Running

OK, so maybe I'm not totally over my time addiction.

But you can blame the kind people at Timex IronMan iControl, who sent me this to review:



I had 8 miles on the schedule this morning, and I was hooking up with my 10-mile training group who are unofficially training for a half. Only their half—cleverly—is in March—2008. While mine is in three weeks. And next week, I am going to an exotic secret location—to be revealed later—where I somehow don't think I'll be doing any running.

So, let's do the math, cuz we know that's my strong point:
Week of November 18: Will run 4 on Monday, 4 on Wednesday, then travel to exotic secret location, returning Monday morning, November 26.

Week of November 26: Will do a 9-mile long run.

Week of December 2: Long run will be 13.1 miles.

I want to curl into the fetal position and suck my thumb.

Anyhoo, as I was saying, the Timex peeps sent me their iPod watch thing to test. I was running late this morning, and managed to get it out of the box but didn't have time to set up the iPod bit (yes, I know, that's the EASY part).

So I ran my 8 miles using their trusty watch. And I can report that the watch worked fine, but the buttons were a little unresponsive. Plus I couldn't figure out how to save my workout. Maybe it gets saved automagically?

The group was doing 6 miles today, and they were running along the C&O canal towpath, which is flat and pebbly. We met where the C&O towpath connects with my beloved Capital Crescent Trail. When I asked if anyone was up for the Crescent Trail, I was met with a round of "no's"—because the CCT is every so slightly uphill, all the way to its end, a million miles away in Silver Spring.

What to do?

I went with my instincts, and the group went with theirs. Yes, the CCT is uphill going out, but it's oh-so-gloriously downhill coming back.

I've been feeling good lately. Feeling strong. Eating well. Training every single day. Yet I woke up with a slightly upset stomach. By .5 miles into this I wanted to quit. My legs felt like lead. I was hot in the 41F cold. I cursed the day I started swimming. To get better at running, I asked myself, you need to do what again? Could the answer possibly be RUN???

Sigh.

5.5 miles of today's run was dedicated to Ryan Shay, so that got me through most of it. Steve Runner got me through the rest.

And the Timex Ironman iControl (full review to come!) got a workout. Thankfully I had no stomach issues on the run, and equally thankfully, I took wore the damn belt and carried my own water.

So here's the breakdown:
Mile 1: 11:20
2: 11:20
3: 11:07 (I always say it takes your body 3 miles before it realizes it's even out of bed)
4: 11:18
5: 11:25
6: 11:17
7: 11:22
8: 10:55

Total: 1:30

I was pleased because no bathroom issues, I didn't puke, and I only took two scheduled walk breaks. And I think maybe, just maybe, all my swimming, biking, and spinning are making me stronger.

And, I didn't quit. Even though I felt like it many, many times.

I did end up with Runner's Headache, a malady I have apparently invented, and spent a good part of the day sleeping. I think I have Excessive Exercise Syndrome (EES).

Anyone care to guess where I'm headed next week?

Nutrition Smackdown! Quote of the Day! Other Stuff!

Phedip vs. BlogFather Smackdown

Complete Running is hosting a fascinating debate between Mark the Blogfather, and Steve Runner of Phedippidations podcast fame about marathon and long-run nutrition-ing (new word). Lots of weirdness goin' on over there.

Today's Quote

A year from now you will wish you had started today.
- Karen Lamb

No freakin' kidding! How about tomorrow. Tomorrow I will wish I'd started today.

Five Weird Things

OK, someone wanted to know five weird things about me.

1. I can't remember who though. I am horrible with real people and names, nevermind blog people! People. Have a heart.

2. I never ever ever ever buy or use paper towels. Or napkins. And when such things were part of Number One Daughter's life, diapers. Always cloth. Saving trees, and all that.

3. I must always be near an open window. Even in the dead of winter.

4. Except at work, where I don't actually have a window, so there I have a heater on at all times, even in the dead of summer.

5. I adore the clothes from the 40's and if I could get away with it, (which I can't, I'd just look weird), I would dress the part every day.

