Running...and the Rest of My Life

Wow...

2010-04-15T18:36:00.000-07:00

So looking at my posting, I was over 100 posts in the first few years, even over 200, and then last year only 52 and this year so far only 1...and I didn't even post on my anniversary as I've done every other year.

I guess I could blame school and work, I mean class two nights a week and a job that has this stuff blocked (I used to type something up and post it at lunch), it just has become difficult...

A quick little catchup. I ran my first ever 7K race on the 20th of March, that was interesting, I told people I hoped to run 8 minute miles, and a few days prior to that had what I thought was a slow run but actually was 8 minutes so figured that should be easy...ended up doing a Garmin based 7:05 for the distance I ran and official 7:15 pace.

End of March I made my trip that had been postponed because I was an idiot and misplaced my passport so missed Mexico. However I went to San Juan, Puerto Rico and had a blast so maybe it was OK that I misplaced it.

OK, this is short, I know, but I do have things I need to do before crawling into bed in a little bit. But since I've been negligent I just wanted to post something.

In Defense...of Self?

2010-02-19T19:51:00.000-08:00

Why the need to defend myself? Why the need to create excuses? Why the need to hide? You’d think I’m committing a crime. What is all this related to? Eating. Yes. The evil horrible thing that people do, don’t do, or try to hide how they do it. I’m getting so frustrated at always having to defend myself. I right now am ten pounds heavier than I should be, or that I want to be, either or, it doesn’t matter I weigh more than I want to and I don’t like it and something needs to change, but I can’t make a comment about it for the backlash I get from people that “oh you don’t have to lose weight”…

However, I’ve been trying to be better, trying to diet (could be all the snacking I’ve been doing that is causing me to gain weight…I know that, I’m not dumb!) and drop some weight and be healthier. I’m reading a book that has me bothered…Good Calories, Bad Calories…now I’m reading it with a little skepticism because the guy is a big Atkins follower, so he’s very anti-carb (or so I’ve heard) but there are things in it, information we follow, based on studies that are pretty bogus…and that scares me…really it’s now a matter of who do I believe and trust and what should I eat? So I’m trying to go more natural, and more healthy…the biggest culprit of course I know is sugar. Sugar no matter who you listen to should be limited so I’m really trying there. In fact knowing I needed to break the habit, I realized Lent was coming up, and fallen away Catholic that I am, I rarely follow the code and give something up, or even skip the meat during Friday’s…but I decided since I was trying to break sugar anyway, I would use this time to give up sweets…that’s right….and I’m writing it here, even though I’m doubting anyone is even checking in anymore I’ve barely written. And part of the reason though, is when I have to pass on sweets etc, I can use the “it’s Lent and I gave up sweets for Lent” and people will understand. Just trying to be healthy I’d get flack for, but telling people I gave it up for Lent…well that’s OK. It sucks.

Of course I know I’m weak so I had to make a few exceptions, I know myself and I know I can’t just give up sweets and be done. They are too ingrained in me, but for the next 40 days (Sunday’s don’t count, although this week my Sunday is Saturday cause I have the Food and Wine Show in town and there are lots of dessert places that are there and I want to enjoy the day that I paid a lot to attend!). Overall I am not going to eat candy or most other sweets…the exception I put in is “healthy” sweets…and cookies well, those even have limits. If I have a cookie, it’s the Kashi ones or my homemade oatmeal ones with flax, wheat flour and low sugar. The other slight exceptions are healthy sugared cereals, of which there are two that fit what I’m doing, Special K Chocolate and Trader Joe’s Honey Nut O’s…OK, this is giving me what seems like a lot of outs, but really it’s not that much (and partly the cereals made it because well, I have some in the house I don’t want going bad!!), and I’m doing what I can to make this work and be able to stick to it. Also, it’s not the unlimited eat the whole box of cereal in a sitting like I’ve been doing, but only one serving a day and think of all that is out…candy bars, cake, ice cream, desserts...yesterday the only sugar I had other than two pieces of fruit were the Kashi cookie after lunch and a slice of banana bread…I think that’s pretty darn good, considering my last 4 classes all I ate was candy the entire night. I’m hoping this cutting of sugar will help though with the ten pounds I need to take off. Thing is, I am at the point, hence my opening rant, where I get frustrated because people make or choose to make comments about my health habits etc…I eat eggbeaters and wheat toast for breakfast everyday. Usually when I’m getting lunch I have things like healthy popcorn or fruit I’m getting out of the fridge in the cafeteria…and I hear comments about it. They aren’t anything bad, they are meant in fun, but when it’s practically everyday it gets frustrating and I am tired of just grinning and bearing it…but I continue to do so. People learn I’m a runner and think that must mean I’m super healthy and I’m far from it, but I want to be better and I hate that that gets me more flack than the people that eat out of the vending machine everyday…or those that bring crap for meals…or those that eat the donuts every Friday (and I’ve been known to eat those donuts…this Friday will be my first real test and that’s the other part of my rant, because of this image people have, I have to avoid the donuts or hear about it, so I sneak them and then it makes me feel like I am doing something wrong, how awful is that…sneak in when no one is in there so I can get one…). It’s all very frustrating. I’m sorry, if I don’t comment on your eating habits and the crap you do to your body, why can you comment on my healthy habits and give me flack about it?

SKOL VIKINGS!!!!

2010-01-24T13:49:00.001-08:00

You have the NFC North Championship...Let's get the NFC Championship today!!!

Dealing with Stupidity

2009-12-27T09:14:00.000-08:00

This time my own. I ruined what was supposed to be a great week. I was going to be on the beach in Puerto Vallarta...sipping cocktails and Mexican beer, enjoying 80 degree temps, running on the beach, and spending a New Years Eve outside of the country, heck, outside of Minnesota. I was going on my own, but fully expected to get to know people while I was there and have a good time. Mainly it was the beach, the ocean, and sun that I was looking forward to, after what was a rough Christmas...not quite as bad as I expected it to be, but still sad and lonely with that person missing from the table. Unfortunately I was stupid. When I booked the trip, and at other times during the time leading it up to it I thought, hmm....I should double check that lockbox and make sure my passport is where it is supposed to be. I had had it out in August for something (misplaced driver's license) but was sure it had been put away....Last night, 5 pm, I went to get it and stick it with the rest of my stuff...no passport. I ripped apart my room and then the rest of the house and could not find it. Unfortunately doing this at 5 pm on a Saturday when you are flying at 7:30 am on Sunday there is nothing you can do to replace it. My birth certificate was there, but of course that doesn't help anymore going to Mexico. So instead of being on a flight right now, heading to warmth, I'm stuck in MN...had to change the ticket, which was non-refundable so while I'll get some of it back, I won't get all of it. And it was late for cancelling the hotel too, so a charge for that...but none of that is even what matters...I didn't care about that, I care about the fact that I'm an idiot and ruined what was going to be a nice relaxing time. It doesn't surprise me though. Karma can be a bitch and I probably deserve it for things I've done...I wish I was a better person, but I think this proves I'm not. When I booked the trip too, I intentionally booked it for new years because I get tired of always being the one that has to plan and work hard to get people together for it...this year I wasn't going to be here so no worries. Now I most likely will just sit home and be upset with myself for screwing up this trip.

Stolen From a Friend, Who Stole it from a Friend...

2009-12-12T13:46:00.000-08:00

I found this to be quite an interesting read...and unfortunately where I got it is a situation that too bad she hadn't seen this sooner...but then again when emotions are involved we don't always get the rational anyway...

When it comes to making the decision about choosing a life partner, no one wants to make a mistake. Yet, with a divorce rate of close to 50 percent,it appears that many are making serious mistakes in their approach to finding Mr/Ms Right!

If you ask most couples who are engaged why they're getting married,they'll say: "We're in love." I believe this is the #1 mistake people make when they date. Choosing a life partner should never be based on love (alone). Though this may sound not politically correct, there's a profound truth here. Love (alone) is not the basis for getting married. Rather, love is the result of a good marriage. When the other ingredients are right, then the love will come. Let me say it again: You can't build a lifetime relationship on love alone. You need a lot more.

Here are five questions you must ask yourself if you're serious about finding and keeping a life partner.

QUESTION #1: Do we share a common life purpose? Why is this so important? Let me put it this way: If you're married for 20 or 30 years, that's a long time to live with someone. What do you plan to do with each other all that time? Travel, eat and jog together? You need to share something deeper and more meaningful. You need a common life purpose. Two things can happen in a marriage. You can grow together, or you can grow apart. 50 percent of the people out there are growing apart. To make a marriage work, you need to know what you want out of life - bottom line - and marry someone who wants the same thing.

QUESTION #2: Do I feel safe expressing my feelings and thoughts with this person? This question goes to the core of the quality of your relationship. Feeling safe means you can communicate openly with this person. The basis of having good communication is trust! i. e. trust that I won't get "punished" or hurt for expressing my honest thoughts and feelings. A colleague of mine defines an abusive person as someone with whom you feel afraid to express your thoughts and feelings. Be honest with yourself on this one. Make sure you feel emotionally safe with the person you plan to marry.

QUESTION #3: Is he/she a mensch? A mensch is someone who is a refined and sensitive person. How can you test? Here are some suggestions. i) Do they work on personal growth on a regular basis? ii) Are they serious about improving themselves? A teacher of mine defines a good person as "someone who is always striving to be good and do the right thing". "So, ask about your significant other: What do they do with their time? Is this person materialistic?" Usually, a materialistic person is not someone whose top priority is character refinement. There are essentially two types of people in the world: People who are dedicated to personal growth and people who are dedicated to seeking comfort. Someone whose goal in life is to be comfortable will put personal comfort ahead of doing the right thing. You need to know that before walking down the aisle.

QUESTION #4: How does he/she treat other people? The one most important thing that makes any relationship work is the ability to give. By giving, we mean the ability to give another person pleasure. Ask: Is this someone who enjoys giving pleasure to others or are they wrapped up in themselves and self-absorbed? To measure this, think about the following: i) How do they treat people whom they do not have to be nice to, such as waiters, bus boys, taxi drivers, etc.? ii) How do they treat parents and siblings? Do they have gratitude and appreciation? Do they show respect? If they don't have gratitude for the people who have given them everything, you cannot expect that they'll have gratitude for you - who can't do nearly as much for them! iii) Do they gossip and speak badly about others? Someone who gossips cannot be someone who loves others. You can be sure that someone who treats others poorly, will eventually treat you poorly as well.

QUESTION #5: Is there anything I'm hoping to change about this person after we're married? Too many people make the mistake of marrying someone with the intention of trying to "improve" them after they're married. As a colleague of mine puts it, "You can probably expect someone to change after marriage ... for the worse!" If you cannot fully accept this person the way they are now, then you are not ready to marry them.

In conclusion, dating doesn't have to be difficult and treacherous. The key is to try leading a little more with your head and less with your heart. It pays to be as objective as possible when you are dating, to be sure to ask questions that will help you get to the key issues. Falling in love is a great feeling, but when you wake up with a ring on your finger,you don't want to find yourself in trouble because you didn't do your homework.

HOW WILL I KNOW IF I'VE MET THE PERSON I SHOULD MARRY? The choice of a marriage partner should not be based on "I get a warm,wonderful feeling whenever we're together and I want to have that warm wonderful feeling forever, so let's go get married". Feelings, as we have discussed,have no logic on their own. They need to be acknowledged, of course, but they need considerable assistance from your brain. Marriage means choosing the person you will spend the rest of your life with. This, as you may have guessed,is a very long time to spend with one person. This person will live with you,eat meals with you, sleep with you and go on vacation with you. More important yet, this person will share your children. You need to choose wisely. The decision should not be made based on feelings alone. You need to ask yourself some tough questions. The decisions have to be made on solid considerations. Will this person be a good partner? Is she mature enough to put her own selfish desires aside to look out for what is best for the family? Is he prepared to be a good provider? What is his track record? Is he responsible enough to get a good job and keep it? Will this person be a good parent? Can you stand the thought of your children turning out exactly like this person? They will, you know. Children spend a lot of time with their parents and consequently pick up many or most of their parents' character traits. You had better like your spouse's traits a lot because you will be seeing them again in your children. If something were to happen to you, would you completely trust this person alone, with the task of raising and forming your children? This is not a pleasant thought, but it is an important consideration. Not everyone dies at a ripe old age with great grandchildren gathered around the bed. Sometimes a parent dies and leaves young children in the care of the other parent. If you feel that you would need to be around to correct or lessen this person's influence on your children, then you are considering the wrong person. Does this person share your faith in God? God does not give us children so that we can mold them into the coolest, most popular people in school. Our job is to get them to heaven. To do that, we need to raise them believing in God. It is tough to do that if only one parent believes.Saying "This is right and that is wrong, and I want you to ignore Mommy until you are thirty-five" does not work. Small children ask about eight million questions in a single day. The answers to those questions go a long way toward forming the kind of adults they will become. Who will be answering those questions for your children? Does this person you are marrying have sexual self-control? Single people sometimes have this idea that marriage is just some kind of lifelong sex festival and that as long as they have each other, they will never be tempted by other people. Wrong! There are many times in every marriage when one partner or the other is sexually unavailable - illness, the last months of pregnancy, travel. There are also times when spouses, just get on each others' nerves. At times like this, other people can seem very appealing. That can be dangerous, because there are plenty of very attractive people out there who are willing to make themselves available to married men and women. Do you want someone who has never said "no" to sex? If he is not good at saying "no" at eighteen, it won't be different at forty. Do you want to worry about whether or not your spouse is being faithful? These are very important questions, and if you are not comfortable with all of the answers, you should definitely not marry this person. None of this is to say that feelings play no role at all in a marriage decision. You don't have to, "Well, I suppose that you would make a good spouse and parent, so even though I don't particularly like you I guess I'll marry you.' You need to be happy and excited about the prospect of spending your life with someone. Your brain however must acknowledge that this person is a good choice. Don't listen to your heart alone nor your head alone. Wait until your heart and head agree.

Nike

2009-11-16T14:31:00.001-08:00

Alright, this was a marathon I had always wanted to do simply because of the Tiffany’s pendant and the firemen in tuxedos (and I had never been to San Francisco and I really wanted an excuse to go)…the rest, well, it’s a mainly women marathon, that in and of itself kind of got to me a bit…but I’ll get to that.

I flew into San Francisco on the 15th, race was the 18th, and flight home on the 19th. Originally was going to visit a friend and then she had her situation change so I was on my own…I had names of people to contact but I kind of was OK with being there on my own. My flight was through Denver and had an hour so I had mimosa, and then a second…then found my flight was delayed so had two more…oops…maybe not a good idea but oh well. A bit buzzed I get to San Fran an hour or so later than originally planned but that was OK. Called my dad, let him know I got there safe, had a little confusing finding the BART but eventually did and was on my way into the city. Got off the train, grabbed a slice of pizza to soak up the mimosas and headed to my hotel. I wasn’t able to check in yet but dropped my bags and got directions to Fisherman’s Wharf…via cable car. That was an adventure. I would NEVER drive in that city!! Got to the wharf though and wandered around, saw seals, Alcatraz, the Golden Gate…eventually got a ride back and then never managed to use the pass I bought again because lines were just too long. On the way back stopped at the expo, what there was of it, I was definitely NOT impressed by it to get my packet and then went to the hotel to finally check in. After changing and resting a bit I decided food was in order, but Obama was in town and a place I had scoped out was not able to get to because streets were blocked off…yeah, that was fun. He was at a hotel directly across from the expo so talk about a major cluster f***!! Anyway, eventually found a bar, ordered a beer and figured out that unlike in MN where most bars also serve food, this was not one…I ended up getting another slice of pizza later, but was interesting because I was talking to two guys there that were originally from MN (learned this because I heard them talking about the Vikings) had fun at this bar when I heard a song I had requested from the band playing too. Eventually headed to another place (after getting my food), this time right near my hotel, where I ended up talking to a guy from Texas and friends he had made earlier in the week (he was there on business). The others left but he and I headed to a karaoke bar I had seen earlier, didn’t sing, but hung out a bit, then went to a dive bar around the corner…eventually called it a night though…next morning was a bit rough, but I did get up to have lunch with the Texas guy before he headed home…Spent most of Friday vegging around the hotel, before eventually going out for food…was going to have a quiet day, hit Ghiradelli, wanted to go to Fisherman’s wharf again, but couldn’t get a cable car and never checked on buses…anyway, did have fun just browsing Union Square…and eventually was out again at a few bars around the area and had a nice evening meeting a few different people. Saturday was a bit rough again because of someone insisting shots should be done…yikes…but I eventually got out and had an excellent meal at a restaurant. No reservation and it was busy for later, but I was allowed in if I could be out by 6, which was easy since it was 5 when I got there. I ended up talking to the two women who were seated right by me and had a very excellent meal…(good enough I had it again the next day after the marathon!!). I was supposed to meet some friends maybe for dinner but just couldn’t get myself out and hadn’t been able to get out and see Kara Goucher talk either, which is a bummer but oh well. I had heard Joan Benoit-Samuelson on Thursday so that was cool.

So Sunday morning, race morning…I was up and out the door around 6:15, I was only 2 blocks from the start, all downhill too…so that was easy enough. Weather was around 50, slightly humid and nice so I was in a skirt and short sleeved shirt with my tube sock sleeves and then stuff for my drop bag. When I got to the race start, I was able to get a hold of Dori and her friends and hung with them till race start. For the first time I carried my phone with me, as well as my camera, which I will never do again…more on that later. Race was a cluster at the start…I couldn’t even get into the corals and I know people out there were not running the 9-9:30 I had been kind of planning to run (that’s till the hills hit!!). I had no idea what I could do but figured 4 hours was maybe right…but seriously, Nike does need to work on getting this start handled better. There is a half and a full and most of the half I swear are up with the full and both are the same course and there are 20,000+ people so really makes for a mess. Luckily streets are wide and easy to get around. You head through the financial district, then past Fisherman’s Wharf and then turn some corners and would see the Golden Gate if it’s not foggy!! Headed then around a place where you could see a huge hill in the distance…not a fun climb!! And it went up and up…eventually there is a decent downhill, and then more ups and downs along the way. Good aid stations, decent crowds, some fun inspirational signs…when you get to mile 10, there is an awesome downhill to the beach and it’s gorgeous views…then you turn and the half breaks off and the full gets to keep going…and out and back and then another section where you are near the half runners again, before heading out along the beach, slightly uphill, but not overly noticeable, till you really climb and look down on Lake Merced, you go down around the lake, listening to a good band, they were playing Crazy by Prince as I ran past and I liked that. Mile 21 on the end of the lake before you start heading back to the ocean is where Ghiradelli is and who really wants chocolate then? I know I didn’t, but took some for later…water was a bit past there (should’ve been closer!!) and back up hill and finally to the band and back up to the top mile 24 and it finally is all downhill to the finish. You really can’t see the finish line till you get around a truck that was probably after mile 26, which I never saw…but when I finally saw the finish line I was never so happy to be done with a race. At one part around the lake I was even thinking I didn’t even care if I finished (and I was doing this for grandma) I just wanted to be done (and there was no good place to quit anyway), I didn’t care about the firemen or the pendant…but well, finally there was the finish line, I crossed, officially it was 4:19:19, saw the cute firemen, in tuxedos, holding silver platters with the Tiffany’s pendants…got my box, then went and got a picture taken with one of them…then off to get my shirt (I do like the shirt, nice bright turquoise color), got a banana and tried some chocolate milk, then wandered my way out, got my bag and headed to the shuttle…the line was so freaking long and the wait was probably 45 minutes to an hour…that I paid $10 to do as well….there were city buses I could’ve been taking had I realized, I mean seriously, if you have to pay to get back, you should not have to wait that long (or for that matter, walk that far)!! Eventually I got back though, showered and went to do something. I was supposed to go watch the Vikings if they were on somewhere, a bartender had promised to put them on, but they were done by then anyway, so I just hung out, had a beer and chatted with a couple of guys there…eventually left and got some food and then back to the hotel to crash. Got up, had breakfast and headed to the airport the next day…only to have flight out delayed because the incoming flight was delayed…and that made me miss my connection and since it was weather (even though weather was not bad and there was no reason they should’ve had to delay and apparently this happens all the time, so if they know that it happens why they don’t arrange things around that I don’t know…anyway, I was on standby for the last connection out of Denver, 10th on standby on a full flight in fact, and no, they wouldn’t pay for my hotel if I had to get one…so then I go to get to the planes and I get pulled out of the baggage line to have my suitcase measured…this is the same suitcase that I’ve owned since 2000/2001…the same suitcase that has traveled with me, oh, on I’d guess at least 20 flights since I bought it, maybe more…the same suitcase that never gets checked anymore since airlines charge now…the same suitcase I flew out with that FIT IN THE DAMN BIN and no, I didn’t need to check it…and of course the measure thing wasn’t quite working because the way the wheels are on the bag it wouldn’t go in fully…I was on the verge of tears and thought I’d end up in jail for talking back to the airport people…I was that mad…anyway, eventually got it proven that my suitcase worked and go through the line…got to Denver, of course missed my connection and had to stay overnight for $70…and up early, exhausted to get to work…and after all that, really decided travel isn’t fun anymore and I just don’t want to do it anymore…if I didn’t have a trip booked already in December, knowing I’d need to get away with as tough as Christmas is going to be…I would not be traveling again I don’t think. It’s just too hard and not fun anymore.

So, that’s the trip…Nike…I wouldn’t do the full again. I’d consider doing the half for the pendant again, but it’s not the most fun race in the world due to the poor organization at the beginning and end….plus it’s such a Team in Training event, that even barring the bad behavior TNT gets a bit known for (ie 4, 5, 10 across the road, walking, lining up at the front to walk etc), there are just so many coaches and such along the road that are all about TNT, they don’t cheer for any of the other runners, and especially when you are there on your own, hearing people yell only for TNT is a bit disheartening…and I’m not even one that does it for that, most times these days I don’t have my name on my shirt (unlike first few) so they can only cheer on bib number or things on my shirt (like Boston when they yelled go Irish for the 100% Irish for a Day shirt I had on), but you do sometimes need that little something to push you forward, and it was definitely lacking.

Still Around...Kind Of...

2009-11-15T17:02:00.000-08:00

I meant to get an update on Friday…it would’ve been a month at that point since my last post, but I never quite got it typed up. I’m hanging in…a lot of weird stuff going on. I’ll get a race report typed up about Nike at some point…I might even get a picture posted of the pendant. Had a family weekend for my dad’s 65th birthday. There was good and bad to that. At least dad had his birthday with his family all there and that was what he wanted if he’d been asked. We took him where he’d often thought about going for a weekend and he had his kids all there…so like I said, it was good for him.

Some of the rest of the stuff…well...I don’t know that it is getting any better. In fact I think some might be getting worse. At least on one thing.

San Francisco was a bit of a turning point on my grief over grandma. I still desperately miss her, but I’m not crying everyday like I was, which is a step up I guess. I just wish I could talk to her one more time…the one dream I’ve managed to have with her in it, I was able to see her, but not talk to her and I wish I could just talk to her. But like I said, San Fran was a turning point getting away maybe helped. So maybe a trip coming up shortly might help just a little bit more.

So until I get a chance to update again at least know I’m still out here.

One Last Hurrah

2009-10-13T17:51:00.000-07:00

I’m pretty sure I’m retiring after Sunday. Nike is Sunday. I have known about it since March, when I was just trying to get through training to finish Boston and thought I’d retire there…but no, I got in and I wanted to visit my friend, and well, instead of going for my birthday and Bay to Breakers guess it was going to be Nike. Things happen and I wish I had been out of town on my birthday, and then my friend got laid off so she isn’t going to be in San Fran anyway…then other stuff happened…and then grandma died and I really lost my motivation, except to decide to dedicate it to her. Considering grandma always got a nice fireman beef cake calendar for Christmas from one of my aunt’s friends, it’s fitting that her marathon is the one where you get firemen in tuxedos handing out your Tiffany’s pendant. This one is going to be bittersweet because of that. And training again was tough. I didn’t want to, but I survived it, kind of, and I’m looking forward to just being done with it and get to a normal training routine and work on getting myself into the shape I wanted to be in by now, but the summer just found me letting myself get away from what I should be doing, and doing things I should not be doing. Ah well, such is life and I have all the time in the world for things now. No other focus but the gym, work and school. Maybe if I spend more time on all those other things, the things I DON’T want to be thinking about will just go quietly away. One can always hope.

