Thanksgiving Musings....

To be perfectly honest, what I'm really doing is avoiding cleaning the kitchen, bathrooms, and upstairs hallway, which are the remaining areas of the house that I haven't yet decluttered, swept, mopped, dusted, or otherwise beautified to prepare for my Mom & Stepdad's arrival tomorrow. I'm not really one to muse about Thanksgiving - it's definitely toward the bottom of my favorite holiday list. Xmas has got the obvious appeal - presents, carols, cookies, presents, the kids' excitement as it gets closer to the big day and they get to see what they got from the big guy, ornaments, presents. You understand what I mean. Then there is Halloween - candy and the opportunity to scare little kids - that's just fabu. Easter - more candy - can't really argue with the appeal of that one. 4th of July has fireworks - totally cool. But Thanksgiving - what does it really have going for it?


The dinner - it's ALL about the dinner. And that's my big problem. First of all, I'm not a big cook. I don't enjoy it in the least. If left to my natural tendencies, I'll figure out the absolute easiest way to get a healthy meal pulled together, even if it makes no sense at all to anyone else. A low fat cheese stick and an apple? Dinner is served! Unfortunately, unless there is a market for a live action version of the Peanuts Thankgiving starring my family, I don't think a platter full of cheese sticks and apple slices is going to cut it. Which is unfortunate, as I do a mean Snoopy dance....


Anyway, so I'm not a cook, which makes hosting the holiday an issue for me (btw, I'm hosting this year, which is a clear sign that my parents love me (ok, that they love the grandchildren...), as I know they aren't coming for the food). But on top of it, I'm just not all that into food in general. Sure, I enjoy a fine meal when one is presented to me, with no effort on my part. But if I woke up tomorrow and was told that there would be no more eating? That I could get optimal nutrition (really, not a snake oil scam, but it would really work) from a pill? Whaaaa Hooooo! Count me in! Seriously, think about it! No eathing == no cooking == no dirty dishes == no cleaning up == more time to do stuff I actually ENJOY! And we could turn the kitchen into a big workout room - I wouldn't have to share my space with the kids playroom (and therefore I'd no longer have to threaten them with death if one of their friends touches my weights or tries to do a flip off my roman chair). The benefits to this no eating thing really are incredible, once you start thinking about it.

All that said, I am looking forward to the long weekend, even if I'll be spending much of it in, ugh, the kitchen. My folks will be here, and my kids are about to EXPLODE with excitement at the notion of seeing Grandma and Papa. We are planning some fun activities with them that I'm looking forward to (some walks in the Fells, around Horn Pond, a tour of the North End, etc.), and I enjoy just hanging out with them. So it will be all good in the end.

Of course, it would be better if we could sit down to a plate loaded high with the perfect blend of protein/carb/fat pills, but, I'll deal.

Gladys, the Glady-ator!

Readers of my The Road to Boston '08 tale may recall that the driving reason for me running Boston last year was to celebrate my turning "the big four-oh." My birthday is about a week after the marathon, and I thought it would be a cool way to ring in a new decade. I thought I was pretty cool, thumbing my nose at aging and all that.

Compared to Gladys, however, I'm totally and completely lame. Check out this woman! Gladys is 90, and she's shooting to break the world record for the marathon in the 90-94 AG. Sweet Jesus! Who knew there even WAS a 90-94 AG!!!!!! This is her 5th marathon - she started training after she saw the fireworks for the 2003 marathon and thought it would be a cool thing to do. How many 85 year olds just decide that training for a marathon is a cool thing to do????

So here's to Gladys - keep on running (or, race walking, as the case may be!), old girl!

Busa Bushwhack Race Report

Here's my race report from my most recent event, my FIRST EVER trail race (and THIRD EVER trail run!!!). I love race reports, so I'll sprinkle my reports from this season here and there when I don't have much else exciting to talk about.



Busa Bushwhack 9.3 Mile Trail Race Report: The race was Sunday (11/2/08), which was a truly glorious day to run - chilly (in the 30's) and clear. I was totally nervous as I've only ever run on trails TWICE, but thankfully the woman who got me into this is a nut and she took me on REALLY hard trails those two times, so I was well prepared. She had warned me that trail racers are just different than road racers, and she was right. This was SO laid back and casual - it was nice! We met for the pre-race meeting outside the school (we used the cafe for registration and to hold our "stuff" while we ran, which was really convenient), then we all walked together to the start - about 1/2 mile through a sleepy neighborhood. The starting line seemed totally and completely arbitrary - we were literally in the middle of the road, and all of a sudden a guy yelled "Go!" So, off we went! We ran about 1/4 of a mile down the road before we dashed into the woods. I call my friend the Wood Sprite - she darts through the trail with such ease and skill it's amazing - she was gone in a flash (which she takes great delight in as I'm faster than her on the road, which seriously pisses her off!). We all ran together (the 9.3 & the 5.3 milers) for a while, then the 5.3 milers split off which really helped to thin the crowd. The trail was fairly narrow and more technical that I had expected, but less technical than what I had run on previously, so I was never nervous or felt uncomfortable (or at least any more than usual when running on trails). I definitely had to pay attention to where I was running, but never did I think "Ummmm.... How do I get up THAT?" The trail was very well marked and there were a lot of volunteers on the course to guide us. But even with all that I managed to go off trail once - I was just following some folks in front of me, and they took a wrong turn. Luckily, they figured it out quickly enough so I didn't add too much additional running to the route!

