'Tis the Season

Thanksgiving went by in a blur and we are already supposed to start thinking about Christmas, but I just can't get in the mood.  There is no snow on the ground. It's been very bright and sunny lately.  It is cold, but by no means bitter.  It still feels more like fall then like the holiday season.  At least it did, until this morning.  

Running my regular route down to Lake Harriet at 5:15 in the morning, in the dark, slightly sensory deprived in the dark, with my ears under a thick hat, I ran by Sunnyside Gardens.  Sometime in the last four days they got their order of Christmas trees.  The scent was a heavenly surprise and I broke into a wide smile and breathed deeply.  As I was basking in the memories of past Christmases triggered by the sweet smell of freshly cut pine, I remembered that there is another little tree lot about half a mile down the road in a little park I run by.  And there it was, my second hit of the holiday season.  There is something about that smell of Christmas that makes me smile more than anything else.  To get the opportunity to enjoy it by myself early in the morning made it all the sweeter.

Half-way There

That might not be completely accurate, but it feels like it because the stress of making a giant meal for 17 people is finally over.  One bird in the oven and one bird on the grill and they both turned out great and finished within minutes of each other. (My personal favorite was the grilled turkey, but I may be biased.)  

    

Before

After

The aftermath

Everyone got along.  Crazy is still just that - crazy, but I was too busy to spend much time listening to her idiotic and ceaseless prattling.  Apparently, she is "thinking about getting her kids into soup" - as an example of idiotic prattling.

There was too much political talk so I would just get up and leave.  A's dad looks good (oh, he had a pace-maker implanted on Wednesday and was discharged Thursday around noon.)  We have about 36 hours left until we are left alone.  I think I might be able to survive.  

Son of a Bee Sting!

It's 11:45 PM.  A and I are asleep, cozy in bed. Under warm, soft flannel sheets with a down comforter on top.  Mmmmm! So nice.  So peaceful.

"AAAAgggghhhh!  AAAAgggghhhh!  AAAAgggghhhh!" high-pitched, girl-shrieking from A as she is kicking at me.  "AAAAgggghhhh! AAAAgggghhhh! AAAAgggghhhh!" high-pitched, girl-shrieking from me as I am startled awake by my wife kicking me and shrieking at me.

"WHAT THE HELL IS WRONG?" I ask her.

"Oh, it's you! I woke up and couldn't figure out who was sleeping in the bed with me.  (Zzzzzzz.)"  She mumbles as she rolls over and goes back to sleep.

Yes, honey, it's ME.  Your husband of twelve years who has slept next to you the vast majority of nights over those twelve years.  

As I lay there with my heart pounding out of my chest, I realized it doesn't instill a lot of confidence in the impression I am making when my wife doesn't recognize me in our own bed.

Danger in the Freezer

For whatever reason, since the TCM I have developed new aches and pains.  My left hip gets tight, but I can kind of stretch that out.  Then there are the shin splints.  The doctor gave me the thumbs up to run without pause as I don't have a stress fracture, but he suggested I ice my shin to help rehab it.  Taking that advice, I grabbed an ice pack from the freezer and Ace bandaged it to my shin over my sock.  Well, I thought it was over my sock.  Turns out it was only half on my sock and half on my bare skin.  As I walked around the house with my lower leg sufficiently numbed, I forgot about the ice pack - for about a half hour.  When I did remember the ice pack and decided to remove it I found the bare skin above my sock to be very white (whiter than normal - hard to believe I know) and very cold.  Creepily cold.  The thought that entered my brain - "Holy Shit!  I struggle all winter to stay warm and avoid frostbite and I fricking give it to myself in my own house."  Needless to say, I have a nice reddish area that now has some feeling in it, but still looks strange.  It's not worth a photo right now, but if it gets particularly gross, I will pass a visual along.

Finnism at the Movies

Sitting in the theater watching previews before Madagascar II a music video comes on that is actually an ad for the National Guard.  The video has lots of images of soldiers helping disaster victims and fighting battles - lots of carnage and sadness.  At then end of the video, when the theater is quiet, F says to no one in particular, but in a very loud voice, "I DO NOT want to see that movie!"

I hope that you have learned your lesson

After running errands on Sunday afternoon I come home and A matter-of-factly announces she had to save F's life.  In an irritated voice she explained that he was eating lunch with his friend and was cramming (we are a family of crammers) his sandwich in his mouth and talking (which he never seems to stop doing) and laughing and he aspirated his lunch. 

I picture it going down this way - F is talking and laughing and standing at the table eating as fast as he can (the kid never sits down in a chair).  A warns him to stop cramming food in his mouth, but he keeps cramming, talking and laughing.  Then the talking and laughing stops. A looks over at F's eyes bugging out of his head, puts her hands on her hips, cocks her head, rolls her eyes, lets out a big sigh of exasperation and walks over him, spins him around and gives him the Heimlich.

                    

Not this Heimlich                                 This Heimlich

Tangential story - My mom was an emergency room nurse when I was growing up and she would do training for the EMTs and first responders in our small town.  One night while she was teaching the CPR course she accidently referred to the Heimlich Manuever as the Heimlich "Removal".  Well, she couldn't get off of it and referred to it that way for the entire night.  To this day we refer to it as the Heimlich Removal just to make her nuts.

Tangential story II - Not really a story but a joke told by my dad who made every joke an Ole and Lena joke and told it in a "Scandihoooovian" accent.  Ole and Lena are having dinner with Sven when Lena starts to choke.  Sven gets all excited and runs to dial 911, but Ole remains calm and tells Sven, "No need to worry.  I know yust what to do."  So Ole grabs Lena, spins her around, pulls down her pants and licks her on the butt.  Lena lets out a giant cough and the piece of food she was choking on flies out of her mouth and across the room.  Sven looks at Ole, eyes wide in amazement, "Ole that was yust incredible! How did you know what to do?"  Ole replied, "I yust learned CPR - they call that the 'Hind-lick Manuever.'"

Back to the story - I only picture it going down that way because that is kind of the way A told it and that was kind of my reaction - eye-rolling, an exasperated sign and the phrase, "fricking kids."  Needless to say, I am never one to miss a "teaching opportunity."  For the rest of the day, every time I saw F eating something I felt compelled to remind him to be careful so mommy wouldn't have to save his life again.  It remains to be seen if he has learned anything.

New Shoes and More Good Stuff

It has been an interesting morning.  First off, it's bright and sunny for the first time in about six days.  I got my new running shoes (thrilling, I know) but they are still the Sunny D flavor (ugh).  I forgot that I got a 20% discount from the store I go to so they weren't $95 they were $76.  Then I go to the grocery store and get coffee at Caribou afterward.  I am waiting in line behind someone who, it seemed, had never ordered coffee before and there was much discussion about price and what had been charged.  I was trying not to look impatient even though I obviously was.  As I finally made it to the front of the line to pay, the woman behind me offered to pay for my drink because she had to wait for hers to be made anyway.  I of course declined a couple of times and then caved and accepted her offer, because, hey - free coffee.  Now, I can't wait to do that for someone else.

