Cruisin for a Boozin

This past weekend we went on our very first cruise - our Christmas gift from the in-laws. 3 days, 3 nights to Nassau on the Carnival Sensation. Pictures of 80s-era Kathy Lee peeking out from every brochure and booklet. After the initial shock of extensive chow lines and overexposure to the kinds of people you would usually only see in a mall, we had a great time. I can attribute this, at least in part, to being able to run every day; in addition to the awkward outdoor "track" around the mini-golf course (a whopping 1/12 of a mile long), the bay of treadmills in the fitness center fit the bill nicely.

It did not start off well, however. The first day was a bit rocky, but I guess it was our fault for seeking out a run almost as soon as we got on the boat. I had already run 3 miles that morning at our pre-cruise hotel, but now my husband was ready to go a few miles and I wasn't going to be left alone this early into the fantastic voyage. Turns out, 4 o-clock was also the perfect time for everyone else on-board to wander around the mini-golf course track (after I actually ran into someone on lap 22, we called it quits) and for the crew to hold a promotional giveaway IN THE MIDDLE OF THE GYM - wtf??? It's reeeeally hard to run when there are people using the treadmills as recliners.

We almost bailed again, but waited long enough to hop on as soon as the crowd dispersed. By this time, we had officially embarked (i.e. the boat was moving), which made the treadmills a little tipsy to say the least. I guess the constant re-balancing was good for my core, but hubby did not appreciate it one bit. I ended the day with a total of 6 miles under my belt, which did make me feel better about getting into a swimsuit the next day.

The rest of the trip went mostly like this: wake up earlier than is reasonable, run 2 miles on the track then 3-4 on the treadmill, wait in buffet line for breakfast, start drinking, lounge in the sun on the over-21-only deck, drink more, shower, drink, hang out in the room for awhile, wait in line for dinner, eat dinner, drink more, gamble, drink enough to make a fool of oneself dancing in 'da club', go to bed, wake up and do it all over again. We also, of course, ate dinner with the fam each night, saw the rest of our large group every now and then (mostly at the bar or buffet), and spent a good 4 hours of Saturday walking around Nassau popping in to random bars and snapping lots of photos.

Overall, it was a great trip - relaxing and amusing. A free trip is such a nice gift. Having never before been trapped on a boat for days, I really did not know what to expect. But this means that I had very few expectations. Would I go on a cruise again? Sure. Would I be surprised by the past-its-prime-Vegas-casino feel of the ship or the preponderance of bad wigs and Jersey-licious/trailer park fashions? Definitely not.

......maybe a springtime Mediterranean cruise? As long as there are treadmills.

Gobble Gobble

So, hubby and I kicked off our Thanksgiving by running in the Gobbler's Run 5K at 8 am yesterday - with about 2000 other runners, walkers and pets. It was our first 'Turkey Trot' and we did very well indeed, shaving another minute off his PR. It might have to become a tradition since it also shaves a good 300+ calories off the gluttony of later in the day (more on the calorie counting later), but throughout the race I was haunted by a similar Turkey Trot that occurred about 12 years prior - the one my sister-in-law ran in when we visited her in LA for Thanksgiving that year.

At that time (let's just say I was barely of legal drinking age) I was definitely not a runner and the thought of even watching other people run at 8 in the morning made my stomach turn. So, while my then boyfriend (now husband) rose early and went to the race with my future sis-in-law and her then boyfriend (now ex-husband), I think I remember rolling over and pulling the covers up further around my grumpy and likely hungover face. And, I believe I was still planted firmly on the futon when they returned. I also clearly remember feeling smuggly well-rested the rest of the day, as everyone else in the apartment yawned and smiled sleepily over the turkey and fixins. What a selfish little bitch.

Today (and yesterday in particular) I feel pangs of guilt at my self-absorbed indifference 12 years ago. My sister-in-law is no longer a runner - never going beyond the 5K for whatever reasons life threw at her - but when I posted a blurb about the Gobbler's Run yesterday on Facebook, she was the first to "Like". Cue even stronger pangs of guilt.

She's still in LA and we haven't had the chance to talk in a while, but when I see her next month it will behoove me to express my shame and thank her for planting the seed back then (however subliminally) that may just have precipitated my successful Gobbler's Run this year.

Now on to the other 'Gobble Gobble' context - that having to do with calorie counting and the like. As I have expressed in previous posts, running for me has not so far resulted in a trimming of the waistline. At first, the goal was just to push myself to that marathon distance. I paid little attention to how many calories I was actually taking in - especially as those 2+ hour runs made me more and more ravenous. What's a little carb loading amongst friends?? I needed those extra calories, dammit!

Well, a year on and a few pounds heavier, I know better and about 6 weeks ago went back to an online calorie counter to keep my running/eating habits in check. 6 weeks and 6 lbs ago, haha! Today, there are numbers on the scale that I haven't seen in a good long while and it feels really good. It also helped that my brilliant husband fixed the treadmill (and saved us about $1K with a simple tightening of bolts), but the calorie counter from www.everydayhealth.com caters just enough to my Type A tendencies to bring it all together.