There were some VERY challenging hills involved - 2 were truly impossible to run - EVERYONE was walking, and this thinned the crowd even more. I ran essentially completely alone for the last 4 miles or so, which was REALLY REALLY weird for a race situation. I had a few "Blair Witch Project" moments where I was CERTAIN that I was somehow running in circles, and I'd never find my way out, and I'd be eaten by wild dogs (which I was positive I heard baying in the background!). I did one superman imitation (tripped on a rock/root when I took my eyes off the trail for a second, went flying to the ground...), but didn't get hurt at all - thankfully it was on a fairly softish part of the trail, not totally covered in rocks/roots. The hardest aspect was watching both your footing and looking for the trail markers (pink ribbon tied to trees/bushes/whatnot) - the route often just took a turn onto no discernible path - you just started heading up a hill in a random part of the woods, following the pink ribbons, so you HAD to look up to see the trail blazes to make sure you weren't headed off in the wrong direction. It's really very mentally challenging as well as physically challenging. Given I was so alone out there, I was convinced that I was dead last. I didn't care, really, but again, it was a very strange feeling - you are NEVER alone in a race! Bizarre. The scenery was truly spectacular - I'd love to run the course again when I could run at a more leisurely pace and actually take it in a bit more. When I finished, in 1:22, I saw my friend who had finished a few minutes before me, and she started laughing when I told her I was last. "Then who are all those people coming in behind you?" So, I wasn't, in fact, dead last. Woo Hoo! LOL. More like mid-packish, toward the bottom of the mid-pack. But in the woods, you can't see the pack! It was GREAT fun, and I really, really enjoyed it. I'll definitely be seeking out more trail race opportunities, and will continue to try to get in one trail run per week!

The spaz in the pool this morning? Yeah, that was me.

Now that I feel like I can truly practice on drills without feeling like I'm taking away "real" swim workout time (I know, I know. Swimming is ALL technique. Drills should be the BASIS of my swim plan, blah, blah, blah...), I spent a good deal of time this morning breathing on my right. You see, I'm a dedicated left side breather, and damn proud of it. When I read that it's good to be able to breathe on both sides, I gave it a try, and nearly drowned. I'm not sure what I do differently when I breathe to the right, but my form must go all to hell because I feel like a TOTAL spaz in the water.

Two of the big reasons commonly stated for bilateral breathing skill are: 1) in clockwise swims, you can see the buoys as you breathe, rather than having to actively sight for them, and 2) in high waves you might have to breathe to the other side to avoid taking a wave in the face. Well, conveniently for me, all of my races have been 1) counter clockwise, and 2) either in a lake or a very calm bay. So...... why again do I need to learn to breathe on the right?

I know deep down that I should pick up this skill before I hit a race when I'll NEED it, and will be cursing myself for being a lazy slob in the off-season. So, now that it's truly and honestly the off season, and I'm at a point in my training where I'm doing lots of aerobic intervals, it's time to finally learn to right-breathe (as well as commit to the flip turn, but I'm not talking about that now - that lunacy deserves its own post). Today after my warm-up and usual drills, I was to swim 8x200, with 15" rest in between each. And I mentally committed to giving the right side as much attention as the left, right out of the gate.

And so I went, initially alternating 50's, first doing left side breathing, then right side breathing. I must have looked insane - the first 50, I'd glide through the water like a fish, a truly beautiful and graceful sight, clocking impressive 50's even though they were purely aerobic.

"I didn't know that Dara Torres swam at the Woburn Y, did you Ralph?"

"No, I didn't, she's amazing!"

Then it would be time for the switch. "Ralph, is Dara having a seizure or something? She doesn't look .... right. Should we rescue her?" "Well, she IS making forward motion, so I think she's ok. Although I have NO idea what on earth she could be doing. Maybe it's some newfangled drill that only Olympians know about."

But, I kept it up. I'd switch things up a bit, sometimes swimming alternating 100's, sometimes doing the full 200 on one side, then switching for the next. And as much as the seizure-like swimming was driving me mad, I kept at it. And while the Dara-esque form never appeared on the right as it does on the left, by the end of the workout I think I was looking a BIT less like I was drowning.

Baby steps, boys and girls. Baby steps.

Well, drats...

