Friendly runners and running with a friend

This morning I met Beth for a run on the rail trail.  Unlike yesterday when I sweated in a tank top, this morning I finally got to wear my long sleeve AC Marathon shirt and choose a fleece vest to go over it.  I can’t get over this NY weather this year.  I really think the seasons are shifting. 

ANYWAY I digress!

Runners are such a friendly bunch.  I say this because all it takes is a race T-shirt or a headband to start a conversation and find people you have things in common with.  Beth was wearing her turkey trot shirt.  Everyone we passed commented on what a fun race it was and really, it was.  We met a few women who ran the race and run the rail trail on a regular basis.  A few are even running next week’s holiday race. One of them noticed the active bands that Beth and I were wearing, that I won from Tricia at Endurance Isn’ t Only Physical.  Funny how me winning a blog giveaway in cyberspace, can create connections out on the real road.    

Friend reunion this weekend
Kelli,Moe, Me and Beth

It is nice to meet people who enjoy running as much as I do.  I know my husband and parents think I am crazy as I study the race schedules and web sites and try to plan out my year around a race.  There are times that I know people ask about my training or races and they are just making conversation or being polite by asking.  That is fine, it’s not for everyone.  It would be nice to have a few more friends that I could actually discuss running with. If someone had asked me about the socks I won from Molly I would have told them how cool they were cause I was wearing them too! I am glad we met some friendly faces out there.  I am looking forward to getting to know them better.   

It has been a great weekend and today’s eight miles were a great beginning to the end of it. 

MHRR 5 mile Turkey Trot

Thanksgiving morning was colder than I expected. When I got up to walk the dogs I started to rethink my choice of clothing.  I grabbed my gloves and a couple of color coordinated layers that I thought would be appropriate if it didn’t warm up as it was supposed to.  Quick oatmeal and a few chocolate chip cookies and I tended to the other matter of importance.  Since I was hosting the big meal later in the day I had to coordinate the timing of the bird and my departure for the race carefully.  That meant that I could get everything ready and Pete would have to get up, preheat and put it in right about the time I would start running.  Fingers crossed the turkey would be ready at 2 as planned. 



Nice long sleeve Tech T!



After my car defrosted enough for me to actually drive, I made my way over to Beth’s house and on to a local HS where the race was to take place.  It was a mob scene!  A 5mile, 25 k and 2 mile fun run were on tap in addition to a kids race.  We had 45 minutes until the first race began.   We waited on line to collect our bibs and tech T’s for most of that time even as preregistered runners. 

Somehow we managed to begin only 10 minutes later than expected.  675 runners ran the 5 mile race and it was a really positive atmosphere.   Two guys were in full turkey costume.   Going into the race I knew my best 5 mile time was under 42 minutes and of course I was hoping to beat that.  But this race was described as mostly hills and after I saw the first hill I knew why!  Having not run a whole lot of miles in the past few weeks my legs were fresh and I felt pretty good.  This was an out and back course and I enjoyed seeing the front of the pack on their way back and high fiving my friend after I made the turn around myself.  Every downhill I had just enjoyed was now a known entity.   I didn’t give up on a PR but I scaled down my expectations. I still felt pretty good and went as fast as I could without feeling sick.  Somehow the time on the clock at the finish read 40:40!  

A PR on a hilly course?   If I had run 41 I would have PR’d! 41 was the number I was looking for.  Hey I’m not complaining, I’ll take it but now what the heck should my goals be for next Saturday’s holiday run?  I guess I will start with not vomiting like last year. 

Happy Thanksgiving!

 

I PR'd on a hilly course this morning!  Who knew? 

I am thankful for so many things this year. 

Hoping the health and happiness continues for my friends and family! 

Off to baste the turkey and peel potatoes. Got a day full of family and food ahead of me that includes holding my two week old niece and watching my boys learn to play football!  This weekend is all about friends far and near. 

Happy Thanksgiving to all!

I feel like such a slug. 

My daily mile widget is telling me I have logged zero miles and only 22 for the month!  How does this happen?  I am a mere 4 miles away from One Thousand miles run for the year and I can not find a single moment to get outside since Saturday.

Shorter days, parent teacher conferences and union meetings have not been helping me along.  I am feeling like the overworked, under appreciated mom this week.  I want to get out there but my "household" just won't let me. 

I am going to have to do something about that. 

 I should probably start with getting my treadmill welded.  (Its been three years since we have used it) because hitting the road seems to be less of an option on the weekdays. 




