the biting wind. I felt like I was naked the wind bit through all of my layers of clothes. We got to the Verranzano bridge, found the Team for Kids tent and there we sat with 2000 or so other freezing folks. We did manage to go find some coffee and before you knew it, it was time to line up and make our way to the bridge.
At this point, I was with butterflies the size of lunar moths banging around in my tummy. We kept moving up, moving up, we heard the cannon sound to start the first wave of elites, we saw the throw a way sweatshirts flying off of the bridge, and they were off. It seemed like two seconds later and our cannon blew, off we went, there goes swifty! Brad and I ran together for the first 10k.
I have never experienced anything like the crowds at this race both running and cheering. There were 2 million spectators, and they were screaming like we were all their favorite rock stars flying past. There were some points that stunk, like the bridges especially the 59th street bridge. That sucker was about 10 miles long (really it was about 2 miles long) and had a 45 degree grade. Okay, I know I am exaggerating, but that is how it felt.
Brad teased me and said I had my very own fan club. Everyone loved my shirt! Everyone called to me as I made it past. Imagine hearing "Yeah, you run like a girl!" in the Bronx or Harlem. I made friends with load of people as I ran, it was fun. The music was out of this world. There were bands set up and playing all over, you definitely didn't need an I-Pod. My favorite were the Bagpipers in their kilts. Men in skirts are way too sexy!!
I did fine for the first 13.1 miles. I have run the distance a billion times, and my legs were great through that distance. Miles 14 and 15 I was still okay. Mile 16, I was starting to fatigue. Miles 17 and 18, I was fatiguing even more and I'm thinking I have 11 more to go??? Oh sh*t. I made it to mile 20 and I think I hit the proverbial wall. But I pushed through, and you know mile 21 and 22 were okay. I made it through alright. Miles 23 and 24, how would I describe them? Hmmm, I think they sucked. If it weren't for the cheering crowds, I think don't think I would have made it. I kept telling myself I only had two miles plus a little until I finished. I made it through mile 25, I was hurting by now. My left knee was so painful, I can't begin to explain it. Here comes mile 26. I was never more thrilled to see a sign in my whole freaking life. It was at least 10 miles long, really, it was undoubtedly THE longest mile of my life, but I made it through, and then it was down to the .2 miles, then 200 yards, then 100 yards, then 50. I posed for pictures as I ran past the photographers, I laughed out loud, because I was delirious at this point, I crossed the finish line and said out loud, I DID IT! And I did didn't I?
I left off yesterday with my fall down the stairs I think. I do not believe I mentioned dinner last night which was okay. We had an amazing antipasto misto, too delicious, and I had ravioli with vodka sauce. My husband did too, he wanted pizza, why he got the ravioli, I don't know, I guess so he could keep saying, "I should have gotten the pizza" and he did so frequently. We were sitting shoulder to shoulder with the other patrons ala NY restaurant. The ladies sitting next to us were a hoot. Such typical New Yorkers, I have to do the voices for you to truly appreciate the whole experience. But at one point the daughter (who was around 50) is swearing at her mom for holding her purse and actually called her a drunk for dropping her fork. "You're like and alcoholic with the way you're dropping things Ma." Like I said, you need the voice over from me to appreciate the whole experience.
We got home, ate these two little pastry that we got at a near supermarket, drank our cawfee (and there is nothing like a "regular" NY cawfee, again, you need my NY accent for that) and hit the hay. Let me tell you 5AM came way too early. But we got up, I dressed in my fleece lined running tights, two long sleeved t-shirts, the top one said "I know I run like a girl, try to keep up", put my race number on, grabbed my running belt with the pouch for my GUs, and off we went.
We walked down to the Staten Island Ferry terminal with thousands of other runners. We got into the terminal, sat for a few seconds and hopped on the next available ferry. We got a good couple of seats and marveled at the Statue of Liberty as we went past it. It truly moves me every time I see it. It is such a symbol, I almost broke out into God Bless America, but controlled myself.
After we go off of the ferry, we were in the terminal on Staten Island, here is where we needed to catch a bus to the race start. I got breakfast for us and Brad stood in a line for many minutes to take a whiz. But here is the best part of our breakfast, we found this quiet corner to sit and eat and drink our Gatorade. Well more people start coming into the terminal and started surrounding us. Here comes this guy, he takes out a little towel and places it just so on the floor in front of him. Then he sits down and gingerly removes his sneaker. Then he took his sock off and folded it neatly. Before you know it, the guy pulls out a pair of toenail clippers and starts going to town. He groomed those damn toenails of his while I tried to choke down my biscuit. I kept begging him, in my mind, to brush his teeth and shave next. Hell, he should have taken a sponge bath to complete my whole experience.
We decided we needed to take the bus to the start after the show, so off we go. It was nice and toasty on the buses. It was about 30 degrees with the biting wind. I felt like I was naked the wind bit through all of my layers of clothes. We got to the Verranzano bridge, found the Team for Kids tent and there we sat with 2000 or so other freezing folks. We did manage to go find some coffee and before you knew it, it was time to line up and make our way to the bridge.
At this point, I was with butterflies the size of lunar moths banging around in my tummy. We kept moving up, moving up, we heard the cannon sound to start the first wave of elites, we saw the throw a way sweatshirts flying off of the bridge, and they were off. It seemed like two seconds later and our cannon blew, off we went, there goes swifty! Brad and I ran together for the first 10k.
I have never experienced anything like the crowds at this race both running and cheering. There were 2 million spectators, and they were screaming like we were all their favorite rock stars flying past. There were some points that stunk, like the bridges especially the 59th street bridge. That sucker was about 10 miles long (really it was about 2 miles long) and had a 45 degree grade. Okay, I know I am exaggerating, but that is how it felt.
Brad teased me and said I had my very own fan club. Everyone loved my shirt! Everyone called to me as I made it past. Imagine hearing "Yeah, you run like a girl!" in the Bronx or Harlem. I made friends with load of people as I ran, it was fun. The music was out of this world. There were bands set up and playing all over, you definitely didn't need an I-Pod. My favorite were the Bagpipers in their kilts. Men in skirts are way too sexy!!
I did fine for the first 13.1 miles. I have run the distance a billion times, and my legs were great through that distance. Miles 14 and 15 I was still okay. Mile 16, I was starting to fatigue. Miles 17 and 18, I was fatiguing even more and I'm thinking I have 11 more to go??? Oh sh*t. I made it to mile 20 and I think I hit the proverbial wall. But I pushed through, and you know mile 21 and 22 were okay. I made it through alright. Miles 23 and 24, how would I describe them? Hmmm, I think they sucked. If it weren't for the cheering crowds, I think don't think I would have made it. I kept telling myself I only had two miles plus a little until I finished. I made it through mile 25, I was hurting by now. My left knee was so painful, I can't begin to explain it. Here comes mile 26. I was never more thrilled to see a sign in my whole freaking life. It was at least 10 miles long, really, it was undoubtedly THE longest mile of my life, but I made it through, and then it was down to the .2 miles, then 200 yards, then 100 yards, then 50. I posed for pictures as I ran past the photographers, I laughed out loud, because I was delirious at this point, I crossed the finish line and said out loud, I DID IT! And I did didn't I?
Saturday, November 1, 2008
We're on our way,....
So, as I sit here ready to barf on my husband as the train jostles me, I keep telling myself by 6 o'clock tomorrow, this will all be done. I will be an official "marathon runner" that title tucked neatly under my belt. I have to keep reminding myself, it's okay if I walk through the aid stations, okay to stop if I need to stretch, okay to walk just 'cause.
I can't figure out why I have the worst butterflies ever. I wasn't this nervous before the NYC Triathlon. I was unbelievably calm that morning. This, I am sitting on the train, barely able to sit through the ride. I keep shifting in my seat, fidgeting around and all around feeling like I drank ten cups of coffee.
The conductor just called Penn. I need to put the computer away, but I am dying here...
A LITTLE WHILE LATER-
We made it in, got through Penn Station and walked to the Javits Center. I have never been inside there, it was pretty cool. Very big, very crowded. After we got our race bibs and timing chips, we went to get our chips activated. That done, we went over to where T-Shirt pick up was.
This is were things go a little wrong. I didn't realize until I got back to our room that they gave me a large instead of a medium. While we were at the expo, who should we see besides Brandy Chastain. Brad said, let's get her autograph for Heather since she loves soccer the way she does. Okay, we tried, but there was this blow hard jack*ss that was trying to get over on her. He stood there with her for a good ten minutes, then, they said she needed to leave. We were one person away from getting her autograph. Oh well.
Did I mention my husband is more high strung than a cat, with a really long tail, laying down in a room full of moving rocking chairs??? He is nitpicking, letting everything bother him and is sort of twitchy. This is after he ate even! Usually give him a full belly and he turns into a happy boy, not so today!
My sort of oh crap luck continued after we ate some pretty yummy sammiches and some soup. We were leaving through the back of the place, I missed the first stair of these stone hewn stairs and wouldn't you know it, I melted down the stairs?? I can't say I fell, I was almost like a passive protester being picked up by the police to be carted off to jail. I went with the fall, dribbled down the stairs, and popped up like "I meant to do that! TA-DA, and now for my next trick...I will fall down a manhole cover...(God forbid)" I came out with a sock burn on my piggie toe on the right hand side and some definite bruising to my once decent sized ego. Geez, oh pete! Anyway.
I feel like I might do alright. I saw some of the marathoners at the Expo and I measured up alright. I did speak to a woman who hasn't trained in the last 6 weeks, but if she is a lifelong runner, she's still probably better off then me, the woman who's into her second year of running and doing a marathon. What's next?? DO NOT I repeat, DO NOT, say an Ironman....
I can't figure out why I have the worst butterflies ever. I wasn't this nervous before the NYC Triathlon. I was unbelievably calm that morning. This, I am sitting on the train, barely able to sit through the ride. I keep shifting in my seat, fidgeting around and all around feeling like I drank ten cups of coffee.
The conductor just called Penn. I need to put the computer away, but I am dying here...
A LITTLE WHILE LATER-
We made it in, got through Penn Station and walked to the Javits Center. I have never been inside there, it was pretty cool. Very big, very crowded. After we got our race bibs and timing chips, we went to get our chips activated. That done, we went over to where T-Shirt pick up was.
This is were things go a little wrong. I didn't realize until I got back to our room that they gave me a large instead of a medium. While we were at the expo, who should we see besides Brandy Chastain. Brad said, let's get her autograph for Heather since she loves soccer the way she does. Okay, we tried, but there was this blow hard jack*ss that was trying to get over on her. He stood there with her for a good ten minutes, then, they said she needed to leave. We were one person away from getting her autograph. Oh well.
Did I mention my husband is more high strung than a cat, with a really long tail, laying down in a room full of moving rocking chairs??? He is nitpicking, letting everything bother him and is sort of twitchy. This is after he ate even! Usually give him a full belly and he turns into a happy boy, not so today!
My sort of oh crap luck continued after we ate some pretty yummy sammiches and some soup. We were leaving through the back of the place, I missed the first stair of these stone hewn stairs and wouldn't you know it, I melted down the stairs?? I can't say I fell, I was almost like a passive protester being picked up by the police to be carted off to jail. I went with the fall, dribbled down the stairs, and popped up like "I meant to do that! TA-DA, and now for my next trick...I will fall down a manhole cover...(God forbid)" I came out with a sock burn on my piggie toe on the right hand side and some definite bruising to my once decent sized ego. Geez, oh pete! Anyway.
I feel like I might do alright. I saw some of the marathoners at the Expo and I measured up alright. I did speak to a woman who hasn't trained in the last 6 weeks, but if she is a lifelong runner, she's still probably better off then me, the woman who's into her second year of running and doing a marathon. What's next?? DO NOT I repeat, DO NOT, say an Ironman....
Thursday, October 30, 2008
Ready or not, here I come!!!
No, I haven't posted in a while. I have been training, nothing monumental. Pretty much taper stuff. I haven't run more then 8 or so miles since the 21 and change trek through Pocohantas.
I am making this an event. I am bringing a camera, and taking pics of me with spectators, the scenery, fellow looney tune runners.
I am nervous, why? Why not? I want to run well, but don't know if I will be able to for 26.2 miles. This is my last big race of my season. What a way to end everything. I am looking forward to taking it easy and just going to some technique based classes that Brad and I signed up for this winter. We are going to hit the ground running in January. I need to be able to ride for 56 miles, after swimming for 1.25 miles and then run a half marathon. These classes will help me get the right form down so I can train at my maximum potential.
I signed up for the NYC Triathlon for next July today. So I know I will be doing one other race besides the Half Ironman in April!
Wish me luck, this grouchy marathoner is going to need it!
I am making this an event. I am bringing a camera, and taking pics of me with spectators, the scenery, fellow looney tune runners.
I am nervous, why? Why not? I want to run well, but don't know if I will be able to for 26.2 miles. This is my last big race of my season. What a way to end everything. I am looking forward to taking it easy and just going to some technique based classes that Brad and I signed up for this winter. We are going to hit the ground running in January. I need to be able to ride for 56 miles, after swimming for 1.25 miles and then run a half marathon. These classes will help me get the right form down so I can train at my maximum potential.
I signed up for the NYC Triathlon for next July today. So I know I will be doing one other race besides the Half Ironman in April!
Wish me luck, this grouchy marathoner is going to need it!
Sunday, October 19, 2008
The Ceiling is in shards at my feet
Yes my blogging friends, I did it. Yesterday was the day I head butted the glass ceiling and then broke through. I hovered there with all of my long runs, maybe even left my dirty fingerprints on it, but never broke through.
Once again my husband decided that we needed to run the trail of Pocohantas Park for our long run. Once again, I questioned the wisdom. The trails are tough, they are way hillier then I need to run, but I had a fierce determination to conquer the milestone my friends.
We got ourselves up, ate our breakfast, mine was a bowl of granola and Life cereal, because not only Mikey likes it, and a few brownie bites. I know, the breakfast of champions, but I figured what the hell, the carbs would be needed.
I made 6 water bottles up of Gatorade and plain water and ice. Gathered up a bunch of GU packets, a few cliff bars and protein bars and we were off to Pocohantas.
It was cool yesterday. A bracing 48 degrees when we started, and that bodes well for me. I run way better in the cool then in the heat. We got out, I made a potty stop while Brad got his I-Pod all ready for the trek and we were off.
