August's Rhapsody

This is a longish post, but far from my longest post ever.  My blogging will be sporadic at best until after Labor Day. 

It has been a little tricky getting time for myself these days, which cuts into my blogging.  I'm mostly kid sitting, and it's  hard to get in a few words without him peeking over my shoulder asking when he can get on the computer.  His mommy started classes again last week and he doesn't go back to school until after Labor Day.  I love spending time with my grandson, though, and we've been working on reading and spelling (easy for him - he reads at a 3rd grade level) and math concepts (a little tougher). I'm also getting him outside to play games in the backyard and we've had a couple of trips to the park.

Last week it was suggested that I take my grandson with me to the park so that he could ride his bike or Razor along side me as I ran.  He's speedy on wheels, and I thought  I would have to chase him down.  He can handle 3 miles on wheels.  It sounds like a good idea, right?  We get to the park and barely make it a third of a mile and he wants to turn around and play at the park with all the kids.


The park was packed with day camp kids and I couldn't let him out of my sight, I just sat there for a bit, trying to figure out the best plan of action since I was already there. It wasn't long, but the day camp kids were all packed on their buses and left, and the park was quiet and manageable. At that point it occurred to me that I could run laps around the park's playground area and keep an eye on my grandson while he played. Two laps around the playground was about 400 meters. I ran enough laps to fit about 2 miles. (I had a little GPS bouncing - I didn't run through the middle of the playground.)


It still wasn't exactly what I had planned.  I couldn't do sprints due to the fact that I had to make sure I knew where my grandson was as I ran, plus I had to navigate around small children playing on the walkway around the playground. A few parents/adults with their kids just sort of watched me run, like I was nuts, however I'm not the type to just sit idle and watch my kid(s) play, either. If I didn't run I would have been on the swings with my grandson.

My grandson had a good time playing with a couple of boys about his age until the boys had to leave.  By then I had put in my two miles, cooled down and stretched.  As much as I enjoyed watching my grandson play and have fun, I remembered why I (most of the time) run solo.  It's my "me" time.  It's the time I need to be a bit selfish and take care of me and clear my head.*

Meanwhile, back in the garden, I actually grew eggplant without killing it!  See?  This was my first attempt with eggplant, and I was happy with how well it did.  Bonus points that the gophers didn't touch it

It was yummy, too.

Hubs and I ran in the Fire Run on Sunday, August 29, 2010.  It's advertised as an end of summer run.  The run starts in La Jolla and ends in Pacific Beach, and is mostly at a slight downhill route.  Each year this event grows, perhaps because of the direct route that is mostly flat with the slight downward hill , and the promise of two free beers at the end of the race.  I asked hubs to bring the camera, but when we got to the start line, he said he left it in the car. I have no pre or post race photos.  My friend Rich snapped a few photos right after the race,  one with me finishing.  I also forgot my Garmin.  Since the race organizers finally added D-tags, I figured I could even go without timing myself, although that would mean I wouldn't know my splits, or if I would need to kick things up a notch.  I wasn't feeling 100% ready due to the lack of enough sleep (4 hours) and girl issues. My legs felt like lead from the get go, but just kept going, hoping I'd find my fast gear.  Much to my amazement, I broke even and finished in 36:24 (9:06 pace), just one second faster than last year.

 Me on the finish line.  Photo credit to Rich.

I'm pretty happy that I broke even, but I'm far from a PR. If I could only stay injury free for a whileI could be smashing some PRs.   My friend Rich, who ran this with me last year and finished several seconds behind me, finished this year in 32:58 (8:15 pace), a PR for this race and a race pace PR.  Hubs also amazed me and finished with a PR at 41:06 (10:17 pace). 

At this race I also saw my PT Bryan with some of his RU posse, AKA Alice and most of the Heffers, and several SDTC members, including Michelle and her husband - who I began the SDTC Rockin' 'n' Runnin' marathon training program with two years ago.  Since Hubs was denied beer at the end of the SDRNR marathon earlier this year, he wanted to claim his two beers, so we waited (in an actually short line) retrieved our beers and met up with track club friends.  I ended up giving my second beer away and only drank half of the one I did have.  We didn't stay very long in the bar, and found our way back to the shuttle bus area, where we ended up on the disco bus, complete with bumping music, disco lights, and dance floor**.  I managed to get a couple of not so great cell phone pics,  but you get the idea:

 

After getting on our groove in the disco bus, we had a short walk back to the car and made our way to the High Dive to meet up with AKA Alice, Walter and some of the Heffers.  They skipped the beer crowd and made it to the High Dive well before we did.  They were just about finished up as we arrived with evidence of mimosas, but we were still able to enjoy each other's company for a little while.

They all looked well rested and clean!  Hubs and I were still grungy from the run.  Hubs played photographer.

