Hi All,

It’s 8pm on Thursday evening here in my neck of the woods and i’m tired. I’m always tired at this time of night.

I set my alarm for 5:30am this morning with the big idea that I’d take care of the pup and then getting out the door for a run at 6:30am to beat the heat and give myself enough time to leisurely get ready for my busy day.

So 5:30am the alarm went off and I snoozed it for a solid hour! That’s all it allows, so then I just lay in bed procrastinating the inevitable. Next thing you know it was 7am. I took the dog for a walk and beat myself up for a bit while having my coffee and finally got out the door for my run at 8:30.

Good news is the Garmin resurrected itself and I ran a few seconds faster than snails pace. I’m getting my groove back!

While running I realized that my “Hours of Operation” these days seems to be 8am to 8pm. I am just so groggy each morning and turn into a pumpkin somewhere between 8pm and 9pm. Is this what being 40 is all about? Or maybe it’s my diet that contains more carbs, sugar and caffeine than it should? Whatever it is I’m kinda bummed that I don’t have the stamina to stay up late like I used to. So I’ll try and keep my daily living wild and crazy between the hours of 8am and 8pm LOL! (well, with the exception of early rise for races and running group runs).

After my run, I showered and had a quick bite and then it was off to our local dog park. I used to take Duncan all the time but after he was attacked by another dog and left with a wound that required a big staple to close it I have frequented much less. But today was an exciting day. The National Geographic Channel had a film crew filming the dogs for a show. (not sure exactly but I think they said for a show called Crowd Control).

photo: Wolfe’s Pond Dog Run’s Facebook Group page

I entered the park and went all the way to the fence and plopped down on a bench with the doodle by my side. I was a nervous wreck.

photo: Wolfe’s Pond Dog Run’s Facebook Group page

That’s me in the far right in the purple shirt. And I’m sure you recognize Duncan =)

There were SO many dogs and all I could do was remember Duncan’s cries when he was attacked right at my feet. Yep, I think I’ll always have PTSD over that. We stayed out of the way of the main action and eventually Duncan went to the gate and gave me a look. So we left. As soon as we did he found a private area and pooped! How funny! My boy didn’t want to poop on camera. =)

Next up was physical therapy. I was put in a different room today. New posters to look at on the wall.

 and my favorite heat and electrotherapy combo…

Turns out I only get one more treatment before I’m on my own. The timing seems right as I really have come a long way. And with $50 copays each visit I’m sort of happy that I’m only going one more time =)

After physical therapy I took Duncan in the woods. This was actually more for me than him. I was off today but bombarded with work emails….each one worse than the next. Errors and unhappy clients and miscommunications and just a bunch of Debbie Downer crap. New rule: NEVER read work emails on days off because it just ruins me. I was so cranky and anxiety was creeping in. I just needed to go somewhere peaceful where the cell reception is spotty so no emails would interrupt me. HA!

 Duncan appreciated my need for tranquility. He LOVES the woods. He has such a great life. I’m a tad jealous (save for having to poop outdoors).

Then I saw this on the ground….

Is this a sign that I should be questioning life? liberty? the pursuit of happiness? Or maybe it wasn’t meant for me. I’m not the only one who’s pooped by 8pm…

like mother like furrkid

Well, no fighting it…I’m off to bed…

Do you find yourself more fatigued than you used to be in the evenings? Are you a morning person or a night owl? what are your “hours of operation?” 

I was just going over my flight itinerary with my sister in law so she could make sure she was available to get me to and from the airport and watch the doodlebug while I’m in San Francisco for marathon weekend and while I had my calendar out I counted the days….36 left!

I’m still trying to wrap my head around the fact that I’ll be running either a half marathon or a full having practically no training. (I’ll basically have 3 weeks of training and 1 week of taper!) Here’s the plan I pulled out of my ass head that will start on 7/1 (plus i’ll be biking for the rest of June and “running” the Queens 10k tomorrow):

Week 1:     Tues – 3 miles easy • Thursday-5 miles tempo • Saturday-8 miles easy • Sunday – bike
Week 2:     Tues – 4 miles easy • Thursday – 6 miles tempo • Saturday 10 miles easy • Sunday -bike
Week 3:     Tues – 3 miles easy • Thursday 7 miles tempo • Saturday 12 miles easy • Sunday – bike
Week 4:     Tues – 3 miles easy • Thursday 3 miles easy • Friday – shakeout run • Sunday –  MARATHON!

This should be plenty to get me through an easy paced half…..and if i’m crazy enough to stick with the full I’ll let you know how that goes. =)

Yesterday I attended the International Franchise Expo here in New York City at the Javits Center (where the NYC Marathon expo is held) The ad agency I work for does their print advertising and on-site materials, so our team decided to take a field trip there and check it out.

getting ready to check it out

I’m holding the show directory—I designed the cover. Yeah I’m a total nerd!

I often dream about just opening a Dunkin Donuts somewhere. There were hundreds of franchises exhibiting but we were on a mission to check out all the food franchise exhibitors first! We started with llaollao the BEST frozen yogurt I’ve ever had.

seriously delicious

I approve!

I had the mango sauce and my life is changed forever!

llaollao — the fastest growing european franchise in the fro yo market

Then we checked out House of Cupcakes. The couple that started this franchise were the season 2 winners of the Food Network’s Cupcake Wars.

sampled the merchandise

There were beverage franchises too…

This definitely gave me food for thought. (ha! get it?!) Do I want to be my own boss? Do I want to buy a franchise? Hmmmm!

my wonderful coworkers!

This morning Duncan and I went down to participate in the Walk to Defeat ALS. The team I joined to help support is a family very dear to me.

