Path-et-ic

Finally went to see a doc about the foot pain (you can all breathe a sigh of relief)... However, in the interest of full disclosure, I didn't see my doctor. In fact, I've never met the woman. I did see her PA (physician's assistant...I have no idea what kind of training goes into being a physician's assistant, but since he could write a prescription for some physical therapy, so that perhaps my insurance will cover at least a part of it, I was more than happy to see him. His name was Sean or maybe it was Kevin...no Sean) but I digress...

Are my Canadian friends still with me here, or did that whole conversation about insurance just leave you going, "huh?"

Anyway, the good news...

Nothing is fractured or broken.

In fact, the pseudo-doc seemed pretty unimpressed with my foot pain.

He noted that yes, I have plantar fasciitis in my left foot. The right foot probably has a slightly pulled tendon. Running downhill is a probable cause (hello...can anyone say La Jolla 1/2 Marathon?). He said that I should continue stretching, icing, massaging, and taking ibuprofen and (he said I wouldn't like this and he is correct, I don't) I should REST. 

I mentioned to him that I'm running less than 10 miles a week at this point. Again, he seemed unimpressed.

He modeled some stretches (that I already knew) and he offered to write a prescription for some prescription-strength ibuprofen too, but I said that taking three or four of the over-the-counter stuff that I buy in bulk from Costco would be cheaper, so "no thank you." 

Oh, and he said he would write for authorization for me to get some PT (YES!!!), which was all I really wanted.

So I didn't run today...or bike...or swim...but I did shop for new shoes, AND I got a pretty pedicure which included a foot massage, that's gotta count for something! 

I'm going to see a new PT (closer to home, and the one who Irene is seeing for her hip) on Monday for a free injury screening, and in (hopefully) about a week, I'll have the referral for PT approved by my insurance, and I can start some real kind of PT to rid myself of this sore foot nonsense.

So it is done...I'm seeing doctors and physical therapy, sports medicine, specialists for this. Me. The one who HATES doctors and offices and insurance and all that.

And good timing too, because the AFC 1/2 Mary, the last leg of this year's triple crown, is August 16, only 10 weeks away!

Tuesday night's workout with the track club certainly didn't make me feel very ready to run another 1/2 Marathon in 10 weeks.

The workout was mostly a recovery workout for those who ran the Rock and Roll Marathon last weekend, and now that the marathon season (and winter) is behind us, we do our Tuesday night workouts in Balboa Park. This week's run was only a 20 minute recovery run. Coach Paul encouraged us to run on the grass as it is a softer surface.

Here's the route...go ahead, enjoy... 

And here are my even more pathetic running stats...

I think that the grass running killed my feet. Although it was softer, it was also uneven. I could feel everything tighten up. I didn't even last 2 miles. Both my feet were just killing me, so I sat on the grass and massaged them and was pretty much a gimp.

Afterward, Alberta, Betty and I went to Elsie's for some wine and to hear her excuses for "not finding us" after the IronGirl 10K on Sunday...Whatever...

Alberta is such a stud. She ran in a freekin' cast...

Dinner...wine, hummus, and guacamole. Did we get all the food groups in?

So...I'm going to take it easy this week. I have to give a presentation at a workshop tomorrow. I'm going to try to get a ride in, in the morning (so I should probably go to bed now, huh?). I'm planning on getting a swim in on Friday and running on Saturday with the track club. It's the early part of the 1/2 marathon program, so the runs tend to be pretty short.

And more ice, and stretch, and massage... I think that means mandatory foot rubs from Walter, right?

UPDATE...The Las Vegas RnR Marathon, just posted its course map and it's offering a $20.00 discount on the race fee for those who enter by June 11... I think I gotta do this one.

IronGirl 10K Race Report

Official Results - 1:09:18

My goal was to finish in under 1:10...so I met that goal.

I did not PR, but I wasn't expecting to. I was just happy to finish in one piece on the polycrap and to run painlessly. Again, both goals fulfilled.

(Tonight, I am having both Left PF and Right Tendon soreness...GAH!)

The day started off with a message from Penny that she'd overslept and wasn't going to make it (I actually almost texted her back to say "just drive fast" but by the time I looked at my messages it was almost 6:00 and thought that might be dangerous, so I didn't.)

