Running Shorts

Halloween Run

This morning I put my schoolgirl costume back on and met some peeps for a 10 mile run.  Four of us were joining two other clubmates for the second half of their 20 miler (8-8:20 pace).  Actually, two people were joining for the second half of the 10 miler.  Myself and another person were going to run the first 4 out with everyone (so miles 10-14) and then run back for a total of 8 for us (with the last four at a slower pace).  However, my partner in crime decided to turn back 3 miles in b/c his legs were trashed from the Marine Corps marathon so I was left with the choice of shuffling back with him (he was hurting) or run 10 with the group.  I had no idea where i was so an 8 mile option no longer existed if I ever wanted to make it back.

Feeling okay I went for 10.  But it was hot.  It was hilly.  I slowed a tiny bit behind the group and one person doing 20 pulled ahead of everyone.  A couple of people tried to regroup us (I think one of them was tired too) but I was not concerned...i said: whatevs, i don't want to screw up your 20-miler-i'll just regroup when you turn back around.  I was in no rush.  It turns out we were doing a loop.  OOOPS!  The route hadn't looked like a loop on the map!!  I picked up my lackadaisical base and kept up with the group after that.  The guy initially pulling ahead of us eventually bonked on his mile 19 and we all finished ahead of him but he knew where he was going.  It was a great (warm) day with beautiful New England weather.  We eventually finished with a 8:40ish pace for the ten miles I was a part of.  The weather (70?) definitely hurt the pace a bit.  Importantly, we got a lot of car and walker love from people who liked our costumes.  Our Kool-Aid runner was the biggest hit.

Then we had food and watched the 1999 Badwater documentary.  CRAZINESS.  I saw the guy who had his toenails permanently removed.

Now I'm at J's waiting for him to get back from rugby and then we are pumpkin carving, handing out candy, and going to a running club halloween party.  I will be in costume number two-flapper.  I thought it was cute but not slutty.  A hard find.

E-night at home

Me and my blog and my blackberry and itunes and 8 million flowers.  Just your typical 21st century 20-something's quiet night at home.  (Beware, I'm going to refer to myself as a 20-something as many times as I can in the next 10 months.)

Today was a good day.  Work is going well.  I like being a lawyer.  And I'm going to bed soon.  MMMM....bed.

I'm not sure if anyone remembers but my mom broke her arm pretty badly in August and she got the cast off on MONDAY.  Yeah.  Three months.  She is kind of bummed about how much rehab she needs.  I feel for her.  It's hard standing at the front of that journey.  Her doctor told her it might take a year to be better.  I believe it.  I wasn't better for so long after I broke my jaw.  Yes, I was going to school and working and running, but I was still limited.  I hurt.  I could barely open my mouth.  I cut all of my food into tiny pieces.  My teeth kept breaking.  Going to the dentist-where I spent a lot of my time-was torture for all involved.  (At least I was interesting though-I tested the limits of their skills!!!  And if any of you study at one of the local dental schools you've probably seen pictures of my teeth.  Really.  My professor dentist likes to photograph my teeth.)

However, last week I went to my prosthodontist (they do ceramics and porcelain and stuff to fix the outside of teeth) and the dental assistant was new-she had switched practices from my endodontist (root canal dentist) who had treated me right after my accident.  She told the dentist-oh, I've seen her before-she can barely open her mouth. I responded with ACTUALLY, I GOT BETTER.  Look!!  AHHHHHHHHH.  I improved far beyond what the oral surgeons thought was in store for me.  I think my mom's body just needs a chance to figure out how to work with the changes in her arm.  I really believe her bones and muscles and nerves will compensate for any function she may have lost in more typical pathways and I think she has oodles of improvement ahead of her.  Some of it will be in huge leaps and some of it will be so incremental she won't notice.   She is going to surprise herself.  I know it.

And with that, be safe and HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!

Flowers, esq.

Well hello.  Someone who blogs here passed the Massachusetts bar!!!!  I got lots of flowers from J, my boss, and my sista.  It's a flower party!  It's definitely the most flowers I've ever gotten in a day-heck, probably in a year.  WOohooo!