So Thursday I fly…and I’m not even excited even though I’m going to a city I’ve always wanted to go to. I don’t even have plans made for what I might want to see or do. Maybe I’ll just hole up in the hotel till race day and study for my midterm and get reading caught up for my other class…who knows…

A Loss of Love

2009-09-22T04:49:00.001-07:00

I guess in my last post I should’ve stated the last question was rhetorical. Well, maybe…I appreciate responses, but saying that what one person is doing to deal with their grief is wrong, is not quite appropriate in the situation. Everyone is different. It’s what makes the world go round. In my normal world, I’m a very social person. I get out, I do things, I see people…but it gets to be a struggle sometimes too because I really need down/alone time too…and I am very independent. I’m not one to ask for help unless I absolutely need it. I still am bothered by the fact that anytime I move, I have to ask people to help me because I just don’t like to put people out. And my grief is something others shouldn’t have to deal with or tolerate. I know I can’t put on a brave face for those that know me best, and it’s why I need to stay away from them as much as possible because the brave face act is just too difficult. So on that note, as everyone deals with grief and recovers from it differently, this is something I have to work out. I lost an aunt and uncle in the last few years, and that was sad, but I wasn’t close to them the way I was with grandma, so the grief wasn’t as overwhelming as this is. The last close person I lost was 20 years ago when my grandfather died. And I still grieve for him, but I had 20 years more of a relationship with grandma. I had grandma in my adulthood, which is absolutely different from losing grandpa when you were still barely out of childhood.

A friend sent me a card expressing her sympathy, and on it she wrote this quote:

“Grandma always made you feel she had been waiting to see just you all day and now the day was complete. ~Marcy DeMaree”

I cried after I read that quote because it absolutely was true. On my run yesterday morning I was thinking about grandma, as I usually do, and I lost it, again, I only hope anyone who saw me thought the wet on my cheeks was from sweat…I don’t like crying in public, unless it’s a sad movie, then it’s acceptable, but other than that, I like to try to keep it private. I’m not one of those women that uses tears to get things. Anyway, as I thought of that quote, and I thought of grandma, and my visits to her, my relationship with her…and the reason I’m not ready to be in a world without her is that I lost that love that I got from her and there is no replacement for that. As much as I loved her, and gave her my love, I know she loved me more, even if she didn’t express it in a traditional sense…When I would show up at her house, particularly if she didn’t know I was in town for the weekend, the surprise and joy on her face. The best present I could give her, was the time I spent with her. Oh, and the one other gift, I made a scrapbook for her the year we all went on a family cruise. She told me even as recently as a few months ago how much she enjoyed looking at the scrapbook and how she had just looked at it again. Just knowing that there was someone, whose day I could make, by just showing up at her house…that was something I absolutely took for granted and should not have, because now it’s gone and what kills me is I’ll never have that love, that total unconditional acceptance, joy and love from someone. Yes, my parents love me, I know that, but it’s still not the same thing. Knowing that I’ll never be able to make someone’s day with my presence again, it hurts more than I could ever have imagined. It’s been a month now, since I lost her, and it’s still as fresh as the moment I answered that phone call from my mom.

Three Things

2009-09-19T17:13:00.000-07:00

First running…I got up, got a decent run, if not a great one, this morning. I didn’t know how far I’d go, but ended up doing 9 miles. Again, not a great run, but an OK one. It started decent enough. Oh, and had I eaten more for breakfast, maybe I would’ve run more…Anyway, 5 miles into the run I am about 3 miles from my house, in an area that I know, or thought I knew, fairly well. There is Davanni’s Pizza. There is Blockbuster. Eden Avenue Grill is around the corner. The funeral home where both my aunt and uncle were laid out unfortunately is right there. Starbucks is there as well, but NONE of these places accounted for the delicious scents in the air. I noticed a sign up, that maybe I had just never noticed before, not sure, but it said Patissere Margo…what?? How could I not know of this place? I got home and instantly looked up the place online and the delights I found listed…oh my. I decided I must try it. Thought I’d go for breakfast tomorrow, however they aren’t open tomorrow, so I stopped there on my way to the gym. For today I only bought two regular croissants…I’d have just got one, but felt weird just buying one. So one was with dinner tonight and one is breakfast tomorrow if I get a longer run in. I should’ve gotten the cinnamon one too, but oh well…next time. At the gym I did strength train for 40 minutes, and biked for 30.

Two…rude people…I stopped at the grocery store on the way home to grab a couple of quick things, partly for dinner, some other necessary items. They were doing samples today and one was frozen pizza…sounded yummy. So I went to get a sample, and an employee had stepped up in front of me and was taking up the whole space…the guy doing the samples handed one over to me but I found it very odd. It’s not like this is a crappy grocery store either. It’s one of the upscale ones, in a nice area…ah well. Then I was checking out, self-check out (cause I kind of prefer it) and a woman comes up behind me, setting her stuff down on the very little space next to the self check, invading my space (granted I was done, but my receipt hadn’t printed yet and I was still gathering up my stuff) and thing is, it wasn’t like that was the only one available…there was another one, just a few steps further, on her way out…sigh.

Three…I know everyone means well…but unfortunately the sadness lingers. And you can only lean on friends for so long. Which is why the need to withdraw. If I don’t, they won’t be there later. You can drive people away wallowing and being sad for too long…unfortunately I’ve had to learn about the tolerance level people have too many times in the past and I’ve used up the sympathy on other things. And withdrawing is just the only way I know to deal. It’s starting…tonight in fact, I had the option of a BBQ, normally would’ve been a fun activity, only 2 people I knew would be there, the ones hosting, and it just didn’t seem like something I could handle today. That’s just how it is sometimes. Last night I was at a hockey game…that was enough for the weekend. Next weekend I have to deal with two days of things. And the weekend after three days…ughh…I just want to hole up at home. Is there anything wrong with that?

Messiness in Life

2009-09-15T16:55:00.000-07:00

I could write about so much right now…my mind is a mess…my emotions are a mess…physically…I’m a complete and utter disaster, the small highs aren’t enough to make up for the drastic lows. 3 weeks ago my life changed. Really, only 3 weeks ago to go from that post of how I am withdrawing from dating, and moving on with my life from that, having issues in my head about that anyway (still thinking on occasion about the one that kind of inspired that post), to the complete and total devastating loss of my grandmother. I didn’t really write a lot about her until of course my last two posts, but she was so important in my life. All the thoughts I’ve had of moving someplace warm, of getting out of MN and finding a new city, something new and different…well, I couldn’t leave my grandma. Even though I didn’t get down to visit her more than 3 or 4 times a year anymore (I really hate going to my hometown and really mostly did it to see my grandmothers) she was still someone that I had a close bond with. I’d write her letters fairly regularly, had just been realizing I owed her one, which was why I was going to go visit her over Labor Day weekend instead…and instead of going then, I went a weekend earlier and said goodbye to her. I’m dedicating Nike to her, but it’s hard to keep motivated to even run and train for it. I miss her so damn much. 3 weeks, and I still think about her every single day, and all but one of those days shed at least a few tears…and some days have spent crying till there was nothing left to cry out. I still don’t know how to be in this world without her. I was not ready to let her go. I know, we probably never are ready for that, but I really thought I had at least another few years with her. More time to talk to her about my life…maybe a chance to meet someone, someone that would be worthy of meeting grandma. That’s the thing that hurts the most. Even if I didn’t think the possibility of meeting someone was impossible, how could I possibly be with someone. Have someone that close to me, that much a part of my life, that doesn’t know my grandma. I just don’t see it happening (OK, so 11 years and for 6 months of that time, 2 years ago, I had a boyfriend, so not likely that that was even a concern before I decided marriage/relationship wasn’t in the cards either)…it hurts too. Because now of course I really wish there was someone who could hold me and comfort me, and while I would know it’s not going to help, at least there is that little something there. I’ve been in a muddle now…getting angry at people for stupid non-reasons…getting annoyed at people for being around, or not being around, whatever the case might be…not wanting to be around others, but wanting people to drag me out and keep me occupied…and all through this my working out and eating has tanked further and my weight goes up.

I ran a race on Sunday. A 25K. Last year this was a prep race for Twin Cities. I wanted to run it at marathon pace (8 minute miles is what I wanted to run) and start out the first 10 miles at that and then speed up…which I managed to do…7:50 pace for it…it was a good run. This year I knew I wasn’t trained to run that fast. Weather this year was much warmer too. I did it as a 20 mile training run. Ran 4.25 before the race and managed to run .25 over on the race so had 15.75 for the 25K for a total of 20 on Sunday. The race, 8:55 pace…only 1:05 per mile slower than last year. And that was pushing it. I know I haven’t done speedwork…heck, this was my 5^th run of 20 miles or more (3 now for Nike, that’s 2 more than I did for Boston and I still have one more planned)…I wish I could at least get my love/desire for running back at least. It helped me through a rough patch before, but this time, this rough patch, it's just not there to help me.

With my up and down tendencies right now, I have made a decision that I should stay away from others. It’s better that way…so not making anymore plans to go out and do anything (with the exception of going to the Wild pre-season game on Friday, but that won’t be a big deal, I got free tickets, as I’m going with a friend who is pregnant…so not like it will be a late or wild and crazy night, and I owe her…we’ve been there for each other through a lot of things). I have work and I have school. Heck, if I can keep that mentality, maybe I can take 3 classes in the spring, 2 next summer and 3 in the fall and really push up my graduation and/or guarantee a graduation time of 2011 like I’m hoping…I can run when I find time around that. It will sure save me a lot of money too. Not like I have much of a life anyway. Friends are married or practically married and don’t want to go out anymore…and what do I gain when I go out? Nothing except sometimes a hangover, and then being down because I see all the happy couples around me and know that’s not nor will it ever be me…sigh…OK, enough. I’ll honor my commitments that are stuck and skip out on anything new…sounds like a plan.

Thanks Everyone

2009-09-06T19:30:00.001-07:00

I appreciate all the condolence wishes. The funeral was really difficult but there was some bonding time amongst the family. We even had a nice family picture taken. First time we've all been together since 2000. My grandma's immediate family that is. I also had my best friend surprise me and show up at the funeral. She had been up and dropped her husband off at the airport to go see his grandfather who was sick, drive down to her parents and drop her dog for them to watch and then head the rest of the way to my home town (3 hours drive from where she lives with the detours that are in place now). She was there for the funeral and had a drink with us at the home town bar before she had to head back and pick her husband up. Of course it made me cry more seeing her there, but friendship is a powerful thing. She knew how much grandma meant to me.

Haven't had a day yet that I haven't cried...

In Memory Of...

2009-08-27T13:14:00.000-07:00

Marilyn Winifred Diemer
May 19, 1920 – August 25, 2009

Beloved grandmother, sister, mother and friend…you will be deeply missed.

You know when the phone rings at 10:55 on a Tuesday night it’s not going to be good news (unless you have a friend that is pregnant and due around that time). I have a new cell and wasn’t able to hear it ring, but I heard my mom’s voice begging me to pick up from my answering machine…I get the phone and she’s sobbing, voice cracking and telling me something…I heard hospital, ambulance, something about heart…but I didn’t catch the first part. She’s saying my name and asking me if I heard her and I said yes, but missed the first part and could she repeat it…she tells me “grandma Diemer passed away”…and while I already felt that was what she was going to tell me, it wasn’t till then that I lost it. Amazing how you can deny everything until you actually hear the words. My dad then came on the line, and by now I’m sobbing and he can’t understand me. He tells me something about someone saying grandma had said she was tired…and that was about the time she left us. The didn’t know if maybe it was a heart attack, all I recall saying was “I didn’t get a chance to say goodbye.” Dad had to go, mom had begged me to call my sister who was already informed and go over there, that I shouldn’t be alone…but I wanted to be alone. I spent some time crying and did finally sleep. Where I dreamt what I had been told was wrong, that grandma wasn’t gone…wasn’t helpful. I got up and got ready for work, started throwing things in a bag thinking I should head to my parents after work, but not knowing what was going on, I stopped and instead just tried to focus on the day. The funeral is set for Saturday, my brother, sister and I are driving down in a little while. Instead of helping a friend celebrate her birthday this weekend, I’m going to be burying my grandmother.

I’m not ready to be in a world without her in it. I mainly went to visit my parents to see her. Mom and dad are here enough that I see them regularly. My other grandma, well, I love her and feel guilty that I’m not as close to her, but it’s reality, I’m simply not as close to her as I am, was, my other grandmother…It probably comes from the fact that I was 5th in line of 15 grandkids on that side and there are only 6 on the other side, and I was first, and was the only one for 5 ½ years. I was very close to grandpa, who died just before I turned 15, and then that carried over to grandma more so then as I got older. My mom used to drag me out to see great grandma and visit with her most Sunday’s when I was younger, that was her mom’s mom, so it carried tradition too cause when I was home I was out visiting grandma. She was the one I went to when I needed to borrow some money for college, I regularly wrote her letters (OK, I was making loan payments too but even after I was writing to her) and grandma was just the one I loved going to see because I knew she was always very happy to see me. We’d most times come up with some lunch combination when there, and I cooked and fed her some of my creations that she would get excited about. I’d share all the mundane things in my life with her, and sometimes she’d hear it before mom and dad even. She was so much more than just a grandma and I'm going to miss her very much. I know she was feeling down, and was probably ready. She spent almost 50 years with my grandpa before he died of a massive heart attack, she's lost a lot of friends recently...but I still thought I had time. There are things even now that I wish I had asked her, and that I won't ever have the answers to now. I won't ever get to hug her again. And I never quite remembered to show her my Boston medal, as I had forgotten to bring it home, then forgotten to show it. There just never is enough time for those that have that special place in our hearts. Christmas is going to be so difficult this year.

I love you grandma. And wherever you are, I hope you are happy and with the loved ones you lost.

Ragnar Relay

2009-08-24T18:41:00.001-07:00

So after my experience last year (put in link) of running the NW Passage Ragnar Series relay, I thought it’d be a good time running the one near home. Over the past year I’ve been talking to people, mentioning it and trying to get a team together. I know enough people now that it wasn’t as unfeasible to round them up as I might have otherwise thought. I had a few people from the Runner’s World Forums join up, a friend from college at the U of MN, a friend from college at Mankato and then each of them had friends and rounded it out with a friend that I met at a race and is part of yet another running club…so 12 of us officially registered and waivers signed by mid-July and while there were a few injury scares, everyone came to the start line pretty much injury free. Aches and pains along the way, but things were good for the most part. We even had an extra volunteer after having trouble lining people up!! As we punched in times for people, we realized we had a strong chance at being a contender for placing too…who knew? Our start time was set for 3 pm, the later you start the faster you are, and Van 1, consisting of me and 5 guys (yes, it was a weird set up with that, but that happens to be how it played out with the way the legs were laid out and keeping people together that kind of knew each other and having stronger runners on harder legs etc). We met up at the guys house who had the van and drove down to the start in Winona. We headed out on time and stopped for lunch at Subway on the way down. Got to the start plenty early, got our shirts, were checked in and killed time before the start. Watching the start was fun, I hadn’t done that last time, and then we were off to cheer and catch and swap runners. For those unfamiliar with the relay concept, this is a 194.4 mile race. You have 12 runners (or the ultras will have 6) and 2 vans. The first 6 run the first 6 legs, then you swap vans and eat or sleep in the ‘down time’ while the other van runs. This happens 3 times for a total of 36 legs and each runner doing 3. I was runner 4 and my leg was a harder one since it was almost 8 miles, it was during the day and had a pretty long climb up part of it, thankfully it wasn’t steep. I went out expecting to hopefully run around an 8:30 pace, that’s what I projected for myself and managed to run a 7:45…with others all running hard by the time we met Van 2 at the exchange 6 area we were about 17 minutes ahead of our projected time. My parents had come to see me at my first exchange and cheered me at a couple of spots along the way, which was fun…the dogs were there barking for me too. They were at the finish as well. Funny thing is mom had said I should run it in an hour, I came in just over a minute over that hour so guess she was predicting right. After we passed off to Van 2, we drove to an area to get a bite and watch some of the Vikings game, then headed on to exchange 12 so we could take a little nap before. We had Van 2 call us to let us know when they were getting close and being a little off we were not able to get much of a nap (except one of the guys, he was sawing logs pretty quickly and loudly, and we were outside!!). It was nice weather though, cool, but not so bad we were freezing and it was a very clear night, lots of stars.

Well, I was off on when Van 2 should find us, so we were up sooner than we planned and are now 30 minutes ahead of schedule. They come in, and we get back to work doing our runs, passing off our runners. This leg was my night run. I hadn’t worn a headlamp before, but definitely preferred it for the 6 miles I was running vs carrying a flashlight. It being dark I could only really see Garmin during the splits it fed back to me…and I was off a mile…it was sad when I saw mile 4 come up when I thought I was at mile 5. This also had us off on a side road for about 3 miles, so not on the highway, but it was darker, no shoulder and kind of freaky…I had to remind myself that Michael Meyers and Jason were not real and pray that some freak wasn’t out there watching for lone girls running in the dark…I was doing a pretty good clip here. I had myself down to run a 7:38 pace, and finished the 6 miles Garmin told me I ran (5.9 according to Ragnar) in about 46 minutes…so a 7:41 which was just over my goal. I was tired but happy at the end and winded enough to not quite figure out where Don, who I was passing off to, was standing. Our next two runners finished and we passed off to the other van and headed to Stillwater which was our next big exchange and were we hoped to see our 2 volunteers and take a nap. We did get there in time to see the volunteers and laid down by the river and slept as the sun came up. I was out for an hour, had a false alarm that Van 2 might be close but then slept another 45 minutes and came out feeling refreshed enough to be ready to run again. Our van came in, runner came in and we were off again. Our first runner had a short leg, only 3.1 miles and he had a new PR for that distance on his leg. Our second runner had a decent one and number 3 also kicked out much faster than anticipated and it was my turn again. This time for 4.3 miles. It was on a trail, mostly flat, with a climb at the end. I didn’t really fully realize the climb till I got to it. Oh my God I was ready to cry as it kept going and going and going…over a half mile and a climb of about 300 feet which just for translation ideas I think that’s about a 6 on the treadmill slope…I thought I was going to throw up at one point (this was after really wanting to make my projected 7:30, what I was thinking when I set that one I don’t know) after doing a 7:17 on the first mile…I got to the top, had a slight downhill and then more uphill to pass off my final time. Gatorade was brought to me…and then a nice cold beer…so what if it was only 9:30…anyway, Don’s leg was tough, Tom’s last leg, our fastest runner, was somewhat short so he kicked it out fast and we left Van 2 to finish it up while we had a few beers hanging out at the exchange. Headed to the finish finally, had a bit and bought some beer along the way and then hung out till our van got there and we headed to the finish to cross as a team. Team picture, waited around to find out results and unfortunately we were pushed down and finished 5th in our division. It was too bad as we thought we might place, as of the last I knew we were also 16th overall, which isn’t bad considering they had 233 teams registered. Our final time, again not official, was 24:03 or something like that…not bad being able to run 194.4 miles in just over 24 hours…there is talk of an ultra team next year…and we might try to get a competitive girls team if the guys do that…we’ll see. It was definitely another fun time though and anyone that hasn’t done a relay, I highly recommend it.

Lack of Control

2009-08-19T18:59:00.001-07:00

Another bit of time passes…maybe someday I’ll catch up! Anyway, been doing a lot of thinking and reflecting and keeping quite busy, which has kept me from blogging much. Might be coming into the new age again though and getting a data phone so I can actually get online from places other than home. Would never do big posts that way but we’ll see.

Anyway, I’m tired of the lack of control to things in my life. I know, I know, life is about things being out of your control, to some degree at least, but there are some things I’m struggling with. I’ve always been strong about some things, weak on others, and I’ve grown in some areas, become stronger. Namely that comes in the dating arena. With my track record, and yeah, maybe my calling it on being single has jinxed some things, and there are lots of times I’ve been perfectly happy, even better off feeling, being single, than I am if I were with someone, but a lot of things have all come together over the past few months and the pendulum has swung again the direction of feeling a little lonely. I’m not sure what triggered it, yes seeing the ex, but there have been other things. Maybe it was being out a few times with someone and actually having a few snuggle times recently…I didn’t used to be a snuggly person, but sometimes lately I’ve been craving it. Maybe it’s having some friends from South America and Latin America, the openness and hugginess that comes from being around them, makes me want to hug friends of mine that are as standoffish about all that as I used to be. Regardless of what the cause, it’s something kind of beyond me too…I have to admit it, once and for all, no matter how strong I feel, and what I say about it all, there is a little part of me, deep down, that really wishes I could find someone to love and love me…to be with, to even walk down the aisle with. There. I said it. Yes, I’d like to be married…I’m at an age where I thought I’d be celebrating heck, 5, 10 years by now…and no, all I have to show for the last 10 is a showing of a few dates here and there, mostly not, and a 6 month failed relationship…I need to face facts and since I can’t actually say, I want to get married and have it happen, the part I have the control over is saying I’m never going to marry, and accept that. Along with the dating thing…I’m tired of dating, tired of the disappointment that comes with liking a guy and realizing that he’s not quite right, or having him realize you aren’t quite right…it’s disheartening so many times over. I saw the life that maybe could’ve been mine…and I’ve had something recently…well, basically figured out that the guy I want to be with, the guy that I’ve really thought didn’t exist, in fact does exist…no, not my perfect by any means guy, there are some things that don’t factor in if I was creating him from scratch, but he’s real, and the imperfections are acceptable…in general he would be what I’d want. Problem is, I met him about 6 or 7 years too late…see, he’s with someone else. Not just dating. No, they had the ceremony and are bound together. It makes me sad. Particularly since some things have indicated to me that he might, were he free, be interested too. So, that all said…the fact that it’s been flung into my face in that way, I take as a sign from above that I should stop being out there, stop considering it all, stop thinking about the idea of being with someone…because the indication to me in this one is that someone is saying “hey, you are right in what you are thinking…all the good ones ARE taken, so give it up.” And with that said…I close the door on it and am done. Dating sucks and the pool is dry. I’ve always believed there isn’t someone for everyone, I never thought I was one of those.

Now this post might sound depressing…yes, I’m a bit saddened by it, and this little part of me wants to wish for a divorce (it’s not out of the question as she said things to me long ago that indicated it might be going that way, and this was before I even really knew much about him and found that he could be someone I’d like to be with, some things he has said, although he loves her still and isn’t moving to leave, and something an outside source said to me about it not lasting…none of them having any idea of how I felt on any side of it) but I know I can’t. I want him to be happy and he loves her, so I really hope for his sake that the things not working will fix themselves and he can be happy…and I really do honestly mean that. It’d be too complicated even if he were single anyway…so hopefully the things they had agreed to, and she promised and has changed, she’ll realize and work harder to be back to what had been a happy time for both of them and not something making them both miserable. Anyway, while I’m sad, it also hopefully will eventually free me from some of the misery that comes in dating. There are things I will miss…the idea of never kissing someone again makes me sad, as that’s something I really like…always have…that feeling that happens when it’s someone you really connect with…and then of course there are other nice things too…but honestly I’m probably too difficult and set in my ways anyway…and I can tell you with this guy, he’d definitely lose interest quickly because I’m just kind of a boring person. I’ve done a lot of the things I wanted to do, even without the cheerleader I’d have loved having alongside me on my way to Boston…my parents are there no matter what. So with that, I say goodbye to the dating world…hopefully I can still find some friends to hang out with once in a while…maybe it’s time to start my cat collection…

And please, no responses back about "you'll find him now when you're not looking" etc...I'm really serious when I say I'm done, I'm not looking for pep talks about it. I'm just trying to take back the control that I don't have and remind myself of things. I have my health, I have good friends and family that support me, I have a job that is decent and I'm learning on and is paying for my education that I've wanted, I ran Boston, I have the ability to travel...I've got a lot going on, it almost seems selfish to worry about the lack of a guy and/or love or whatever anyway.

