Monday, June 18, 2007
Runnin' fools
After a good run on Friday........Sunday came around :-(
But between Friday and Sunday was Saturday and Saturday was Green Lakes Tri day :-) Wen and I decided to bring the dogs out and spend the morning watching people expend lots of energy. I have done Green Lakes twice - never fast, always waaaaaaay back of the pack. Okay, middle of the pack out of the water :-). I then spent the bike and run leg watching people pass me and then I finished back of the pack. If only the race ended after the swim...... I thought watching the race, I might be wistfully yearning, wishing I was in the race. Nope. Didn't have one iota of yearn in my body. I was just thankful that I wasn't out there. It was great to watch everyone. Even though it is 'just' a sprint tri, it is still an awesome accomplishment for everyone who finishes. One thing that struck Wen and I was how some people just dilly-dallied in the transitions. I am not one to pass judgement on any of them - they were out there and I sure wasn't but it was clear that time wasn't a huge consideration for some of them. I mean, I was slow but never in transition. I needed all the time I could get in the various legs :-)
Back to Sunday's run. We were going to call an audible on 3.5 or 4 miles when the time came. Our goal was an easy 12 m/m and to enjoy ourselves. Well, I called 3.5 at the 1 mile mark and we struggled to make our (easy!) time. I felt like I was running in water up to my thighs. I wanted to quit every half mile. Both Wen and I struggled mightily with that run. Cosmo had no problem. We did 3.5 at a 11:48 m/m pace and that was with a huge final quarter mile, almost vomit-inducing push to keep it under 12. Pathetic.
We met this morning to run 3 and I was dreading it after yesterday. Surprise, surprise, it wasn't bad. I felt good. No idea of time because I forgot to bring my watch but it was good. Again, Cosmo had no problem with it :-)
But between Friday and Sunday was Saturday and Saturday was Green Lakes Tri day :-) Wen and I decided to bring the dogs out and spend the morning watching people expend lots of energy. I have done Green Lakes twice - never fast, always waaaaaaay back of the pack. Okay, middle of the pack out of the water :-). I then spent the bike and run leg watching people pass me and then I finished back of the pack. If only the race ended after the swim...... I thought watching the race, I might be wistfully yearning, wishing I was in the race. Nope. Didn't have one iota of yearn in my body. I was just thankful that I wasn't out there. It was great to watch everyone. Even though it is 'just' a sprint tri, it is still an awesome accomplishment for everyone who finishes. One thing that struck Wen and I was how some people just dilly-dallied in the transitions. I am not one to pass judgement on any of them - they were out there and I sure wasn't but it was clear that time wasn't a huge consideration for some of them. I mean, I was slow but never in transition. I needed all the time I could get in the various legs :-)
Back to Sunday's run. We were going to call an audible on 3.5 or 4 miles when the time came. Our goal was an easy 12 m/m and to enjoy ourselves. Well, I called 3.5 at the 1 mile mark and we struggled to make our (easy!) time. I felt like I was running in water up to my thighs. I wanted to quit every half mile. Both Wen and I struggled mightily with that run. Cosmo had no problem. We did 3.5 at a 11:48 m/m pace and that was with a huge final quarter mile, almost vomit-inducing push to keep it under 12. Pathetic.
We met this morning to run 3 and I was dreading it after yesterday. Surprise, surprise, it wasn't bad. I felt good. No idea of time because I forgot to bring my watch but it was good. Again, Cosmo had no problem with it :-)
Friday, June 15, 2007
A Little Progress
Because W had plans for later today, we met early to run. She was without dogs because she came straight from work, so it was just the 3 of us. We did 3 miles in 32:25, a 10:48 m/m. We both thought it was hard but maintainable and just slightly out of our comfort zone - it probably was technically a 'tempo' run. I managed to stay upright the whole time and the trail was blessedly lightly populated - no loose dogs. Weather was beautiful - sunshine, breezy and high sixties. Can't get any better than that. Gonna keep working on getting that time down though. We will get faster yet.
Tomorrow we are heading out to Green Lakes to watch the triathlon. I am so so happy, happy beyond belief, that I am not doing it this year :-) My weekend run will be Sunday morning - probably a slow 3.5/4 miler with Cosmo - Bridg is out of town this weekend :-(
Tomorrow we are heading out to Green Lakes to watch the triathlon. I am so so happy, happy beyond belief, that I am not doing it this year :-) My weekend run will be Sunday morning - probably a slow 3.5/4 miler with Cosmo - Bridg is out of town this weekend :-(
Thursday, June 14, 2007
Hit the dirt running
Every Monday, Wednesday and Friday morning, I meet W, and her two dogs, Wil and T'bo (of dogsitting fame) at the local park to run. It has been working out really well for me. No thinking, no contemplating, no 'do I really want to run this morning?' kvetching. It is a standing appointment and I show up without thinking about it. With the warmer weather, mornings are definitely the only time I can run with Cosmo. Then I try to do a long, slow run on Saturdays with Bridg.
