Inspiration

1. Bold in Boulder writes about the Denver LiveStrong Ride, which holds personal meaning for him; and

2. IronBenny writes the beginning of his epic recap: "I didn’t change on race day. I changed in the months leading up to it. I changed a little bit every day and race day was a culmination of those changes."

Worth reading.

All Iron

Our friend IronBenny [link fixed]was pretty busy today, participating (running? swimming? biking? racing?) in Ironman Arizona. His dear wife has been updating his blog all day. It's all very emotional and amazing. Last I checked, he was 10 miles out from the finish. Really outstanding job. Can't imagine it.

And in other amazing news: I ran 6.5 miles this afternoon. Took a nice fall during the first mile, but luckily it was on the nicely padded dirt berm along the side of the asphalt trail. As I was swan diving, ass over elbow, a lovely biker rode by, saw me, made eye contact, and continued on without so much as a "how's-your-uncle-bob." Nice. But all Bex- and iron-like, I got right back up and soldiered on, bloody knee, ripped tights, and all.

And last, but most assuredly not least, a great big boo-rah (or hoorah, or whatever it is the marines say) to a. maria who completed the St. Louis Half-Marathon today, in a great time, and now is all set for her sub-5 marathon, and thus, is now all iron, too!

Life is good, people!

Oh, My Aching Bunions

After this morning's lovely 60-minute run in the rain (which by the way, was not exactly the "rolling hills" we were promised; more like one giant hill down for 30 minutes and then, you guessed it, back up for 30 minutes, but which I ran the whole ENTIRE WAY, despite a wild night of contra dancing*, like the pro that I am, even if I did come in last in my group, I wasn't too far behind), the DC Road Runners brought in a very knowledgeable chiropractor and his sports masseuse to talk about shoes, and stretching, spines, and feet. Yes, it's all about the feet.

We got to talk to him one-on-one afterwards. It was just like having a doctor at a dinner party, who you can pester and bother for free advice. I whipped my shoes and socks off so fast he never knew what hit him. "Take a look at these babies," I urged him, pointing to the giant blisters on the sides of both feet. The blisters I saw the podiatrist about on Tuesday. "Oh," said Dr. Chiropractor, "looks like you've got bunions forming."

Hello? What? Bunions??

I can't possibly have bunions. Only old people have bunions. What the hell is a bunion anyway. I told Dr. Chiro that I just saw the podiatrist on Tuesday, and he said NOT one word about bunions! Dr. Chiro was taken aback. He was mighty sure these were bunions. He showed me how my big toes are not straight. He explained just by watching how I stand that I am—I dunno, standing all f'd up, to compensate for the bunions that I refuse to have. Which throws off my gait. And leads to ITB problems, knee problems, back problems. All of which I have.

This really does look a lot like my foot. Except for the gross toe-crossing thing.

According to Dr. Internet, bunions are "painful swellings that usually develop on the inner side of the foot near the base of the first toe (hallux)." Often genetic (thanks, Mom!); usually found in women; thought also to be caused by high heels (I've been wearing flats since I could walk), or flat feet (I am very proud of my lovely high arches). So, I have these disgusting bumps and they rub against my shoe and that's why I get the blisters. Gross. I think feet are gross in general (except when they are the subject of art.)

No real treatment, except surgery in extreme cases (that would be when your big toe eventually curls itself over the ones next to it), but surgery generally results in limited range of motion, and no more running. (According to my specialist, Dr. Internet. Apparently, I need to check this out.)

I'm deformed. And doomed.

*On a lighter note, I was dragged off to contra dancing last night, held at the lovely Spanish Ballroom at Glen Echo park. I say dragged because I'm more of a swing dance girl actually. Big bands. Benny Goodman. Tommy Dorsey. Glenn Miller. Contra dancing? What is that? "Against" dancing? I don't get the name. But off I went, because, despite my deformities, I'm a good sport.