I Love New Shoes

I was still befuddled by my shin pain (which wasn't bad after yesterday's run, by the way) so I looked at my shoes.  Turns out they are over three months old and have nearly 400 miles on them.  400 miles - every time I see that it always amazes me.  How fast the miles pile up.  Looking at the soles I have some pretty good wear, especially on the right shoe.  It's interesting how losing what seems like such a thin amount of rubber can have such a big affect on my body.  So tomorrow is new shoe day.  I hope they look better than my current pair - I feel like I am wearing Sunny Delight on my feet - and hate Sunny Delight.

Just give it time

So my last post had me concerned that I had a stress fracture and that I would never get enough time on the bike.  Well, I had that X-ray and I have a perfect tibia - no break , good news.  It must be a little bit of shin splints - bad news.  Stretching, Aleve and ice will have to do the trick.

I got on the bike for half an hour today.  I tucked the computer in the seat bag and strapped my old watch on the handlebar just to keep track of time.  A nice easy ride to get me started.  If I can do that at least a couple times a week and build up the time in the saddle, I should be good.

I just need to keep reminding myself to give it time.

Mid-November, already a little frustrated

Too much time on my hands (no job - rainy, crummy day - home with sick kid) makes me think too much.  I tried to get on the bike trainer yesterday - I have it set up in the basement in front of the TV instead of in the laundry room like last year - but it didn't go well.  The batteries were dead on the remote and then the sensor on my computer wasn't picking up.  Once I got in the saddle, I lasted all of about 20 minutes total.  I was too bored!  I hate a treadmill (haven't been on one in years and not even close since I started running last year) so I am not sure what would make me think a bike trainer is much different.  It's not!  Way boring! But I have to figure out how to get some time in the saddle.  The bike is easily the weak part of my races and if I want to make the gains I have projected, improvement on the bike - even a little - will get me there.  

To complicate matters I have decided it is time to get an x-ray of my right shin.  I have had on and off pain for months now.  Nothing excruciating or persistent, but recurring and localized.  I want to make sure it's not a stress fracture or something that could put me out for a long time if I don't get it taken care of.  The thing of it is that it doesn't hurt after I warm up during a run.  It is most uncomfortable after I been sitting for awhile.  Strange, but I figure better safe than sorry.

So my mind has decided to be frustrated - "I will never get enough time on my bike because attempt one was rather dismal."  "I have a broken leg!" "I am going to be 40."

One thing I can't do anything about, the other one probably won't come to pass (and if it does, I am one tough mo fo) and the third one I just need to keep getting on no matter how long or short a time.

I have to just take it all one day at a time.  

How not to parent

"Dirty Skirt" lost her nomination for parent of the year.  Last Saturday her five-year-old son broke his tibia (the big shin bone) straight through about three inches above his ankle.  He was pillow surfing down their main steps while mom and dad were in the kitchen cooking up a batch of meth.  That last part was a lie - apparently mom and dad were in the kitchen "drying dishes".  Call it what you will - the kids were unsupervised.  None of this disqualifies anyone from parent of the year.  

The poor kid had surgery to reset his bone and is now home and in so much pain he can't be moved.  "Dirty's" family has just bought a new house and is still in the process of selling their current home so they are hyper vigilant of making any sort of mess in case they have to show it.  Her son has finally gotten to the point where he can sit in his wheelchair (it just gets better and better) and move around some.  

Yesterday, the kid is finally mobile but still learning to drive and he kept bumping into the walls.  "Dirty" finally got fed up and admonished the kid - "If you don't stop running into the walls I will take away your wheelchair."  

Cross her off the ballot!

Rainy Days and Mondays

Today is obviously Thursday, but the sentiment seems appropriate.  It has been cloudy, cold-ish and drippy for the last four days or so and it is starting to get to me.  E has been home with a cold for two and a half days now. Which means I have to stick close to home and haven't been able to get out much.   F has been up in the middle of the night for a variety of reasons for a few days now, so I am a little sleep deprived.  And to top things off I have eaten terribly for the last three days.  I am pretty sure I have eaten more servings of Oreos (with milk however) than fruits and veggies in those three days.  Running usually gets me back on track, but it was rainy, cold and windier than expected today and those things combined with lack of sleep and empty calories equaled less than exuberant running this morning.  I need some snow or sun to lift my mood.  Or maybe I just need a nap.  

Dreams

Everyone always goes back to that place of comfort - a happy place - when things get stressful or disappointing.  At least that is the way it happens for me.  For a long time when I get to tough places in my life, I start to have swimming dreams.  The pool was my happy place for so long.  I dream I have to do some insane workout after not being in the pool for years or I have to get in and race with no training.  Thing is, they are pleasant dreams.  I feel in control and calm.  I never finish the race or the workout, but I always feel good about it.

Well, now I have developed a new happy place.  Apparently it's a triathlon.  I have been having tri related dreams lately.  Again, they involve being thrown into a workout or race with no training, but in them I appear confident, competent and do just fine.  

Too bad at this time there is no money in sport for me, but it helps get me through the days - and nights.

Thank God That's Over

This blog was never really meant to be a rant or a political soap box, but I feel the need to walk up to that line right now.  Thank GOD the election is today.  I am so sick of the ads from both sides and then all the PACs and special interest groups.  I voted this morning and I am DONE!  I hope my guy wins, but I really am not too worried either way.  If the world hasn't come to an end in the last eight years I think we will be safe going forward.  I just hope it's a landslide one way or the other so there won't be weeks or months of litigating for a president.  As irritating as this campaign has been, I am glad we live in the country we do.  Sure there are things that could be done to improve the process, but there is in any system.  OK - 'nough said!

On a separate note - I ran 12 miles in the past two days at a sub-8:30 pace.  I feel like I am coming back.

Faster

I was just reading some blogs I follow (while I take a break from grading papers) and recognized a thread in all of them today - a loose thread, kind of frayed and fuzzy perhaps.  It has to do with goal setting and training especially when it comes to long distance events - marathons and half or full Ironman distance triathlons.  What I have taken from this thread is that very specific goal times are kind of ridiculous for these events (maybe any events).  There are way too many variables in training over such a long period of time and on the actual day of the race, that a very specific goal seems like a lot of pressure to put on yourself - or in this case, myself.  

In an earlier post I listed a bunch of goal times for the events I am planning on doing in 2009 and that is fine, but I think that realistically I should have three goal times for every race - faster than I have gone before, about as fast as I have gone before, finish in one piece.  That means that my training for an event falls roughly in the same categories.  If I want to run a race faster, I have to train faster/harder.  If I want run a race about the same as I have in the past, I have to train like have in the past.  If I want to simply finish a race, I have to train enough to make it through while remaining (or getting) healthy.  Some of the performance comes from experience and learning new tricks.  I consider those improvements a freebee - to be considered but no necessarily banked on. This way the pressure is off, I continue to enjoy the journey and the times will come.  

Overall goal for this year - faster.

What is WRONG with me?

I am sitting here, the kids are in bed, A is playing Bunko and I am watching The Biggest Loser and just polished off about eight Oreos.  I have been eating the house and am sitting here still hungry.  We only ran three miles this morning, which is fine.  I have been lifting weights as well, so I hope that has something to do with it.  I have had some job search set backs - the job that I really wanted was put on hold (thanks economy) so that is the second time I have had a position put on hold.