So, I am happy with myself in the 'discipline' department. Yea!
Yesterday, we meet up. She is running sans dogs - her husb fed them too late. Me, Cosmo and W - the only ones hitting the trail that a.m. The trail we run is 4 miles out and back with mileage markers every .25 miles. Lately we run out 1.5, turn around and head back for a total of 3. We hope to add a quarter mile each week - upping our mileage nice and easy for her dogs who haven't been running for years like Momo.
We set off - at a pretty fast pace (for us. Remember, everything is relative). We were able to step it up without her dogs. First .25 down, under 11 m/m pace (remember? I said everything is relative! :-)). Second quarter mile, cruising right along, feeling good, we hear someone warn us from behind. It is always appreciated when someone makes it known in advance they are going to pass you. Unfortunately, in our area, very few people's vocabularies include the phrase, 'on your left'. But this old feller, well, he was one of the good ones. He did the right thing. I slow down, shorten Cosmo's lead, start moving over to the right and I feel it. I feel the little bobble of my right ankle as it catches the edge of the pavement. I have slowed down a lot though, so I think I might be able to recover. I take about 4 steps and I start to go down. Left knee, left hand, boom. Where are all my right appendages? I don't know. Next to hit are the boobs. In essence, I swan-dived into the dirt. I hit them puppies hard. The old guy on the bike in horrified. W is horrified. Cosmo is bored - he has seen this too many times. Nothing is hurt, I reassure bike man that he is not at fault and I am fine. W, Cos and I walk a little bit (with me grabbing and rubbing my chest and trying to get the dirt out of my sports bra) and then we continue running. W informs me that everytime I fall, it makes her relive the time I took a header off my bike and almost rolled down a cliff because she stopped short in front of me.
Cosmo decides to poop at the .75 mile mark.
We run out to our turn around and head back. Still keeping a good pace (remember the relative thing?) for us.
On the way back, around the corner comes this loose, mid-sized black mixed breed, followed shortly by a man. I HATE OFF-LEASH DOGS. WE HAVE A LEASH LAW IN OUR COMMUNITY AND OUR PARKS.
Me: Would you leash your dog, please. My guy was attacked once by an off leash dog and he is scared of loose dogs now.
(I have decided I have no problem lying to people who don't leash their dogs. I will tell them mine are dog aggressive, fearful, whatever.)
Him: Oh, she wouldn't hurt a fly.
Visual: To make my lie seem truthful, I am making a big show of keeping myself between Cosmo and the loose dog, who is now circling us. Of course, all Cosmo wants to do is sniff loose dog's butt. I don't know why he won't play act and go along with the scenario!
Internal thought process: You bastard! I tell you my dog is scared and you could care less. WTF?
Me: He doesn't know your dog won't hurt him!
Man (now walking past us): *mutter, mutter, mutter*
Me: What did you say? There is a leash law, you know!
Man: *mutter, mutter, mutter*
As we start running again, W makes the point to me that the paved trail we run is only about 6-7 feet wide and is very curvy. Some cyclist or rollerblader could easily come around a curve and have an accident with that dog running loose on the trail. The whole incident ticked me off. Hey, there is nothing I would love more than to be able to walk my dogs off leash, have them running around me, having a great time. I understand why people want to do it. But it isn't responsible or safe. And it isn't legal around here.
Happily, despite all the drama, we end the run wiped out. I estimated (with the fall, poop stop and jerky, off leash man) we did just under an 11 m/m, probably about 10:52 m/m. Fast for us, but maintainable. We both thought it was hard but we didn't feel 100% stressed. Cosmo didn't think much about it one way or the other. For a change, it was nice to go out and push a little bit. We tend to run slower with her dogs because they, well, honestly, they are slow greyhounds. LOL Nah, not really. They are just new to the running thing and still getting acclimatized.
So, I am happy with myself in the 'discipline' department. Yea!
Yesterday, we meet up. She is running sans dogs - her husb fed them too late. Me, Cosmo and W - the only ones hitting the trail that a.m. The trail we run is 4 miles out and back with mileage markers every .25 miles. Lately we run out 1.5, turn around and head back for a total of 3. We hope to add a quarter mile each week - upping our mileage nice and easy for her dogs who haven't been running for years like Momo.
