marathon day 3/17/13

he pushed himself into a corner but found that he lived there in earlier times. 

and i ran. i ran so far away. i had a great day. the marathon was big fun. this one was less of a hassle as it was local. i knew people. i ran the 13.1 mile after running the 26.2 mile at obx in november. i got my run on ya'll. 

the photo is of the medal i received after passing the finish line. looking at the stats, it was clear i was not in the right corral as i passed 881 runners. this was not my intent but just how things fell. 

it was hard for me too. i was elbowed by a runner. he did not have to do that but i understand why he did it. the trail was congested and he wanted to make a point that folks needed to share the trail for two-way traffic. he will get his. i imagine he didn't finish the race. 

thank you to my family for the support during training and the all the understanding of the craziness that running these races bring. 

i love you!!!

check the stats:

http://www.racetecresults.com/MyResults.aspx?CId=16247&RId=2012&EId=2&AId=38404

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/285987461

peace and love

training day number 18

she kept asking questions that had no answers because she is the queen.

i ran today for the last time before the race on sunday. it felt good. i did have some shin splints in the first mile. they hurt but i ran through it. i know the splints are related to not taking in enough air and it being cold. when they start, i remember to focus on my breathing and form. soon they are gone and i'm off with the wind.

for the upcoming race i am excited. it should be fun once the race finally starts. it is a bit crazy we have to take buses to the start and park miles away. even if boo drops me off, it has to be before 5:30 am. the race does not start until 7:00 am. if i take the bus i have to be parked by 5:00 am. this will be rough for me since i don't like the cold and it makes me have to pee when i am just standing around in it. i think i will have to do a checked bag with a jacket and sweats. this will be another line i will have to stand in. (mo problems)

the race expo is tomorrow where i pickup my bib and goodie bag. that should be fun. it is on the other side of cary though. i'm going to sneak out of work at 3:00 pm but i'll come back to the office if i have to. i am sure i will have to.

the worst part of the weekend is i will have to eat dinner and get to bed early on saturday night. this is my party night, so the party will be delayed until sunday. i will be a wild running child in search of a beer.

check the stats: (i took it easy and had a fun run)

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/284340565

peace and love

training day number 17

the video game console was very hot but he kept blowing his mind with the violent game.

this was the last pub run before the race on sunday. i'm ready.

check the stats:
http://connect.garmin.com/activity/284203438

peace and love

training day number 16

he had to pee so bad in his nightmare that it came through on the bed.

this was the last long run on sunday before the race. it was cold but it went well.

check the stats:
http://connect.garmin.com/activity/284203453

peace and love

training day number 15

the president was not very smart because he thought he was the smartest person in the room.

this run was after a night of too much wine. i could have kept sleeping but boo needed to go to work. so i got up and went running to feel better and sweat it out. it was slow going but it worked to cure the hangover. i felt better and had a much sweeter day than if i hadn't run. i had missed the thursday run due to cold rain so i needed the training.

check the stats:
http://connect.garmin.com/activity/284203462

peace and love

training day number 14

the puddle was huge and he got wet but loved it.

i have not written about my running but i have been running. the race is sunday and i am ready, excited and worried about the weather. i don't like cold and especially if it is raining. unfortunately that is the forecast.

here are the stats:
http://connect.garmin.com/activity/284203469

peace and love

training day number 13

pulled into a cycle of drama where the only way out was to take off his clothes, he stayed in and added more bleach to the wash.

today's run was short. it had rained all day. i thought i might would miss it but with only 11 days to go i had too. it was not raining but it was wet. i didn't wear my new shoes but that was dumb because i got shin splints that slowed me down. i did not wear the new shoes because i wanted to keep them clean. that was dumb because i am supposed to be breaking them in. duh.

the route was just over 3 miles and fairly straight forward. this included all 3 bridges and a short trip down main street. since this was all on the sidewalk, the new shoes would have been fine.

i will do my best to make the pub run tomorrow. work is crazy but i will try my best to sneak out.

i also did a cycle class today. i have been doing 3 classes a week. but if things work out, i will do 4 classes this week.

check the stats:
http://connect.garmin.com/activity/280938474

peace and love

training day number 12

feeling satisfied, the smiling secretary got out of bed to take a piss with the carnal knowledge the pope is pooped.