Is it the combination of these things along with the days getting shorter and the weather getting colder that makes me want to eat everything that will fit in my mouth?  I don't know - I will think more about it while I eat this apple.

Finnism

Mom (talking to F and his buddy Nick) "Nick, what do you want to be when you grow up?"

Nick - "An astronaut."

F - "Dangerous job."

I'll Take That Bet!

I have to add another marathon to my dream list - the Nike Women's Marathon in San Francisco.  20,000 participants and less than 5% are men.  There is a caveat though, I have to run it with the women from the running group and ... wait for it ... I have to run it in a skirt!  I suggested a nice gold lame number and it was met with enthusiastic approval.  I think that the other requirement for the race should be that at least a couple of the women (you know who you are) who run with me should try to hit their Boston qualifying time - even if they have already qualified.  I secretly (or not so secretly, now) hope this actually happens.  What a story!

The Real Housewives

My wife watches questionable television.  For all her talk about limiting the amount and monitoring the content of television our kids watch, she watches the most ridiculous crap on the air.  (OK - I watch some crap, too and she doesn't watch these terrible shows on a regular basis, but there are a couple she seems to go back to.)  Her latest bit of "entertainment" is "Real Housewives of Atlanta" - a winning spin-off of "Real Housewives of Orange County" and "Real Housewives of NYC".  I have decided that there is opportunity for yet another spin-off  - "Real Housewives of Country Club."  (For people not familiar - Country Club is the neighborhood we live in in Edina, MN. Kind of a misleading name, since it isn't connected to a golf course.)  Apparently, some people are impressed that they live in "Country Club" - the people we associate with, not so much - I think we all live more in the "country club" neighborhood with our eight year old Honda and Creeping Charlie infested front yard.  I will be placing an ad in the Country Club Neighborhood Life Magazine (see what I mean?  People impressed with themselves) and we'll see who has absolutely no shame and wants to embarrass themselves on national television.  

(OK - maybe not, but it could be "entertaining.")

Let the off-season begin

After struggling through two weeks of marginal running post-TCM I took Saturday off and got set for the off season.  I ran seven miles this morning at 8:40 pace and it felt comfortable and easy.  Now comes the good stuff.  Some people struggle with the off-season.  With nothing to train for they feel unmotivated.  I am excited because this is where the big gains come.  I don't have a race until mid-January, so I have from now until then to get totally healthy, get fully into the weight training and rededicate myself to the stretching/core work that I have been doing.  It will be challenging to work out in the cold, but I thought the same about working out in the heat and adapted to that.  Anyway, I am looking forward to the work.  Wish me luck.

Preliminary 2009 Race Schedule (Revised)

The Twin Cities Marathon is 10 days away.  I am in the middle of my taper and my mind won't stop running.  Over the past few weeks I have been thinking about all I have done in the past nine months.  I have also been planning what I will shoot for in 2009 after I get back from my "training vacation" about the middle or end of December.  Following is the major race schedule I am considering and some preliminary goals for each race.  Might be some 5k races in there as well.  We will see how this plan fleshes out in the end.

January 24, 2009 - Securian Winter Carnival Frozen Half Marathon - Goal time: @1:45 - This will be a fun race with not much serious training.

May 2, 2009 - Wells Fargo Lake Minnetonka Half Marathon - Goal time: 1:35 - This is the warm up for Grandma's and would like to be running about ten minutes faster than last year at this point.

June 7, 2009 - Buffalo Sprint Triathlon - Goal time: 1:00 - 1:05 - Kick-off for the triathlon season.  I should be able to trim off some pretty significant time with much faster transitions (no socks this time), faster swim (no wet suit?) and way better bike.

June 20, 2009 - Grandma's Marathon - Goal time: 3:30 - This might be ambitious as I will be in the middle of triathlon training and will be pretty torn down, but, for now, I will give it a shot.

July 19, 2009 - Door County HIM Triathlon - Goal time: 5:00 - Shooting for a faster swim, much faster bike and another good run.

July 25, 2009 - Chisago Lakes HIM Triathlon - Goal time: 5:15 - This will be my first time doing this race and my second HIM in a week.  A daunting task to be sure, but I am a glutton for punishment. (I did DCT a week after Lifetime in 2008.)  Figure I will tack on 15 minutes to account for tiredness from DCT and unfamiliar course.

September 6, 2009 - City of Lakes 25K - Goal time: @1:45 - Another warm-up race.  This one for TCM.  

October 2009 - Twin Cities Marathon - Goal time: 3:25 (maybe 3:20) - This race could also be the Chicago Marathon or even New York (if I am gainfully employed.)

(All races and times subject to change based on financial constraints, training, health, etc.)

Procrastination

I like teaching, but I really hate correcting assignments, quizzes and projects.  Therefore I am procrastinating by doing anything but those three things.  I will get it done, but I am fighting it tooth and nail.  Hell, I am even taking the time to write this blog entry, I must be really fighting it!

Ironman Fever

During TCM it was decided that 2010 would be the year of the Ironman.  (You have to plan a year ahead because the fields fill up in minutes after registration opens.)  We - CS & M - are aiming for Madison with Canada as a possible back-up.  Yesterday was the 2008 Ironman World Championships in Kona, Hawaii - "The Ironman" - and I watched a bunch of the race live online and I just read some race reports on some blogs I watch and now I can't wait!  The way I figure it, I can swim no problem, I can run an incredibly painful marathon (done it), but I have to get used to being in the saddle for five + hours.  Good thing I've got a year and a half to put it all together.  Have I completely lost my mind?  I certainly hope so.

Marathon Reminders

Once again, sorry to everyone who reads this. This list is more for me, so I don't mean to bore you.

Things to remember for the next marathon:

1) If I have to pee, pee early (preferrably in the first five miles).  It is a lot easier to recover the time rather than later in the race.

2) Lube up the waist band area.  The only place missed and the only place that is not pretty.

3) Strawberry Clif Shots are my friend.  They went down pretty well and didn't taste terrible even after the fourth one.

4) Drink 1.5 liters of Accelerade orange in the morning.  Cut back on the water later so you don't have to pee as soon as you start.

5) Eat a Clif Builder Bar a half hour before the start.  It simulates what you do every morning before a run.

6) Take three Immodiums about three hours or so before the start.

7) Carbo-load three days out from the race.  It really works!

26.2 in 3:34:48

The End!  After ten months of training and racing my innagural season is complete and it couldn't have ended on a better result.  First, I must thank everyone who ran with me, encouraged me and put up with me during my training.  Second, I must thank everyone who came out to watch my races - especially the people who came out yesterday and stood in the pouring rain and cold.  I wouldn't feel this good without all of you.

So, the race.  Wow! There is so much to recall and so much that I have already forgotten.  