I had a strategy in my back pocket for this run too. I had started training for the marathon with a book about marathons written by Jeff Galloway. He recommends 2 minute walk breaks after a certain amount of mileage run to help save your legs and avoid hitting the wall at 20 miles. I told Brad I wanted to do that, I know he likes running harder then I do so I didn't expect that he would want to join me. But he did, he said he wanted to see if he did that would he be able to pick up his pace towards the end. So off we went. I remember that Galloway said as tempting as it is to not take those breaks early on, take them, you'll be thankful later that you did. So after two miles Brad said let's walk now. After two minutes we started running again, then we walked for two minutes after the two miles. We skipped our last walk break because I needed to hit the loo again during the last bit of our first almost 7 mile loop we had set up. Got back the the truck, refilled our water bottles with Gatorade, GU'd up, and off we went. This loop we vascillated between speeds, but still took our 2 minute walk breaks, but not necessarily after two miles. Sometimes we stretched it because we were on a good downhill and wanted to wait until we were finished with the uphill of that. But we did still take our breaks. We added to our second loop so we actually ran 9 miles as opposed to 7-ish. We refilled, GU'd up and we were ready for the last bit of our 20 plus miles.
It was fairly uneventful other then the fact that my legs hurt like a motherf*@$%r and I wanted to throw in the towel. We had two or so miles left and Brad said he wanted to pick up the pace, he had legs left the bastard, I told him to go on ahead and I would catch up, that I would probably need a walk break before I could finish. My last two miles were dicey. I walked/ran it, I can't say I was Speedy Gonzales, but I kept reminding myself that I had never run or walked that far before. When I realized where I was and that I was about 1000 meters or so to the parking lot where we were parked I really started to run. I ran because I knew I was close to the end, I ran because I knew I would be able to stop soon, I ran because it still hurt like a bitch when I walked. I ran until I got to Christine our black truck, and then I stopped. I felt like Forrest Gump(I'm pretty tired, I think I'll go home now) only on steriods. I was pissy that my legs hurt like they did, Brad said it looked like I was going to kill someone. I did say the first person in my path was going to get punched, and punched hard. Brad ducked back in Christine laughing at me.
Why? I dunno, I think maybe all of those endorphins went bad because it took too long to release them after all of those miles. Hmmmm, I wonder if endorphins spoil?
Once again my husband decided that we needed to run the trail of Pocohantas Park for our long run. Once again, I questioned the wisdom. The trails are tough, they are way hillier then I need to run, but I had a fierce determination to conquer the milestone my friends.
We got ourselves up, ate our breakfast, mine was a bowl of granola and Life cereal, because not only Mikey likes it, and a few brownie bites. I know, the breakfast of champions, but I figured what the hell, the carbs would be needed.
I made 6 water bottles up of Gatorade and plain water and ice. Gathered up a bunch of GU packets, a few cliff bars and protein bars and we were off to Pocohantas.
It was cool yesterday. A bracing 48 degrees when we started, and that bodes well for me. I run way better in the cool then in the heat. We got out, I made a potty stop while Brad got his I-Pod all ready for the trek and we were off.
I had a strategy in my back pocket for this run too. I had started training for the marathon with a book about marathons written by Jeff Galloway. He recommends 2 minute walk breaks after a certain amount of mileage run to help save your legs and avoid hitting the wall at 20 miles. I told Brad I wanted to do that, I know he likes running harder then I do so I didn't expect that he would want to join me. But he did, he said he wanted to see if he did that would he be able to pick up his pace towards the end. So off we went. I remember that Galloway said as tempting as it is to not take those breaks early on, take them, you'll be thankful later that you did. So after two miles Brad said let's walk now. After two minutes we started running again, then we walked for two minutes after the two miles. We skipped our last walk break because I needed to hit the loo again during the last bit of our first almost 7 mile loop we had set up. Got back the the truck, refilled our water bottles with Gatorade, GU'd up, and off we went. This loop we vascillated between speeds, but still took our 2 minute walk breaks, but not necessarily after two miles. Sometimes we stretched it because we were on a good downhill and wanted to wait until we were finished with the uphill of that. But we did still take our breaks. We added to our second loop so we actually ran 9 miles as opposed to 7-ish. We refilled, GU'd up and we were ready for the last bit of our 20 plus miles.
It was fairly uneventful other then the fact that my legs hurt like a motherf*@$%r and I wanted to throw in the towel. We had two or so miles left and Brad said he wanted to pick up the pace, he had legs left the bastard, I told him to go on ahead and I would catch up, that I would probably need a walk break before I could finish. My last two miles were dicey. I walked/ran it, I can't say I was Speedy Gonzales, but I kept reminding myself that I had never run or walked that far before. When I realized where I was and that I was about 1000 meters or so to the parking lot where we were parked I really started to run. I ran because I knew I was close to the end, I ran because I knew I would be able to stop soon, I ran because it still hurt like a bitch when I walked. I ran until I got to Christine our black truck, and then I stopped. I felt like Forrest Gump(I'm pretty tired, I think I'll go home now) only on steriods. I was pissy that my legs hurt like they did, Brad said it looked like I was going to kill someone. I did say the first person in my path was going to get punched, and punched hard. Brad ducked back in Christine laughing at me.
Why? I dunno, I think maybe all of those endorphins went bad because it took too long to release them after all of those miles. Hmmmm, I wonder if endorphins spoil?
Wednesday, October 1, 2008
The 20 mile glass ceiling...
Hello, and here we are again trying to smash through that freakin' 20 mile glass ceiling. Brad and I had it all planned out we did. Tired of chasing through the maze of Foxes around here we opted for the pristine trials, oops I meant to type trails of Pocohantas State Park. It is truly lovely there and we had a flipping hoot of a time when we camped there this summer, but we knew there were several great trails we could run to break up the Foxy monotony of our distance runs.
We filled water bottles with Accelerade, the fruit punch kind, my new favorite flavor, Gatorade and ice water. We grabbed Bumble Bars, Cliff bars and Snickers marathon bars. Plus our new favorite GU, the vanilla orange Roctance. I also brought along some Luna Moons, not unlike my Jolly Rancher Sport Beans that I like so well. A lot stickier though so you get the added fun of trying to pick your teeth while you are scooting along. Hey, anything to keep me occupied. Otherwise I start imagining I am running with Edward Cullen, which really isn't a bad thing if you know anything about him, but he's faster then I am so I can't keep that pace, hahahaha!
We get to Pocohantas and decide to run the Old Mill Trail with like a lollipop loop to add to the mileage and make it end up at the parking lot where Brad's truck is parked. That is where we have our beverage station set up. It was perfect really. After our first uneventful running 12 minute miles loop, we reload our fuel belts and off we go. We ran the next one at a much faster pace. We ran 9 minutes on the downhills, 10 on the flats, 11 on the uphills. I had to imagine myself on my mountain bike on some of those uphills though. They hurt to go up, especially the one that was like a 45 degree angle leading up to our SAG wagon set up! We completed our next 5.6, replenish our stores and set off again. This time we take Beaver Lake Trail. Hahaha, Beaver lake, hahaha, anyway it was a mountain bike path. I had to imagine myself on my bike for it too. It would have been a fun trail to ride for sure, see my Muddy Buddy post if you want some insight into my mountain bike prowess or lack thereof, it sucked to run for me. That much faster pace on the last loop tapped me. We continued to run, did a modified last loop and wound up at the car. We did 17 miles, we didn't have time to finish the full 20, we needed to start the kid round up.
Anyway, we get back to the truck, Brad grabbed the two ice filled water bottles from the cooler and hands one to me. I greedily start slurping the water down my throat, I had ripped the top off because that squirt action was just pissing me off, and lo and behold an ice cube hit that little punching bag down the back of my throat and starts my gag reflex. Just then, this old couple who had been walking the trails comes right up to the back end of our truck where I am now in the process of trying not to heave as the water is pouring out of my nose like Niagara Falls. I walk to the front of our truck because now boogies from the back of my throat are mixing in with everything and it is all running for the nearest exit like patrons in a crowded movie theater and a fire breaks out. At that point all I heard was the roar of everything making it's grand entrance onto the pavement below and their Volkswagen Bug trying it's buggy best to get away from the barfing extravaganza that was occurring! Then, after everything drained from me like the plug being pulled from a tub, I started to laugh. That poor old couple! I can't imagine what I looked like. Probably red faced, maybe like one of those angel fountains with water spewing from it's mouth (and nose!), drenched in sweat...My spectacle was only outdone by my husband deciding he needed to get changed with a towel wrapped around his waist. If that towel had fallen, oh the humanity!!! I still laugh when I think about all of it. Unfortunately the glass ceiling still is intact, we're going to have to do something about that soon. All of those hills had to count for something, straigten out the course we ran and it had to be 20 miles right???
We filled water bottles with Accelerade, the fruit punch kind, my new favorite flavor, Gatorade and ice water. We grabbed Bumble Bars, Cliff bars and Snickers marathon bars. Plus our new favorite GU, the vanilla orange Roctance. I also brought along some Luna Moons, not unlike my Jolly Rancher Sport Beans that I like so well. A lot stickier though so you get the added fun of trying to pick your teeth while you are scooting along. Hey, anything to keep me occupied. Otherwise I start imagining I am running with Edward Cullen, which really isn't a bad thing if you know anything about him, but he's faster then I am so I can't keep that pace, hahahaha!
We get to Pocohantas and decide to run the Old Mill Trail with like a lollipop loop to add to the mileage and make it end up at the parking lot where Brad's truck is parked. That is where we have our beverage station set up. It was perfect really. After our first uneventful running 12 minute miles loop, we reload our fuel belts and off we go. We ran the next one at a much faster pace. We ran 9 minutes on the downhills, 10 on the flats, 11 on the uphills. I had to imagine myself on my mountain bike on some of those uphills though. They hurt to go up, especially the one that was like a 45 degree angle leading up to our SAG wagon set up! We completed our next 5.6, replenish our stores and set off again. This time we take Beaver Lake Trail. Hahaha, Beaver lake, hahaha, anyway it was a mountain bike path. I had to imagine myself on my bike for it too. It would have been a fun trail to ride for sure, see my Muddy Buddy post if you want some insight into my mountain bike prowess or lack thereof, it sucked to run for me. That much faster pace on the last loop tapped me. We continued to run, did a modified last loop and wound up at the car. We did 17 miles, we didn't have time to finish the full 20, we needed to start the kid round up.
Anyway, we get back to the truck, Brad grabbed the two ice filled water bottles from the cooler and hands one to me. I greedily start slurping the water down my throat, I had ripped the top off because that squirt action was just pissing me off, and lo and behold an ice cube hit that little punching bag down the back of my throat and starts my gag reflex. Just then, this old couple who had been walking the trails comes right up to the back end of our truck where I am now in the process of trying not to heave as the water is pouring out of my nose like Niagara Falls. I walk to the front of our truck because now boogies from the back of my throat are mixing in with everything and it is all running for the nearest exit like patrons in a crowded movie theater and a fire breaks out. At that point all I heard was the roar of everything making it's grand entrance onto the pavement below and their Volkswagen Bug trying it's buggy best to get away from the barfing extravaganza that was occurring! Then, after everything drained from me like the plug being pulled from a tub, I started to laugh. That poor old couple! I can't imagine what I looked like. Probably red faced, maybe like one of those angel fountains with water spewing from it's mouth (and nose!), drenched in sweat...My spectacle was only outdone by my husband deciding he needed to get changed with a towel wrapped around his waist. If that towel had fallen, oh the humanity!!! I still laugh when I think about all of it. Unfortunately the glass ceiling still is intact, we're going to have to do something about that soon. All of those hills had to count for something, straigten out the course we ran and it had to be 20 miles right???
Saturday, September 27, 2008
The Disastrous 20 miler and a great rebound clinic
So when we last left off, I was getting ready to run my 20 miler. I was stoked, I knew I could do it. I did 18 and still had legs left, I knew I could do 20. So my husband decides he wants to do it with me. As I said before it is nice to have the company. We had such a great long run last time. Off we go then. We get our bottles of Accelerade ready, grab enough GU packets for the two of us, I am ready for this. The dragon inside me is snarling, it wants to do this, or so it misguidedly thinks.
The run started off a little faster then I wanted. Brad had the Garmin on and when I asked our pace, I knew we weren't running 12 minute miles. I made us slow down. I know what speed I need to run distance in. I cannot got faster then that at the start. So we are tooling along, chattering, running through a new development being built behind ours, off across Hull Street into Foxcroft. We are around 6 or so miles. Our strategy was dividing the 20 miles into 4, five mile parts. We ticked off one, on our way to another. At that point we were in Fox Creek another new development, and heading towards Fox Fire after deciding not to run through Fox Field. I believe the developers need a thesaurus or something when they are naming these places. Right now we are surrounded by rapidly (or is it rabidly) growing Fox-something neighborhoods. Let's get original here guys, let's call them something like, "Another Former Farmer Sold His Land, Made a Killing and Now My Elementary, Middle and High Schools Are Grossly Overcrowded Due to Everyone's Greed and Lack of Intelligence By Our Board of Supervisor's to Do Something To Stop It Place". Hmmmm, a little wordy, but sounds right to me, ahhhh, I digress, back to our run.
Well something scary happened at about mile 11, I felt weird. I was quiet, Brad asked what was wrong and I told him I felt like I was in survival mode. Not good, just like I needed to maintain to finish. We continue on a few more paces and Brad asks if I want to do a walk break. I tell him no, because I was afraid I would never go back to running. We continue a minute or two more and then I reached for Brad. He was a few paces ahead and I couldn't touch him. But I said loudly enough for him to hear, " I think I have to stop, I think I am going to pass out" and with that, I had to sit. I was so woozy. Brad looked like he was going to run to St. Francis, the hospital nearby, to get help. He looked so scared! I was kind of freaked. Maybe it was because I was sitting on the sidewalk, with my head between my legs, feeling like I was going to faint, maybe it was because while my head was down there I realized just how many spots I missed last time I shaved, maybe it was I started doubting for the first time that I could finish this stupid marathon I am doing. So many maybes....After awhile I got up and felt okay. We walked, and at this point we are easily 6 miles from home. My heart is racing, Brad is panicked, and I feel shaky. Like I had been lifting weights way too heavy for my to lift in the first place. We did a combination of walk/run for a bit, then jogged to Oasis and grabbed some fresh, cold Gatorade. We walked the additional two miles home. I believe we wrapped it up around 16 miles or so. When I got home I just sat around trying to feel human. We had appts. to get to, back to school nights to go to. I didn't have time to do nothing like I wanted. It also gave me plenty of time to think about why it happened and I have nothing. I can't figure out what went wrong. I hydrated properly the day before. I ate properly the day before. I had 1 GU on my way to my second GU, what went wrong. What the heck????