I also finally womanned up and planned my 2010 season last night while J blogged.  Every race I picked is one I haven't done before and they are, in general, pretty major races.  It looks like I'm playing with the big girls now.  No real reason for the change-i do love small races-I just wanted to do some new stuff next year and these are the races I tentatively found.  Nothing to do but BUCK UP BUTTERCUP.

My run tonight was fabulous.  It's not possible but I feel like this is the first time I've seen the River in twilight with all of the colored leaves on the trees and on the ground.  Perfect temps.  I flew tonight (as much as one can in the dark).  I even stopped throwing a tantrum about my XS men's shirt from one of my tris this season (i was irked it didn't fit) and threw it on and it was perfect b/c it was a little bigger with longer short sleeves and warmer than my smaller shirts.

Gooooodnight!!!

Relinquishing the keyboard

By J

Disclaimer: I have never written for a blog before. I don't know why Audrey decided to ask me to be her first guest blogger, but I am honored and humbled, so I will do my best to make my story interesting...

Ok, so Sunday's race was my first duathlon. I've only just started racing on my bike this summer, doing my first sprint and intermediate tris in July and August. Before that, I ran my first marathon in April (3:29), and I've managed to keep more or less in shape since then by averaging 25 miles per week in the summer (plus biking and learning to swim), then maybe 15 mpw as fall rugby season eclipsed all other athletic pursuits. Anyway, Sunday's race took place the day after my 5th rugby game of the season, so I was a bit sore – but since the muddy pitch softened each tackle (and Audrey is an ace masseuse), I was a lot less banged up than usual, so Saturday night I set some ambitious goals: 3 mile run in 20 minutes (my 5k pr is 19:56), 11 mile bike in 30, 2 mile run in 14; 2x 1 minute transitions, for 1:06 total.

Once the gun fired, I tried to duplicate that “I can't possibly keep up this pace for 3 miles” feeling I got the last time I ran a 5k well, back in March, and it worked. It helped a great deal that several people in front of me went out too fast – I love overtaking people! I slowly reeled in both Supergirl and her boyfriend Captain Caveman, then set my sights on Audrey's friend the ninja ballerina. It also didn't hurt that there was a guy just ahead of me from the beginning, going exactly my pace. And he was a damned good pacer – I couldn't have asked for more consistent – so when I felt myself wanting to slow I just re-focused on keeping him close.

I didn't quite catch the ninja ballerina during the run, but I apparently passed him in transition, where my toe clips proved their value as I grabbed my helmet and bike and just went. It took me a solid 3 miles to catch my breath, though, during which I passed 3 guys whose strength is clearly in their running. There were 3 big hills – normally a place I pass people – that slowed me significantly, and when the wind factored itself in I realized that this was not going to be my best biking performance. I got passed by 6 guys during the bike, including 3 with aero helmets, one Captain Caveman and one ninja ballerina, while passing only one more myself. A veeeery different experience for me after my recent triathlons, where I was so slow in the swim that I couldn't help but pass a bazillion bicyclists.

Soon after blasting through another transition, ninja ballerina caught me up yet again. I wished him good luck, and tried my best to stay on his tutu. I didn't see Captain Caveman, so I think I must have gotten ahead of him, and I saw only two other runners: one who passed me with authority, and my favorite pacer who this time was running slower than me (I considered thanking him as I passed him – he helped me that much – but couldn't think how to phrase it without sounding like an ass). Ninja ballerina started looking behind him as we approached the finish, but my kick wasn't quite hard enough to justify his anxiety, and I finished 13 seconds behind him. 19:19 run1, :34 T1, 32:45 bike, :38 T2, 13:26 run2; 1:06:44.

Unlike Audrey, I'm not good enough to compete in my age group (35-39), but for what it's worth I was 8th of 31. Ninja ballerina was 2nd of 5; I guess the 20-to-24-year-olds don't do the du.

Anyway, thanks for indulging my tale as Audrey takes the night off. She'll be back tomorrow!