We set off - at a pretty fast pace (for us. Remember, everything is relative). We were able to step it up without her dogs. First .25 down, under 11 m/m pace (remember? I said everything is relative! :-)). Second quarter mile, cruising right along, feeling good, we hear someone warn us from behind. It is always appreciated when someone makes it known in advance they are going to pass you. Unfortunately, in our area, very few people's vocabularies include the phrase, 'on your left'. But this old feller, well, he was one of the good ones. He did the right thing. I slow down, shorten Cosmo's lead, start moving over to the right and I feel it. I feel the little bobble of my right ankle as it catches the edge of the pavement. I have slowed down a lot though, so I think I might be able to recover. I take about 4 steps and I start to go down. Left knee, left hand, boom. Where are all my right appendages? I don't know. Next to hit are the boobs. In essence, I swan-dived into the dirt. I hit them puppies hard. The old guy on the bike in horrified. W is horrified. Cosmo is bored - he has seen this too many times. Nothing is hurt, I reassure bike man that he is not at fault and I am fine. W, Cos and I walk a little bit (with me grabbing and rubbing my chest and trying to get the dirt out of my sports bra) and then we continue running. W informs me that everytime I fall, it makes her relive the time I took a header off my bike and almost rolled down a cliff because she stopped short in front of me.
Cosmo decides to poop at the .75 mile mark.
We run out to our turn around and head back. Still keeping a good pace (remember the relative thing?) for us.
On the way back, around the corner comes this loose, mid-sized black mixed breed, followed shortly by a man. I HATE OFF-LEASH DOGS. WE HAVE A LEASH LAW IN OUR COMMUNITY AND OUR PARKS.
Me: Would you leash your dog, please. My guy was attacked once by an off leash dog and he is scared of loose dogs now.
(I have decided I have no problem lying to people who don't leash their dogs. I will tell them mine are dog aggressive, fearful, whatever.)
Him: Oh, she wouldn't hurt a fly.
Visual: To make my lie seem truthful, I am making a big show of keeping myself between Cosmo and the loose dog, who is now circling us. Of course, all Cosmo wants to do is sniff loose dog's butt. I don't know why he won't play act and go along with the scenario!
Internal thought process: You bastard! I tell you my dog is scared and you could care less. WTF?
Me: He doesn't know your dog won't hurt him!
Man (now walking past us): *mutter, mutter, mutter*
Me: What did you say? There is a leash law, you know!
Man: *mutter, mutter, mutter*
As we start running again, W makes the point to me that the paved trail we run is only about 6-7 feet wide and is very curvy. Some cyclist or rollerblader could easily come around a curve and have an accident with that dog running loose on the trail. The whole incident ticked me off. Hey, there is nothing I would love more than to be able to walk my dogs off leash, have them running around me, having a great time. I understand why people want to do it. But it isn't responsible or safe. And it isn't legal around here.
Happily, despite all the drama, we end the run wiped out. I estimated (with the fall, poop stop and jerky, off leash man) we did just under an 11 m/m, probably about 10:52 m/m. Fast for us, but maintainable. We both thought it was hard but we didn't feel 100% stressed. Cosmo didn't think much about it one way or the other. For a change, it was nice to go out and push a little bit. We tend to run slower with her dogs because they, well, honestly, they are slow greyhounds. LOL Nah, not really. They are just new to the running thing and still getting acclimatized.
Monday, June 11, 2007
Link-a-rama
Meet Link.
No, not this Linc (although, how cool and old school was Mod Squad?! And what a cool name for a dog!)
But this Link, our newest foster.
We were told he was a relaxed, laid back, easy going boy. Famous last words. He is anything but. He is a great, affectionate, funny guy but laid back isn't in his description. He is the type of dog that will be lying in the living while you are in the kitchen. You open a cupboard. He jumps up, runs into the kitchen full speed, sliding the last 15 feet until he body slams up against your legs. He then looks up at you and says (his face is very expressionable as you can see from the above picture :-)), 'huh, huh, what's going on?, got something for me?, whatcha doin'?, whatcha got?, let me see, let's do something, lets go, go, go, go, take me with you, take me anywhereeeeeeeeeeeeee......!'
He was in a foster home in Fl. and he already has a new permanent home lined up so his stay with us will be brief. He is on the smaller side for a male, especially as it seems all the males are so big now. He is pretty scarred up, nothing particularly heinous but just lots of little ones. Makes sense if he charged his way through his kennel life like he does here at home LOL. And both his ears are gnawed but he is a real pretty and sweet boy. His family is going to be lucky to have him.
The local group met the haul down in Pennsylvania and brought Link and 3 other dogs up. We gave them a few minutes to stretch their legs and take a potty break in my backyard.
My two were very curious about the strangers in their backyard!
Thursday, June 07, 2007
Whatevah.......
My experience has been that runners are a very supportive group* and don't buy into this kind of divisiveness. I much prefer this line of thinking:
The difference between a jogger and a runner is an entry blank. ~George Sheehan ...
*As long as you line up appropriately pace-wise at races. Even slow people like me get ticked having to dodge around thousands of walkers :-)
The difference between a jogger and a runner is an entry blank. ~George Sheehan ...
