Skunk Update
I'm sitting here freezing my ass off because it is November, and some genius (me) decided that running the air-conditioner would filter the air in the house which now smells of both vinegar and skunk.
GAH!
Truth be told, I do think it's working, although I'm less confident that the skunk(s) have moved out yet. Walter just went to the store after moth-balls, tennis balls, more ammonia. Our plan is to do a full-scale de-skunking this afternoon (then we're leaving the house for a few hours).
Thanks to all who posted stories and suggestions about getting rid of the smell, but I do have congratulate Irene for the best comment EVAH, in which she, essentially suggested that we douche our house.
BWHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA.
Running News
This morning, Betty, Mik, Elsie and I met with the SDTC for our weekly long run. My plan was to run a leisurely, easy (hahaha) 8 miles in a really weak-ass attempt to prepare for the Las Vegas 1/2 Marathon in two weeks.
One of the highlights of the morning had to have been the drive to the run with Betty, who nearly had me crashing the car because I was laughing so hard about mandals, socks with holes, and sweatshirts (e.g. all you need to turn on your husband on a cold morning). I don't know...you probably had to be there.
It was one of those beautiful SoCal winter mornings. A little cool at the start, and it warmed up nicely, but not so much as to make it uncomfortable. Mik slowed down her usual pace and ran the first two miles with me (or I sped up to run the first two miles with her, or somewhere between those two options.)
You can't tell from this photo, but Mik has new shorts AND new shoes on!
Combining mad driving and photography skillz. Nice boat!Eventually, Mik tired of our pace and ran ahead, but I was never far behind her. At Mile 3, I caught up to her at the SDTC water station, and she decided to run UP Canon (big hill we run DOWN during AFC). I decided to go the flat route onto Shelter Island, figuring there'd be no hills in Vegas to speak of.
Mile 1 - 11:02
Mile 2 - 10:52
Mile 3 - 10:53
By Mile 3, of course, it was getting a little warm, so I decided to publicly disrobe and remove the underarmor long sleeve shirt I was cleverly wearing underneath my shirt.
Good show.
The SDTC route from Harbor Island, to the aid station is about three miles, but I wanted to do 8 miles, so I decided to tack on an extra mile by running onto Shelter Island, the same area we ran two weekends ago for the Shelter Island 5K. By the 4th mile, I was starting to feel some of the effects of running with speedy Mik, so I downed a Gu Roctain (LOVE that stuff) which gave me a little more kick.
Mile 4 - 11:32 (quite a bit slower, but still respectable)
By the time I got back to the SDTC water station again, I was feeling the Gu. Irene's husband Michael was there, so he and I ran for awhile back to the start. Michael always has good stories to tell.
Then around the 6th mile, I don't know what happened, I just felt "The Zone," that beautiful time when you're able to run effortlessly. I was completely surprised by it. I mean, I haven't run more than 6 miles since AFC. I still have no idea where the energy or the desire came from, but since I was feeling it, I said "bye" to Michael (who was, admittedly, doing a recovery run having run the Silver Strand 1/2 Marathon the week) and took off.
Mile 5 - 11:13
Mile 6 - 11:12
Mile 7 - 10:46
Mile 8 - 10:35
Mile 8.08 - 10:00
For me? Wow. I mean where did THAT come from?
Maybe that 2:20 1/2 marathon finish isn't so crazy after all? (now don't get ahead of yourself Alice).
Afterwards, we headed back to Elsie's for some breakfast and laughs (no mimosas this morning, too much to do today, and I'll admit that after getting up early/running/mimosas...I'm pretty worthless for the rest of the day.) Got home, stuck my legs in our, now 56ยบ pool (the ice bath) and I'm feeling pretty good right now (other than the frozen ass part).
It's Turkey Week!
I'm going to do my longest run (10 miles) this Thursday or Friday as part of Alisa's (Ambition Aspirations Make Great Accomplishments) Virtual Turkey Trot.
And the SDTC Turkey Trot on Tuesday (whoever most accurately predicts their 2 mile finish time wins a turkey...no electronics allowed). My kids are out of school all week; unfortunately, I'm not. GAH! (there had to be a GAH in here somewhere, right?)
Hope everyone is having a great weekend! Now off to battle the skunk.
