Top 10 memorable moments of my trip to San Francisco

30. July 2014 · 7 comments · Categories: running, sweet treats, Uncategorized, vacation · Tags: , , , , , , , , , ,

I really do have so much I want to share and while I will do a more in-depth recap of the San Francisco Marathon/Half Marathon itself I thought I’d share these top 10 memorable moments (and they are in no specific order).

1. Staying with Valerie and her family on their houseboat in Sausalito.

First of all Valerie and her hubby, son and cats couldn’t have been more fun and gracious to stay with. Hotels are overrated (and overpriced). Valerie spent much of the weekend being the “ferry princess” shuttling us to and from the dock to catch our boat. She baked up a batch of yummy chocolate chip-banana-almond muffins and gluten free chocolate chip cookies that were OUT OF THIS WORLD! I looked forward to a cookie and the Nespresso machine each morning. The deck of the houseboat was so peaceful and relaxing to sit out on. I enjoyed the perks of the guest quarters including her foam roller #runners. The “front yards” along the block dock were so colorful with blooms of all kinds and there was an amazing deli that I returned to for the same sandwich 2 days in a row.

Some of the neighbor's colorful "front yards"

Some of the neighbor’s colorful “front yards”

Gus the cool cat

Gus the cool cat

Gus

Gus

high tide made the entrance another HILL!

high tide made the entrance to the house another HILL!

sausalito

deck view

The Surfin Bird....my new favorite sandwich

The Surfin Bird….my new favorite sandwich

Valerie reading my blog

Valerie reading my blog one morning at breakfast

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2. Meeting Shane, The Silent Assasin!

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Shakeouts and Shakas

27. July 2014 · 1 comment · Categories: running, Uncategorized, vacation · Tags: , , , , ,

This morning was the shakeout run lead by Bart Yasso. Yeah, yeah, yeah, Bart might me running royalty but I think I was more giddy to finally meet The Silent Assassin (a.k.a. Shane)

Shakeout Shaka! Photo courtesy of TSA

Shakeout Shaka! Photo courtesy of TSA

Making friends across the country via blogging and running is so cool. Then meeting them and feeling like you have always known them is a bonus 🙂

We did 3 easy miles and then hit up the expo so Valerie could pick up her first ever full marathon bib!

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I took advantage of this photo op while at the expo too!

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The rest of the day has been low key. Just relaxing “houseboat style” and getting ready to head out at 4:30am. We will start running at 6:00am. I’m hoping for a super amazing sunrise.
In the meantime I’m just gonna enjoy the view and the company and some chocolate. life is good!

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What has made you happy today?

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My Body Warned Me

21. July 2014 · 3 comments · Categories: injury, labradoodle, running · Tags: , , , ,

So I really wanted to title this post My Body Failed Me but I know that it gave me signs and I guess I just needed to hear them better.

I ran 5 miles today and with every step I felt that annoying pain up the outside of my calf and almost behind my knee and even mild pain on the outside of my foot where the tendonitis originated as I crossed the finish line of the NJ Marathon almost 3 months ago. (Seriously….I feel like a broken record and I must be boring y’all with this constant injury mumbo jumbo)

This photo brought to you by the color Turquoise and the dog breed Labradoodle

This photo brought to you by the color turquoise and the dog breed Labradoodle

Anyway, I still managed to enjoy the run despite the pain and just started to think about how I got here and how I plan to move forward in the healing process. First thing on the agenda when I return from San Francisco is finding a new primary care doc who specializes in sports medicine =) I’m thinking of adding acupuncture to the mix and perhaps another hiatus from running as well. In September I need to be 100% healthy because I’ve got lots of stuff planned for the fall Including Ragnar Napa and 3 half marathons. I pray that the 4 weeks of August are all I need to banish this tendonitis once and for all.

After the run Duncan and I picked up my friend Lisa for a 3 mile walk down by the beach. Poor Doodle had to ride in the back seat. Not his style. He prefers shot-gun. But he’s a gentleman and let Lisa ride up front =)

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apparently there was a sand castle building event the day before….

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Oh, and yesterday I officially kicked off my car shopping experience by test driving a couple of vehicles…

10537886_10204262090854125_8444971321129783332_nI’m leaning toward the Subaru Forester…

Do you have a car? What kind? Do you love it?

 

 

 

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Long run progress buried underneath a lot of Jeep pictures

14. July 2014 · 7 comments · Categories: Uncategorized · Tags: ,

I can’t believe it’s Monday 🙁

This weekend sure was a whirlwind after my Jeep’s breakdown Saturday. I had to cancel some plans to visit a friend who lives out of town and I went through a whole lot of emotional crap as I slowly got myself used to the idea that I might have to just stop pouring the bucks into my Jeep and look into buying or leasing something new(er). I’m sure you’ve all had some object that you’ve just grown so attached to. (humor me so I don’t feel like a dweeb). Well this Jeep is like my soulmate and she’s so symbolic of how far I’ve come since the hubby died. This was the first vehicle I bought on my own. I haggled for 4 hours at the dealership to get the price I wanted. I was so proud of myself.

And Duncan only knows this car.

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Dear Jeepie: I will always love you even if I junk you or trade you in for a few cents. Love, me.

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OK enough about that. I’m getting a little ridiculous now! Yesterday, since I was vehicle-less, my dear running peeps Lisa and Mike came to Staten Island and we ran 10 miles here in my ‘hood. It was hot and humid and even rained on us some. We did 9 and 1 run/walk intervals. Overall pace was 11:47 but the running intervals were more in the range of 10s which is GREAT for me as I haven’t run 10s since the injury. And this was the longest distance and my first double digit run since the injury as well. I’m gettin’ there! I returned home soaked and sore but after a shower and some foam rolling and tennis ball massaging my ankle/foot feels pretty decent.

Next week is going to be my last long run where I hope to hit 13-15. I’m STILL not decided on whether or not I’m going to run the full or the half. Frankly, as I’ve said before I’ll have to speak to someone at the EXPO and see what my options are. I’m sort shifting into the mindset of less pressure and just half it. Oh the suspense!!!!!

Don’t you just love reading blogs written by indecisive, overly sentimental running, chicks?

OK, tell me….do you have some object you are sentimentally attached to? 

 

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