#defeatALS #findacure

The team raised a total of $1,700, more than double their goal. It’s quite the reality-check when your friend tells you his mom was just diagnosed with ALS. It makes me really think twice about crying a river over some tendonitis. Life is so unpredictable and our days are not guaranteed. Someone once told me (or maybe I read it somewhere) that we are all terminal…..we are all going to die some day but we don’t know when. That’s why it’s so important to make the most of each day we have. I take these moments to remind myself of that.

After the walk I headed straight to my brother’s house for a family get together to celebrate a bunch of stuff. The only important thing you need to know is that I had 2 of these cupcakes made by a friend of my sister-in-laws

Irish Car Bombs!

In addition to some booze in the batter there was a hidden nugget of chocolate ganáche in the center….to die for!

Well it’s getting late and i’ve got my alarm set for half past the cows ass (or 4:30am) since I’m running that 10K in Queens tomorrow. There will be some pickup of running peeps in Brooklyn at 6:30am and then we’ll head to the start. Race starts at 8am. But again, I’m just so excited to run with my peeps and allow my legs to enjoy a few more “preview” running miles!

Hope you’re having a super Saturday night (or Sunday if you’re in a different hemisphere =)

Ah man! With National Running Day, then National Donut Day, now I want to celebrate more!!! Let’s just celebrate that I made it in to work today 😉

It’s Monday and it’s raining and I got to bed really late (we’re talking 3am!) after going out with friends to a concert last night.

Sevendust @ the Starland Ballroom — Photo @ C. Cerzosie

But I had my coffee so I’ll live 🙂

Ironically it’s the travel mug I got when I “graduated” from physical therapy last time I had ankle tendonitis. I need to go back! Hoping foot doc says I can when I see her on Wednesday. I remember this stage all too well. The foot is like 80 percent better but it needs some deep massage, ultrasound treatment and strengthening now more than ever. And I hope they still give these mugs as graduation gifts because it’s the only one that never leaks on me. I’d love to get a second. 

Duncan wasn’t thrilled with this rainy Monday either.

Yesterday I got in another 8.5 miles on the bike. Apparently i was on a peaceful bike route 🙂

Bike path for peace!

While I was riding I passed this parked car:

eyelashes on the headlights. LOL!

Yes, those are eyelashes on the headlights of this car. Hysterical!

It was a real summer day yesterday with temps in the 80s so after my bike ride I decided to wash the car. It was so dirty I was embarrassed to take it to a car wash.

Duncan was just chillin’ in the shade enjoying the mist from the hose as it floated his way.

Ah! Life IS good!

Not to mention since I didn’t get all the dead bees off from that crazy experience a couple of weeks ago I had to pull out the big guns to remove them buggers from the headlights and grill.

Well today makes 30 days without running. I go back to the foot doc on Wednesday. I’m hoping she lets me ease back into running. I’m in the bargaining stage. Just let me run 1X per week for the next 2 weeks so I can complete the two 10Ks I’ve registered for! =)

Did you have coffee yet today? Are you a coffee drinker?

Anyone else only get 4 hours of sleep last night?

Any National Holiday that we can celebrate today? 

Happy Friday! And happy National Donut Day!! Not gonna lie this might even be better than National Running Day. It’s also Flashback Friday which made me think back to May of 2011, when my running peeps and I did Ragnar (Relay) New England from Connecticut to Boston mainly because of this pic.

Hello Massachussets

I needed a donut after literally running across the state border from Connecticut to Massachussets. And you know there are only a few million Dunkin Donuts in Massachusetts right?!

about to step into Massachussets

Last night my running friend Elvia came to sleep over. She had a two-day seminar that’s right near my house so after the first day was complete she arrived at my house and her first order of business was to take a selfie with Duncan.

Cheese! Thanks Elvia for the photo.

Then we went to the park and she ran 5 miles while I biked along side. I did an extra mile as I would go ahead and then back track here and there. I didn’t get much of a cardio workout in but I kept it in high gear and toughed it up the hills for a nice burn on those thighs. After, we hit up Panera Bread for some dinner and then after chit chatting a bit hit the sack. We got up at 5:15 this morning and went back to the same park. But I swapped the bike for Duncan so Duncan and I walked and ELVIA ran another 3.

Duncan would get so excited to see Elvia every time she lapped us.

It’s always so much easier to get up early when you have a partner in crime. It was nice to have some mid-week fun with Elvia and she was grateful to have a place to crash so she wouldn’t have to sit in so much traffic traveling to and from her seminar.

Oh, and I forgot to tell you….yesterday I coaxed a pal into going to IHOP with me as I wanted to try their blueberry cannoli pancakes.

They weren’t that good 🙁 The “cannoli cream” was just a dollop of ricotta cheese on top. Eh. I’ve had better. Next time I’ll try the Jelly Donut ones…

I’m excited for another super-chill weekend with a superb forecast for the next 2 days too. Although I can’t believe how this 40 year old is getting so many aches and pains lately. I’m assuming that biking is just awakening muscles that have been dormant for awhile. First it was the front of my quad up toward the groin, then today i started to feel a pinched nerve in the back of my neck/shoulder blade area. Right at this very moment I’m sort of stuck only able to look straight ahead. I think I lean forward too much on the handlebars of the bike….and I know I’m still tense so that’s probably where that came from. I’ve been trying to steer clear of any and all pain maskers (like advil or tylenol) just to be in tune with how the tendonitis is doing (which I have to say is really WAY better!!!!) but I’ll try and have a glass or two 3 of wine tonight and maybe use a heating pad or something. If I remain so creeky we’re going to have to change this blog to Decrepit Runner or Dilapidated Runner or maybe Ache Out the small stuff.

So what’s going on this weekend?

Anyone doing anything fun?

Who’s stressed?

Who’s got weird aches and pains? Tell me…