We got to the fricking start late.  We were still sliding up the chute to the first corral with about 90 seconds left.  My favorite was the people who were pushing through to get to the start faster.  I mean really, we are all going to the same place and the clock doesn't start until you cross the line anyway.  C and I got separated dropping off our bags.  I didn't know if she was ahead of me or behind me.  After the start, I scanned like crazy and found a nice open area where I could be seen.  I'll tell you what, it is good to be in the first corral - a lot fewer people and it opens up really quick.  Needless to say, C caught me from behind in the first mile.  

It was crazy fun to run through the closed off streets of downtown Minneapolis.   Mile 1 was there in no time, as was mile 2.  We started looking for L around this time, but could not find her.  I wanted to hand off my arm warmers (which were a stellar idea, I must say), but had to carry them until we saw my family. I had to pee at the start and was still feeling it now, but I decided to hold it, I would need that liquid later and it would reabsorb wouldn't it?  It was about this time that the rain started.  

It was light at first, refreshing, and not too irritating around Lake of the Isles, but then it really kicked in.  On the west side of Lake Calhoun it really started to come down and that, combined with the wind blowing across the cool lake made for a miserable few miles.  It was at this point I saw "the girls" and my fam.  They are all incredible troopers for hanging tough in really crappy weather.  C and I were clicking along comfortably, joking about people splashing us and jokingly asking for towels.  Having my name on my shirt was so fun and funny.  It's great to hear my name called out.  One woman surprised me and I turned back to wave at her like we were best friends or something.  I had a smile on my face for a lot of the race because people kept calling out my name. 

Fast forward to halfway - we came across in about 1:44.  We were smoking right along and feeling good, but of course the race is only starting at this point.  We figured we were on pace to hit our goal of 3:30, assuming, as I told C, "we don't do anything stupid." A lot of the second half of the race is kind of a blur.  Every mile I got past 13 I would tell C how much better it was than Grandma's.  We were taking fluids regularly, eating our gels and generally having a fun comfortable race.  

Around mile 16 or 17 I just couldn't hold it anymore.  I was starting feel a cramp from clenching, so I made a dash to the port-a-potty.  We decided C would keep going at the same pace and I would just have to catch up.  I figured I lost about a quarter mile to C by the time I got out of the can.  (Note to self: Pee early in the race, it is a lot easier to catch up with more distance.)  I pushed the pace and figured if she held her pace and I sped up I could catch her with at least a few miles left before the finish.  I did get some good luck - the course at this point was fairly flat or with a very slight uphill and kind of winding, so I could see pretty far ahead.  I thought I could see her shirt and white visor ahead but it was hard to be certain, so I just kept pushing.  My next break came at the point where we climb up to the bridge.  There is a 90-degree left turn onto the entrance ramp and I got a clear shot of her and I was gaining.  I caught up on the River Road, hammering uphill.  It took about three miles.  I think we were happy to see each other.  I just hoped that I hadn't wasted too much trying to catch up.  The only thing I really wanted to make sure of was that I didn't have to run up Summit Ave. by myself.  

And then there we were.  Making the turn onto Summit.  We had run this together a few weeks ago and it didn't seem too bad then.  To be honest, it didn't seem too bad yesterday either.  Don't get me wrong, it was painful, but I think that is more due to where it is in the race. You are past the 20 mile mark and if you aren't feeling the miles, you aren't running hard enough.  Really, the most daunting part of this stretch is that it is so straight and monotonous and the crowds are spread wide on either side.  Some tool-job came up behind me asking if we could see the Cathedral (No! It was one of the five other churches on Summit that precede the Cathedral.)  I chose to ignore him and he fell back.

Saw the whole gang again and it really helped.  I still had great energy, was still running and was able to high-five the kids.  All of the sudden, there is C's husband, M, running with us.  I was thoroughly confused.  Had he finished and gotten back to run the last few miles with us?  Wow, that is hardcore.  (Turns out he had a rough race and was hanging with our friends waiting for us to come by.)  

My legs were really getting heavy at this point.  I reminded myself that they certainly felt better than they did at Grandma's, where the pain made me walk, and I had run up steeper hills later in races when I had already been racing for four hours, like the Door County Half Ironman.  This wasn't so bad.  It worked.

Pushing hard up the last hill to the turn to the Cathedral I started to get a stitch under my ribcage on the right side.  I realized I was breathing from the top of my lungs so I eased up a bit and concentrated on belly breathing and really pushing my navel out.  Mission accomplished, stitch gone.  And then my vision was upon me.  

Since our last 20 miler that finished at the finish line, I had been rehearsing in my head what my finish would be like.  It is quite possibly an ideal finish.  You make a gradual turn that brings you by the Cathedral at the top of the hill, the highest point on the course, and then you are looking down at the State Capital.  The finish is downhill, across a highway overpass and then a straight shot to the line.  I ran it exactly as I wanted to.  As soon as I made that turn at the Cathedral I freewheeled down the hill and let my momentum carry me across the overpass.  The stretch from the overpass to the finish is longer than it seems.  The stitch came back a little, but at this point it didn't matter.  Finish line and done!

C was right behind me.  I had a personal record by 28 minutes.  C had a personal record by about 10 minutes.  There were hugs and smiles all around.  What a great way to end the season.  Next year - who knows?  3:30? 3:20 and Boston?  It certainly bodes well.

Racing on the brain

I have racing on the brain and, it being fall, there are a lot of big marathons happening around the world.  This leads me to think of the marathons I think I would like to run.  (I say "I think" because I will be running my second marathon in eight days and hopefully will be more successful than my first and will want to continue to run marathons.)

In no particular order - my dream list of marathons:

Boston Marathon

Chicago Marathon

London Marathon

New York Marathon

Berlin Marathon

Paris Marathon

Dublin Marathon

Venice Marathon

Athens Marathon

Marine Corps Marathon

Rome Marathon

Maybe.  Someday.

Finnism

F walks into the bathroom after he wakes up this morning.

He puts his two Webkinz stuffed animals - Shelly the turtle and Flip the dolphin - on the tank of the toilet, looking into the bowl. He lifts the seat, drops his pants and prepares to "use the facilities."

A & I chuckle.

F:  "What?  They wanna watch. It's no big deal, they're both boys."

The Countdown Begins

The Countdown has begun.  What countdown?  The countdown to the Twin Cities Marathon.  Taper started yesterday.  It was supposed to be a 14 miler but I only did 9, which ended up being a wise choice as I am now battling a head cold.  So, now it is all easy runs and a little speed work.  Plus, I have to be careful not to gain any weight now that my mileage is down.  (The GIANT bowl of ice cream I just ate won't help that.)  The funniest part is how I count down.  My countdown consists of checking weather.com and looking at the 10 day forecast (yes - I realize that the race is 14 days away, but I look for the trend of the weather) and then reconsidering everything - race plan, clothing options, nutrition options, everything.  Inevitably, in the end I go with what I planned on all along.  So, let the countdown continue.

I have no idea how a six year old brain works

F: "Daddy, if someone is wearing a bow tie they are a spy, right?"

Me: "No, I think it just means they are a 'bow tie wearer'."

F: "Oh, but if they are wearing a black bow tie they are a spy."

Me: "No, it might just mean they are going somewhere fancy."

F: "Oh. I found Indiana Jones hat!"