today's run was an another adventure. the marathon is in two weeks and it was crucial to have a good long day training run. this is the week to do the most miles before tapering off for the race. i had planned to get to bed early after a good dinner. i had a good dinner but did not get to bed early like i planned. since it was sunday, i slept in. i did not get out of bed until 9:00 am. i did not finish running until after 12:00 pm. so what was the adventure?

there were lots of folks out running and walking. everyone seemed to be in good spirits. i was running with a friend. his name was hangover. i know better but i did it anyway. i don't recommend it at all. dinner was a salad and lunch was a salad. it might have not been as bad if i had more carbs. i did learn i can still run without carbs. it might have not been as bad if i had not drank so much. i did learn i drink to much. through some miracle i finished the goal. it was a balance of speed, breathing and persistence. possibly even a little self punishment.

the mile goal was 12 miles but i went ahead and ran the 13.1 to get in the full miles of the race. i won't run longer than 8 miles at a time until race day.

check the stats:
http://connect.garmin.com/activity/279940949

peace and love

training day number 11

like his puppy, he loved his balls more than god so it was time to leave the priesthood.

today's run was cold but i loved it after the first mile. i ran really well and felt good throughout. as i write this, i have some soreness in my left hip and leg. i know i pushed it running but it feels so good to do a little bit more each time. crazy eh?

any hooch, it is winding down to the marathon and i have not been running like i should on my scheduled training days. this has been mostly due to weather but also due to work. i missed tuesday this week due to the cold rain. yuk. i missed wednesday's beer run due to work and the weather was great. i still went to the pub and got a beer and a pizza. today, i was determined i would run even if it was cold and raining.

when i walked outside to go to the gym to change, it was cold, cloudy and rain drops fell on my head. by the time i was out for the run, there was no rain but a cloudy 46 degrees. i only encountered one other runner and one walker. i practically had the world to myself for an hour. it was great.

i ran with my ipod. i kept playing the same tunes as it was helping me keep pace and stay focused. traffic stopped for my ass when i crossed roads. i felt like a king.

for the last mile, i was hoofing it. i hit a pace under 8 min/mile. one would think i was in a race today. running that fast for me, it's worth a little soreness for the night.

check the stats:
http://connect.garmin.com/activity/278711123

peace and love

training day number 10

jesus asked his father for forgiveness as the man washing his feet cried.

it is getting close, very close to race day. i had so much time before i ran in november that this seems like a shock. it will be what it will be though. the cold weather has been rough for run motivation. i have skipped planned runs when it has rained and been cold at the same time. i ran last saturday in the cold rain only because the forecast was snow. snow would have cancelled the sunday long run. i could not miss another training long run.

i don't mean to complain, but i like it better warm in my older age.

i ran yesterday. but i did not run early because of cold and fog; very unpleasant. by 11:00 am, the sun was out with blue skies and it was 50 degrees. it was great weather for a run. i prefer to run in the morning as there is less traffic and i can run with the full energy load i have in the morning. however, i ran well.

i did get shin splints for a short while. i battled some fatigue earlier than usual. and finally, i think i need new shoes as my feet hurt on the last mile. but it was a good run since i ran for two hours and i will run the marathon between two and three hours; this is three sundays from this run. i just have to keep up the pace.

if i have the energy, i will shop for some new shoes today. then i have about four or five runs to break them in before the race.

yesterday's stats:

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/277544532

peace and love

training day number 9

because he was american, he could date women or men with abandon of typical japanese culture.

i ran yesterday in the fullsteam pub run. it was very cold in the 40's. i ran with a colleague from work joining in after the start. i was late getting there than usual. my neighbor had stopped me to discuss a couple of foxes in our neighborhood. she wanted to know what i would do about them. i did not have a clue but said i would think about it.

the trauma continued during the run as i got shin splints and kept running with that nagging pain. the pain is a reminder that i am not breathing my best. and once i got the breathing regulated the pain went away but i also think the cold brings it on too.

there were two guys running behind us that we did not know. they did not know each other either but they chatted the entire 6.4 miles. it was very nerving but i could not keep from listening either. they would never pass even when we stopped at intersections.

it was cold. i don't like the cold much. especially after i have sweated and wind hits the wet spots. i could have dressed better for the cold but i didn't have much time. i only wore shorts, two shirts and a buff on my head. once the race was over and i was waiting for pizza, i was miserable being wet, hungry and sore. why do i do this again?