So, this Thanksgiving, I was very aware of how many glasses of wine and half slices of pie went in, as well as how many calories I burned in the 5K. I ended the day only slightly over my lose-a-pound-a-week calorie budget, which I view as a resounding success. Now, if I can just keep it up through the holiday season, and as I ramp up my running distances toward that half-marathon in Feb.

Fingers crossed.

Tis the season to be a good consumer

In addition to the annual holiday gift business, I am currently finding myself weighing options and considering two big running-related purchases: a new treadmill and a gps watch. Both are expensive and relatively unnecessary in the food/water/shelter sense of things. But, there are seemingly good reasons to consider both. As to the treadmill, the one we purchased new for $500 (which was and still is super cheap and at the very lowest end of the market) 7 years ago is showing its age. Like a crotchety old woman, it has developed some not-so-cute quirks.

While spontaneous rapid acceleration might be good for getting the heart going, it is not a desirable feature for anyone already trying to test their limits at a 12 min mile pace. I only wish that the display accurately showed how fast I end up going at these moments, as I frantically press buttons and try not to fall on my face. And having to turn the whole damn thing completely off, resetting the timer and odometer, is a real motivation-suck. Recently, the belt has also started slipping, which adds to the excitement. In my usual fashion, I researched this problem online to see if it is fixable - which it is. However, the variety and complexity of suggestions I found gave me such a headache, that I just became convinced that I should just trash the entire thing and start fresh.

So, long story short, I am seriously thinking about hitting up the nearest Play It Again Sports to see if I can get a good used model for a decent price. We'll see.

The gps watch is a bit more frivolous, but I sooooo want one. A few weeks ago, I set out to buy a good sports watch, mainly just for an easy-to-read stop watch function. But, as I am known to do, I did a little research beforehand. Of course, the more I read, the more features I discovered I needed. As a stop-gap measure, I picked up a $10 pink plastic basic sports watch at Target. When the stop watch function of said watch stopped working after only one run, I took it as a sign that I deserve better.

Enter the Garmin Forerunner 110 (drool) which would allow me to accurately measure my outdoor runs and upload my results to an online tracking system. And, it comes in a super cute gray and pink model (sigh). The $250 price tag is the only minor catch.

So, maybe the treadmill comes first and the watch becomes a reward I can work toward over the next few months. Maybe if I set a new PR at the Myrtle Beach Half Marathon in February, that $250 won't seem quite so excessive.

How to Not Run a Race (not to be confused with How Not to Run a Race, which implies one actually participated in the race)

Step 1 - Fake Yourself Out.
For ultimate effect, make yourself feel as though you are very prepared for race day (even though this is far from the case - see Step 2). Add the race to your calendar months in advance. Follow a carefully thought out training regimen. Purchase gels and new running tights to add to the excitement. Pick up your packet ahead of time to prevent waiting in lines on race day. Lay your race day clothing and gear out the night before. Plan out and partake of your lucky race day breakfast - whole wheat english muffin with peanut butter, a banana and green tea. All of this should perfectly set up a false sense of preparedness guaranteed to intensify the effects of Steps 2 and 3.

Step 2 - Forget that You Forgot to Preregister.
This is where putting the event on your calendar really comes into play, and it's much better if the race is very popular with no chance of last minute sign-ups.

You thought you preregistered. You thought you had, as you are want to do, saved a pdf of the registration receipt and filed it neatly in the folder designated for race receipts. So, you go to pick up your packet the day before and find your name missing from the list. You are bewildered, of course. For added effect, convince the race organizers/volunteers that something must have happened with their system so that they feel bad, take down your information and promise to check into it. This should be more than enough to keep you out of the race. Unless........

I had this one nailed until a registered runner showed up - at the very moment when I was going to give in and admit that I had lost my mind - to say that he was injured and could not run. He generously offered me his number and the race officials agreed, as long as I didn't mind looking up my time under "Dan" and Dan didn't mind my time being recorded under his name. They even gave both of us the free tech shirt.

So, if some such nonsense happens to you at Step 2, proceed to Step 3.

Step 3 - Drive Yourself and Arrive Late
Since you are the type of person who hates arriving early to anything, set your alarm so that you have just enough time to throw on your clothes, grab your breakfast and go. Tell your spouse not to worry about getting up and going with you - he can come later for the finish. You don't know any other runners, so carpooling is not an option. Stop at a gas station along the way to use the restroom so that you won't have to wait in line at the port-a-johns. Arrive approximately 15 minutes before the scheduled start so that you can be waved away from all of the full parking lots and told that you will not have time to make it back from the furthest lot to the starting line. Drive around frantically anyway until all hope is gone and you finally accept the fact that you will not be participating in this race. Sulk as you drive to the nearest Dunkin Donuts to drown your sorrows in a hot latte.

Step 4 - Stage Your Own Race
(optional but strongly recommended)
As you drive home, think about what a waste it will be to NOT run the race distance today - all that training in vain. Start to ponder the possibility of doing it anyway, just for yourself. Come to the conclusion that this is indeed the best way to both get over the embarrassment of what has transpired and put all that hard training to good use.