*As long as you line up appropriately pace-wise at races. Even slow people like me get ticked having to dodge around thousands of walkers :-)
Friday, June 01, 2007
Pfffffffftttttttttttttttttttt!!!
I started running in 2003. I have ran numerous races, completed two sprint triathlons. What has this gotten me? Am I faster? Nope. Thinner? Nope.
Since my return from my little, two week long, self-imposed running-in-bad-weather boycott in April, I have studiously avoided timing myself.
Today, the scheduled run was to be 2.75, at the park with our three running mates (one human, two dogs). A call early this morning informed me we would be running alone as the human stepped on a nail yesterday, was sore, and visiting the doctor today.
I decided to run 3. And I decided to time it.
When we got to the trailhead, Cosmo didn't want to leave the parking lot. He kept stalling and looking around for the rest of the group. Sorry bud, I am all you got today. He wasn't happy.
As usual, first quarter mile consisted of both a pee and a poop break (for Cosmo - not me). When I reached the distance marker, I looked down.....Holy slug-a-moley, Batman. 3:46. Yep, a 15 m/m pace. Even with the breaks......I was stunned and a little downhearted. Why not freaking walk? But we continued on and stopped looking at the watch. We ended our 3 miles with a time of 35:49. Thank goodness for being a shade under a 12 m/m. Over a 12 m/m pace would have been a real blow especially since I felt I was working my a$$ off.
When I first started running, I thought to myself, all I wanted was to be able to go out, run 3 miles in 30 minutes. I didn't think it was asking much. 4 years later, I still haven't done it. My fastest 5k race time was 31:59 - a 10:20 mile. That was 2 years ago and I haven't gotten close to my 10 m/m since. And, I am beginning to think that result might be bogus because it was an uncertified race and in recent years the course (a different one than the one I ran, but still.....) has been short.
Monday - 2.75
Wednesday - 2.75
Friday - 3
Saturday - subbing for the run group at the Y. We will do 8 minute run/2 minute walk for 4 times. I hope I can keep up with the beginner runners. If you think I am joking, just recheck those times above.
I will not have the opportunity to run again until probably Thursday as I am going out of town for a few days starting Sunday. I am heading to NYC to move my daughter into her new apartment. I am sure I will have lots of stories from that - it is a 6th floor walkup and it is just her and me doing the moving.
I got The Raw Food Detox Diet by Natalia Rose out of the library. So did Bridg. She is thinking about doing it to improve her health. I am thinking about doing it to lose weight. Goodness knows my calorie counting routine isn't working :-)
Since my return from my little, two week long, self-imposed running-in-bad-weather boycott in April, I have studiously avoided timing myself.
Today, the scheduled run was to be 2.75, at the park with our three running mates (one human, two dogs). A call early this morning informed me we would be running alone as the human stepped on a nail yesterday, was sore, and visiting the doctor today.
I decided to run 3. And I decided to time it.
When we got to the trailhead, Cosmo didn't want to leave the parking lot. He kept stalling and looking around for the rest of the group. Sorry bud, I am all you got today. He wasn't happy.
As usual, first quarter mile consisted of both a pee and a poop break (for Cosmo - not me). When I reached the distance marker, I looked down.....Holy slug-a-moley, Batman. 3:46. Yep, a 15 m/m pace. Even with the breaks......I was stunned and a little downhearted. Why not freaking walk? But we continued on and stopped looking at the watch. We ended our 3 miles with a time of 35:49. Thank goodness for being a shade under a 12 m/m. Over a 12 m/m pace would have been a real blow especially since I felt I was working my a$$ off.
When I first started running, I thought to myself, all I wanted was to be able to go out, run 3 miles in 30 minutes. I didn't think it was asking much. 4 years later, I still haven't done it. My fastest 5k race time was 31:59 - a 10:20 mile. That was 2 years ago and I haven't gotten close to my 10 m/m since. And, I am beginning to think that result might be bogus because it was an uncertified race and in recent years the course (a different one than the one I ran, but still.....) has been short.
Monday - 2.75
Wednesday - 2.75
Friday - 3
Saturday - subbing for the run group at the Y. We will do 8 minute run/2 minute walk for 4 times. I hope I can keep up with the beginner runners. If you think I am joking, just recheck those times above.
I will not have the opportunity to run again until probably Thursday as I am going out of town for a few days starting Sunday. I am heading to NYC to move my daughter into her new apartment. I am sure I will have lots of stories from that - it is a 6th floor walkup and it is just her and me doing the moving.
I got The Raw Food Detox Diet by Natalia Rose out of the library. So did Bridg. She is thinking about doing it to improve her health. I am thinking about doing it to lose weight. Goodness knows my calorie counting routine isn't working :-)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
