(Early) Morning Running

"Lord, am I tired."

The bells struck 7:00am as I passed them on the way to the Charles River path.

This will seem late, soon: I've got to get back to my 5:45am running schedule in less than a month.

EEEEEEEK

I don't much like mornings.

Though this one brought a breeze and some cool weather, along with overcast skies.

That and being partly asleep made the run seem to go by quite fast.

But my right quad, which had been twinging, started to actively ache.

Which is not good.

It's hard to justify running through the pain when I'm not training for anything, so I compromised with myself: instead of going down to the Mass Ave bridge, I'd go half-way to the second pedestrian highway cross-over and go back up to the BU bridge and over that way back to Harvard.

Making deals with myself. Luckily, one part of my is a push-over. The hard bargainer side, were it out this morning, would have made me run all the way to the Longfellow just for the impertinance of suggesting a shortened trip!

Big weenie of the day.

About 9 miles

Adversity

"Uh, oh", I thought, forcing my legs to churn down the path past Anderson Bridge.
"This is going to be a bad one."

My legs were a bit tight and kind of tired. They creaked as I started off my first mile to meet Korea.

I was worried the run would be one long slog, or that I'd have to cut it short.

But I ran an extended route with Korea and felt great the whole time. The miles felt shorter, even, than they usually do.

Why had I thought they would be so bad?

Because I haven't really pushed myself for a long time. Because I haven't had the feeling of going out on tired legs for my morning run.

Because I haven't had enough adversity.

When I run a lot more, I get used to tired legs, to tired body, to stretching those muscles out while I run.

Now, it's a foreign feeling, much like speedwork.

And companionship certainly helps me forget that tiredness. How many times did I groan my way to Grand Army Plaza on a way-too-early Saturday morning, only to have a wonderful, companion-filled run where I ran almost double the distance I was expecting to be capable of?

But even after I left Korea at the BU bridge and continued on to the Register Bridge and back to Harvard campus, I remained energized.

I need to start remembering what exertion in the face of tiredness feels like. School starts soon.
A bit over 11 miles.

It's Not Quite Prospect Park

But the distance is similar.

I did a modified versiomn of the Fresh Pond route, going the long way around the pond twice.

Mental trickery was involved with starting that second loop: I hate doing repeat loops!

Again, I felt that strange cramp in my right side for most of the run.

By the start of the second loop, the pressure had eased some and I was able to pick up the pace. The cramp didn't get really going again until I was almost done, when I could ignore it. But I felt it the whole time.

I've been using water bottles because of the heat and humidity but I'd think I would also potentially get a cramp in my left side, as well, if the cramps were a result of my arms swinging differently.

Overheating? Too much water beforehand?

Ideas? I'm not usually a cramper and these are really making my runs feel onerous.

I want it to be fun, not an ordeal!

Well, the second half was pretty nice today.

About 12 miles, I think-maybe less. Still more than I've done in a while!

Twist on a Regular Route

I ran in a hurry down to the BU bridge: I was afraid I'd be late.

Then I waited. And waited.

Ends up, there was a miscommunication. Korea wasn't meeting me.

So off I went, on the Register Bridge to the Mass Ave Bridge loop but approaching it in a totally different way.

First, down to the BU Bridge and over to the Boston side.

Then, running down BU's campus - which is really nice - and back to the greenway down to the Mass Ave Bridge.

Instead of ending back at the JFK Bridge, like I usually do, I kept running past and over the Register Bridge, getting back over to the Boston side of the river.

Back over the JFK and around finished the run.

I won't miss the duck poop. It's hard to look up when you are busy avoiding duck poop. There's as much of it around as there were dog poop and chicken bones in Brooklyn.

I've been getting into too many ruts, both running-wise and everything-wise. I'll be glad to switch things up when I get to DC, as initially uncomfortable as that may be.
I need some change.

Walden Pond

Yesterday, no running. Instead, a trip to Waldon Pond.


Interesting fact: Thoreau's house is not original and is also not re-created in its original location.

Probably so that people could see it on the way to the pond from the parking lot.

Walking a mile must be too hard for a lot of people.


My brother and sister-in-law enjoyed the water.

Suave and I went on joint solo hikes. That is, we went out at the same time but walked separately around the lake.

I saw a lot of runners. I'd like to run there!

two loops of the lake.

Tufts!

Those *#($$)#()(@#$ hills.

A 'Hill' in Brooklyn is anything with a rise to it at all. 'Big hills' in Brooklyn are small rises that go for a while.


Not in Boston. Especially around Tufts.