This is exactly what I did, and what my husband helped me do when I returned home. We set up the inaugural Butner I-85 Service Road 10 Miler - complete with Honda Fit odometer certification, official iPod timing, a water station and designated race photographer. And, just to be clear, the Butner I-85 Service Road 10 Miler is a headphones REQUIRED event. No exceptions.

I finished the BISR 10 Mile race in 1:40:06, a decent time given the absence of a crowd to pace with. My husband ran the first 4 miles and then stood in as the race photographer. Honestly, it was probably more fun than the actual race I had planned to run in. Though I do not plan to repeat what happened today, at least I know how to respond if faced with a similar set of circumstances.

and so it goes

Well, it's almost been a whole year since I started this experiment, and I ran 7 miles today without getting winded. With the exception of taking a brief summer hiatus after the Boone marathon, I have kept up a 4-day a week running schedule and have continued signing up for about one race a month to keep me motivated. I have a 10-mile trail race this Saturday and, though I have not really been doing much distance training, I feel pretty good about it.

This time last year, running was about the furthest thing from my mind. Today, I think I've advanced beyond poseur-dom and could possibly get away with calling myself a real runner. I no longer feel like a spectator when I read Runner's World and the idea of dropping a couple hundred bucks on a gps watch is seeming more and more sane every day. I have now run in 3 5ks, 3 10ks, 2 half marathons and 1 full. By the actual one year mark (Thanksgiving), I plan to have added this weekend's 10 miler, and another 2 5ks.

Races have to be my favorite part of the whole business. Signing up early and having tangible goals to work toward is exactly what I need to stay focused. Races are the best kind of SMART goals because they carry the possibilities of injury and humiliation if I blow off training. And, even better than setting a new PR, is the opportunity to do it with my new running partner - yes, my hubby has now been running with me for over a month and will run with me in those next 2 5ks.

So, how long is it they say you have to do something before it becomes a true habit? I know it's not quite been a year yet, but I think I can safely say that I have become a habitual runner. Hopefully, I'll look back a year or so from now (as I am hopefully getting ready for the NYC marathon, wink, wink) and recognize the first glimpses of the accomplished, almost middle-aged, overworked grad student athlete I will become.

Back to it - fo reals

Alright, time to stop slacking. Back to really running..... and with a partner??

I ran my first race since the marathon this past Saturday. This time though, I didn't run for my own PR, but for my husband's. This was his second 5K and he beat his former time by at least 15 seconds. The course was fairly hilly (I believe his exact words were "This course is bullsh**.") but the weather was beautiful and I think we both ended up having fun. The best part, for me, was having a running partner. But then it got EVEN BETTER - later that same day, we stopped by a running store so I could pick up a new knee band and (gasp!) he decided to buy some serious running shoes.

I'm really trying to hold back my excitement here and I know I am tempting fate, but I think running might kinda actually be developing into a 'we' event. Now, I don't want to pressure anyone into running with me if they're not really into it, but when I timidly suggested we try to run together once a week, he agreed! We did our first 3+ miler together this past Monday! (Around the abandoned prison buildings in our town, a nice sidewalk path that I had previously wanted to try, but had been too chicken to run alone.)

Now, here's the deal - though he has not seriously exercised in years, my husband was a serious high school athlete (baseball) who used to run 5 or 6 miles a day. (For the record, I was a high school athlete too, but considered myself allergic to running.) So, even though he very modestly suggests that maybe one day he'll be able to keep up with me, I know that if he does stick with it, he will quickly surpass my measly 10-minute miles.

So, though I do not dare imagine any couple's marathon training in our future, and I don't have any plans to pressure or guilt him into sticking with it just for me, I will look forward to and enjoy the times he feels like running with me - especially in a race. We already signed up for another 5k next month. Maybe new PRs for both of us - who knows!

slow fast slow fast

Back to intervals. I used to do intervals way back (like a few years) before I started my marathon training, but had as of yet not included them in my running schedule. Mainly, this is because my cheap home treadmill doesn't have any settings other than manual. Hotel treadmills, however, usually have myriad settings which I have previously ignored. This week, out of sheer boredom, I tried out intervals once again - and they completely kicked my ass! Awesome.

Especially since my recent hotel runs have been less about running and more about getting in real shape (i.e. shedding the ~10 lbs. I have put on since I started running!). Being away from home has given me the opportunity to detox (really just cut the booze), eat less and work out more. So Monday was intervals, Tuesday was hills, today was intervals again and I am hoping to get in a last quick set of intervals during my lunch break tomorrow - before I get to check out and go home for 3 whole days, yay!

I find that spending so much time in the exercise room achieves several goals, in addition to the whole get-in-shape thing: 1. winding down from work 2. keeping me from spending all of my down time shopping 3. giving me quality time to Keep Up With the Kardashians, and 4.alleviating the soul-crushing boredom of being away from my honey in hotels for nearly a month.

