I’m up! I’m up!

09. September 2014 · 2 comments · Categories: running · Tags: , , ,

Set the alarm for 6am so that I could run 4 miles before work. Somehow lately I’ve been sleeping right through my alarm. I think my hand knows how to push the snooze before the 8 minute interval is up. Well this morning it was the smallest, but most annoying chirp that woke me.

photo 2

The battery in my carbon monoxide detecter needs to be replaced. Who ever has replacement 9-volts? Not me! I’ve got 2 dozen AA batteries though…sigh! I actually remember doing a project when I worked at Scholastic about fire safety and they always suggest changing smoke and carbon monoxide detector batteries when you turn the clocks forward/backward (That would be April and November).

Anyway, I thanked the First Alert for getting me out of bed and set out for my run. First I had to devise a plan to remove the doodle from my lap. Eventually I remembered the magic words “Duncan, do you want a cookie?”. Unfortunately my legs felt super heavy and while the weather was lovely and cool I just wasn’t feeling it. So I cut it short at 3 miles instead of 4 and used my bonus 10 minutes to stretch and foam roll while catching up with Duncan (he says life is good!).

photo 3

 

Well I better go get ready for work. Don’t forget to stop by my blend (blogger friend) Shane’s blog to wish him a happy birthday today! Dude is 6 weeks older than me but that also makes him wiser =) Happy Birthday Shane! Mahalo!

 

How are you feeling today?

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Autism Speaks 4 Miles of Hope

07. September 2014 · 6 comments · Categories: running, Uncategorized · Tags: ,

Happy Saturday!

Hope you’re having a fun weekend.

This morning I set out at 5:15 am for the city to run the Autism Speaks 4 Miles of Hope event in Central Park.

Autism Speaks 4 Miles of Hope

I’m a member of the New York Road Runner’s Club and if we run 9 of their races during the course of the year, and volunteer for 1 race we get guaranteed entry into the NYC Marathon for the following year. I’m not sure yet if I want to run it again (I have run it twice), but I might as well work toward getting entry and then I can decide later on. Today’s race marks the 6th race. I’ve got 1 scheduled for October, 1 for November and one for December and I just signed up to volunteer to give out race bibs one day next month. So I’m on track to complete the 9+1 requirement.

Mike and Lisa (two of my Ragnar teammates) were coming into the city to run their first of 2 runs today so we met up on the corner of 77th and Central Park West and they met Forest(er) for the first time.

Ragnar-mates

Ragnar-mates

It was my first time driving the new wheels over my favorite bridge and into the city.

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My favorite bridge

And ironically I was parked in the Subaru Forester section. An older version was parked right in front of me.

photo 3-1

We ran about a mile and a half to where I had to pick up my race bib.

photo 2-1

one of the volunteers must have had a lot of time on their hands. They pinned 4 safety pins together and left little groupings. So you just had to grab one. =)

Then we met up with Marlon, a running peep who I’d never actually met in person before. He had the infamous Ragnar bag that’s been in our little relay running family for the last few years. Its’ got all the safety items like reflective vests and headlamps and fun things like soap crayons for decorating the outside of the van. I ended up running the entire race with Marlon which was great (thanks for the company Marlon!!). New stories to share and encouragement to keep me going through another hazy, hot and humid day. And a decent (for me) finish time.

finishtime

After the race and a quick stop for iced coffee I headed home and jumped right in the shower. Then I grabbed the doodle and we went to my friend’s picnic.

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Hey Ma! They’ve got some good chicken. You should get a piece for yourself (and share with your dog…)

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Doodle loves to stand on picnic tables

We both had some kickin’ chicken….

And now I’m chillin’ on the sofa and watching some classic movies….Fools Rush In, then When Harry Met Sally and now Love Actually. Ahhh! I’m so happy to have nothing on the agenda tonight. (well I’ve got a ton of sweaty running clothes to wash but that can wait until tomorrow).

That’s it for now. Catch ya later…

What are your favorite types of movie? Did you run today? How far? How do you deal with sweaty running clothes? Any special detergent?

 

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Hazy, hot and humid and I ran twice today

06. September 2014 · 1 comment · Categories: desserts, running · Tags: , , , ,

Just proud of myself for sticking to my plan.

My first two-a-day was a success even with some hot summer sun blazing down.

Like the brain surgeon that I am I waited until it was the hottest part of the day to head out for my first leg. I remembered how rough it was yesterday afternoon running 4 miles without water so today I took a bottle and amazingly drank the entire thing! 16.9 oz in 45 min.

ragnar training

rule #1: hydrate!!!

I felt a little stronger than yesterday but in general my speed just isn’t there these days. I always laugh when I say speed. Because for me that is 9-10 minutes per mile. Not to be confused with Meb speed (4-5 min per mile).

After my first run I came home to a lovely package. It was the tshirts for our Ragnar team! Perfect timing!

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Custom Ink

I tried to recreate the Ragnar experience so I didn’t shower between runs. =) I was excited though because as i finished my first run I stopped the iPod right at the beginning of one of my favorite songs. One Shot by Eminem. So I knew I’d get a push at the beginning of my second run.

The second run happened in the early evening, just before a thunderstorm. The dew point was 75! If you know anything about dew points then basically my sweat couldn’t evaporate. It wasn’t fun.

Run 2!

Rule #2: Hydrate some more!

My sweat was sweet though! That’s because I ate way too much of this homemade chocolate chip bundt cake today. Like 3/4 of the cake too much. #serious

chocolate chip bundt cake

I made this little gem all by myself!

Tomorrow morning I’m running that 4 miler in Central Park and then I think I’ll give myself a cross-training day on Sunday.

Have you ever run twice in one day? Have you experienced a dew point of 70 or higher?
Ever eat an entire cake in a 24-hour period? Or am I the only nut?

 

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Two a days start tomorrow and my ragnar legs

04. September 2014 · 1 comment · Categories: running, Uncategorized · Tags: , ,

With Ragnar Napa just 2 weeks away, I was planning on starting my “two a day” runs today but stuff came up and I’m only going to be able to go out once today. But tomorrow I have the day off which will make it easy peasy to get two runs in. I’m going to try and keep each run to 4 miles each. So between today and Saturday I’ll get in 4 runs and a total of 16 miles.

Our team captain Lisa created an amazing spread sheet for us so we can see the distances we’re running and the approximate times we’ll be running them as well as how many hours off in between legs we’ll have …

So out of 36 legs I’ll be running leg 6, 12, 18, 24, 30 and the final leg to the finish line!

my "sexy" Ragnar Legs

my “sexy” Ragnar Legs

This is my favorite part in any training journey….when I’m just weeks away and can start getting pumped. Woo hoo!

Oh, and in honor of #TBT and it being the first day of school here in my neck-o-the-woods I share with you my first day of kindergarten pic. (circa 1977 or 1978)

itty bitty sweat out the small stuff

itty bitty sweat out the small stuff

How do you handle races?

Do you like to plan every detail or just show up at the starting line and “wing it”? 

I am a super detail planner. 

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