Even though I was not into the idea of having any (more) alcohol, Hubs took it upon himself to order a bottle of champagne and cranberry juice so that we could make mimosas, too.  I obliged, but these made me even sleepier than I already was.  The Heffers and Walter were soon off, and Hubs and I had a leisurely breakfast.  The Challa (French) toast with loganberries hit the spot.

Once we were home I crashed and felt flu like for most of the day.  I was achey and a little feverish until much later on, sometimes before sunset, when I began to come back around and everyone was asking about dinner. Figures.

In my feverish stupor, I signed up Hubs and I for two half marathons and a 5k. I would have gone for a 3rd half marathon but I need to be mindful of that credit card balance.  Besides, I can't sign up for that 3rd race until late January, when sign ups are open, and that would be the America's Finest City half marathon.   The events I did sign up for are the Shelter Island 5k, Carlsbad Half Marathon and La Jolla Half Marathon.  I completely missed the sign ups for the Silver Strand Half Marathon, but I'm going check around and see if some groups (like RU) have extra entries. I'm still considering the Las Vegas Rock 'n' Roll half in December and will most likely sign up through RU.

Right now I have the kid over my shoulder reading, which means it's time to bring the post to a close.  Other than a possible Wordless Wednesday post, I'm not sure how much blogging I'll be doing for the next 8 days, unless there is something so blogworthy that it can't wait. 

PEACE

Wednesday's Song:
Anywhere - Evanescence, 122, Stacey Clark, The Priests, etc...

*I went through this tug of war with my own kids and me exercising.  It sounds great to get everyone out doing the same activity, but, as a parent I would always end up slowing down or stopping to make sure my kids were safe, not beating up each other, not too far ahead, not crashing into other people, etc.  I had to make the activity THEIR activity, and do mine separately. 

** Yes there was evidence of a stripper pole on the dance floor.  They took it out for the shuttle service.  Darn.

Funny The Way It Is

Don't pass out or anything, but  it's a real blog post about running!


I'm starting to get my mojo back. Perhaps it was the crummy weather we've had since June. I was sort of going through the motions, but not really feeling anything towards running, good or bad. It was just kind of meh. Even my non running workouts were meh. A few days with sunshine and it changes everything. Today I got out to run a little later than I wanted to, but I still got out there. The sun was out and I spent most of the run going into the wind, which kept me from burning out. I also ran a different route than normal. Instead of running my usual Mission Bay Park route north, I ran more southwest, towards the South Shores parking lot, the same area where the last SDRNR marathon/half marathon finished. I also put in three laps around the parking lot just so I wouldn't have to navigate around the hoards of day camp kids visiting Mission Bay Park. I was really sweaty when I was done. Even though this was an "easy" run, it wasn't exactly an easy ride. My body was feeling the DOMS from my Wednesday workout at RU. I also have a mild case of shin splints brought on by wearing heels. Aren't I special? It seems I have more running related boo-boos caused by non running activities.

Hubs wants to go to Disneyland this weekend. It's not my idea of the happiest place on earth at the moment. The next couple of weeks people are fitting in the last of their summer vacations, and Disneyland is going to be packed.  I'd rather go during a less busy time.  I would much rather be relaxing on a tropical beach* (Ixtapa, perhaps?) drinking an ice cold beverage with umbrellas in it, and that would be my happiest place on earth.

Thanks to those who voted for my nephew.  It seems like a silly contest, but it could land him a job.  If anything, his name is getting out there.   If you haven't voted ("liked" it) yet , there's still time.  Voting ends August 31, 2010.  In case you've missed it, you can check it out here.

PEACE

*We can no longer drink on most of our San Diego beaches and parks due to a booze ban. The actions of a few drunk idiots blew it for the rest of us.

Come Together

Spreckles Organ Pavilion - Balboa Park

TIART

Runner's Lounge "Take It and Run Thursday" question:

"If you had the knowledge, time and/or means by which to Organize a race - what would your "Race Info" include?

Would you chose an organization to donate to? What distance would you choose? Other questions to ponder - Location? Time? Race Expo attendees (guest speakers?)? Shirt design? Get as creative as you want...!"

I am so into this!

My dream race would benefit the Arts in schools. It would be called "The Arts Run." The Arts are something I've been passionate about for years, even though it sometimes does not come across that way in my blog. The art of motherhood sort of took over, but I'm slowly making my way back. School programs in California have been cut to shreds, and the first things to go are always Art, Theater, Dance and Music programs.

Expo - I think I would skip the pre race expo part and leave the festivities for the day of the race, but have an optional race number pick-up on two separate days, plus the pick up on race day. This would include picking up the swag, t-shirt and timing chip. Yes, I said "timing chip."

Distance - I would offer a 1 mile kids walk/run, a 5k - 10K walk/run. Only the 5k and 10K distances would have the option of using the timing chip.