I haven't run with my running club since Boston, which is a shame as it's a great group and a great deal of fun. But immediately after the marathon, I was in full on triathlon training, which means my workouts were not only very structured (i.e., there was no "easy 6 miler" to map to the group's Wednesday run around Mystic Lake), but also had swimming and biking in the mix, and my running was done on my own for the most part. Anyway, it was decided that since I haven't run with them in such a long time, that I shouldn't be allowed to participate in the BAA number lottery. I'm slightly annoyed (I did pay my yearly dues!), but do understand their point (sort of).

So, it's not looking likely that I'll repeat Boston this year. Perhaps for the best - I'd like to get there on my own (qualify), rather than getting a number handed to me. Maybe this is the kick in the nads I needed to get a qualifying marathon on my athletic pursuits roadmap.

Running is bliss...

Yesterday was supposed to be a rest day (according to the schedule prepared by my coach - I'll talk more about him at a later time), but my week got completely sidetracked on Thursday morning when I was told that I was being laid off. In short, a lousy few days followed, and my training plan went TOTALLY out the window. Although sometimes when bad things happen, you realize how truly lucky you are - the support I received from colleagues (actually, that's a poor description - these people are good, good friends, not just colleagues) and friends was tremendous, and I was truly blown away by their thoughtfulness and kind words/deeds. I could go on, but then I'll start crying, and I've already moved on from sadness to bitterness and anger about the whole thing and have no desire to backtrack - the bitterness/anger phase is great fun, while crying just sucks.

Anyway, so yesterday. Anne, one of the rock-star friends mentioned above, planned a long run for Sunday, followed by brunch at her house. In addition to being a great friend, Anne is a genius - she's an amazing cook, so if food is involved in any way, shape or form, you say yes to whatever she asks of you. "I'm cleaning the grout in my bathroom this weekend, want to bring your toothbrush and come help?" "Ummmm, I think I might have to take the kids to something or other this weekend......" "I'll make lunch!" "Oh! Well, then, I'm IN!" Not that food was needed as a lure for a long run. I'm a huge fan of the long run - while other folks complained about the longest long runs of marathon training, I looked forward to them. I use them to totally veg out and think about nothing at all, simply listening to my playlist (I have the greatest running playlist of all time) as I crank out the miles. I use them to think about problems with work. I use them to think about problems with life. The long run is better than any therapist in the world, and it's always available and free. You really can't beat that.

So I was in for the run even BEFORE Anne mentioned the food. The weather report wasn't looking great (a good chance of rain was predicted), but that was also of no concern, at least to me (I'm a big fan of running in the rain). Turns out we totally lucked out - it was a lovely day, a bit windy but that added a bit of fun to it. Anne's house is within a mile of the Fresh Pond Resevoir, which has a very nice 2.25 mile running loop around it, so we (Anne, myself, and her friend Laurie who I had met once before) headed over around 10:00 with the notion that we'd run 2 loops for sure, then make a call to decide whether to call it a day at 7 miles or tack on another loop.

Anne asked us what our goals were before we started (always the planner, that Anne!), while Laurie wanted to finish, I wanted to forget about life for a while. Hmmmmm, now I can't remember what Anne said! Anyway, we headed off and had a lovely run. We were all feeling good after the 2nd loop and continued on for another - it's amazing how quickly the miles go by when you are running with others and chatting! We called it at 3 loops and headed back to Anne's. She had already made muffins that were waiting for us, and started in on one of the best omlette's I've ever had!

It was a great morning with a great group. In addition to the wonderful company, I realized yet again that I'm stoked about my winter running plans. The 9 miles felt like nothing - I could have gone on for much longer, and today I feel great. I have definitely settled into the 1/2 marathon distance as being my comfort zone distance (I'm not even feeling warmed up until the 3-4 mile mark!), so I'm really excited about training for races like Derry and Stu's this winter.

Oh, and keep your fingers crossed for me! There are 7 people in my running club interested in the 5 numbers that the BAA has made available for us. I *really* want to run Boston again this year, this time without my bum calf so I can actually train HARD for it to see what I can do. I think I'll find out sometime this week if I get a number.

Viva la Run!

Welcome!

Unfortunately, I wasn't thinking ahead when I started my first blog, The Road to Boston '08. It was a great story about my training leading up to my first marathon, Boston '08 (and I'm not just saying that - OTHER people told me it was great, I swear!). But now, well, it's over - the race was run, I started, I finished, I laughed, I cried.... Well, you can read about all that in the old blog. The point is that the blog was about training for Boston, which has come and gone, so it's time for a new blog.

So here we are. I was surprised at how many people found and read and enjoyed my old blog, hopefully this one will be as interesting for folks. At the very least, I enjoy writing it, so even if I'm writing only to myself, that'll be ok too.

If you don't know me, check out my Boston blog to see if you like my writing style. I hope you stick around to hear about my training / random ramblings going forward. Which is what this blog will be primarily about. I'm a professional athlete trapped in a high tech weenie's body and life - which means while I have the heart and desire to train and race at a professional level, I actually don't have the talent required to pursue that option. I'm a solid front of the mid packer who for the most part truly loves training and is striving to be the best that I can be given my day-to-day life constraints (job, kids, etc.).