It was with much trepidation that I headed into my Wednesday running clinic. I was afraid of a couple of things. First that I would pass out, the second that I would hold myself back because of my fear and perform horribly. I didn't want to carry that bad run with me and train like I was a bad runner. Not that I'm a great one, and I am certainly no Kenyan. Anyway, I actually considered not going. But went I did. And as luck would have it it was my night to have a hard work out. Brenda likes torturing us like that. One of us, depending on what race we might have coming up, or what training our coaches have set up for that week, wins the prize. You get to hear Brenda utter those fabulous words, You have a hard workout tonight darlin....So I got to bust my rear, and it was okay. I was doing 5 800 meter repeats and she wanted me to do do them in 4 and a half minutes. Four and a half minutes, ha! I laugh in your face. I was hitting the 800 meter mark at 3 minutes and 50 or so seconds. The last one I did in 3 minutes and 54, it was my worst. I would blow past my 800 meter mark and would keep running. I can't say how much farther, because we were running trails, but it was far enough. I didn't need 4:30 to do it in and the best part was, I didn't pass out! 20 miles, this Sunday, I laugh in your face, or do I? Whatever, 20 miles, here I come!!
The run started off a little faster then I wanted. Brad had the Garmin on and when I asked our pace, I knew we weren't running 12 minute miles. I made us slow down. I know what speed I need to run distance in. I cannot got faster then that at the start. So we are tooling along, chattering, running through a new development being built behind ours, off across Hull Street into Foxcroft. We are around 6 or so miles. Our strategy was dividing the 20 miles into 4, five mile parts. We ticked off one, on our way to another. At that point we were in Fox Creek another new development, and heading towards Fox Fire after deciding not to run through Fox Field. I believe the developers need a thesaurus or something when they are naming these places. Right now we are surrounded by rapidly (or is it rabidly) growing Fox-something neighborhoods. Let's get original here guys, let's call them something like, "Another Former Farmer Sold His Land, Made a Killing and Now My Elementary, Middle and High Schools Are Grossly Overcrowded Due to Everyone's Greed and Lack of Intelligence By Our Board of Supervisor's to Do Something To Stop It Place". Hmmmm, a little wordy, but sounds right to me, ahhhh, I digress, back to our run.
Well something scary happened at about mile 11, I felt weird. I was quiet, Brad asked what was wrong and I told him I felt like I was in survival mode. Not good, just like I needed to maintain to finish. We continue on a few more paces and Brad asks if I want to do a walk break. I tell him no, because I was afraid I would never go back to running. We continue a minute or two more and then I reached for Brad. He was a few paces ahead and I couldn't touch him. But I said loudly enough for him to hear, " I think I have to stop, I think I am going to pass out" and with that, I had to sit. I was so woozy. Brad looked like he was going to run to St. Francis, the hospital nearby, to get help. He looked so scared! I was kind of freaked. Maybe it was because I was sitting on the sidewalk, with my head between my legs, feeling like I was going to faint, maybe it was because while my head was down there I realized just how many spots I missed last time I shaved, maybe it was I started doubting for the first time that I could finish this stupid marathon I am doing. So many maybes....After awhile I got up and felt okay. We walked, and at this point we are easily 6 miles from home. My heart is racing, Brad is panicked, and I feel shaky. Like I had been lifting weights way too heavy for my to lift in the first place. We did a combination of walk/run for a bit, then jogged to Oasis and grabbed some fresh, cold Gatorade. We walked the additional two miles home. I believe we wrapped it up around 16 miles or so. When I got home I just sat around trying to feel human. We had appts. to get to, back to school nights to go to. I didn't have time to do nothing like I wanted. It also gave me plenty of time to think about why it happened and I have nothing. I can't figure out what went wrong. I hydrated properly the day before. I ate properly the day before. I had 1 GU on my way to my second GU, what went wrong. What the heck????
It was with much trepidation that I headed into my Wednesday running clinic. I was afraid of a couple of things. First that I would pass out, the second that I would hold myself back because of my fear and perform horribly. I didn't want to carry that bad run with me and train like I was a bad runner. Not that I'm a great one, and I am certainly no Kenyan. Anyway, I actually considered not going. But went I did. And as luck would have it it was my night to have a hard work out. Brenda likes torturing us like that. One of us, depending on what race we might have coming up, or what training our coaches have set up for that week, wins the prize. You get to hear Brenda utter those fabulous words, You have a hard workout tonight darlin....So I got to bust my rear, and it was okay. I was doing 5 800 meter repeats and she wanted me to do do them in 4 and a half minutes. Four and a half minutes, ha! I laugh in your face. I was hitting the 800 meter mark at 3 minutes and 50 or so seconds. The last one I did in 3 minutes and 54, it was my worst. I would blow past my 800 meter mark and would keep running. I can't say how much farther, because we were running trails, but it was far enough. I didn't need 4:30 to do it in and the best part was, I didn't pass out! 20 miles, this Sunday, I laugh in your face, or do I? Whatever, 20 miles, here I come!!
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
Just Keep Swimming, Just Keep Swimming
Yes, you lucky ducks, I am posting twice today. I tried to blog last night but I had a daughter that kept trying to talk to me, then I went on one of my favorite forums and well, the rest it history. So I posted my recap of yesterday's run this morning. When my husband looked at me this morning and asked if I'd like to go swimming, I had to say yes. Why not, conveniently forgetting that I had running clinic with my coach tonight. Anyway, I go and tell him I am distance swimming today to prep for the Naylor's Beach Tri we are doing in two weeks. I need to be able to swim at least for a mile right? So I do 100 lengths of the pool, or 50 laps. It's only a 25yard pool, so it winds up being 1.42 miles. I was stoked. And I get all goofy, I get the best endorphin highs from working out. But then I remember, duh, duh duh duh duuuuuhhhhhhh, I have running clinic tonight. What the heck was I thinking? Now I get to go run on legs trashed from yesterday's run and from my swim today. I swear I think I believe I am some sort of athlete somedays...
Tuesday and 18 miles to go
I was supposed to run 18 miles for my marathon training on Sunday. Well if any of you know what it's like around her during this part of the year, you'll know an almost 100 degree day with humidity that's thick enough to drink when you walk outside, isn't an unusual thing. I knew there was no way I would make it that distance when I walked outside at 7:30 in the morning and melted. So I rearranged my melted molecules, went inside and checked the weather for the rest of the week. Monday promised more of the same, yuck, I knew it wouldn't be an option. But true to the freaky weather we get around here, Tuesday promised to be rainy, cool, around 60 degrees, and just perfect for me to run in. I knew I would have to rearrange my work out schedule a bit for the week, but these long runs are so flipping important to my training, I couldn't miss it. Technically it means two long runs in the same week, but oh well. I can't help the weather right?
I ran with my husband which was nice. I love being able to chatter and pass the time. He has the tendency to bolt out of the blocks and push himself to the point of agony with stuff like this. I am always amazed at his accomplishments. Me, I just want to run the 18 miles and do the whole distance, speed is never a factor for me. So we do it my way this time. We walk for five minutes to warm up, then start a very SLOW jog. 12 minute mile slow. I can see him getting a bit itchy, but it's the only way I can do the whole thing. We went through every subdivision, subdivision being built, subdivisions that were just a thought in someones mind for crying out loud. At one point in our run, when we were on a road trying to get back to a neighborhood and the safety of the trails there and this girl almost clipped my husband. He promised me the next time that happened he would throw his water bottle at the car. I secretly hoped someone would come at us again just to see him do it, he was serious!
Miles up to ten were no big deal. I was good. Mile 13, still pretty good, my husband had to point out that just 13 more and we'd have finished a marathon. That didn't comfort me for some strange reason...Here comes mile 14, I am aerobically okay. I can run forever if my heart rate is at 150. Mile 15 I am taking inventory mentally. My legs are starting to cramp and I have like two sips of Accelerade left in my water bottle. Boooo, this is not good. We decide to run to Oasis sports park and get Gatorade, at this point it feels like knives are twisting in my calves and I am dying. So I grab a couple of salt packets, pour them in my mouth, swallow them down with Gatorade, refill my bottles and I am good to go. By the time we reach Hampton Park we are at 16 miles, two more I tell myself, I can do this. We loop around the neighborhood, take a side road and wind up at 18 miles just maybe a tenth of a mile from our house. We walk the rest, Lance Armstrong tells me I just had my longest workout ever, no duh Lance, I was there, I lived it!
Done, I make a glass of chocolate milk, and sit in an cold bath for my legs. Today, they're not so bad although I sound like I have tourettes when I walk down stairs. I do no like that at all. Lucky me, I get to go to running clinic tonight. She promised to do easy on me. I'll probably just have to do 40 hill repeats and a 20 minute threshold run! Hahahaha, Brenda if you're reading this, don't get any ideas from me!
I ran with my husband which was nice. I love being able to chatter and pass the time. He has the tendency to bolt out of the blocks and push himself to the point of agony with stuff like this. I am always amazed at his accomplishments. Me, I just want to run the 18 miles and do the whole distance, speed is never a factor for me. So we do it my way this time. We walk for five minutes to warm up, then start a very SLOW jog. 12 minute mile slow. I can see him getting a bit itchy, but it's the only way I can do the whole thing. We went through every subdivision, subdivision being built, subdivisions that were just a thought in someones mind for crying out loud. At one point in our run, when we were on a road trying to get back to a neighborhood and the safety of the trails there and this girl almost clipped my husband. He promised me the next time that happened he would throw his water bottle at the car. I secretly hoped someone would come at us again just to see him do it, he was serious!
Miles up to ten were no big deal. I was good. Mile 13, still pretty good, my husband had to point out that just 13 more and we'd have finished a marathon. That didn't comfort me for some strange reason...Here comes mile 14, I am aerobically okay. I can run forever if my heart rate is at 150. Mile 15 I am taking inventory mentally. My legs are starting to cramp and I have like two sips of Accelerade left in my water bottle. Boooo, this is not good. We decide to run to Oasis sports park and get Gatorade, at this point it feels like knives are twisting in my calves and I am dying. So I grab a couple of salt packets, pour them in my mouth, swallow them down with Gatorade, refill my bottles and I am good to go. By the time we reach Hampton Park we are at 16 miles, two more I tell myself, I can do this. We loop around the neighborhood, take a side road and wind up at 18 miles just maybe a tenth of a mile from our house. We walk the rest, Lance Armstrong tells me I just had my longest workout ever, no duh Lance, I was there, I lived it!
Done, I make a glass of chocolate milk, and sit in an cold bath for my legs. Today, they're not so bad although I sound like I have tourettes when I walk down stairs. I do no like that at all. Lucky me, I get to go to running clinic tonight. She promised to do easy on me. I'll probably just have to do 40 hill repeats and a 20 minute threshold run! Hahahaha, Brenda if you're reading this, don't get any ideas from me!
Friday, September 12, 2008
Freezing open water Friday
Shhhh, no one tell my running coach that I didn't do my running work out and choose to go swim for 30 minutes instead!!! My knee was sort of bothering me, and in light of my Sunday run I convinced myself I need to go easy on my knee and do something non-impact. Hey Brenda, you don't read this do you??
Anyway, all of the sudden I realized that I needed to start swimming more if I am going to get ready for this Naylor's Beach Oly Tri and I remembered the tri club had a group swim tonight. So off Brad and I went. I haven't been swimming since my disastrous last open water swim where all I could muster was a continuous 10 minutes before I freaked myself out and got a cramp to boot. Boo, it was lousy. But I did have a great hour long run after that swim. Brenda are you reading this still, see I ran for an hour that day. I digress...I heard tale of how brutal the Naylor's swim is and the cut off for the swim is 70 minutes. I know I can do this in less time then that, all I can do is try right?
Let me tell you something. All of the rain and the sudden cool temps at night made for some very "refreshing" water. It was pretty darn cold. It was wetsuit legal and Brad and I cursed the fact that we didn't have our wetsuits with, there were a bunch of people that did. It took forever for me to feel my toes. Anyway, we went up current for 16 minutes, turned around and did 14 minutes back. I kept telling myself it could have been worse, it could be cold with jellyfish too!
But I did it, and it felt good to swim that long. I wish it were longer though, now there's something I never thought I'd hear myself say. More on Sunday after my 18 mile run. Brenda, if you're reading this, you might not want to read that one. I might be cursing you on a public forum, hahahaha! Just kidding, I always marvel that I can do everything you think I can. It's just what this reluctant triathlete and subsequently marathoner needs!!
Anyway, all of the sudden I realized that I needed to start swimming more if I am going to get ready for this Naylor's Beach Oly Tri and I remembered the tri club had a group swim tonight. So off Brad and I went. I haven't been swimming since my disastrous last open water swim where all I could muster was a continuous 10 minutes before I freaked myself out and got a cramp to boot. Boo, it was lousy. But I did have a great hour long run after that swim. Brenda are you reading this still, see I ran for an hour that day. I digress...I heard tale of how brutal the Naylor's swim is and the cut off for the swim is 70 minutes. I know I can do this in less time then that, all I can do is try right?
Let me tell you something. All of the rain and the sudden cool temps at night made for some very "refreshing" water. It was pretty darn cold. It was wetsuit legal and Brad and I cursed the fact that we didn't have our wetsuits with, there were a bunch of people that did. It took forever for me to feel my toes. Anyway, we went up current for 16 minutes, turned around and did 14 minutes back. I kept telling myself it could have been worse, it could be cold with jellyfish too!
But I did it, and it felt good to swim that long. I wish it were longer though, now there's something I never thought I'd hear myself say. More on Sunday after my 18 mile run. Brenda, if you're reading this, you might not want to read that one. I might be cursing you on a public forum, hahahaha! Just kidding, I always marvel that I can do everything you think I can. It's just what this reluctant triathlete and subsequently marathoner needs!!
Sunday, September 7, 2008
Sixteen mile sunday
Sort of like a death march, but not too bad. I decided to do my run even though it was Heather's birthday. I actually wrestled with coming home about 3 miles into it so I could be there when she opened her presents, but I knew how important this run was and how I totally needed to do it, so I kept running. Plus, I knew she would be sleeping for the most part of my run, which she did. I got out the door around 8 this morning. The humidity wasn't too bad yet and it was actually quite pleasant. I get my water bottle loaded with Gatorade, stuff a handful of granola in my mouth, swallow down some cold coffee from the day befores pot, and off I go. Good nutritional start to a 16 mile run, I bet it's how the big boys train! I had my husband's big, ole Garmin thing on so I could accurately track my pace and distance.