Reminder to Self

2009-08-09T19:08:00.000-07:00

What I Deserve…

A guy that will put me first
A guy that is NOT attached to someone else
A guy who is not just looking for a fling
A guy who will treat me as good as I would treat him
A guy who is fit
A guy I find attractive
A guy who is intelligent
A guy that will make me smile more than he makes me cry

Why I Deserve this…

I am intelligent
I am a good person
I am financially stable
I am emotionally stable
I am attractive
I am fit
I have a career
I am told I'm attractive

OK…yes, this is something I have to post. I have to see it written as a reminder. It’s also posted on my mirror…and yes, there is reason for it.

Third 20

2009-08-02T08:40:00.000-07:00

OK, is it bad that I've done one marathon already this year and only just did my 3rd 20+ run of the year? Yesterday met some friends and did 2 loops of the lakes for right at 20. We were all dying at the hill at mile 18.5 so walked it, and thought about run walking the rest of the way, but I think we all wanted to be done. It was tough and tiring...didn't drink enough water and probably didn't eat enough sharkies/shot blocks or anything I had brought along, but oh well. Survived it. A bit dehydrated though as I went to a party and had a headache that I attributed to dehydration, and being tired...My friend told me I'm never allowed to do 20 miles before one of his parties again. OK...guess that's fair! It was fun though, even though I was exhausted. On the agenda today. Need to run, but probably not till later. Going to get another hour or so of studying then get some lunch and maybe go picnic at the lake with it. Panera is on the way...need to run a few errands too. Maybe I should go look at replacement flooring...need to do that. I have the insurance money for mine that got ruined, now I need to make the arrangements to get it replaced...

Rules and Laws

2009-07-30T18:54:00.001-07:00

OK, there are some dumb ones out there, we all know that. There are even some dumb new ones and I swear they are dumbing down American more and more with some of them…but some of them are there for a reason and a problem with kids today, parents aren’t teaching them the rules and laws and that they need to follow them!! This hit me today when I ran into a situation of this exact problem. I was driving to the gym at lunch…I drive on some really busy roads. There is one spot that has another major road (both have bike paths on them) so there is a stoplight. There were some adults with a group of kids, probably ages 5-12, all on bikes…was guessing a daycare out on an outing…there were probably 30 or so kids…(and only two adults which I believe should not have been happening!!) The light had been green for them, and they started across the road. One adult at the front, one at the back, and they had the kids walking their bike across, which is good to teach. The problem…the light changed to green for the cars going the other direction BEFORE the kids were all across. So for another 2-3 minutes, when the lights were green, the cars on both sides remained stopped as the kids crossed, but what if someone had been in a hurry, was watching the lights and just gunned it? The person at the back should’ve come up and stopped the half of the group that wasn’t going to make it across (the lights give plenty of warning with the walk sign flashing to let you know it’s no longer safe to walk) and waited with them, sending the rest over when the light changed. What are these kids going to think if they are at a light on their own sometime?? Why should they think they have to stop, cars will wait for them even if they are crossing illegally right? And only having two adults with that many kids on bikes, when the ages were that variant, was probably not a good idea either…but I’m sorry, I’m a big one on teaching kids properly…when they are young is when they are impressionable! And this is a LAW, not like it’s just an etiquette rule or something.

And more time has passed….

2009-07-29T17:38:00.001-07:00

Last week I ran a 5K. It was a busy race here, more of a “fun run” than anything but last minute a friend wanted to do it so I said yes. Once we were there I could feel I had something in me and was ready to do a hard run, but unfortunately this one of “those” races…you know, where the walkers feel they need to be in front. Anyway, first mile, due to dodging and trying to get running room was only 9 minutes…second and third managed to do a bit better and finished overall in 25:03 for a 3.25 5K according to Garmin (and yes, the dodging I’m sure added that distance!). After we chilled, had a beer and that was about it. I had a good week and managed to finish with 40 miles total, and a very decent 7 miler the night before and now knowing that I have better runs in me for 5K…

Last night I ran with friends and we did some pick ups and last one (all half milers) I hit in about 3:23 so that was pretty nice too. I think I’m deciding to really make a goal of hitting a hard run at Nike (provided I can get ahead of all the slower runners!). Had a slight change to my Nike plans happen though. My friend that I was going to stay with, and hang with, lost her job and is now in the process of moving cross country back to DC where she was before her move…sigh…I do have a friend that lives in LA that might be up for coming up and hanging out, and I have a few other people that I know are going to be out there for the race, so I have options of people to hang with, but on the other hand I’m not overly worried about it as I’m only there about 4 days anyway, I just have to find a hotel and get it booked…not wanting to spend a ton, but wanting something decent and in a good area, close to the start! I’ve done other trips solo that ended up great, I usually don’t have a problem managing to find people to talk with …and the touring and such I can do on my own…it’s kind of a prep run for myself too cause in December I think I’m going to take a trip someplace warm for 4-5 days on my own. I just have to decide where…so really people, provided I can find a trip for the $1000-1200 I’m willing to pay for the warmth for that time frame…any suggestions on where I can go and how I can do it for that or less? I’d love to see Grand Cayman, but not sure I can do it for that price. Aruba I hear is nice. Jamaica maybe. Thought about St Lucia or the Bahamas…my biggest thing though is I’d like adults only. I don’t want to go someplace to relax and have a bunch of kids running around…thoughts and suggestions would be awesome!

Ragnar now in 3 weeks…class finishes on Monday for a month…summer is finally going to start for me, just before it ends! Maybe one of these days I can catch up. Was talking with some people last night too…I might be doing the Berlin marathon next year!

Is Summer Back?

2009-07-19T18:02:00.001-07:00

OK, I've been MIA for a bit. And now I've kind of lost the ambition, after reading and catching up on blogs, to actually write something. Let's see. I managed 50 miles this week. Strength trained for 30 minutes 3 days, did a day or two of cycling in there. Three of my runs were with others. One on Tuesday turned into 10 miles over the 8 I figured I'd do simply because I ran some miles and then some more with friends. Wednesday was an interesting trail run and then on Saturday a run around the lakes with friends.

After a couple of cold days, we seem to have found summer again. I hope it stays. I spent today working for a bit on my paper, the standard Sunday call to mom and dad (dutiful daughter that I am), some cleaning, a run, showered and then headed to Lake Calhoun. On the way I stopped and bought a few flowers to replace some that I had managed to let die by not watering them (not used to having to water so often as normally we get some rain!). I spent a little time lounging at the lake and then went and rented a kayak, something I have been talking about doing forever, every year I say I'm going to do and it don't manage it, but today I did...and did it for an hour. On the way home I stopped at Slumberland and bought a dining room set...I've been looking for something forever and finally found something I like. Hopefully it works nice in my space. Then just for good measure I stopped at the gym and did 30 minutes of strength (oh yeah, had some yoga in the mix this morning) and then got home and had a good dinner of chicken breast and salad...it was yummy...and a productive day I think.

Blast from the Past

2009-07-05T09:24:00.000-07:00

Kind of weird sometimes, how life can be. Particularly with the reflections in my last post. I went to watch fireworks tonight with a friend. We chose the display where a friend and her husband were working. He has a corn roasting business and the place they were at, was one of the options I had mentioned to go see. So around 8:30 we got down there and wandered a bit, had some snacks and my friend had gone over to do something and I was standing near the corn stand and I hear my named called, turn my head to look and my long ago ex was there. It was the oddest thing. I haven't seen him since 2000, at a friends wedding. We broke up in 1998. I’ve had brief updates about him from mutual friends over the years and found him on Linkedin and emailed him just out of curiosity but it was just so weird seeing him. He had his youngest with him, and I believe his daughter was there briefly as we were saying goodbye. Basically I saw what could have been my life. I said as much to the friend that I was with after we left too. See, this was the guy that I dated at the time that I really thought I would get married. We had been together 2 1/2 years. I was 24, everyone we knew was getting married...it seemed like what we should be doing, but instead we broke up. I was devastated when it happened as I had finally had all my walls broken down, and was finally in a place where I wanted to be with someone. It had taken a long time because I had always been very independent and being able to be with someone, fully be with them, it took a lot from me. When we broke up, it definitely took me a long time to get back to being happy alone and being comfortable being alone. Since the time we broke up I've really only been in one relationship, and that only lasted 6 months (and that was 2 years ago). I did get closure from it eventually though, and I think the changes I took from that relationship are actually definitely for the better for me. He was really a great guy, and I wish it had been right, but it was one of those things that in reflection I know it would never worked because we were just not quite right for each other. I guess it was one of those instances of the people that come into your life for their specific purposes and that’s that. I’m definitely not sad or upset that I am not with him. I wish him the best and he seems happy and I'm happy for him in that. It is interesting though, to see what could’ve been your life had things been different. I still don’t feel that I want kids, seeing him with his, it’s definitely good that he is with who he was…Although I had always known he would make a great father and if we had been together probably would’ve had one or two with him…but that was a different me and would’ve been a different life. And I’m happy with where I am. Had I been with him, who knows if I would’ve become a marathon runner and run Boston and I’d definitely never give up that experience. I have to say though, probably part of my problem in dating these days is that he set such high standards in me for what I want to date…it was almost all there, in him…

What's Wrong with Me?

2009-07-02T18:21:00.000-07:00

OK, I’m seriously messed up and I can’t figure out what is wrong with me. I did my work out today. 7 miles of speedwork. I haven’t done speedwork in a really long time. 6 x 800 with 400 recovery. Mile and a half warm up and mile cool down. It felt good. For the most part. 3:47 for the first one, my plan had been 3:45 but the next 5 were 3:35, 3:31, 3:28, 3:31, 3:33 or something to the affect.

Afterward…I stretched. I was feeling good and am glad I got out when I did because the track got busier after. However, I LOVE that I was there at first where I was because I saw a guy doing speedwork and he was running inner lane like we normally would. And I saw him going slow in the inner lane…but once I joined him, he moved to outer lanes (the same way I did) when it came to doing the slow laps and inner lane, for speed, the way it should be. I LOVE when people know the track etiquette!

But also I am feeling so messed up. I finished the workout and instead of feeling that elation of being done and knowing it was a good workout…I suddenly wanted to cry. At the end of my run, while I was walking and cooling down, I started thinking about families, and kids and I wonder at the fact that I’m broken. I feel bad for my parents. 3 kids, 1 over 30, 1 almost 30 and one getting close to 27 and no grandkids. Mom has had her kicks of wanting to have a grandbaby, but says she’s over it…I feel for dad too and this part of me wonders what is it that is wrong with me that I don’t want kids. I'm supposed to want them right? I mean in a way it’s probably good because I’d really be depressed right now since I don’t have access to the stuff that helps make that baby…OK, I have access to it, just not full time regular access that I’d need if I was going to create that baby (no, I really would NOT want to be a single parent!). I can’t even get myself into the mindset of wanting to be attached. I freak out about anything that might lead to something…OK, not really, the most recent guy I was out with that could’ve gone somewhere but I freaked a bit. But then again, it was in part that it wasn’t right with that one. As it hasn’t been with a lot of them…I had this idea to start putting it out there, and seriously being interested in meeting people, but not sure how much of that I’m really trying. Damned if I do and damned if I don’t? But back to the kid thing...I feel bad for mom and dad and their lack of grandkids. And you know, I'd be really upset if my little sister does give them a first grandchild, since that should be my thing...how messed up is that when I don't even want them?

An Interesting Concept

2009-06-29T15:22:00.001-07:00

I get why people become vegetarian on some levels. I mean I can understand people doing it for political reasons, and I can honestly respect that, as long as they don’t push their beliefs on me because growing up in southern MN I grew up on meat, and while I eat much less now than I used to, I still like my burgers, steaks, chops and many other parts of a pig, cow or chicken that can be grilled up and taste yummy! Also, I’m a fussy eater and if it wasn’t for meat, I’d really be in trouble when it comes to getting enough protein as I would not eat tofu, I only like some beans, soy burgers, while I’ll admit I tried a Boca burger once and wasn’t horrified at the taste, it wasn’t bad and I could almost eat a whole one I think, but it’s still not beef…which I really do want once in a while.

Anyway, this weekend I was in Chicago visiting friends, one of whom is vegetarian, and I knew when she went vegetarian she mentioned it in weight loss…which I didn’t really fully understand because meat can be incorporated into a weight loss diet easy enough…but in discussions over the weekend I did discover something I wasn’t aware of. Namely the fact that meat can cause issues for some people. Now I know some people have dairy issues, and there are other foods some people can’t eat. I have a fairly hearty stomach though (except for onions in certain form, usually on pizza and in the form of onion rings and fresh ground pepper) and can handle most things, although maybe my fussy palate makes it so that I don’t eat things that would cause issues (makes me think of the movie Along Came Polly where they eat Indian or some type of food that Ben Stiller’s character has issues with…I’m sure that would be me, sorry if that’s TMI!!). Anyway, I have a friend that eats steak before marathons. Now I don’t do that, but I do usually have pasta with meat sauce. And I have had times when I’ve eaten a burger the night before a long run…or a chicken breast with my pasta…and never have had any issues. But the friends I was visiting, one who went vegetarian because of her problems with meat, and the other who usually doesn’t eat meat the night before big runs because he has issues with it too. I mean I guess I have heard that some people do have issues with meat and digesting it, it is something that some people just can’t handle…or maybe something in their body changes over time and it’s less able? I guess I’m glad that I’m OK and able to eat meat and still do well on long runs! Heck, reminds me that I had chicken parmesan the night before Boston and while 4:14 is far from my best, I definitely could’ve done better even on the lack of training I did had I not been dinking around…so guess for me it works. I do occasionally have my no meat days, today is one of them as I had eggs for breakfast, peanut butter sandwich for lunch and most likely a veggie pizza for dinner before class. So yeah, meat isn’t a thing I HAVE to have everyday, but it’s not something I think hurts my performance either. Considering I had the 3:30 nailed had the weather been more ideal at Twin Cities…I don’t think cutting out meat would make me any faster considering I’m almost at my potential (I really do think I have a 3:25 in me but not much faster than that).

I did find it interesting and enlightening to a degree though, hearing how some people don’t digest it well and it affects them in ways that are less than ideal for running. You read so many things that deny we are meant to eat meat and then the counter of that…as long as you can get a healthy diet, for those that choose to be vegetarian I say more power to them and if it does help you feel better in exercising that’s awesome too. I just know that my fussiness wouldn’t allow me to do it healthfully…I also do think my body informs me when I need something more. I really don’t eat a lot of red meat, but there are times that it just really is something I need/want…and I figure that just means my iron levels are down!

A Fitness Challenge

2009-06-24T17:51:00.001-07:00

So, yesterday I was emailing with a friend and after running her first marathon last weekend she decided she needs to get in shape and really focus cause she wants to kick it down on her next one (she got caught in the heat of Grandma's last weekend and didn't quite meet her guilt) and wants to get more fit before then. I really want to get fit for running and a few other reasons of which I might or might not share at some point...Anyway she tells me yesterday that "today is go day" and I said you know, I am focused and need to do something too. So I suggest how about we both set some goals and do a challenge of sorts...we are running the Ragnar Relay in August...so that set a good deadline for start of goals anyway. So yesterday we set 6 goals each, and they have money penalties to them...at Ragnar we each hand over an envelope to the other for anything we miss! I figured posting here might keep me even better so here are my goals:

1) No eating after 8 pm with the exception of Monday night since I have class, and allowed one other for special circumstances - If I cheat, it's $1 per time
2) Work out at least 6 days a week, and a workout consists of at least 30 minutes, also need to have 2 strength sessions in there - If I miss, again it's $1 per time
3) Yoga workouts, 20 minutes twice a week, or 1 class a week - If I miss, $1 per time
4) Calorie limits, 2200 or less on days I work out, 1800 or less on days I don't, with the exception of days of heavy workouts - Over and it's $1
5) Weigh in each week, even if overall I meet my weight goal - If I go over in a week $1
6) Weight goal, 128 pounds by Ragnar - Over that and I owe $5

My goal NOT to owe anything!

So today I weighed in, after a sweaty run in a heat index around 100...hill workout. I went up and over and back up and down, 4 times...about .5 mile up on one side, a bit steeper and shorter on the other. I did a total of 7 miles. I also got a yoga session in.

Then I got up this morning and ran 4 miles in some humidity...and did a strength session for 35 minutes (this was my second of the week too with one more planned strength on Friday before my trip to Chicago). Went to work, and then after work, I ran 6 miles from the gym and managed 45 minutes on the bike...that equals out to about 2 1/2 hours of workouts today.

Some People Just Can't Help Being A**holes...

2009-06-20T08:22:00.000-07:00

Well, no, I shouldn't say that, because it is something you CAN control. You just stay out of the world and lock yourself away so those of us enjoying a nice day can enjoy it! This morning I was up and out fairly early for a run since it's going to be a hot (and humid) one today. I was out on a path near my house...easy 5 mile loop (that was slow and crappy unfortunately), down the road along the sidewalk to the park that has a walking path around it...was on the walking path, and as is my habit, I was running on the left side of the path. I mean you are supposed to be on the left on roads, so I just kind of stay that way on pedestrian paths too. Not like it matters cause people are all over the place and right down the middle on them. Thankfully this is a pretty quiet path so not a lot of people out...I had to move once or twice, a few others moved...but there was one guy that he was on the far right edge for him, which was far left for him...I would've stepped off the path, but he finally moved and stopped, turned to me and said "aren't you on the wrong side of the road"...umm...well, technically no, first, ped paths don't seem to have a "right of way" side to them, BUT if we were on the road, I was on the right side of it running on the left, into traffic right? Anyway, just annoyed me...I dislike people like that. I'm sorry, I'm out to enjoy the day, I don't need your crap...the bath is wide enough for 3-4 across the path and it was just him and me at that point...was it hard to move a couple steps over? (granted I could've moved around him too, but I partly run the left side too cause it's a circle and outer gets me more distance anyway). Ah well. It's a nice day. I'm meeting a friend to golf in a little while and then we are going to a music thing that I won tickets to. And it's going to be a nice day. Better get the sunscreen out!

Hello Kitty Guilt?

2009-06-19T04:41:00.000-07:00

Hmm…I’m trying to decide if I should feel guilty…there might be a 50 something guy walking around with this on his, bicep, butt cheek, something, after this weekend…and I’m partly responsible...

Oops…see, my boss told me this little town near where his lake cabin is has a bar where this weekend every year Brother Bear, and Sister Bear…tattoo artists, stop in and bring their ink and needles and tat up people while they are at the bar. And apparently as Brother and Sister Bear proceed through the night, drinking along with the clientele at the bar, they get more and more creative with the tattoos…My boss has a couple of buddies coming with him to the cabin this weekend and he and one of the guys decided the other guy should get something tattooed onto him…my boss asked me for suggestions. I sent him the above, he sent it to the other guy and the other guy thought it was great…my boss’ wife is ready to throw 20 bucks in toward it…after mentioning the victim’s, I mean guy getting tattooed, wife would never let him go out with my boss and the other guy again. I originally suggested Funshine Bear…so should I feel guilty? Yes, have I mentioned that I have a great boss? In all honesty I don’t think my boss would really go through with having this guy get a tattoo like that, and not in that situation, but you never know…

And wow, it’s getting so sporadic when I’m posting these days. And I’m getting even less reading done…but it’s been hectic. I have class every Monday night, after a day of work, from 5:30-9:45…OK, so we got done at 9:15 two of the nights so far which is nice, and third night was an exam so got done a bit earlier too (she lectured first). But it makes for a long night. Last week on Tuesday…hmm…I might have been home, but now can’t recall. Wednesday I went to see Bob Schneider, good band if you haven’t seen them and get a chance (out of Austin, TX). Thursday I was exhausted from the show on Wednesday and whatever I can’t remember doing on Tuesday. Friday was out with a friend to see a movie, we had drinks first and then after, movie sucked (Drag me to Hell, I had heard it was actually scary, so was not!) and Saturday I met up with and ran with a friend and then chilled for a while before getting my sister and her boyfriend from the airport and then dinner with mom and dad. Sunday I had to spend studying for my test that was not as good of studying as I had hoped. This week Tuesday I worked out with my trainer and then ran some errands, last night I met up with friends after a rough day and had a cocktail and dinner…tonight is dinner with a friend that I haven’t seen in probably 5 years? Wow. Has it been that long? Then it’s the weekend and I still haven’t gotten much done classwise…sigh…

Training…not going well. I need to buckle down on that. I haven’t really thrown much of any speed work in. I did do a tempo run at the gym last week and managed 6 miles at 8:20 pace, 4 of the miles tempo were supposed to be at 8 minute pace, trying to work that down then as time goes on, but only one made it at 7:58, the others were 8:09, 8:04 and I can’t recall the first but think it was maybe 8:15…so a lot of work to do if I’m going to PR at the half…particularly PR by about 4 minutes.

A Quick Update

2009-06-08T16:40:00.000-07:00

Wow, time is really passing and no new update. Nothing really to report but since I have a few minutes right now, although maybe I should get up and walk, I'm in class for another 3 hours, anyway, thought I'd do a quick update. Financial Accounting on Monday nights...other than that the typical. Trying to get my running up as I'm 19 weeks from Nike and that means about 14 weeks to another I might do in September...and only 9 weeks from my goal half that I want to run this summer. I want to get a guaranteed entry into NY and only way to do that is PR in the half...1:38...I really do think I can do it if I can get healthy. I think I need to check into massage and accupuncture to see if it will loosen things up. Was at the farmer's market, brunch and an art fair over the weekend. Up way too early so took a nap yesterday afternoon and then was in bed early and slept so hard and long it felt great. Wish I could do that every night. I'm also in a sad state of confusion over something else I alluded to a while back. Not sure what I'm thinking or how I'm feeling about something...I am a committmentphobe it definitely seems. Sigh...

Cookware!

2009-05-31T17:51:00.000-07:00

It's so fun...I appreciate the suggestions from those that commented. I ended up buying a combination of some All Clad, which will be my staple pieces, and a Scanpan fry pan...They will be my non-stick pieces, I got one but will end up buying another one or two. Anyway, the pieces I bought are the staple ones. Stock pot, sauce pan that I can add a double boiler to, smaller sauce pan, and a saute pan. I got the Master Chef2 series, but plan to get some stainless pieces as well. I have at least enough to start and will be able to add things to my Christmas list now! The only problem with the MC2 is they can't go in the dishwasher, but not sure I'd put them in or not.

Also, in other news, I managed to run a good week. I still couldn't get up to a double digit run...ran only 9 yesterday, but did a second 5 miler so for the day I did double digits. And ended the week with 36 miles with having 2 days of no running in there. Hopefully I can continue to add to that...of course that was a bit over since I haven't done a ton of running since Boston and only did 28 last week...a bit too much increase probably but oh well.

A Question to Those who Like to Cook

2009-05-23T11:08:00.000-07:00

I decided not to buy the fun little toy...that Solstice I posted about. I'm just too practical to buy something so impractical...and give up some of the other things I might want over the next couple of years. Maybe someday.

Anyway, I still owe myself a birthday present. What I've decided is I want a nice cookware set. I've been doing some research and I think I've narrowed it down to All-Clad or Scanpan...unless someone out there has something else they really love and can recommend? Or I'm considering buying the All-Clad (I'm debating on the stainless or MC2 sets) base set, and then get a Scanpan or two (for the non-stick)...I just can't decided. Help!! If you have nice cookware, what do you have and what do you love about it?

It's Weird How Life Plays Out...