Anyway, met Betty and Mik (as usual) at Betty's, then we drove to Irene's to pick her up. We loved Irene's directions to her house...minimal street names, lots of landmarks instead ("Turn at the first light, then turn at the second light from the left-hand lane. My house is the one with the big pine-tree in front it." So you all know where Irene lives now...right?) Luckily there were no U-turns (those would come later).

We got to the Del Mar Racetrack in pretty good time, mostly because we know that both lanes off the freeway make a left turn, and then the traffic dude directed us to take the completely empty right hand lane, which typically does NOT turn onto the track parking lot.

Once we parked, we found Edith or rather, she found us...the neon-lime-dayglo-green shirts...you know.

Then we looked for the pottys...

Betty, Irene, and Edith...waiting in the RR line...clearly NOT HAPPY. I LOVE that Irene wore green!

OK...so I'll rant about the restroom situation for a bit. This race started at the Del Mar Fairgrounds, which also is the venue for the San Diego County Fair (locals still call it the Del Mar Fair...but no matter). The Fairgrounds, which also includes the Del Mar Race Track has a TON of restrooms...far more than the two or three on the first level that were open.

Why not just open up a few more restrooms for pete's sake?

Anyway, clever Mik located the porta pottys, which were conveniently located near the start. I guess the good things about having two actual restrooms with REAL flushing toilets available in a race run predominantly by women are: 1)about 1000 women are standing in line to use the "real" toilets and NOBODY is using the porta pottys and 2) because it's primarily a woman's race, there are only a few dudes around, and again NOBODY is using the porta pottys, so they're relatively clean (or as clean as a porta potty can be). AND there was a sink. With soap. And water.

I love women's races.

So clearly, the porta potty line was the way to go (double-entrendre intended)...

The porta potty line is also where I ran into Yas (duh...again, no picture). She was doing the 5K with her mom! I'm glad I saw her. I was starting to wonder what happened to her as she's been absent from the blogosphere for a bit. We hugged and wished each other well.

All the while, I was furiously texting and calling Elsie to find out where the heck she was. The RB (real boyfriend) had dropped her off (or was with her for all we know) and while I managed to get her on the phone once we were STILL unable to meet up. I did see her on the course however, so I know she was there.

We are gonna have to have a chat about standing up the girlfriends for the RB... Methinks she was avoiding us....hmmmmmm

Relatively sparse cloud cover at the start of the race... I took this picture accidentally.

This is the picture I was trying to take when I took a picture of the sky. Elsie is up there somewhere

Yes...we glow in the dark. I took another picture that included Kat, but trust me girls...you don't want me to post it. I must have moved the camera and you all look reeeaaaallllyyyy wiiiiiiiiiide.

Finally, after the blah, blah, blah, announcements, the national anthem, and an unintelligible starter's gun shot, we were off.

Some things I loved about this race...

1. All chicas...it the all women's race we did because we didn't get into the Nike Women's 1/2 (yes, I'm still bitter).
2. Cute dudes at the water stations (well...some were cute).
   
3. With the exception of one slight hill around Mile 2/4, we ran a pretty flat course. If I were gonna PR, this would be the course to do it on.
   
4. Men cheering their wives/girlfriends on...and the stress that creates for them. At about Mile 4, I saw a woman about 50 yards ahead of me stop to kiss some people who I presume were her kids and her hubby and then she waved and ran on. As I passed by him, he gave this enormous sigh and look of incredible relief...I imagined that he was running late (because he was just next to the parking lot) and was STRESSING because he'd almost missed her. I don't know if that's true or not, but it is the story I imagined as I was running past.
5. Seeing Edith, Mik, Kat, Betty, and Elsie between miles 2 and 3, and then between miles 4 and 5... I was relieved to see Elsie. She was in her zone the second time and I don't think she saw me.
   
6. Running through the fairgrounds and seeing all the vendor booths and cheesy rides being set up (before the "fair smell" sets it).
   
7. Wet duck sponges at Mile 3 - Didn't take one because I thought...WTF am I gonna do with that sponge after I use it? I did see people with the duck-sponges down their shirts, shorts, etc. and thought "that can't be comfortable..."
   