I had a sort of map planned out and there she goes, the greyhound in reverse speed chasing a rabbit that needed new batteries. I started out S-L-O-W. I was running 12minute miles, wait, did you see that gray blur fly by me, why it was my grandmother lapping me with her walker! Go Mary, go!! But I stayed slow, I knew if I planned on making my total 16 miles today that I was going to have to keep a snails pace. Which I did, with a bit of trouble. I am lousy at pacing myself, I always have been, and I think that's why I don't do as well as I hope at some races. Any time the fatigue started taking over, I would check the Garmin and see I was starting to speed up. I also notice that I do this thing with my tongue, like I stick it out like a dog panting, I must look oh so attractive, but I do it when I am really fatiguing. So if I caught my tongue lolling out, I knew either A) I needed my water bowl or B) I was running at too quick a pace.
Miles up to ten were no big deal, miles 11, 12 and 13 were a bit challenging, but again I have run the distance, so it wasn't anything unmanageable. Mile 14 was getting harder, I wonder if my tongue was dangling out of my mouth for most of it. I started bargaining with myself, make it to here, then you can walk if you want. But I never did. I did start counting down mile 15 with tenths of a mile because I didn't think I was going to make it for that last little bit, but I did. I ran 16.1 miles and cooled down with a walk for 1/2 mile.
There, now I was finished, and I couldn't believe it. I ran, I ran so far away, well not really but there wasn't an 80's song that went I ran, I ran thru Hampton Park, Foxcroft, Foxfire and Woooodlaaake.....
I can't wait until next week when I get to run 18 miles, now that's living.
I had a sort of map planned out and there she goes, the greyhound in reverse speed chasing a rabbit that needed new batteries. I started out S-L-O-W. I was running 12minute miles, wait, did you see that gray blur fly by me, why it was my grandmother lapping me with her walker! Go Mary, go!! But I stayed slow, I knew if I planned on making my total 16 miles today that I was going to have to keep a snails pace. Which I did, with a bit of trouble. I am lousy at pacing myself, I always have been, and I think that's why I don't do as well as I hope at some races. Any time the fatigue started taking over, I would check the Garmin and see I was starting to speed up. I also notice that I do this thing with my tongue, like I stick it out like a dog panting, I must look oh so attractive, but I do it when I am really fatiguing. So if I caught my tongue lolling out, I knew either A) I needed my water bowl or B) I was running at too quick a pace.
Miles up to ten were no big deal, miles 11, 12 and 13 were a bit challenging, but again I have run the distance, so it wasn't anything unmanageable. Mile 14 was getting harder, I wonder if my tongue was dangling out of my mouth for most of it. I started bargaining with myself, make it to here, then you can walk if you want. But I never did. I did start counting down mile 15 with tenths of a mile because I didn't think I was going to make it for that last little bit, but I did. I ran 16.1 miles and cooled down with a walk for 1/2 mile.
There, now I was finished, and I couldn't believe it. I ran, I ran so far away, well not really but there wasn't an 80's song that went I ran, I ran thru Hampton Park, Foxcroft, Foxfire and Woooodlaaake.....
I can't wait until next week when I get to run 18 miles, now that's living.
Sunday, August 31, 2008
Half Marathon and the Humidity
Well, I finished. Not in the spectacular style I would have liked, and 13 minutes off of the 2 hours I had hoped for. But let me tell you something, I think I hallucinated that last mile, I can't even be sure that I ran it. Part of me thought I floated with lead feet, part of me was concentrating on my breathing, counting breaths in and out, breathing hard when my left foot struck to avoid the stitch that was trying to come. Was I disappointed with my time, you bet! It was like New Delhi today, and if they ever have a marathon in India, I know I would be able to do it. The humidity prevented me from cooling down. I poured water over my head every rest station, chugged Accelerade every chance I could and I still felt like I needed to die by the end.
All I can say is I finished, I don't even want to recount it. I was happy when I finally found Brad. I was happy to hear that I wasn't the only one who had a tough time. The general consensus was it was to frickin humid to run today. I'd have to agree....
All I can say is I finished, I don't even want to recount it. I was happy when I finally found Brad. I was happy to hear that I wasn't the only one who had a tough time. The general consensus was it was to frickin humid to run today. I'd have to agree....
Saturday, August 30, 2008
Rock N Roll Half Marathon in 2?
Well as previously mentioned, I got a running coach. Great lady, good fit for me, I love her style. So anyway, last running clinic Wednesday of this past week, Brenda officially started her plan with me. Very scary. As she was doling out our running assignments at the clinic, I almost fainted when she decided I was ready to run a 15 minute threshold run, followed by a 400 meter sprint, which I had to do again because my watch didn't start and I couldn't tell her my time for the lap (which by the way was 1 minute, 46 seconds) followed by a ten minute threshold run and another 400 meter sprint. I looked at her like she had been standing in the rain too long that day and her brain had gotten all squishy thinking that I could actually do something like that. She said she could tell from the week before when I was just doing 5 minute threshold runs 4 times, that I was ready for something more challenging. And you know what? I did it and did a pretty good job for me. I was running 2 miunte, 400 meters during my 15 minute threshold and during the 10 minute threshold. I was pretty psyched because even though I was wiped and thought my eyeballs would explode out of my head, I did the whole workout. If I maintained my single 400 meter lap time, 1:46 I would be running like 7.5 minute miles. Geez, if I could only keep that up for more then a lap, for more then a mile....
So that brings us to the eve of the Rock N Roll Half Marathon. I keep telling myself I will be fine, that I can do this even though I only ran the distance once during my training. Brad keeps telling me my fitness base is ten times what it was last year when I ran it in 2 hours 18. I did the Shamrock Half in 2 hours 11 minutes. I would love to run this in 2 hours, wouldn't that be awesome? Can I maintain a 9 minute mile pace for the full 13.1 miles? I want to tell myself of course I can, but of course I am doubting myself. I will post tomorrow how I do. I will be starting in corral 10 with the other 2 hour hopefuls.
So that brings us to the eve of the Rock N Roll Half Marathon. I keep telling myself I will be fine, that I can do this even though I only ran the distance once during my training. Brad keeps telling me my fitness base is ten times what it was last year when I ran it in 2 hours 18. I did the Shamrock Half in 2 hours 11 minutes. I would love to run this in 2 hours, wouldn't that be awesome? Can I maintain a 9 minute mile pace for the full 13.1 miles? I want to tell myself of course I can, but of course I am doubting myself. I will post tomorrow how I do. I will be starting in corral 10 with the other 2 hour hopefuls.
Wednesday, August 20, 2008
It's been awhile
Oh my gosh, it has been awhile. I guess that's my life though. I did have a race since I last wrote. The Waterboy Du. I hated it last year, it was the worst. I ran uphill, both ways in the blistering heat. It took me almost 49 minutes last year too. Well this year, I did it in just over 43 and came in second in my division. Wow, I never get called up for a medal, ribbon whatever, and I did. It was a pretty neat feeling. If I do this race again next year, I want to do it in under 41 minutes. Why 41? Why not???
Anyway, I have been focusing my training on the Rock and Roll Half Marathon at the end of this month. Not much time left to the month is there? My last long run was 11 miles and the last few miles really, really stunk. I can't imagine what doing the full 13 will be like. I did it in 2 hours and 18 minutes last year, I did the Shamrock 1/2 in 2 hours and 11 this March. I'd like to try and finish it around 2 hours and 5 minutes, can I do it?? These are questions inquiring minds want to know, I want to know (do you remember that National Enquirer commercial?)
So I started training on Wednesday nights with a group of runners. What a great group of people. Brad and I do it, then there is another Brad, Fred, Karin (who's a fabulous runner) Brian, my running buddy and Tom another guy I like running with. Like I said, it's a really good group of people. I have been enjoying myself and feel like I have really improved in just three weeks of training. I should mention the coach Brenda too. She is just perfect for me. She is the nicest lady. She does a very individualized job with all of us, even with all of our different levels of abilities. I really look forward to going each week.
Brad is off to Chicago this week for a tri there and my girls, Micayla included, did beautifully this weekend at the Twin Hickory youth tri. Heather is one to watch, she really has talent and ability, plus the drive. Erin has beautiful form, she needs to practice a bit and she could be unstoppable.
Until we meet again...
Anyway, I have been focusing my training on the Rock and Roll Half Marathon at the end of this month. Not much time left to the month is there? My last long run was 11 miles and the last few miles really, really stunk. I can't imagine what doing the full 13 will be like. I did it in 2 hours and 18 minutes last year, I did the Shamrock 1/2 in 2 hours and 11 this March. I'd like to try and finish it around 2 hours and 5 minutes, can I do it?? These are questions inquiring minds want to know, I want to know (do you remember that National Enquirer commercial?)
So I started training on Wednesday nights with a group of runners. What a great group of people. Brad and I do it, then there is another Brad, Fred, Karin (who's a fabulous runner) Brian, my running buddy and Tom another guy I like running with. Like I said, it's a really good group of people. I have been enjoying myself and feel like I have really improved in just three weeks of training. I should mention the coach Brenda too. She is just perfect for me. She is the nicest lady. She does a very individualized job with all of us, even with all of our different levels of abilities. I really look forward to going each week.
Brad is off to Chicago this week for a tri there and my girls, Micayla included, did beautifully this weekend at the Twin Hickory youth tri. Heather is one to watch, she really has talent and ability, plus the drive. Erin has beautiful form, she needs to practice a bit and she could be unstoppable.
Until we meet again...
Monday, July 28, 2008
A Monday Run after an off week
After the NY City tri, my husband said we needed some time off. It was good, I did loads of laundry, caught up on work and house work. It was a great week off.
Today starts a new week. I am training for the half marathon Labor Day weekend most specifically. I will keep up with biking and swimming when Brad asks me to join him on those workouts, but I need to totally focus on my running.
I took the girls to Tri team this morning and ran while they ran. I wanted to do a two hour run, really I did, but that would be hard to do when the girls camp is only an hour long. So off they went and off I went. I have to say, at first it felt great, by minute 11, I was thinking I can do this no problem. Then after 1/2 hour I felt a little fatigued. This is when that evil little man in my head starts riding me. "How the heck do you expect to run for two hours if you're dying after 1/2 hour?" So I plowed on, and it felt good again. I did a good 42 minute run with a three minute cool down. I wound up running almost 4.5 miles, so I was running a slower pace then what I wanted, but after not doing anything for a week, and not really focusing on running before but more on all three disciplines, I have to be pleased with my start.
Back to the NY City tri for just a bit, I found a picture of my husband before the swim in the lost and found. I was so excited I sent it to him and then he must have found one too. I had to laugh out loud when I saw it. He had this maniacal, almost twitchy mental patient look in his swim cap and his wetsuit. The smile was definitely One Flew Over the Cuckoos nest. All work and no play makes Brad a dull boy...
So I will run again tomorrow. How long, who knows?? I want to get my stamina up, I want to increase my endurance and I have 5 weeks to do it in. Piece of cake, speaking of pieces of cake, I wonder if we have anything sweet in this house to eat? I need to go rummage in the cupboard...
Today starts a new week. I am training for the half marathon Labor Day weekend most specifically. I will keep up with biking and swimming when Brad asks me to join him on those workouts, but I need to totally focus on my running.
I took the girls to Tri team this morning and ran while they ran. I wanted to do a two hour run, really I did, but that would be hard to do when the girls camp is only an hour long. So off they went and off I went. I have to say, at first it felt great, by minute 11, I was thinking I can do this no problem. Then after 1/2 hour I felt a little fatigued. This is when that evil little man in my head starts riding me. "How the heck do you expect to run for two hours if you're dying after 1/2 hour?" So I plowed on, and it felt good again. I did a good 42 minute run with a three minute cool down. I wound up running almost 4.5 miles, so I was running a slower pace then what I wanted, but after not doing anything for a week, and not really focusing on running before but more on all three disciplines, I have to be pleased with my start.
Back to the NY City tri for just a bit, I found a picture of my husband before the swim in the lost and found. I was so excited I sent it to him and then he must have found one too. I had to laugh out loud when I saw it. He had this maniacal, almost twitchy mental patient look in his swim cap and his wetsuit. The smile was definitely One Flew Over the Cuckoos nest. All work and no play makes Brad a dull boy...
So I will run again tomorrow. How long, who knows?? I want to get my stamina up, I want to increase my endurance and I have 5 weeks to do it in. Piece of cake, speaking of pieces of cake, I wonder if we have anything sweet in this house to eat? I need to go rummage in the cupboard...
Monday, July 21, 2008
There Has to Be a Morning After....
I am happy to report I am alive! I lived through my first Olympic distance triathlon and, although, I didn't do so well, I survived to regale you all in the details of the duh, duh, duh NEW YORK CITY TRIATHLON....
As I posted yesterday Brad went and got us coffee to start the day and brought back some fresh fruit from that Greek diner across the street. We ate the yogurt we bought the night before, and granola, drank our G2 and there you go. We got showered, dressed in our Richmond Tri Club suits, yes we were rocking the Richmond blue, and out the door we went. We video-ed everything, and I am glad we did. I was extremely at ease. Why, I have no idea. I was terrified of the jelly fish, wondering if I could make the 24 miles and couldn't fathom running a 10K after.
As we were going into where our bikes were racked, we got body marked. After the cute guy who marked me was done, he looked up from the 41 he was writing on my leg and asked, Are you an elite? Which of course got me giggling like a school girl. I guess only an amateur triathlete would take that as a compliment. We got to our transition spots and started setting up. I was number 2256, Brad was 849 so we were pretty spread out. My spot was right near the in and out for the swim and the run but the bike was a million miles away. So after much puttering around and chatting with my fellow triathletes, I went back to where Brad was, with wetsuit in hand and we went down to where we could get our timing chips. We stopped at the loo on the way. Of course the boy line moved with the speed of light and the girl line hadn't even moved by the time Brad came to fetch me. Thankfully, I didn't really have to go.
At this point, it's around 5:45 and Brad's wave is set to start at 6:08. He gets into this race zone, a place where no man but Brad can go, and he was starting to zone. It gets kind of scary, like he could potentially hurt someone if they get in the way. He had this wild look in his eyes, sputtering about his wave starting and needing to get there as he was walking the almost mile to swim start. Here he is, in his crocs and asking me if I minded him running ahead of me to get to where he needed to go. I told him to go ahead, I was going to meditate my way to a triathlon nirvana.
I was all alone, there was no one there beside me...My problems had all gone...I kept trodding along, saying hello to the volunteers who greeted us so warmly along the route and was singing in my head, Who's afraid of the jellyfish, the jellyfish, the jellyfish....I found chip pick up, and my zoned husband, kissed him, told him I would see him on the other side (it's what I always say to him before a race starts) strapped my chip on my ankle like a dolphin being tracked in the wild, pulled my wetsuit out of the plastic bag I had it in, found a grassy spot to sit and started getting into it. I was wishing someone had a stick of butter to rub all over me because they are a pain to get into, especially being sweaty with how hot it was that morning. But I got in up to my waist, walked around like Jacques Cousteau waiting to dive and find the elusive moray eel and decided to find my corral.