2009-05-17T18:46:00.000-07:00

Wow…how time flies and how things change. I remember back to elementary school, when I still thought boys were icky, but knew that they were who you had to marry some day…because that was my plan. I mean you get married when you get older right? That was what I thought at least, so when we played the game MASH, I would choose getting married at 22, 23, 24 and having 1, 2 or 3 kids…and now 20 odd years later, I’m still single, no kids and pretty sure I don’t want them. You just don’t know how life is going to be. It’s an adventure everyday and there are things I’ve learned…

18 years ago I was in love with that boy band New Kids on the Block…was DYING to meet them and never in a million years did I think it would happen. In the last year I met them…twice.

21 years ago, I was running track, 1 mile at most and no one could get me into the 2 mile…no way no how I was going to run that freaking far…I didn’t even KNOW what distance the marathon was…I knew nothing about it. In the last 5 years I have run 7 of them…with the pleasure of qualifying for Boston last fall and running Boston itself a month ago.

16 years ago I didn’t know what I wanted to be when I grew up…college but for what? I’m still figuring that one out, but I’m now in grad school…and it’s definitely helping me move ahead.

When I was a child I never thought I’d get to adulthood, not that I thought I wouldn’t live to it, but that I would never get older, be old enough to do things…I still find it weird to think of myself as an adult. And today was just a reminder again of that adulthood…the anniversary of the day I first made my appearance in this world. It’s actually been a good last year, the upcoming one will hopefully be even better. Lots of new opportunities and I’m looking forward to it. And hey, I'm in a new age group now too for races. And there might be someone new in the picture too...that is for another post...at another time.

Yes, It's Spring

2009-05-13T18:03:00.001-07:00

Have I ever mentioned how much I love spring? Yes, anyone who has been reading here for any period of time probably does know, but man...I really do love this time of year. I went for a run on Monday and tonight...normally this wouldn't be a big deal but since Boston I have only run once a week and the most was 5 miles...partly I've been busy, partly I was still hurting (not from Boston but from that stupid back issue I still have, well, OK, hip). But Monday it was nice, and after meeting with someone to talk to them about my job (information interview) I really was happy to be out in upper 60s temps, no wind, sun, and the wonderful, wonderful smells of spring. There is no other season that brings out these smells and feelings. Summer really doesn't have smells so much, other than that sultriness on the warm nights. Winter is too cold to try to smell and fall gives me hayfever (OK, it can have nice smells but not enough) but Spring, wonderful Spring...it smells of that fresh scent of new rain...the first time the grass is cut, and the wonderful, wonderful flowers that bathe the air in their heady perfume. It's so fantastic and I can imagine it, and wish for it all year long, but now that it's here...and really, May is the month that it just really hits you most. Tonight was anther run like that. I could see and smell it everywhere. Lilacs are on the verge of full bloom. Apple, crab apple, cherry, and who knows what other trees are pretty and smell wonderful. Why can't it be like this year round?

Decision Time

2009-05-05T14:29:00.001-07:00

I always said this was going to be my birthday present this year...

You'd think the deals would be killer but so far nothing quite at the price I'm willing and I haven't done much looking for financing except through a bank...thing is, how bad do I really want it?

Boston….Because I Can

2009-04-24T16:20:00.000-07:00

There were posters all over town stating "Boston...Because I can" and that is so fitting. I did it for the fact that I never thought I'd make it, and for those that may never...Boston. The Mecca. The Super Bowl. The one every runner wants to run. The one that to some is only a dream, and to others a complete surprise (seriously, first marathon 4:48, no CLUE of my potential). No matter what though, if you are involved in running, and particularly in marathoning, you know the significance of Boston. It is THE ONE. But does it live up to the hype? I’d say above and beyond. It was…Boston.

I could write about the whole trip, and maybe I will at another time, but for now, it’s about the race. I managed to get to bed around 9:30/10, I had my alarm set for 5:15, (even with a later start than normal, you have to bus out to the site and busses stop at 7:30 or so and I didn’t want to be rushed) but I was up, dressed, tucking things into my drop bag, debating over wearing Garmin (which I opted to leave behind and just go with my Timex Ironman that I could do my own splits on), and grabbed a little breakfast at the hotel to haul with me by around 5:45…I had woken up twice, but was wide awake before the alarm. I hugged mom and dad goodbye and headed out to catch the train with someone else that lives near the hotel. We took it to the buses and hit the first real experience of the day. Mobs of people all lining up to get on school buses, with their drop bags, running clothes, volunteers in their bright yellow jackets…it was so exciting. The volunteers there were fabulous, friendly, telling you congratulations, directing everyone efficiently onto the buses. Probably 15 minutes wait and we were on the bus taking us out to Hopkinton. It takes about 45 minutes with the traffic and longer route they have to take and by the time we got there it was definitely time for a port-a-potty stop…that took at least 20 minutes, maybe more, and all the lines were LONG. After the bathroom, I saw a couple of friends I was planning to try to get lined up with in our corals but never managed to find (they had gone to a potty line and were heading to corals after that). Decided to relax and sit for a while…then the announcer pointed out the F14s (I think) that were out in the sky, waiting for the other planes to clear out before they did a fly by, something like 100 meters off the ground (at least according to the announcer). This signaled the start for Wave 1, which was at 10. Once the race was off Wave 2 was set to line up. I took a picture of a sign that made me teary eyed, and everything about the day was starting to hit me…I never broke into a full cry, but teared up quite a few times. One more potty stop and got into my coral just before the start gun went off. And next thing I knew we were off…I was running the Boston Marathon.

There is a steep drop coming out of Hopkinton, but honestly it didn’t feel as bad as I had been warned it was, and there are some uphills too, so it’s not just a tearing down of the quads. You run through 8 towns on the way back to Boston and the people lining the downtown areas of each of those towns was incredible, not to mention the people lined up most of the stretches of the road between those towns. I saw Santa around mile 7 (no, I wasn’t hallucinating, see picture) and I saw Elvis around mile 8 or 9 (no, again, wasn’t hallucinating!). I walked through some water stops so as to get gel in me and enough water to wash it down. I did Boston different from other marathons. I went back to gels, which I haven’t used in a while because I really can’t stand them, but I didn’t want to wear race ready shorts and that’s the only way I can carry my beans, shot blocks, etc. I had bought a spibelt so I could carry my camera, and it held my gels, 2 of them at least, and I got a Powergel at mile 17, and a friend was going to be at mile 20 (asked him to have either a gel or Swedish fish)…so between all that I decided it was enough since I wasn’t going for time anyway…

Now the race definitely isn’t easy. Everyone knows that. But honestly, I didn’t think it was THAT hard either. Granted, my time isn’t great, 4:14:20, while not my slowest, was not my fastest either…but I experienced it. I slapped hands. I smiled at people yelling “go Irish” (my shirt was from a 100% Irish race I had done), I hurt a bit…my feet were sore at some points, my glute/hip/pelvis was acting up some…but I continued on…soaking it in. And considering my lack of training (one and only 20 miler was 6 weeks prior to Boston), the time I took taking pictures, talking to my friend, hugging my parents, time actually wasn’t that bad.

Wellesley is what they claim it is. Lots of screaming girls and you can hear it for a long time before you get there. The hills start at just after 15.5 and the first one is killer…I managed to run up each one. And then I saw mile 20. A friend was going to be handing out beer with his hasher group just after mile 20…and ahead of me I could see Heartbreak…and just before that I found my friend. I took a beer. I drank the beer. I had a hug from him. I gave him a kiss on the cheek…I asked him for a piggyback ride…had one more sip and I was off…up and over the top, down and over the second top (yes, Heartbreak peaks, has a downhill and peaks again slightly) and I managed to run the whole thing. And when I came around the curve at the bottom, that starts heading you toward Beacon, I saw a sign, just after mile 21…It said “Sorry feet, time for the brain to take over”…and it did…and I was hurting, and I kind of wanted to walk, but the crowds from this point in are so packed in, and so loud, you just can’t disappoint them. A little bit past 21 you turn onto Beacon and then you see the Citgo sign, and while you can see it for a while, it actually is something to hold on to because that sign marks the 1 mile to go point…so I was pushing for it…and just after mile 24 look who I saw!

For those that can’t quite make them out, it was the Hoyts…I yelled for them. Then there is Citgo…Fenway…and more crowds…and then down an incline, down then up, and there is the turn to Hereford, and I knew I was going to see mom and dad shortly…and you make that right, and you can see one block up, Boylston…and mom and dad were right there, and mom saw me right about the time I saw them…and I headed straight to them, gave them a hug, got a picture and told them “I’m going to get my Unicorn”…and 4-5 blocks later I crossed the finish line and my Boston story was mine. Marathonfoto even caught me running to mom and dad, which I think is cool. I’m definitely heading away from the “normal” crowd and short turn they take.

Even having run Chicago, with more runners, the finish area is just packed. I don’t think anyone wants to leave, for the experience…that and you can’t get your medal till you turn in your chip, and that took some time since they chips were all laced in, who wants to lose their Boston time?

After that I went to the meet up area and waited for mom and dad and we went to have a celebratory drink…they saw my medal, but for some odd reason we never managed to get a picture taken of me with it, or the three of us at the bar having the celebratory drink. But still…A-M-A-Z-I-N-G. The race…the people…the excitement…everyone there, everyone enjoying themselves…first or fortieth, I can’t imagine Boston not being a great memory each and every time. I’m qualified through 2010…I might go back…but next year…maybe I’ll be able to train harder, and honestly, I think I can beat it…and maybe even get a PR there…

Priceless

2009-04-22T15:30:00.000-07:00

Qualifying marathon entry fee: $85
Boston marathon entry Fee: $116
Plane ticket to Boston: $320
Hotel room for 3 nights located on the T: $700
Blood, sweat, tears and work going into qualifying and then running…???
Opportunity to capture the elusive Unicorn: Priceless

Boston is more amazing than words can say and I’ll be posting more in the next couple of days. I just need time to get my thoughts and words together.

Short, for now...

2009-04-12T16:37:00.000-07:00

OK, every time the posts get further and further apart...it's not JUST being busy, which I am...but I should have a little time on occasion for things. Today had a nice dinner with sister, her boyfriend and a friend. Our brother was invited too, but never bothered to call me back and tell me yes or no, and apparently told our mom on Friday "it's just another day"...that may be so, but doesn't common courtesy say that if you are invited someplace for dinner, you should at least call and say yes or no if you are coming or not? Anyway, mom said "well he sometimes doesn't check his messages..." boy is 26 years old. At that age you can at least have some courtesy for people right? If he calls you, needing something, and you don't call back in an hour he's calling or emailing...

New Topic...it's Britney Bitch...yes, that's right, I was at her show a week ago in Minneapolis. OK, so she lip syncs, big deal...she does perform well and it was a good entertainment...not to mention I was in a suite...and I did get the tickets for free. Even so, I wouldn't have been disappointed if I had spent money on them.

My new camera has a fantastic zoom:

Me and my sister...I was supposed to go with the friend that had the tickets but last minute he had to go out of town so my sister gained on it:

OK, now I have to get working on a paper and some other homework as I need to finish between tonight and tomorrow along with packing as I leave Thursday for Boston. Thankfully I managed to have a couple of decent runs over the past few days but not sure it's in enough time for Boston. That race could hurt.

A Shout Out to Jim

2009-04-04T13:03:00.000-07:00

OK, he's not reading this, I don't even know his last name, but Jim rocks. Yesterday my failure to put air in the tire that I KNEW was low, caught up to me. I got a flat...and I was in a hurry...it went flat near a service station so I was walking there to get help when I hear someone ask if hey can help. I turned surprised and a nice gentleman was getting out of his car and walking over to look at my trashed tire. I thanked him profusely and he got out a nice jack (I know the ones that come with cars are crap!!) and I got my doughnut out and in 15 minutes or less he had it on my car and was telling me about a discount tire place. Unfortunately I wasn't able to get that information from him cause it was at his desk at work and I was going to need it before Monday, but Jim was an incredible savior to me at that time since I was on my way to meet my sister and I really didn't have time to deal with the problem right then. Without his help I would've been paying a small fortune I'm sure to the gas station. I wanted to give him something and asked him if he would take something for it...and he refused. Talk about an extremely nice guy. My goal now is to find someone, or a few someones, I can at least do something nice for and repay Jim's kindness by paying it forward. Thank you Jim.

OK...So...

2009-04-01T19:14:00.000-07:00

I've been away for a bit. I had a post last Thursday that I was supposed to get updated and now it's late and no longer relevant so I skipped it. I was out of town last weekend. Saw some sights, gambled a bit, saw a concert...it was a blast. I'm not leaving for Boston two weeks from tomorrow and am I ready...far from it...anyway, will try to get a more proper update over the weekend. Might have another concert to add to the listing for the week too.

Who Knew?

2009-03-21T14:02:00.000-07:00

So I'm not one that's lucky in contests etc...but what do you know, put my name in, and even though they haven't officially sent emails congratulating people drawn, my credit card has been charged. Apparently I'm running the Nike Women's Marathon in October...holy crap.

And on a note around that...Boston is 4 weeks from Monday, today was supposed to be #2 of 20 miles and it ended at 10.5...and was not good. I didn't feel the energy to do 1 more whole loop of the lakes. Thought I'd call it quits and rest, then get back out for a second run...nope...hasn't happend. And at this point, doubting it will. I was adjusted yesterday for the run...something was still off in my pelvis/SI while running, but it wasn't even that. It was flat out lack of energy and negative thoughts. So I think after Boston...however I struggle through and give an embarassing performance...that I have mom and dad coming to...I'm taking a break. Not going to run Minneapolis Marathon and just try to take the time and let running feel good again. It's just unfair that now, when the weather is finally getting good again, I just can't enjoy it.

100% Irish for a Day 10 Mile

2009-03-14T16:05:00.000-07:00

My first race of the year. I ran the Irish for a Day 10 Mile...they have a 5K as well and I knew I wasn't up to racing a 5K and doing well, so 10 mile it was. I like this race. Ran it the first year, 3 years ago and missed it last year for a dumb reason...so today I got to run it again and realized how much I like it. I know the route cause I run it, the shirts are nice (tech shirts) and it's a local race. All the race sponsors and such are from the local area so it's nice to support the small local businesses. It included, being Irish and all, Finnegan's beer at the end. Which is brewed locally, by a woman owner, which I think is pretty cool.

So yes, ran the race...it wasn't great, but it wasn't awful. On a good day, I think I can run 10 miles in 75 minutes. Probably even faster. But today wasn't going to be that day. I haven't done speedwork much at all. But, the good thing about running a race distance you haven't run before...automatic PR! I managed just slightly over 84 minutes. Which my trainer said I should run (after he said 75, and then 80 which I said neither was feasible really). First mile was slow due to icy spots on the course and then slow runners who lined up badly...but I was sub 9 for it. Then the next 4 were under 8:30, but then I slowed. 5 miles all pretty consistent though from 8:27-8:31.

At the end of the race there was a beer tent. I stopped to have a beer with some friends but they had had to leave so weren't there anymore, but I ended up talking to some other people that are starting an unofficial run club and today was their first run. So I hung with them and now have joined up with the group. There are people in the group looking to BQ, girls and guys, and some do tris too, including Ironman 2010 in FL...so I think I met some new cool people. Heck, one might have a bike for me to buy too!!

Anyway, about to head out for an evening. After a buzz from the beer, I came home, took a nap and now ready for an evening of beer!

Thoughts of Spring

2009-03-12T16:11:00.000-07:00

So yesterday’s post, well, I didn’t have control over it. I was just so angry over the cold. I mean I think I’m justified. This winter we have had 34 nights where it got below 0. Not below freezing…BELOW 0!! For someone that hates cold weather, that’s too much!! A few years ago we only had 6 of them…so now I better understand why this winter has been feeling so long. But instead of complaining about it and crying and swearing over it, I’ve decided it’s time to do something about it. How to defeat Mother Nature…I had this thought…positive attitude and happy thoughts. Remember in Peter Pan (at least the book and record, yes I’m old, I actually had read along records) when Tinker Bell is dying, she needed people to believe in her, and if you believed in fairies you were supposed to help her and say I believe and clap your hands. Well, spring, I believe in you, I believe you want to come to MN and get rid of/defeat winter…so I’m clapping hard!!

And as a reminder…this is what spring should look like…

It's my favorite time of year...

I want it now!!

What the F*#%??

2009-03-11T19:02:00.000-07:00

I do have a pretty bad potty mouth sometimes, but I try to keep it fairly clean on my blog…you never know who might run across it! Heck, my mom has had access to it but I don’t think realizes it!!

Anyway, we sprang ahead in daylight savings time on Sunday. Moved us an hour closer to spring right? Today I got up, went outside, found it cold, knew it was supposed to be, but hadn’t checked temps…anyway…driving to the gym at 5:30 this morning it was -1. Air temp. No wind chill factor or anything. Put the gusting, cold icky wind made it -23. Yes, it’s March, March 11 in fact, almost halfway through the month, and IT WAS -23 THIS MORNING! Global warming? Yeah right. I’d say an ice age is definitely on the way.

I did get my butt out of bed, and to the gym, and did 5 miles on the track. A warm up mile, a cool down mile and 3 miles of some pick up…finished around 8:35 for the 5 and managed around 8 minute miles for the 3 faster paced…I’m doing a 10 mile race this weekend. Was kind of spur of the moment. I registered on Monday. I had been thinking about it off and on and finally opted to do it. I know it’s not going to be very good, I have no speed work, very little running that’s been quality…but it’ll be a PR, that’s important right? (I’ve never run a 10 mile race!) And there is beer for sale at the end…It’s not called the 100% Irish for a Day race for any other reason!! I have some friends doing the 5K as well so will meet up with them after. Wish the 10 mile started first. Seems dumb the 5K is first since my friends will be done almost before I start but oh well. I’ve been told they will wait for me at the finish and have a beer with me.

It’s only Wednesday but thinking about the weekend. I’m typing this at noon but by the time I post it (since I’m hitting the gym for a strength session after work before class) I’ll be done with class for the week. Tomorrow night get some cleaning done. Friday since I can’t drink due to the race the next day (although first and only other time I’ve run this race, I did the 5K and was out for beer the night before, had one more than I should’ve and ran my current PR so hmm….) and my friend has a few other reasons she can’t drink I suggested dinner or a movie so we are meeting up for that…and then Saturday I actually have a date, unless something comes up, we were supposed to go out last Saturday but he was not feeling well so we had to postpone…this is actually a second date, and the first one I did have a really good time so we’ll see what happens this time. I’m hoping to actually hit the Britney Spears (yes, I said Britney, she’s supposed to do a great show!) with him here in April…he has connections, ie FREE tickets (yes, I will spend a ton for NKOTB apparently but I wouldn’t spend the money for Britney, but I’d see her for free for sure!).

First 20

2009-03-07T15:50:00.000-08:00

That's right...my first 20 of the year, first 20 in training for Boston...it wasn't pretty. What can I say?? I made it though. I don't think another 6 would've happened, but this was just 20 and I got through it. I didn't want to wear my fuel belt, so I opted to take advantage of the snowbanks around my association and planted a water bottle and Gatorade in it to stay nice and cold. I took off for a 5 mile loop...and while running the first one, figured out the next one. I live in a neighborhood with lots of little side roads and curvy areas. While I can old go two directions leaving my house, I have lots of options within a mile. So first loop was OK. Got some water and gatorade, realized I didn't have gel with me, but opted to stay that way and not grab some from my house. Second loop was again 5, both first loops were coming back on the lower grade hill (I have a hill either direction to get home, one is a little less noticable), but the next I decided another route and came back up the harder side. This had been a 6 mile loop so I got to the water and gatorade with 4 left. I was hurting and had to walk some of the last miles...and had all the last a LOT slower than the others had been. Overall I ended up so much slower than I should be, but considering the lack of speedwork overall, the lack of decent training etc, I guess it was OK overall. I survived it at least. I'll have to get an update of the last week, some time off trying to get the hip feeling better (saw my chiropractor on Thursday and my right leg was shorter than my left by an inch, that's how much my pelvis was twisted yikes!.

Anyway, will have to get an update in of last weekend soon.

Yes, I'm Slacking

2009-02-25T18:26:00.000-08:00

But thought before I turn in (I had a personal training session after work and man my PT is mean...OK, he's not mean, he's good...my shoulders are going to be aching tomorrow, along with my abs...we did what hurt me most last time, kind of on my request and he had me do 5 extra on the last set, and 45 second plank, on a scooter, and I actually said 5 more seconds, he said just 10 more so last one was a minute...now to get rid of the snacking so the fat goes away) thought I'd post real quick.

Last weekend was interesting. I was out for HH on Friday that went long and had a large amoung of beer, but was very fun and I might have to do one of those again soon...recovered on Saturday, crappy run on Sunday (18 miles that took almost as long as 20 should've). This weekend a friend is going to be here (tomorrow is my Friday she gets in tomorrow night in our upcoming blizzard) and we are hitting the Food and Wine Experience. I can't wait. Good wine. Good friend. I'll post more on that later.

Running...on advice from one friend, and my PT and myself...I'm taking this week mostly off, from running for sure and probably not much cross training since I decided I'm tired and don't want to get up tomorrow (we'll see, it MIGHT happen) for the gym. My running has just been terrible lately and I think maybe I need to reboot...maybe if I unplug myself from it, allow myself to unplug from it (except the run I promised my friend while she's here but it will be 3 miles at a slower pace) and then see what happens. I'm 8 weeks from Boston, but training is not going well and it's a combo of a lot of things I think. I'll be able to finish the race, just not as well as I would've hoped I could...we'll see what happens.

Cold has returned…

2009-02-19T17:32:00.000-08:00

And I don’t like it…not one bit. After some warmup, which we deserved (I’m past the whole it’s winter in MN and I should expect the crap, we had a much colder than normal December and January was worse than January has been in a few years. Plus last year spring came really, really late, and fall came on time, if not just a tiny bit early…so sorry, we deserve an early spring and I want it now!! It was back below 0 again here…but thankfully we did have warm last week and the week before that melted a ton of snow. If only this wasn’t MN and we know that it will eventually come back (in March even, we are notorious for getting a big storm in March, or two or three!).

Running…well, should I go down that one? That Mojo, that is hiding somewhere, disappeared again. I had that great run last week and now it’s back to being painful and sucking…well, not painful except painful to get through, but you get the drift. I’m just not sure what more to do and I’m extremely frustrated by it feeling so difficult. I recall times when the good running days far outnumbered the bad, but right now the bad far outnumber the good and I need something to help that. I’m 8 ½ weeks from Boston and I have no clue that to expect since the training just hasn’t’ been there like it needs to be for a good run. I know Boston had been meant to be “just for fun” but a part of me wanted to maybe shoot for a good time, even a PR maybe, but this time of year for training, combined with the same problem I was having in 2007 only on the other side and it not seeming to want to fix itself, I just can’t seem to get there. Can I run and finish Boston? Yes…is it going to be nice…not so sure…I have a little time yet to get a few good runs in, but nowhere near the time to get the good quality training in, and you know what…I can’t seem to get the motivation into my body for it. I read things to motivate myself. Just re-read my race report for Twin Cities and I remembered the emotions. I re-read comments I had made about the pride of my dad. I have been reading tips on doing Boston. And all of this gets to me. I feel teary eyed. I feel excited. I remember what this all means…and then I go to run and my body betrays me. The mind is in it. The body just decided to abandon me and I’m not sure what to do about it.

I know many of you are battling injuries and have some things going on that are preventing the joy and such of running and you can’t wait to get back, if you even will be able to. And I feel bad, typing this, when I know that many of you are wishing to be in my position. Yes, I qualified for Boston. Yes, I know it’s not an easy feat. Yes, I know that many will never be able to make that qualifier…but it doesn’t make it any less an issue for myself right now, in my selfish instance in time right at this moment, where I’m feeling pity for myself and wishing I could get it all figured out.