8. In all honesty, running the last 1/2 mile on the polycrap probably saved me. It was harder-packed than last year and a nice soft landing place for my starting-to-cramp-up tendons.
9. The MOMENT I got on the polycrap, the fog rolled in and it cooled off considerably.
10. Collecting duck sponges for Mik's kindergarten class (and the looks on people's faces as Betty snagged about 20 sponges off the top of a trash can...don't worry, Mik washes them before she gives 'em to the little ones).
    
11. The swag - nice hardware and the stuffed AFLAC duck that quacks AAAAAAAAAAFLAAAAACK is adorable.
12. Feeling really good throughout the race, especially since I woke up this morning, I had considered not running...both Achilles were pretty tight, and both feet pretty sore. Fortunately, as I walked around, and stretched LOTS, everything seemed to loosen up. By race time, I felt pretty good. I ran pretty slowly, but I was consistent. Here are the splits.

• Mile 1 - 11:01
• Mile 2 - 11:15
• Mile 3 - 11:07
• Mile 4 - 11:06*
• Mile 5 - 11:14
  
• Mile 6 - 11:15
• Mile 6.2 - 11:22

Both Betty and I have run this race since it's inaugural three years ago when we used it as a training run for our first AFC 1/2 marathon (before I had any idea what the hell I was doing as a runner). The first (and IMHO, the BEST race) was the first year in Solana Beach. The course was the best, up and down the Pacific Coast Highway, awesome views. The breakfast that year was (from what I heard and how it looked) incredible.

I understood why they moved to the fairgrounds. There's plenty of parking and it seems like it would be a venue that could accommodate the 2400 or so who ran both the 5K and the 10K this morning, but somehow, two years in a row, it doesn't seem like it's quite works out. The breakfast this year was a muffin and a yogurt in a bag (I didn't even take one). Whatever.

Betty and I will continue to run it, because in 7 years, we're thinking there'll be some recognition ceremony for all of those who have run it for all 10 years...and maybe some better swag!

Anyway...my less favorite things about the race include...

Here's the route...the little 1/2 loop at the end? Yeah, that's the polycrap horse racing track...duh... Why do so many of my running routes look like Elvis? (a young Elvis perhaps...facing down...). We ran up Elvis's pompadour, down the back of his head, and neck twice...

1. The course...Del Mar is beautiful. Both North and South of the city are beautiful beaches and vistas of the ocean, so then WHY TF are we running around the parking lot?
   
2. The 10Kers ran part of the 5K route (the start to about mile 3.5) two times and started first. What this meant is that the fast 5K runners, who started about 5 minutes after us, had to weave their way around us. I sorta felt bad for them, and I rarely feel bad for 6 minute milers passing me.
   
3. Payback's a bitch...THEN we 10K runners had to weave our way around the 5K walkers by the time we got to about Mile 5 and, in my case when I got to the polycrap.
4. Once on the track, those who were walking really needed to stay off the rail (the inside lane). Weaving in and out of them on the track? HAAAAAAAAAATED! Seriously. You're WALKING!!!! Take the outside lane.
   
5. The sun came out STRONG about miles 3-5. I remember thinking that I was glad Penny slept in because she would have HATED it.
6. The polycrap...I'm not gonna lie. I hated running on it. Although I will repeat that it was harder packed than last year. It's still a lousy way to end a race.
   
7. The entire setup of the vendor booths at the end of the race was ridiculous. I mean really, who puts a high impact vendor stand (e.g. the "free" breakfast) in a high traffic area (where everyone is exiting from the track). In my life before teaching, I did event planning...this is a cardinal rule. You always put the food and the bar to the side because people will ALWAYS walk there. Putting those things in a high traffic areas only causes gridlock and FRUSTRATION!!!

After the race, we looked for Elsie...oh yeah? Remember her? She'd left with the RB...GAH!

After the race, we went to a new spot (well...new to us, Irene goes there regularly) called The High Dive...EXCELLENT!

The coffee mugs were like leftovers from everyone's kitchen. Here Irene does Vanna with one that reads "Live Begins After 40" and all the joy that begins after 40 (wrinkles, sagging, shrinkage...)

Mimosas with Cranberry Juice. Aren't they purdy? $10 for a bottle of their finest. We are soooooooo going back to this place.

Kat with her mug of whipped cream and a splash of coffee

Satisfied...