Finnism + Elise

Anatomy quiz at the dinner table last night:

Me:  What is the tube your food goes down?

E: Your asparagus.

Me: What is the little dangly thing in the back of your throat?

F: A mudflap.

I am incredibly gifted/I have no idea what I am doing

** I just came across this unfinished draft - I am sure I was going to follow up with some screaming fit the kids had after such a glorious day, but I thought it was worth posting even if incomplete. **

I sit here basking  in what might be my most glorious day as a parent of a six and eight year old.  A had to work on Sunday so it was a "daddy day".  It was a glum, cloudy fall-ish day.  The kind of day where you want to curl up on the couch and watch football all day.  Or at least that is what I wanted to do.  A was having a bunch of friends over on Monday for coffee, so I had to make sure the house was picked up.  I definitely was not picked up when she left. 

After a leisurely morning of cartoons and computer games for the kids (usual for a "daddy day") it was time to get the day rolling.  I don't enjoy cooking.  I grew up mostly on dry cereal for breakfast, served to myself with way too much sugar.  Therefore, my preference is to go out for breakfast or brunch with the kids.  Off we go to Bruegger's for bagels, smoothies and coffee.  F asked if he could bring a book with. "Sure" - "Can I bring it in?" - "Sure" - "Can I read it in the car?" - "Sure".  What? No Legos?! No Nintendo?! No old, dirty rope?! E chimes in.  "Can I help F with the hard words?" - "Sure".  Oh my god, who kidnapped my children and replaced them with these bizarre creatures? 

In the car I gave my usual stern lecture regarding how to behave in a restaurant and how if they didn't behave they would lose privledges and I would be angry (or angrier).  "OK - Can we keep reading?"  Once in the restaurant I suggested they choose their seat and wait quietly while I stand in line and order.  They run to our usual spot and slide in to the booth next to each other.  As I get in line, I look over expecting to see punching, scratching, hair pulling or crawling on, over, around or under the table.  But what to my wondering eyes do I see?  The two of them reading - E patiently, calmly, quietly helping F with the "hard" words.  I am amongst the greatest parents, EVER!

It might be a bad sign when the kids' "usual" is so unique (and mildly disgusting) that you are recognized for it.  (The usual is a cinnimon sugar bagel with strawberry cream cheese and - wait for it - sliced turkey.)  

Where Have I Been? What Have I Been Doing?

It's been about a week and much has happened, nothing of note on the employment front.  That is actually not true.  I am teaching at the U - Introduction to AutoCAD for Interior Designers.  The first day of class was shear brilliance.  I handed out the syllabus and laid down the rules and made the students chuckle a couple of times - 45 minutes, DONE!  Second day of class, not so glorious.  When I turned on my computer and opened the program all the menus, commands, buttons, etc. were gone.  I hate the way the U insists on having the absolutely most up to date versions.  Luckily, I have enough experience to just start right clicking on stuff until some familiar pops up.  Needless to say, I think I actually taught some stuff.  We will see when I go back tonight.

This past weekend I ran the City of Lakes 25K. It is a good tune-up for the Twin Cities Marathon in October.  I wanted to finish it in under 2 hours and have a faster half-marathon than my personal best.  Both goals achieved!  Final time - 1:59:42 (my watch said 1:59:14) and half marathon split 1:42:xx.  I ran to the start at Lake Harriet - two miles from home and then about another mile to the starting line, then of course I had to run back home after the race so I got in a nice long run all told.  The funniest part was running home with my commemorative mug in my hand.  This was the first race since I did the half-ironman in Door County. It amazes me how my body (and brain) didn't think twice about running for two+ hours, it seems like a short race after hammering for over five hours.  This should bode well for the marathon.

Now, I just have to find some full time employment.  Wish me luck!

What a difference a day makes

It is always easy to forget the adage that tomorrow will be better, especially when for the last six months my lack of employment has clouded my perceptions.  But boy, let me tell you, the last twenty-four hours have seen some radical improvements in aspects of my world.  (Unfortunately, not in the employment arena.)

Yesterday morning was cloudy, oppressively humid and warm (76 degrees at 5:30 AM) for this time of year (in my opinion). It was a running day and we ran three miles, were so sweaty and overheated and miserable (especially me) that I suggested we pack it in and get coffee.  So we did.  Yesterday was also the first day of school - F is in first grade and E is in third.  We got them on the bus with no problems and everyone was excited.  A went to mass with the kids and when she asked F how it was going his reply was "I hate it!  It's boring!"  A pointed out that he had been in school for all of an hour and a half and an hour of that was mass.

By noon the temp was about 80 and still humid but it started to rain.  In the span of about an hour and half the temp dropped 15 degrees and the humidity was cut in half. F came running off the bus yelling "SCHOOL IS AWESOME!"  I ran 17 1/2 miles this morning in perfect fall running weather - 50 degrees, sunny, breezy, low humidity.  And I start teaching this evening.  

What a difference a day makes.

First Day of School

Happy, Excited Kids waiting to get on the bus.  I wonder how long the joy will last.

Olympic Badness

Worst Olympic pun (that I have seen, at any rate) regarding Bryan Clay winning the decathlon: Clay achin' but brings home gold (thank you very little NBCOlympics.com)

Olympic Goodness Part IV

Online commentary during the Women's Basketball Gold Medal Game - "Australia's coming out tighter than their one-piece uniforms"

Olympic Goodness Part III

Second best name of the Olympics - Karen Cockburn (Canadian Trampoline)

(Anyone see a pattern in the names I find funny?)

OCD Here We Come

"Hey Elise.  How are you doing?"

"Good."

"What are you doing?"

"Sorting my clothes by color."

The Haunting

Grandma's Marathon continues to haunt me. Here is a wonderful picture of me at the end of the race about to be passed by someone's grandmother. To add insult to injury - check out her beautiful smile.

Geek Fest

I took A and F and A's friend I to the Star Wars exhibit at the Science Museum. The kids got introduced to the "phenomenon" playing Lego Star Wars on the neighbors Wii. We then rented the movies to watch over vacation so they knew what they were talking about in the video game and we have gotten some Star Wars Lego kits. So, what is the next step? That's right join the rest of the Star Wars crowd to worship movie models and costumes. It was a great exhibit and we went to the Imax movie on special effects (which was loved by all). We also waited for over an hour to "make the jump to lightspeed." It is a little five minute video and surround sound "ride" in a replica of the Millennium Falcon. Three bucks - cash only - exact change required. All in all a great way to kill the majority of a day.

I, of course, couldn't stop people watching. I saw so many fat, pale, socially awkward men and women. Many of them were married to each other and many had equally fat, pale, socially awkward kids. And there were a lot of Star Wars t-shirts, which of course breaks the cardinal rule of never wearing the t-shirt of the band you are going to see.

I would imagine we will be considering an R2-D2 costume for F for Halloween. I am trying to convince E that Jabba the Hut would be a great choice. She's not buying it.

More Olympic Goodness

Best name of anyone in the Olympics thus far. (Can you guess?) - Liam Tancock (British Swimmer)

Second best work by a color commentator: Again, at a beach volleyball game of May-Treanor and Walsh - "Keri and Misty are streaking." (Almost broke my neck turning to catch that on the TV.) Alas, he was referring to the 105 game winning streak they are on.