This weekend I’m trying to motivate for what is scheduled as a 20 miler. If I don’t make 20, I’m not going to beat myself up, but I’m hopeful. I have no other plans this weekend, so can do it whichever day feels better for it. Probably Sunday but we’ll see. I also have things to look forward to. Next weekend, Food and Wine Experience…yes, so much wine, so little time…and one of my best friends in the world is going to be in town. I haven’t seen her in a year and I’m so excited. It’s been a really long time since she’s been here too, and we have plenty of good things to see and do and things I’m going to show her that she hasn’t been around for. Then next month MNFirefly, and her new fiancée, as her and Josh just got engaged, will be here, and we’ll get to go out and celebrate, although Josh has threatened to punch me, so not sure I’ll get close enough to him to extend congrats…they will be having a long engagement, but looking forward to the celebration when it happens. Then a week after they are here I’m heading out to Buffalo/Niagara for that little concert…and then 3 weeks to the day of when I get back from that trip I’ll be running from Hopkinton to Boston. Then a month after that I’m planning to be in San Francisco to finally see a city I’ve wanted to go to forever and visit a good friend of mine that moved there a year ago. Might even run a fun little race I’ve been dying to do out there…sometime in June or July I owe a trip to Chicago…then August there is the Ragnar relay…possibly a fall marathon (I’m still contemplating Nike Women’s if I can get into it, having that friend to visit and all)…so yes, lots coming up…not to mention school and work to keep me busy…and I have lots to be thankful for, but it still doesn’t keep me from feeling that let down about my running right now. We do have to live in the now as well as the future…

A Funny Thing

2009-02-14T19:12:00.000-08:00

So I'm sitting, watching the movie Definitely, Maybe that I recorded earlier this week. I have seen it before, but not since it came out a year ago...there is a scene where Isla Fisher's character comes into Ryan Reynolds characters apartment, he's a mess and has been in a down spiral for a while, and it's a mess...she looks around, sees the mess and they show the TV, which has Chinese noodles that have been thrown at it and are dripping down it...her comment "I see you've been eating noodles"...and I laughed, loud and long at it. It's weird how things can strike you so strangely at such a weird time.

All this while I was considering today and thinking on life...Valentine's day is one of those days I haven't ever been a big fan of. Surprise, surprise. Let's see, I've had a boyfriend for exactly 4 V-days I think. But even without that, the day in and of itself is just a way out for those that don't express themselves throughout the year. Do a dozen overpriced flowers and a hard to get dinner reservation really make up for a year of not being told things that you should hear everyday? Now I'm not saying that's how it is for everyone, in fact most people I know I don't think actually have that, but it is how a lot of people deal with today. Shouldn't you tell someone you love them everyday? Shouldn't you do little things to show them you love them everyday? Instead of overpriced flowers one day a year, if you know she likes flowers, wouldn't it be a nice thing to buy her even just a nice bouquet from the farmer's market once in a while? How many people really do that?

Anyway, I was thinking earlier too, about soulmates...and how, at least in my mind, soulmates don't have to be a romantic interest. I believe you can have soulmates even of the same sex, if you are not gay. It's just that person you really connect with on a level so beyond anything else. I've had a few friendships like that in my life and it really bums me out that one of them, probably one of the closest I ever had, is one I lost because of someone else's insecurities. How do people let things like that happen? This was a male soulmate and unfortunately his now wife (while they were still dating) didn't like me, not having ever met me, but she felt threatened an he let it end our friendship. What sucks most about it? He was the one that said to me that we should never let a relationship get in the way of our frienship...that anyone we dated would need to be OK with our friendship...ironic that he's the one that let it end huh? Anyway, I hope he's happy. On occasion we chat via places like Facebook, but most often not. Maybe someday I'll write out the story...but I think now I need to crawl into bed. Was up too late last night.

Running Mojo

2009-02-13T04:34:00.000-08:00

I never got my post done about how much I hate running...that was Sunday...19 miler...it sucked...we'll leave it at that. I had another frustrating one on Tuesday but somehow it all came together yesterday and I managed 8 at an 8:20 pace. For once nothing felt heavy...this wasn't even a tempo run. Today is supposed to be a tempo. We'll see if I can pull something together for that. Otherwise I'll have to be satisfied with the idea that the running mojo is still there, it's just buried more often than it's out for me to feel.

The Wedding of a Best Friend

2009-02-05T04:28:00.000-08:00

My best friend got married last weekend. She had been dating the guy for 4 years, just under 4 years from their first date, in fact, to the time when he finally proposed. And we had known him for probably two years before that. It was an interesting way that they got together and I won’t go into that, but I’ll tell you that even up to and within the last year, when she was talking about when he was going to propose, I was not sure about him…I had my reasons, and no, they weren’t that he was taking my best friend away. I want her to be happy, and happy for her is having a baby, she would be incredibly unhappy if that wasn’t an option for her (not that she couldn’t have one without being married) and I definitely don’t want her to be unhappy. But there were things about him that reminded me somewhat of her ex, at least on one occasion, and another time with things she was saying about him…so I was leery…but I made a point to get to know him better in the past year and, actually think he made a better effort toward getting to know me as well, and we’ve come to an understanding and as long as he makes her happy, that’s all that matters to me now.

Their engagement was in June, and as I said, she wants a baby, they might be trying even as I type this (although she’s supposed to wait till end of the month because we are going to a wine tasting), so they didn’t want a long engagement. As they started looking, it’s also a little cheaper, at least in MN, to get married in the winter as well. So they picked a ceremony spot (put link) and a reception spot (put link) and the date was set for January 31st because the ceremony spot was changing over from poinsettias to orchids and the orchid show was the weekend they originally wanted. That weekend was also one of the coldest of the year and the weekend they had hit almost 40….but I digress. I was at their engagement party. I went in July to help find wedding dresses, and was asked to be a maid of honor that day…in August we looked at bridesmaid dresses…and found dresses that we loved (there were three of us, myself, her sister and sister-in-law) and even got our shoes that night…and went to dinner at the place that they got engaged. Her fiancée even came and met up with us for a drink. In December we planned out and had her bachelorette party, which was the perfect thing…8 of us in total that were out, ended with 3 of us at the hotel, hit some nicer bars, dressed up, did dinner, karaoke and had pizza before passing out…what more did we need? Early January was a bridal shower…and then the wedding week. I had offered any help she needed, so the night before the grooms dinner we were supposed to work on programs, but unfortunately something wasn’t printing right, but we had time on Friday night to do them. Friday I left work a little early to meet at the ceremony place to look around and figure out with them how they were going to stand and what was going to happen…she kept saying 10 minutes start to finish (I didn’t time it but I bet she was close). We left and went to the hotel where they were staying (I was staying with her that evening), the groom’s dinner was there and was quite nice, had some beer then went back to her room and her fiancée joined us along with her sister-in-law and we put the programs together. A little talking and we went to sleep…I woke early the next day but was careful (practicing my speech, trying to be able to get through it without crying) not to wake the bride…she woke up around 9, I got her coffee made, took a quick shower and the girl came to do our hair. The bride was paying for it and a friend of her and the groom’s did the hair (she was also at the wedding and reception). Mine was done and I helped out doing a few things, moved things to my own room (just down the hall from her and the room they were going to share that night) and then the photographer was there and we started getting her dressed.

Limo was supposed to be there at 2:30, it didn’t get there till 3, so we were late getting to the ceremony site for pictures, but it worked out fine due to some policies at the place they were getting married at…anyway, when the limo got there we took her down and got her into the limo, the Vulcans were out (a winter carnival thing) and saw her and suggested they should steal her! Then when we got to the ceremony site, it was so nice and still warm enough that we had some pictures outside, then when it opened up for them to go inside we had pictures done inside…finally 5:30 arrived and it was time for them to get married…short ceremony, they were husband and wife and we all got back into the limo (hummer stretch I might add) and started pouring the champagne I had brought…we did some toasts and wished them well while we headed to the reception site. Pictures, attempt at bustling her dress and so much confusion and couldn’t find some button hooks and we finally gave up so they could do the toasts (I gave a speech, managed to NOT cry and had a lot of complements on it after, including the groom thanking me very much for it, and I told him I meant every word of it, I had been worried, trying to write it, since, as I said, I had been skeptical, but he’s grown on me, he really has, and now I have another brother in my mind), had a nice dinner, talked to people, had drinks, I talked to my parents and sister, introduced them to another friend (yes, my parents know my friend enough to be invited) and then they took off, got caught up with another person I hadn’t seen in a long time…managed to avoid the dancing…had cake…embarrassed myself getting on the shuttle back to the hotel by asking about my brown bag and where it might be when it was hanging on my arm (let’s just say I had had a little champagne that night!). We got back to the hotel and moved stuff into people’s rooms to store…somehow all the booze left over from the wedding (they could bring in their own) ended up in my room…we only had one more after leaving the bar along with the top of the cake, yes, that would’ve been a good snack if I was a bad maid of honor!! Anyway, after stuff was dropped we went back to the bar and had some drinks, chatted more and saw a local TV news personality that we talked to and had our picture taken with. Then it was time to call it a night. Two other friends crashed in my room with me…we ordered pizza but it was taking so long to come that I finally dropped off to sleep and when it did show up, I just ignored it and kept on sleeping…it had been a long day and I hadn’t eaten enough.

Next morning I wasn’t feeling too bad…we had a knock on the door from the bride and groom at 9…he had woken her up at 6 and she had gotten up (she normally sleeps in and he’s up early!) and they were out saying hi to people. I had a little snack from things I had brought to have while we were getting ready, then got stuff together and left with the bride…since I had the cake topper yet. I was going to swing it by their house but she had to drop a tux so met her there and we got a smoothie at Caribou, said our good byes, I had things she had asked me to return for her in my car since they left on the honeymoon the next day and wouldn’t have time to do it before they left…I gladly did it, after all, I had to help out however I could…she thanked me again for all I had done to help out and I drove home for a much needed nap before watching the Superbowl and she went home to be with her new hubby…and now they are in Hawaii…and it’s below 0 again here…I kind of hate them now!

Boston Training Struggles

2009-02-03T14:41:00.000-08:00

I am still around and keep thinking I need to do an update. For one tickets for Niagara have been bought, we have confirmation on our tickets for the show and a room is booked…so it’s all a go.

I’ve been have a very low level of motivation to get out and workout, which sucks because now I have classes starting this week which takes away time I otherwise had TO workout. It’s really hard this time of year. It’s dark and cold so I don’t want to get up. I am tired of running at the gym. My hip is out of wack still and I need to see my chiropractor but haven’t had time and won’t get there this week. Next Monday I’m shooting for though!! But with the weather as it is, it’s just hard to keep the motivation. And Boston is only 11 weeks away and I feel so less than prepared right now. I know I was feeling that with Twin Cities too, but I think I had more going on runningwise by then than I do now. In fact, I’ve had the last 5 days off…and not liking that. I need to run tomorrow morning but it’s going to be tough. I ran last Thursday morning, Thursday night I just didn’t have the motivation to get out due to a chill in the air and needing to get things ready for a wedding I was in last weekend. I was also up later helping the bride with someone so no ability to get up early the next day. Friday groom’s dinner kept me from running after work…Saturday, OK, I could’ve gone to the treadmill, but I was in the bride’s room with her and wanted to be there if she woke up and needed anything and wasn’t sure when she might wake up (not to mention not wanting to wake her going out of the room). Sunday…well, I was in a wedding on Saturday, what do you think (by the way, there will be stuff about the wedding, just needs its own post)? By the time I was functioning it was time to meet a friend to watch the Superbowl. Monday I just wanted to get some stuff done at home and knew if I stopped at the gym I wouldn’t get around to anything at home…and this morning…I was up, I was heading to the gym…car went “click” and didn’t start. So by the time the tow guy came to jump it, no time to get to the gym and tonight after work I have class. It’s in a location I haven’t been to before and not knowing how long it might take to get there, I can’t chance it…if I could run outside (it’s too freaking cold) I’d have the time/ability for it, but unless there is a dramatic increase in temps, it just isn’t going to happen. Boston…my dream…is getting so close…and yet I can’t seem to get the motivation. Why is this??

Once Was Not Enough...

2009-01-24T05:07:00.000-08:00

NKOTB, Repeat!! That's right. Seeing them once after 17 years was not enough by a long shot. Not enough for me. Not enough for one of the friends I went with…It just was, not, enough!! So…friend I went with (and also saw NIN a month later thank you very much) was watching some of the stuff on their site and they announced a cruise. That’s right. Three days on a ship with them. Talk about fun!! (OK, yes, for the 3000 women on the cruise it would be fun) But it was quite expensive…and sold out in 48 hours…(cheap tickets were $900, plus fees, plus flight there, plus hotels, yikes) but it was over my birthday, that would’ve been quite fun. But things happen, we didn’t book and it sold out. Then, they added more tour dates. But this time to smaller venues…places they didn’t see first time around. None real close, Nashville, my friend mentioned. Maybe…Niagara Falls, that would be cool. She has a friend in Toronto and what do you know, she likes them too. It was also a Saturday show…tickets went on sale yesterday. Well, you know, we did VIP last time, could we really not do it again?? So as of yesterday we bought tickets, have a hotel booked (room at the casino they are playing at in fact thank you very much, even though they are gouging it, but oh well, it’s also only a few blocks from the falls) and I’m working on flights. Kicking myself for not trusting we would get the tickets (we were on right when they went on sale, had them bought within 2 or 3 minutes of them going on sale). It’s actually good though we bought them for VIP, the other tickets that went on sale today through Ticketmaster…I was able to get 2, but not the 3 we planned and/or needed. The venue appears to seat somewhere between 2000 and 2500…unlike the 12000 we were there with last time…will be much more intimate. I’m excited. Plus hey, I get to run my last 20 miler someplace other than at home.

VO2 Max

2009-01-22T17:46:00.000-08:00

So remember a few weeks ago I was talking about signing up for and doing a VO2 test, well I did manage to get it in. It had had to be rescheduled because the equipment wasn’t working for about a week, but it was finally back up and I did it this past Tuesday. This meant some fasting before (easy enough since I don’t normally eat before a shorter workout anyway), no caffeine (not a problem because I don’t have to have coffee to start my day, although I think I’m starting to get that way!). It also required me not to be sick, consume alcohol, stimulants, drugs (no meth that night before, that was tough!), get a good nights sleep, etc…so I went to bed early on Monday and did get a good nights sleep and was up for the test…although I honestly was not looking forward to it. I kind of dread hard workouts sometimes, and this one, while I knew it wasn’t long, I knew it was going to hurt.

It started with me doing a 5 minute walk at a 3.0 mph to warm up. That was easy. Oh, and of course I was wearing the lovely mask…it wraps around your head and has a plastic tube coming off it that is connected to the computer, along with a HRM that is connected to the treadmill which is reading it off you. The HRM that I have wouldn’t work with the treadmill though, so I had to use one of the ones they have there. While I was warming up, I was asked what I "normally" run...well, that's hard to answer since it depends on the workout, but I said for an easy 30 minutes probably 8:30-8:45 (of course not often that I run just 30 minutes, since I go in miles and shortest is usually 4 which is usually 32-36). After the warmup so she bumped it to 4.0, I walked that a couple of minutes and then it was up to 5.0 which is the break point for me where if I really tried hard I could walk, but it’s easier to start a light job, next was 6.0 which I told her still felt pretty easy, so we went to 7.0 and asked how that was and it all felt comfortable so she said we’d stay there, and after a minute or two is when the fun beings. The incline. From 0 to 2, then up to 4, then 6 and finally 8 while she watched my HR...I need to clarify exactly when she knew it was done as she said another 10-15 seconds she could tell it was going to be done shortly, and I know it had something to do with my HR not going up as much as it had been and/or kind of peaks. It was around 180 that this was happening. This all took about 14 minutes…then I walked a bit to cool down, and got my recovery HRs recorded as well.

The main thing, other than the VO2 max that this test determines, is your AT (anaerobic threshold) from where you jump to burning more fat and fewer carb calories to almost exclusively carb calories. It also told me, how much I personally burn for calories and what part carbs vs fat for each minute of exercise when I’m in certain heart rate zones. My AT starts in Zone 4, the 175-185 HR zone, which is good, since that is actually about the zone I start pushing on harder workouts, but most of my recovery and long runs and even the early parts of a marathon are, so I burn more fat in those places, which is good since that’s my biggest workout zone! It won’t take too much training either, to push the AT up a bit and actually burn more fat in those zones. Basically how I see it is I can run fairly fast and still burn more of what I want to burn namely the fat!!

Now my VO2 max, which of course is the number most runners are familiar with came for me to be 46.2. Basically this puts me in the 90th percentile for my age group. And then running the numbers with Daniels, based on my times for marathon, half marathon and 5K, it comes pretty close in predicting. My 5K time was exactly on, the other two had me in the 44 range (guess, as I’ve said, I can run a faster marathon and half, although I know I can run a faster 5K too).

After the test, based on what I picked for my “goal” (weight loss, fitness or performance) it provided a list of workouts I should focus on. Since all are goals of mine, we put in fitness and the workouts provided aren’t even close to what I’m doing for my training, but oh well. Guess they are something to look at for a few days, here and there? I mean when you have 1 minute intervals, what can you do with that??

Update

2009-01-15T16:58:00.000-08:00

So I'm thinking more and more it was PMS more so than SAD. I've actually been trying to force a bad mood this week and it's not working. Although I am in a slightly bad mood because this is MN and yes we get cold but Oh My God....this week it hasn't been above 0 since Monday. I've been inside running this week. And todays workout would've had to be inside anyway because I needed to do speed work, but I was not able to even get a workout in because it was so freaking cold my car would not start today after work. That's how cold it got...I think it was just tired by the end of the day and sick of the cold...so I couldn't stop at the gym on the way home as I was worried stopping my car it wouldn't start again. And at -6 without the windchill, I wasn't running outside. So no run...tomorrow my plan is now to get up early, get a run in in the morning and then either at lunch or after work get a strength session in and a second short run before going to the Gopher hockey game. It's also kind of a goodbye to a friend as well. It's supposed to warm up a bit tomorrow I think...I hope...I really am missing that workout today though. I wasn't up this morning in time to workout because I was out with friends for dinner last night...and wine...and cheesecake...

S.A.D

2009-01-10T19:28:00.000-08:00

Although we did have sun today...maybe PMS...but not sure that's right either.

This kind of shows...

2009-01-09T19:10:00.000-08:00

How I'm feeling right now...I have no idea what is going on. It could be PMS, I hope that's it, but for whatever reason I'm really low right now. I could type more about it, but think I'll keep it close for right now.

Brr...and I'm Sore!

2009-01-08T17:06:00.000-08:00

I'm freezing my arse off right now...and getting stiffer by the minute. So I had my first session with my personal trainer last night, and Darryl kicked my ass! Seriously, he's cute, but man he's mean!! Alright, not really. I'm in pain because I'm sore and sore is good, it means I worked. So what is sore you ask? Well, here's the workout. Walking high step lunges, then planks...held for 1 minute, 3 times...OK, that wasn't so bad. Walking lunges with shoulder press...then v-sit for 45 seconds...3 times...Walking lunges again, bicep curls and presses...then leg raises, held for 45 seconds...3 times...ouch!! And that wasn't enough. One more set of walking lunges with tricep curls, and 1 minute wall sits...you guessed it, 3 times. My legs, particularly hamstrings and glutes ache and best of all, he made my abs ache...that NEVER happens!! I also signed up for a VO2 max test next week. I'm excited to get that number. And Darryl is going to work my workouts around that then. Saw him tonight when I was at the gym, struggled through 5 of the 8 I had wanted to do (I was on the dreadmill and just couldn't go anymore) and then 30 on the bike and saw Darryl...he asked how I was and I told him. It made him smile that my abs were sore. He knows his stuff. Annette, do you get that same satisfaction?

Oh and one more bit of excitement...my tickets to Boston are now booked. Mom, dad and I will be boarding a plane to Beantown at 6 am on April 16th and coming back at 7 am on April 21st. I figure I'll be hung over on the plane but oh well!

Starting the New Year Right

2009-01-02T16:15:00.000-08:00

So yesterday I was a little hung over...well, maybe a lot hung over. On Wednesday I went to dinner with friends, we had drinks, then we went to a bar, we had drinks and one thing led to another and all day yesterday I recovered. Hey, I wasn't as bad as my friend that crashed out at my place pretty much sleeping till about 2:30 and it was after 3 before he was OK for us to drive to his car! :) Once in the car though, I realized I wasn't feeling well. I came home, had something to eat finally and took a nap. Around 6 I was finally feeling human and I went to the gym. I strength trained and ran a 1 mile run before biking for 30 minutes. The run was kept short intentionally. I saw my podiatrist on Tuesday and he did an adjustment to my insterts and warned that the adjustment doesn't work well for some so he didn't want me going out for a long run in them to start. 1 mile felt fine in them. I'm going to head out for 2-3 in the gym tomorrow in them again and see.

Today I managed to get up and get a 14 mile run in eventually. It was ugly toward the end. My hip is really bothering today so might be back to see my chiro on Monday! Ughh...hopefully eventually all will be good!! I was feeling so thirsty by the end (and hadn't brought water with me) that I cut the planned 15 to the 14 that I finished. It was a bit slow, but oh well. At least I'm getting back on track.

Tomorrow I'll be doing a strength session again and some crosstraining. Only 2 more days of vacation. I'm not sure if I'm ready to go back to the office or not, but I do have some major goals on things I need to accomplish and get my stuff back on track at work.

So I haven't declared resolutions yet either. One thing I'd like to do this year is a race a month. I'm not a big racer, so we'll see. I'm tentatively looking at this though:

Heart of Winter 12K - Jan 10 (so soon not sure it will happen)
7 on the 7th - Virtual race on Feb 7 that I was just reading about
Irish for a Day 5K - March
Boston Marathon - April 20
Bay to Breakers 12K - May 17
Minneapolis Marathon - May - this one I'm not sure about
June - Not sure yet
Raspberry Days 4 Mile - July
Ragnar Relay - August
City of Lakes 25K - September
Nike Women's Marathon - October
November - Not sure yet
December - Not sure yet

Happy New Year

2008-12-31T13:43:00.000-08:00

OK, I almost missed it, but here it is, my resolution, wrap up the year thing. I had to re-read what I resolved to do last year, and you know what, I actually made most of my goals. I never manage to keep new years resolutions, but this year something was different. I believe I wrote them out 12/31/07 if you want to read them. I'm not going to put the link. Main recaps though:

1. To tell friends and family I love them. It hasn't been super easy, but I have managed to get in the habit of telling mom and dad at least that I love them every time I say goodbye to them. That's an accomplishment.

2. Get to know more runners through a running group, which I did, and also QUALIFIED FOR BOSTON!!

3. I am in grad school...and even managed respectible grades. If you really want to know, A in Stats, A- in Law (go figure)

Work was another resolution, I don't think I've done as well at, but I'm going to work more on that this year.

I still can't believe the year is wrapping up. So much has happened and so much has stayed the same. I have gotten to know more running friends, but still not as many as I'd like!! I made two trips out to Boston and get to go again in April and I am helping a friend get ready for her wedding a month from today. My birthday wish even came true (with two options, wishing to qualify for Boston and getting into grad school, which do you think I wished for? Lucky for me both came true!)

For this year...well, I think I'll hold resolution post for tomorrow, but I also owed a response on an earlier post:

Write down your top 3-10 accomplishments done in 2008. Put this in your running log. It's important to reflect on what you did well this year.

My top 3-10 Accomplishments:

I qualified for the Boston Marathon. On what was really only my first “real” attempt (I came close once before and was planning to attempt it at the next one but was somewhat injured) in not the best of conditions.
I managed a fantastic 25K 4 weeks prior to my goal marathon and it felt really good. I was “in the zone” and remembered why I run.
I ran a half marathon and managed a new PR (and according to Garmin time/distance at least managed my goal of sub 1:40, officially I did get a new PR at least).

Write down your top 3-10 things you thought could go better in 2008. Put this in your running log. Perhaps you did not get your best 10k, or you disliked the weather for this year's marathon. Make a note of that.

