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But I want to go again!
4:00am. Thunder. Ever-increasing rain. "Booh. No run, it looks like." But today was one of the few days where it was better to wait a while. By 8:30, work had been done, I was feeling virtuous and the rain had tapered off.
Bopping along to music, on my way to GAP to meet Ivy League and being my usual no-glasses-wearing, blind self, it took me several seconds and Ivy League waving his hands over his head for me to realize that plans had changed!
This was to be no usual, pretty but generic over-the-Brooklyn-Bridge run.
No. It was an adventure! I hate surprises but love adventures, so I was game.
I would love to tell you where we went....... But I can't.
I can give you clues, however.
Started on Eastern Parkway and ran on Lincoln Place for a while, parallel to Eastern. When we got dumped back on Eastern, we decided to just go with it and continue onwards.
I say 'we'. I was along for the adventure. Ivy League was in the driver's seat for this one.
Down Eastern, through Brownsville. Then we took a right on Bushwick. When we saw a cemetery, we followed it around.
Eek! An on-ramp for the Jackie Robinson!
Quick thinking got us over the on-ramp and down into a neighborhood.
Beautiful houses, sandwiched by the more usual duplexs, met us. "Are we in Queens?" "We have to be. We just crossed Jackie Robinson." "I wonder if we'll get to Forest Park. I've always wanted to go there." "Me, too! Ooh! Look at the view those houses have!"
Alas, the view was tantalizing us but just beyond the houses possessively covering it, so we couldn't tell exactly what it was a view of. But the glimpse was enough to know that it was SomeThing.
And then........Forest Park! EEEEE! I had never known how to run there! But somehow Ivy League had gotten us there. Or, at least, to part of it.
First, we ran around a higher point in the park, with a jogging path, few people, and a ravine in the center. Then, we crossed over to what seemed more like a series of playing fields, whose paths were sometimes soggy and sometimes tree-branch-ridden but all beautiful.
"This is my new favorite run! Me, too!"
The second part of the park brought us out to a different place than where we entered but back on the street with The View. I spied a hill. So down we went! It was really steep. Glad we didn't go for my original thought, which was to run back up it.
Ran down and got to Sutter (?) somehow. Ran past the L, Z, M and A trains. Went past Saratoga. I though I knew where we were.
But then, surprise! Numbered streets appeared. Weird. I was lost again.
We found our way when we passed Remington and braved the hill on Utica to get back to Eastern Parkway. I left Ivy League at Brooklyn Avenue, where he was off to soak in the gorgeous houses that hide just to the south of Eastern Parkway, on Carroll and President.
I hope I can find my way back down the rabbit hole because I loved loved loved that park!
Thursday, September 30, 2010
Lucky
I ran to work yesterday. Starting at at bit after 5:30am.
I am lucky to have to do so sometimes.
Yes, you read correctly. It is lucky that I get to do this.
At least, on days like yesterday. Winter is a different story!
Pink and black backpack strapped on, green short shorts and red shirt. Headphones and a white wristband.
I was set.
Down Eastern Parkway and over to Union. Still really dark. I have to go slowly on this part; I'm scared I'll trip on some of the flagstone edges I can't see because of the darkness.
Still dark over the Brooklyn Bridge. Due to the lights of Manhattan and the amount of moonlight yesterday morning, the glass buildings were a series of rainbows. The sky was a deep purple and the water had that blue-purple-green wash to it that only seriously polluted water has. Visually stunning.
Remind me not to eat the local seafood.
Then, over to the West Side path, in time to see the complete process of the sunrise. Pink and purple and blue plastic clouds in and ever lightening sky.
And I got to remember and experience, first-hand, why I need to make sure to watch my weight. As I had to bring a fair amount of stuff to work, my backpack was completely full. Nothing too heavy individually but, jointly, enough to make an impact. No wonder my knees used to hurt so much when I started running!
It was like I was carrying a bit of my own history on my back, history I could unbuckle and throw on the dirty blue office carpet.
These running moments don't happen super often. Enjoy them.
Oh, and I figured out a teaching problem on the way!
I am lucky to have to do so sometimes.
Yes, you read correctly. It is lucky that I get to do this.
At least, on days like yesterday. Winter is a different story!
Pink and black backpack strapped on, green short shorts and red shirt. Headphones and a white wristband.
I was set.
Down Eastern Parkway and over to Union. Still really dark. I have to go slowly on this part; I'm scared I'll trip on some of the flagstone edges I can't see because of the darkness.
Still dark over the Brooklyn Bridge. Due to the lights of Manhattan and the amount of moonlight yesterday morning, the glass buildings were a series of rainbows. The sky was a deep purple and the water had that blue-purple-green wash to it that only seriously polluted water has. Visually stunning.
Remind me not to eat the local seafood.
Then, over to the West Side path, in time to see the complete process of the sunrise. Pink and purple and blue plastic clouds in and ever lightening sky.
And I got to remember and experience, first-hand, why I need to make sure to watch my weight. As I had to bring a fair amount of stuff to work, my backpack was completely full. Nothing too heavy individually but, jointly, enough to make an impact. No wonder my knees used to hurt so much when I started running!
It was like I was carrying a bit of my own history on my back, history I could unbuckle and throw on the dirty blue office carpet.
These running moments don't happen super often. Enjoy them.
Oh, and I figured out a teaching problem on the way!
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
Self-Restraint?
"Remember the week that you really hurt your quad?" she asked. "Remember what training you did that week? Wasn't it a race, then speedwork, then a long run? And you are trying to go to speedwork this week? After a race and before a long run?"
My PT had a point. Not having been able to run yesterday because my plane was so delayed, I had been counting on the cameraderie of the speed session.
But, I'd rather have my leg feel ok. So I ran by myself on the cemetery/park run. After the pain of PT, the run eased the tightness and the acid buildup.
I hadn't been sore after the race but hadn't realized how tight my muscles were from the run and the flight!
Frustrated by the lights on Eastern Parkway - I had to stop for almost every light - but calmed down on the side of the park and over and around the cemetery.
It started to get dark pretty quickly and it made me think fondly of many dark runs around the park last year.
I got a couple of "nice tats!" today. Though humid, it had finally stopped raining and people seemed jazzed to be able to be outside.
I must have brought the Seattle weather with me! Besides the jet-lag, though, today was a great day. Work got done, PT got done, run got done, talking to people important to me got done.
:Contented Smile: Now, off to prepare for my run to work tomorrow morning.
My PT had a point. Not having been able to run yesterday because my plane was so delayed, I had been counting on the cameraderie of the speed session.
But, I'd rather have my leg feel ok. So I ran by myself on the cemetery/park run. After the pain of PT, the run eased the tightness and the acid buildup.
I hadn't been sore after the race but hadn't realized how tight my muscles were from the run and the flight!
Frustrated by the lights on Eastern Parkway - I had to stop for almost every light - but calmed down on the side of the park and over and around the cemetery.
It started to get dark pretty quickly and it made me think fondly of many dark runs around the park last year.
I got a couple of "nice tats!" today. Though humid, it had finally stopped raining and people seemed jazzed to be able to be outside.
I must have brought the Seattle weather with me! Besides the jet-lag, though, today was a great day. Work got done, PT got done, run got done, talking to people important to me got done.
:Contented Smile: Now, off to prepare for my run to work tomorrow morning.
Bellingham Half Marathon: 1:31:47
"Ok. I'll just hang on with those 5 women in front of me. They won't go that fast, will they?"
Hah. I lost them within the first 1/2 mile. Or, rather, I should say that they lost me. I couldn't see them after the first 2 miles. And I'm pretty sure I was going fairly fast in the first 2 or 3 miles. There were no mile markers until Mile 3 and, as I've shorted out my Garmin for good, I was relying on my stopwatch and mile markers to try to gauge my speed. I looked down and saw 7 minutes without seeing the first mile marker and though, "Geesh, this is going to be a long race if I feel like I'm really hauling and I'm not even running a seven-minute mile!" Similarly with the 2nd mile.
Finally, a mile marker! I was under a seven-minute average. Not too many people around: the usual couple of men who are super heavy breathers near me, who I couldn't seem to shake fast enough.
Mile 4, this woman who looked about my age, in a blue tank top, passed me and kept moving. I couldn't catch her.
Drat!
And it was humid! We had been walking around WWU in sunny dry weather the day before. Sunday, in contrast, was overcast and super, super humid. Even Jesi, who doesn't usually have a problem with her asthma, commented that she was having problems with it before the race - likely because of the cool, humid weather.
Sweat was pouring but I was feeling really good. I started singing to myself and looking at the blurry, beautiful landscape.
But, I was by myself, for the most part. So I let myself get a little lazy. By about mile 9, I realized I was right at a seven-minute mile average. Boy had I slowed myself down.
But, I caught it. Plus, I had the boost of Jesi's husband cheering for me before mile 9 and the joy of completing the first loop of the race. 4 more to go.
I was in with the marathoners now, passing a lot of them. They had started earlier, so these were the slower ones. It was hard because of the course, physically, but good, mentally.
Part of the course was on sidewalks/rain-filled shoulders with cars passing. The combination of the additional runners from the marathon and quite a few half marathoners slowing drastically made this challenging to navigate.
And, in the last half of the course, there were hills. Jesi: "I thought they were pretty easy!" Me: "They don't make hills like that in Brooklyn!"
Some of them were straight up - like the hill at the bottom of Brooklyn Heights, on the way back to the Promenade. Whew! But, I kept up my pace, at least sticking to sevens even if I couldn't raise it, due to the hills and to the extra-sharp turns getting onto the different small paths they were taking us on.
We went over a bridge around mile 11, which was beautiful, but very windy, and up, up, up, up. I still felt great.
Then, the race was pretty much over. I kept up my pace and even picked it up a bit - at least, it felt like it. Passed a lot of people who had passed me previously.
Caught up with the woman in blue and passed her around mile 12. Finished quite a bit ahead of her. Heh.
Right near the end, I got another much-appreciated boost because Jesi and the Chestershire Cat waited around a bit for me and cheered me home.
The rain started right after I finished. A great IPA from a local brewery finished off the race experience. Yum. And I never would have done this race except that Chestershire Cat suggested it. I'm glad I did it.
Everyone we knew who were racing had fun.
Plus, the race was small enough that, even though I didn't have a stellar time, I still got 2nd in my age group. Yay!
I coughed the whole time because of asthma but it never got too bad. The only negative in the race was the burrito we ate the day before the race. It hit me again at around mile 12. Ugh! Good idea for a hang-over, bad idea for race-day priming!
Hah. I lost them within the first 1/2 mile. Or, rather, I should say that they lost me. I couldn't see them after the first 2 miles. And I'm pretty sure I was going fairly fast in the first 2 or 3 miles. There were no mile markers until Mile 3 and, as I've shorted out my Garmin for good, I was relying on my stopwatch and mile markers to try to gauge my speed. I looked down and saw 7 minutes without seeing the first mile marker and though, "Geesh, this is going to be a long race if I feel like I'm really hauling and I'm not even running a seven-minute mile!" Similarly with the 2nd mile.
Finally, a mile marker! I was under a seven-minute average. Not too many people around: the usual couple of men who are super heavy breathers near me, who I couldn't seem to shake fast enough.
Mile 4, this woman who looked about my age, in a blue tank top, passed me and kept moving. I couldn't catch her.
Drat!
And it was humid! We had been walking around WWU in sunny dry weather the day before. Sunday, in contrast, was overcast and super, super humid. Even Jesi, who doesn't usually have a problem with her asthma, commented that she was having problems with it before the race - likely because of the cool, humid weather.
Sweat was pouring but I was feeling really good. I started singing to myself and looking at the blurry, beautiful landscape.
But, I was by myself, for the most part. So I let myself get a little lazy. By about mile 9, I realized I was right at a seven-minute mile average. Boy had I slowed myself down.
But, I caught it. Plus, I had the boost of Jesi's husband cheering for me before mile 9 and the joy of completing the first loop of the race. 4 more to go.
I was in with the marathoners now, passing a lot of them. They had started earlier, so these were the slower ones. It was hard because of the course, physically, but good, mentally.
Part of the course was on sidewalks/rain-filled shoulders with cars passing. The combination of the additional runners from the marathon and quite a few half marathoners slowing drastically made this challenging to navigate.
And, in the last half of the course, there were hills. Jesi: "I thought they were pretty easy!" Me: "They don't make hills like that in Brooklyn!"
Some of them were straight up - like the hill at the bottom of Brooklyn Heights, on the way back to the Promenade. Whew! But, I kept up my pace, at least sticking to sevens even if I couldn't raise it, due to the hills and to the extra-sharp turns getting onto the different small paths they were taking us on.
We went over a bridge around mile 11, which was beautiful, but very windy, and up, up, up, up. I still felt great.