Racing myself to get home before dark



NYC buzz

Is it wrong that I am annoyed with the TrackMy Runners system?   It will only let me follow three people in tomorrow’s New Your City Marathon!  I had a whole list of people that I am really excited to see how they do but now I will have to wait and see when they post on their blogs or twitter.   Granted I don’t actually know all of these people.  I have only followed them in blog land or watched them on the biggest loser.  

The buzz on the social media , Letterman and the local news has me totally into this marathon I am completely not running.  AND convinced I must do it one day.  I got a taste of the excitement at the NYC half last year and the full is now on the bucket list.  If I didn’t have a birthday party to bring the boys to tomorrow I would totally be hopping on a train into the city in the morning to cheer on the masses. 

But instead when I wake up I will run some miles in suburban NY and then get text updates on three of the four runners I do actually know, Molly, Tina, Diane and Lauren, who are running the streets of the Big Apple.  I hope it is a great day for all!

How do you run a race with high school students? or 5k for a cure

How do you run a race with high school students?

On my way to the AC Marathon I received a facebook invite for a 5k for a cure that would take place at the HS where I work.  My colleague had sent details about the High Schools Against Cancer club raising money for Breast Cancer research.  Having a direct connection to this disease, with my mother battling it multiple times and myself being a confirmed carrier of the breast cancer gene, I knew I had to run this race.  

Since it took place the week after the Marathon, it ended up being the first time I was to run since.  The track coach was doing the timing and asked me how I felt and did I have a goal for this race.  Honestly like any race I wanted to do the best I could but I did not want to embarrass myself in front of a bunch of teenagers!!  I felt good and ready to run fast.  

I was a little self-conscious about running with students and parents from the district to begin with.  I opted to wear a black skirt and a bright pink top with black white and pink socks and my pink Yankee hat to show my support for the cause (and provide me with no additional exposed skin if you know what I mean).  

It was a small group since this was the first year of the race, (And possibly because it took place the day after homecoming.  I don’t know… just saying).  It was a combination of runners and walkers, about 20 HS students so we all pretty much started out together.  Holy crap it was a fast start!  But what was I expecting; seventeen year old sectional champs are out in two seconds.  The boys took the lead quickly and I found myself in a pack of HS girls.   A little voice in my head was questioning if I belonged here.  A louder voice said “WHOOO I feel great”!  I heard one of my students call out to her friends “You guys suck!  You are going out way too fast”.  I later found out this was the soccer girls quickly falling behind the cross-country kids. 

The miles were not marked and I could only estimate how far I had gone.   

I ran most of the race with a sophomore, Amy whom I did not know.  We ran for at least a mile and a half, side by side, talking, even as fast as we were going.  I could only think, Damn!  I am keeping up!!  As we turned into the last stretch I found it was more of a hill than I had anticipated.   Amy pulled away as I reminded myself that I did NOT want to throw up in front of my kids, my mother, students and parents (that happened to include a school board member)!  I found my pace and gave it my all just below the vomiting threshold that has plagued me in the past.  

 I crossed the finish line in 23:35!  A PR for me!.   A boost I really needed.  

Motivation Lacking

This is pretty much how cold I felt the past few mornings. Waking up with no heat or lights in the house. 

This afternoon the power is back on.  I was so happy I baked cookies as I filled and ran the dishwasher two times. (in my oven that was fixed the day before the storm).  Now the hot water heater is not working!  When it rains it pours. 

I am rationalizing that this is justification to skip my runs in the afternoon. That coupled with the MANY mini butterfingers I have consumed in the past few days just doesn't feel right! 

I must get back in the swing of things.  With no plan to follow, I feel so lazy.  So unaccountable.  I don't get daily reminder on how far to run.  No urgency to record that run.  Must find my motivation.  So far this is it. 

These dogs need to put some miles in.   

I am registered for a 5 mile race the first weekend in December but it seems so far away.  Thinking of a Turkey trot too (if I can convince my husband to get up and baste the bird while I am gone) Thanksgiving morning.  I have a choice 5 mile or 25k.  Hmmmm...

Might be time to commit to the next race.  I am sure after the buzz of the NYCM this weekend I will really feel the need to plan for something. 

I guess it is time to research. 

Snowtober I dislike you!

This pumpkin throws off a lot of light and came in handy this weekend. 

BECAUSE... we have not had power since saturday evening.  That meant carving this pumpkin by candellight, lots of blankets and boys and dogs in our bed and  no showers after a nice couple of runs. 

I payed my cousin Kim a visit on Halloween/snowday number one to take a nice warm shower and my boys did this in her yard...

Had to pry them away from the hill to go trick or treat.  So weird!