the most traumatic item was my gps watch did not capture the run. again because i was late. i could not find parking. so once i did i basically jumped into the race once i saw my colleague running alone. i thought my gps watch was ready but i guess not. i did not look at it again until we were done. with that, i have no stats other than the distance of 6.4 miles. rats.

one more thing, the soreness in my left hip has changed a bit. it hurt all night and seems to go into the leg. today it still smarts so i won't go for a run today. i have to be feeling good for the race in 20 days. i will do something else in the gym and get some rest tonight.

peace in pain

training day number 8

with the affair confirmed, he took off his shoes, his socks and his wedding ring before crossing the barrier to jump ship.

today's run was for president's day, right? ha whatever. a song that i have played multiple times this weekend was in my head. it gave me my tempo and push to pull the hills with some speed. i heard the song for the first time in the gym on friday. i learned today it was released in 2006. i am so behind the younguns.

the run went ok and was under 10 minutes for average pace. not bad for this point. cheers to keep up with the training for the next 4 weeks!!!

check the stats:
http://connect.garmin.com/activity/275092090

peace and love

song: glamorous by fergie

training day number 7

professor long d richard struggled with delivery of his lecture on "the demise of honor" once he realized  he had slept with three of the four people in the front row.

embracing change, i ran long today, saturday rather than sunday. the change was led by the weather. the area is under a winter weather advisory. it would be easy to miss the regular sunday run due to snow. i learned of the forecast while still in bed looking at my bright phone in the dark. i figured i should get my ass in gear to make a run in the freaking cold. 

boo asked what the fuck i was doing on my phone. only because both of us are fascinated with "spell tower" a spelling game. we are in a loving competition. the assumption was i playing the game but i chuckled and said i was thinking of going for a run. not expecting anything, my statement was met with "ok, cool".

with that, i had to go and not deliberate any further in my mind to talk myself out of the challenge. 

it was cold. i ran with a hat, poly buff around my neck, two shirts and shorts. after two miles i was pulling the buff off my neck. i was hot at the throat. this was amazing at 34 degrees. since, i also worried about loosing my twenty-dollar buff, the quick solution was to put the buff on my head under my thicker skull cap. simple, really. and i did not miss a step.

i love four seasons. winter of the four, is my least favorite. going for a run now requires calculation on when it the warmest part of the day. today, it rained and was cold for most of the run. it started to snow on the last four miles. i practiced being focused and just running. my pace and speed would be just whatever it would be. before i knew it, i was done and home. 

on my debrief, i realized i just got out of bed and ran. there was some time between that i will outline here:

1. bathroom - bio movement and brush teeth

2. kiss boo

3. run

what is missing???
what does one get for running 8 miles with no water and food?
i guess i get just get to say, "i kicked ass:". but nobody cares. :)

i love running!

check the stats for an old man:

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/274065259

total miles for the week: 19.06

peace and love

training day number 6

three blocks from home, he had an urgent need to pee as some dog barked in the distance.

today's run was perfect. i ran at work for the 2nd week in a row. this time i went for 6 miles. the perfect part was i ran for exactly one hour on the dot. check the stats if you don't believe me. the weather was great and i had the trail all to myself.

when i got to my turn around point there was a german shepherd loose on the trail with no owner in sight. i saw the dog and turned around quickly. i kept running looking over my shoulder as if i was being chased. this led to me running a bit faster and made a mini adventure. as i kept thinking about the dog, i never got around to writing my first sentence so today's sentence is rushed and not as good as i would like.

at two miles out, i ran as fast as i could push it and that felt great. running is cool.

today's stats:
http://connect.garmin.com/activity/273317203

peace and love

training day number 5

with blood, not his own, all over the backseat, he cut a deep wound in his hand as the state trooper pulled him over for speeding.

there are only five weeks until the marathon. today's run was good although there was some weird pain going on in my left hip. it was there as soon as i started running and was there at the end. it is more sore than pain but it feels like running makes this sore spot speak its mind.

the weather was good. a grayish day with rain in the forecast but very comfortable and little wind. i ran the same route as last tuesday. it is a good flow even though there is traffic. i am running around 4:30 pm by leaving work about an hour or so early to get a run in before sundown. i am very lucky that i have a job that supports one training for a marathon and such.