The swim waves had already started, the pros and elites were off, and it was awesome to see them swimming that mile. The excitement started to rise with my other 40-44 year old age grouping women. We kept moving down the line to the start barge, all of us helping zip up our suits, making sure we were done up properly down the back. Suddenly it was here, the Swim Barge, inch by inch, step by step, slowly we turned down the barge ramp, and there I was, poised on the precipice of what could be the hardest thing I have ever done in my life. The announcer called, Red Caps, you're in the water. I jumped in, held on to the rope and waited. The air horn sounded and we were gone. I was pummeled like a speed bag at a gym, but found a spot, got into my rhythm and I started my mile down the Hudson. Hey, I'm doing pretty well, look at me zoom through the water, this is great! But I started wondering to myself, how is someone holding a lit match to my toes??? Next thing I know it felt like someone smacked me in the face with a blazing hot frying pan. Ack, jelly fish attack, jellyfish attack!!!! Danger Danielle Robinson, Danger Danielle Robinson, now, at this point I am thinking, I am calling the kayaker, I need assistance!! But as I lifted my head out of the water to scrape the stinging from my lips, I saw the end. I was but 250 meters away, I just swam a freakin mile, I can't stop. So I swim on, now I have stinging in my wetsuit over my right shoulder blade, I finally realize what that sensation was that got my toes. Lion's mane jellyfish. Those mutant looking basketballs of angry red and purple pulsating goo! But I made it. I couldn't believe when the lifeguard was helping me out at the swim finish. I carefully avoided the fresh water showers, remembering I read somewhere that would make the sting of a jelly fish worse, jogged the 1/2 mile to transition peeling myself like a banana, and made it in. I got to my bike, grabbed my sponge soaked in ammonia and sponged down my face and feet. But there was the poor girl across from me who was absolutely panicked, asking me wide eyed what's going on with me, why am I on fire?? I helped her, and offered my ammonia sponge to everyone and anyone who was stung, and everyone happily obliged. I grabbed my bike shoes, put on my race belt, put my sunglasses on, slapped on my helmet, tore through the opening of transition, crossed the blue line and hopped on my bike.
The bike ride was something else. They tell you straight away to get into your little ring to get through the first part of the ride out of the park. The rest of the ride was extremely hilly, but the scenery was to die for. There you are, riding along, looking at the City, it was truly breathtaking. But hilly, holy cow, I was working every gear I had getting up and down those hills, down the Henry Hudson, to the Moshulu, back to 50th street, back to Riverside Park. I was tired, my legs were screaming from the hills, how was I going to do this run???
I get through the bike dismount, stop, pull my shoes off, and run the billion miles to my spot. I drop my helmet, shoes, grab my socks, put on my sneakers, spray down with sunscreen, get my Richmond Tri Club hat on and start the steep incline to get to the run down 72 Street. It was pretty gnarly, the hill was like running to the top swirl of a 1000 foot Carvel Ice Cream cone. But I ran the whole thing, and down 72nd. I couldn't stop, there were too many spectators, all cheering, I had to run, which I did. I ran into Central Park and to the first Hydration Station. I grabbed an Accelerade and a water. I promptly dumped the water over my head and gulped down the Accelerade. I started running again, and then it happened. Did anyone get the loin cloth number of the native that threw the spear into my thigh??? Geez, medic, I'm hit, I'm hit. Surprisingly, there isn't anything sticking out. Hmmmm, better start running again. Then it hits me again, yowza, this hurts, stop and walk it out. I did, hit the next hydration station did the Accelerade and cup of water over the head. I continued this pattern for the whole 6.2 miles. Up and down the hills of Central Park. The mean, little man that lives in my head is yelling at me, you lived through jelly fish fields, the mean streets and potholes of NY, you can do this, finish this. Then I heard another noise, the noise of a finish line in the distance. It energized me, my legs started moving me. Not fast, not lightning like, but faster then the walk that I had to do at certain points. The end was mine my friend. I started running hard, I had legs left and flew through that end like I was an elite finishing in 2 hours. It was a wonderful feeling, I was done, met up with my husband, life was good, very good and that's all I have to say about that...
As I posted yesterday Brad went and got us coffee to start the day and brought back some fresh fruit from that Greek diner across the street. We ate the yogurt we bought the night before, and granola, drank our G2 and there you go. We got showered, dressed in our Richmond Tri Club suits, yes we were rocking the Richmond blue, and out the door we went. We video-ed everything, and I am glad we did. I was extremely at ease. Why, I have no idea. I was terrified of the jelly fish, wondering if I could make the 24 miles and couldn't fathom running a 10K after.
As we were going into where our bikes were racked, we got body marked. After the cute guy who marked me was done, he looked up from the 41 he was writing on my leg and asked, Are you an elite? Which of course got me giggling like a school girl. I guess only an amateur triathlete would take that as a compliment. We got to our transition spots and started setting up. I was number 2256, Brad was 849 so we were pretty spread out. My spot was right near the in and out for the swim and the run but the bike was a million miles away. So after much puttering around and chatting with my fellow triathletes, I went back to where Brad was, with wetsuit in hand and we went down to where we could get our timing chips. We stopped at the loo on the way. Of course the boy line moved with the speed of light and the girl line hadn't even moved by the time Brad came to fetch me. Thankfully, I didn't really have to go.
At this point, it's around 5:45 and Brad's wave is set to start at 6:08. He gets into this race zone, a place where no man but Brad can go, and he was starting to zone. It gets kind of scary, like he could potentially hurt someone if they get in the way. He had this wild look in his eyes, sputtering about his wave starting and needing to get there as he was walking the almost mile to swim start. Here he is, in his crocs and asking me if I minded him running ahead of me to get to where he needed to go. I told him to go ahead, I was going to meditate my way to a triathlon nirvana.
I was all alone, there was no one there beside me...My problems had all gone...I kept trodding along, saying hello to the volunteers who greeted us so warmly along the route and was singing in my head, Who's afraid of the jellyfish, the jellyfish, the jellyfish....I found chip pick up, and my zoned husband, kissed him, told him I would see him on the other side (it's what I always say to him before a race starts) strapped my chip on my ankle like a dolphin being tracked in the wild, pulled my wetsuit out of the plastic bag I had it in, found a grassy spot to sit and started getting into it. I was wishing someone had a stick of butter to rub all over me because they are a pain to get into, especially being sweaty with how hot it was that morning. But I got in up to my waist, walked around like Jacques Cousteau waiting to dive and find the elusive moray eel and decided to find my corral.
The swim waves had already started, the pros and elites were off, and it was awesome to see them swimming that mile. The excitement started to rise with my other 40-44 year old age grouping women. We kept moving down the line to the start barge, all of us helping zip up our suits, making sure we were done up properly down the back. Suddenly it was here, the Swim Barge, inch by inch, step by step, slowly we turned down the barge ramp, and there I was, poised on the precipice of what could be the hardest thing I have ever done in my life. The announcer called, Red Caps, you're in the water. I jumped in, held on to the rope and waited. The air horn sounded and we were gone. I was pummeled like a speed bag at a gym, but found a spot, got into my rhythm and I started my mile down the Hudson. Hey, I'm doing pretty well, look at me zoom through the water, this is great! But I started wondering to myself, how is someone holding a lit match to my toes??? Next thing I know it felt like someone smacked me in the face with a blazing hot frying pan. Ack, jelly fish attack, jellyfish attack!!!! Danger Danielle Robinson, Danger Danielle Robinson, now, at this point I am thinking, I am calling the kayaker, I need assistance!! But as I lifted my head out of the water to scrape the stinging from my lips, I saw the end. I was but 250 meters away, I just swam a freakin mile, I can't stop. So I swim on, now I have stinging in my wetsuit over my right shoulder blade, I finally realize what that sensation was that got my toes. Lion's mane jellyfish. Those mutant looking basketballs of angry red and purple pulsating goo! But I made it. I couldn't believe when the lifeguard was helping me out at the swim finish. I carefully avoided the fresh water showers, remembering I read somewhere that would make the sting of a jelly fish worse, jogged the 1/2 mile to transition peeling myself like a banana, and made it in. I got to my bike, grabbed my sponge soaked in ammonia and sponged down my face and feet. But there was the poor girl across from me who was absolutely panicked, asking me wide eyed what's going on with me, why am I on fire?? I helped her, and offered my ammonia sponge to everyone and anyone who was stung, and everyone happily obliged. I grabbed my bike shoes, put on my race belt, put my sunglasses on, slapped on my helmet, tore through the opening of transition, crossed the blue line and hopped on my bike.
The bike ride was something else. They tell you straight away to get into your little ring to get through the first part of the ride out of the park. The rest of the ride was extremely hilly, but the scenery was to die for. There you are, riding along, looking at the City, it was truly breathtaking. But hilly, holy cow, I was working every gear I had getting up and down those hills, down the Henry Hudson, to the Moshulu, back to 50th street, back to Riverside Park. I was tired, my legs were screaming from the hills, how was I going to do this run???
I get through the bike dismount, stop, pull my shoes off, and run the billion miles to my spot. I drop my helmet, shoes, grab my socks, put on my sneakers, spray down with sunscreen, get my Richmond Tri Club hat on and start the steep incline to get to the run down 72 Street. It was pretty gnarly, the hill was like running to the top swirl of a 1000 foot Carvel Ice Cream cone. But I ran the whole thing, and down 72nd. I couldn't stop, there were too many spectators, all cheering, I had to run, which I did. I ran into Central Park and to the first Hydration Station. I grabbed an Accelerade and a water. I promptly dumped the water over my head and gulped down the Accelerade. I started running again, and then it happened. Did anyone get the loin cloth number of the native that threw the spear into my thigh??? Geez, medic, I'm hit, I'm hit. Surprisingly, there isn't anything sticking out. Hmmmm, better start running again. Then it hits me again, yowza, this hurts, stop and walk it out. I did, hit the next hydration station did the Accelerade and cup of water over the head. I continued this pattern for the whole 6.2 miles. Up and down the hills of Central Park. The mean, little man that lives in my head is yelling at me, you lived through jelly fish fields, the mean streets and potholes of NY, you can do this, finish this. Then I heard another noise, the noise of a finish line in the distance. It energized me, my legs started moving me. Not fast, not lightning like, but faster then the walk that I had to do at certain points. The end was mine my friend. I started running hard, I had legs left and flew through that end like I was an elite finishing in 2 hours. It was a wonderful feeling, I was done, met up with my husband, life was good, very good and that's all I have to say about that...
Sunday, July 20, 2008
I'll take it light and sweet like me
At 3:30 this morning my husband woke me up to let me know he'd be running to that fabulous diner across the street to get us coffee. I gave my stock answer, I'll take it light and sweet like me making a feeble attempt at humor. The Birdcage was on TV, so I watched that while I gave myself my talking to. I talk to myself a lot. I told myself I would be fine today. It was going to be hard, but I would make it. I would have to set my mind to it. But that never ending swim...It just stretched on. Last night at dinner people were joking we could just float and still get it done in 45 minutes. I suppose that's true. I took comfort from a fellow Tri Club member saying he gets all loopy after the swim. I do too. I feel light headed and goofy. I can soothe myself with the thought of a 1/2 mile run, barefoot, through a park in NY. How exciting!! I doubt my transition will be less then 2 minutes this time.
So now I need to get ready. My transition bag is packed, and I will grab Delilah and go. I am off. Wish me luck...
So now I need to get ready. My transition bag is packed, and I will grab Delilah and go. I am off. Wish me luck...
Saturday, July 19, 2008
New York, New York It's a Helluva Town
I know you are all wondering where I have been this past week or so. Let's see, throw in a stomach ailment on Monday night, having to get payroll and accounting stuff done on Tuesday and Wednesday, then getting to NY on Thursday by 11 o'clock at night and well you get the idea. I had no time to think really. Now I do and I am getting a huge case of the jitters so I thought I would blog it all out.
Let's start with getting to NY and invading my poor mother's house. We come in like an infestation of ants. We all got to sleep late and woke up on the earlier side. It was a pug-a-licious wake up. My mom's dog is too excited to greet us all in the morning. I told Mom all she needed to do was pull the dogs tail like a grenade pin, toss her into the bed with the girls and let her explode with all the puggy love goodness that she gives. Sorry, I got a little off track there.
Friday Brad and I had to take the train into the city. That part wasn't so bad, it was taking the subway to our hotel that got a bit dicey. My husband almost decked the guy who decided to push past him and blocked his way out of the subway. There I am, standing on the platform waiting for Brad to get off of the subway, and the doors were closing on his bike. Ahhhhhh! Thankfully it all worked out after a well placed set of handlebars and threat on my husband's behalf, he got off. We carry our bikes up the stairs, walk two blocks and there we were at the Hotel BelleClaire. It's a quirky kind of place, sort of like a youth hostel with a nice staff to hold the door open for you. Thankfully we got a room with our own bathroom. We come to find not all of the rooms do. I have missed the entrance of the hotel every time we leave and come back. It definitely has charm, and by no means is a high end locale. It suits our purposes just fine, although the elevators fit three to four people max...Try it with two bikes, two people, two back packs and two small suitcases.
We got settled in, and decided to grab some lunch at the diner across the street. Great groceries I might add. Your typical Greek establishment, but there is one thing that Greeks do right besides coming up with nifty gods and that is the diner biz. I wish there were one on every street corner near us, but there isn't so this was a treat for sure. We ordered two sandwiches and split them. I got a prosciutto pannini with grilled eggplant, mozzarella and spinach. Brad got the chicken souvlaki. My mouth and stomach were duly impressed with each. What a great lunch. Then we we went down to the Hilton for packet pick up and the race briefing. I don't remember much of anything other then the current in the Hudson is so swift that I will have a personal best swim time, there is a steep hill right out of the bike transition and to have my bike in a low gear in transition and to not take my yellow bracelet off or I won't be able to retrieve my bike after the race. The rest of what he was saying was coming through like the adults on a Peanuts special. Waa, waaa, waa, waaa.... Done with that we hop the subway back to the hotel and relax for about 45 minutes before we have the Underwear Run in Central Park.