My top 3 things I could’ve done better

I could’ve gotten a bit better in the qualify runs and stopping freaking myself out about my training
I could’ve, even though weather was bad, run a better Twin Cities and gotten a better time. Factors were against me, but I did talk myself out of it a bit toward the end
I could’ve dealt with the PF a little sooner instead of still be dealing with it now

Write down 3-5 goals you want to accomplish in 2009. Include at least one time goal and one new race you plan to enter

My 3-5 goals for 2009

Finish Boston, possibly with a new PR
Run a sub-1:37 half to get a guarantee into New York, probably for 2010
Run a sub-6 mile
Run a sub-21 5K (current PR 22)

Merry Christmas

2008-12-25T07:13:00.000-08:00

I hope everyone has a wonderful and safe holiday. And Santa is a wonderful man. I am set for Boston. I have my chip, and I was given money to put toward my jacket...as soon as it's available!!

Merry Christmas to Me...

2008-12-23T10:30:00.000-08:00

OK, I will be getting back to my goals, however, had to take a quick break away from that and blog a little running/workout related stuff.

So I mentioned the new TV that I bought myself right? It's only a 19", but flat panel, LCD Hi Def for my bedroom. However, I guess I was a really good girl because I bought myself some personal training sessions yesterday. I've had the basic routine, showing me how to use the equipment before, but never actual sessions. After my fitpoint assessment last week, I had a complmentary first session set up with a trainer (actually the head of the PT department at my gym) and we focused solely on upper body because, well, I have a wedding on January 31st that I'm in and we have strapless dresses. Anyway, they have a sale right now, 50% off sessions with a personal trainer, for new customers...well, I'm a new customer so I'm doing it. I bought 8 and am conteplating maybe 2 more, figuring on meeting with him every 3 weeks or so, that gets me through Boston and into the summer, can change up the sessions etc...did I mention he's really cute too?? :) Not as hot as my hottie at my old gym, but cute, too bad he's married!! Anyway, one other thing I'm probably going to do is a VO2 max test. They have the set up at my gym to do the VO2, the metabolic workout rates etc...they have another test for figuring out your resting metabolic rate too, but that one is just less important for what I do anyway. I can use this and figure out zones for doing heart rate etc...so we'll see. First session is 1/7/09. I have time for the workout he set me up on yesterday, and I have basically 5 weeks to the wedding to look good. Of course I don't want to outshine the bride (not possible, wait till I post her pics...her dress is so perfect for her!).

About to head to my parents. I had scheduled 8 miles for yesterday with 8x100 strides. I only had time for 6 before my training session, but did another 3 after...Today I was going to run 10, I was all ready to go and forgot to put on my Yaktrax...we have had a lot of snow (but it warmed up, was 10 today woo hoo!) over the last few days and going was very, very slow. It's like running on loose sand...I was exhausted by 6 so stopped at 8. 1 hour and 20 minutes...yeah, I had some 10:30 miles in there. Normal run for me, easy pace, 8:30...so yeah, the snow slows you down tremendously!

Anyway, if I don't get another post up before Thursday, Merry Christmas to all who celebrate it. And to those that don't, Happy insert holiday name here. For those traveling, safe travels.

Stolen From TCM December Mile Marker

2008-12-22T10:52:00.000-08:00

Quote of the Month:
"Even the latest finishers aren't back-of-the-packers. They're the back of the front, still among the elite 0.10% of Americans who can and does finish marathons."
-Joe Henderson (from The Quotable Marathoner)

Ready for a New Year? Our tips are simple and quick for this month.

Enjoy the holidays! This is your permission to enjoy cookies, cake, cordials and cocktails this holiday season. Just enjoy in moderation. You have done the work this year. You deserve it.

Write down your top 3-10 accomplishments done in 2008. Put this in your running log. It's important to reflect on what you did well this year.

Write down your top 3-10 things you thought could go better in 2008. Put this in your running log. Perhaps you did not get your best 10k, or you disliked the weather for this year's marathon. Make a note of that.

Write down 3-5 goals you want to accomplish in 2009. Include at least one time goal and one new race you plan to enter.

Within 9 days, the world gets a fresh start for a new year! Take advantage of it!

** I posted this as a reminder that I want to come back and actually do it. **

Busy Cold Weekend

2008-12-21T20:19:00.000-08:00

So I've been using my vacation well so far. Friday I braved the Mall of America and basically finished Christmas shopping, except for something for my grandma's...I think I'll get that tomorrow and just have to order one thing for a friend and I'm done. I hate shopping so it has taken time. After the shopping trip I made it to the gym, talked to my cute trainer, did some lower body, and elliptical and cycling...no run, figured I'd do that on Saturday and Sunday, little did I know...Met a friend for dinner, hadn't seen her since Halloween. On the way to dinner we exploited her discount at Target and I got myself a new TV...Then we had dinner and headed to our favorite watering hole and another friend of mine met us. Late night that night!! A few too many but oh well.

Saturday dawned with a snow storm, and cold. I didn't leave the house till much later, didn't get my run due to the cold. When I did venture out it was not a fun night to drive in, but I had friends to meet for dinner and thing is in MN if you opt to not go out in crappy weather, well, you'd be in all winter. So met the friends and we went to a nice Itlian place downtown had great conversation, good food and drinks and then went to a nearby more upscale bar and hung out chatting amongst ourselves. Unfortunately we got back to find my car gone. My friends live on an unmarked section of a snow emergency route and snow emergency was declared and towing ensued. So annoying and expensive but oh well.

Got up today and had some tenative plans but ended up staying around home, except for a quick trip to the gym and a run. What really sucks is that the cold turn we are taking, again, leaves us with a winter weather advisory for tomorrow. Windchill is going to be so bad that you can have frostbite in 10 minutes. I guess I'll be at the gym for a run. I'm doing a complementary session with a personal trainer tomorrow, he's not as hot as my hottie at the other gym, but he's cute...might end up selling me some sessions!

Vacation

2008-12-18T18:02:00.000-08:00

So it's finally here...a whole 17 days off. Of course a couple of those days already have plans...Christmas and all that. Have to go visit the family...but other than that, I have time to relax. Mainly planning to clean house, finish my shopping and see some friends who will be in town. And of course run. I have to get some good running in now, while I have the time. Hopefully I will make some progress on a few things at least.

Anyway, now to get caught up on friends blogs!

It's Been Pointed Out...

2008-12-14T18:52:00.000-08:00

Yes, I'm STILL neglecting...I know I promised an update and so far nothing. So quick one and hopefully more time tomorrow.

Thursday I was just done after work and chriopractor and then errands...I needed an adjustment bad. Then on Friday till tomorrow I've been dogsitting for my parents and poor guy needs attention so no time for being online!! (plus my house needs a desperate cleaning!!).

Saturday we got together for my sister's birthday and went out for drinks after dinner and a trip to the Holidazzle with my mom (holiday light parade downtown Minneapolis during the holidays). Stayed at sister's this morning till we went to brunch for her birthday (birthday is actually today) and then came home and watched the Vikings, went for a run with Max on icy roads and then have been trying to clean (although you wouldn't know to see the place, funny how it's always messier before you managed to get things cleaned!!). I managed a 14 mile run yesterday and 4 today and finished the week with 41. Tomorrow is 18 weeks from Boston, and while I don't have a full plan together yet, need to work on that over the next few days, I'm feeling OK about the base to start up.

Anyway, will try to start catching up this week...I do promise!!

Done!!

2008-12-10T19:32:00.000-08:00

OK, hopefully will have time to start catching up with you all tomorrow and get a more proper post up...like all my goals for the upcoming vacation days!! But final is done. It was LONG!! Like seriously I took almost the 3 hours and I never do that. I don't know if I did well enough to get my A that I wanted for that class, but I'll keep my fingers crossed.

Anyway, exhausted now. Time for bed so I can get up and run in the morning so I can do errands after work!

One More Day!!

2008-12-09T18:42:00.000-08:00

And the madness ends!! One more final and I promise to catch up on the lives of my much neglected blogger friends. I appreciate all the good luck wishes and if you can hold them out to one more day I'll love you forever!! :) Last nights final wasn't nearly as bad as I thought it could be. Still no clue what kind of grade I'll pull off, but I feel pretty good about the in class, take home I don't know about...that stuff was a bit difficult for me. Tomorrow is open book so hopefully it's not too bad. I've been trying to refresh myself on stuff but it's hard studying for an open book.

Got a nice run in before studying tonight too. Even thought it was probably only about 10 out (high of 20 today and dropping to 6 with wind chill at 0 overnight they say). I haven't been to the gym to strength train in a week and I hate that, but I've been tired and studying. I was going to go tomorrow but think I might sleep in one more day and get back to it strong on Thursday. I do have to do something. I'm in a strapless dress in a wedding in a month and a half!!

Oh, and only 7 more working days for me left this year!! Yes...because of my company having shut down from 12/25-1/1 officially, and then speculation we'll be given 1/2 off too because it's a Friday and why come in for one day? Also speculation that we'll have 12/24 off (and I've taken it off already so means I get a carry over day!) and having conserved vacation time I'll be taking off the 3 days before Christmas and I have one other day that I'm just going to use on 12/19...so from 12/19 through probably 1/4 I'll be off work. So plenty of time to catch up with you all!! :)

Luck Needed!!

2008-12-08T04:41:00.000-08:00

Please send prayers, luck, whatever you've got, my way today...that final in a few hours is going to be brutal!

Running Relates to Everything

2008-12-05T19:06:00.000-08:00

I got to thinking during a conversation with a friend today...

Think about this. Training is like studying. It requires so many more hours than any other part of the whole process. Small races, tune up races, could be compared to quizzes or midterms, and then of course you have the main event...the big race, the final exam. And, at least for me, I've realized...Boston is graduation day. It's the pinnacle. It's what I worked so hard to achieve. It's graduation day!

Can't tell I'm studying for finals can you? Back to it.

Not Much Longer...

2008-12-03T17:28:00.000-08:00

I'm holding on and hanging in. Last night of class and we got done early. It was mainly for review anyway...so finaly on Monday and Wednesday and that's it for the semester. So yes, this week will still be pretty quiet, but after finals are done and for a month and a half I should have more time to post!! Yay!! And read...and catch up. I'm working on the take home part of stats right now...would love to have that done before the weekend so I can focus on studying for stats and law over the weekend. Law is open book, but I want to know my stuff going in. I always tend to study for an open book and find that I usually don't need the book except to verify a few things. That's a nice thing, when it happens at least it is!

My house is about ready for Christmas. Lights are up. I think I'm going to work on the final for another half hour then put the tree up and decorate during TV...either what is on, or put on something I taped earlier this week...we'll see.

Keep fingers crossed for me to do well. There is a light at the end of the semester at least (even if there is still probably 2 1/2 more years of classes!).

I'm Alive...

2008-11-30T12:43:00.000-08:00

I promise...man it has been a really long time since I posted though. Will have to suffice with a quick update today though and more when finals are over in just over a week...one more week of classes and then finals. Yikes. So while studying today I needed a study break and I hadn't run in 3 days. I NEVER take that long of a break. But Thursday I was at my parents and it was T-day and I was a bit hung over. Friday I was traveling back from my parents and wanted to clean when I got back to missed it then and yesterday I went to do my annual cookie baking with one of my friends and then went to the Gopher hockey game last night...so just no time yesterday. Today I'm studying but had to take a few minutes (OK, an hour and 10 minutes) to get an 8 miler in. It was slow going, partly due to the light snow covering in some places. I really should've had my Yaktrax on, but didn't think about it so had a few miles that were slower...it's hard to climb hills in slippery conditions at a faster pace. I'm so glad I ran when I did though...coming down a slight hill, heard a few birds making some noise, looked up and besides the black birds I saw a beautiful bald eagle fly over. I had never seen one in my neighborhood before. Was way too cool.

Alright. Time to read some business law...before more stats studying. Ughh...

Wonderful Email...Finally!

2008-11-14T16:00:00.000-08:00

Dear Danielle,

This is to notify you that your entry into the 113th Boston Marathon on Monday, April 20, 2009 has been accepted, provided that the information you submitted is accurate.

You can verify your acceptance into the field by searching the 113th Boston Marathon "Entrants" database on the B.A.A. web site, www.baa.org/2009/cf/Public/EntryLists.cfm. Additionally, an acceptance postcard will be mailed to you via US Postal Service mail.

In early April 2009, an official Number Pick-up Card and extensive information regarding the B.A.A. Boston Marathon and related race week activities will be mailed to you via US Postal Service first class mail. If you do not receive your Number Pick-up Card (required to claim number) and brochure by April 11, please contact our Registration Office at registration@baa.org. Registration related inquiries may also be directed to 508-435-6905.

Note that bib numbers will not be distributed on Race Day. Your travel arrangements should take into account picking up your number at the Hynes Convention Center in Boston on Friday, April 17 from 2:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., or Saturday, April 18 or Sunday, April 19 from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

We look forward to seeing you in April!

Best of luck in your training!

Sincerely,
Boston Athletic Association

Runners vs Joggers

2008-11-12T14:00:00.000-08:00

OK...this has been a topic of conversation in numerous places I've been lately and yes, I know I shouldn't be bothered by it, what is in a name? But at the same time I think I've pinpointed why I'm bothered by it. See to me, a runner isn't someone running 5 minute miles, and a jogger isn't someone who is finishing a marathon in 6.5 hours. Speed has nothing to do with it. It's a part of who you are...it's the community you are part of. I'm a runner because I am out there most days of the week. I run when it's cold. I pass on staying up late and drinking because I have an early morning training run. I am out in the rain. It's an obsession. It's a love. It's a way of life for me. I don't really remember back to when I didn't run. I won't go a week without running because I feel a little "off" without it.

To me joggers are the hobby people. They will do it to lose weight, but they hate it. They will go out if it's nice out. They will do it when it's convenient, and it's not a big deal if they can't do it. They are happy when injured as it gives an excuse to not run.

For a runner, even the days we hate it, we still love it. When we are having a bad run, we look forward to the next time, because that might be a good one. When we are injured, we are couting the days till we can run again (and might be out there when we shoudn't be). It's a culture. It's a way of life...to be a runner...

Wow I'm behind...

2008-11-02T18:13:00.000-08:00

On people's blogs, on updates...all kinds of things...and for some stupid reason when I was wide awake at 6 I didn't use the extra time to blog...but that could be cause it was a very nice day and I had to get out and enjoy it.

Anyway, all my complanining about my foot forever, I am finally seeing a podiatrist tomorrow. I checked him out. His name was in an article the local paper ran about barefoot runners. He is a marathon runner, having done 20 of them, and then checking on his stuff on the clinic website he has also done ironman! So hopefully he is good and gives me something good to do with my foot. Without orthodics or a cortisone shot!! Those are my limits and what I won't do.

Monster Dash Half Marathon

2008-10-25T20:10:00.001-07:00

I wanted a 1:40, well, that was my basic goal...depending on conditions. I felt good all week. Ran some good times. Thursday I had a lot of energy in me and a really good 6 miler. Wasn't sure how that would affect today.

Weather was cooler than I liked, but it's end of October. I had tights a long sleeved skin shirt and a long sleeved tech shirt. Also had gloves and an ear band. I wore my devil horns for a "costume"...this was a costumed race.

Course followed parts of Twin Cities. Was nice not running in a downpour however there were some nasty hills on the turn around so it's not an easy course. I definitely went out too fast, running mostly 7:30s and some a bit faster. On the turnaround I slowed down a bit on some of the hills and it was a struggle for sure through the last 5K and even a little beyond that. I came up the last hill, was around the corner and made a dash for the finish line. Unfortunately the 3 other races going on that day were also coming around that curve and one of them was a "fun run" so yes, much slower runners to dodge around which sucked, but I did pass a girl who had passed me earlier in the race and that was kind of fun...and I crossed in 1:41:33 on my Garmin. No posted official time yet. My former PR was 1:44:12. So while not the 1:40 I wanted it was good and for being a tougher course and just 3 weeks after Twin Cities.

Nice race except for that finish. Oh, and that they had a great food table, but the water was on it as well and the 5K (2 of them fun run and timed) and 10 miler all finished around the same time and were trying to get to that food table, with the water in the middle of it, as well. Oh, and the spectators were also holding things up...so just a couple things I would change about the race. Overall a decent experience though.

This One's for Me

2008-10-23T18:17:00.000-07:00

I’m writing this so I don’t forget the little details, and as a reminder, or maybe to any who might read, an inspiration? Dreams can come true. No matter how far out they might seem.

May 16th. It was officially announced. NKOTB was on the Today show and announced they are coming back, new album out in the fall and a tour…I checked the early dates and they were as near as Chicago, but it was THE DAY BEFORE TWIN CITIES! Talk about disappointing…till the day it came out they’d be in Minneapolis. And I had friends willing to spend a bit…we decided if we were going, we were going all out and we bought the VIP package. Backstage meet and greet…and seats in the first 10 rows.

Fast forward to Tuesday, October 21, 2008. Remember, back in the day, they were my favorites. I was obsessed. Posters on the walls, t-shirts, sheets…the works. Last time I saw them I was 17…half my life ago…OK, yeah I’m old. But man, I so wanted to meet them. I would’ve done about anything for that opportunity. My biggest dream. How often do dreams come true? I mean this one we’re talking not a super attainable thing. Had someone told me 17 years ago to be patient, my day would come, I don’t think I would’ve believed it.

We got through the line, cameras checked, drink tickets in hand, backstage pass around neck, escorted to the VIP area after being given our tickets, 1st row (first 10 were guaranteed, we must’ve been the first to get in seriously), and our gift, a coffee mug and blanket. A room full of fans. Beer. Food. We were told the rules. We’d go into the room, talk a bit, pictures, then out. We were called to line up by the letter on the back of our passes…we were F. Suddenly they were coming into the room and led back to a special room off the one we were in. Within 2 beers of getting there (no idea of time!) we were in line and suddenly we were being sent into the room and there they were. Donnie was solo, so I went right over gave him a hug and said I’ve been waiting so long for this. Talked to him a little bit and then others were moving in and Joe was alone! He was my favorite. I fell for them when I saw the video for Please Don’t Go Girl, and there was a cute boy, with beautiful blue eyes…And there he was. I walked over, gave him a hug and told him that my first memory of them was that video, and the pretty blue eyes (which, by the way, for those that were fans, and liked him, his eyes are even bluer, pictures don’t do him justice!) and he smiled and batted them for me. My friends then made their way over and a story was told to him about how one of my friends used to sing one of their songs, that he was lead vocals on, sang in her sleep…then it was time for the group pic…we were lining up, I was still next to him, and he said “someone has to be in the front” and crouched down, so I crouched next to him and he held my hand and 2 pics were snapped and we were being sent out. I told him quick that I had just earned myself an opportunity to go to Boston and run…he looked impressed (OK, they have to deal with tons of fans on a daily basis, I appreciated that he actually listened and looked interested) I hadn’t had a chance to say anything to Jon, Danny or Jordan, but I had to go over to Jordan and get a hug and tell him we shared a birthday. He walked with me to the door and then it was done…So surreal…I have the memories. I looked at them. I talked to them. In a few days I’m going to have that picture to prove it, but I still can’t believe it. After I had to talk to someone. I called home and my dad answered. He knew…and I could hear in his voice even how happy he was for me. He knew what I was like then. Knew how much I loved them, and to have my dream come true…well…and he’s going to be there in Boston too. We talked about that too. I was high on life at that moment (I’d only had two beers by then, that wasn’t enough to send me over the edge!!)

We had a couple more drinks in the VIP area and then it was time to go to our seats…way, way up…we walked, and walked, and got up there…and not only were we front row, we were front row, CENTER! I had my camera…I was set.

Opening acts were OK, actually realized I recognized some of the music of the second singer (can’t think of her name ), and we headed out to get another beer and on the way out I ran into a friend (out of 13,000 people in there what were the odds of that?).

Opening finished and finally it was time. The show was over 2 hours long and they danced, they flirted, they talked to the crowd, they changed costumes…they did like they did back in the day, only a little older now, and actually, a little hotter! They played new stuff, they played old stuff, they played stuff that was part of solo projects…they were out in the middle of the crowd and they were back on stage. It was AMAZING! While I’m not so young and innocent anymore, not like I was then, but it took me back. I was there with good friends, I had something in common (5 things in common) with 13,000 people in that stadium, and it was good….If only it could’ve gone on forever. Who knew…Oh, and if only my camera battery hadn't died (it was fully charged going in, new memory card and I didn't even manage to think to record any video clips...had I known the battery might die, I would've bought a spare!!)

OMG

2008-10-21T22:35:00.000-07:00

When I can compose my thoughts, there will be more...and pics. I'll just say I spent a lot for it, and I don't regret one dime. Even though it would've bought a few running shoes. And if I could get the same deal for tomorrow in Milwaukee I so would!

NKOTB Baby...

2008-10-21T11:29:00.000-07:00

Then:

Yeah, those of you guessing that would be the show. Come on it's the reunion tour of the century...yes, we are only in 2008 but for those of us women, now in our 20s and 30s, these were the boys that we grew up with....so for nostagial's sake, tonight I'm 17...with a good fake ID!! (nothing like being able to now drink at a concert where last time you saw them the idea of drinking wasn't even in your mind!!

Now:

24 Hours

2008-10-20T15:51:00.000-07:00

OK, a non-running related thing...I'm in a weird state right now as in just under 24 hours I'm going to once again be in St Paul (I NEVER cross the river and this is twice in a month!) this time for a concert...and I get to go backstage and meet a band that I used to idolize...I mean seriously, they were all over my walls...it's weird to think that half my life ago, I was still in that room, with those posters and now, tomorrow, I'm going to be in their presence...in real life...backstage...and then in the 10th row or better to watch...wow...

Recovery?

2008-10-17T17:51:00.000-07:00

Mile 1 - 8:24
Mile 2 - 8:02
Mile 3 - 8:01
Mile 4 - 7:28
Mile 5 - 7:25
Mile 6 - 7:31
Mile 7 - 7:17
Mile 8 - 8:05

That was my run last night…around my neighborhood…over the typical hills that I run…I’d say I must be recovered from the marathon…

So I registered for a half next weekend. Originally was going to run it just to have something on the calendar for post-marathon blues (but then with Boston to look forward to I don’t have that) and then was going to just run it to run with a friend who is doing her first half, but with those splits, I might shoot for a PR…it was a thought in my head depending on how recovery was going (but it’s also dependent on weather, this is MN and if it’s cold I don’t run as fast or well although sometimes maybe I do since it’s cold and you want to get done and into warm stuff!). The race is an Ortho race and is the Monster half…people are encouraged to come in costume, I might actually do a little something…maybe some devil horns and a tail since that would be easy…if I was only doing the 5K and/or not shooting for a PR I’d go a better costume, but since it’s the half and trying to run well, well, you know how that goes.

Anyway, starting to get back to normal things, catching up on homework, etc after the wild weekends the last couple. First the marathon, then last weekend was wild and crazy celebration time with a friend (her new job, my BQ, some of the night might not be recalled quite so easily!!), a 10 mile run with a friend and then lazing the rest of the day recovering from the night before. This weekend will be more subdued (have options tonight but think I’m staying in and cleaning and watching some movies) but I like that idea…I have so many things I need to get taken care of and I’ve been putting off. Now is the time to do that. Fall cleaning and all…suppose need to get my fall clothes out and rearrange and clean out my closet…ughh…

Finish Stats

2008-10-10T15:47:00.000-07:00

OK, one more before I finish on the marathon...these are the stats of my finishing position:

Top 16% of Finishers, 1276 out of 7969
Top 9% of Division 30-34, 52 out of 572
Top 7% of Gender, 228 out of 3192

Part Two – Twin Cities Marathon, October 5, 2008

2008-10-08T04:55:00.000-07:00

I registered for this marathon in April, I had decided it was the race last fall, maybe…so this has been a long, long time in coming! (flowers from my dad and mom to celebrate)

I was at the expo on Friday to allow rest on Saturday, skipped Salazar even though I really wanted to see him…but rest was more important. Bought a necklace that says 26.2 on it and am kicking myself for not getting back and getting the shirt from One More Mile that said “Some Girls Chase Boys, I Pass Them” on it. Saturday took my mom around the course to find spots for me to watch for them (my dad, mom, sister and brother) and then went to dinner at my favorite restaurant with a lot of friends (17 of us total I think).