As of right now, I have one more week on the road to cement this healthy lifestyle in place. I just hope that I can keep it up when I am once again home.... and back in grad classes. The fall semester starts in two weeks. :-o

2 words - hotel treadmill

It's squeaky. It's jerky. The linebacker on the stair climber beside me is wearing a weight vest, huffing and puffing, and sweating like a pig. And somebody stole the tv remote. It is far from ideal, but it's right downstairs and it does the trick for a mindless after work run. On really lucky days, I get to run by my lonesome, with some delightfully bad tv on the flat screen. On bad days, I get to exercise with some jerky stinky schmo that wants to watch PTI at a thousand decibels - and talk to me while I'm running.

But, thank goodness for the hotel treadmill. My two week stint in this just-off-the-interstate, backwater HIX wold be unbearable without it.

blog schmog

Well, I may have taken a prolonged break from blogging, but I have not stopped running. My weekly totals are waaaay down due to a race-free summer, but I have managed to keep up a modest routine. Since the marathon, I have managed to run an average of 3 times a week, usually 3-5 miles each time. I even ran on the Hermosa strand while I was on vacation!

As far as my reason for not blogging - laziness. On top of the stifling summer heat that makes me not want to move, being on hiatus from grad school and not having a rigorous training schedule have actually resulted in me being less productive. It's counter intuitive, but I have recently come to the conclusion that I actually get more done when I have more to do. I use my time better when I have less of it.

But, productivity can be overrated. I have to say that the slow summer evenings filled with cold white wine and fresh-from-the-garden meals with my sweetie have been - if not 'productive' - really, really lovely.

They have not done much for my waistline, though. Which is why I will be using my next two weeks of working out of town to cut back on the calories and hit the hotel treadmill as much as possible. Who knows, maybe I'll even get motivated to start speed training to work on my race time. My next 5k is 9/11.

5:04:05

Great (small) crowd
Laid back, non-competitive (small) group of runners
Nice first lap in the pack with idle conversation
DIY lap-tracker with sharpie on a string
Beautiful (flat) course -
Paved, wildflower-lined, creek-side
Cool misty mountain air
Great first half
Pulled right quad
Sneaky occasional hubby appearances
Consistently motivational playlist
Last lap downpour
Soaked to the skin
Cool, not cold
Really heavy saturated shoes
Walking more than expected
Running at the finish
Last sharpie tally mark
5:04:05

Closing in, in not-so-golden silence

It's getting close. Real close. 8 days away. I'm excited, not really nervous..... about the marathon, that is. What I am getting increasingly anxious about is the half-marathon I have in 2 days. A few weeks ago, when some fellow runners tried to scare me by telling me that this race is the hardest half in the area, I shrugged it off. Not being all that competitive, I just said, "Well, then I won't focus on setting a new PR." No big deal. Anxiety did not creep in until I started reading the race details online yesterday and noticed this heart-stopping message:

WHAT?!?

OK, OK, some of the races I have run so far have had similar messages, but I (like everyone else) ignored them and they were not enforced. This one is just worded with such strong, angry language, in red, and with a vivid graphic, no less!! (Insert a big long whine here.)

To be completely honest, I view my ipod as an appendage, delivering motivation via an umbilical cord with earbuds on the end. I need it. I have never run outdoors without it.

Until today. I bit the bullet and ran my prescribed 3 miles sans earbuds and it did not kill me. But, it wasn't what I would characterize as fun, either. I need fun. I need external motivation. And, while chirping birds and buzzing bees might get me outdoors, they do not make me want to run - or keep running for miles and miles and miles.

So, as I do with any moral dilemma, I turned to the blogosphere for answers. And, as usual, I found way too many conflicting opinions to actually be helpful, but I am more informed. I learned, for instance, that REAL runners NEVER run with music, but that many other so-called "runners" also admit to regularly breaking no-headphones bans in races.

What to do, what to do? I think I have come to a decision, but I don't want to jinx myself, so I will not share it until the race is done. I can disclose that I will be wearing my new magic compression socks (and yes they are magic), and my new Nathan running belt with my own supply of water and Shot Bloks. Along with my ball cap and sunglasses, I'm thinking the look will be aging softball player meets crazed tourist. Whether or not that crazed softball-playing tourist is enjoying some renegade tunes, yet to be seen.

By the way - the full marathon, that is 8 days away, has no policy on headphone use. And I fully plan to rock out the entire 26.2, thank you very much.

Catching up

Wow, has it really been over a month since my last post? April went by super fast, but I guess quite a bit has transpired in the gap. As far as running goes, I have continued with my training and I ran another 10K (new PR - 58:53!!). My only setback was last week, when I attempted my 20 mile run (to be the longest pre-marathon) without my IT band (stupid) and threw in the towel at mile 11 to keep the ensuing pain from becoming an injury.

So, the goal is to run my 20 tomorrow and then start tapering. I have to say I have been looking forward to the big taper since I started this whole program. So now that it is within reach, I am pretty darned excited.

On a somewhat unrelated note is the excitement that comes with getting new magazines in the mail. I know it's a bit frivolous and maybe more 'low-brow' than curling up with a book or a kindle, but I love to snuggle up to good magazine. And Runner's World fulfills that craving. On top of just being another glossy to casually peruse, I have so far actually found something useful in each issue.