The Underwear Run is undoubtedly the most wacky thing I have every participated in. The atmosphere was circus like. A bunch of giggling adults, stripping to their skivvies, getting ready to run 1.7 miles. It was a hoot. I was in my Wonder Woman outfit, Brad was the Man of Steel. I believe I was one of the most prolifically photographed people because I was posing, albeit in a goofy, exaggerated manner, like a super hero. I was playing it up big time and was stopped by most of the professional photographers to pose for a few pics. I was having too much fun to stop myself. My favorite two were the guys in the teeny, tiny speedos with the word sexy across the behind and these huge, yellow and blue afro wigs. They were hilarious and such fun, good natured, not rude and obnoxious guys. Their attitude was absolutely infectious, Brad finally told me to stop egging them on with my stretch ideas, like Hey Yellow and Blue dude, you forgot to stretch your hamstrings! Which of course they would have to happily oblige with a string of almost nasty, totally hysterical, over exaggerated poses that got the crowd whooping and hollering their lusty approval. Finally the horn blows and off we go, a whole gaggle of people in various types of underwear, there was a bride and groom, there was a guy and his dog in matching boxers, there were men in ladies frilly things, girls in mens, it was a whole cross dressing, costume wearing, underwear sporting frenzy of sweaty runners.
During the course of our run we had a celebrity siting. There he was, P Diddy with his body guards. I screamed hello, he waved back. Brad said I should have asked for a picture with him, me, the underwear Wonder Woman and P Diddy, that would have been a hoot, but I didn't really want to stop running. It was so hot, I might not have started again!
The spectators were going wild, and the end was in sight. We hoofed it and finished, drenched in sweat because it was Rain Forest hot and muggy last night. Got our free boxers, free t-shirt, free Snapple water and if we wanted, free Chipotle Burrito. We went back to the clothing corral, got our bag of stuff and we were done. It was one of the most fun things I have done and would highly recommend it to anyone who wants to run in their undies someday.
We took it easy for a few minutes after we got back to our room and Brad decided we needed some Thai food for dinner. We went and grabbed a bite at around 10:30 at night. It was hands down the best Thai I have had. Brad's grilled skirt steak was divine, my Chicken Pad Thai was perfection. We got these wonderful appetizers that we had no idea what they were before hand. Pretty, wonton like, steamed and fried packages of yumminess. The green steamed ones I would recommend the highest dipped in the first clear sauce with the chili peppers floating in it. I know you are so glad I let you know.
So here we are. The day before my biggest race of my season. My mind is a racing mess of worry, excitement, fear, determination. I know I can do this, right? It isn't too much farther then the I Love the Tavern Tri. I did those distances, I was swimming up current for much of the 750, this is all down current. The guy at the briefing said the fastest swim ever recorded for the course was 9 minutes and change. That's pretty frickin impressive. The best time at the Tavern was around there too if I am remembering right. This is 5 miles more on the bike. I can do five miles more on the bike right? Even if I avg. just 16 miles per hour, I will finish the bike leg in 1.5 hours. Then the run. That's scary. A whole 10K after the previous two legs. Like Brad said, what the absolute worst thing that happens Dee? You have to walk to catch your breath? So what? My goal is to finish this race in about 3 hours. It is doable. I think the bike course has me tweaked a bit. You can't preride it and formulate a strategy like with the other triathlons I have done. The hills will be surprise, save the first one out of transition that they warned us about. I keep trying to see myself doing the race, but I can't focus on any one discipline without freaking myself out. I am going to sit and quitely try to do this. To see myself out there, handling each stage as it comes. I know not feeling well this week didn't bode well for my training. I felt okay during the run last night, and I didn't have the adrenaline to count on. So here's hoping my next blog is a happy sunny place to visit. That I am gushing about my race and how great it felt to do. If not, I can always compete in the Underwear runs around the country. I can't imagine how many My Space pages and Facebooks I will be on today...
Let's start with getting to NY and invading my poor mother's house. We come in like an infestation of ants. We all got to sleep late and woke up on the earlier side. It was a pug-a-licious wake up. My mom's dog is too excited to greet us all in the morning. I told Mom all she needed to do was pull the dogs tail like a grenade pin, toss her into the bed with the girls and let her explode with all the puggy love goodness that she gives. Sorry, I got a little off track there.
Friday Brad and I had to take the train into the city. That part wasn't so bad, it was taking the subway to our hotel that got a bit dicey. My husband almost decked the guy who decided to push past him and blocked his way out of the subway. There I am, standing on the platform waiting for Brad to get off of the subway, and the doors were closing on his bike. Ahhhhhh! Thankfully it all worked out after a well placed set of handlebars and threat on my husband's behalf, he got off. We carry our bikes up the stairs, walk two blocks and there we were at the Hotel BelleClaire. It's a quirky kind of place, sort of like a youth hostel with a nice staff to hold the door open for you. Thankfully we got a room with our own bathroom. We come to find not all of the rooms do. I have missed the entrance of the hotel every time we leave and come back. It definitely has charm, and by no means is a high end locale. It suits our purposes just fine, although the elevators fit three to four people max...Try it with two bikes, two people, two back packs and two small suitcases.
We got settled in, and decided to grab some lunch at the diner across the street. Great groceries I might add. Your typical Greek establishment, but there is one thing that Greeks do right besides coming up with nifty gods and that is the diner biz. I wish there were one on every street corner near us, but there isn't so this was a treat for sure. We ordered two sandwiches and split them. I got a prosciutto pannini with grilled eggplant, mozzarella and spinach. Brad got the chicken souvlaki. My mouth and stomach were duly impressed with each. What a great lunch. Then we we went down to the Hilton for packet pick up and the race briefing. I don't remember much of anything other then the current in the Hudson is so swift that I will have a personal best swim time, there is a steep hill right out of the bike transition and to have my bike in a low gear in transition and to not take my yellow bracelet off or I won't be able to retrieve my bike after the race. The rest of what he was saying was coming through like the adults on a Peanuts special. Waa, waaa, waa, waaa.... Done with that we hop the subway back to the hotel and relax for about 45 minutes before we have the Underwear Run in Central Park.
The Underwear Run is undoubtedly the most wacky thing I have every participated in. The atmosphere was circus like. A bunch of giggling adults, stripping to their skivvies, getting ready to run 1.7 miles. It was a hoot. I was in my Wonder Woman outfit, Brad was the Man of Steel. I believe I was one of the most prolifically photographed people because I was posing, albeit in a goofy, exaggerated manner, like a super hero. I was playing it up big time and was stopped by most of the professional photographers to pose for a few pics. I was having too much fun to stop myself. My favorite two were the guys in the teeny, tiny speedos with the word sexy across the behind and these huge, yellow and blue afro wigs. They were hilarious and such fun, good natured, not rude and obnoxious guys. Their attitude was absolutely infectious, Brad finally told me to stop egging them on with my stretch ideas, like Hey Yellow and Blue dude, you forgot to stretch your hamstrings! Which of course they would have to happily oblige with a string of almost nasty, totally hysterical, over exaggerated poses that got the crowd whooping and hollering their lusty approval. Finally the horn blows and off we go, a whole gaggle of people in various types of underwear, there was a bride and groom, there was a guy and his dog in matching boxers, there were men in ladies frilly things, girls in mens, it was a whole cross dressing, costume wearing, underwear sporting frenzy of sweaty runners.
During the course of our run we had a celebrity siting. There he was, P Diddy with his body guards. I screamed hello, he waved back. Brad said I should have asked for a picture with him, me, the underwear Wonder Woman and P Diddy, that would have been a hoot, but I didn't really want to stop running. It was so hot, I might not have started again!
The spectators were going wild, and the end was in sight. We hoofed it and finished, drenched in sweat because it was Rain Forest hot and muggy last night. Got our free boxers, free t-shirt, free Snapple water and if we wanted, free Chipotle Burrito. We went back to the clothing corral, got our bag of stuff and we were done. It was one of the most fun things I have done and would highly recommend it to anyone who wants to run in their undies someday.
We took it easy for a few minutes after we got back to our room and Brad decided we needed some Thai food for dinner. We went and grabbed a bite at around 10:30 at night. It was hands down the best Thai I have had. Brad's grilled skirt steak was divine, my Chicken Pad Thai was perfection. We got these wonderful appetizers that we had no idea what they were before hand. Pretty, wonton like, steamed and fried packages of yumminess. The green steamed ones I would recommend the highest dipped in the first clear sauce with the chili peppers floating in it. I know you are so glad I let you know.
So here we are. The day before my biggest race of my season. My mind is a racing mess of worry, excitement, fear, determination. I know I can do this, right? It isn't too much farther then the I Love the Tavern Tri. I did those distances, I was swimming up current for much of the 750, this is all down current. The guy at the briefing said the fastest swim ever recorded for the course was 9 minutes and change. That's pretty frickin impressive. The best time at the Tavern was around there too if I am remembering right. This is 5 miles more on the bike. I can do five miles more on the bike right? Even if I avg. just 16 miles per hour, I will finish the bike leg in 1.5 hours. Then the run. That's scary. A whole 10K after the previous two legs. Like Brad said, what the absolute worst thing that happens Dee? You have to walk to catch your breath? So what? My goal is to finish this race in about 3 hours. It is doable. I think the bike course has me tweaked a bit. You can't preride it and formulate a strategy like with the other triathlons I have done. The hills will be surprise, save the first one out of transition that they warned us about. I keep trying to see myself doing the race, but I can't focus on any one discipline without freaking myself out. I am going to sit and quitely try to do this. To see myself out there, handling each stage as it comes. I know not feeling well this week didn't bode well for my training. I felt okay during the run last night, and I didn't have the adrenaline to count on. So here's hoping my next blog is a happy sunny place to visit. That I am gushing about my race and how great it felt to do. If not, I can always compete in the Underwear runs around the country. I can't imagine how many My Space pages and Facebooks I will be on today...
Monday, July 14, 2008
Sunday, Bloody, Sunday....
Can you hear the opening bars to the song, for those of you unfamiliar with the song, skip to the next line! Now cut away to the Muddy Buddy. Opening scene, thousands of people, really. There are 2400 people there. 1200 teams all ready to go. There were brides and grooms, ballerina's in tutus, cops and robbers, and superheros galore, but wait there's more. There were guys in coconut bras, and even old grandmas, the sky was the limit and Brad and I were in it. Oh wait, the kids are watching the Cat in the Hat while I blog and the overwhelming urge to rhyme just hit me. We were in the gray wave. I joked with Brad that it matched our age group which was 85, our combined ages. I think we were the 8th wave to go.
I started on the bike. That first leg of the race was about 1.5 miles. Did I mention I hadn't ridden Brad's bike until right when the cannon blew to mark our start? Anyway, the cannon blows, and off we go like maniacs. I am happy to say I was passed by very few and stayed right up front. I was frickin flying. I was so amazingly stoked, I felt like a mountain biker, like yeah, X-terra, watch out, I have mad skills, here I come!!!! Grrrrrr....
I got to the first obstacle, dropped my bike, ran to the rock climbing wall, picked two really chunky hand holds to put my foot on, pull up on, threw my leg over(so who knew I was so flexible??) took one step on the net side and jumped.
I started running, a pace faster then I was used to because I got a stitch right away which I choose to run through. I think I was frothing at the mouth I was so rabid, I wanted hardware, I wanted this race so badly, nothing was going to stop us from placing. Brad passed me on the bike, we yelled greetings at each other and he sped ahead. I made it to the next obstacle. It was those freaking balance beams. I did it straddling two beams last year, this year I had someone on the beam next to me. I could only do one. I started and I fell halfway through, got back up, started again, fell again then started to the bike.
I grabbed the bike and took off like the devil himself was chasing me. I was flying again. I am passing you, I am coming to get you Barbara, watch out cause if you're in my way, you're going down. Famous last thought! Who's going down, yeah you, no me!!! I went down, and no one followed me. I come flying down this incline, not even a hill really, I had to make a kind of sharp-ish right, and I bit it. No, not the turn, the ground silly. My back wheel went out and that was that. Holy sh*t, I hit the ground like an anvil on the Coyote's head. I think I heard the noise he heard when it hit too. Thank goodness I had my helmet on. It took a second to shake the birdies from around my head, as I was regaining my composure a kind woman stopped to see if I was hurt, I told her only my pride was, thanks for stopping and to keep racing her race. I hopped back on my bike, trying to fly again while assessing the damage done. My bike was working, that was a plus, my right leg was scraped and and a bit bloody, and my arm and shoulder hurt like hell. I made it to the next section where Brad was waiting.
Funny, he didn't notice the mess I was, he grabbed the bike and went. It was bad that he was there already and I was just getting him the bike. He took off like a bat out of hades and I had to do this stupid over and under obstacle. It was just too stupid to describe, imagine saw horses stacked and that's what it looks like.
As I started my run, this guy asks me if I'm okay. I look at him and ask why, he responds, Looks like you took a really nasty spill. Oh yeah, that pesky bike incident. I get my stitch back and work on my breathing to control the hurt. I stopped once, not intentionally, but once already, I am not stopping again dammit. I get to the last obstacle, a huge rope ladder up a slide, I'd say it was 20 feet in the air (or at least seems that way to someone who is afraid of heights) and slide down. I search for the bike. I couldn't find it, there it was, with another bike propped almost on top of it. I hop on and know that the stream crossing and Heartbreak hell, I mean Hill await me. Off I fly, get to the stream, hoist the bike on my shoulder, slog through, pull off to the side, switch into a good gear to start the hill and start pedalling like mad. Low gear, high cadence, low gear, high cadence is the mantra I am meditating to. Unfortunately no one else is and this non-mantra repeating guy and two girls decide that right in front of me is where they need to dismounting because they are grinding away and getting nowhere. Get the bleep out of my way ding-a-lings! I run past them, get back on my bike, stand for the first few strokes and pass a bunch of walkers. After that, I am hitting the road. No really, they direct you out to the road and it's smooth sailing from there. So I go, when I say I was weaving in and out of runners, bikers, humanity I was. Brad was waiting for me, I drop the bike and we get to the mud pit. Well as luck would have it, my foot got stuck in the net as we start. The bad thing is people are pulling up on the net, pulling the thing tighter and tighter on my ankle, I pull my foot out of my sneaker, grab it and we commando crawl through the mud. This year the mud was like really thick frosting. I like it way better then last year chocolate soup, and ta-da! We cross the finish line.
I won't bore you with the details of washing the mud and waiting for results. When the results were in, we came in 13 out of 75. Disappointing, devastating, disgusting, we coulda been a contenda, shoulda placed, woulda had the hardware. But due to the miscalculation of a turn, the slip of a wheel and the biting of some major dust, we weren't. Not this time, but I do believe we will be running again next. And watch out, we will be crushing the course, doing the damage and coming home with hardware or my name isn't Wile E Coyote...