I found this out today. At least I had dumped my water bottles beforehand: the deluge my brother and I had starting out the run seemed to obviate the need for water - a decision we regretted near the end of the run, when it rose up hot, humid and rain-free.

But for the hills, I was happy I had left them behind.

I'm really, really bad at hills.

Gasping gasping gasping cramping butt hurts gasping

He'd always be up at the top, waiting for me. Once I got there, he'd click his watch back on and off we'd go.

I grew to dislike that gesture: the clicking of the watch.

But hills are good for me. Right?

10+ gasping miles with my little brother. Good that we left around 9:00am, as I doubt we could have done many this afternoon.

Captain America was my reward. That, and a nap.

A hard life.

Trundling

Or, How PODS is a Terrible Company

Spent about 2 1/2 hours on the phone with the PODS Friday morning.

"Yes, how may I help you? First, what is your customer ID and your pin?"

"Um, I told that to the last three people who all 'accidentaly' hung up on me."

"Yes, well they are helping other customers right now. What seems to be the issue?"

.........

"Well, you see, mileage costs have gone up from $2/mile to $17/mile. Surely you understand."


etc.

All I had to show for those hours was the "deal" of taking $125 off the $1500 they are trying to charge me to move my stuff from Baltimore, where I initially thought I was going to live, to D.C.

The move and 1 month's storage from Brooklyn to Baltimore cost less than $1500. Some deal.

Anyay, I got out much later than I intended.

Walking into the sun at about 10 until 1:00pm, I felt a physical force slamming into me.

"Whew. This is going to be something."

And something it was. Even with water bottles and trundeling, I was beat after the 3 miles I promised myself I'd do.

Sometimes, even trundling is hard.

I Still Love the Heat

Just not to run in anymore.

It's official: I have become a total heat and humidity weenie. Yesterday, I did about ten miles, running an out and back to Watertown. Waiting for some important calls, I didn't make it out the door until 2:00pm. And the course was 1/2 full sun. Not until I got to the part near Watertown, where it was fully shaded, did I finally feel ok.

Hyperventilating and feeling faint is not good, I'm told, on a run! Oops.

That was kind of rough. Which stinks because I had had plenty of sleep, am not too stressed, was well hydrated before the run and brought my water bottles with me.

This morning, I got an email saying my partner couldn't go. I went out the door, as a result, at about 10:15am-I had been waiting to meet her. Still not an idea time to go-the Vivacious Redhead and I were making fun of the people running at that time on Sunday-but definitely better.

Less direct sun? Same humidity-lots- but the temperature was also a bit different.

About 86 yesterday, as opposed to about 80 when I started.

Another 10 miles but it felt much easier. To be fair, less hills on the Register bridge to the Mass Ave bridge route but I think the time of day made a difference.

I can't believe that I've become a heat weenie!

Channelling the Biggest Loser

I think, were the Vivacious Redhead and I to suddenly become roommates, we'd be in amazing shape.

Firstly, we'd do consitutionals after almost every meal. Secondly, we'd guilt each other into running more than we might want to on any particular day. Thirdly, we'd be walking EVERYWHERE.

Which is what we did yesterday.

This time, we started our run a bit earlier. A good thing: it was much more humid than Saturday, with less of a breeze.

At first, both of us were a bit tight. I had been worried, as my left calf had been complaining in the morning - a result of wearing my purse on one side too much, as well as the unaccustomed amount of walking. I walk a lot but over 10 miles is more than usual, especially with a large purse and regular shoes.

Running and walking must use one's calves differently, however. During the run, my muscles felt great! It was only when we started walking again that they felt at all tight or sore.

A quick 5+ miles, then coffee and a walk. Then, back to the hotel to change and have breakfast. After breakfast, a longer walk. Of course.

It being a beautiful day, and neither of us wanting to pay for a cab, we then packed up our luggage and started off to the train station a hilly three miles away.

Did I mention my luggage? And it was packed all in over-the-shoulder bags.

I could really feel the extra weight on some of the uphills. Good for the rear!

The Reservoir

"It's not so far. Plus, we can stop and get coffee on the way back."

With that, I persuaded the Vivacious Redhead to go on a run to Lake Montebello, even with the grim Baltimore run of last year bright in her conciousness.

After a great first pass at Artscape the night before, we got up early and forced ourselves to eat a mini Zone bar.

"Ugh. I still feel dinner pushing against my belly!"

But we got them down, filled up my water bottles and strapped on our shoes.

Oh, and we made sure to start before the sun really got up high in the sky. 7:30am is much better than 9:00am in Baltimore in July.

Off we went. Hills, hills hills.

"Oh, Baltimore is flat!" my dad has exclaimed. "Only 500 feet total elevation gain."