Turns out, contra dancing is quite aerobic! And fun! And the music is cool. Lots of Irish influence. Live band. Each dance lasts for oh, an eternity. Like 15 minutes at least. You get a partner and you are with that person for the entirety of the dance. Well, of course, you say, what else would you expect? But in contra dancing, there's all this moving up and down the line, and do-se-do-ing, and being swung, and you'd think in all that time, at some point, you would permanently switch partners.

But no. Which I generally wouldn't mind. Except, well, you know. Fifteen minutes. That can be a lifetime.


There is also, apparently, a dress code, at least for women: tie-dyed hippie skirt, clunky shoes with black socks (to help with all those bunions, no doubt), preferably topped with a t-shirt about global warming or saving the whales. (I don't think there were a lot of Republicans in the room.)

Anywho, I had loads of fun. One of my friends brought her pedometer with her, and discovered she'd taken 7,000 steps in the course of three dances. I believed her. I had to leave early, though, in order to rest my bunions.

Good Luck!

A. Maria is running a half on Sunday, despite an appalling lack of freaking-out details on her site. What gives? Maybe all the people I started this journey with have become confident, strong runners?? Hoo-rah!

And Danny will be running an 8k this weekend. Good luck!

Bex finally crossed the finish line of the National Marathon (on her blog) with an awesome time. AWESOME. A time I would kill for. She's got post-marathon blues, or somethin'. Go give her epic recap a read.

And me? I have a l'il old 60-minute training run tomorrow morning with the D.C. Road Runners. I've really only run with them three times, due to travelling, or my big giant race last weekend. I'm sure you are all sick of hearing about me and my endless running neuroses, so, let's try it the George Costanza way: just do/say the complete opposite of what you'd normally do/say! Here goes: I'm totally 100 percent certain I can run 60 minutes tomorrow morning.

Happy trails.

Stanford vs. Washington

Here's a clip of thte last 450m of the 2006 Stanford/Washington race at Redwood Shores as the Stanford men's varsity eight defeat the University of Washington Husky varsity for the first time ever, shot from near the finish line referee position
(Here's the link in case you can't see anything below, like me, on the Powerbook):



Amazing finish!!

(And why do we care? Number One Daughter's boyfriend rows for Stanford. Huzzah! File under: bragging.)

Sick of running? Learn more about rowing.

You Know What?

I am still high from running ten miles. I seriously, honestly do not care that I was slow. I'm sure that—baring injury—I'll get faster, eventually. (For those of you just tuning in: I was a hard-core run/walker for most of last year. Which worked just great! Now I'm trying to just run.)

I was afraid. I didn't think I could do it. I whined and moaned and came up with perfectly rational reasons why not to. I convinced my friends—and coach!—and most of you in blogland that I should NOT run this race (damn, I'm persuasive).

So what did I learn? I felt great during the run, high as a kite after, still feel good now, plus I feel so much more confident, it makes me think that I can (should) try other things that I also don't think I can do. Like run a half. Or a full marathon. Or break my 5K time. Or sprout wings and fly away ... Or grow up and be preside ...

But how about ... things like playing handbells with the Celtic Bell Ringers. I can't do that either! I don't read music, I suffer anxiety attacks, I'm terrified of making a mistake, and I could never, ever, ever perform in front of anyone.

But heh. I'm doing that too. And loving it.

Oh, I also can't, not in 100 years, do a 90-minute, 120 degree Bikram class. No way. Except ... yeah, I'm doing that, too. And liking it.

And a meditation group? Where you first share your most personal thoughts? Out Loud? Where you—dare I say it?—pray for each other? Out Loud? And then sit in silence for 30 minutes? Yep, I can do that, too.

So what did I learn on Sunday? To push myself. I can do more than I think I can. And I bet you can, too.

News Flash: Complimenting Commenter Is a Real Person!!

Since I'm a journalist (of sorts), I want to get this correction to my complimenting post out there as quickly as possible. (This came as a comment, but I wanted to make sure everyone saw it):

I hate to burst your bubble a little, but I'm real. This came from my noggin to my fingers across a keyboard. I'm glad that you enjoyed it though. It makes me happy.