Drove home. Had to make two U-turns. Got home. Took Nap.
_______________________
* I got this number by calculating, not by what the Garmin said. You'll notice that the numbers add up to EXACTLY 6.2 miles...and really with all that weaving, who runs 6.2 miles? Not me. I accidentally stopped my Garmin at about 3.79 miles for what I think is about a mile...I just know that I was as 42:03 for a REALLY LONG TIME, before I thought...WTF is wrong with this thing...Oh, maybe I should START THE EF-ER. Anyway, it's close. I subtracted the time on the Garmin from the Official finishing time, and figure this is what I ran with the thing stopped (and they say English teachers can't do the math...BBJ, Edith, and Wilma...that's for you math kids!)

Foto Friday, New Socks, & Goodbye Marcy

Today is NikeMom's Foto Friday...so here's a shot of what took up the remainder of my week!

Little League Champs... Probably one of the last times we can ask a group of boys to raise a finger and have them all raise their index fingers... Turbo is the second ballplayer from the left in the front row. Walter is in the back... Quite a win as the team had to come out of the loser bracket to win.

Mandatory goofy shot...

Thanks for all your advice and support regarding my wacky foot issue. I spent a fair amount of time yesterday looking through other pictures of me running (since I belong to the track club, there are a fair amount of those because there's almost always someone on the course shooting photos).

Unfortunately, I don't see another photo that shows my foot at that angle. The good news is that there are some other shots of me running and my foot is NOT doing that weird angle thing. (looks more like its doing the normal over-pronation thing that I thought I know I do). 

I also tried to make an appointment to see a sports therapist (Irene's recommendation) yesterday, but their office hasn't called me back yet to make an appointment. But that's OK. I think I'm going to go see my regular doctor first to get a referral to the therapist to see if insurance will pick up part of the cost. 

Have I mentioned that I HATE going to the doctor? I really do. It's all I can do to get my girl-parts examined and my boob smushed once a year... 

I did run on Wednesday (for National Running Day...and after my last post). I did 3.5 miles on the 'mill. I decided to run on the mill because it was the middle of the day and it was getting warm. Also, I was short on time. And finally, because I figured my feet started hurting, I could just stop running and not do any further damage.

Good news: Running didn't hurt while I was running

Bad news: I did have some pain in both feet after running (GAH).

That night, I found some arch support socks at Sports Authority (conveniently located next to the Shakey's Pizza where the team was celebrating it's win), and I thought what the heck...and bought them. They really seem to hold my foot steady, so I wore them all day yesterday. Then I was a complete slug yesterday and didn't run, or ride, or do anything but get ready for some presentations I'm doing next week (and look at photos of me running...what a narcissist)

Good news is that this morning, both feet feel pretty AMAZINGLY BETTER.

So...I'll be wearing the socks regularly for the next week or so.

This weekend is a busy one - later this morning I'm going up to Orange County to see my sister. I may or may not be bringing one or two of her kids back with me. Tonight I get to hang out with Mik at our sons' first game of the District Little League Championship (yes...winning the league championship on Wednesday meant that we get to play MORE. BASEBALL!!!) 

Saturday, I am taking DramaGirl to a swim qualification. She has to show that she can swim 100 yards in less than 2:15...shouldn't be a big deal. 

Then I'm going to Road Runner Sports with about a 1/2 dozen registration forms because the herd is doing the 1/2 marathon training program.

Then we have Little League closing ceremonies. 

Maybe I'll get a short bike ride in.

Sunday, is the IronGirl 10K. Irene has boldly decided to carpool with the herd!

_________________________________

On a final note...much of the running-blog-world is sad this weekend as Marcy at I Signed Up for THIS? submitted her final blog post yesterday. She has decided to go into blogging retirement. I think we all get that. I love running and blogging about it and reading all of your blogs about running, but I know how much time I spend reading and commenting on blogs (which is why I sometimes disappear for days at a time and only comment on every OTHER post you all do...).

Like almost everyone else, I'm really going to miss Marcy and her trashtastic, daily yakfest. There are so many classic blogs that I'll always remember. Walmart Bingo and all the public restroom photos will remain among my favorites.  (I'd link back to them, but I think that Marcy has already deleted, or at list made private, her archive). In fact, I read her blog for several months before I got brave enough to leave a comment amongst the 80+ already left there, and much to my surprise, within hours, she'd left a comment on mine. I felt like a celebrity had been to my blog.