Olympic Goodness

Last night as the USA was a couple points from match point in beach volleyball.

"May and Walsh are pounding Norway like the North Sea."

Corral 1

So after surviving Grandma's Marathon - actually before it was even over - I decided to run the Twin Cities Marathon in October. I have to see if I learned anything from the first try. I found out CS is running it as well, which is a good thing because no one in the TTS 4 Bitches + 1 Dude Running Group (my most recent name for "the group") is doing it. Well, CS asked if I was in Corral 1 for the race (I know, it sounds like we are cattle.) Well, you have to qualify for it and I didn't think I was fast enough to qualify, but I looked into it. Turns out my second half marathon was under the qualifying time so I applied and got in. Wow - I guess I am a little faster than I realized. Hopefully, this is a sign of more good things to come.

The Omen

After MS's registration debacle at the Lifetime Fitness Tri I have been obsessively checking to make sure other friends are registered for their races.  CS is doing the Steelhead 70.3 in Benton Harbor, MI this weekend and I found a message on a tri group website that the bib numbers were out.  "Let's see what CS's number is."  Oh my god!  She is #666.  

Poor Choice of Name

Saw this sign in Door County.  Apparently, Bea had a different profession before she started canning and baking.

Lifetime Fitness Olympic Triathlon

I almost forgot my other race.  I will have to write up a report a little later.  Needless to say, it went very well.  The bike again proved to be my weak point, but the swim and run were good.  It was a good warm up for the HIM the next weekend and I was able to try out my nutrition and pacing plans.

I will expand on my experience here.

The Lifetime Fitness Triathlon 2007 was the spark that lit the fire that has become a little bit of a a fitness obsession for me.  To recap for those who don't know the story.  I was talked into doing the swim leg of a relay at the firm I worked at.  Everyone is afraid to swim but it got around that I swam in high school and college and eventually I was pressured into agreeing to swim the .9 mile Olympic course.  To be honest there wasn't a lot of pressure, but I really didn't want to get back in a pool - I was resistant, but lots of people said how fun it would be.  

Well, I swam on my own at the aquatic center and later found out that some friends of my wife were also doing this race.  So I hooked up with them for some open water lake swims to get ready.  My leg of the race went great and as I watched other people complete the full race, I knew I had to do the whole thing.  Which brings us to this year.

The fun started before the race even got underway.  MS and I go to the convention center to pick up our packets.  MS is not listed for her age group and distance.  Long story short - SHE FORGOT TO SIGN UP!  To make matters worse, when I get my packet I am in the 40 - 44 age group.  I don't turn 40 until December!  I am still 39, DAMN IT!

No MS makes me a little nervous.  This is only my second full tri and my first Olympic distance and timing and getting my transition area set up without an experienced friend made me anxious.  Luckily, CS was there.  CS is also known as "Sleeper Cell" because she is pretty laid back and unassuming, but surprisingly very fast and competitive.  CS lives a mile from the course so we decided I would just park at her house and we would bike to the race.  I get to her house in plenty of time, assemble my bike and proceed to make sure my tires are fully inflated.  I was struggling to pull the pump valve off the tire valve when the tire valve snapped off and the tire went completely flat. Son of a Bitch!  CS grabs some tire irons and an extra tube and I change the whole thing surprisingly fast.  I gave CS my extra tube so now that means I will be biking without a spare.  I was anxious about that but luckily nothing came of it.

CS and I are able to set up our transition areas in pretty close proximity.  I am feeling better that someone with experience was around if I forgot anything.  We spent some time wandering around looking for friends and getting a lay of the land and getting body marked.  We got our wetsuits on and went to watch the pros and elites start.  

Swim

I got in and warmed up and felt good and loose.  When it was time to get in our groups for the waves, I realized that we would be going off individually every three seconds.  Unexpected, but at least I wouldn't have to deal with a shallow water scrum like last year.  I line up to start and am feeling pretty calm.  I take off and immediately pass three people who were leisurely wading into the water in front of me.  The swim was so much better than the year before.  First of all, I swam in a straight line - that saved me a couple minutes right there.  Second, I could see where I was going.  It was partly cloudy so I didn't have to deal with the glare off the water that blinded me for the first leg of the swim last year.  I was getting into my groove, but as I started to come up to knots of swimmers from earlier waves I realized the water visibility was so bad that I was literally on top of some of them before I knew it.  To make matters worse, the wind picked up and caused a light chop.  It was no problem for me, but it slowed a lot of people down and made for some panicky looks from others.  I finished strong, passing a few more people as I got out of the water and ran up the beach.

Bike

My transition was OK.  Better than the sprint tri I did earlier in the summer, but I still struggled getting my wetsuit off my ankles and then I had to run in my bike shoes.  I took probably the most round about way to the bike out and mounted my bike rather inelegantly, but I was up and rolling.  I really wished I would have practiced getting into my bike shoes while they were attached, so I made a mental note to get that figured out by the next week's race. (See my race report on the Door County Tri to find out how that plan worked out.)  Not really much to say about the bike.    It was my weakest leg and I knew it.  I concentrated on maintaining a comfortable pace and eating and drinking enough.  I ate and drank every 15 minutes or so as planned and ended up finishing almost all the fluid and food I had brought without any trouble or discomfort. The course was very nice and I was actually surprised by the pace I was able to maintain. I did see LF on the course which was a lot of fun.  It is great to have fan support. Coming into T2 I was having a mental debate about trying to get out of my shoes while on the bike to run barefoot to my transition area.  I decided that since I had not practiced it (although I felt confident I could do it) that I wouldn't chance it.  I found myself again taking the longest possible route through the transition area.

Run

My transition, once I got to my spot, was fine.  It would have been great to not have to run in my bike shoes, but oh well.  I got into the run more quickly than I expected.  I had not done many "brick" workouts but I was surprised how fresh my legs felt.  I made sure to hold back for the first three miles.  My big fear was to go out too fast and blow up early.  It had warmed up but I had hydrated well on the bike and was able to go on quick sips at the water stops.  I picked it up pretty well on the second lap and felt strong throughout.  I found myself passing a few people who passed me earlier which is always encouraging.  The finish was uneventful and I came across the line alone, so I was hoping for at least a moderately flattering photo. Odds are against it though.

The race felt good and was a lot of fun.  I learned a lot of little things that I got to put into use the next week for the HIM race.  I hope I can do it again next year as I know I can chop off some pretty big chunks of time.  I also hope that my family will come out to watch.  Wandered aimlessly for quite a while waiting for friends to finish.  Ran into MS and family and friends and eventually found CS.  She had a great race and is ready for her HIM in Benton Harbor, MI.

Finnism

We were watching "Back To the Future" as a family last night and there is the part where Doc Brown explains that he got the plutonium from some Libyan terrorists.  F. looks over at me and asks, "Why don't we like the 'phibians?"

