Training, Train, Plane

It's a weekend of a long run, sand between the toes, and guilty pleasures reading.  To this end, I've downloaded the last of the Divergent series books by Veronica Roth.  I finished the first one over three airports and two flights and the second one last weekend between two panels of knitting.  [Obviously, the knitting knocks me out of the target audience group.]

Both titles were quick reads and the stories were easy to fall into.  It will be interesting to see what Allegiant holds (though I am betting on Tris to do something solo and irrational). Ms. Roth's blog says she likes puns, trains, and Chicago.  That's a trilogy after my own heart.

42K

I believe I was under the residual influence of the ten minutes of "Yes Man" that I watched last Thursday while on the treadmill when I agreed to an hour long boot camp experience after my five-mile run.  I was still thawing out during our warm up so it wasn't until we were greeted with the workout, Sabados Caliente, that I knew I was in trouble.  I have worked my way through enough Duolingo to translate most of the items however I did get the opportunity to ask "cómo se dice 'vomit'?" to our coach before the set "C" workout.  [It's important to take every opportunity to increase one's vocabulary.]

At the end of the workout while cooling down over foam rollers [a love/hate relationship], I did get the chance to talk about books.  While I was trying to reign in my breath, another gentleman was recommending "Leading with the Heart" by Mike Krzyzewski.  Our household enjoyed sports and Coach K was always headlining discussions while I still lived at home.  I've added this to my list for inspiration since I also managed to agree to a LONG distance run in the fall.

A Running Joke

3 weekends, 4 races, 1 photo

Last year I said I would never again run two consecutive half-marathons.  It was tiring, it was mentally draining and I didn't have much fun.  Also, it was tiring.  (That point needed a second mentioning.)  I ran one more race after the last half (a hot 10k) and then tried my legs at water-skiing only to find that after a few times up, my legs still weren't warmed up enough for a side split.  

[Pause for physical therapy]

When I started running again, I found myself surrounded by the most amazing group of people who didn't care how long it took me to run a mile or four.  They knew my emergency contacts and talked me through breathing exercises as I began like I did in 2006, one step at a time barely moving.  

[Winter interlude and a crazy girls' trip with a half marathon]

I was running and laughing.  I found that time wasn't the focus, it was the friendships.  Slowly over the odd beer and training runs, I found my March and April heavily scheduled and I spent more time at home, running with people I loved and admired.  I had already selected my goal race, but under the influence of reading water and friends who are Iron Athletes, I signed up for a few more races.  "Training runs" they were called. 

I ran the first "training run" in the pouring rain side by side with a pacer so I wouldn't go out too fast.  With a mile to go, I felt like I had a little left so I ran ahead and when I had crossed the finished line, I saw that I had beat my best time (PR) by one minute.  I had not set out to do this but I suppose the lure of getting rid of the soaking wet shoes was too great.  

I ran my HILLY goal race with the sole aim of beating my 2013 time.  I did this by nearly five minutes and shaved another minute off the previous weekend.  With the help of one of my dear friends pacing me, I have a new PR.

So this weekend's agenda was back to back races for a 32.6 mile challenge.  Saturday morning I was excited but Saturday afternoon I did reflect that racing decisions made over reading water are perhaps not the most sound idea. I finished both, pacing a friend yesterday to her first half in a year, and scoring a rather nice beer stein for the accomplishment of dual racing.

This morning, I'm still riding a little runner's high.  I don't feel terribly bad, just extremely thirsty, after the three week adventure.

I'm not a "race report" kind of girl, but my point, in writing this, is "never say never" kids.  

You are stronger (and crazier) than you think you are.

Field of Diamonds in the Sky

Friday photos on Saturday.  Welcome to the dry weather after the half-marathon deluge.  I knew I'd stay with my pacer when she asked me about the last two books I read.

Hope you are having a great Saturday!

Whip It Real Good

Tonight I'm extremely grateful to GBC T1m and K1m for having given me a whipped cream dispenser.  This will be paired with strawberry pie planned as reward for finishing today's half marathon.  [Side note:  one person's "flat" is another's "rolling hills".]

Tomorrow will be spent in part in a comfortable chair, reading and drinking coffee.  I might even make hot chocolate as an excuse to have more whipped cream.

I am a lucky girl.  Hope you each have had a lovely weekend.

I Tri-ed #240

Today's writing has been briefly delayed by a triathlon and a long nap.  I'm fairly certain this is the most supportive book club in the history of all book clubs.  I thank you from the bottom of my heart.

Things I learned today that were not in any of the books I read in prepping for the day:

• You might awake to pouring rain.  In this case, one should go back inside to apply sunscreen.  If you don't, your back might look like a Rubin vase
• Timing chip = left side
• Sometimes life doesn't give you a warm-up.
• When your alarm is set for 4, you will awake at 3 and start thinking about the swim
• You may accidentally end up in a faster swim heat
• Despite being better than average at math and having keen memorization skills for numbers, you will forget where your bike should be racked
• There are no instructions for removing your neighbor's handlebars from your back wheel spokes
• You will smile when a 10 year old passes you
• You will smile when you pass an 18 year old
• You may forget to drink water on the bike
• You will hug the first person you see when you cross the finish line.  Thankfully, I happened to know the person removing my timing chip so it wasn't so strange.
• The body markings are a challenge to remove.

So here's to tri-ing something new, setting goals, facing fears, and being just a little bit crazy.  Have a great weekend!

Spinning My Wheels

If the material did not have keywords such as DNA, Genomics, Knitting Patterns, Top 10 Last Minute Unique Gifts, or Cancellation Policy, chances are high that I have not read it in the last few days. Leisure reading has taken a backseat to All Things End of Year and/or Holiday. Nevertheless, I still received a book tip this morning at my 5:15 spin class. Run Faster from the 5K to the Marathon: How to Be Your Own Best Coach by Brad Hudson was mentioned as the motivation behind the instructor's success at his last race. As my legs are still twitching from the session, I'll trust him on it.

Good luck with your holiday planning and hope you are working hard on your poetry selections for the next GBC meet.

Side note: Please forgive the lack of formatting and link to the book - the interface has been a little less than cooperative this morning.

Getting Carded

It was a smoothie, running, coffee, cheering kind of Saturday morning preparing to move into an eating, drinking, merry, laughing Saturday night.

Sharing advice from a friend: Don't waste the day.

In other news, I now have local library access. [Insert card acquisition between coffee and cheering.]

Trading the 3rd for the 4th

Knowing where you are going is really nice, but this morning I appreciated that not knowing where I would be can also be a fun journey. Today was the Fourth of July Music City 5K/10K and GBC Paige and I attended in support of GBC Kim and Tim who ran the course. We, in our haste, had neither ownership of nor had reviewed the course map so it was a bit of an adventure to follow our fellow friends around their path.

We managed to catch them just in front of the fountains over the Woodland Street bridge and view them from afar on Commerce. (The folks at Panera were slightly interrupted by chants for our fellow book-clubbers). No neon lights on Broadway, but we were happy to get in our last words of cheer before the finish line. Well done to Kim and Tim, and be on alert that you may be approached to participate as part of a team run this fall.

My advice: occasionally, don't pick up a map and see how the day unfolds.