I'm tired

I'm tired of racing hard.  It doesn't feel good!!!!!  I'm also tired of running.  [I think it's mostly that I'm SOOO sick of running where I live which is the only option with my work schedule.]  What I really want to do is curl up on my sofa with a book.  But I'm still running in the cold and dark and rain on the same stupid route b/c I know I'll eventually feel like it again and I want to be prepared for that day.  Being a runner is so ridiculous.

Also, I think I have to wear a costume 3-4 times this year which is an outrageous amount for a 29 year-old.  All but one of those times are running related.  Super crazy.  And since my running costume is going to be mad gross I need a second costume for halloween night.  AND THIS YEAR FOR THE FIRST TIME IN 11 YEARS I GET TO HAND OUT CANDY TO TRICK-OR-TREATERS.  J and I will be lowering candy down from his balcony to kids on the porch.

I thought Waldo had stripes?

For the duathlon I raced as a schoolgirl after telling someone earlier that I was going to be Waldo.  She was confused.  Another costume idea that I eventually decided not go with was dressing up as the woman who usually wins this event and carrying around a doll (the woman gave birth on Wednesday).  Needless to say she didn't compete this year and I thought it would be a nice homage.  However, schoolgirl it was.

As for the race, it was run 3, bike 11, run 2.  I thought with my rival (well, she usually beats me in this race by over 10 minutes so is she really a rival?) both out-of-state (she moved) and recovering from delivery I thought the path was cleared for me to FINALLY win my AG!  (I was 4th and 2nd the past two years respectively.)  This race double-dips awards and both times the now new mother won the overall race and our AG.  2009 was going to be my year!

Long story short, compared to 2008 I ran a minute faster in the 3 mile run and 1 minute and 20 seconds faster for the second run.  However, my bike was about 2 minutes SLOWER than in 2009.  It was wicked windy today and J and I think that affected the times.  We speculate.  I can't think what else would cause my bike to be so much slower this year compared to last year when I spent all last summer sitting on my sofa blending food and the 08 race was my first time back on my bike and I spent most of that part of the race trying not to cry.  I feel fit in 09!  I'm willing to bike fast!  Why so slow then??  Whatevs, it is what it is.  I finished a grand total of about 25 seconds faster than last year.

The deets:

3 mile run:  21:35 (it felt hard; 2nd in AG)  11ish mile bike:  37:46  (Waaaah!  I got passed by about 4 women and a gazillion men; 5th in AG)  2 mile run:  14:32  (woohoo!; 4th in AG)  [12 women in AG]

I'm proud of the second run b/c I felt great, I kept my head up, and b/c I pushed onward I eventually passed two women.  I spent much of the race around dudes so it was hard to motivate myself to go and catch up to women I couldn't even see (though there were plenty up ahead).  There were about 98 more competitors this year than last (so 300 racers rather than 200) and my overall placing of 94 is only 4 worse than last year so maybe the wind did hold us back.  Whooooo knows.

Overall I feel like my race was strong and I feel good about being 5th in my AG.  My time on the course continues to get faster even if I've dipped in the standings :)

As for J....maybe I'll have him guest blog so I won't give away too many details of his exciting race.  Basically he ROCKED in a super competitive AG (35-39).  Really really impressive.  And not just "really impressive for his first duathlon impressive."  Like, legit strong race (after playing rugby for hours yesterday) and I was reminded again what a great athlete he is.

And then we got burritos!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  BEST DAY EVER!!!!

 
  
(Me and my burrito)

And my old school tri team was there and every person who raced (4 of them) placed in their AGs.  They dominated!  Yeah!  B/c we all know a bit of bling definitely doesn't hurt the ego!

Don't leave running girls alone w/ a bedazzler

Let's just say an idea was born at a party a few weeks ago and after t'night we now have bedazzled running club attire.

Complaints of the Day

I almost got hit by a car on my way to work today.  It was at the same intersection.  I spent extra super long looking to see if any cars were going to run the red light before I crossed.  One did.  Right in front of me.  I've since lodged a complaint and suggestions for not having people die with the Department of Conservation and Recreation which for some reason is in charge of the construction project going on there.  It was entitled PLEASE MAKE IT SO I DON'T DIE ON MY WAY TO WORK.  Well, no it wasn't.  But that was the sentiment.