Door County Half Iron Distance Triathlon - Sunday, July 20th, 2008

I got to the race site very early. I was the first person to set up in transition. I have to say the whole race was well organized. The transition racks were labeled with each person’s number so there was no issue of space and bike placement. I clipped my shoes onto my bike – I had practiced all week getting into them on the fly and had gotten it down. (This after I tried to do the trick where you put your left foot in your shoe, give a couple of pushes with your right leg to get some momentum and then throw your right leg over your seat and fell - HARD. In front of my kids. I scraped up my palm and knee and had two massive bruises on my inner thighs.)  I put some powder in my bike shoes – too much powder, because they flipped over and dumped powder all over anything near them and continued to dump powder every time I bumped them.  It looked like I was smuggling cocaine across the peninsula and hiding my stash in my bike shoes.  I sat around after I set up and people-watched. There was a lot of bike porn rolling around, but you can’t buy speed, right? It was pretty interesting to see some of the real exotics out there. I ate my pre-race Clif bars and drank. Then decided it was time to hit the water.

Swim
The morning was very foggy. They had huge blaze orange buoys which was helpful, but it was still hard to see them from the beach. I got on my wet suit and after I saw at least one person wade out in the water I decided to go as well. I took two steps into the water and really wished I had sleeves - and I was only up to my ankles. The water was COLD! I continued to wade out and then the water hit my zipper. The water was F******G COLD! (Official report - 62 degrees.  Wetsuits required.) It is amazing how quickly you make friends with strangers in freezing cold water as you all exclaim how cold it is. I decided the only way to get over it was to get in and start swimming. Well, I ducked my head and, while it took my breath away for a second, I found I could still move and once I got swimming it wasn’t too bad. I got out and waited around for the start, but then decided I didn’t get too warm so I got back in the water and proceeded to start shivering. I got lined up in wave five. It was still hard to see those buoys – I figured it would be easier when I was out there.

The start was in knee high water so there was no sprint out. I took a wide angle to the first buoy – a sharp right turn – and avoided the melee of the first few hundred meters. I made the turn at the same time as only one other person from my wave. From there the swim went great. I continuously passed swimmers from the earlier waves and was not aware of being passed by anyone from my wave or later waves. The foggy weather and slight chop didn’t affect me and I felt strong and fresh the whole way. In retrospect I could probably have done it faster, but that bike was still looming ahead of me. I ended up 5th in my age group and 36th overall for the swim.

The swim out would prove to be the most exciting part of the race. The swim out was up a boat launch covered with carpet, actually a pretty nice water exit. As a “courtesy” the race had volunteers lined up along the sides of the ramp to help people out of their wet suits. Basically, the drill was to pull your wetsuit to your waist before you get up the ramp and then flop down and a volunteer would pull your wet suit the rest of the way off with your feet in the air. As I am running up the ramp waving volunteers off – I can pull off my own wetsuit, thank you – a participant flops down and a huge guy grabs his wet suit and proceeds to pull with all his weight back into traffic – namely me! He hip checks me and I go down in a full sprawl, rug-burn my elbow and scramble to my feet. Another volunteer apologizes and asks if I want help with my wetsuit – I say no thanks and run on.

Bike
I blaze through my transition, get my wetsuit off quick, helmet and sunglasses on, grab my bike off the rack with shoe powder flying (I am sure it looked like I was literally "smoking" out of the transition area) and run to the bike mount area. All of the practice to get into my shoes --was for shit. I had the worst time getting into those fricking shoes. But I did finally get into them as I was peddling and was off. The bike felt pretty good – I kept reminding myself that I would pass people and people would pass me and that was OK (thank you, Stuart Smalley.)  The course was rolling with a couple of pretty big hills, but I stayed within myself and kept thinking about the run and making sure I had enough left in my legs. Miles 30 to 39 were the longest miles EVER. They felt like they would never end. All the miles up to there seemed to just click right off and the miles after that seemed to pick up speed as well, but those ten miles in the middle seemed to be measured in a different dimens

ion – like the Twilight Zone. The bike-in was great, I got my feet out of my shoes no problem and got my running gear on and was off.

Run
The run felt great from the beginning. I kept very close tabs on my splits and made sure I didn’t go out too fast. I kept drinking and eating regularly and felt strong through out. I ran with an older guy for about half the race. His family kept coming by and they were really funny and he was a nice guy. Just after the halfway turn there was a fairly substantial hill. I geared down and got up it without too much trouble. The course flattened out and I picked up the pace for a few miles, then came “The Bluff”. The tag line for this race is “Can’t bluff the Bluff” 

and “Tough enough to conquer The Bluff” - how tough can it be, right? Well I was about to find out. At about mile nine you make a left turn and the volunteers say the bluff is right around the corner. Well, you run down a road and then make another left and there it is. This hill was steep to drive up, much less run up. To make matters worse, the road curves pretty tightly so you can’t see the end. (These pictures don't do it justice, but it was tough.)  I was determined to run up that fricking hill. So I geared down again and took running baby steps up that whole thing. I pretty much red-lined my heart rate monitor. When I got to the top I got a surprise. That’s right, another hill. It was nothing to write home about, but after the monster I just hoofed it up it was an unwelcome sight. It took me two miles to recover from slogging up that hill. My legs felt OK, but my lungs needed some time catching up. Those two miles made the run feel much longer. Then I was on my way to the finish. The last mile cuts through a golf course. Ah, to be riding in a golf cart and chasing a little white ball – and I hate golf. The finish is down a steep winding road. I tested my quads at the top and after a woman jetted by me I just let it go. I freewheeled down the hill hoping I wouldn’t have to stop fast or trip. At the bottom of the hill you have about 400 yards to the finish so I just went with the momentum. Everyone said I looked fresh and seemed to have a lot left at the finish, but I was pretty much on empty.  The race was over, I felt good - no Bataan Death March feeling like after the marathon - and I had a good showing for my first 70.3 dista

nce.  When I took my shoe off I realized I had slammed the big toe on my right foot so hard into the front of my shoe on the down hill that I damn near broke it - ouchy otter.

That cold water that was so painful five hours and twenty minutes earlier felt so good right after the finish. I hung out in the water up to my waist for about ten minutes with a few other finishers – again, cold water makes fast friends of strangers.

  

A Perfect Storm

Here is the transcript of an email I wrote to myself to keep from going crazy while on vacation:

The "Crazy" arrived today and I am already out of my mind. In the first four hours of "crazy's" arrival she recounted twice how she got beaned with a softball and cut her forehead. She went on to compliment the rather expensive sunglasses she got in Italy for saving her from more damage when in fact they are more than likely the source of the cut and more than likely she would have simply had a bump if she wasn't wearing them. Then she proceeded to warn one daughter about playing with a toy near her eye and the other about possibly splitting open her chin, again. To make matters worse, it is rainy and gross, I just ate a big dinner and I can't go for a run. My father in law is deaf and alternates by giving me updates of the weather or the various channels he has "discovered" on the cable TV. The kids are all playing together nicely - which is a good thing. Ann, "Crazy" and my mother in law are swapping stories of ailments, treatments and beauty procedures gone wrong. Actually, Ann isn't swapping much, but she is encouraging somewhat and listening, bless her heart. So I am hiding and getting anxious and edgy and wish I still drank so I could go for a full on stupor.  