Then, the race was pretty much over. I kept up my pace and even picked it up a bit - at least, it felt like it. Passed a lot of people who had passed me previously.
Caught up with the woman in blue and passed her around mile 12. Finished quite a bit ahead of her. Heh.
Right near the end, I got another much-appreciated boost because Jesi and the Chestershire Cat waited around a bit for me and cheered me home.
The rain started right after I finished. A great IPA from a local brewery finished off the race experience. Yum. And I never would have done this race except that Chestershire Cat suggested it. I'm glad I did it.
Everyone we knew who were racing had fun.
Plus, the race was small enough that, even though I didn't have a stellar time, I still got 2nd in my age group. Yay!
I coughed the whole time because of asthma but it never got too bad. The only negative in the race was the burrito we ate the day before the race. It hit me again at around mile 12. Ugh! Good idea for a hang-over, bad idea for race-day priming!
A Rainbow in Seattle
Seattle was tough but fantastic. A combination of overexcitement, overtiredness, nervousness for the race, and under-assuredness about where or how my life is going made me act like a toddler, ecstatic one moment, petulant the next.
Like the trooper she is, the Chestershire Cat endured the emotional storm, dropping me off yesterday at the airport before she went to work.
A small city with big-city buildings. Gorgeous views obscured much of the year by fog and rain. Multiple outdoor possibilities limited only by your willingness to climb and to get past the drizzle. And a fantastic host who took me to all the right places in and around Seattle, showing me her state, her family and her friends.
The Pink Door - delicious! The Space Needle - much smaller inside than expected but I now know where to go in Seattle if I want a heavy make-out session! Western Washington University, with its hippy vibe and ENORMOUS burritos - not the best idea, perhaps, the day before a race! And, my favorite, the ferry ride.
It's funny how, if you've got a limited time to see someone, and you don't know when you are going to see them again, and you combine that with a race, all kinds of weird emotions can come out.
Maybe, if I'm lucky, I can come back and run the trails in Seattle in the not-too-distant future!
Like the trooper she is, the Chestershire Cat endured the emotional storm, dropping me off yesterday at the airport before she went to work.
A small city with big-city buildings. Gorgeous views obscured much of the year by fog and rain. Multiple outdoor possibilities limited only by your willingness to climb and to get past the drizzle. And a fantastic host who took me to all the right places in and around Seattle, showing me her state, her family and her friends.
The Pink Door - delicious! The Space Needle - much smaller inside than expected but I now know where to go in Seattle if I want a heavy make-out session! Western Washington University, with its hippy vibe and ENORMOUS burritos - not the best idea, perhaps, the day before a race! And, my favorite, the ferry ride.
It's funny how, if you've got a limited time to see someone, and you don't know when you are going to see them again, and you combine that with a race, all kinds of weird emotions can come out.
Maybe, if I'm lucky, I can come back and run the trails in Seattle in the not-too-distant future!
Saturday, September 25, 2010
I have been asked to be a guest blogger on Ms. Scott's blog this morning. One would think you would need to have an audience to read the blog before inviting a guest blogger to join you...but the choice is simply not up to me. But, with everything in my life, I will try to give it my best effort.
When people ask who I am, the first thing that comes to mind is that I am a runner. It is not hard for me to accept, to promote, to defend...but it took me years to gain the confidence to actually believe it myself. And with age, I have grown quite fond of holding onto my running pillar, if you will. But right now might be one of those times that I am learning to hold on for dear life instead of the ease that I have grown so accustomed to.
Thankfully, so thankfully, I have had the pleasure of bringing a little taste of Brooklyn to my new Seattle life. And what a relief. Working out hasn't been a primary objective, but we have enjoyed a gambit of activities together...which did in fact include some working out. Today, we did an amazing urban run, from Belltown to Pioneer Square & back along the waterfront. It wasn't hard, but maybe somethings in life just aren't meant to be. Afterall.
Here is a taste of the view we we enjoyed:
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=1562231798&ref=1553111238683&id=1562231798&ref=nf#!/photo.php?pid=1345655&fbid=1553510688669&id=1562231798&ref=nf
When people ask who I am, the first thing that comes to mind is that I am a runner. It is not hard for me to accept, to promote, to defend...but it took me years to gain the confidence to actually believe it myself. And with age, I have grown quite fond of holding onto my running pillar, if you will. But right now might be one of those times that I am learning to hold on for dear life instead of the ease that I have grown so accustomed to.
Thankfully, so thankfully, I have had the pleasure of bringing a little taste of Brooklyn to my new Seattle life. And what a relief. Working out hasn't been a primary objective, but we have enjoyed a gambit of activities together...which did in fact include some working out. Today, we did an amazing urban run, from Belltown to Pioneer Square & back along the waterfront. It wasn't hard, but maybe somethings in life just aren't meant to be. Afterall.
Here is a taste of the view we we enjoyed:
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=1562231798&ref=1553111238683&id=1562231798&ref=nf#!/photo.php?pid=1345655&fbid=1553510688669&id=1562231798&ref=nf
A Little Light Workout
After flying into a grey, rainy Seattle, Chesterchire Cat and I enjoyed some driving around Seattle, looking at houses. I was exhausted but edgy, as I had been sitting in a plane all day. When it's my own choice, I can be amazingly lazy, not budging from one spot for hours. When I'm forced to still still, however, I am a nervous, anxious mess. Still raining, so we headed downstairs to the gym in her Grandma's condo. I'm not sure that I can even call it a workout: I got sweaty, so maybe it was.
Did the Precor, with Chestershire Cat laughing at me the whole time that she wasn't on the phone. Apparently, I have no idea how to use the equipment.
I got the last laugh, though. I beat her in our plank-off. Hah!
So great to see her. Wish we could annoy each other and snipe at each other more often.
Best thing she's said this weekend: "those pants might be better for you but I can't see them fitting over your a**."
Heh. Really, actually, It's been a great time. Emotional but fantastic. Unique people exploring a city together.
Although if she beats me at Scrabble, we might have an issue! Chesterchire Cat came awfully close to doing so on the ferry ride back to Seattle yesterday.
Did the Precor, with Chestershire Cat laughing at me the whole time that she wasn't on the phone. Apparently, I have no idea how to use the equipment.
I got the last laugh, though. I beat her in our plank-off. Hah!
So great to see her. Wish we could annoy each other and snipe at each other more often.
Best thing she's said this weekend: "those pants might be better for you but I can't see them fitting over your a**."
Heh. Really, actually, It's been a great time. Emotional but fantastic. Unique people exploring a city together.
Although if she beats me at Scrabble, we might have an issue! Chesterchire Cat came awfully close to doing so on the ferry ride back to Seattle yesterday.
Thursday, September 23, 2010
So Excited!
I've never been to Washington State! When I drove up through California, before I left Arizona, I was supposed to make it all the way up the coast.
Alas, that was the year of the massive mudslides and flooding up the coast. I had to turn back in Northern California.
Drinking bad coffee while waiting for the flight......funny, given where I'm going!
Yesterdays crossword just took me 8 minutes! I blame it on lack of sleep and an early wake-up time....
Not so excited about the race on Sunday, or the grading and prep work I still have to do. Being able to feel like anything other than a teaching drone seems impossible during the semester. I haven't done my own research in over a week and that tenure clock is rapping on my window like an aggressive Peeping Tom, looking for the goods.
Ah, well. Keeps me out of trouble on the flight! Plus, my students would feel the lack if they didn't have the Witch on their schedules.....Hah!
I can't wait to hang out with the Chestershire Cat! Here's hoping she won't kick my rear too badly in the race on Sunday. She'd never, ever let me live that down. Postcards, birthday cards, all with "I beat you!"
Gotta love competitive spirit! Probably part of why she is awesome.
The weather should be interesting, too. Going from a heat wave here to, in my mind, cold weather there is a switch I hope my body is up to for the race. That, and here's hoping my quad will hold up!
Need more coffee. This is definitely a ramble.
Alas, that was the year of the massive mudslides and flooding up the coast. I had to turn back in Northern California.
Drinking bad coffee while waiting for the flight......funny, given where I'm going!
Yesterdays crossword just took me 8 minutes! I blame it on lack of sleep and an early wake-up time....
Not so excited about the race on Sunday, or the grading and prep work I still have to do. Being able to feel like anything other than a teaching drone seems impossible during the semester. I haven't done my own research in over a week and that tenure clock is rapping on my window like an aggressive Peeping Tom, looking for the goods.
Ah, well. Keeps me out of trouble on the flight! Plus, my students would feel the lack if they didn't have the Witch on their schedules.....Hah!
I can't wait to hang out with the Chestershire Cat! Here's hoping she won't kick my rear too badly in the race on Sunday. She'd never, ever let me live that down. Postcards, birthday cards, all with "I beat you!"
Gotta love competitive spirit! Probably part of why she is awesome.
The weather should be interesting, too. Going from a heat wave here to, in my mind, cold weather there is a switch I hope my body is up to for the race. That, and here's hoping my quad will hold up!
Need more coffee. This is definitely a ramble.
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
Kudos for Coffee and Company
Worked this morning, waiting to meet the Vivacious Redhead at her kids' school. It was rough even getting up this morning.
Last night I fell asleep on the subway. Repeatedly. And I really can't sleep sitting up.
A talk tonight, classes and another tomorrow weighed heavily on me. Plus, I just didn't feel well.
But, I promised! So I ran out to meet her. As usual, after getting over my crabbiness, I was really glad that I did. She wasn't feeling well either but needed to get a run in. And, she had promised! So she was out and ready, too.
I think both of us felt better after the sun, the run and some coffee from the green plant coffee shop on Classon. Down 6th to the cemetery, then around and back over to Prospect Park Southwest, where we finished off the outside park loop, ran the Park Slop side of the circle, then down to Sterling Place and over to coffee. I'm hoping at least 10. We took it really easy, so these miles don't count for much.
Except maybe psychic strength. Assuming we aren't all just brains in vats, imagining our physical experiences and sensations.
Last night I fell asleep on the subway. Repeatedly. And I really can't sleep sitting up.
A talk tonight, classes and another tomorrow weighed heavily on me. Plus, I just didn't feel well.
But, I promised! So I ran out to meet her. As usual, after getting over my crabbiness, I was really glad that I did. She wasn't feeling well either but needed to get a run in. And, she had promised! So she was out and ready, too.
I think both of us felt better after the sun, the run and some coffee from the green plant coffee shop on Classon. Down 6th to the cemetery, then around and back over to Prospect Park Southwest, where we finished off the outside park loop, ran the Park Slop side of the circle, then down to Sterling Place and over to coffee. I'm hoping at least 10. We took it really easy, so these miles don't count for much.
Except maybe psychic strength. Assuming we aren't all just brains in vats, imagining our physical experiences and sensations.
At Sixes and Sevens
My stride was off. I can't describe how, really, but I'll try. I used to get these dreams where I'd have to run to escape someone, or run to catch something, and I'd need to run as fast as I could but, every time I tried, I'd fail. I'd be running in slow motion because, somehow, my strides were too big to propel me forward effectively.
Yesterday, I was living that dream. DId a very slow 10-miler up the West Side, to Riverside Park, then up Riverside Drive to 140th and back down. Everything was off. There was a heavy cross-breeze that flirted with being a committed head wind. My quad felt overly tired. And my stomach.
Very little sleep the night before led to some of the worst food decisions I've made in a while. There was the egg sandwich from Starbucks and the mocha. Then, for 'lunch' (if you can count a meal at 11:00am lunch), a cheese, fruit and nut plate from Starbucks.
First, Starbucks's food is terrible. Everything is pre-packaged and then microwaved, where applicable. Second, every list that I've ever seen about what you should and should not eat before a run lists high-fat and high-protein foods on the verboten side.
Think both of those plus apple (whose skin gives you cramps and stomach problems during running) and you've got my pre-run meal. Oi. Serious issues.
But, bottom line was, I just couldn't get into the rhythm. Not in my classes. Not in the constant back-and-forth to-and-from New York. Not in my run.
I kept trying to go faster but taking strides that were too big. When I realized this, I tried to increase my turnover but, like in my dreams, this just seemed to fail! Very disturbing.
Leaving town again this week for a race that I've been both anticipating and dreading. Another test before the real thing.
Yesterday, I was living that dream. DId a very slow 10-miler up the West Side, to Riverside Park, then up Riverside Drive to 140th and back down. Everything was off. There was a heavy cross-breeze that flirted with being a committed head wind. My quad felt overly tired. And my stomach.
Very little sleep the night before led to some of the worst food decisions I've made in a while. There was the egg sandwich from Starbucks and the mocha. Then, for 'lunch' (if you can count a meal at 11:00am lunch), a cheese, fruit and nut plate from Starbucks.