For instance, in this months issue, which I enjoyed with my coffee this morning, I found that I am already doing most of the things they recommend in the "Run Faster (Without All the Work)" article. (They had me at their strategic use of parentheses in the title.) Most things, that is, except wearing knee-high compression socks. OK, easy enough. I decided I would surf the web a bit to find out some good brands and hit up a local sports store this afternoon - just in time to try them out for my 20. After all, acquiring new gear is one of the fun things about running, or any hobby/sport I would imagine.

Nope. Total fail. Nowhere in the area seems to carry compression socks, and one store even tried to make me think I had made them up! They tried to tell me I had to go to a medical supply store for "diabetic stockings". And when I mentioned reading about them in the latest issue of Runner's World, they pulled out last month's issue to try to prove me wrong!! I was so incensed that I didn't even purchase any Shot Bloks from them. Mean old behind-the-times-so-called- running-specialists!!

I know I have seen several people wearing them in my recent races, and there can't be that many runners who are diabetic! or at least that many that need "compression stockings"! Jeez.

So, no cool socks for tomorrow, but I am going to order some right now online. Even if they don't work, or I never even wear them, it will be worth it just to prove those sports' store $%#@ers were wrong. Maybe I'll put them on and run very slowly past their storefront.
$%#@ers.

Minutiae

The original goal - set way back on Thanksgiving of last year - of this whole training endeavor was to run a half-marathon on March 27. Much has gone on in the interim. Plans made, plans changed, plans remade. But yesterday, I accomplished that original goal. I ran in the Raleigh Rocks half-marathon and indeed ran the entire 13.1. Even at around mile 6 when I felt the need to shed my fleece and readjust my ipod armband, I did not break my pace. Even on the mega hills around the art museum, I may have run reeeally really slow, but I ran. In the end, I mustered the energy to sprint across the finish line at about 2 hours 12 minutes. The race website still hasn't posted the official results, so I don't yet know my chip time, or where I fell in my age group. But none of that really matters. I met my goal and I have to say I am quite proud of myself. And my husband, who dutifully got up at 6:15 with me on a Saturday and had to find things to occupy the >2 hours between start and finish, was there to capture the moment and give me a celebratory hug at the finish line.

So, since I will be repeating this effort in a couple of months, and doubling it a week later, I figured it might be good to reflect on the little things and lessons learned from this event:

• Carb-loading with pasta the night before was well-intended, but I should consider choosing a less greasy, less cheesy option in future.
• Breakfast of an english muffin w/ almond butter, banana and green tea (about an hour and a half before the race) was perfect.
• Decision to use the restroom one last time at the convention center (where registration was held) was not the best idea, but worth the wait in the insanely long line.
  
• Clif margarita flavored shot bloks were great! The forethought of putting them in a sandwich bag so I didn't have to fight with packaging as I ran, made them even better.
• I now know that I will spill most of the water/sports drinks from the hydration stations ON me, so I need to avoid those stations serving RED anything!
• The knee band I wore worked better on my ITB issues than the conventional brace I had been wearing.
• My $10 orthotics proved they were worth every penny and not a cent more.
  
• Must invest in sunglasses that don't slip down my nose as I run - but not those ugly sporty wrap around kind. Ugh.
  
• Sunscreen - brilliant! (I still can't believe I remembered to put any on.)
• When layering, don't safety pin the number to any under layers. This makes it far more difficult than necessary to shed that outer layer. (I didn't break pace, but it took me at least five whole minutes to get it off and get everything readjusted.)
• Playlist was spot on, but barely long enough to last the whole race with a few skipped songs and no repeats. (And, I'll have to double it for the full marathon - argh!)
  
• Identify a few runners to pace with during the first 2/3 of the race, and then focus the last 1/3 on passing them. ;-)

My next races on the calendar: 10K on April 18, half-marathon 5/16, full marathon 5/22.

Not going that extra mile

Every Friday feels like winning a battle - a triumph over the various and random forces that feel like weights on my ankles as I fight through the rest of the week . Traffic jams, long lines, coffee stains, shedding pets, even PMS, they all disappear at 5 o'clock Friday. It really is magic. And yesterday was even more magic-er (sic) because it's SPRING! Yesterday's run was only 3 miles, but it was 70 degrees, sunny, and the air was filled with the scents of early flowers and fresh cut grass. It was lovely, it was indeed a little bit magical, and it made me want to run a few extra laps around my little adopted running neighborhood.

But, I didn't. Nope. As tempting as it was, I remembered a tidbit of expert running advice I read early in my training: Don't go the extra mile.

3 miles is the shortest distance I run these days, but from my prior reading, I knew that going that extra mile wouldn't really pay off. In my head, it may have seemed like an opportunity to breathe in the fresh air and feel the sunshine for another mile. But, in reality, it would also shave off the remainder of my Dunkin Donuts large latte high and render me too exhausted to enjoy my weekly Friday celebration. And, with a 16 mile run looming for this Sunday, overdoing it always poses the risk of derailing my training schedule.