The worst part of it is SHE NEVER SHUTS UP! She talks ALL THE FUCKING TIME! I need the weather to be nice so I can get the hell out of here.

Heaven help me.

Hillbilly No More

F. finally lost his remaining front tooth, which is a good thing because with it hanging out of his mouth he was looking a little like a Hillbilly.  (The red hands are not the bloody nightmare caused by losing his tooth, they are dye from tie-dying at the park program today.)

Finnism

"The most important part of your clothes is your underpants cause that is where your privates go."  No arguments there.

More thoughts on the marathon

Pro: Did not get bloody nipples.
Con: Could not get cool

Pro: Did not poop my pants
Con: Had to pee mid race and got stuck behind two slow folks at the port a johns so paced to keep moving – looked ridiculous

Pro: Calves don’t hurt
Con: Quads are so sore I actually dread walking down stairs.

Pro: Crossed the finish line running.
Con: Walked more than I anticipated.

Pro: Ran fastest 10K I ever have - 48:52 (the first 10K)*
Con: Ran slowest 10K I ever have – 1:11:01 (the last 10K)*

Pro: Can’t wait to run another one
Con: Sorry honey.

*I have never raced a 10K so these are the only 10K times I have.

Things to remember for the next marathon:

(“Sorry” to anyone reading this post, it is really more for my recollection and isn’t particularly entertaining.)

1) Don’t go out too fast. Really hold your enthusiasm in check for the first seven or so miles. I imagine it feeling like l am walking while all these other people are running past. It will pay dividends at the end.
2) Eat right before the start. I mean right before. A Clif Builder bar. It is what I ate every morning before every run, less than half an hour before we started.
3) Drink the electrolyte drink and the water more consistently during the race, especially if it is warm. Be willing to walk through the water stops to make sure you can get what you need.
4) Eat on the course. Set your watch to go off every 20 minutes and eat half a gel packet.
5) Use the salt tabs. Train to use these on runs to make sure I am getting enough electrolytes.
6) Wear “Todd” somewhere prominently so people will call out your name. It can get damn lonely out there.
7) Train to go fast at the end. During long runs especially, dramatically pick up the pace for the last two to three miles. I mean really push it.

A Different Beast

Well, I did it. I finished my first marathon, Grandma’s Marathon, on Saturday. First of all, I have to say thank you to my family for putting up with this hair-brained scheme. Secondly, I have to say thanks to M., L, E., and J. for letting me join their band of merry makers. Without you, I never would have been convinced that; a) a marathon would be a good idea, b) that I could complete it, and c) that training and the race would be fun. During training I raced a couple of half marathons, a 5K and did a sprint triathlon, but the full deal was a completely different beast.

The race did not go as I envisioned it, not at all due to training - because I finished the thing without injury - but due to rookie mistakes and weather. I admittedly had lofty goals going in, but they were all tempered by the acknowledgment that everything was up for reassessment on the starting line and any time during the race. The facts are: I went out too fast; I didn’t remember to use my gels consistently, probably didn’t drink enough electrolyte drink and was hammered by the sun. Recognizing all those factors I am extremely satisfied with my time of 4:03:02 (chip).

I found out a lot about myself and running a marathon. It certainly was a humbling experience. I have more respect for those people who run a marathon well. I also, learned that I have a high pain tolerance and willingness to tough it out. I can’t say I had any thoughts of dropping out. As long as I could run once in awhile between walking, I was determined to keep going. In the midst of it, it was a miserable experience – painful, frustrating, hot. Those last two miles felt like a Death March. But I finished running and never during or now, after, have I thought, “I will never run another marathon again.” It is a puzzle I am determined to keep working at – like the New York Times Sunday Crossword Puzzle. I know that I will never solve the whole thing, but it is fun to see how far you can get.

An Ode to My Father

My father loved to take pictures of flowers, so it was interesting when I found myself taking pictures of the roses that are growing near our driveway.  My dad documented a flower's beauty, I am documenting the fact that I actually kept these alive over the winter and they are thriving.  They are kind of my babies.  Here you go, dad.

Caged

So I have been training for a marathon for like a year.  OK, it's really only been about 16 weeks or so (thank you L.) but I started running about ten months ago.  When I started running and how long I have been training really has nothing to do with this post so just ignore the previous information.  Anyway, Grandma's Marathon is finally upon us (this Saturday).  I have done the training with a great group of gals (I'd call them "ladies", but the way they talk, they don't qualify), I have been working my own weight program and doing cross training (for some triathlons I am doing - more on that on another post) and now I am in the middle of tapering.  Oh and about two months ago I got laid off.  Now I feel like a caged animal.  Up to a few weeks ago, if I felt pent up or anxious, I could go lift or hop on my bike, or go for a run.  But not now, not this close to the big race.  It's driving me crazy!  The job search goes slow, or actually about as expected considering the amount of energy I have invested thus far.  I feel like I really should be doing more (again, that subject will be tackled in a future post.)

Someone let me out of this cage!

This Could Be a Long Summer

I certainly hope I have never made it sound like I think taking care of the kids is a piece of cake, but as I have found out in the last couple of days, it is damn hard work.  I am good with the day to day stuff - eating meals, getting dressed, teeth brushed, etc., but finding stuff to entertain them is hard to do especially when they have scheduled activities like tennis or swimming or soccer.  I am not a creative activity planner.  I feel guilty if they watch too much TV or play on the computer too long, but can't seem to find stuff for them to do to fill an hour or so between activities.

(Hold on a second, I have to hike up my skirt and touch up my lipstick.) 

There isn't a mother in history who has an ounce of sympathy for me, I know.  I certainly have to give A. more credit for keeping the kids occupied.  That, and I need to get a job soon, so I can get some rest.

Rockin' the New Computer

This is the first post on my new MacBook Pro.  I love it!  So quick and smooth and I can run Windows as well.  Too bad I lost so much information when my old laptop was stolen over the Memorial Day weekend.  I will try to post more often now.  So glad I don't have to share with the kids anymore.

R2-D2: Fashion Consultant

E. asked F. to help her pick out something to wear this morning (mind you - this has NEVER happened before). E. begrudgingly agreed after I pointed out he could dress her in the silliest outfit he could find. They were spending a lot of time in E's room and when I went to check on them, E. was holding up a potential ensemble and asked, "What about this?" F. replied "Boop, beep, boop, boop, beep." E. explained that R2-D2 was helping her figure out what to wear. F. replied "Boop, beep, beeeep." This is setting up to be a long, creative summer.

Mother's Day

Mother's Day is complete and I have been complimented many times, by A.  Apparently I bounced back from the disasters of years past.  So we went to dinner at Salut - kid friendly, crayons and white paper on the table - and to entertain F I proceeded to draw an arsenal of knives, swords, guns and grenades.  E got into the act and drew a bullet - it actually looked more like a lipstick.  Not to be outdone by my eight-year-old daughter I proceeded to draw a bullet as well.  After a few minutes of work - I showed my handiwork to my children and realized that I had drawn ... A VIBRATOR!