That's why you should always look at the actual elevation chart for a race. Kona had only 200 feet total elevation gain, yet was a series of short, sharp brutal hills.

And downtown Baltimore is not too far off of that.

Though hilly, the run uptown was MUCH better than last year's effort. With one major annoyance: the hordes of runners going the other direction.

Now, I'm all for runners. So I'm conflicted about saying this. But there were a lot of them.

At first, Ami and I thought it was one of the largest running clubs we'd ever seen.

"Wow. They sure have a great turnout! And, boy, are those ladies fast!"

But then they just kept coming. And coming. In pockets. Finally, we asked one man huffing by whether this was a charity run.

"No, it's a long run for the Baltimore Marathon."

Interesting. The marathon isn't until October. And we saw some runners coming from the Reservoir. So it was a rather long training run for most people, this early.

Bu that's all information/positives. Here was the problem: people in Baltimore aren't used to seeing a other runners. Especially not going the other direction. And they aren't used to sharing the sidewalk with others, whether runners or walkers. So the personal space bubble is larger. So they run further away from each other. AND WHEN THEY ARE TWO AND THREE ABREAST ON A NARROW SIDEWALK ON A BUSY STREET, THEY DON'T MOVE FOR RUNNERS GOING THE OTHER DIRECTION!

Sorry. Had to get that out. I felt as if I was doing the Gauntlet on American Gladiators. It got to the point where the perienially cheery - and safety-concious - Vivacious Redhead actually said, in an exasperated tone, "Isn't there a bike lane?! No? Let's just run in the parked cars lane."

Once we huffed up the hills to 33rd street, we turned towards the reservoir.

Not the best neighborhood off of Greenmount but, I figured, I do it myself all the time and it's early Saturday morning!

It was fine. And the trees arched over the sidewalk most of the way. Lovely leafy dappled pee-free concrete.

Definitely some things I won't miss about NYC!

Around the reservoir. A beautiful sight: blue waters and flowers. Worth the sun and asphalt.

And, best part of all: after we got back to Charles Street, it was basically downhill until the Starbucks before the Washington Monument. Whee!!!!!!!

We walked the rest of the way. It was a bit over 2 1/2 miles walking and 10 1/2 miles running.

And then more than eight miles additional walking that day. Sunburns and tired calves all around.

Fun.

Mind your Ps and Qs!

I've had a goal, in this period of relative leisure and anxiety.......

To do things to keep the anxiety at bay.

Including, keeping up on the crosswords.

Well, I failed last week. But, the train from Baltimore gave me lots of time to ameliorate that.

I wouldn't have wanted to do actual work, after all.

Thursday's puzzle was awesome. I was also proud of myself that I figured out the theme within the first 5 clues.

Though, given the amount of Q's in those clues, it wasn't so hard.

And then, Sunday's theme was pretty awesome, too - THE END IS IN SIGHT

Hah. If you did it, you'll laugh, too.

Temperature Change

or, how I should really start getting up in the morning to run, again.

I've been doing all of these mid-morning or mid-afternoon runs. And complaining about the heat and humidity.

All of those elements, save the actual running, would have been weird for motivated, working New York me.

Friday, having to take a train in the morning to Artscape in Baltimore, I reverted.

30 minutes of running, will cool temperatures - it was maybe 68!

Wow. What a difference. That, and that I fixed my tunes so that the songs wouldn't automatically shuffle if I moved my arm too much.

Must remember this........

Casual Running

Whee! Less heat! Korea brings good luck that way.

I have been living in the Northeast too long. That, too much airconditioning, and weight gain have turned me into a heat and humidity wimp!

In Alabama, Wednesday's temps and humidity would have been a welcome change. Here, I'm gasping for air.

I prepared by bringing both waterbottles. An overkill this day but at least I worked my arms.

Off I went, to meet Korea at the BU bridge.

Did a bit of tempo running to get there: nothing like losing track of time for us people who avoid speedwork at all costs to force us to do it.

We ran back to the JFK bridge and over, chatting the whole time. I made sure to keep the waterbottles swinging and my arms going straight forward. That's my new area of concentration.

After getting back to the BU bridge, I decided to go down to the Mass Ave Bridge and come back around.

It's amazing how much of a difference perceived exertion and phsychological attitude makes. I remember, on Wednesday, looking at the same stretch of path between the Mass Ave Bridge and the BU Bridge, and despairing of ever getting there. Ditto with the subsequent bridges.

With the better weather and a lessened perceived exertion, however, I kept on being surprised as to how close they were!