I started on the bike. That first leg of the race was about 1.5 miles. Did I mention I hadn't ridden Brad's bike until right when the cannon blew to mark our start? Anyway, the cannon blows, and off we go like maniacs. I am happy to say I was passed by very few and stayed right up front. I was frickin flying. I was so amazingly stoked, I felt like a mountain biker, like yeah, X-terra, watch out, I have mad skills, here I come!!!! Grrrrrr....
I got to the first obstacle, dropped my bike, ran to the rock climbing wall, picked two really chunky hand holds to put my foot on, pull up on, threw my leg over(so who knew I was so flexible??) took one step on the net side and jumped.
I started running, a pace faster then I was used to because I got a stitch right away which I choose to run through. I think I was frothing at the mouth I was so rabid, I wanted hardware, I wanted this race so badly, nothing was going to stop us from placing. Brad passed me on the bike, we yelled greetings at each other and he sped ahead. I made it to the next obstacle. It was those freaking balance beams. I did it straddling two beams last year, this year I had someone on the beam next to me. I could only do one. I started and I fell halfway through, got back up, started again, fell again then started to the bike.
I grabbed the bike and took off like the devil himself was chasing me. I was flying again. I am passing you, I am coming to get you Barbara, watch out cause if you're in my way, you're going down. Famous last thought! Who's going down, yeah you, no me!!! I went down, and no one followed me. I come flying down this incline, not even a hill really, I had to make a kind of sharp-ish right, and I bit it. No, not the turn, the ground silly. My back wheel went out and that was that. Holy sh*t, I hit the ground like an anvil on the Coyote's head. I think I heard the noise he heard when it hit too. Thank goodness I had my helmet on. It took a second to shake the birdies from around my head, as I was regaining my composure a kind woman stopped to see if I was hurt, I told her only my pride was, thanks for stopping and to keep racing her race. I hopped back on my bike, trying to fly again while assessing the damage done. My bike was working, that was a plus, my right leg was scraped and and a bit bloody, and my arm and shoulder hurt like hell. I made it to the next section where Brad was waiting.
Funny, he didn't notice the mess I was, he grabbed the bike and went. It was bad that he was there already and I was just getting him the bike. He took off like a bat out of hades and I had to do this stupid over and under obstacle. It was just too stupid to describe, imagine saw horses stacked and that's what it looks like.
As I started my run, this guy asks me if I'm okay. I look at him and ask why, he responds, Looks like you took a really nasty spill. Oh yeah, that pesky bike incident. I get my stitch back and work on my breathing to control the hurt. I stopped once, not intentionally, but once already, I am not stopping again dammit. I get to the last obstacle, a huge rope ladder up a slide, I'd say it was 20 feet in the air (or at least seems that way to someone who is afraid of heights) and slide down. I search for the bike. I couldn't find it, there it was, with another bike propped almost on top of it. I hop on and know that the stream crossing and Heartbreak hell, I mean Hill await me. Off I fly, get to the stream, hoist the bike on my shoulder, slog through, pull off to the side, switch into a good gear to start the hill and start pedalling like mad. Low gear, high cadence, low gear, high cadence is the mantra I am meditating to. Unfortunately no one else is and this non-mantra repeating guy and two girls decide that right in front of me is where they need to dismounting because they are grinding away and getting nowhere. Get the bleep out of my way ding-a-lings! I run past them, get back on my bike, stand for the first few strokes and pass a bunch of walkers. After that, I am hitting the road. No really, they direct you out to the road and it's smooth sailing from there. So I go, when I say I was weaving in and out of runners, bikers, humanity I was. Brad was waiting for me, I drop the bike and we get to the mud pit. Well as luck would have it, my foot got stuck in the net as we start. The bad thing is people are pulling up on the net, pulling the thing tighter and tighter on my ankle, I pull my foot out of my sneaker, grab it and we commando crawl through the mud. This year the mud was like really thick frosting. I like it way better then last year chocolate soup, and ta-da! We cross the finish line.
I won't bore you with the details of washing the mud and waiting for results. When the results were in, we came in 13 out of 75. Disappointing, devastating, disgusting, we coulda been a contenda, shoulda placed, woulda had the hardware. But due to the miscalculation of a turn, the slip of a wheel and the biting of some major dust, we weren't. Not this time, but I do believe we will be running again next. And watch out, we will be crushing the course, doing the damage and coming home with hardware or my name isn't Wile E Coyote...
Friday, July 11, 2008
Friday carrying over to Saturday
Okay, so today we decided we needed to ride the bike course at Pocohantas because we are doing the Muddy Buddy on Sunday. I woke up with one of my infamous hormonal headaches, not to be confused with a migraine although almost as painful. It felt like someone was scrubbing inside my head with a Brillo pad. It was pretty awful, anyway, Brad asked, Hey, do you want to go ride the Muddy Buddy course? To which I answered dutifully, Uhm, yeah, okay. We get our mountain bikes loaded up and away we go. I took Tylenol first, then Motrin before we left. It took the edge off but I was still pretty miserable. I was in a state of hormonal hell pretty much. My back hurt, my stomach felt blechh...Oooo, I sound like Rosanne Rosannadanna!
Enough of my belly aching, hahaha hormonal humor, no pun intended, anyway we get to the park, unload our bikes, reattach the front tires and get ready to ride. Brad grabbed the car key, put it in the little bag on the back of his bike and off we went. We tried following the map, and just like last year, we got lost trying to follow the not-drawn-to scale map Brad printed out. So we did a lot of doubling back and instead of riding for the three or so miles, we did around 7 and change. Then we decided to go back and try to figure out how we screwed everything up and tried to do it right this time. We almost did. At first I really didn't want to. My head totally wasn't getting any better with the riding. What a farce that exercise is supposed to make headaches and such better...Then I realized we were going to have to ride Heartbreak hill again. I swear, its a hill that goes up at a 90 degree angle. It is steep and long. The first time we rode it today my chain popped off, I fixed it and it locked up as Brad called it. The next time we did it I had no problem getting up the hill. Even with tired legs, I made it up so I was glad we did it.
But my head kept hurting, and I was kind of miserable. To top it off there was no water left in our water bottles and my mouth was as pasty as a kindergarten kid's macaroni picture. We decide to go back to the car. When we got to the car, all I could think of is there is a cooler in that car with water bottles filled with ice. I would have salivated, if there was any saliva to do it with. I hop off of my bike, look at my husband and there was his beautiful face. Only it wasn't beautiful, it was wracked with pure, abject terror. "What, what is it? I ask, scared to hear the answer. "I lost the truck key", was his reply. "What?" I asked incredulously. He repeats himself, "I lost the key. My bike bag opened up when we were riding and it must have fallen out somewhere". I start to panic, I am thirsty, I want the water that is locked in the truck, so I say, "Okay, we'll use your cell phone to call", which at that moment I see locked in the car with mine, and I let the rest of that sentence trail off into nothing-ness. "What are we gonna do", I almost shriek. I want the water in that truck. Brad says, "I am going to go look for it" "On the trails", I ask again incredulous. Then I am thinking, I don't want to ride heartbreak hill again. I am so over this. Brad leaves without me.
I sat on the back of his truck for about 30-45 minutes. I finally decide I am going to go into the office and ask to use the phone. I will call the one friend I have down here and ask her to bring me my keys. She'll save us! So I go, figuring I was the sensible one. I wanted to cry, but alas, I was so freakin dehydrated there was no extra water for tears. I go into the office and explain my dilemma. They let me use their phone no problem. The ladies in the office laughed when I told them my husband was actually looking for the key. Someone piped up, in the future when they are doing an archaelogical dig they will find the key and ask wonderously, "What do you think they used this for?"
So I go back out to the truck and I sit and chat with everyone who walks by. In the meantime I say a few prayers to St. Anthony. The patron saint of lost keys, remote controls, left sneakers, eyeglasses... Then the next thing you know, here comes Brad. His smile as big as my thirst. In his hand was a tennis bracelet...Oooo, I must have been delirious from lack of water. No, not a tennis bracelet, almost as good though, in his hand was a key, THE truck key!!! I grabbed the key, opened the door, ripped the cooler opened gave him a water bottle, one for myself and we drank, and drank and drank. We shared the last bottle as we laughed on the way home.
I did call my friend to let her know she didn't need to save me, even though she was so willing to do it. A big hat tip and hearty thanks to you my friend for your help.
Tomorrow is the Muddy Buddy. I am not so nervous about this race. I still have butterflies, but they're the little ones with little timberland boots on kicking the wall of my stomach as opposed to the lunar moth sized ones that are usually there with their Doc Martens on. Here's to crawling through the Mud with my Bud...
Enough of my belly aching, hahaha hormonal humor, no pun intended, anyway we get to the park, unload our bikes, reattach the front tires and get ready to ride. Brad grabbed the car key, put it in the little bag on the back of his bike and off we went. We tried following the map, and just like last year, we got lost trying to follow the not-drawn-to scale map Brad printed out. So we did a lot of doubling back and instead of riding for the three or so miles, we did around 7 and change. Then we decided to go back and try to figure out how we screwed everything up and tried to do it right this time. We almost did. At first I really didn't want to. My head totally wasn't getting any better with the riding. What a farce that exercise is supposed to make headaches and such better...Then I realized we were going to have to ride Heartbreak hill again. I swear, its a hill that goes up at a 90 degree angle. It is steep and long. The first time we rode it today my chain popped off, I fixed it and it locked up as Brad called it. The next time we did it I had no problem getting up the hill. Even with tired legs, I made it up so I was glad we did it.
But my head kept hurting, and I was kind of miserable. To top it off there was no water left in our water bottles and my mouth was as pasty as a kindergarten kid's macaroni picture. We decide to go back to the car. When we got to the car, all I could think of is there is a cooler in that car with water bottles filled with ice. I would have salivated, if there was any saliva to do it with. I hop off of my bike, look at my husband and there was his beautiful face. Only it wasn't beautiful, it was wracked with pure, abject terror. "What, what is it? I ask, scared to hear the answer. "I lost the truck key", was his reply. "What?" I asked incredulously. He repeats himself, "I lost the key. My bike bag opened up when we were riding and it must have fallen out somewhere". I start to panic, I am thirsty, I want the water that is locked in the truck, so I say, "Okay, we'll use your cell phone to call", which at that moment I see locked in the car with mine, and I let the rest of that sentence trail off into nothing-ness. "What are we gonna do", I almost shriek. I want the water in that truck. Brad says, "I am going to go look for it" "On the trails", I ask again incredulous. Then I am thinking, I don't want to ride heartbreak hill again. I am so over this. Brad leaves without me.
I sat on the back of his truck for about 30-45 minutes. I finally decide I am going to go into the office and ask to use the phone. I will call the one friend I have down here and ask her to bring me my keys. She'll save us! So I go, figuring I was the sensible one. I wanted to cry, but alas, I was so freakin dehydrated there was no extra water for tears. I go into the office and explain my dilemma. They let me use their phone no problem. The ladies in the office laughed when I told them my husband was actually looking for the key. Someone piped up, in the future when they are doing an archaelogical dig they will find the key and ask wonderously, "What do you think they used this for?"
So I go back out to the truck and I sit and chat with everyone who walks by. In the meantime I say a few prayers to St. Anthony. The patron saint of lost keys, remote controls, left sneakers, eyeglasses... Then the next thing you know, here comes Brad. His smile as big as my thirst. In his hand was a tennis bracelet...Oooo, I must have been delirious from lack of water. No, not a tennis bracelet, almost as good though, in his hand was a key, THE truck key!!! I grabbed the key, opened the door, ripped the cooler opened gave him a water bottle, one for myself and we drank, and drank and drank. We shared the last bottle as we laughed on the way home.
I did call my friend to let her know she didn't need to save me, even though she was so willing to do it. A big hat tip and hearty thanks to you my friend for your help.
Tomorrow is the Muddy Buddy. I am not so nervous about this race. I still have butterflies, but they're the little ones with little timberland boots on kicking the wall of my stomach as opposed to the lunar moth sized ones that are usually there with their Doc Martens on. Here's to crawling through the Mud with my Bud...
Thursday, July 10, 2008
Thursday, I really did it
No I have no training to report today. Brad did, but this isn't the Brad the Reluctant Triathlete, it's Dee the well you get the gist of it. When I looked out my back door when I let my dog Beau out and I could only see the top of his head, I knew it was time to get around to mowing the lawn. I had to put a bright orange safety vest on our 5 year old when I let her out in order to find her. So my bike ride was sidetracked by yard work.
You know how I write that Brad always asks me if I want to do a particular workout with him, like I'd have a choice, well he did ask me to ride with him today. And I finally did it, I finally said no. Strangely, I didn't feel triumphant by saying no, I kept wishing I was riding instead of pushing the mower. Shhhhh, don't tell him I said that. I think he sort of likes to hear my unethusiatic, apathetic response whenever he excitedly asks me something silly like, Hey Dee, let's ride for 50 miles, then run for 13.1 miles and start with a 1.25 mile swim. Isn't that a great idea??? And then you get me going in response, "uhm, okay" or "I guess so".
I do power mowing. I like to get the yard done as quickly as possible. I totally busted my butt racing around the yard with the mower, scooping the yard and whacking the yard. I got the whole kit and kaboodle done in under two hours. Not too shabby. It definitely wasn't a 28 mile bike ride, but I was not sitting on my rear end either. Plus I got the girls to weed the front flower bed for me. That yard looks infinitely better.
I think we need to finally get that dump of mulch I have been threatening to get now since March. Maybe I will hook a wagon up behind my bike and tow it back and forth between here and the mulch place.
I am getting really nervous for the NYC tri. I can't stop thinking about it. I need to figure out a way to get over the nerves I get before I compete. Maybe running through Central Park dressed like Wonder Woman will do it. Maybe I will wear my Wonder Woman suit under my wetsuit and play Wonder Woman that day too....
You know how I write that Brad always asks me if I want to do a particular workout with him, like I'd have a choice, well he did ask me to ride with him today. And I finally did it, I finally said no. Strangely, I didn't feel triumphant by saying no, I kept wishing I was riding instead of pushing the mower. Shhhhh, don't tell him I said that. I think he sort of likes to hear my unethusiatic, apathetic response whenever he excitedly asks me something silly like, Hey Dee, let's ride for 50 miles, then run for 13.1 miles and start with a 1.25 mile swim. Isn't that a great idea??? And then you get me going in response, "uhm, okay" or "I guess so".
I do power mowing. I like to get the yard done as quickly as possible. I totally busted my butt racing around the yard with the mower, scooping the yard and whacking the yard. I got the whole kit and kaboodle done in under two hours. Not too shabby. It definitely wasn't a 28 mile bike ride, but I was not sitting on my rear end either. Plus I got the girls to weed the front flower bed for me. That yard looks infinitely better.