A part of me thinks she'll be back at some point. I hope so. The running-blogosphere will certainly be a less funny and entertaining place without her. (Although I still get to stalk her on FB...).

Better than that, her blog and her comments are always spot-on funny. She has an incredible knack for commenting on just the thing that I think is going to be funny (like the smelly dead whale...which got me BOTW honors...which is why some of you now visit here occasionally).

In any event, there have been lots of other blogs out there that are saying goodbye to Marcy much more eloquently than I have...

but seriously chica...gonna miss ya..fo reals!

More Foot Stories

So...you may have noticed that I haven't run since last Saturday's jaunt with Walter at Lake BP.

Cycling. Yes. Running? Not so much.

(Rode 35ish miles on Sunday. Rode another 12 on Monday...not a lot of miles, but I tried to ride fast...not fast by any real cycling standards, but fast for me).

Anyway, I haven't run because last week I ran two days in a row and so for three days my feet (both of 'em) are just killing me. GAH!!!!

Left foot - some mild Plantar Fasciitis (It does seem like it's getting better as I've been doing lots of ice, stretch, massage, stretch, ice, repeating).

The bigger issue is my right foot...the TOP of my foot...right at about the bridge to be exact. There are some tendons there that are VERY sore, making walking (and definitely running) somewhat painful.

The blue arrow is pretty much pointing to the area it hurts. Picture comes from Foot Pain Explained ...which describes this as tendonitis...GAH!

So, I've taken three days off from running (blah, blah, blah...this is getting boring) and for the past month or so, I've played around with various types and combinations of orthotics, including: green SuperFeet insoles, orange RRS cushioning insoles, Dr. Scholl's heel cushioning inserts (which are awesome for the PF BTW).

These do ROCK for PF issues...for the tendonitis on the top of the foot? Meh...

In other words, I am in search of something, anything that will help with what I think this causes...

I don't know if you can see this...but seriously I think this is the cause of my foot issues. I mean how does one land with a foot pointing out...but on the instep...I mean really... 

This picture was taken by the race photographer at the UT Race for Literacy last month. I'd never seen a photo taken at this angle before, so I didn't know that I landed that way on my right foot

A slightly more grainy view... But SERIOUSLY...WHO RUNS LIKE THIS??? I think I need to take a running lesson.

Yes, I run in stability shoes. I use inserts to (hopefully) keep my foot from rocking all over the freakin' place, but I don't seem to have located the correct combination. I'm going to play with how I lace my shoes today (yes, I'm going to run today...it is National Running Day after all...and did I mention that I hadn't run since SATURDAY?)

So, I'll keep you posted (cuz I know you're waiting with bated breath to see how Alice solves her running-shoe, foot-pain, WTF is wrong with her gait, problem).

Oh, and since this is June 3...I thought I'd post my May numbers

Run -  52.95 miles
Bike - 118.76 miles
Swim - 200 yards (ok...that's pathetic. I know. But I tried)

Happy running to all who are participating in the National Running Day. 

It's Hard to Find Your Friends in A Sea of 20,000 Marathoners

I was going to title this post "Dirty Girls" but lord only knows who would find my blog using those search terms...

Anyway, Betty, Mik and I had planned to meet at 6:30 to ride our bikes into Mission Valley to cheer all our friends who ran the San Diego Rock and Roll Marathon this morning, but Walter and DramaGirl played musical beds last night,* so I overslept, and so I didn't get to Mik's house until about 6:50.

I hate being late...really I do.

Once there, I unloaded my bike and gear, while Betty and Mik, who are so patient, waited for me to futz around with all my paraphernalia (gotta have the phone, and some cash, and my ID, and the Garmin, and the gloves, and the bike lock...and oh wait, I need to get the CAMERA FOR PETE'S SAKE!!!!)

And of course cow bell...we had to have more COW BELL!!!

Betty, at long last, got horn for her bike...Also, she rode with clipless pedals today like a champion. Didn't fall once (bitch...)