First, Starbucks's food is terrible. Everything is pre-packaged and then microwaved, where applicable. Second, every list that I've ever seen about what you should and should not eat before a run lists high-fat and high-protein foods on the verboten side.
Think both of those plus apple (whose skin gives you cramps and stomach problems during running) and you've got my pre-run meal. Oi. Serious issues.
But, bottom line was, I just couldn't get into the rhythm. Not in my classes. Not in the constant back-and-forth to-and-from New York. Not in my run.
I kept trying to go faster but taking strides that were too big. When I realized this, I tried to increase my turnover but, like in my dreams, this just seemed to fail! Very disturbing.
Leaving town again this week for a race that I've been both anticipating and dreading. Another test before the real thing.
Sunday, September 19, 2010
River Tranquility
Soloed it today down around the Charles River, through Watertown and back. Met up with a really nice runner who was running 21 today and chatted for a bit. I love watching the boats while I'm running down the river.
The new headphones Suave got me work really well and, when I'm not using them, they don't bump painfully on my collarbone, like my previous ones did.
Felt like I had a great pace today and just generally felt amazing during this run. Maybe it was the weather? Ran 1:30, so at least 10 miles. We'll see what the rest of the week brings......2 talks and a trip to Washington does not bode well for my running.
Still have a knot in my quad that's resisting the roller. Will have to take out the rolling pin when I get home, I fear.
Watching Baltimore Football with my brother is an event. There's a common family trait of yelling loudly at the T.V., even when you are in public and likely ought not do so. Heh.
Working got a bit derailed this weekend, with long treks around Boston and a new game - Angry Birds. So addictive.
Oh, and of course the crossword for today. Yes, I beat Suave's butt at it. What did you expect?
The new headphones Suave got me work really well and, when I'm not using them, they don't bump painfully on my collarbone, like my previous ones did.
Felt like I had a great pace today and just generally felt amazing during this run. Maybe it was the weather? Ran 1:30, so at least 10 miles. We'll see what the rest of the week brings......2 talks and a trip to Washington does not bode well for my running.
Still have a knot in my quad that's resisting the roller. Will have to take out the rolling pin when I get home, I fear.
Watching Baltimore Football with my brother is an event. There's a common family trait of yelling loudly at the T.V., even when you are in public and likely ought not do so. Heh.
Working got a bit derailed this weekend, with long treks around Boston and a new game - Angry Birds. So addictive.
Oh, and of course the crossword for today. Yes, I beat Suave's butt at it. What did you expect?
Saturday, September 18, 2010
Whew!
I had been nervous about this run for the past week. Don't know why: it's just a practice run.
But I had been. To the point where, Friday morning, as I was working on my lesson plans, I caught myself wondering why I didn't just go early, to stop the nervous anticipation.
Starting at 9:00 am is great for several reasons. The sun is out, I can eat more for breakfast, and Ivy League will grace me with his presence. However, it also gives me lists of time to think about how painful and long my run might be.
There is a bonus to being half-asleep for most of your run. Not Friday, though.
My goal was to run at least 21, if not 22. Met up with Ivy League with 1 1/2 under my belt and started down Prospect Park West with him. Besides the fact that I hate running loops in Prospect Park, I was glad we weren't trying to run in the park for another reason. The tornado had devastated portions of the park. So sad, seeing the carcasses of formerly majestic trees. I wanted to turn away, as there was something unsettlingly voyeuristic in staring - like seeing a former beauty in a bad strip club somewhere. But I looked anyway.
This year in general has been rough on the park. Winds, snows, and torrential rains.
So Ivy League and I run down to the cemetery. We had to go a bit slowly at first because of digestion issues. I couldn't keep on pace and kept surging ahead and chattering loudly about kids these days and their inability to disambiguate the logical implications of an 'if...then' statement and it's truth value.
If Ivy League hadn't been in a bad mood before.......I think, had I been listening to myself, I would have punched me. Luckily, even I don't listen to myself!
We started picking it up past the start of the cemetery. Especially because it smelled awful! Ivy League said later he didn't smell it but I don't see how. Fifth avenue side of the cemetery is annoying at the best of times. The combination of irresponsible pet owners, the drenching rain the night before, and the humidity created a miasma of horridness. I almost threw up. The smell lasted the entire length of the cemetery. But, finishing the cemetery meant that part four of the run was done.
Only twenty more to go!
We had amazing luck with the lights on Fifth, especially since we were running at the tail end of rush hour. Got to the park turnoff and over to Owls Head without having to stop. My water bottles were already feeling a bit heavy but the rest of me felt good. My knee had given me a scare under the overpass but had reduced it's screaming to a muted moan.
I tried to stick to one pace. I could tell I had been annoying Ivy League with my surging and falling back. "remember: he'll actually run with you during the week. Don't annoy him too much!"
Onto the Shore Promenade. I was excited about this part. I had never been to the end before. Plus, running on the Promenade, I feel like I'm in Vancouver, not in the middle of the city right next to Belk Parkway. I decided that the promenade was my next segment.
Ivy League splits the run up differently. He tends to pick landmarks and estimate how long it will take to get there. I never like to be reminded how little time we've been running, or how little time it actually takes to get to seemingly far-away spots, as it reminds me how much further I have left. though he is scarily accurate about the times needed.
We picked up the pace more on the Promenade. It was sunny and beautiful but with no water. Ivy League had been better about drinking from his water bottle than I had with mine and he had almost finished his already. We finally found a fountain near the Toys 'R' Us near the connector path.
My legs were feeling quite tired by this point but the excitement of running someplace new mitigated it. We were in the backwaters of Coney Island, as far as I could tell. One of those interesting places in Brooklyn that seems as far from truly urban life as you can get and still be in the city. Some sort of strange suburb. We managed to navigate this part pretty well, however, and found ourselves right near the boardwalk.
Seeing the beach, I wanted to stay here all day. But I used my willpower to keep moving. Part 13 of the run done. Now for running up Ocean Parkway.
By this time, I was really tired. The humidity, while not quite as bad as my last long run, was still enough that my eyes had been burning from sweat since the Promenade. My sweat band was so soaked it was useless. I started counting down the lettered avenues. The song in my head had switched to my 'i'm really tired and need extra motivation' song a long time prior.
Then we hit the lights. That was probably the hardest part of the run: hitting so many light in the middle of the alphabet. My legs didn't want to stop. When they finally did, they didn't want to start moving again. I despaired of finishing. We weren't talking to each other at this point. Too ready to be done.
Ivy League did an amazing pick-up around the park. By the time I got up to Washington and Eastern Parkway, he was a full block ahead - likely two. Knowing I hadn't really slowed down, this was impressive. I ran down to Rogers and back up a block, just to try to finish up the 22. Hope I made it but declared it good enough.
2;57:30 something. Not great but, at this point, I'm just happy I finished.
Introduced Ivy League to the pleasures of ice baths, too. I think everyone in the world is better at taking ice baths than me. Small children would be. Grannies. But I did it because I promised the Vivacious Redhead that I'd ice. Brrrrrrrrr.
But I had been. To the point where, Friday morning, as I was working on my lesson plans, I caught myself wondering why I didn't just go early, to stop the nervous anticipation.
Starting at 9:00 am is great for several reasons. The sun is out, I can eat more for breakfast, and Ivy League will grace me with his presence. However, it also gives me lists of time to think about how painful and long my run might be.
There is a bonus to being half-asleep for most of your run. Not Friday, though.
My goal was to run at least 21, if not 22. Met up with Ivy League with 1 1/2 under my belt and started down Prospect Park West with him. Besides the fact that I hate running loops in Prospect Park, I was glad we weren't trying to run in the park for another reason. The tornado had devastated portions of the park. So sad, seeing the carcasses of formerly majestic trees. I wanted to turn away, as there was something unsettlingly voyeuristic in staring - like seeing a former beauty in a bad strip club somewhere. But I looked anyway.
This year in general has been rough on the park. Winds, snows, and torrential rains.
So Ivy League and I run down to the cemetery. We had to go a bit slowly at first because of digestion issues. I couldn't keep on pace and kept surging ahead and chattering loudly about kids these days and their inability to disambiguate the logical implications of an 'if...then' statement and it's truth value.
If Ivy League hadn't been in a bad mood before.......I think, had I been listening to myself, I would have punched me. Luckily, even I don't listen to myself!
We started picking it up past the start of the cemetery. Especially because it smelled awful! Ivy League said later he didn't smell it but I don't see how. Fifth avenue side of the cemetery is annoying at the best of times. The combination of irresponsible pet owners, the drenching rain the night before, and the humidity created a miasma of horridness. I almost threw up. The smell lasted the entire length of the cemetery. But, finishing the cemetery meant that part four of the run was done.
Only twenty more to go!
We had amazing luck with the lights on Fifth, especially since we were running at the tail end of rush hour. Got to the park turnoff and over to Owls Head without having to stop. My water bottles were already feeling a bit heavy but the rest of me felt good. My knee had given me a scare under the overpass but had reduced it's screaming to a muted moan.
I tried to stick to one pace. I could tell I had been annoying Ivy League with my surging and falling back. "remember: he'll actually run with you during the week. Don't annoy him too much!"
Onto the Shore Promenade. I was excited about this part. I had never been to the end before. Plus, running on the Promenade, I feel like I'm in Vancouver, not in the middle of the city right next to Belk Parkway. I decided that the promenade was my next segment.
Ivy League splits the run up differently. He tends to pick landmarks and estimate how long it will take to get there. I never like to be reminded how little time we've been running, or how little time it actually takes to get to seemingly far-away spots, as it reminds me how much further I have left. though he is scarily accurate about the times needed.
We picked up the pace more on the Promenade. It was sunny and beautiful but with no water. Ivy League had been better about drinking from his water bottle than I had with mine and he had almost finished his already. We finally found a fountain near the Toys 'R' Us near the connector path.
My legs were feeling quite tired by this point but the excitement of running someplace new mitigated it. We were in the backwaters of Coney Island, as far as I could tell. One of those interesting places in Brooklyn that seems as far from truly urban life as you can get and still be in the city. Some sort of strange suburb. We managed to navigate this part pretty well, however, and found ourselves right near the boardwalk.
Seeing the beach, I wanted to stay here all day. But I used my willpower to keep moving. Part 13 of the run done. Now for running up Ocean Parkway.
By this time, I was really tired. The humidity, while not quite as bad as my last long run, was still enough that my eyes had been burning from sweat since the Promenade. My sweat band was so soaked it was useless. I started counting down the lettered avenues. The song in my head had switched to my 'i'm really tired and need extra motivation' song a long time prior.
Then we hit the lights. That was probably the hardest part of the run: hitting so many light in the middle of the alphabet. My legs didn't want to stop. When they finally did, they didn't want to start moving again. I despaired of finishing. We weren't talking to each other at this point. Too ready to be done.
Ivy League did an amazing pick-up around the park. By the time I got up to Washington and Eastern Parkway, he was a full block ahead - likely two. Knowing I hadn't really slowed down, this was impressive. I ran down to Rogers and back up a block, just to try to finish up the 22. Hope I made it but declared it good enough.
2;57:30 something. Not great but, at this point, I'm just happy I finished.
Introduced Ivy League to the pleasures of ice baths, too. I think everyone in the world is better at taking ice baths than me. Small children would be. Grannies. But I did it because I promised the Vivacious Redhead that I'd ice. Brrrrrrrrr.
Friday, September 17, 2010
Minding my Own Business
Using my long run today as an excuse, I was sitting at Basil, eating french fries and buttered pasta and reading last night.
I had had a long week. And looked it. Yesterday was a day where I pulled out my 55-year-old librarian pants and frumpy shirt. Because I didn't have enough energy to make myself look as fabulous as I normally do.
I could have flown around the world without any additional luggage, by the look of my eyes. Add no makeup and the effects of the storm on my hair and you can imagine how awesome the whole package was.
Which it was why it was really weird what happened next. A woman comes up to me and asks if I would mind being photographed for the New York Times Magazine. All of a sudden, her and her assistant are blinding me, while she instructs a certain waitress to walk behind me 'just one more time'.
The lady was really nice and, if it was a scam, at least I hadn't agreed to 'modeling shots', like those poor wayward women in early 20th century trashy novels. I doubt they'll use the photos but I just thought it was weird. In fact, I HOPE they don't use the photos!
Maybe they needed the requisite 'older woman eating alone at the bar' shot. Next, they'll ask to come over and take pictures of Tiny.
Sigh.
I had had a long week. And looked it. Yesterday was a day where I pulled out my 55-year-old librarian pants and frumpy shirt. Because I didn't have enough energy to make myself look as fabulous as I normally do.
