Wherever I May Roam

Harbor Island
(Yes, I've used this picture before.)

It still feels weird to run with another group. My husband goes one way and I go another.

Yesterday wasn't a scheduled run for the track club, but a SDTC 5k event. My husband volunteered to be traffic control and course marshal. He mentioned having to stop car traffic so that the runners could go by. This intrigued me because I was under the impression that this course was closed to car traffic. Michael said he was a little startled when he saw the runners coming up in the distance in one direction, and cars coming toward them in the other direction.

Yesterday I ran with the RU gang . A few of the PTs were there, including mine, but on bike. The route I selected went from a Point Loma bike shop to Harbor Island and back, which is not unfamiliar territory for me. I did take a small piece of paper with written directions in BIG PRINT with me. I really like this because I'd prefer not to deal with a map, or squint to see the small print. The track club often takes this same route, but starting and finishing at Harbor Island. I started the run with two other women, but we soon got into our own paces and I suddenly found myself pulling ahead, then running by myself for most of the time. I got to my halfway point and ran along side a few of the people in the marathon program, but that only lasted a few minutes, as they went in another direction to get in more miles.

Here's what my stats looked like:

Activity: Run
Date: 10/03/09 07:34 AM
Distance: 6.21 miles
Time: 1:05:20
Speed: 5.7 mph
Pace: 10' 31 min/mile
Calories: 599

I did see several familiar SDTC members out there while I was running. I guess they needed more than 3.1 miles.

A few minor things -- The bike shop was not open before the run, so no restroom. I supposed I could have gone into the Jack in the Box a block away, but I always feel like I have to make a purchase, as a courtesy. I had no cash on me. I had to make a pit stop at around mile 4 which slowed me way down, and I had a hard time getting myself going again, even with just two more miles to go. Once I stop, I'm done. I guess that's my own issue, but I was under the impression that the bike shop would be open for us to use the restroom, get water and get ready. The other thing was no water or aid station out on the route. One of the runners mentioned that they really needed that kind of hydration stop and was going to TRY to get one of their family members to sit out there with water and electrolytes. We're not a big group and we were told to carry our own liquids, but it's nice to have a mid way point that you have to get to, sort of like checking in. I also missed going out to breakfast. Everyone pretty much takes off afterward. They do go out after the Wednesday night workouts, which is nice, but I reeeeaaaaly like breakfast, and the establishment we go to doesn't serve breakfast at 7:30 PM.

I do enjoy training with RU, the Wednesday night workouts are really intense and fun, I'm meeting a whole bunch of people who I wouldn't have met otherwise, and when it's all done there's a big party in Las Vegas. I think with some minor tweaking, they could have a stellar marathon/half marathon training group.

My brother ran a personal record today at the San Jose Rock 'N' Roll Half Marathon, finishing in 1:32:30, which put him 10th in his division. I can't even fathom being in the top ten in my division of a race that has about 18,000 participants. He wasn't expecting to PR, since his prior PR wasn't that long ago, finishing in 1:41 and change.

Facebook has been a mixed thing for me. I primarily use it to log my running, but it's certainly not limited to just running. While I prefer not to be in contact with certain people (well, certain person), I have been able to reconnect with one of my closest friends. We've known each other since the first grade, attended the same high school, and spent a little time at community college together. It's kind of funny, but no matter how much time passes when you haven't talked to a person, you still laugh over the same stupid things when you do finally reconnect. We even laughed a bit over our injuries. She told me about dropping a $2 can of pumpkin on her foot, which broke several bones and needed surgery, and I filled her in on my fun with my hip/femur surgery. Good times. We chatted for an hour on the phone last night. We were caught up with our lives to a certain point, but there was plenty more to catch up on. I must put a trip to Portland, Oregon on the list of things to do in the near future. My friend did mention a marathon in her area. Hmmmm.


Thursday's song:
Come Together - The Beatles - Tenderfoot Diaries

PEACE

What I Like About You

Check out this clip of my nephew, Kyle, complimenting twenty-two people in one minute.



Yesterday's song:
Good Vibrations - The Beach Boys - Nine Oh Nine

PEACE

Getting There

Just a very quick post.

Michael broke 6 hours! Today he finished the marathon in 5:49!!!!!



I had a good day at the water tables with my son, watching the runners and wheel-chair athletes go by. I'll fill in the details tomorrow.

Yesterday's song:
Perfect Day - Hoku

Move Along

Activity: Run
Date: 03/01/08 06:58 AM
Distance: 9.47 miles
Time: 1:25:11 PR
Speed: 6.7 mph
Pace: 8' 59 min/mile
Calories: 902



Today was the Sue Krenn 15K. The weather was overcast and a little drizzly. I used my BiM wireless run tracker GPS and remembered to charge it last night. I forgot to wear my stop watch, just to keep track of my minute/mile as I ran, but sometimes ignorance is bliss. This was not a chipped run, so my times are a little higher, and not so accurate, plus I turned off my GPS after I ran through the finishing chute, and that added time. The event time-keepers had me at 1:25:12, a new personal record. That still puts me over 6 minutes faster than last year. I was kind of surprised because it was cool out this morning and my legs felt like lead for the first two miles, which were actually my fastest miles of this run. The times aren't posted on the website yet, but results were posted at the event. I came in 9th out of something like 20 in my age group. There's some phenomenally speedy women in my age group. Oh, and before I forget, all the women finishers received a rose.

This event is also very grass-roots and has no corporate sponsors. They rely heavily on the kindness of volunteers. We did not receive race T-shirts today. Since the track club was already signed up for this run, we did not have the option to pre-purchase a race T. I had to order one today. This year's T shirt is red and black, which is my husband's favorite color combo. Of course, it has "No Wussies" on it.

EDIT****
I almost forgot to mention that this is the event where I met Anne last year! I swear I didn't forget and it is worth mentioning because, if it weren't for Anne, I probably would not have joined the SDTC!

My husband did OK but cramped up around mile 4. He met a bunch of guys who helped him through this cramping episode, and they all run/walk like my husband does, so he felt, for the first time, like he belonged some place in the group, and not alone in the back-of-the-pack group.

For March, my fitness goals are still the same until June, so there's not much to update there. My morning weight is stable and I hope to keep it that way until the marathon. I'm prone to weight gain while marathon training. Non-fitness goals will include getting back into the creative mode again. I'm attempting my hand at making my own athletic wear, and see if it's worth the effort. I also want to get my art-brain back. I want to feel as passionate about it as I did when I was in college.

Yesterday's song:
Thank God It's Friday - R. Kelly

PEACE