Finally, geared up (hahaha), we headed toward Mission Valley to watch the race. Our start included a descent down a pretty steep road (for locals, we went down Montezuma from SDSU to Mission Gorge)...two miles that drop from about 500ft to sea level...

See the gray "elevation" line...that's the decent. Pay no attention to the part at the end that says our speed was suddenly 45 - 50 mph...we were on the trolley then and I forgot to stop the Garmin)

This is where the Dirty Girls headline comes into play. As you'll read in lots of RnR race reports, the morning was misty, which meant that the streets were wet...and muddy...and so were we. The ride down Montezuma was, to say the least, SCARY (Me speed on wet, muddy road? I think NOT!)

I never get that dirty running, but I have to say that I liked it.

Mik and I...we were pretty clean by the time I took this picture...but you can still see all the mud on my neck and shirt...dirrrrrrrrrrttttyyyyyy. Also, on Saturday, I bought some new sunglasses for riding. They're getting kinda tinted in this picture, but they were almost clear earlier in the morning...which was sooooo cool.

The marathon route goes up the 163 freeway, then the runners head down Friars Road for miles 11-14. When we got there, it was still pretty early, so there weren't any crowds yet, but we did get to see some of the leaders (who run just freekin' fast BTW). Then we rode over to the Friar's Road out and back (for the RnR - miles 21-23 or so), just to see how we were going to be able to get around. There were lots of road closures (of course), but getting around on the bikes was amazingly easy.

When it was getting close to 8:15 (about 2 hours after the gun time), we headed back to the Mile 14 marker, just where the runners were turning onto Napa.

I saw a runner with a monkey on his back.

This is where I KNOW NOW that I should have seen Lisa and Irene and my friend Kim (who owes me because we were at a neighborhood birthday party on Saturday night, and I shamed her husband into dropping her off in the morning rather than letting her drive herself down to the start...which is just WRONG for pete's sake...).

BTW...on Friars Road, I learned that it's really difficult to find your friends in a sea of runners...

First we saw Santiago (who did a 2:04 1/2 marathon split), but I was probably taking a picture of the monkey-guy, so I missed taking his photo, and I know he's heartbroken... Santiago finished in 4:08:26.**

Then we saw Kat (who finished in 4:53:17)

BBJ...who took his hat off to us (and finished in 5:02:57)

Kat is in this photo...can you spot her? Are any of you in this shot?

This is why I had a difficult time finding you all...that and it makes me dizzy to watch runners run...all that movement...Again? Anyone in this shot?

We hung around on the corner (nice...huh?) for a few more minutes, then Mik decided to ride home, and Betty and I rode back up Friars, spotted LOTS of SDTC peeps along the way, including Irene's husband Michael. Then we headed back to around toward Mission Bay again, looked for more peeps. We ended up riding around East Mission Bay with the runners (which was cool)...all the while Betty and I chatted about what we remembered about our long run a year ago.

By this time, it was about 10am and we were hungry, so we stopped and had some breakfast. Then we rode back over to Grand Avenue (near mile 18 which is where I saw Doreen from the SDTC...and probably should have seen Irene...GAH!). We got separated and almost lost each other on the Friars Road out and back (It was the third time we'd ridden through there). I probably should have been able to spot Sara and another non-blogging friend Sandy (who I didn't even know was running the marathon until she told me about it at Turbo's Little League game the day before), but I didn't see them either ((sadness)).

By that time, we'd ridden almost 30 miles, so we headed back to east county. BTW...there was lots more traffic at 11:30 than there was at 7am...

We also decided to NOT ride back up Montezuma (we'd gone about 30 miles at that point), so we went as far as it was flat(ish)...(and for those who are not from San Diego, flat is a relative term here...nothing is really flat). Then we took the trolley two stops to SDSU (which getting the bikes on the Trolley was another adventure, mostly because it involved lifting my bike up narrow steps, and I'm a klutz, and I have no upper body strength).

Betty and I at the trolley...a long-ass ride (which is what my ass was saying).

So...what a ride! No falls. No flats. I wish I'd seen more of you running peeps, but I was cheering you on whether I saw you or not. Congrats to all of you! I can't wait to read your race reports!