I could have flown around the world without any additional luggage, by the look of my eyes. Add no makeup and the effects of the storm on my hair and you can imagine how awesome the whole package was.
Which it was why it was really weird what happened next. A woman comes up to me and asks if I would mind being photographed for the New York Times Magazine. All of a sudden, her and her assistant are blinding me, while she instructs a certain waitress to walk behind me 'just one more time'.
The lady was really nice and, if it was a scam, at least I hadn't agreed to 'modeling shots', like those poor wayward women in early 20th century trashy novels. I doubt they'll use the photos but I just thought it was weird. In fact, I HOPE they don't use the photos!
Maybe they needed the requisite 'older woman eating alone at the bar' shot. Next, they'll ask to come over and take pictures of Tiny.
Sigh.
The Calm Before the Storm
So glad that I ran in the morning yesterday. Had I run last night, I might well have been caught up in the tornado that hit Brooklyn.
Yes, I did just say 'tornado'. Sheesh.
In a rare turn of events, however, the tornado did not prefer the poorer parts of the area. Instead, it hit Park Slope. Trailer parks everywhere in the Midwest are cheering at this turn of events.
The morning gave no hint as to what was to come. Sunny, if a bit windy. Didn't meet up with the Vivacious Redhead until after school had started, so had a chance to work at home until about 8:30am, when I headed out to meet her. We were already in Park Slope, so we ran counter-clockwise around the cemetery and up to Bartell-Pritchard square. Down Prospect Part Southwest and around to Washington, we headed towards Ft. Greene. I was looking forward to Ft. Greene, as I hadn't run around there in quite a while. The last time I did so was before that disastrous long run in the summer with Superman and Ivy League, where I truly cemented my quad injury.
Hmmmm......Thinking of that, I remember that we then headed down to the Owl's Head Promenade after I ran around Ft. Greene. Ivy League and I are running the promenade today. I hope that doesn't presage any disagreeableness. (Knocks on wood.)
By this time, every aroma on Myrtle was met with my stomach protesting. I was so happy when we cleared the park and, through various dog-legs, got to Vanderbilt. Milk Bar was the featured presentation of this run! Mmmmm. I even had a mocha.
Don't tell the dessert police.
Just mapped the run. Now I know why I was so hungry! I didn't realize it at the time, as we were going such an easy pace and we were talking a mile a minute, but I went almost 13 miles on that run! Oops! (knocks on wood, again) I've still got to run a really long run today.
I see an ice bath in my future. Wish me luck......
Yes, I did just say 'tornado'. Sheesh.
In a rare turn of events, however, the tornado did not prefer the poorer parts of the area. Instead, it hit Park Slope. Trailer parks everywhere in the Midwest are cheering at this turn of events.
The morning gave no hint as to what was to come. Sunny, if a bit windy. Didn't meet up with the Vivacious Redhead until after school had started, so had a chance to work at home until about 8:30am, when I headed out to meet her. We were already in Park Slope, so we ran counter-clockwise around the cemetery and up to Bartell-Pritchard square. Down Prospect Part Southwest and around to Washington, we headed towards Ft. Greene. I was looking forward to Ft. Greene, as I hadn't run around there in quite a while. The last time I did so was before that disastrous long run in the summer with Superman and Ivy League, where I truly cemented my quad injury.
Hmmmm......Thinking of that, I remember that we then headed down to the Owl's Head Promenade after I ran around Ft. Greene. Ivy League and I are running the promenade today. I hope that doesn't presage any disagreeableness. (Knocks on wood.)
By this time, every aroma on Myrtle was met with my stomach protesting. I was so happy when we cleared the park and, through various dog-legs, got to Vanderbilt. Milk Bar was the featured presentation of this run! Mmmmm. I even had a mocha.
Don't tell the dessert police.
Just mapped the run. Now I know why I was so hungry! I didn't realize it at the time, as we were going such an easy pace and we were talking a mile a minute, but I went almost 13 miles on that run! Oops! (knocks on wood, again) I've still got to run a really long run today.
I see an ice bath in my future. Wish me luck......
Thursday, September 16, 2010
Mee's Noodle Shop
Important rule: if a shop is named for something, or has an 'original' something on its menu, order that!
I've been to this noodle shop many times, it being a haven for me and Fashonista while we are at work. Didn't even know its name until yesterday.
Every noodle is hand-made there and every noodle is delicious.
I don't just mean every type of noodle is delicious. In fact, every token of noodle is delicious.
Yeah. I said it.
They've got at least 4 more pages of menu that I've never given more than a glance. It's the front that's the important part of this menu. The noodles. Ramen, thin and thick rice noodles, thick and thin wheat noodles, spinach noodles. Heaven.
I, of course, always get them as soup. Part of the overall experience is getting that clear broth with the noodles. Mmmmm.
Added dumplings and spinach yesterday, like I often do. The dumplings cannot compare to the noodles. In fact, they are a bit doughy but sometimes necessary just to get extra carbs. For additional fat-gaining purposes. Hah.
But they always add fresh vegetables. Never frozen. And the veggies are of premier quality. That spinach is grade A+.
I think I could eat noodles for every single meal. Noodles and spinach. With some kale thrown in for variety. Now that's a diet!
I've been to this noodle shop many times, it being a haven for me and Fashonista while we are at work. Didn't even know its name until yesterday.
Every noodle is hand-made there and every noodle is delicious.
I don't just mean every type of noodle is delicious. In fact, every token of noodle is delicious.
Yeah. I said it.
They've got at least 4 more pages of menu that I've never given more than a glance. It's the front that's the important part of this menu. The noodles. Ramen, thin and thick rice noodles, thick and thin wheat noodles, spinach noodles. Heaven.
I, of course, always get them as soup. Part of the overall experience is getting that clear broth with the noodles. Mmmmm.
Added dumplings and spinach yesterday, like I often do. The dumplings cannot compare to the noodles. In fact, they are a bit doughy but sometimes necessary just to get extra carbs. For additional fat-gaining purposes. Hah.
But they always add fresh vegetables. Never frozen. And the veggies are of premier quality. That spinach is grade A+.
I think I could eat noodles for every single meal. Noodles and spinach. With some kale thrown in for variety. Now that's a diet!
Wednesday, September 15, 2010
The Weight of the World
No speedwork because of work. Just wouldn't have been able to get there in time. Plus, didn't want to take the chance of tweaking my quad.
Instead, met up with Superman near Grand Central Station and ran home.
I do mean run. Not jog, not meander, not stroll. He was in a hurry to get home.
I had to keep working after I got home. In addition to my clothes and shoes, I had an Epistemology textbook and another large tome in my backpack.
Breathing hard after the first block, I kept up as best I could. Does this count as a viable speedwork alternative? My legs this morning say "yes".
I had run shorter on Monday, thinking we were going to take the East Side all the way down to the Brooklyn Bridge and then over - faster for him but longer for me.
Instead, we went down the East Side, where dodging in-line skaters was easier than dodging bankers and traders on the main streets, cutting over to the Williamsburg Bridge and taking it, instead. Massive hill. Oof.
Down Bedford, where we parted ways at Atlantic. Up to Eastern Parkway, then found my way home. Did I know that I wasn't running as much as I had planned? I had an idea.
Could I have added on? Yes. But David Lewis and food were calling and the backpack was feeling pretty heavy. So a bit over 10 1/2 it was. A challenging 10 1/2, at least, with banker-dodging, car evading, bus avoiding and bridge crossing.
Instead, met up with Superman near Grand Central Station and ran home.
I do mean run. Not jog, not meander, not stroll. He was in a hurry to get home.
I had to keep working after I got home. In addition to my clothes and shoes, I had an Epistemology textbook and another large tome in my backpack.
Breathing hard after the first block, I kept up as best I could. Does this count as a viable speedwork alternative? My legs this morning say "yes".
I had run shorter on Monday, thinking we were going to take the East Side all the way down to the Brooklyn Bridge and then over - faster for him but longer for me.
Instead, we went down the East Side, where dodging in-line skaters was easier than dodging bankers and traders on the main streets, cutting over to the Williamsburg Bridge and taking it, instead. Massive hill. Oof.
Down Bedford, where we parted ways at Atlantic. Up to Eastern Parkway, then found my way home. Did I know that I wasn't running as much as I had planned? I had an idea.
Could I have added on? Yes. But David Lewis and food were calling and the backpack was feeling pretty heavy. So a bit over 10 1/2 it was. A challenging 10 1/2, at least, with banker-dodging, car evading, bus avoiding and bridge crossing.
Monday, September 13, 2010
Uncharted Territory, again
Ivy League takes me to places I've never been! What a guy.
From the man who brought you Brownsville, the greenway to the beach, East New York and the end of the 3 line.........
The side streets near Riverside Drive!
I raced up to my office, threw on my running clothes, and got outside just in the nick of time to meet him this afternoon. Hyped on teaching, little food and chalk dust, I was gabbing furiously as we ran down to the entryway to the West Side path.
Far different than at 6:00am, the blue sky was glowing and so was I. Up the path to the turn-off to Riverside Drive, we, of course, chose the turn-off. The path past there is too tilted for running.
Plus, there is more interesting scenery elsewhere. If you run enough in Manhattan, you see a lot of water. And people in skimpy/tight running clothes. Best to change it up!
Up through the park then onto Riverside past 110th. The run felt great. We were going at a comfortable but still brisk pace, strengthening our ankles on the cobblestones.
And then.......
We went a little crazy.
We crossed the road to the other side. And then went further.
So many different countries and cities and eras we visited today. Paris in the spring. London near Harrod's. Castles from the middle ages. All on the West Side of Manhattan.
Budget traveling, indeed! Even to the modern of the modern: Riverside Boulevard, home of Trump towers and a great place to to striders.
And Ivy League took me there. What a sport!
He really does have some great routes up his sleeve. Excited about the one we'll be doing later in the week.
Perfect pace for today and perfect length. I've needed a run that just made me happy all over. I've been feeling a bit of burn-out recently. This one did the trick. All at a bargain of about 7 miles.
Plus, I got a smoothie. Mmmmmmmm.
Now, to see to my quad. I've got to roll it even more. Ouchiness on the horizon.
BTW - more evidence for my claims about the crossword crowd and their proclivities.
Sunday 19a: cry after poor service.......Let
Yes, they referenced the US Open.
Of course, I have also been watching the US Open, but still......I might well be the 60+year old man who was also doing the Sunday puzzle this morning on the train at 6:30am......Sigh.
From the man who brought you Brownsville, the greenway to the beach, East New York and the end of the 3 line.........
The side streets near Riverside Drive!
I raced up to my office, threw on my running clothes, and got outside just in the nick of time to meet him this afternoon. Hyped on teaching, little food and chalk dust, I was gabbing furiously as we ran down to the entryway to the West Side path.
Far different than at 6:00am, the blue sky was glowing and so was I. Up the path to the turn-off to Riverside Drive, we, of course, chose the turn-off. The path past there is too tilted for running.
Plus, there is more interesting scenery elsewhere. If you run enough in Manhattan, you see a lot of water. And people in skimpy/tight running clothes. Best to change it up!
Up through the park then onto Riverside past 110th. The run felt great. We were going at a comfortable but still brisk pace, strengthening our ankles on the cobblestones.
And then.......
We went a little crazy.
We crossed the road to the other side. And then went further.
So many different countries and cities and eras we visited today. Paris in the spring. London near Harrod's. Castles from the middle ages. All on the West Side of Manhattan.
Budget traveling, indeed! Even to the modern of the modern: Riverside Boulevard, home of Trump towers and a great place to to striders.
And Ivy League took me there. What a sport!
He really does have some great routes up his sleeve. Excited about the one we'll be doing later in the week.
Perfect pace for today and perfect length. I've needed a run that just made me happy all over. I've been feeling a bit of burn-out recently. This one did the trick. All at a bargain of about 7 miles.
Plus, I got a smoothie. Mmmmmmmm.
Now, to see to my quad. I've got to roll it even more. Ouchiness on the horizon.
BTW - more evidence for my claims about the crossword crowd and their proclivities.
Sunday 19a: cry after poor service.......Let
Yes, they referenced the US Open.
Of course, I have also been watching the US Open, but still......I might well be the 60+year old man who was also doing the Sunday puzzle this morning on the train at 6:30am......Sigh.
Please Dismount
Practicing restraint. I need to cross-train. I need to lose some weight. But I won't be able to do either if I hurt myself again. And given that my quad has been a bit finicky this past weekend, I need to keep the larger goal in mind.
No biking to work today. So I cross-trained another way: by getting to finish the puzzle in the morning. Five minutes. Epson and Epsom both being in the puzzle was kind of lame.
One thing that's nice about biking to work, though, is that it really wakes a person up. Now I'll have to fight off sleep on the subway, armed with "Elusive Knowledge" by David Lewis.