6. I totally hate that gloves for women went out of style. Did I mention I have a germ phobia?

7. Ditto hats. We should all be wearing hats. I luuurrrrrve hats.

8. So this is more a list about things I prefer, not actual weirdnesses.

9. Oh, here's one: I sleep in a crib. Sort of. OK, it's a daybed, twin-sized (what else?), but it has 3 walls. Add one more and well, it really would be a crib. But it's cozy!

10. Nothing tastes as good as soy yogurt with crumbled up graham crackers.

11. I refuse to pay $1.25 to use the dryer.

12. I take my oatmeal like a man—straight up, plain. Explains the hair on my chest.

My Boston Marathon 2007!

When last we left her, our heroine was struggling with a broken head and extreme sleep deprivation. I soon realized that, Jeanne, you could do this kind of hair-brained no-sleep thing when you were 20, but not so much at 50!!

On Marathon Monday (4/16) I was up early, feeling hungover, chomping at the bit, ready to GO GO GO!!! I wanted plans, maps, cameras. What to wear? When to leave? Synchronize your watches people! I was so determined not to miss Dianna and jeff! Or Michelle, who was orchestrating the whole support train, along with April Anne.

I think I finally drove R. to distraction asking her advice about weather, when we should leave, wasn't it time to leave yet, etc. You'd have thought (or maybe you ARE thinking) that I was running this thing. As if! I decided it was easier just to wear everything I owned. (At 7:30 a.m., in Boston proper where I was located, the wind was howling and the rain pelting.) Unfortunately, at the very same time I was reporting "apocalyptic" weather conditions to Runner Susan, jeff was phoning in with the news that the weather looked great! Low winds, slightly misty ... conditions=perfect! (Next time let's get our story straight people!)

We made it to the first checkpoint, Checkpoint Happy Swallow Tavern (or something like that) in Framingham, mile 7, at 10:30 and hung around waiting.

Mistake one: As the first press truck passed by, I assumed it was tracking the the elite men, and that I had missed seeing them by mere seconds.

Mistake two: As the second press truck passed by, I glanced up and saw that THOSE WERE THE ELITE MEN. The first truck was following the wheelchair leaders. So I missed THAT photo, too. Sigh.

But I did manage to get myself together enough to get a shot of some of the women's leaders:

(If you're interested: #7: Russian Lyubov Denisova—finishing in 7th place for women overall, in 2:38:00
#50: Californian Mary A. Akor—finishing in 11th place for women overall in 2:41:01
#61 Californian Christine H. Lundy—finishing in 12th place for women overall, in 2:41:14.)

We finally caught up with Michele and entourage: Di's parents, husband, Michele and her husband, and called each other (on cell phones) from across the street. We dashed back and forth a few times trying not to bump into runners, and the tension mounted!

(I also want to give a shout-out here to SteveRunner of Phedippidations, who did a great job, and who I was also hoping to see! And my Spinning Instructor! But, I missed them both. Story of my life.)

Finally, Jason spotted them, and trusty R. got the money photo! Several of them! We didn't know it at the time, but those were the only photos we'd get of them running.

Three cars raced to mile 13 (OK, it's entirely possible that we stopped at Dunkin' Donuts on the way, but only for a minute!). Alas, somehow they were too fast for us and we missed them.

It was on to the finish! Michelle and entourage hung at mile 25ish, and R. and I hung right past the finish, but as usual, I managed to watch both Dianna and jeff pass right by me (in my defense, it was a little crowded).

(Just past the finish, where I missed seeing Dianna and jeff.)

(Some random finishers.)

We assembled at the assigned meeting place, and anxiously awaited the arrival of the rockstars:

(Thank God for cell phones! Michelle's husband, Michelle coordinating, April Anne, and R.).

(The delightful April Anne and Michelle)

(Does this look like a woman who just ran a marathon? In 3:22??)

(The team, and since I took these photos, of course, I missed Jason. Sigh.)

And that my friends, concludes this year's edition of my Boston Marathon Epic Spectator Report. Thanks for letting me ride on your coattails for three posts, Dianna and jeff!