So, I didn't go the extra mile, not even part of it. Being the overachiever that I am (though I like to picture myself as a rebellious slacker, I must admit my true tendencies), that little gem of advice has an extra sweet ring for me. It's like a pass to dial it back a notch or two - something I am rarely willing to do. Like that other advice to actually rest and not run a couple of days a week, not going the extra mile is something that imposes sanity on my otherwise insanely busy life.

Today happens to be one of those 'rest' days, so it's time to go work on the kitchen, write a paper, take my advanced stats quiz, switch over the winter/summer wardrobe, walk the dogs, do the dishes, and.......


p.s. One week from today is my first half-marathon - on the same date of the original race my Mom and I were supposed to run together. I'll be running this one solo, and I'm thinking it should take me about 2 hours and 40 minutes. We'll see.

Birthdays, Shot Bloks and Breast Exams

Damn, this is a busy time of year. Forget work and school, it's all the freaking birthdays!! Between Jan. 28 and Mar. 4, my mom, dad, brother, husband, sister-in-law, father-in-law and 3 close friends ALL have birthdays! Don't get me wrong, I love them all and I don't need to be convinced to celebrate, but it just gets exhausting. So, for me, spending gobs of money and eating a ton of rich food does not end after the holidays. I just get about a month off before the REAL most wonderful time of the year. Fitting in our never-ending kitchen renovation AND sticking to my running schedule has been a real challenge these past few weeks, but I'm almost out of the woods. After this Thursday, I will have three glorious birthday-free months..... with only two baby showers.... so far.

Ok, new topic, no more whining. My best latest running discovery has to be Clif Shot Bloks. Particularly the 'margarita with sodium' flavor. One of my Facebook friends recommended them to me and I am absolutely certain they were the only thing that allowed me to complete the 14 mile run last Saturday. I ate one cube about every 20-30 minutes (as I watched TWO complete movies) and by golly, I made it through. I was more than a little sore for the next two days, but that's beside the point. Margarita Shot Bloks rule!

So, I guess that leaves the breast exam. Yeah. Two days after my last race, I had my 'annual', during which my doctor found a small, hard reason to refer me for a mammogram and ultrasound. As you can guess, I freaked out for the following week and a half, right up to my appointment with the radiologist last Thursday. My poor husband, the only person I really told, was also extremely worried and incredibly sweet, buying me flowers and offering to go with me. In the end, they found absolutely nothing. Hallelujah. Turns out it was dense tissue (insert 'dense' jokes here). Four days later, I can already laugh about it - though I was absolutely, completely terrified - particularly the fact that, in addition to envisioning wigs and a prosthesis, I was trying to figure out if I could delay surgery or chemo or whatever until AFTER the marathon. Is that not insane? Well, whatever. I'm healthy. I may be dense, but I can run really, really far.

Oh, and for any 'mature' ladies that may be reading this - mammograms? Jeeezus, painful!! I totally get it now. The tech said to me on my way out, "we'll see you next year!" Uh, doubtful. Think I'll be waiting until the 35 mark on that one. But, thanks.

Wow. Just wow.

Today was great for so many reasons. In the name of organization, let me see if I can count them:

1. The overnight snow pushed the race back to 1:00, so I got to sleep in and enjoy the morning.
2. My hubby did end up running with me, even though he had a sucky week and had been doubtful up to the final hours beforehand.
3. Both of my parents ended up running/walking even though my mom had a sucky week and hadn't even been able to squeeze in a single run or walk to train.
4. The mixture of cops, Mormons and cub scouts (sponsors and race organizers) provided fodder for exactly the type of snarky banter that makes my heart swell with love for my family.
5. Even though I walked for a few seconds on the hills, the clock at the finish read 27:40something. I haven't seen my chip time yet (couldn't get past the mob to actually read the posted results), but I saw that I finished first in my age group and I suppose I shaved about 2 minutes off my last race time.
6. My husband finished around 39 minutes, even though he had ill-fitting running attire and had not done any training outdoors.
7. My parents finished at around 47 minutes and, as the last racers, jokingly ran across the finish line to the entire crowd cheering. For added effect, my Dad crossed the line running backwards.
8. Hot chocolate and bananas after the race.
9. My Dad and I both won door prizes - gift certificates to local restaurants we wouldn't be caught dead in, but that my Grandmother loves.
10. Back at my folks' house, my Dad revealed that he had worn his very newly purchased jogging suit OVER his regular dress pants and button-down shirt. (Not as much a strategic move as a response to us rushing him out the door.) I haven't laughed so hard in days.


So, in summary, I now feel I have adequately conquered the 5k. On to the 10ks in March and April, and of course with an eye on that half-marathon in May. Oh, and, the FULL marathon the following week. Did I mention I that I bit the bullet on that one? 5/22/10, Boone NC, my first marathon. Yessirree. Bring..... it..... on.

Here we go again

Saturday forecast for Sanford, NC - partly cloudy with a high of 47, low of 23. So, at 10 am when my next 5k starts? Probably not much warmer than the last race. BUT, at least I know what to expect, what to wear, etc. More importantly, this will not be my FIRST race. It's my second, and my husband is joining me this time! My mom and dad are running again as well, and my mom has promised to actually run the entire distance - woo hoo! So, the forecast may be frigid, but the outlook is sunny.