I know you are jealous.
Maybe I can read more than 5 pages of my book tonight without falling asleep, though, since I will have done less today.
No biking to work today. So I cross-trained another way: by getting to finish the puzzle in the morning. Five minutes. Epson and Epsom both being in the puzzle was kind of lame.
One thing that's nice about biking to work, though, is that it really wakes a person up. Now I'll have to fight off sleep on the subway, armed with "Elusive Knowledge" by David Lewis.
I know you are jealous.
Maybe I can read more than 5 pages of my book tonight without falling asleep, though, since I will have done less today.
Sunday, September 12, 2010
Graveyard
I phoned the Vivacious Redhead yesterday. To hear her tell it, I was being a good motivating force for her.
Actually, I wanted to make sure that someone else was running this morning, as I was afraid it would be raining and knew it would be grey and cold (for us weird people, it does count as cold, fyi).
Plus, I hadn't talked to her in forever besides on the phone, and her children, while awesome in every other way, are not the best at letting her talk on the phone. They like to interrupt. What can you do? They are children, after all.
I remember I was the same way with my mother. Come to think of it, I STILL am that way. Learning curve?
Around the cemetery, chatting the whole way. We argued whether going counterclockwise is harder or easier than going clockwise.
"But you have that long hill, going counter-clockwise." "But you have those steep hills going clockwise." But you don't have to look at the McDonald's and the car wash while you are struggling uphill clockwise."
She made a good point about the McDonald's.
We went at a pretty good pace throughout the run around Greenwood Cemetery, by the Butterfly Garden, where I've never seen any butterflies, and back down Prospect Park West to meet up with whomever showed for the group run. We even got there early!
While keeping a pretty good pace, we weren't going fast, so conversation was easy and the miles flew by. My bad quad is still feeling it a bit after last week and, even now, sitting down, I feel it a bit. I've rolled and will roll more, but I think it's something I need to keep an eye out for.
No speedwork this week, I think. Oh, the inhumanity!
A huge group showed up - for Sundays, anyway. Smiley and Carefree showed up. Beer and Cheese showed up after having already done a lap inside the park. A new girl showed up, who was really nice.
No loops inside the park: the Vivacious Redhead and I made an executive decision. Too many bikes because of the Five Borough Ride. Instead, it was outside the park we went for a counter-clockwise loop. On the way down Prospect Park West, we saw Coach coming the other way. Tried to get him to join up with us. He smiled his enigmatic smile, tilted his head once, and ran on.
Down Prospect Park Southwest, we encountered Urban Planner. We were able to persuade her to run with us. While running, she explained that she had been running with Coach, who had already done 18 miles when she had met up with him.
That explains the run-past. And I was afraid he didn't like me and the Vivacious Redhead anymore!
This loop, we were going at a pretty relaxed pace. My legs were a bit tired, so it was nice for them. But I don't think it's a good thing, overall, to run much slower, relatively, than one usually does. Other things start to hurt in us over-30 types.
So I kept up at the front with Carefree, who was trucking for a good part of the run, and caught up some more. By the time we got to Flatbush, though, I guess my body just wanted to be done. All of a sudden, I heard the Vivacious Redhead shout at me "Just wait! We're coming for you!"
I must have just sped up of my own accord. It felt a bit better, though my thigh still felt tired.
I need advice on the quad and some non-speedwork time, I think.
We did get to go to Milk Bar afterwards, though we almost got run over by bikes doing the tour in the process. It's no Bagel Hole but it's awfully fantastic, nonetheless.
Bikes should stop for pedestrians at crosswalks when the pedestrians have the green. They shouldn't glare and race past through the red light when a group of people are trying to cross. It's only polite.
Having company is sometimes more important than running a particular time. Got a really pleasurable 11 miles or so in before the rain.
Actually, I wanted to make sure that someone else was running this morning, as I was afraid it would be raining and knew it would be grey and cold (for us weird people, it does count as cold, fyi).
Plus, I hadn't talked to her in forever besides on the phone, and her children, while awesome in every other way, are not the best at letting her talk on the phone. They like to interrupt. What can you do? They are children, after all.
I remember I was the same way with my mother. Come to think of it, I STILL am that way. Learning curve?
Around the cemetery, chatting the whole way. We argued whether going counterclockwise is harder or easier than going clockwise.
"But you have that long hill, going counter-clockwise." "But you have those steep hills going clockwise." But you don't have to look at the McDonald's and the car wash while you are struggling uphill clockwise."
She made a good point about the McDonald's.
We went at a pretty good pace throughout the run around Greenwood Cemetery, by the Butterfly Garden, where I've never seen any butterflies, and back down Prospect Park West to meet up with whomever showed for the group run. We even got there early!
While keeping a pretty good pace, we weren't going fast, so conversation was easy and the miles flew by. My bad quad is still feeling it a bit after last week and, even now, sitting down, I feel it a bit. I've rolled and will roll more, but I think it's something I need to keep an eye out for.
No speedwork this week, I think. Oh, the inhumanity!
A huge group showed up - for Sundays, anyway. Smiley and Carefree showed up. Beer and Cheese showed up after having already done a lap inside the park. A new girl showed up, who was really nice.
No loops inside the park: the Vivacious Redhead and I made an executive decision. Too many bikes because of the Five Borough Ride. Instead, it was outside the park we went for a counter-clockwise loop. On the way down Prospect Park West, we saw Coach coming the other way. Tried to get him to join up with us. He smiled his enigmatic smile, tilted his head once, and ran on.
Down Prospect Park Southwest, we encountered Urban Planner. We were able to persuade her to run with us. While running, she explained that she had been running with Coach, who had already done 18 miles when she had met up with him.
That explains the run-past. And I was afraid he didn't like me and the Vivacious Redhead anymore!
This loop, we were going at a pretty relaxed pace. My legs were a bit tired, so it was nice for them. But I don't think it's a good thing, overall, to run much slower, relatively, than one usually does. Other things start to hurt in us over-30 types.
So I kept up at the front with Carefree, who was trucking for a good part of the run, and caught up some more. By the time we got to Flatbush, though, I guess my body just wanted to be done. All of a sudden, I heard the Vivacious Redhead shout at me "Just wait! We're coming for you!"
I must have just sped up of my own accord. It felt a bit better, though my thigh still felt tired.
I need advice on the quad and some non-speedwork time, I think.
We did get to go to Milk Bar afterwards, though we almost got run over by bikes doing the tour in the process. It's no Bagel Hole but it's awfully fantastic, nonetheless.
Bikes should stop for pedestrians at crosswalks when the pedestrians have the green. They shouldn't glare and race past through the red light when a group of people are trying to cross. It's only polite.
Having company is sometimes more important than running a particular time. Got a really pleasurable 11 miles or so in before the rain.
Saturday, September 11, 2010
Oy Vey!
Life and the crossword collided today.
Friday's puzzle, 56a: Leaving Brooklyn: -----! Williamsburg Bridge sign
Oy Vey!
Meeting up with PPTC today, no one really had a strong sense of what route they wanted to take. We settled on a route we do frequently, but much less frequently in the direction we chose. Bedford to Williamsburg Bridge and then one of the other bridges back to GAP area.
Plus: the Williamsburg Bridge is MUCH easier going from Brooklyn to Manhattan. The last time I did the bridge was during that epic long run where it was right at the end and I was feeling pretty rough. It's always good to have a better run over it to erase part of the bad associations you can easily get with that bridge.
Minus: running the route this direction meant that I couldn't cut out early at the end, which I would have been able to to had we run Williamsburg last.
Quite a group today! I cheer the intrepid newbies who agreed to run this route with us, even though at least one just went over the Williamsburg and back. It's an urban run up until there, without much pretty scenery.
Interesting scenery though, in my opinion. I love running through Bed-Stuy. I had to make sure to put my long-sleeved shirt back on, though, during this part of the run until we were over the bridge. It was Saturday and I didn't want to totally offend people. That made it a bit warm but, in many parts, there was a nice breeze that cooled me off.
Ivy League, Superman and Tennis Ace ran ahead, while the Dancer, Gorgeous and I held back a bit. We were stopping to make sure that others knew how to get to the bridge on Bedford, looping back to meet them at a couple of key point on the run.
The hipsters were mostly asleep during our Williamsburg foray, so the streets were pretty quiet. Didn't see the sign on the bridge referenced by the crossword, as it is on the driving part, but thought about it and smiled.
Later, the Photographer ran with us most of the way, as well as one of Superman's friends.
Over the bridge, Tennis Ace remarked "It's amazing what a view the Williamsburg Bridge has. I guess I always forget because I don't want to have to run up it to enjoy it." That's why I was so excited we crossed it the easy way! Going from Manhattan to Brooklyn is much harder, as the hill is much, much longer and then the downhill is so steep that it's really hard on the knees. Yay for reverse loops!
Superman had to get home, so we threaded through some streets, braving traffic and inadvertently running through the moment of silence for the second plane that hit the towers. Eeek! But we had already run past it and didn't want to further ruin it by interrupting to say 'sorry'. So we ran on.
Over the Manhattan Bridge, Superman, Tennis Ace and Ivy League really took off, with the Photographer close on their heels. The Dancer, Gorgeous and I took it slower. All three of us had started to feel the speedwork we had all done earlier in the week - especially in the glutes! They were on fire!
After the bridge, we ran back up to Court, further foiling my attempts to get us to run more directly back to my area. Superman, his friend, and Ivy League all took off. The rest of us kept a good pace but didn't go crazy. My bad quad had been twinging this morning and I didn't want to further tweak it by going any faster.
Plus, my legs hurt!
Ivy League finished off the run with me down to Kingston. Walked it off by doing some errands. Now for more work and, hopefully, more tennis! I would imagine I ran about 13 today. Who knows what pace.
Friday's puzzle, 56a: Leaving Brooklyn: -----! Williamsburg Bridge sign
Oy Vey!
Meeting up with PPTC today, no one really had a strong sense of what route they wanted to take. We settled on a route we do frequently, but much less frequently in the direction we chose. Bedford to Williamsburg Bridge and then one of the other bridges back to GAP area.
Plus: the Williamsburg Bridge is MUCH easier going from Brooklyn to Manhattan. The last time I did the bridge was during that epic long run where it was right at the end and I was feeling pretty rough. It's always good to have a better run over it to erase part of the bad associations you can easily get with that bridge.
Minus: running the route this direction meant that I couldn't cut out early at the end, which I would have been able to to had we run Williamsburg last.
Quite a group today! I cheer the intrepid newbies who agreed to run this route with us, even though at least one just went over the Williamsburg and back. It's an urban run up until there, without much pretty scenery.
Interesting scenery though, in my opinion. I love running through Bed-Stuy. I had to make sure to put my long-sleeved shirt back on, though, during this part of the run until we were over the bridge. It was Saturday and I didn't want to totally offend people. That made it a bit warm but, in many parts, there was a nice breeze that cooled me off.
Ivy League, Superman and Tennis Ace ran ahead, while the Dancer, Gorgeous and I held back a bit. We were stopping to make sure that others knew how to get to the bridge on Bedford, looping back to meet them at a couple of key point on the run.
The hipsters were mostly asleep during our Williamsburg foray, so the streets were pretty quiet. Didn't see the sign on the bridge referenced by the crossword, as it is on the driving part, but thought about it and smiled.
Later, the Photographer ran with us most of the way, as well as one of Superman's friends.
Over the bridge, Tennis Ace remarked "It's amazing what a view the Williamsburg Bridge has. I guess I always forget because I don't want to have to run up it to enjoy it." That's why I was so excited we crossed it the easy way! Going from Manhattan to Brooklyn is much harder, as the hill is much, much longer and then the downhill is so steep that it's really hard on the knees. Yay for reverse loops!
Superman had to get home, so we threaded through some streets, braving traffic and inadvertently running through the moment of silence for the second plane that hit the towers. Eeek! But we had already run past it and didn't want to further ruin it by interrupting to say 'sorry'. So we ran on.
Over the Manhattan Bridge, Superman, Tennis Ace and Ivy League really took off, with the Photographer close on their heels. The Dancer, Gorgeous and I took it slower. All three of us had started to feel the speedwork we had all done earlier in the week - especially in the glutes! They were on fire!
After the bridge, we ran back up to Court, further foiling my attempts to get us to run more directly back to my area. Superman, his friend, and Ivy League all took off. The rest of us kept a good pace but didn't go crazy. My bad quad had been twinging this morning and I didn't want to further tweak it by going any faster.
Plus, my legs hurt!
Ivy League finished off the run with me down to Kingston. Walked it off by doing some errands. Now for more work and, hopefully, more tennis! I would imagine I ran about 13 today. Who knows what pace.