Got home, got my stuff together after dinner and I actually slept fairly well on Saturday night (in fact I didn’t want to get out of bed Sunday morning). I had slept well on Friday too. My stuff was mostly together, I got out of bed, had a breakfast of a scrambled egg, 2 slices of toast and a banana. Took some Gatorade and headed to my sister’s where I was meeting my parents. Got there and realized I had forgotten my recovery drink and champagne but oh well. Forecast had chance for showers (and it had in fact already rained) but it was 51 degrees. I was in shorts, a short sleeved top and tube socks for sleeves, and a long sleeved top to throw away. Met my parents and we drove and parked downtown, got on the train and took it to the Dome. I was there about 7:20, a bit later than planned but oh well. Got there and found my training group and another friend that I had talked to. Went to the bathroom and then it was time to head out to the start. I was in Corral I, got into the start area just as the wheelers took off then 10 more minutes and off we went…I saw mom and dad right after the start but they didn’t see me and then I got focused on running slower to start (that didn’t happen unfortunately and I probably partly paid for that in the end, there was one 7:40 mile in there, yikes) and running the tangents and telling myself all kinds of good pep talk advice. At the first water stop, about 2.5 miles, I saw my academic advisor (heard her actually) yelling for me. Considering I’ve met her twice I was shocked she spotted me. I saw Alan Page (former Viking and current MN Supreme court justice) playing his tuba just past the water stop and then just on and focused. A light rain started then, but it was fine, nothing too bad and the crowds were out anyway and cheering great.

Mile 7.5 or so, just coming around Lake Harriet and heading up to the parkway and a few miles before I was set to see my parents and a good friend, it opened up and poured…climbing the hills you had water streaming over your shoes and no way to keep the feet dry. My gloves were soaked but I’m glad I had kept them and kept them on. I kept moving and by maybe 11.5 it was slowing down. I unfortunately didn’t see my friend or parents (later found out my parents had been delayed and hadn’t made it to that spot, but my friend did see me I just didn’t see or hear her).

By around mile 11-12 my legs were feeling “off”. I wasn’t sure what was wrong so took more sport beans and sharkies thinking I might be low on fuel. Running around Lake Nokomis was cold, even with the rain now died down, but there was some wind factor. Hit the half and then another few miles and noticed that my left quad was feeling very tight. I tried some more beans etc as I went on but just was focused on moving. Mile 17 it was definitely a problem, but what do you do? I just kept moving…made it over the bridge to St Paul and looked for my parents at the next spot between 20 and 21 but didn’t see them there either. This is where it was getting mentally tough. I started looking, thinking I could do 10 minute miles and still make it, thought about why I was doing this, and talking myself out of it...I reminded myself though, my dad was there, I told him I was going to get it for him, and I didn't want to HAVE to train that hard again unless I wanted to...so I Climbed the hill to St Thomas and that hurt…by the time I got to the top I wasn’t sure what I had left and I knew there was a gradual climb up Summit. It hadn’t hurt before, but it did then…Luckily I got a boost as my friend called out my name and I heard her this time and waved and went on…I had run this entire time but decided in the interest of getting more in me, I should walk through the next water stops, so mile 22, 23, and 24 I walked through, along with just a little walk up part of one other hill…mile 24 I also took a gel and I don’t know if it was that or the fact that there was somewhat of a downhill, but my legs came back somewhat and I was able to pick my pace back up from the 9 minute miles I was at to the sub 8:30 I had been at. I saw a girl from my training group and caught her just before mile 26, on the downhill, and I said “hey Jennie, we’re going to Boston” and she couldn’t believe it (she hadn’t worn a watch). I heard one of our coaches yell out “Boston” and smiled at him and the coast downhill was great. Just before the bleachers I heard massive screaming of “You can do it Dani, you’re almost there, you have it” and I recognized my sister’s voice, turned my head and looked then looked back at the finish and it clicked on which one in the crowd she was…I crossed the finish and for some reason the official clock wasn’t going but I knew it hadn’t taken me more than a few seconds to cross the start and my watch said 3:37 and some odd seconds so I knew it was good. I got my medal, told the woman I had qualified for Boston and she said that deserved a hug and gave me one. Wandered down and got a banana, space blanket, finishers shirt, water powerade and chip removed…all with Jennie, Pete and Kevin who were all in our training group and finished right around the same time as us. I got a quick finisher’s picture and then headed out of the secure area. I was waiting for the tears to fall, but I think I was too dehydrated to cry. I walked toward the family meet area and my brother and sister were there and both gave me hugs (even though I was wet and gross) and my parents walked up just after that and gave me a hug, dad apologizing that they hadn’t seen me finish, they had had trouble getting parked and just hadn’t gotten there…had they followed my brother and sister it might have worked out (they were in separate cars to, which hadn’t been part of the original plan but I found out later there was some hassle with getting around, should’ve made mom drive so she knew better!!). Talked to MNFirefly and FullMetalLunchBox and got my official finish time of 3:37:52 from them and then headed to the post party tent. Talked to the friend that had been cheering me on and gave her my official finish time….sent texts to a few people and checked on a few others and we were off.

My brother had done some landscaping in the area so we went and looked at that then I called my grandma’s and we headed back to the truck…a long, long walk, back up the hill, but oh well. Dad and I just walked really slowly behind my mom and sister. It was a challenge to cross the marathon course, but did it and off to home…where I had mom stop along the way at my place so I could get a bottle of champagne, well, Fragalino, a great Italian sweet, sparkling wine that tastes like strawberries…I’d been saving it for a special occasion and thought this was special. Took a warm shower and then sat in my sister’s hot tub for a bit before going and grabbing food. I wanted to meet up with some of the friends in town, but by the time I could’ve gotten there it was just getting late, so I headed home, stopped by the party my training group was having, had cake, talked to others and found that all 4 girls I had been running with all summer had qualified for Boston so that was very cool.

Now it’s recovery time. I took the day off work yesterday and didn’t run. I’m going to attempt 3-4 tonight (even though it’s raining!) and clean and study tonight…I’ll recover this week, maybe do a half in a couple of weeks but then I’m working on getting my Boston plans together. I’m just so excited at the fact that I can go to Boston’s website and actually register…and they will let me because I have a time that they can verify lets me in…I’m just floored on this one still!!

Thanks to all for the support through the training too. I had some low times, I had some tough times and I had good things happen…you’ve all been there and it’s awesome to have the support all over. Thank you!!

Part One – The Road to Boston

2008-10-07T15:36:00.001-07:00

I had started a bit last night, but decided I need to really get back and post more on this than I originally maybe started. After all, this is the culmination (although seriously, I know I have a faster marathon in me, you’ll hear about things behind this in the report, but I might have to do another fast one one day in better conditions), the pinnacle, I made my goal to run the World Series/Super Bowl of Marathons…and those of you out there that do them, I know you know what I mean!!

This blog started after my marathon career started…so let’s go back 4 years…or, better yet 6 years. I had started running again (ran in high school and then just very sporadically after, in fact a friend in college used to run 5-7 miles a day and I thought she was nuts!!) and told some friends, well, I might do a 5K someday, but no way I’m going to do a marathon…that was the year I ran my first 5K, 10K and half (that 10K is still my only 10K race so my current PR is 59:30, so guess I’ll have a 15 minute or so PR on that when I run another!). I even ran 10 miles of the Twin Cities course with a friend as my last long run. My half was a 2:14:30, it hurt and no way I could see doing twice that, but it was in my mind by that point to do one. That was all when I was 28…so the year I turned 30, 2004, I decided OK, time for a full. To celebrate my 30th birthday I semi-trained for Grandma’s marathon, my parents came for it, it was Father’s day weekend and I ran a 4:48. Knowing that my training wasn’t great, I thought, well, I’ll probably do another one. It had been a fun weekend and my dad was very proud, he’s always been a supporter of any goal I set. Of course by this time I knew more about the sport and about Boston, but having run over 10 minute miles for the marathon, 8:22 I believe would get me to Boston, no way I can run that, fast for me then was 9 minute miles, maybe a couple under 9…

Fast forward and in 2005 I ran Mad-city in Madison with a 3:42 or something like that, and then Chicago (last really nice weather year for it I think too, as then it was cold and then hot), which I honestly thought would be my last race in 4:20. I had done 3 by then and thought well, that’s enough. Why would I do more?? But shortly after Chicago I thought well, maybe, I’d like to go under 4 hours. So 2006 I started training much harder, changed what I had been doing and followed a really good program. I was shooting for under 4, and as the training went on, a part of me started thinking hmmm…Boston MIGHT not be out of reach. I thought maybe I could go under 4 at one in the spring and hit BQ at one in the fall. I ran Marathon to Marathon in Iowa and had my PR of 3:42:54. I was on Boston pace there for 20 miles…I really hadn’t known that was possible even at that point. Anyway, I had already registered for Marine Corp as well, so I started in right away training and that was probably a mistake. I was tired and sore and went to Marine Corp not trained for the 3:40. Well, I was, but I spent a lot of time trying to catch the 3:40 pace group and burned out at the half…so it was a death trudge for the second half. Not fun, but still finished with my second best time to that point in a 3:56 or so.
2007 I took off. I ran a 5K and PR’d on that, but I was having hip/back issues and I did run a 25K (and technically PR’d but the prior one was terrible so it was a given). I had registered for Grandma’s, thinking to use it to qualify but I didn’t end up running because of the issues…I wasn’t running another one if I didn’t have a shot to BQ at it was my frame of mind at that point.

So see, for those of you that don’t think it’s possible, I’m telling you it is. You just have to get out there and run more. That’s what it takes apparently. It’s what I had been told, I hadn’t fully believed it, but as I’ve run more, my times have gotten faster. I know I still have a lot of PRs in me, including marathon…I haven’t fully reached my potential, so next year might be a focus on shorter races to see what I have!

Boston Bound

2008-10-05T19:53:00.001-07:00

So title probably tells it all!! A longer report to follow, probably tomorrow, but my chip time was 2:37:53, technically got me in with 4 minutes to spare. Weather wasn't the best, cooler temps but a downpour miles 7.5-10.5 made it chillier!!

Important thing is the end result. I PR'd by 5:01 too.

The Day Before

2008-10-04T05:20:00.001-07:00

I want to thank everyone for the well wishes!! Thankfully, even though I'm awake early, I got a good nights sleep last night. This is a good thing since tonight might not fair as well.

Hopefully I'll be able to properly thank all of you for the well wishes with a really great report, sometime either tomorrow or for sure by Monday (and I promise I'll try to at least get a little blurb about it tomorrow even if I get no report till Monday).

Now, hopefully I can get this homework done.

TCM 2 Days...

2008-10-03T14:16:00.000-07:00

OK, I have my packet picked up...and bought a few fun things at the expo. Will probably be at the expo for a time tomorrow. Still debating if I'll see Salazar or not....it's during time that I'd like to be resting so we'll see. Weather is hovering at 50/55 for low/high, slight chance for rain, about 20-30% but that's mostly later in the day. If it's not overly cool humid the weather could be great. At least for the runners. I hope the 40s we have had for the past couple of days is gone because that's cooler than I like!!

Anyway, will post more maybe later, going to meet some friends in town to run the marathon at a happy hour/dinner. Then home to do homework...hopefully get it done tonight so I don't have to think about it tomorrow or Monday!

I have to remember, I'm trained. I'm ready. I'm going to kick butt....

TCM - 4 Days and Counting

2008-10-01T14:25:00.000-07:00

Wow…a week since I wrote…and tapering continues…

The week has flown, I had a post I was going to make and didn’t remember. This class two nights a week, running group one night and something seeming to be on every Friday, and coming up on Thursday it’s keeping me busy.

Last weekend I spent most of the weekend doing homework. I was in tears of frustration over Excel. The stupid program does not work well, at least not for the things that I was trying to do. Thank God for facebook and a friend from class on there that was able to help me after some things she had found. Her and I were both trying different things and it was a horror…6 hours of my life that should’ve only taken 1-2 at most…ughh…at least, so far, my answers seem to be decent, and he’s guiding toward better answers. Just want this class to go well, and looking forward to it being over. I haven’t had a chance to really work on homework yet for this week, but I have a problem assignment, a computer assignment (but honestly both use computer so not sure what he uses to determine the difference!!) and a reading/writing assignment. Seriously. If I had homework in the other class beyond reading (and there is a test coming up) I’d be totally screwed. Once Sunday is done my focus will be 100% on it though.

So Sunday…of course the question comes…are you ready? Am I? I don’t know. Really…I don’t. I mean I should be, I should fill myself with confidence, but there is some doubt, even with that good run at the 25K. I think that’s causing me problems because what if that was my good race this year and what if it’s not like that on Sunday? I know, that’s beyond my control. As is the weather (which is changing daily, only thing I don’t like is the wind, temps are OK, even a little rain won’t be too bad, but wind I don’t want!). I can focus on sleep, eating right, carbo loading and keeping myself healthy till Sunday.

I got an adjustment on Monday. That was nice. I felt good last night on our group run. This mornings was OK. Tomorrow is off, I’ll do 2-3 on Friday and that will be it. Rest on Saturday, although I’m torn there. Alberto Salazar is speaking at the expo. He’s there from 2-3 and then signing autographs. At that time I’d like to be napping and/or have my feet up. I can’t walk all day Saturday. I know that. I need to rest myself up for Sunday and my big task…but think how cool to see him, have him sign my bib (I had Dick Beardsley sign my first bib from my first marathon, and they are the two that ran the most famous Boston Marathon, so how cool would it be to have Salazar sign?), but I think I’m going to the expo early instead and then resting. I could nap at my sister’s with my fuzzy brothers…and do homework…

Also am hoping one day to get caught up on other people's lives!

Tapering Continues

2008-09-24T19:18:00.001-07:00

Guess I haven’t written in a couple of days…maybe it’s due to being busy with school, work, taper nuttiness? Anyway, still here, still trying to keep the focus, the goal, clear the mind and believe…

The weekend was spent traveling to a friends surprise birthday party in WI and back. Just under a 2 hour drive one way, but I saw a few people I hadn’t seen in a while while there and that was nice. One a friend that I know from college and haven’t seen, maybe since her wedding, and in that time, unfortunately she has ended up divorced…and what made me sad, is that the experience seems to have changed her. Don’t get me wrong, you can’t go through a divorce and not change right? (not having been involved and married, I can’t speak from experience but knowing breakups change you, it would stand to measure that a divorce would do more!) I always knew her as this sunny, sweet, happy person…glass is half full and/or full to overflowing…always a kind word for people, but would call someone out if they were doing something that wasn’t right, so she wouldn’t get run over and taken advantage of…but now she just seems different…not the person I first met and knew, and yes, it was more than 8 years ago that I met her, so that two would account for changes, in fact I knew her first before she was even 21, and she just turned 30…but it’s always sad to see those changes in those that you know shouldn’t change, or wish that they wouldn’t change.

Anyway, got home late but Sunday morning I got up and went to the farmer’s market where yay, they had my Cortland apples that I so love (the ones I got last week were good, Zestar, but Cortland are just even that much better!!), talked to my parents, went for a run and then tackled homework…A full day of it pretty much since I spent Saturday running around (12.5 mile run Saturday morning, then a little homework and then of course the trip to WI and back). Got it done in time to relax, watch a bit of TV and go to bed. I didn’t want to get up yesterday morning, but did and went through the workday, finalized one bit of homework during lunch and then was off to class. Monday night is Stats…but while it’s a bit hard to follow sometimes, the lecture can go all over the board, I do like listening to him, and the stuff we discuss is more the application of stats instead of all talk of the formulas and theories of why. Got my first assignment back too. We are reading a book called The Ghost Map, which lays out the cholera outbreak in London in 1854 and basically what caused it…each week we read a chapter and are tasked with taking 1-2 sentences from the reading and writing about how it relates to what we are discussing or have discussed…that’s it for the direction. I wrote about 2 paragraphs on the section I took, and ended up doing really well on it. In fact I proclaimed I still know how to BS because I know I sat with that assignment having no clue what he might want/be looking for…but his grading is basically verbal, super, excellent or good…excellent basically is what you want to strive for as it will help pretty much have you at a B-B+ going into the final…I had a super…meaning I was a step above that!! I like that. Now at least I have sometime to fall back on to write going forward. I know this weeks isn’t as good as that one, but hopefully it at least earns an excellent…along with the other homework that took quite some time…the concepts are still taking time to set itself in my mind!! Or taking my mind time to remember them!!
And tonight is my 3rd to last training group run. Scary and sad…we are doing 5-7 miles at marathon pace and afterward have a speaker. Jason Lehmkuhle…member of Team USA of MN who finished 5th at the Olympic Marathon Trials…should be quite cool!
______________
So forgot to get this posted yesterday so it's now posted today...and the talk was quite cool...I mean not often you talk to someone in such a quiet setting that is at that level...

Class was done early, run last night was entertaining as taper nuttiness and snarkyness was in place big time. Long week and the one day I had to go home and just veg I now gave up and am going to a happy hour...sigh...

Tapering

2008-09-19T15:43:00.000-07:00

Well, the taper pains are here I think. Seriously...my legs feel like lead!! I did go for a run last night, a tempo, that because of lost signals I think was a bit short, but on mapmyrun it came up at most .20 short of the 10 miles I thought I did, so not OVERLY short. I guess the time I had is fairly close, I mean at most it's probably 1-2 minutes off, which isn't a lot over 10 miles. At most instead of the 8:01 pace Garmin said, probably an 8:20...how is that?? Means I did run at least 5-6 miles of MP like I planned. I really didn't believe it though, my legs felt so tight I really didn't feel like I was running some of the sub 8 miles that were coming up.

Middle of the night I woke up, and feeling like lead still, I decided you know, this is taper week, I had planned 44 miles, but if I didn't run today, I'd still be at 40 for the week if I run tomorrow (which I am) and Sunday, which I definitely plan on, it's not a big deal. The hay is in the barn, as Nathan, one of my training coaches put it. There is only injury and overtraining and not enough rest that can come right? So I slept in this morning and took this afternoon off. Of course I snacked and feel guilty about that and feel I should go run that off...maybe I should go soak in a tub instead...see if that soaks the tightness out of my legs.

Anyway, other than that, I'm glad the week is over. I have class on Monday, training group on Tuesday (but only for 2 more weeks, that makes me kind of sad) and class again on Wednesday. Can I just say how much I look forward to Thursday?

Yasso 800s

2008-09-17T04:39:00.000-07:00

The last kind of big workout pre-taper, although I'll do a tempo run tomorrow yet too, and a light tempo next week as well...but it's really and truly cutting down...met with the training group and did an easy 2 mile warm up before hitting the track at St Thomas for the 800s, 400 recovery...this is how they broke down (unfortunately I don't have the recovery time for each since I don't have a regular watch right now, just ordered one, and I didn't use the interval function on Garmin last night).

Yasso 1 - 3:31
Yasso 2 - 3:35
Yasso 3 - 3:27
Yasso 4 - 3:27
Yasso 5 - 3:25
Yasso 6 - 3:30
Yasso 7 - 3:31
Yasso 8 - 3:28
Yasso 9 - 3:28
Yasso 10 - 3:20

Thing is, they actually felt pretty easy...I could've done a few more and none of them, not even the last, really felt like I was pushing the pace.

We had dinner at a fun place nearby after and got out of there way too late, to bed way too late and up way too early...with class tonight it's going to be a really long day I think! Ah well.

Fall?

2008-09-14T10:50:00.000-07:00

First of all, last hard, high mileage week complete. For my PR marathon in 2006 I had my highest mileage week ever then, of 63 miles. This morning I did 5 miles , and has been the case after every long run so far, ended up feeling really good and averaged an 8:41 pace. I tell you, Endurox R4 recovery drink works. I have had it after my long runs and feel good enough for a good run the next day. Even when the long runs are done harder!! Anyway, that 5 miles put my mileage for this week at 68. I ran everyday. And since I ran last Sunday, that's 8 days of running...I think my body is ready for a rest.

After my run yesterday I decided it was time for a quick stop at the farmers market because it's mid-September and my favorite apple had to be in season by now...Cortland's. A MN apple, the only thing I really look forward to in the fall...and no, they aren't quite ready. Maybe next weekend, but not even a guarantee on that. We did have a late spring after all. And when the person at the stand mentioned that, I remembered that too and was even more upset about the color changes we noticed in the leaves on our run today. Yes, we are experiencing normal conditions for this time of year in MN, but we had a cold winter last year, a crappy winter, and a very, very late spring...don't we deserve a bit longer summer??? Don't get me wrong, I don't want summer conditions marathon day, 3 weeks from today, but I don't want fall yet when we were cheated out of spring! But such is MN...and at least we are in football season right? And I was able to get a different apple, Zestar, a newly developed one, developed right here in MN at the University of Minnesota that are pretty good...so it wasn't a total loss at the farmer's market.

Another sign of fall...homework time.

Let the Taper Begin…Except for Tuesday’s Yasso’s!

2008-09-13T13:21:00.000-07:00

That was the theme today, and yes, we are doing Yasso’s on Tuesday with my group, but today marks the official end to the mileage build up. Over the next 3 weeks I’ll be cutting back my mileage and of course there is a big race 3 weeks from tomorrow.

My plan, 22 miles, the group had plans for 20, so I went for a quick two mile warm up through downtown St. Paul.

Mile 1 – 9:06
Mile 2 – 10:00

Then met my group, basically at mile 26.2. Today’s run was an out and back. 10 miles backwards over the marathon course and then 10 miles back. Coming into today I had 40 miles in, not counting the race on Sunday (since that was last weeks mileage but still, it was a factor to the week). The Fartlks on Tuesday and the somewhat failed intervals in the downpour on Thursday. I had a decent meal, similar to what I want to eat the day before the marathon (at my favorite restaurant) last night, got to bed, and thought before bed that I couldn’t wait till today, getting this last long run done. The long run with the group. Plan was long slow distance of course, BUT if you felt OK, run harder coming back…up the hills. So that’s what I did.

Mile 1 – 9:15 Mile 12 – 8:32
Mile 2 – 8:54 Mile 13 – 8:52
Mile 3 – 9:10 Mile 14 – 9:28
Mile 4 – 8:54 Mile 15 – 8:31
Mile 5 – 8:54 Mile 16 – 8:39
Mile 6 – 8:21 Mile 17 – 8:08
Mile 7 – 8:51 Mile 18 – 8:10
Mile 8 – 9:42 Mile 19 – 7:50
Mile 9 – 8:49 Mile 20 – 7:53
Mile 10 – 8:53 Mile 21 – 7:54
Mile 11 – 9:08

I’m pleased with the results. We ended up longer by a mile, I was fine with that. Average pace was 8:43, which is what I had been wanting to run my long runs at. The slowest miles from today are pretty much water stops, and the best part. The hills at Mississippi River road, which are the harder ones, are the hardest we saw and I’ve run them 2 other times with the group already. Everyone always warns that Summit is bad, the hills will kill you from mile 22-24…we were running Summit and one guy said “almost to the top”…my response…in seriousness, “we are climbing a hill?” Talk about feeling good!!

And in the beginning of the run, my legs were feeling a little tired, still kind of were at the end, but the main thing is I did it, and I think I did it well. And now let the fretting and worrying that comes with taper on…we all know it happens!! Oh yeah, and that makes 63 miles for the week, matching my highest mileage ever, and I'll be doing a recovery run tomorrow.