i love running and i hope i do not hit a situation anytime soon that prevents me from doing so. running for me is a moving meditation and if i keep my mind focused, it just flows. it flows one step at a time. i get to see life from a cool perspective that does not judge me for being lost in focused moment.

i have also enjoyed writing a "first sentence" while out for a run. my goal is to do one for every run for this marathon training. while focused on the sentence structure, i am running and before i know it i am so much further down the road.

here are the stats:
http://connect.garmin.com/activity/272699597

peace and love

training day number 4

before the drowning, few knew of the basement swimming pool where priests and sometimes nuns would skinny dip to wash away their sins.

today's run was the first long run sunday in 4 weeks. it was good to get out and see if i could still run the distance. today's goal was 8 miles and i finished fine.

it was very cold, below freezing as i headed out with the sunrise. i wore a hat, gloves two shirts with long sleeves and shorts. i do not like running in tights. i did see other men in tights today that confirmed for me that i do not want to wear them myself. i got too much booty in the back for that.

i ran my usual route to duke chapel and then around the perimeter of the sarah p duke gardens. i ran like tina turner slow and easy at first then faster and faster toward the end. nothing rough though only because for me, rough adventures are better off for the movies and not my reality.

i have the rest of the day to enjoy and i hope to do this by staying inside and warm. brrr

here are the stats:
http://connect.garmin.com/activity/271724485

peace and love

training day number 3

the boy was embarrassed being on the bus with his puberty in full bloom. he asked the driver to let him stay on until the last drop.

i ran today for my lunchtime workout. this took some planning to remember all my running gear. the run was good. it was cold but the hills were the biggest surprise. i really felt i had done some work once i was done. i ran a loop of the fantastic nature trail that is right outside our parking lot. how cool is that?

the trail was mostly isolated due to the cold. i usually run before or after work. since rain is predicted today after 4:00 pm this was a perfect day to give a work run a try.

i ran a 3.7 mile loop on the trail in about 35 minutes. that was perfect for me. i will work this run into my regular weekly routine for thursdays. this was my first time running at work with my gps watch and that made all the difference.

i am now on a rest from running until my long run on sunday.

check the run stats:
http://connect.garmin.com/activity/270675537

peace and love
namaste

training day number 2

she ate a bowl of tadpoles and cherries for breakfast with a glass of leftover breast milk from her sister's baby's bottle.

today's run was the pub run. there was an opportunity to run with the crowd for the 3-mile or 4-mile since my 6-mile buds could not make it today. however, since i am in training, i ran the 6-mile at my pace, all alone. but, i run alone all the time so not a big deal. even my horoscope today said to just put one foot in front of the other bitch. and true to form, that was my mantra.

the run was good and i was very happy to finish. once i was done, i had a beer while i waited on pizza from pie pushers. i drove home with pizza in my sweaty clothes; a bit too cold for comfort. then boo and i had dinner with sherlock holmes.

the weather was good around 55 degrees. no rain.

check out the stats:
http://connect.garmin.com/activity/270480817

peace and love

training day number 1

i am a lesbian in a man's body. no, but isn't that a great first sentence for a novel. it would keep my attention just working out how that could be.

what this is really about is the training and mind changing work i will do for the next 7 weeks as i prepare for my next running race. i am training for a marathon; a half marathon actually. i prefer to say marathon since it is, what it is. does anyone say, "i am going to eat a half apple" or "let's have half sex"?

it is a 13.1 mile race. i ran a 26.2 mile race last november. this is my next step. i was told that as a runner you train and race working your way up to a 26.2 mile race. but since i was dropped on my head as a baby, i do things differently. i do them, my way or at least on a path less traveled. my path is to do the 26.2 mile, then the 13.1 mile, then a 10 mile and finish with an 8K all before my 50th birthday this summer. wow!

my training plan is to complete 20 to 25 miles of running per week broken up into 4 runs. run days are tuesday, wednesday, thursday and sunday as the long run day. on wednesday, i do a pub run with a gang of beer drinkers and pizza eaters so it has extra benefits.


i have kept running for fitness but now i will train until the race on march 17th. this is to do my best run, finish with good health and have minimal pain. it is all about the journey. a journey i hope to enjoy in the moment and share some of that on these pages.

stay tuned.

today's run was all good. the weather was great around 63 degrees.


check the stats here:
http://connect.garmin.com/activity/270114800

peace and love