And I do need some sunshine to keep me motivated. All of the snow we've had recently, and the postponement of the much anticipated mother/daughter half-marathon have not been the most energizing of forces. I'm up to 10 miles on my weekly long runs, but lately it's been more of a trudge than a joy.

I am pretty bummed that my much-labored-over training schedule now has me ready for the 13.1 way way way ahead of the new race. I am still thinking that I may just count the half in May as a part of training for a real marathon in the Summer. Problem is, where in the southeast will it not be hot as hell? I searched online and there literally are no marathons in NC or any surrounding states between June and September.

Except for one in Boone, in July, which I find pretty tempting. Yes, Boone is in the mountains (not even hills, but freaking mountains), but the race is called the Flatlanders Marathon, so it at least sounds doable. However, as my husband so helpfully pointed out, the elevation difference (thinner air) may not be a good thing for a first-timer. I need to do some research on that. To be continued......

Oh, and by the way, I learned my lesson from the Tobacco Road 'race full' experience. I have now pre-registered and paid for two 10ks (one in March, one in April) and the new half-marathon in May. Done and done.

Plan Bs

Plan A: Run the Tobacco Road half-marathon on Sunday, March 21.
Reality: Mom just happened to check the race website the other day and it is already FULL! Crap!
Plan B: Run the next local half-marathon, the Inside Out Sports run in May.
Possible result: It could be hot as hell, but by then, my mom and I may be able to run it together. (She's now up to 3 miles!)

Plan A: Drive the 4+ hours from today's work location to tomorrow's work location, arrive at my hotel around 7ish and hit the treadmill in the fitness center asap to get in the 4 miles prescribed in my training schedule.
Reality: While looking up directions, noticed that my hotel relies on an "off-site" fitness center that closes at 8. Crap!
Plan B: Stop at a gym closer to today's work location and con my way into a day pass by posing as a 'local resident' interested in a membership.
Result: I was nearly caught when, after the obligatory 20 minute tour and sales pitch, I did not have any questions. After a very long, cock-eyed pause, the guy said,"You don't want to know how much it costs?" "Oh, yeah, of course, right. How much?" I absently responded while I eyed the quickly-filling cardio area. In the end, I got my run on. It was in a smelly gym, on a shaky treadmill, with a screen full of bad tv way too close to my face - but I can check off my mileage for the day. I'll probably get several phone calls following up on my interest in membership, but I'll just tell them that I ended up joining the other gym down the street.

Embrace the brace

Yes, I have passed the age of being routinely carded for alcohol.

Yes, I have a marriage, a mortgage and a career.

But, most days, (through frequent engagement in heavy drinking and toilet humor) I remain solidly in denial of my adulthood. So, coming to terms with my aging body is not something I do voluntarily. Funny how running 9 miles brings exactly this sort of unpleasantry into sharp focus.

As I had suspected, the knee pain has ceased being intermittent and now seems to be here to stay. Soooo, I bought a brace. And I wear the brace when I run. And it does what braces are supposed to do - it prevents the kind of pain I felt after my last two long runs. What it does not do, however, is allow me to indulge in my fantasy-life as a 31 year old teenager. I may be in the best shape of my life, but in my efforts to build and maintain this shape, I am continually reminded that it is now a downhill slide toward middle age and beyond.

What is a 30 something to do? Well, this 30 something combats the creeping creakiness by accompanying my runs with more silly tv (I've moved from LA Ink to Weeds) and an ipod playlist that includes most of the bands I listened to at 15 - plus some that today's 15-year-olds listen to.

Now, if I could just find ways to associate poop jokes with my mortgage and cartoons with my PhD study, I could make the regression complete!

Everybody's Doin' It

Running has recently become like hearing a new word on NPR - makes one appearance on 'The World' and suddenly you hear it coming out of everyone's mouth. Did everyone simultaneously begin using this new $5 word, or is it simple awareness? The answer is obvious, but it always seems like a weird coincidence.

So it is for me and running.

In the last few weeks, it seems that everyone I know has just casually picked it up. Obviously, that is not the case, but it's interesting that so many of my friends and family and acquaintances seem to have just recently begun posting/tweeting their latest mileage, times, races, etc. Maybe I just wasn't paying attention before. I'll admit - it is entirely possible that I am just self-centered enough to not notice other people's efforts until I have a common interest. I'd like to think we are all this self-centered, but I know otherwise. World-wise and conceited - that's me.

Anywho, this whole perspective change also applies to noticing random strangers running - everywhere. I spent the long weekend with friends in Brooklyn, where there seemed to be loads of folks pounding the pavement in their finest winter running attire. Are Park Slope and Queens the new running hot spots or did I miss something? Well, they succeeded in making me regret my 3-day hiatus (didn't even pack my sneaks) and in making me want to blow even more money on gear. Thank god it was 65 degrees today and I was able to run my 4 miles in the glorious outdoors. Goodbye running gear envy - hello Spring fever!