The US Open
Thanks to Baseball, Story Finder and I headed out to the US Open yesterday to watch some amazing tennis. The women's semi-finals. Two exciting matches where higher-hyped players beat themselves. Zvonareva beat Wozniaki and Cljisters beat Williams. A shame: both Wozniaki and Williams had, by far, the better of the two outfits during each of their respective matches.
I need to remember what I was just teaching last Wednesday......Relevent differences. I suppose, in tennis, that is not a relevent difference. I still think that they should get extra points for the stylistic advantage.
What a day! I saw Nadal and Federer there, too. Well, not actually. But in my dreams.
I need to remember what I was just teaching last Wednesday......Relevent differences. I suppose, in tennis, that is not a relevent difference. I still think that they should get extra points for the stylistic advantage.
What a day! I saw Nadal and Federer there, too. Well, not actually. But in my dreams.
Friday, September 10, 2010
A Girl Could Get Used to This!
"Done, already?"
Not usually glowing words of praise. But today was different. For the first time in a long time - not counting injury runs - I ran only three miles. And it wasn't a race, nor was I being chased.
The new me had decided that I would stick pretty close to the overall miles I am supposed to run this week, as it is supposed to be an 'easy' week. (And, yes, I do know what I am implying by using the quotation marks. Nerd, here!)
The old me would have insisted that she run at least the miles slated for today, even though she had already run at least 41 of the 50 miles slated for this week, with the percentage good that she would run with PPTC tomorrow. Too many miles other days.
The new me said "You need a chance to rest a bit. Next week will be tough. Make sure to get some quality miles in then."
I can't decide if the new me is really wise or just really lazy. I like her, regardless.
What freedom! I can really understand why people like those short runs so much. You barely have time to get warmed up before it's over. Loads of time left over to re-start my push-up routine which I have been slacking badly on. A leisurely stretch. Some much-needed rolling pin time.
And less than an hour had elapsed!
I might use lunch to finish the crossword!
Boy am I letting my hair down today!
Not usually glowing words of praise. But today was different. For the first time in a long time - not counting injury runs - I ran only three miles. And it wasn't a race, nor was I being chased.
The new me had decided that I would stick pretty close to the overall miles I am supposed to run this week, as it is supposed to be an 'easy' week. (And, yes, I do know what I am implying by using the quotation marks. Nerd, here!)
The old me would have insisted that she run at least the miles slated for today, even though she had already run at least 41 of the 50 miles slated for this week, with the percentage good that she would run with PPTC tomorrow. Too many miles other days.
The new me said "You need a chance to rest a bit. Next week will be tough. Make sure to get some quality miles in then."
I can't decide if the new me is really wise or just really lazy. I like her, regardless.
What freedom! I can really understand why people like those short runs so much. You barely have time to get warmed up before it's over. Loads of time left over to re-start my push-up routine which I have been slacking badly on. A leisurely stretch. Some much-needed rolling pin time.
And less than an hour had elapsed!
I might use lunch to finish the crossword!
Boy am I letting my hair down today!
Thursday, September 9, 2010
Ital Shak
and me. We're an item. It always gets me through down times.
I love Ital Shak.
There. I said it.
A $7.00 plate that will feed me twice. Steamed cabbage ready and waiting for me.
Comfort food that doesn't haunt you the morning after.
Food like if my mom could cook, was West Indian, and used to work for a mess hall.
Mmmmmmm.
I love Ital Shak.
There. I said it.
A $7.00 plate that will feed me twice. Steamed cabbage ready and waiting for me.
Comfort food that doesn't haunt you the morning after.
Food like if my mom could cook, was West Indian, and used to work for a mess hall.
Mmmmmmm.
Oh Boy!
Gorgeous had to cancel doing that ultra-tough tempo workout today.
I should have been basking in it, doing extra work and just enjoying life.
But I don't do that super well, so I arranged to meet Ivy League in Prospect Park for some tempo work. Though I warned him I might not make it the whole way: Tuesday really took it out of my legs. Even though I just did cross-training yesterday, biking to work and back, my knees were iffy and my hamstrings were still tight and kind of sore when I rolled out of bed this morning.
All clear evidence that I just haven't been pushing myself enough in training. The workouts this week shouldn't have made me feel like that. It's good to be reminded when you've been lazy.
After running to meet him at GAP, we did a fairly strange and challenging route to make 8 in the park. After a slow first mile, we picked it up to around a 7:17 pace and kept it there for the rest of the run. It was a combination of transverses, switching directions and then, finally, a loop of the park followed by a reverse back up the zoo hill and to GAP.
Legs = heavy. On the plus side, my breathing was pretty good. Not winded except for two places. One was where I just felt like I was about to cry and started to hyperventilate.
I felt the more stupid because I had this reaction for no reason. I chalked it up to frustration and bullied myself out of the mood.
Another was on zoo hill. Ivy League kept the pace but I had to slow down a bit. My legs were tired enough that somehow my breathing was affected too. It was weird. Luckily, my gluts were burning so much that I didn't notice the breathing until afterwards!
Then a run home, at a much slower pace. Still don't see how I'm supposed to keep such a pace for a whole race. Still thinking seriously about postponing NY. I just couldn't, and then didn't want to, take the training seriously enough early on.
Glad that I hung on for most of it, at least! Plus, it was a good distraction from the rest of my life.
I should have been basking in it, doing extra work and just enjoying life.
But I don't do that super well, so I arranged to meet Ivy League in Prospect Park for some tempo work. Though I warned him I might not make it the whole way: Tuesday really took it out of my legs. Even though I just did cross-training yesterday, biking to work and back, my knees were iffy and my hamstrings were still tight and kind of sore when I rolled out of bed this morning.
All clear evidence that I just haven't been pushing myself enough in training. The workouts this week shouldn't have made me feel like that. It's good to be reminded when you've been lazy.
After running to meet him at GAP, we did a fairly strange and challenging route to make 8 in the park. After a slow first mile, we picked it up to around a 7:17 pace and kept it there for the rest of the run. It was a combination of transverses, switching directions and then, finally, a loop of the park followed by a reverse back up the zoo hill and to GAP.
Legs = heavy. On the plus side, my breathing was pretty good. Not winded except for two places. One was where I just felt like I was about to cry and started to hyperventilate.
I felt the more stupid because I had this reaction for no reason. I chalked it up to frustration and bullied myself out of the mood.
Another was on zoo hill. Ivy League kept the pace but I had to slow down a bit. My legs were tired enough that somehow my breathing was affected too. It was weird. Luckily, my gluts were burning so much that I didn't notice the breathing until afterwards!
Then a run home, at a much slower pace. Still don't see how I'm supposed to keep such a pace for a whole race. Still thinking seriously about postponing NY. I just couldn't, and then didn't want to, take the training seriously enough early on.
Glad that I hung on for most of it, at least! Plus, it was a good distraction from the rest of my life.
Tuesday, September 7, 2010
At Least I Looked Snazzy!
The humidity reminded me of last week. Not having to go to work this week until this morning should have made me rested and all energy-ed up.
But I just couldn't seem to get enough rest this weekend. Started working on the train back at 6:05am and worked all the way through the commute home.
Not So was very happy to see me, although she had a very competent companion while I was gone. Was able to throw stuff down and grab my snazzy new skirt that I had ready and waiting, and ran to Bartel-Pritchard to meet people to run down to the track.
Lots of people showed but everyone had their own timing, so I mainly tried to stay with Gorgeous. We did 6 x 1000, with 200 jog in between. I kept up for the first three, with Gorgeous keeping the exact pace for each one.
I thought we made a nice tableau, what with my orange and red and her bright blues. That thought cheered me through the first half.
Well, that and I got to a teal the inside lane for the first two. Heh.
By the fourth, though, I was losing it. Gorgeous pistoned her way to another perfectly timed 1000, while I struggled a bit but kept right behind her. By the fifth, she had opened up the gap considerably. She was keeping the same pace: I just couldn't.
Almost half a lap separated her and me on the last one. I was fighting my lungs and my legs.
And what track workout is complete without me dry heaving? Don't worry: almost puked on Gorgeous's shoes this time. Glad I didn't: they were nice new ones.
On the last lap, Roll Call raced by me, urging me to keep up. Hah! I would have given him a snide comment had I the energy.
Finally got to run back to the circle and then home.
Track days are always rough. The four plus mile warm-up and then the same length cool down are a bit much for me, given how weak I am on the track anyway. I'm exhausted! I figure I did about 12 today, or something like it. Glad I cut the run a bit short yesterday.
Now to bike in eight hours. Boy, do I love the semester......
But I just couldn't seem to get enough rest this weekend. Started working on the train back at 6:05am and worked all the way through the commute home.
Not So was very happy to see me, although she had a very competent companion while I was gone. Was able to throw stuff down and grab my snazzy new skirt that I had ready and waiting, and ran to Bartel-Pritchard to meet people to run down to the track.
Lots of people showed but everyone had their own timing, so I mainly tried to stay with Gorgeous. We did 6 x 1000, with 200 jog in between. I kept up for the first three, with Gorgeous keeping the exact pace for each one.
I thought we made a nice tableau, what with my orange and red and her bright blues. That thought cheered me through the first half.
Well, that and I got to a teal the inside lane for the first two. Heh.
By the fourth, though, I was losing it. Gorgeous pistoned her way to another perfectly timed 1000, while I struggled a bit but kept right behind her. By the fifth, she had opened up the gap considerably. She was keeping the same pace: I just couldn't.
Almost half a lap separated her and me on the last one. I was fighting my lungs and my legs.
And what track workout is complete without me dry heaving? Don't worry: almost puked on Gorgeous's shoes this time. Glad I didn't: they were nice new ones.
On the last lap, Roll Call raced by me, urging me to keep up. Hah! I would have given him a snide comment had I the energy.
Finally got to run back to the circle and then home.
Track days are always rough. The four plus mile warm-up and then the same length cool down are a bit much for me, given how weak I am on the track anyway. I'm exhausted! I figure I did about 12 today, or something like it. Glad I cut the run a bit short yesterday.
Now to bike in eight hours. Boy, do I love the semester......
Half and Half
Half tranquil and beautiful, half strip malls and auto sales.
Yesterday, I took one last opportunity to run next to the Charles River. Kayaks, canoes and sculls painted the water in bright blues, yellows and reds.
But I didn't want to cross the river. I was running by myself and wanted to make sure I got my planned time in without getting horribly lost, which I've done before when running by myself in Boston.
So, 20 minutes in, I ran down the main drag in Water town. On the plus side, I now know where Target and Marshals are, and the best place to get a Lexus.
Easy run, nice pace for recovery after the day before. So amazingly not humid that I couldn't even feel myself sweating.
A shortish out and back starting at the Harvard Bridge. Those little paintings on the sides of the pillars are so cool. I can't believe I had never seen them before! 1:12:22, so at least 8 miles. Finishing in plenty of time to advise a panicking student about classes.
Back to the real world......
Yesterday, I took one last opportunity to run next to the Charles River. Kayaks, canoes and sculls painted the water in bright blues, yellows and reds.
But I didn't want to cross the river. I was running by myself and wanted to make sure I got my planned time in without getting horribly lost, which I've done before when running by myself in Boston.
So, 20 minutes in, I ran down the main drag in Water town. On the plus side, I now know where Target and Marshals are, and the best place to get a Lexus.
Easy run, nice pace for recovery after the day before. So amazingly not humid that I couldn't even feel myself sweating.
A shortish out and back starting at the Harvard Bridge. Those little paintings on the sides of the pillars are so cool. I can't believe I had never seen them before! 1:12:22, so at least 8 miles. Finishing in plenty of time to advise a panicking student about classes.
Back to the real world......
Sunday, September 5, 2010
A Switch from the Usual
Yesterday, I went on a boat ride. It was awesome. The most exercise I did was walking from T stop to T stop. That was awesome. Students are allowed to play their music as loud as they'd like on Fridays and Saturdays. Maybe not as awesome.
This morning:the chirping of the bugs. A sound I haven't heard since moving to New York. And a sound that, in the North anyway, is easily drowned out by any sort of human noise.
There were two people eating breakfast in the cavernous dining hall when Suave and I strolled in at a very late 7:30am. Maybe they were all at Mass or at Meeting or something.
The neighbors did play rock band until 3:00am, however. Abductive reasoning says they were all still asleep.
Good and bad for my run this morning. Good: Suave had sent an email out to all of his advisees, stating that I'd be running at 10:00am and to meet me outside the Lampoon if they were interested in joining. Hopefully, no one would show up! Bad: still tired and it would be nice to run with someone - anyone - to mask that tiredness. Hopefully, someone would show up!