Crown Point

Location - I have three places that come to mind. Somewhere along Mission Bay in San Diego, perhaps an out and back that goes to Crown Point, with very little concrete involved. It's gotta be mostly asphalt. Concrete just slows me down and I end up more achey... OR the race would go somewhere relatively flat through Balboa Park, which would start and end somewhere near Spreckles Organ Pavilion. The third place is around the flat parts of Shelter Island, which makes for a delightful and scenic morning run.

Shelter Island

Time - probably around 7 or 8 AM.

Time of year - Fall or Spring.

T-shirt - The t-shirts would be that tech-y, dry wick fabric. The t-shirt would be designed through a student competition, and the winner would have their art work on the back, along with some of the sponsors logos below it. The front of the t would have "The Arts Run" in smaller print, somewhere on the upper left or right hand side. Posters of the artwork would be available for sale, and the proceeds would go to benefit the Arts in schools.

Swag - The bag would be one of those reusable cloth-like bags, made from recycled materials or a simple backpack. In the bag: Information about the Arts and places to go to get creative, some sort of electrolyte powder sample, lip balm, samples of sun screen, samples of unscented anti-perspirant/deodorant, flashlights, small packets of wet wipes, a small art pad with a few colored pencils/crayons/pens, coupons for stores that support the arts, like music stores, art supply stores, costume stores, dance stores, and, duh, running/sporting goods store coupons. I'd purposely leave out things like granola bars and candy type bars. Those always seem to end up smooshed or melted at the bottom of the swag bag.

Prizes - The usual protocol : Prizes go to winner(s) of the - race male and female, age group/gender/top three. Since this an Arts race, costumes will be encouraged - and prizes for the best costumes will win. There will also be a random drawing. The prizes would range from artwork, tickets to a theater/art show/performance, massages, restaurants, sporting goods stores, etc...

The race - The National Anthem would be sung live or played by a live band or musician, preferably a student (or students) in the Arts. Whitney Houston's version of the National Anthem is great, but it's time we have some of our local talent take charge of the song. Walkers would have different bib colors than the runners, and walkers would have to start at the back or at a different time. (Weaving between walkers at the beginning of a race is not fun!) Water/electrolytes at mile 2 for the 5k, and miles 2 and 4 for the 10K. Mile markers at every mile, and splits at the 2 mile and 4 mile points. Ipods and/or MP3 players encouraged. Several race photograhers would be throughout the course of the race. Port-o-Potties would be plentiful and have a water pump and/or hand sanitizer kiosk near by. I'd prefer an actual restroom, but on race day that can have quite the line.

Race Medals - Still thinking about this one. For the kids it would be great to have a finisher's medal, but for the adults I'm thinking something like jewelry, perhaps a pendant or key chain.

After the race - Champagne Brunch. All the best brunch foods you can think of made by the winning contestants of Top Chef. (Hey, this is my dream race!) It's gotta have champagne so we can have mimosas... There would be bands and/or musicians, people creating art, dancers, etc, a place for the young-uns to play/paint, color, etc... Since this is an out and back race, no shuttles are needed. My choice of locations all have ample parking available close to the start/finish area.

Guest speakers - I find that some events really don't need guest speakers, especially for smaller local runs, but we would need someone, a celebrity type who runs and appreciates the arts, to announce the winners, hand out the prizes, and say a few words about the Arts Run.

There's so much to think about. I'm sure I left out a ton of things I would like to have at a race, but I suppose it's a start. A dream race would have to include me winning my age group, but, perhaps that's asking for a bit much...

Monday's song:
Mixed Emotions - The Rolling Stones

PEACE

Food, Glorious Food

Thanksgiving this year was nice in the way all of the "kids" were in town. Betwween college, jobs, re-locating, boyfriends, girlfriends and other busy-ness, the past few years we were always missing someone. This year everyone converged at my in-laws house. There was more food than necessary. I guess, ever since the year my mother-in-law forgot to make or delegate the mashed potatoes, everyone feels the need to bring just a little something extra... just in case. My hubbie invited one of his employees to join us, and that was lovely, especially for my Brazillian mother-in-law, because hubbie's employee is also Brazillian and everyone could dust off their Portugese skills. I ate more than normal. On Thanksgiving meals past, I could eat 2 plates of food and be okay. I sure can't do that anymore. I didn't load up my plate to cover every inch of the surface, but it was still plenty. I felt pretty sluggish today.

Today I packed even more household items, loaded up my car as much as possible, sent my son to the house to take the load, and packed some more. There is no way I would set foot in a mall today. A friend of mine actually went to a shopping center at 4 AM to wait in line. I'm sure he got a deal, but I enjoyed my sleep, thankyouverymuch...

This next week is all about getting the "new" old house set up as in putting everything where it's going to stay forever, think about Christmas, and actually planning my training runs for the next half marathon in January. I feel like my running has really slacked the past week, but I hope to be amping up the mileage soon.