I think we need to finally get that dump of mulch I have been threatening to get now since March. Maybe I will hook a wagon up behind my bike and tow it back and forth between here and the mulch place.
I am getting really nervous for the NYC tri. I can't stop thinking about it. I need to figure out a way to get over the nerves I get before I compete. Maybe running through Central Park dressed like Wonder Woman will do it. Maybe I will wear my Wonder Woman suit under my wetsuit and play Wonder Woman that day too....
Wednesday, July 9, 2008
Wednesday with Wonder Woman revisited
I got my Wonder Woman underwear today! Yea! They look adorable on, I wish my thighs weren't so large, but oh well. I was in the absolute worst mood for most of today.
It all started waking up at 6:50 and I had to get the girls to swimming by 7:30 out at the West End. So of course we were late. Then I made the mistake of weighing myself at the gym there. I can work my rear end off, and the scale doesn't budge at all. I mean that work out last night was killer, as are most of them and the scale doesn't go anywhere except up. Brad, God bless him, he tries to be helpful by throwing things at me like, keep a food journal. Yeah, right, like I will remember to do that. I can't keep up with things I have to do, that's something that would be a real pain in the butt. Here's my today menu, 1 granola bar, 1 strawberry pancake. Lunch was a power ball thing and an Enviga and dinner was two tacos, homemade, grease drained off the 1/2 cup of beef, literally a sprinkle of cheese, a cup of tomatoes and 1/2 cup of lettuce and 1/2 of a chopped avacado. I drank about 12 glasses of water today too because we had a really tough pool workout that we did.
It was another one of those training things Brad was like, hey, you want to go to the pool, like I ever say no, but my reply was more like hmmph, grumble, snort whatever. I was pretty grouchy when he brought it up and didn't feel like being around anyone. But he persisted and I wound up going. Three of our girls suited up and came with so they could practice what they did today at tri camp. Wow, they did really well. My 13 year old was helping my five year old, and both of them did exceptionally. My 9 year old was doing laps and trying her hand at breast stroking.
Anyway, here's how our work out went, 300 meter warm up, 15 X 50 meter at race pace, and 150 meter cool down which I wound up doing 250 meters instead. All together that's what 1300 meters? Once again, Brad was like a torpedo, skimming through the water, then there was me. I look like a sea cucumber slogging along. Here I come, watch out. Brad was doing his 50's in like 35-38 seconds. I was consistenly 10 seconds behind him. I just didn't feel fluid. I felt like an old jalopy sputtering along. I guess it's just part of the way I was feeling today. I am still feeling that way I think. All grouchy and out of sorts.
But back to my original tirade, I can swim like that, eat like I did today and still be the woman with the cheese riddled thighs. That would probably be the reason why I am so pissy.
And to top it all off I am losing another toenail. Second one on my right foot. I lost it last season too. I can't wear any socks that are remotely snug fitting when I run. If I do, that toe on each foot hurts like crazy for days afterwards. So I wear my husband's Floppy the Banjo Playing clown sized socks and risk blisters. I noticed the color starting to change a little this morning. I should just cut that knuckle off of that toe and save myself the pain.
But anyway, at least my Wonder Woman undies came today. I wished they looked better, but alas! They look how they look! I am going to be a super hero for a whole mile and a half of my life. That's longer then some people get right?
It all started waking up at 6:50 and I had to get the girls to swimming by 7:30 out at the West End. So of course we were late. Then I made the mistake of weighing myself at the gym there. I can work my rear end off, and the scale doesn't budge at all. I mean that work out last night was killer, as are most of them and the scale doesn't go anywhere except up. Brad, God bless him, he tries to be helpful by throwing things at me like, keep a food journal. Yeah, right, like I will remember to do that. I can't keep up with things I have to do, that's something that would be a real pain in the butt. Here's my today menu, 1 granola bar, 1 strawberry pancake. Lunch was a power ball thing and an Enviga and dinner was two tacos, homemade, grease drained off the 1/2 cup of beef, literally a sprinkle of cheese, a cup of tomatoes and 1/2 cup of lettuce and 1/2 of a chopped avacado. I drank about 12 glasses of water today too because we had a really tough pool workout that we did.
It was another one of those training things Brad was like, hey, you want to go to the pool, like I ever say no, but my reply was more like hmmph, grumble, snort whatever. I was pretty grouchy when he brought it up and didn't feel like being around anyone. But he persisted and I wound up going. Three of our girls suited up and came with so they could practice what they did today at tri camp. Wow, they did really well. My 13 year old was helping my five year old, and both of them did exceptionally. My 9 year old was doing laps and trying her hand at breast stroking.
Anyway, here's how our work out went, 300 meter warm up, 15 X 50 meter at race pace, and 150 meter cool down which I wound up doing 250 meters instead. All together that's what 1300 meters? Once again, Brad was like a torpedo, skimming through the water, then there was me. I look like a sea cucumber slogging along. Here I come, watch out. Brad was doing his 50's in like 35-38 seconds. I was consistenly 10 seconds behind him. I just didn't feel fluid. I felt like an old jalopy sputtering along. I guess it's just part of the way I was feeling today. I am still feeling that way I think. All grouchy and out of sorts.
But back to my original tirade, I can swim like that, eat like I did today and still be the woman with the cheese riddled thighs. That would probably be the reason why I am so pissy.
And to top it all off I am losing another toenail. Second one on my right foot. I lost it last season too. I can't wear any socks that are remotely snug fitting when I run. If I do, that toe on each foot hurts like crazy for days afterwards. So I wear my husband's Floppy the Banjo Playing clown sized socks and risk blisters. I noticed the color starting to change a little this morning. I should just cut that knuckle off of that toe and save myself the pain.
But anyway, at least my Wonder Woman undies came today. I wished they looked better, but alas! They look how they look! I am going to be a super hero for a whole mile and a half of my life. That's longer then some people get right?
Tuesday, July 8, 2008
Tuesday and the ten o'clock run
Well Monday wound up being another off day training wise. What does that commercial say, Life comes at you fast? I had so much work to catch up on, and the girls had tri camp. They wanted to get together with their buds afterwards, but I really needed to get work done and I needed it to be interruption free. We did get to meet up with them later and get an ice cream cone, so that was a nice treat.
Then came Tuesday. Busy as heck in the morning, Brad needed to get into the office, and I had to take our van to get the trailer hitch put on so we can have something to hook our bike rack up to when we take out bikes up to NY for the *gulp* triathlon. I am already peeing in my pants nervous at the distance, I'll do okay won't I? To get back to my original thought here, Brad said he'd be home after his meeting around dusk and we'd go run. No problem, except he didn't get home until almost 8:30, by the time we got to the track it was after 9. I like when Brad brings me along on his training runs at the track, he keeps trying to tell me that these will make me faster. I dunno, I haven't seen the improvement though. So anyway, we have 3 of our girls and an assortment of outdoor toys for them to play with, it's almost dark, thankfully the tennis court nearby has bright, stadium style lights and it throws enough light our way. We start our warm up with a slow jog, family style. The girls were trotting along side of us and it was pretty nice. Then on our last lap, Katie fell down, nothing serious but that sort of broke up the relaxed jog we were doing. It was time to get our heart rates up anyway. Brad said he needed to run 400m, one lap, at an accelerated race pace. He was aiming for around a 5 minute mile pace. Mind you we only needed to do one lap, this would be doable wouldn't it? Did I mention my teenager knocking on my door at 5AM to tell me her throat hurt and me taking her downstairs to get some Motrin to find the devastation that is Apollo wreaked all over the downstairs? He got into Erin's old backpack because she had left over snacks from the school year in there. He also ate, in no particular order, her yearbook, two folders, a doll, an old notebook, a plastic baggie filled with pretzels, a bunch of crayons, a couple of pencils, the box Heather's new sneakers came in and a picture frame. And it's not like he ever finishes what he starts munching on. He chews everything and spits it out, it drives me crazy! At least eat the whole thing and I would never know right??? The downstairs looked like a war zone in a stationary store, the carnage was frightening. I cleaned up, went back upstairs and started watching TV. Once again, in no particular order, I watched the Tour de France, BBC America this money in your attic show with some old guy that collected irons, my favorite appliance in the whole world excuse the sarcasm, and Reefer Madness which had me laughing so hard, I had to switch stations and start watching my local news, to which I eventually dozed.
Okay, off track again, no pun intended, back on track, another running pun hahahaha, I just wanted you to feel sorry for me being as exhausted as I was and here I am out with the bats running. So our girls give us the On your mark, get set, go. Boom, like a cannon ball shot from a cannon, off my husband goes. Flying around the track, then there was me. Speedy as a cork shot from a pop gun! I felt like I looked like Crazy Legs Maguillacuddy. I didn't imagine I looked graceful like my husband did. I felt like I was flailing in all directions. But, in a minute and thirty one for my first lap, I was done. Brad was done in a minute and sixteen I think. Holy cow, if I could keep that pace, I'd be doing a 6 minute mile, unprecedented for me! Now, I only had to do it five more times, wheeee! My second lap was just about the same, as was the third. By the time I hit the fourth lap, I was around 1:35, and as I was finishing I realized that sour taste in my mouth was actually barf begging to come up. Ugh, do I really want to do this 2 more times? The next thing I hear is my girls telling me how awesome I am, how proud they are of me, what's two more times? Who's da woman they keep saying, I answer back meekly, I am? Da woman trying not to hurl on her sneakers. Okay, I can do this I tell the little man in my head. The fifth time, she was a bad one senor (imagine Speedy gonzales' voice here, why is the little man in my head is a mouse cartoon character???). I had to walk far away from everyone because the gag reflex was hard to repress. Then my husband Mike Brady, says something that resonates something in me. "This last lap is the one that's going to make all of the difference. The one you don't want to do, when you do it, it's the one that makes the difference." Maybe there's something to that. My most rewarding workouts are the ones I literally have to drag myself to. Okay, I can do this, I can do this. Our girls give us the go, and there I went. Did I feel good, I tried to tell myself I did. The first 50 meters weren't so bad, the rest were killer. But I finished, just around the same times as all of my other laps, so I was happy. I think Brad was right, I walked quicker to the car then I did when we got to the track. I was faster! Maybe it was the lights had gone out and it was reeaaalllyyy dark, maybe it was just my bed calling me, the lure of sleep, or maybe, just maybe, I was so proud of myself for being able to do this yucky training session, that I was faster, who knows? But it was 10:00 and an hour past my bedtime!
Then came Tuesday. Busy as heck in the morning, Brad needed to get into the office, and I had to take our van to get the trailer hitch put on so we can have something to hook our bike rack up to when we take out bikes up to NY for the *gulp* triathlon. I am already peeing in my pants nervous at the distance, I'll do okay won't I? To get back to my original thought here, Brad said he'd be home after his meeting around dusk and we'd go run. No problem, except he didn't get home until almost 8:30, by the time we got to the track it was after 9. I like when Brad brings me along on his training runs at the track, he keeps trying to tell me that these will make me faster. I dunno, I haven't seen the improvement though. So anyway, we have 3 of our girls and an assortment of outdoor toys for them to play with, it's almost dark, thankfully the tennis court nearby has bright, stadium style lights and it throws enough light our way. We start our warm up with a slow jog, family style. The girls were trotting along side of us and it was pretty nice. Then on our last lap, Katie fell down, nothing serious but that sort of broke up the relaxed jog we were doing. It was time to get our heart rates up anyway. Brad said he needed to run 400m, one lap, at an accelerated race pace. He was aiming for around a 5 minute mile pace. Mind you we only needed to do one lap, this would be doable wouldn't it? Did I mention my teenager knocking on my door at 5AM to tell me her throat hurt and me taking her downstairs to get some Motrin to find the devastation that is Apollo wreaked all over the downstairs? He got into Erin's old backpack because she had left over snacks from the school year in there. He also ate, in no particular order, her yearbook, two folders, a doll, an old notebook, a plastic baggie filled with pretzels, a bunch of crayons, a couple of pencils, the box Heather's new sneakers came in and a picture frame. And it's not like he ever finishes what he starts munching on. He chews everything and spits it out, it drives me crazy! At least eat the whole thing and I would never know right??? The downstairs looked like a war zone in a stationary store, the carnage was frightening. I cleaned up, went back upstairs and started watching TV. Once again, in no particular order, I watched the Tour de France, BBC America this money in your attic show with some old guy that collected irons, my favorite appliance in the whole world excuse the sarcasm, and Reefer Madness which had me laughing so hard, I had to switch stations and start watching my local news, to which I eventually dozed.
Okay, off track again, no pun intended, back on track, another running pun hahahaha, I just wanted you to feel sorry for me being as exhausted as I was and here I am out with the bats running. So our girls give us the On your mark, get set, go. Boom, like a cannon ball shot from a cannon, off my husband goes. Flying around the track, then there was me. Speedy as a cork shot from a pop gun! I felt like I looked like Crazy Legs Maguillacuddy. I didn't imagine I looked graceful like my husband did. I felt like I was flailing in all directions. But, in a minute and thirty one for my first lap, I was done. Brad was done in a minute and sixteen I think. Holy cow, if I could keep that pace, I'd be doing a 6 minute mile, unprecedented for me! Now, I only had to do it five more times, wheeee! My second lap was just about the same, as was the third. By the time I hit the fourth lap, I was around 1:35, and as I was finishing I realized that sour taste in my mouth was actually barf begging to come up. Ugh, do I really want to do this 2 more times? The next thing I hear is my girls telling me how awesome I am, how proud they are of me, what's two more times? Who's da woman they keep saying, I answer back meekly, I am? Da woman trying not to hurl on her sneakers. Okay, I can do this I tell the little man in my head. The fifth time, she was a bad one senor (imagine Speedy gonzales' voice here, why is the little man in my head is a mouse cartoon character???). I had to walk far away from everyone because the gag reflex was hard to repress. Then my husband Mike Brady, says something that resonates something in me. "This last lap is the one that's going to make all of the difference. The one you don't want to do, when you do it, it's the one that makes the difference." Maybe there's something to that. My most rewarding workouts are the ones I literally have to drag myself to. Okay, I can do this, I can do this. Our girls give us the go, and there I went. Did I feel good, I tried to tell myself I did. The first 50 meters weren't so bad, the rest were killer. But I finished, just around the same times as all of my other laps, so I was happy. I think Brad was right, I walked quicker to the car then I did when we got to the track. I was faster! Maybe it was the lights had gone out and it was reeaaalllyyy dark, maybe it was just my bed calling me, the lure of sleep, or maybe, just maybe, I was so proud of myself for being able to do this yucky training session, that I was faster, who knows? But it was 10:00 and an hour past my bedtime!
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