Wandered out the door and the best of conflicting desires was fulfilled. A lone, hardy student, looking waaaaaay to chipper for 10:00am on a Sunday, was there to meet me. No one else arrived. Didn't wait very long: no one else was likely to arrive. It was 10:00am on Sunday, after all.
This gentleman led the way. We ran down to the Charles, by the river. Then, we ran off over through Watertown, running up the equivalent of Heartbreak Hill through the neighborhoods.
I had to stop talking about graduate school and what the best letters of recommendation to get were as I struggled up the hills. New York: flat. Last week, I somehow ran three hill workouts in a row. I hope this is not an auger that the situation will repeat itself.
He was chatting the whole way up.
Then, we ran through Brookline, where I again stopped yammering to gaze at some amazing houses. Went down to Route 30, ran through Auburn, I believe, and then up past BC, over the water, and back into Cambridge. I timed the run at 1:32 something. At least 10 miles.
Maybe more. My legs were still a bit tired from Friday but I had taken Saturday totally off. Of course, I had to keep up the pace that the young whippersnapper had set, even though it was clearly for the benefit of yours truly.
He appeared to finally break a sweat in the last ten minutes.
I felt like I was running a pace that Gorgeous and I might do when both of us are feeling ok and that natural competitiveness kicks in.
Gorgeous weather. A polite college student well-versed in "how to talk to someone that is much older than you and that you don't know at all". DIscussion of philosophy, math and graduate school advisement.
What more could a person ask for in a run?
I just hope the holiday tomorrow doesn't extend the parties. Darn kids. With their music.
This morning:the chirping of the bugs. A sound I haven't heard since moving to New York. And a sound that, in the North anyway, is easily drowned out by any sort of human noise.
There were two people eating breakfast in the cavernous dining hall when Suave and I strolled in at a very late 7:30am. Maybe they were all at Mass or at Meeting or something.
The neighbors did play rock band until 3:00am, however. Abductive reasoning says they were all still asleep.
Good and bad for my run this morning. Good: Suave had sent an email out to all of his advisees, stating that I'd be running at 10:00am and to meet me outside the Lampoon if they were interested in joining. Hopefully, no one would show up! Bad: still tired and it would be nice to run with someone - anyone - to mask that tiredness. Hopefully, someone would show up!
Wandered out the door and the best of conflicting desires was fulfilled. A lone, hardy student, looking waaaaaay to chipper for 10:00am on a Sunday, was there to meet me. No one else arrived. Didn't wait very long: no one else was likely to arrive. It was 10:00am on Sunday, after all.
This gentleman led the way. We ran down to the Charles, by the river. Then, we ran off over through Watertown, running up the equivalent of Heartbreak Hill through the neighborhoods.
I had to stop talking about graduate school and what the best letters of recommendation to get were as I struggled up the hills. New York: flat. Last week, I somehow ran three hill workouts in a row. I hope this is not an auger that the situation will repeat itself.
He was chatting the whole way up.
Then, we ran through Brookline, where I again stopped yammering to gaze at some amazing houses. Went down to Route 30, ran through Auburn, I believe, and then up past BC, over the water, and back into Cambridge. I timed the run at 1:32 something. At least 10 miles.
Maybe more. My legs were still a bit tired from Friday but I had taken Saturday totally off. Of course, I had to keep up the pace that the young whippersnapper had set, even though it was clearly for the benefit of yours truly.
He appeared to finally break a sweat in the last ten minutes.
I felt like I was running a pace that Gorgeous and I might do when both of us are feeling ok and that natural competitiveness kicks in.
Gorgeous weather. A polite college student well-versed in "how to talk to someone that is much older than you and that you don't know at all". DIscussion of philosophy, math and graduate school advisement.
What more could a person ask for in a run?
I just hope the holiday tomorrow doesn't extend the parties. Darn kids. With their music.
Friday, September 3, 2010
Awesomeness
I forgot to mention earlier. A new fashion horizon has been sighted.
PPTC singlet plus florescent orange skirt equals amazing.
Plus, if somebody were to have hit me with his or her car and then claimed not to have seen me because of the early hour, he or she would have been laughed out of court.
How do you like that counterfactual?!
Yes. I did just make a nerd joke. What do you expect?
PPTC singlet plus florescent orange skirt equals amazing.
Plus, if somebody were to have hit me with his or her car and then claimed not to have seen me because of the early hour, he or she would have been laughed out of court.
How do you like that counterfactual?!
Yes. I did just make a nerd joke. What do you expect?
Garmin=Fail!
When I got up this morning at 3:43am, I knew I would have to take my run in stages, just like yesterday. My calves were still tight from yesterday's unaccustomed tempo work, I am not yet in long-distance shape, and I was starting the run before 5:00am. Thursdays are usually my rest day: what would it be like to be doing a training run on comparatively tired legs? On the Saturday runs, I never really care about the distance or the speed and, so, it seems different that I run those on day-after-long-run legs.
I had been worried enough about this run that I arranged to meet Roll Call on the way to work, in order to have some company during part of it. Company helps me to forget how I'm feeling, sometimes.
Tired enough that I mis-calculated when I would hit Cadman Plaza and raced up there via GAP, Union and Court, convinced I'd be late to meet Roll Call. Was actually early and felt silly about all the hysteria. That was the first piece of the run: I had gotten out of the house and over to the Brooklyn Bridge.
During the next stage of the run, my Garmin started to malfunction a bit but I chalked it up to being under the overpass on the East Side greenway, which we angled directly for after crossing the Brooklyn Bridge. Roll Call and I were chatting - mainly about the intense humidity, which had both of us ready for a wet t-shirt contest, no water required - and that made the time pass pretty quickly up the East Side. He slowed down for me a bit, for which I was grateful. I was feeling pretty good, if tired, at this point but knew I had a lot more distance to cover. I had decided to use my Garmin just for timing, so that I could estimate my pace later. Then, it completely lost it: started beeping randomly and was completely unresponsive.
Its price tag was the only reason it didn't get chucked in the garbage. Totally worthless. It would have been better to have brought my low-tech watch on the run: at least I would have been able to time myself!
We cut over on 23rd to 1st Ave, then ran up 1st to 58th and cut over to points further west. End of second stage.
Now, I was on my own. This is when I started to really feel it. I could tell my weaker quad was getting tired: it didn't hurt but it felt a bit funny. My arms were tired from the water bottles and my back was making itself known. There was also a huge psychological factor thrown in. I had been counting on listening to music to help me make it through a rough second half. My Ipod, alas, succumbed to my sweat and shorted out. No tunes.
"I just have to get over to the West Side Highway."
Like a small child, I fell for it, like I always do. It's amazing how you can trick yourself, even when you KNOW that you are trying to trick yourself.
I ran over and down until I hit the crossing point at 54th and the West Side Highway. Third stage over. I had no real idea how much distance I had covered or what my pace was but I knew that I had slowed down from the pace we had been keeping up the East Side. I managed to finish this stage by counting down streets and singing to myself in my head. "Desperation Street" and "Welcome to the Jungle" were both prominently featured. A bit eerie, considering the messages of both and how I was feeling.
When I hit Houston, I started the fifth stage. The approach and crossing of the Williamsburg Bridge. It had been looming in my head for a while, so it was almost a relief to be heading towards it. First, though, I had to get there.
The run to the bridge was probably the hardest part. It seemed to take forever and there was enough traffic that I had to stop a couple of times, making my muscles tighten up more. My sweat band was useless at this point. All of my clothes were soaked with sweat. Finally, though, I got to the bridge.
Whether because I slowed down even more (I have no idea what pace I was going at this point in the run) or because I knew it would take me back to Brooklyn, the bridge was a relief. It wasn't bad at all. And I usually hate this bridge, due to the long, long incline and the super-steep decline when running from Manhattan to Brooklyn.
"You can stop on Bedford."
But, of course, I couldn't stop on Bedford. No subway. Thus, I started the sixth stage. I just needed to get to the overpass. Done: weaved through the bike lane. Next, Flushing Avenue. That's the start of the second-to-last incline on this run. I was now running just because it was the fastest way to get me home. Everything hurt. Even my pinkie.
Past Flushing and onto Myrtle. Stage eight. Over Atlantic and down to Nostrand. Stage nine. Here, I could have stopped but would have just had to walk home, an unpleasant prospect given how I was feeling. My weaker quad was really tired by now and I was back to running uphill. I know I slowed even more at this point. Speed-walkers might well have lapped me.
Finally!!!!! Eastern Parkway!!!!! Iced coffee!!!!!!
Just getting down on the floor to stretch was a project. I hope my next long runs find me feeling stronger and less like a last-place finisher.
Due to all the electronic malfunctions, I have no idea of pace - except slow - and I have no precise idea of how far I went. Based on a guess about the East Side part, I estimate between 21 and 22 miles.
Ice. And more ice. I can predict my future.
I had been worried enough about this run that I arranged to meet Roll Call on the way to work, in order to have some company during part of it. Company helps me to forget how I'm feeling, sometimes.
Tired enough that I mis-calculated when I would hit Cadman Plaza and raced up there via GAP, Union and Court, convinced I'd be late to meet Roll Call. Was actually early and felt silly about all the hysteria. That was the first piece of the run: I had gotten out of the house and over to the Brooklyn Bridge.
During the next stage of the run, my Garmin started to malfunction a bit but I chalked it up to being under the overpass on the East Side greenway, which we angled directly for after crossing the Brooklyn Bridge. Roll Call and I were chatting - mainly about the intense humidity, which had both of us ready for a wet t-shirt contest, no water required - and that made the time pass pretty quickly up the East Side. He slowed down for me a bit, for which I was grateful. I was feeling pretty good, if tired, at this point but knew I had a lot more distance to cover. I had decided to use my Garmin just for timing, so that I could estimate my pace later. Then, it completely lost it: started beeping randomly and was completely unresponsive.
Its price tag was the only reason it didn't get chucked in the garbage. Totally worthless. It would have been better to have brought my low-tech watch on the run: at least I would have been able to time myself!
We cut over on 23rd to 1st Ave, then ran up 1st to 58th and cut over to points further west. End of second stage.
Now, I was on my own. This is when I started to really feel it. I could tell my weaker quad was getting tired: it didn't hurt but it felt a bit funny. My arms were tired from the water bottles and my back was making itself known. There was also a huge psychological factor thrown in. I had been counting on listening to music to help me make it through a rough second half. My Ipod, alas, succumbed to my sweat and shorted out. No tunes.
"I just have to get over to the West Side Highway."
Like a small child, I fell for it, like I always do. It's amazing how you can trick yourself, even when you KNOW that you are trying to trick yourself.
I ran over and down until I hit the crossing point at 54th and the West Side Highway. Third stage over. I had no real idea how much distance I had covered or what my pace was but I knew that I had slowed down from the pace we had been keeping up the East Side. I managed to finish this stage by counting down streets and singing to myself in my head. "Desperation Street" and "Welcome to the Jungle" were both prominently featured. A bit eerie, considering the messages of both and how I was feeling.
When I hit Houston, I started the fifth stage. The approach and crossing of the Williamsburg Bridge. It had been looming in my head for a while, so it was almost a relief to be heading towards it. First, though, I had to get there.
The run to the bridge was probably the hardest part. It seemed to take forever and there was enough traffic that I had to stop a couple of times, making my muscles tighten up more. My sweat band was useless at this point. All of my clothes were soaked with sweat. Finally, though, I got to the bridge.
Whether because I slowed down even more (I have no idea what pace I was going at this point in the run) or because I knew it would take me back to Brooklyn, the bridge was a relief. It wasn't bad at all. And I usually hate this bridge, due to the long, long incline and the super-steep decline when running from Manhattan to Brooklyn.
"You can stop on Bedford."
But, of course, I couldn't stop on Bedford. No subway. Thus, I started the sixth stage. I just needed to get to the overpass. Done: weaved through the bike lane. Next, Flushing Avenue. That's the start of the second-to-last incline on this run. I was now running just because it was the fastest way to get me home. Everything hurt. Even my pinkie.
Past Flushing and onto Myrtle. Stage eight. Over Atlantic and down to Nostrand. Stage nine. Here, I could have stopped but would have just had to walk home, an unpleasant prospect given how I was feeling. My weaker quad was really tired by now and I was back to running uphill. I know I slowed even more at this point. Speed-walkers might well have lapped me.
Finally!!!!! Eastern Parkway!!!!! Iced coffee!!!!!!
Just getting down on the floor to stretch was a project. I hope my next long runs find me feeling stronger and less like a last-place finisher.
Due to all the electronic malfunctions, I have no idea of pace - except slow - and I have no precise idea of how far I went. Based on a guess about the East Side part, I estimate between 21 and 22 miles.
Ice. And more ice. I can predict my future.