I also have a cold.  There is no one I can lodge a complaint with regarding that.

I also got to do my first oral argument today!!!  I don't know if my client won or lost yet-it will be about two weeks before there is a decision-but it was exciting!  I can't take too much credit for the case if there is a victory b/c my boss did all of the research and then sent me b/c I am less busy than him-but..baby steps!  I talked.  On the record!

And my run was good!  It was nice out!  Apparently I just have to make sure I don't die on my way to work or on my way to the River and then my day is fine.

Jealousy

I looked to see how my friends and teammates did at the marathon today.  I'm totally second-guessing my decision not to run.  There are people who finished-and with good times-who got hurt earlier and took time off to heal or didn't really train.  It makes me wonder if I should have tried harder after my injury to keep training for the race myself.  I kind of threw my hands up in the air and said Whew, at least I didn't lose the fall season entirely! and let go of the marathon.  I mean, I got to do other races b/c I wasn't marathon training which I loved and I feel super healthy right now (musculoskeletally I feel healthy-I have a cold), it's just hard on marathon day.  I feel a little sad and jealous about it.

As for my own workout, J and I ran 8.2 miles today.  In the rain. In the cold (felt like 35 F).  With a sic headwind on the way back.  [Those were the marathon conditions too.]  Athletes were out on the River today-crew peeps who were participating in the Head of the Charles-but there weren't a lot of runners.  It wasn't exactly comfortable out.

Things started off fine.  J and I thought things were going to bad weather-wise so we were pleasantly surprised that it felt okay out.  But on the way back the rain picked up and we hit the headwind.  About 4 miles from home J finally pulled ahead of me.  First he wasn't go to run with me b/c I like to run alone and I can be pretty insistent about that, then he was going to run w/ me for only a few miles while his beat-up rugby legs loosened up, then he was going to run w/ me for the whole thing b/c he felt tired, then he finally went ahead when my pace dropped to around  9:45 min/miles into the wind and I had exactly 0 desire to run faster.  This was my longest run since August and I'm recovering from weeks of racing while also tapering for another race next week.  PLUS, it felt glorious to run slowly.  J headed right to his place from the run so I didn't see him when I finished, but he did send a text.  Did you make it back?  I guess it's the gentlemanly thing to do to check in our your girlfriend when you leave her running alone in the cold and rain and wind 4 miles from home.  :)  I'm JUST KIDDING J!!! :)   The text did make me smile though.

For those who were wondering, I don't look like a full-on jack-o-lantern.  The accident broke mostly my back teeth and the tooth in question yesterday is the back of one of my frontish side molars.  TRUST ME, if my front tooth was missing large pieces I would not calmly chill w/out it for three weeks!!!!

A sexy pumpkin

To set the stage:  I'm at J's.  I's 1 AM and I've just cleaned house and won $75 at a poker game.  The guests have departed.  I decide I'm too hungry to sleep so I quickly zap an Uncrustable in the microwave for 15 seconds to dethaw it.  A defrosted peanut butter and jelly sandwich=sexy.  As I munch on this delightful-and soft-treat, my new half tooth falls out for the second time of the day.  I had already been to the dentist once yesterday to have the temporary put back on while I wait three weeks for the permanent 1/2 tooth to get back from the lab or wherever teeth come from.  I spit it out.

J!!!!!!  My tooth!!!!  You're dating a jack-o-lantern!!!!!!

I don't think this 1/2 tooth wants to stay put so I am probably going to keep it out until I get the permanent one in early November.  Consider this my monthly reminder not to smash your head into the ground.  (NB:  See previous post about avoiding dying while running.)

Tomorrow is my would-be marathon.  I was reminded of that with a quick facebook perusal that showed locals headed to packet-pickup.  Ohhhh welllll.  The fall turned out all right sports-wise.  I wish my club wasn't so long-distance marathon focused so that I wouldn't feel so emotionally left-out but that's not that big of a deal.  Because when the chips are down-they're at my end of the table.