_________________________

* This is what happens in my house when one of the kids can't sleep...Both DramaGirl and Turbo know that I am a sleeper, and have learned that if they try to wake me, I am entirely unsympathetic and just tell them to go back to bed...so they wake Walter, who is a light sleeper, and who gets up to deal with them...sweeeeeeeeet how I've worked that out, isn't it?

** I'm only posting times for my non-blogging friends...I won't steal any of my blogging friends thunder...although I completely stalked all of you and that's how I KNOW that I should have seen you, but somehow missed you in the sea of humanity.

Bullet Point Week/Weak Report

The week's news

1. School is out for me! Hooray!!!!! Graded my last finals on Wednesday. I haven't posted final grades yet, but I will shortly.
2. Had a lovely 4 mile run with Elsie on Wednesday (followed by wine and pot stickers) to celebrate the end of said school year. Here's the path we took :-) I'm going to call it profile of me reading a book on the 'mill.
3. Got the scoop on Elsie's weekend with the PB (practice boyfriend), who is now the RB (real boyfriend). (The reason Elsie was missing all weekend)
   
4. For the first time in a long time, I have no plans for a long run this weekend, and to be honest, I'm a little flummoxed by it. I keep feeling like I should be making plans for a long run, but I'm not.
5. I do need to make a plan for cheering on BBJ, Kat, Santiago, Lisa, Irene, Sara, and all my SDTC friends who are running the Rock and Roll Marathon on Sunday. I think we're going to be on bikes and we'll be at least two or three places on the course...I'm thinking anything after mile 18 is good (it would have been for me!)
6. I haven't signed up for the SDTC 1/2 Marathon Training Program yet, but I'm pretty sure I'm gonna...it'll help keep me in shape for both the fall 1/2 marathon training season, and for the long haul up 6th Avenue for the AFC 1/2
   
7. Yesterday I bought new tubes (two for me, one for Clarence), a patch kit, a pump, and a new bag to carry it all in...
   

Some clarifications

1. Yes! I think some of the herd will be in Vegas in December for the RnR 1/2 Marathon.
2. This doesn't mean that we won't do the Long Beach 1/2 in October... Long Beach is the first of the California Dreamin' Series and I'm all about the hardware.
3. Regarding the flat-tire, tire changing adventure on Monday. It's completely awesome that Mik, Clarence, and Betty jumped in and changed both tires, but really, none of us knew what we were doing....which is why it took 45 minutes to change the tires (well...that and we were laughing a lot)

And a video

1. DramaGirl and Turbo study for algebra (where do my kids come up with this stuff...and yes, that is a cup)...It's not a still photo for NikeMom's Foto Friday, it a series of still photos...all run together that approximate movement.

Algebra Song from AkaAlice on Vimeo.

How Many Heffers Does it Take?

Question: How many Heffers does it take to change a flat tire?

Bonus Question: What if its TWO FLAT TIRES?

Answer: Four (well three...but one has to take pictures and add commentary)

Yep..on Monday on about Mile 12 of our 23 mile bike ride, I got not ONE but TWO effing flat tires...at the same effing time. (I'm THAT GOOD). I learned to not hit an effing crevice head on...

So, Betty told me that I should forgo the "boring" details of our ride, like that we rode from PB to Torrey Pines State Park and back in less than 2 hours riding time...but it took almost three hours total time due to the flat tire incident...that we tackled some pretty good hills (sea level to 450 ft above), that we decided to go to the restroom at the state park where Elsie famously ran into the PB (we were hoping to find them, this time, in the bushes) last time we ran there.

I could write about how on Sunday, I'd mentioned to Walter that at some point I probably needed to buy a patch kit, or learn how to deal with a flat because it was just a matter of time...

But I'll hold off on all that and just let the pictures do the talking

Before the flat, Clarence and I enjoyed the view of Sorrento Valley from the top of Torrey Pines. Thank God for father-in-law for setting her up with the patch kit, pump, and spare tube.

The restroom stop. Where's Elsie?

More restroom stop photos

We think this is the path where Elsie and the PB rendezvoused

Creative photography by Clarence...

Moments later, we decided to head back to PB...we'd gone only about 1/4 mile (or less) back on a REALLY CRAPPY ROAD and "pop...pop."

"Oh Shit." I said.

"That's not good," said Clarence.

So after about five minutes of us looking at each other saying...well, what should we do now? We decided to fix one tire with a spare tube that Clarence had, and try to patch the other...So, off the tires came.