A delightful 9+ miles

Breathing Problems

I have no true idea what's going on but I'm fed up with it!

Tightness

Achiness

Side stitches

Wheeze wheeze wheeze

Hyperventilating

Muscles aching for air


Did a ten-mile run on the water today. I was well-hydrated and as well-rested as I could be, given that some of these breathing problems were going on last night.


At least I didn't pass out on the way around. There were a couple of times where I thought I was going to.

That would have been a sight! Girl with water bottles on hips, bend over sucking air. Then....a short topple, is what I'd imagine would happen.

Ideas for how to fix this? Besides just going to the doctor again?

Me and the boys

I love it when these runs work out!

Monday, I was waiting around in Brooklyn for my landlord's son to wake up so that I could do the walk-through of my apartment. My landlord had been out of town when I moved.

It was hot. I really wanted to go to my house. But I didn't have one there anymore!

So I sat outside. And sat. And sat. I drank water and some coffee but I still didn't need to pee three hours later when I went over to Ivy League's house to change for my run.

So I didn't go very far. We met up with LSE and Superman and ran about 4 miles with them. Then, we ran down to my old neighborhood, to get some DD and to wait for my landlord.

Such a short run with all of them. But so awesome! LSE and Superman went much longer.

I was too dehydrated.

At lunch with Ivy League, the Vivacious Redhead and her two kids, I kept sucking down water.

But still felt terrible! It was only after about 8 more cups of water at the Vivacious Redhead's house that I started feeling better.

Before then, I was twingy and my heart kept being up in my throat.

Dehydration is weird.

But it was awesome to run with all the handsome men again!

A New Running Friend!

I have a new running friend. Her name is Korea.

She works nights, so is willing to go with me pretty much anytime during the day.

Flexible schedules are awesome! I am really dreading having to get a real job, where I have to go to work all the time.

Sigh.

I ran to meet her down by the BU bridge, then ran back up and around one of the bridges near Harvard, then back down to the BU bridge, where I tried to pick up the pace on the way back.

Her pace is relaxed, which is nice, but I should really try to get a BIT of speed in, sometimes - as evidenced by the travesty on Wednesday!

It was fun to run with someone else again and the weather was nice and rainy. It was actually less humid than it had been.

I then raced off to NYC, where I walked and walked and walked but didn't do much running.

"Tempo" Run

I got to see beautiful stained glass on Wednesday.

Now, some of my arty friends call Chihully's stuff "craft" and think it's sloppy.

Thankfully, as I have no real eye, I don't have to see in such detail. All I saw were pretty shiny things.

I love pretty shiny things!

But, as a result, I didn't have a great chance to run long. I was meeting a friend and didn't want to be late.

Great Idea: I'll do a tempo run! On the river! In the sunshine! When it's 94+ degrees! At noon!

Hey, at least my great idea didn't push the run until 4:00pm.

So, that was rough. I really wasn't going super fast but definitely felt the effort. Making a half-hearted effort to time, I went about 40 minutes. But I didn't do much more than 5 miles.

That's what the humidity does to you, sometimes!

Though, normally, I'm better with the heat. I think I have to stop hanging out in Suave's air conditioning.

The Other Side of Mass Ave

Or, how Suave's voice in my head told me to turn around


"I'm going somewhere different," I resolved. "I need to figure out more of the area. And too much river or pond gets monotonous."

So I set to mapping.

Alas, the Tufts run, which my brother promised was so full of steep inclines that my rear would hurt for a week, was too short.

I was trying for 10-12.

I ended up failing but interestingly.

I saw a park on the map, you see. A park called Forest Park.

This conjured up softly lit memories of Ivy League, East New York and Queens.

Maybe it would be as nice as the other Forest Park!


Well, it did conjure up images of East New York.

I never saw the park.

Crossing the highway turn-off was like crossing most town's MLK, Jr., Boulevard.

From green and brownstones to orange Uhaul signs and people at busstops who weren't waiting for a bus.

When it turned into empty lots and light industry, I started hearing the voice louder in my head.

"Sarah, don't be an idiot! It's probably fine but you have no idea whether the neighborhood sill get worse! And if you go and start running around a park-I.e.-acres of greenery with no houses or businesses around-in a neighborhood like the one you are in, that would really be violating the don't-be-an-idiot rule!"

At first, I resisted. After all, I had my water bottles! I could use them as weapons, if need be!

But, finally, I heeded that voice and turned around.

Instead of a park and a 12+ mile run, I experienced Mass Ave and a 8 to 9 mile run/walk.

I walked at the end because I stopped at Whole Foods. Had to get a dose of yuppie, you know!