Fall…and Back to School Time

2008-09-11T17:26:00.000-07:00

Well, September, in just a few weeks in fact, we’ll be officially in “fall” again. I know people that love the fall, I’m one of the weird ones that don’t. And honestly, I don’t consider myself a pessimist (maybe a cynic at times, but never a pessimist). I usually can see the glass as half full, or at least more often half full than half empty, but with the fall, yes, it gets pretty, the leaves look great, and the break in humidity is great for running, but it’s not like spring, we don’t have the humidity then either, and the days get warmer and you look forward to 50 degrees and running in shorts, but after you get used to summer and running in shorts in 90 degrees, running in shorts in 50 again feels cold. One morning this week I saw my breath in the air leaving for work, and the two mornings I have run, I went in shorts, but chose long sleeves for the top…and it will just get cooler…and then of course the dark…in the spring the days are getting longer, in the fall they are getting shorter. I guess what this all comes down to, and what makes it hard for me is that I live in Minnesota, of course, and here the fall is very short, and it leads into winter, and winter is very long, cold and dark, none of which I like. So while yes, the weather is great for running, the leaves are pretty, it’s leading to something very soon that I don’t like and it’s hard to enjoy the month or so of fall that we get because of that. That makes sense doesn’t it?

For this week I got a happy surprise on Tuesday. A friend of mine happens to mention recently about being on the Nike campus once…when I ask how, she mentions that’s where her friend that lives in OR works. Umm…does she get DISCOUNTS? I asked…and I wasn’t even thinking of my shoes because you know, I get an OK deal on them most times, but the Nike Tempo Track short. They are my favorite. I have 8 pairs and I still want more because they are comfy and they have so many fun colors. Well, turns out she can get the normally $28 shorts for $16…I said yes, get me some. I said around $100, basically about 5 pair, and I happily went through the 22 colors on Nike’s site, got it down to around 10 that I really wanted and put them in order saying any 5…I got the package and wore a new pair on Tuesday with my group run, we did fartleks, and let me say, that was tough after that race on Sunday!! I got home and was going to put the new ones away and counted and found 5 in the bag…but I had worn one of the new ones that night too…when I looked through them, one pair had been marked clearance there for $9, so my guess is since they were so cheap, and actually the others were cheaper than the $16 she had thought they were, she just got an extra pair. Shipped they still were only $100…so 6 new pair of Nike Tempo Track shorts, shipped to me (well my friend, but easy enough to pick up from her) for $100…what a great day!!

Oh yeah, and on the other part of my post…school is in session full swing now. I have two classes and have now been to both of them. So far so good…we’ll see how it goes!! So far I really like both profs though, so that’s a good thing.

And I’m winding up the week…this will be my last high mileage week before taper. My plan has me doing about 65 miles, which will be my highest mileage week ever. If I get my run in tonight, the distance that I have planned, there is no doubt I’ll end up in that range…the last 20 miler is on Saturday morning, the back half of the marathon course (out 10 miles the wrong way and then back 10 miles over the hilliest part of it) and I won’t miss that run. Other than that it will probably be a weekend of homework…what more can you do after a 20-22 mile run anyway??

Guess before I post this I can post my pathetic interval day...I won't make excuses for it, it just wasn't in me today. But if I were going to make them, I suppose the race on Sunday, the fartleks on Tuesday, running this morning and the downpour that started halfway into my first mile repeat all could've played a factor (the ran let up after about my 2nd or 3rd one, but by then I was drenched and miserable).

Mile 1 - 7:22 (did lose signal so think this one was long this time)
Mile 2 - 8:06 (really bad signal and felt horrible)
Mile 3 - 6:39
Mile 4 - 7:10
Mile 5 - 6:58
Mile 6 - 6:45

The last 4 were better, but two of them, mile 4 and mile 6 were down a really nice hill...so that's why 6 was as good as it was. I did manage a total of 12 miles even with the rain, but might have killed my MP3...ah well.

City of Lakes 25K - 2008

2008-09-07T13:40:00.001-07:00

Well, weather was about perfect. It was a tiny bit cooler than I might have asked for, but it’s better than the heat that could’ve been. Not sure on early temp, but low 50s I’d guess, no wind, some clouds. I wore shorts and a long sleeved tech shirt, I should’ve worn a short sleeved and gone with my tube sock sleeves, but either way I was OK. My plan was to start the first 2 miles at around 8:30 and then bump up to MP of 8:00 miles through mile 10 or so, and then see what I had left for the last 5.5. As you can see, that plan kind of went by the wayside…

Mile 1 – 8:16
Mile 2 – 7:57
Mile 3 – 7:50
Mile 4 – 8:06
Mile 5 – 7:55
Mile 6 – 7:50
Mile 7 – 7:45
Mile 8 – 7:21
Mile 9 – 7:50
Mile 10 – 7:25
Mile 11 – 7:42
Mile 12 – 7:41
Mile 13 – 7:31
Mile 14 – 7:30
Mile 15 – 7:23
Mile .73 – 5:06

Garmin Time for 15.72 – 2:01:16 ~ Unofficial Clock Time – 2:01:41
Garmin ½ Marathon – 1:43:26 ~ ½ Marathon Clock – 1:43:53

This race is not chip timed so that accounts for the difference in my Garmin time vs. the clock time. I was about 30 seconds or so off the clock, took that time to get to the start line from where I started. And then of course, I didn’t get the full tangents of the course so ran a bit further than the 25K. Average pace for the almost 16 miles that I ran (and I did a 1 mile warm up) was 7:43. Average pace I need for my time goal for the marathon is 8 minute miles…marathon is now officially 4 weeks out. (And the picture is of the beer stein that you get for finishing, much better than a cotton t-shirt!! If only they provided beer to put in it!!) Oh, and I put my 1/2 marathon pace breaks in there simply because I was feeling really good then, and even on the clock time, I was ahead of my current 1/2 PR.

I needed this race. It felt really good. I had to rein myself in a bit, I hope and pray I feel that same way on marathon day. I definitely picked up sooner than I planned, and while toward the end I was feeling a bit tired, you wouldn’t know it by the paces I was putting up. Oh, and I more than made up for the way I ran it last year...I definitely was in better shape, and I didn't get dehydrated, and die at the end.

Oh, and those 2 fast miles from the intervals, I did mapmyrun on them, and they were about a tenth of a mile off, so more in the 6:30 and 7:00 miles that I figured…I know there is no way I’d feel that good after paces those fast!! This week is my last really full, hard week. My last 20 miler is on Saturday. I have a group run speed day on Tuesday, and then will do more intervals on Thursday. Another speed day or two next week, and the taper begins.

Heartbreak and Head Colds

2008-09-04T16:32:00.000-07:00

Back from my trip, and I'll try to post about it this weekend. Wasn't quite what I expected, didn't quite get to do some of the things I wanted, but my biggest thing...I got to see Heartbreak...yes...the famous hill. And I ran the last 8 or 9 miles of the course...it was very cool. And yes, I can see where heartbreak gets its name!!

Well, interval run...I wasn't sure what to expect, I've been sick since I got back (or full of allergies), I'm exhausted from lack of rest...so wanted to just stay in bed this morning...I did a 2 mile warm up and then the intervals:

Mile 1 – 6:56
Mile 2 – 6:49
Mile 3 – 7:00
Mile 4 – 5:46 - OK, I don't believe this one, lost signal a tiny bit, but still didn't seem enough to account for such a fast time...
Mile 5 – 6:12 - This one I think is a bit off too, but I don't know what to think.

Half mile recoveries between each, and then a 3 mile cool down. I wanted the 12 miles...it felt pretty decent and was at a pretty decent pace overall. Alright, yes, those were the times I put up, I KNOW that 5:46 is a bit off, I didn't feel tired enough for that one, and the 6:12, I don't know...but I know Garmin is real...so who knows. Anyway, I trust the first three at least. And I know a few of you are amazed at the speed...but remember, this is just for 1 mile at a time!! You would be amazed at what you can pound out one at a time!!

Oh, and classes started!! More on that later too.

Thundering Intervals

2008-08-27T04:27:00.000-07:00

Literally. I noticed a little heat lightning as I started out this morning, but was determined I'd get my intervals in this morning so I could get a light run in this afternoon before finalizing my packing and getting to bed early for the 3:30 am wake up to get to the airport.

1 mile warmup and then 4 x 1 at 7:00 pace was the plan.

Mile 1 - 6:53

Mile 2 - 7:14

Mile 3 - 7:46

Mile 4 - 6:34

OK, again not good pacing but average was 6:53 and I got 8 miles in in 1:02:52 which pleases me. By interval 3 the rain was starting and by 4 I was in a full thunderstorm...but I don't mind. Just kind of weird when it's dark and you're exerting that much it makes it hard to focus. Really messes with the mind.

Orientation went well. I got my books. Scares me because they are put together by the professor. Not just a pre-done textbook...means the guy is smart! Hopefully he's a good instructor. We had a little meet and greet session where I was talking to a girl who happens to be training for her first marathon in January, so I gave her my email and told her to keep in contact since we aren't in class together first semester. Speech by the Dean was very good. He isn't dry, had good humor and good things to say. Dinner was good, salad, wasn't crazy about the dressing so picked at it, but dinner was chicken and veggies and rosemary red potatoes, I was at a table seated next to the Dean and he said his mother wasn't there so he didn't have to eat his veggies!! A man after my own heart!! Dessert was a chocolate mousse in an edible chocolate cup...yummy!! Then we had a breakout session where they talked about the program, a professor and our advisor (each of us was in a room with our assigned advisor, there are 170 incoming 1st years), and we discussed an article we had been given to read, to simulate what classes might be like. An enjoyable evening and a part of me is kicking myself for not taking two classes...I'm almost thinking I should sign up for one more. I'd really only have one week of heavy running while having class as well...so it wouldn't be too terrible...I have a day or so to think about it...hmmm...

Upcoming Vacation

2008-08-26T18:14:00.000-07:00

So many posts lately about my running and not really anything else…but then I’m less than 6 weeks now from the marathon, which means 3 more hard weeks (and 2 days gone from that now!) and 3 weeks of lighter, tapering…so you can see where the obsession comes in right?

Anyway, in other news, other than running (I have 21 miles in so far this week by the way, and yeah, it’s only Tuesday…yikes, but vacation starts Thursday so need to pack them in before I go, bad time for vacation but oh well), I have orientation tonight, which I might have mentioned yesterday…in fact by the time I get this posted I will probably have already been. What’s interesting about this is that I actually had to read an article before it because apparently we have a classtype discussion about leadership after the sign in (at 4 pm, hello, we are working MBA students, that’s the reason we are taking the night program!) and keynote address by the Dean and then dinner (yeah, dinner, who knew?) we have a class. Kind of weird…meant I had to get up early today so I could run before work, that’s all I know and I have to miss my group run tonight…sad times.

In other news. I leave. On Thursday. For vacation!! Yippee…this is that trip I was supposed to be making to a wedding that is now changed and apparently I wasn’t invited to the updated small ceremony, even though I already had my ticket, but actually that works out better as I no longer have to spend $200+ a night to stay in the city and instead I get to visit my favorite city, in this country, that I have been to so far. I fly into NY on Thursday, meeting up with my friend Kurt who is getting me from the airport and is planning to take me on a 10K route that he runs in his area and enjoys. There is dinner planned and beer will be drunk, he asked what kind I like, my reply, anything not overly bitter or thick!! I like trying new beers so we’ll see what he finds…he also mentioned wine…yum…then on Friday I’m back to the airport to fly up to Boston where I will meet up with my friend Bill and possibly at some point my friend Craig and meet Craig’s lady friend perhaps…Bill lives in downtown Boston. Bill has a great slicery just a block (not even) from his building. Bill has a liquor store just a block from his building…Bill has a train station just around the corner that can get you to the North End and fabulous Canole…and he also lives on a really great 4 mile or so loop along the Charles and just down from Harvard, and not far from BU…oh, and the Boston Marathon Finish line!! My goals…see Heartbreak Hill, hopefully run a race (they have a live run for the Nike Human Race from Cambridge on Sunday) and maybe get up into New Hampshire and Maine…beach fun is supposed to be had as well. We shall see…I’m there for about 5 days so lots of time to see a lot!! I was contemplating a whale watch. That could be cool.

A Love and Hate

2008-08-25T17:48:00.000-07:00

So just a week or two ago I wrote a post about how much I hate tempo runs...I don't know if it was finally having a good one last week with my training group (which I'm going to miss for the next couple of weeks and I'm bummed about that, tomorrow I have orientation for my MBA program and then vacation and other stuff) or what, but this week instead of jumping right to the tempo, I decided a progressive, like last week, was in order and while I don't tend to always post mile splits, this was the breakdown...

Mile 1 - 9:04
Mile 2 - 8:40
Mile 3 - 7:56
Mile 4 - 7:51
Mile 5 - 7:46
Mile 6 - 7:32
Mile 7 - 7:06
Mile 8 - 7:00
Mile 9 - 7:06
Mile 10 -8:03
Mile 11 - 6:55

Mile 1 and 2 were meant for warmup. Then I wanted to do the next 4 miles at Marathon Pace of 8:00 and then 3 more miles at, well, half marathon pace, but I don't know what that is, so anything under 7:25 or so was my plan, and those were 7:00ish...not bad. First cool down was another MP so that was kind of cool...last one, I'm not sure about. I know I wasn't going fast. I also didn't lose signal, so...well, could I honestly have been going that fast and not realized? I really felt like I had slowed down for the cool down...as was plan. Oh, and I had done an easy 4 that morning for a warm up type of run and only planned 10 for the afternoon but was at 10.2 by my car so figured I'd just finish that last mile. Could be a good week. Even with my travel!

Average came out to 7:46...I'll take that...if only I can hold that for another 15 miles...

Oh yeah, and speaking of that orientation...I better get myself reading that article I'm supposed to read for tomorrow for it. Yes, I have homework and classes don't start for another week (mine is two weeks from today actually). Save me!!

And Then There Was 20

2008-08-23T10:20:00.000-07:00

So yes, last week was a 20 miler. This week was a shorter, fall back week, recovery and all that, for next weeks 20, but next week I’m out of town. I’ll be in Boston when my group is running. And I don’t know how easy it might be to get a 20 miler in out there (although yes, the thought had occurred to run from the finish line, 10 out and back, yes, along that course), with the going out, hanging out and all that good stuff. So my other option was back to back 20s…and getting up extra early on a Saturday so I could run 8, then pick up with the group. I didn’t know if going out after would happen or not…I was out of bed at 4:30, and at our meet spot around 5:30. I ran out 4 miles, opposite direction we would be running, in the dark…alone…and while normally I don’t think twice about that, but I was in a different area, not that it was a bad area, but well, you know…it was dark, but thankfully it was fine. I saw a few other early birds, although not many. Anyway, the 8 went like this:

Mile 1 – 9:24
Mile 2 – 8:56
Mile 3 – 8:42
Mile 4 – 8:54
Mile 5 – 8:52
Mile 6 – 8:52
Mile 7 – 8:52
Mile 8 – 8:35

A quick break, bathroom stop, quick chat with a couple of the group members, directions on the route and we were out:

Mile 9 – 8:57
Mile 10 – 9:03
Mile 11 – 8:40
Mile 12 – 8:58
Mile 13 – 8:38
Mile 14 – 7:54
Mile 15 – 8:20
Mile 16 – 8:29
Mile 17 – 8:28
Mile 18 – 8:09
Mile 19 – 8:21
Mile 20 – 7:44

Total Time – 2:54:04 for an average of 8:39 pace. Granted there were about 10-15 minutes between the two runs, but overall it really was a good run.

The next weeks are crazy and unfortunately now I don’t get to run with the group for a bit and I’m going to miss it. I have orientation on Tuesday night, then next Saturday out of town, won’t be back in time the next Tuesday for the run (missing two key speedwork sessions, but that’s OK, I can do speedwork alone) and the next longer run I’m doing a race that weekend instead…

Sunrise Intervals

2008-08-21T17:17:00.000-07:00

I haven’t done these in a while…I did some cruise intervals a while back, but that’s kind of a cop out workout calling it intervals since it’s more toward tempo than anything. Anyway, been freaking out at the lack of intervals in my workout so decided this morning I could throw in a few light ones to get some speed work in, particularly since this is a lighter week anyway. Plan was for 3 1 mile intervals with a half mile recovery at 7:00 pace. 1 mile warm up and 1 mile cool down for an easy 6 miles. In the morning that strikes me as fairly easy.

Got out of bed, it was difficult, but managed it with enough time to get the workout in and have plenty of time to get ready. I ran a mile warm up at 9:20 pace, then set up Garmin for the intervals. One problem with the 201 (that apparently is fixed in the 305) is that Garmin doesn’t count the recovery as part of the overall workout and/or figure the time into everything, so I had to just do a guesstimate on overall time since I forgot to look…makes me want the 405 even more (especially having seen more about it the other day, touch screens etc…I’m thinking Christmas present to myself this year!! I do tend to get Christmas money, and I didn’t buy what I had planned with Christmas money last year either…hmm….). Anyway, this is how it played out.

Interval 1 – 6:25
Interval 2 – 6:13
Interval 3 – 7:01

Umm, yeah, have I mentioned I’m no good at pacing? I knew the first one my legs were feeling kind of tired but had no idea I was running that much faster than planned pace. Second one, well, there was a good downhill on it, OK, that was actually on the first one too, but still. Third one, that was more like it, and obviously the first two got me! Also did end on a decent uphill. During my first recovery interval, I was jogging along (only time you’ll see me use that word!!) and I saw Mrs. Bambi trotting down the road toward me. She freaked a bit, and took off and got onto a yard, but then stopped, and kind of looked at me as I jogged by, I looked at her, said good morning and went on my way and she went on hers. It makes me remember back to the morning I saw a doe and three fawns…I haven’t seen deer on a morning run in a while and it does make for an interesting morning. I’ve seen red fox in the morning too. Now all of this wouldn’t be strange except that I live in a city of 45,000 people. A first tier suburb of Minneapolis, population 350,000…a metro area of 2-2.5 million…but I do live near very wealthy neighborhoods with large yards and some nature areas, and the deer know a good address and school district I guess!!

I also couldn't wait for the sun to get up. I forgot how disoriented I get in the dark when doing a tougher workout that really pushes the O2 levels etc...

Hot and Steamy

2008-08-19T18:14:00.000-07:00

Much the way Twin Cities and Chicago were last year. Tonight was Tuesday night group run and we started from Minnehaha Falls here in Minneapolis and went over the Ford Bridge (crossing the Dam hill we ran two weeks ago) for a nice warm up of 2.5 miles to a water stop. Plan from there was 2.5 or so at marathon pace to the Franklin Bridge, the bridge you cross during Twin Cities from Minneapolis into St. Paul (mile 19) and then the back to water stop was to be at half marathon pace and after the water, for another mile to mile and a half at 10K pace if it was in you...well, the 10K pace wasn't quite there, but miles went pretty decent. Overall time was
1:22:22 for 10.3 miles and an average of 8:01 pace.

Warm ups were 8:49, 8:55 and a 9:20 split with a 6:59 (lost signal and some downhills and partly was the pick up mile) so those two splits were a bit off, but the progressive miles were: 7:50, 7:26, 7:19, 7:38, 7:36 then cool downs of 7:59 and 8:21.

I kept up with 2 of the guys for the faster paces and that was good. They took off the last mile we were running faster, they were probably just under 7 and I had it at around 7:20 again (the mile splits were a bit off as we started at 2.75 for the progressives so weren't quite a good indicator of everything). I'm happy having just over 10 miles at MP though. That is a bit of a confidence boost, especially since 5-6 of those miles were under MP. Hopefully it means good things.

Heel...it's still sore at times, I have the night splint and am doing the exercises. I have 7 weeks (which most things seem to indicate how long the stuff might take to fix the issues so we'll see).

Oh, and on a side note. I just finished watching a movie I started last night called The Long Run. It's something I got off Netflix...it wasn't a horribly well done movie, but it's a fictional movie about a woman that is coached to win the Comrades Marathon, she's stubborn and never been formally coached, she's coached by a crotchety old man set in his ways and who just lost a job...but it really is kind of endearing.

21 Miles and 3 Hour Drives

2008-08-18T15:24:00.000-07:00

Well, after a long week last week I am planning a cutback week in mileage and workouts for this week. I might do a couple of a little bit harder workouts (we have a tempo/threshold run tomorrow with my training group and I think I might do some cruise intervals in a shorter workout on Thursday) but for the most part this will be a much lighter week. Last week I topped at 59 miles for the week. We had a 20 miler on Saturday that by the time we were done was 21 miles. The pace was slower than I would’ve liked (9:17 is what we averaged by the end) but I felt good the whole way, could’ve run further (5 more miles would’ve been easy and under 4 hours as we were picking up the pace at the end) and had sub 9, including an 8:15 or so mile in the last 4-5. There wasn’t anyone willing to run a faster pace up at the front it didn’t seem, but having more energy in the legs at the end I guess is a good thing.

Friday night I met up with my friend who is getting married in January, her sister and sister-in-law, the three of us make up the wedding party, and we went bridesmaid dress shopping. Her dress was picked and purchased a few weeks ago, and ours ended up being bought on Friday. It was basically the dress we had already been shown that was made to match up with one of her top two dresses. It wasn’t the dress she ended up getting, but this dress will still work fine and it’s a cute dress that I could see wearing again. We went for yummy dinner after at a good Italian place (I said I wanted pasta no one else cared and I was running 21 the next morning) and I tried lasagna even thinking it wasn’t a good idea day before a long run, but it was fine (have always avoided heavy cheese things but now I know it works!!). We went shoe shopping after, just to see if there was a chance we’d find something and amazingly we did…they were more than I’d maybe have wanted to spend, but the shoe was very cute and I’m fine with it because I’ll wear them again and often and they were comfy, at least to me!!

So after all the gallivanting went home and watched Phelps win gold number 7, then went to bed, did the run the next morning, then drove 3 hours to my parents. Not fun after 21 miles but oh well…what do you do? I visited at home, then went to my grandma’s for a visit, then to have a beer with mom and dad and saw my aunt and other grandma and some family friends…then went back and got other grandma to bring her down for dinner…we had yummy ribs, sweet corn and baked beans and some really good bread and then watched more Olympics and saw Phelps get 8 and saw marathon through Paula getting finished. Maybe it wasn’t a good run for her, but at least she was able to struggle through and finish. Went out for a while with my aunt later than night and then was home and spent the night with fuzzy nephew Beaux…got up the next morning and visited with mom and dad, went for a walk with mom and Beaux and we pooped him out, it’s been a while since tubby walked 2 miles! Then dinner and a nap and last visit with grandma, stocked up on sweet corn and came back up…was later than I normally come back but since I went down later figured I better stay a little longer. Got back in time though for a quick run to loosen up the legs and managed a nice 5 miler averaging 8:30s which isn’t bad considering the 21 the day before. Now I need weekend to recover from the weekend!!

Olympics

2008-08-14T17:57:00.000-07:00

So I haven't been able to watch much of the Olympics so far...mainly because I've been exhausted and in bed so early (which will probably happen again tonight). It still is amazing to see these athletes though, and the levels they are at...but at the same time, I wonder about their lives...I mean seriously...they gave up their childhoods to be where they are...and all the pressure that they have to go through, and then the scrutiny and questions if they aren't good enough OR if they are too good. It's so much pressure, how can anyone deal with it?? Is it all that pressure that pushes them toward illegal things?

And seriously...why are the women's volleyball teams dressed so skimpily and the mens not???

I finally got my cars oil changed too...it was so overdue...and tires rotated. I'm set for my trip to my parents that I'm most likely making after my 20 miler on Saturday (not looking forward to that one!). And while the oil and tires were being dealt with I did a nice little 10.5 miler (I was going to go ahead for 11 since I knew I'd be over 10 but legs were feeling a little dead so figured it was best to quit). I managed an 8:08 pace, plan was a tempo, I picked up pace for mile 3 (wanted 2 for warmup) and was just over 8 minutes, then I had a bad hill and wussed it and slowed way down for mile 4, 8:49, but miles 5 and 6 were 7:40, mile 7 was 7:50 and mile 8 was 7:33. I finished off the last two and a half just over 8 minute miles and all was good. Still not sure it's good for my 8:00 minute miles, but I'm getting there...just a couple more days and a fall back week that I think I really need. Legs are feeling very dead.