Tire one is off...Betty is a master with the tools

On effing flat tire

There's your hole (yes, it get's worse from here)

Clarence looks for the other hole

The Pump from AkaAlice on Vimeo.

This is what makes it hard. You gotta listen to the video...

Mik asks me to check if it's hard enough yet

It was...

A nice biker who stopped to see if we needed help. We were having some issues getting the pump off the tire. She suggested we had to get rough with it. God I love bikers now...

Clarence, Mik, and Betty did all the work. Really, I just stood there the whole time taking pictures, adding color commentary, and being relatively useless.

More pumping to find the hole in Tire 2

Mik successfully patches a tire

The patch

Here's what I learned.

1. I need to get a patch kit and a spare tube (or maybe two...but seriously, who gets TWO flat tires).
2. I will always ride with my friends because I still have no idea how to change a tire since they did it all.
3. Clarence's FIL is THE BEST!
   
4. If you pump, it gets harder
5. Water and air make it easier to find the hole

Reflections and a Skirt

A year ago, I was a week out from running my first marathon. In my week-out post, I reflected on some of the bests and worsts of my marathon training season (from January to June). One of the things I love about blogging, is that now I have an actual diary of some parts of my life. Tonight, it's been nice to go back and re-read some of those posts. Mostly I sounded optimistic, scared, and in some regards, incredibly naive about what I was about to do.

Seriously, what a crazy thing it was for me to run 26.2 miles. Me. A confirmed couch potato, computer nerd, book worm. Someone who was So. Not. An. Athlete.

And yet, I ran a marathon. I'm not sure I'll ever run another, but it will always be something that I can say that I've done. I still enjoy the look of surprise I get from people when I tell them I've run a marathon because I seriously don't look like a marathon runner.

Living proof that anyone. Really anyone. Can run a marathon.

When I signed up for the SDTC Rockin' and Running training program this year, I wasn't planning on running the marathon. I joined (and convinced some of the herd to join) to train for some 1/2 marathons...and good thing, the injuries I've dealt with this year would have just made marathon training just futile and depressing.

All that being said, I was a little wistful yesterday when Mik, Betty, Kat and I went to the SDTC's last long run before the RnR Marathon. We ran for about 1:30 (about 7.6 miles)....which is the longest I've run since the La Jolla 1/2 marathon. I felt great through about 6 miles, then the PF started to really bug me...Again...in the left foot this time...GAH!

Saturday's Stats

7:55 miles
1:29:41
11:52/mi

At the end of the run, Coach Paul had all the runners take their Marathon Oath (pretty much swearing to do their best, have fun, and know that they are ready). It's a nice touch to the end of the RnR training season.

So...even though I'm not running the 26.2 next Sunday, I thought I'd end this marathon training season with some track club photos of the herd (and friends) from this Saturday and the past few weeks.

Mik from this last Sunday

Kat took the oath and will be running next Sunday

I love this picture of Betty and I because it also includes Irene's husband Michael in front of us...I still love the expression on people's faces when he yells out "HEFFERRRRRS" whenever we are running nearby.

Yep...I wore a skirt...not sure what I think of it yet.

I think this picture is from a long run from a few weeks ago (up in Oceanside). Santiago seems to be saying, "Get that effing camera out of my face"...he sooooooo loves to have his picture taken! Santiago will also be running next Sunday!

Another long run picture from a few weeks ago...I have no idea what BBJ is referencing, but he seems to be making some gesture about size... hmmmm... No doubt BBJ will make up for what he considered a disappointing marathon run last year (he was hurt...)

So...even though I won't be running next weekend, much of the herd will be out on the course cheering our running friends on! I'll keep everyone posted this week about where we'll be.

Oh, and of course, after Saturday's run?

Those mimosas were made with fresh squeezed OJ, at a little place in downtown La Mesa called Centifonis... Amazingly YUMMY!!!! They also fresh squeeze their pomegranates (something that we had to verify with the waitress). We were happy to learn that there's a machine for squeezing juice from a pomegranate, because squeezing one pom at a time seemed really labor intensive...

Up for tomorrow? A 2.5 hour bike ride...I'll keep you posted...

Someone should ask where Elsie has been...