Far from bursting my bubble, it inflated it even more. If that's possible. Go now, and get your own personal compliment!

(The OK GO video is real, though. I promise. Insane, but real.)

OK Go

One of my favorite bands that you've never heard of:
"A Million Ways" by OK Go




From their new album, "Oh No"

They crack me up.

Just Your Typical Training Run

I decided to do a little training run this morning—just me and 9,999 of my closest personal friends—for a little thing we like to call the Cherry Blossom 10 Mile Run!! (Late add: More photos.)

Unofficial time: 1:57:49, or 11:42 min./mile pace.

Splits:
1 & 2: 24:09 (no sense rushing a training run)
3: 12:17 (across the Memorial Bridge)
4: 11:37 (whoo-hee)
5&6: 24:07 (slow and steady does not win the race, but it lets you finish)
7: 12:13 (By now I'm pretty sure I can do this)
8: 11:37 (this is where it gets good)
9: 11:15 (oh so cocky!)
10:10:30 (my favorite pace to finish a race! and look at the direction of the last three miles!! Negative splits!!

[Note: blogger ate most of this post. Lucky you.]

My only goal was to finish without walking. Preferably under two hours. My strategy: Run for 30 minutes. Rinse, repeat. Don't walk until mile seven and only if you have to. Didn't have to.

I lined up, I saw my marathon partners from last summer. We chatted. They were run/walking. I so hope I beat them. (God, I'm bad.)

The day was perfect. Steve Runner of Pheddipidations regaled me for the first 55 minutes with tales of the Boston Marathon on his latest podcast. After that, my favorite boys ran me in. Man, they make me laugh.

What did I do right? It's possible that maybe I prepared well (except for the running thing). On Saturday, I hydrated like crazy; ate enough; had spaghetti for dinner (take out; this is how lazy I am. Oh, and when I got home from walking across the street to pick up my take-out spaghetti, the first thing I did? I tripped in my teensy tiny kitchen, landing hard on my right knee and wrist, and wrenching my shoulder. Ouchie. But the spaghetti was OK). Got to bed at 9, and slept soundly 'til 3:30 (which was really 2:30). Tossed and turned 'til 5 a.m. (really 4 a.m.); had oatmeal to make sure that thing happened (it did NOT). Drove to the Metro stop near my church, where I parked, took Metro, and then a shuttle bus to the start.

After, I met up with Nancy Toby and Holly and their friend, Keri, who I accidentally ran the Jingle Bell 10K with. (Btw, go look at Nancy's photos, they are much better.)

Afterwards, took the shuttle back to Metro and strolled into church (they had doughnuts; I was really hungry), covered in sweat and salt with my torn running tights. I honestly think no one noticed.

For your amusement:
Runners rushing around to board shuttle at 6:30 a.m. That, or someone sucks at taking pictures.

Sun coming up over the Jefferson Memorial.

The main attraction.

Random race people.

The real Cherry Blossoms: (l-r) Nancy, me, Holly, Keri.

***
P.S.
My favorite race instructions are here; I guess it would have been OK to pee on the other monuments?

Insert 5 Cents, Receive Compliment

Are you feeling down? Not enough people in your life telling you how great you are?? Well, never fear, the Complimenting Commenter is here.

Just sign up and you'll get an e-mail much like this:

Hello!

Spring is upon us. The sky is going to be blue, the sun shining, and the birds will chirp. In this time of change and beginning remember that you are a wonderful human being. You have capabilities beyond measure. Use what you have inside of you and be a positive influence on others. Great things are possible when you attempt them.

I believe that the world is becoming a brighter place and that you help contribute to that. Do what you can for others and be a good human being whenever possible.

As always you can save, delete, forward, respond, whatever, to this email.

The Complimenting Commenter

I don't care that a computer generated this. I don't care that this is not from a real person. All I can say is: This hit the spot today.