Thursday, September 2, 2010
Like Odysseus
I should have tied myself to the mast - metaphorically, anyway. That way, I wouldn't have been able to follow Gorgeous's siren song.
But no. She beguiled me into doing ANOTHER speed workout this week. Because me almost puking on Coach's shoes wasn't enough.
Sometimes, I am an idiot. "It will be fun!!!", she said.
Never trust a cute, smiling redhead.
There was sleep sand in my eyes this morning when I finally stopped hitting the snooze at 5:34am. My legs felt like blocks. I looked in the mirror. I looked better than I felt.
And a squinty-eyed monster had been looking back at me.
But I promised I'd meet her. And, worse than making fun of me, Gorgeous would give me a 'disappointed but understanding' look the next time I saw her. That look, which my advisor perfected, guilted me into finishing my disseration. So out the door I went, just like George Thorougood.
Did a granny jog up to GAP. Met up with Gorgeous. Knew the plan for the day going in, so I had lots of time to really start dreading it. Decided on the way up to break it up into chunks. First part done: granny jog to GAP. I had actually gotten to the workout.
Next, three miles at marathon pace. Gorgeous is the stats person, so check her blog for the actual times. I'll give you the feel-o-meter reading.
Marathon pace run to just before Zoo Hill: a bit burn-y. Some spitting involved. Felt like the last 3 miles of a 10-miler when you woke up hung-over from the night before. The legs are tired but you actually feel less and less like you want to puke. Breathing hard but still able to chat about any escapades or gossip, in between pants.
Then, 4 800s between the water fountain near the 5k finish and the fountain on the Ocean Avenue side. Full glut burn. Breathing like an anonomous caller. Felt worse than mile 14 of a marathon because the thoughts keep repeating: "I'm supposed to go about this fast for an entire race?!" and "I have, at one time, run this fast for an entire race?!".
Finally, a three-mile tempo run up Flatbush, around to Prospect Park West, back down PP West, and into the park. Like miles 22-24 of a marathon when you've already hit the wall and are really struggling. No talking: too much spitting required. Nausea rolling in and out like the tide on the North Shore. Legs magically weighing twice as much as before. The sort of run where you are trying to get yourself to the next street, then the next, then the next. Watched Gorgeous do her machine-like stride, arms pistoning, geting into the groove. Felt more like puking. She very nicely slowed down a bit for me on the way back. A moment of euphoria when I realized that a. we completed the workout and b. we completed the workout!
I took the train home.
But no. She beguiled me into doing ANOTHER speed workout this week. Because me almost puking on Coach's shoes wasn't enough.
Sometimes, I am an idiot. "It will be fun!!!", she said.
Never trust a cute, smiling redhead.
There was sleep sand in my eyes this morning when I finally stopped hitting the snooze at 5:34am. My legs felt like blocks. I looked in the mirror. I looked better than I felt.
And a squinty-eyed monster had been looking back at me.
But I promised I'd meet her. And, worse than making fun of me, Gorgeous would give me a 'disappointed but understanding' look the next time I saw her. That look, which my advisor perfected, guilted me into finishing my disseration. So out the door I went, just like George Thorougood.
Did a granny jog up to GAP. Met up with Gorgeous. Knew the plan for the day going in, so I had lots of time to really start dreading it. Decided on the way up to break it up into chunks. First part done: granny jog to GAP. I had actually gotten to the workout.
Next, three miles at marathon pace. Gorgeous is the stats person, so check her blog for the actual times. I'll give you the feel-o-meter reading.
Marathon pace run to just before Zoo Hill: a bit burn-y. Some spitting involved. Felt like the last 3 miles of a 10-miler when you woke up hung-over from the night before. The legs are tired but you actually feel less and less like you want to puke. Breathing hard but still able to chat about any escapades or gossip, in between pants.
Then, 4 800s between the water fountain near the 5k finish and the fountain on the Ocean Avenue side. Full glut burn. Breathing like an anonomous caller. Felt worse than mile 14 of a marathon because the thoughts keep repeating: "I'm supposed to go about this fast for an entire race?!" and "I have, at one time, run this fast for an entire race?!".
Finally, a three-mile tempo run up Flatbush, around to Prospect Park West, back down PP West, and into the park. Like miles 22-24 of a marathon when you've already hit the wall and are really struggling. No talking: too much spitting required. Nausea rolling in and out like the tide on the North Shore. Legs magically weighing twice as much as before. The sort of run where you are trying to get yourself to the next street, then the next, then the next. Watched Gorgeous do her machine-like stride, arms pistoning, geting into the groove. Felt more like puking. She very nicely slowed down a bit for me on the way back. A moment of euphoria when I realized that a. we completed the workout and b. we completed the workout!
I took the train home.
A Liberated Woman
Or, I've got a Bicycle and I'm not Afraid to Use it!
Armed with my pulsing safety vest and bright red helmet, I pushed off pedals for the first time ever in New York, and for the first time in several years, period.
So fun! Me being me, I stopped for all the lights, of course. That took a while in Brooklyn. But over the Bridge and onto the West Side, it was breezy and easy.
Of course, that might be because I was biking the equivalent of a 13-minute mile.
Gotta take it slowly, first time out!
"Geesh" I thought. "Why in the world do I run? Look at all these red-faced, sweating people, with their mouths and foreheads all wrinkled up. Think about what I'd be saving on Botox later in life if I were to switch to biking!"
I also got passed by an obese man on a folding bike. It reminded me a bit of my swimming prowess: somebody's got to make those old ladies feel good about themselves!
The U.S. Open - a last-minute opportunity - stranded my wheels at work. If they are still there today, I'll ride 'em home. Safety vest blinking.
Armed with my pulsing safety vest and bright red helmet, I pushed off pedals for the first time ever in New York, and for the first time in several years, period.
So fun! Me being me, I stopped for all the lights, of course. That took a while in Brooklyn. But over the Bridge and onto the West Side, it was breezy and easy.
Of course, that might be because I was biking the equivalent of a 13-minute mile.
Gotta take it slowly, first time out!
"Geesh" I thought. "Why in the world do I run? Look at all these red-faced, sweating people, with their mouths and foreheads all wrinkled up. Think about what I'd be saving on Botox later in life if I were to switch to biking!"
I also got passed by an obese man on a folding bike. It reminded me a bit of my swimming prowess: somebody's got to make those old ladies feel good about themselves!
The U.S. Open - a last-minute opportunity - stranded my wheels at work. If they are still there today, I'll ride 'em home. Safety vest blinking.
Wednesday, September 1, 2010
The Pain, The Agony, The Out-of-Shapeness!
"You know, Sarah, it might be a good idea, with this whole 'marathon-coming-up-in-less-than-10-weeks' thing, if you actually did some speedwork."
This brilliant thought, and all the post by Gorgeous about all of the tempo runs and speedwork she's been doing, pushed me to turn right back around after coming home from work yesterday. I raced over to Bartell-Pritchard to actually do the speed training that I had signed up and paid money for.
Shocking: that I paid money for something is not usually enough of a motivation for me to actually do something. Especially if that something involves me wondering at several points if I will see the rosy pink lining of my stomach with my very own eyes.
More probable: Gorgeous has been doing all this work and has been running so well. Not to mention the Speedy Blonde. They might beat me in the marathon but what if it were a blowout?
Side note: I might need to work on my competitiveness. I think I'd try to race Paula Radcliff if she were running by. She'd never know that anyone was trying to race her, and the actual race would last about 5 seconds. But I'd try to hang on for those 5 seconds. Is this a personality flaw, I wonder? It's a bit reminiscent of Don Quixote, tilting at windmills.
So. Spent the whole time running to the meet-up thinking about how I need to figure out what to do in my Epistemology class today. Decided that this might be a time to learn that lesson others have been trying to teach me: sometimes it's more productive to not come fully prepared with a lecture and 16 pages of type-written notes to class.
Ah. Justifications.
Got a chance to catch up a bit with the Child Whisperer before our three-mile warm-up. Then off to do 440s.
Those who know me already know several things about this work-out without having to read the rest. You may stop here. Yes, all of that was true today, too.
My stomach dropping at the news that we had to do 400s. Bad air quality. Asthma attack in the middle. Me (almost) puking.
Just another re-run.
Did ok on the first 4. We only had 30 seconds of rest in-between. To me, with being out of shape, generally preferring a 20-mile run while desperately hung-over to running 400's, being a teensy bit competitive (see above), being paired initially with Ivy League and Macrobiotic Man (among others), and it being really hot and humid outside, that 30 seconds felt like 2.
And then.....Drum roll.......here it comes.......Lap 5=anaerobic running. Yes, ladies and gentlemen, I got an asthma attack.
I know you are surprised.
I hate getting asthma attacks during speedwork. Especially when I am this out of shape. I feel like I am making excuses for myself and that I should just try harder.
So I took my inhaler and tried to do number 6. Awesomeness. Couldn't keep up. We had already broken away from Ivy League and Macrobiotic Man and formed our own group because they were going too fast after the first 3 or so. I still couldn't keep up.
Coach: "Are you ok?" Me: "No" :almost pukes on Coach's shoes;
I really know the way to show my best side!
Anyway, we were supposed to do 6 440's with 30 seconds rest inbetween at a pace of 90 seconds/440. Hah. First 4, this basically happened. After that, no way.
We then got 3 minutes rest and did another 4 with 30 seconds in-between. The last one had me reduced to peering at the Child Whisperer's disappearing back as I told myself "Just hang on. Just hang on."
That one was my worst: 100 seconds. Bah. The rest, though were (mainly) between 90 and 95 seconds.
We were doing these by the tennis courts so, afterwards, we ran back to the circle, where I trundled home with Ivy League.
Best part of the night: Ivy League and I got to get yummy burgers. With fries. Hey - I did speedwork!
This brilliant thought, and all the post by Gorgeous about all of the tempo runs and speedwork she's been doing, pushed me to turn right back around after coming home from work yesterday. I raced over to Bartell-Pritchard to actually do the speed training that I had signed up and paid money for.
Shocking: that I paid money for something is not usually enough of a motivation for me to actually do something. Especially if that something involves me wondering at several points if I will see the rosy pink lining of my stomach with my very own eyes.
More probable: Gorgeous has been doing all this work and has been running so well. Not to mention the Speedy Blonde. They might beat me in the marathon but what if it were a blowout?
Side note: I might need to work on my competitiveness. I think I'd try to race Paula Radcliff if she were running by. She'd never know that anyone was trying to race her, and the actual race would last about 5 seconds. But I'd try to hang on for those 5 seconds. Is this a personality flaw, I wonder? It's a bit reminiscent of Don Quixote, tilting at windmills.
So. Spent the whole time running to the meet-up thinking about how I need to figure out what to do in my Epistemology class today. Decided that this might be a time to learn that lesson others have been trying to teach me: sometimes it's more productive to not come fully prepared with a lecture and 16 pages of type-written notes to class.
Ah. Justifications.
Got a chance to catch up a bit with the Child Whisperer before our three-mile warm-up. Then off to do 440s.
Those who know me already know several things about this work-out without having to read the rest. You may stop here. Yes, all of that was true today, too.
My stomach dropping at the news that we had to do 400s. Bad air quality. Asthma attack in the middle. Me (almost) puking.
Just another re-run.
Did ok on the first 4. We only had 30 seconds of rest in-between. To me, with being out of shape, generally preferring a 20-mile run while desperately hung-over to running 400's, being a teensy bit competitive (see above), being paired initially with Ivy League and Macrobiotic Man (among others), and it being really hot and humid outside, that 30 seconds felt like 2.
And then.....Drum roll.......here it comes.......Lap 5=anaerobic running. Yes, ladies and gentlemen, I got an asthma attack.
I know you are surprised.
I hate getting asthma attacks during speedwork. Especially when I am this out of shape. I feel like I am making excuses for myself and that I should just try harder.
So I took my inhaler and tried to do number 6. Awesomeness. Couldn't keep up. We had already broken away from Ivy League and Macrobiotic Man and formed our own group because they were going too fast after the first 3 or so. I still couldn't keep up.
Coach: "Are you ok?" Me: "No" :almost pukes on Coach's shoes;
I really know the way to show my best side!
Anyway, we were supposed to do 6 440's with 30 seconds rest inbetween at a pace of 90 seconds/440. Hah. First 4, this basically happened. After that, no way.
We then got 3 minutes rest and did another 4 with 30 seconds in-between. The last one had me reduced to peering at the Child Whisperer's disappearing back as I told myself "Just hang on. Just hang on."
That one was my worst: 100 seconds. Bah. The rest, though were (mainly) between 90 and 95 seconds.
We were doing these by the tennis courts so, afterwards, we ran back to the circle, where I trundled home with Ivy League.
Best part of the night: Ivy League and I got to get yummy burgers. With fries. Hey - I did speedwork!
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