I made it

....through the week and the race. Both were pretty much exactly as bad as I had predicted, but I powered through. The first week back at work, and the big annual meeting, went fairly well - despite the snow that never came but still forced an unplanned 'early release' for the meeting (a wee bit stressful) and a necessary '2-hour delay' on Friday (translation: getting to end the week by sleeping in and launching the workday in pjs).

Since I would be giving up my Saturday long run for the race, I was even more determined than usual to stick to my training schedule during the work week. I did end up having to switch a couple of the days and do a couple of evening runs (which I loathe), but by Friday, I had nailed the mileage total. A small success. And the knee pain had gone away, at least for the moment, so score 2 for me!

I kept a constant eye on the weather forecast and steeled myself for big chill on race day, but signs were pointing to the fact that I would likely be on my own. All week, I was receiving emails from my mom asking things like, "How dedicated are you to the race on Sat.?" And, believe me, I was a little tempted to take this bait. Instead, I responded, "Very." I knew that if it snowed, I would definitely be on my own, but even my offers to buy coffee and lunch post-race didn't seem to be convincing my mom that the cold temps wouldn't be that bad.

In the end, even with my Dad coming down with a cold mid-week, he and my mom both joined me for the race on Saturday morning. It was 20 degrees. Polar fleece was indeed on full display. My dad ended up putting the race t-shirt on over his leather coat. And my loving husband never wavered in his commitment to cheer us on and take pictures from the sidelines, which actually ended up being no picnic either.

So, this was my first race. I had never even watched a race, so I really had no idea what to expect. On Friday, I actually bought the most recent issue of Runner's World hoping to get some good pointers. And it was helpful - especially the tidbit reassuring me that running in sub-zero temps does not damage the lungs. Very good to know.

Today's event, The Run for Young, was in honor of a local teenager who was killed in a car accident, and the proceeds went to 2 funds set up in his name. Although I knew about all of the charity stuff and agree that it is a good cause, I had not expected that, at 10 o'clock (the advertised race time), there would be speeches and prayers before the starting signal. They really weren't even all that long, but with it being so cold, I could barely contain my impatience and I don't think I was alone. The entire crowd seemed to be wincing, teeth chattering, as they bounced on their toes, through the prayers and speeches and door prizes, right up to the anticlimactic announcement to "Start". (I guess I'm being silly, but I really expected a gun or, at the very least, a megaphone.)

I made the mistake of starting near the back with my parents and other walkers, so it took my a while to get well enough out of the throng to establish a good pace. However, once I broke through, it was smooth sailing. I regained feeling in my thighs and toes at about the mid-way point and happily waved to my parents when I saw them on the way back. It was motivating to always have someone in front of me, especially when it was a little kid - which their participation I found to be absolutely astounding.

I crossed the finish line at 29:27, not far off my treadmill pace for 3 miles but not as fast as I thought I would do. I grabbed the bottle of water that was offered to me and looked around for my husband. When I saw his red, puffy face, my eyes actually teared up. It was obvious that his lot had really been the worst. Running had warmed me up. Standing on the sidelines had turned him into a popsicle. He smiled, gave me a big hug and a kiss and assured me that he had gotten good pictures - not one complaint. True love indeed.

We had time to walk a couple of blocks, to cool me down and warm him up, as we waited for my parents to come around. They jogged across the finish line together at 48:23. Both are 50+, non-exercisers, one a cancer survivor, the other a meat-eating coke-guzzling chain smoker. I have never been so proud. And they are both already talking about the NEXT race! Seems there is a 5k in their town next month. And my dad might even wear actual running shoes (as opposed to the work boots he walked/jogged in today). My mom is all revved up, and still talking about that full marathon in October. We'll see.

Don't think this counts as "hitting the wall" but...

......it's not looking good this week. So far, I have adhered to my training schedule like a militant religion, but this week is going to be a bitch. Mainly due to the fact that I'm headed back to work tomorrow after a wonderfully relaxing two week hiatus. This means that I will be back to fitting in my runs (which are now considerably longer than the last week I worked and ran) mainly in the evenings. Being January, it's still pitch dark by 5:30 but, hopefully, my Netflix Instant Queue will help get me through. On a more worrisome note, the seven miles/84 minutes of running yesterday has left me with a dull pain in my right knee. I am really hoping that it will either go away (not likely), or can be easily managed with one of those neoprene braces - of which I may soon be a proud owner. I've been running all of 5 weeks and I already have 'Runner's Knee'.

So, otherwise, this week holds my company's only annual conference/meeting/dinner and will end with not my usual Saturday long run (did I mention I'm up to 7 miles?) but a 5k road race with my mom. I think I would be more excited about the race except that snow is in the forecast for Friday and the high on Saturday is only supposed to be 29. It's projected be a balmy 18 degrees when the race starts at 10 am. Yeah.

On a happier note, my dad is now planning to join my mom in the race (both mainly walking), which is a nice show of support. I am already picturing the three of us, covered from stem to stern in uber-attractive polar fleece, running/walking into clouds of our own breath - my frosty husband cheering from the sidelines with a mug of something warm and maybe alcoholic. Hopefully, he'll have a little left for me at the finish-line. It should be fun. Really.