Interestingly, I used up almost all of my water in my water bottles and was still dehydrated when I got home. This humidity will not let up.

I do now know where to get my car fixed and my party linens washed, however.

Knowledge is an important thing.

Watertown

At least I brought my water bottles on this one!

Again, my timing could be better. It still hadn't rained. It was still threatening to do so. Still 100% humidity. Still at least 85. And I go out again around 2:00pm.

Sigh. But I had a chance to get some sleep. And to take a warm-up two-mile walk prior to the run.

Had to make sure to have guilt-free cheese later, you understand! Picnicking on the Charles is serious business!

Feeling rather underscore, I decided on an out-and-back along the Charles, starting at Harvard and following the river to downtown Watertown.

Minuses: the part where you are running alongside the 6-lane road is super sunny. And not very breezy. Plus, you have to go through that one part of the path just after the Register bridge that is kind of in the woods, where people are usually hanging out, and which is sort of sketchy.

Pluses: closer to Watertown, the path takes you more into the woods. The shade was lovely after the shimmering heat of the blacktop. Oh, and using water bottles will make me buffer, right?

About ten miles. When I stopped at the end to buy a bottle of wine for a picnic we were creating, the manager handed me a bunch of paper towels. I'm not sure whether they were to dry myself or his counter off.

I thanked him.

The Second Half Was Better

But the first half was a bit rough!

Bounding out like he usually does, my brother was tearing through pent up stress and energy built up in him from too much work and too little working out.

"I don't want a tempo run!"

Repeat

Repeat

At the beginning of the run, you could tell that neither of us had had enough sleep recently. Though we were going to Fresh Pond, my brother headed off towards the Charles. And I followed, without a thought of how odd our course was, given our destination.

Fortunately, we realized our error and managed to wend our way around the long way to Fresh Pond Boulevard.


The weather: about 100% humidity and about 85 degrees. About what happens when you decide to run at 2:45 in the afternoon when it's been threatening rain but not delivering.

The news: fantastic! My brother and his wife are going to have a baby! That's baby number two for the family this year! Whee!

I've got a quad twinge that was also acting up the first part of the run-when I try to push, it and my calf start twinging a bit. Twinges make me nervous!

Around and a half of Fresh Pond, stopping briefly to say hi to his wife and to play with the doggies.

Fact: apparently, only Cambridge doggies are allowed to go off-leash around Fresh Pond. Their lower-brow Somerville neighbors are not. Classism? Or sensibleness?

We then ran up to the Fresh Pond theater, a creepy area with a aril mall and weird empty parking lots. Up a dirt trail to the bridge and we ran down to the Alewife T stop, where we picked up the Cambridge bike path.

I would love to figure out where I can pick this up! By the time we finished our stint on it, I was so turned around that I wouldn't be able to get back there on my own.

Thankfully, at this point in the run, my brother had tired. I was actually going a bit faster than him! But we had definitely slowed from our prior pace.

And boy, was I thirsty! These high humidity runs almost require water bottles. After coming out somewhere near the library and wending our way back to campus, we raced into the first convenience store spew saw, bought two large waters and guzzled them down.

Whew!

Fresh Pond

Is kinda creepy in the middle of the day

Starting off my run at 2:00pm, with an allergy alert and weather imported from my previous residence, I decided to run around Fresh Pond.

Down Brattleboro street, with its Tory housing and leafy eaves, I was semi-protected. The first part of the run still felt awful, though. I was sluggish and couldn't seem to go at any pace whatsoever.

Water bottles were annoying me as I labored away. The turn onto Fresh Pond Parkway took way too long to get to.

But I chugged on.

And started around Fresh Pond. Automatically, my eyes darted left to the giant apartment building looming over the other end of the reservoir. "half way point", I muttered to myself. "I can get there."

Off I went. Chug chug chug. Heavy trees and grass up near my ears were on one side, the choppy waters of the overfilled lake on the other.

Almost no one around.

Am I back in rural Alabama? Deliverance?

Creepy. I picked up my pace, without even realizing it.

The water bottles became aids in my stride instead of hinderances. I channelled Gorgeous's piston steam engine arm motion. Chugchugchug.

I passed the apartment building. "ok. Halfway!".

Abruptly, I was next to the water treatment plant. Almost around! How did that happen?

Then, back up the hill towards Brattle. Chugchugchugchugchug. I felt so much better!

The run transformed itself from a trail of tears to a galavant of grins.

All because I got creeped out in the gloom of abandoned Fresh Pond.

I'll have to remember that.

Now to find running buddies. I need some more motivation!

My brother will likely embarrass me into trying harder next week. We are running tomorrow.