Run, Cycle, Work, Repeat

But first, some random notations from the week...

• Logging 41 miles of cycling and running in a weekend = RAGING HUNGER on Monday. This is why I never lost weight when I trained for the marathon. Yeah, sure, I'd burn a bunch of calories, but then I'd eat even more because I was STARVING!
• Finished grading a load of papers Monday night and was able to return them to students on time on Tuesday. 
• Wondered all day on Wednesday if I'd made the biggest professional mistake in my life by leaving a high school where my work was appreciated to teach at the community college where I am pretty much ignored. Not a fun story, just feeling rather unappreciated.
• Ran three miles on the 'mill Wednesday night, which made me feel better.
• Flew to Oakland again on Thursday for a meeting. On the way back to San Diego, the flight was delayed, so I went to the bar to get a glass of wine with a colleague; therefore, I almost missed the flight. They were calling my name. I told the flight attendant it would have been their fault if I missed the flight.
• On Friday, I got some new kicks! I stuck with the Saucony Hurricanes. I wasn't sure I was going to. I tried on a pair of Saucony Paramounts, which felt wonderful on my feet, but last time I changed shoe style, I got PF, so I chickened out. I ran in the new Hurricanes this morning. It was so wonderful running with some cushion and support again. 
• Shopping in the middle of the day on Friday made me remember why I chose to teach at the CC.
• Mailed my Nike sunglasses to the repair shop again because they won't send me a new nose-bridge piece to replace the one that fell off last weekend and was lost, but they will replace it if I send them the glasses ($5.00 to mail and $10.00 to cover their shipping and handling...GAH!).
• Did the shortest/fastest bike ride ever on Friday at Lake Boy Part - 6 miles in 24 minutes. Hardly even worth mentioning.
• As I was moving my bike out of the garage, I lost my footing and fell back into a rack of hand weights. I now have a really pretty blue and purple calf.
• DramaGirl and I are going to see GLEE with Penny in May! Woot Woot Woot!
• And I ran in Coronado this morning....

Only Mik, Kat and I were the only members of the herd to show up for the run this morning. Everyone else missed absolutely perfect running weather. Betty had to work. Elsie was on Grandma duty. BBJ decided to do a St. Paddy's Day 10K that included a beer garden at the end. I'm not sure where everyone else was.

There are many good things about running in Coronado, mostly there are plenty of visual distractions. We get to run under and around this...

Coronado bridge, the bridge Mik and I rode OVER in the pouring rain last weekend...on a side note, the guy in the foreground was sitting in what appeared to be an inflatable lounge chair (camouflage pattern) and was fishing. BTW ocean temperature is currently about 54 degrees.

And beautiful homes like this...

Rows of homes that I'll never live in...but nice to run by

One of the challenges of running in Coronado is that the streets have a pretty steep cant to them. I tried to find and stay on the most level part of the street, but at points it was just impossible. I felt really good through most of the run although at about the 7th mile I could feel a familiar tightening at the bottom of my left foot. I don't think it's the dreaded PF yet, but I certainly used plenty of ice when I got home.

More stretching, lunge matrices, and single leg 3-way squats to follow...

In all honesty, I didn't start the morning thinking I would run almost 10 miles. Actually, I think I told Mik that I'd do one loop around the island (about 7 miles) and be done with it.

Problem with that is that I was finally warmed up at 7 miles. At 7 miles, I felt good enough to continue running, so I ended up running not quite 10 miles. The last 1/2 mile was pretty tough, but it felt good to get out there and run.

Other highlights of the morning included:

Clearly the guys waiting at the aid station had some time on their hands. I told them I really admired their fabulous display.

I told Irene I hadn't put a picture of her on the blog recently...Here she is in her fabulous Newtons

It was another great running morning - cool and comfortable during the run, then the sun came out...which was good because as stylish as these sunglasses may be, they were not stellar running glasses and stayed on my head the entire run.

My goal is to get caught up on your blogs tomorrow...but it's time for bed now.

Today's stats

9.75 miles
1:50:26
11:18 pace

Nike-related bidness

Nike Sunglasses

I called Nike about my broken sunglasses.  The nice Nike-girl referred me to their sunglass repair shop, who says they will look at my broken glasses if I send them the glasses with a check for $10.00 (shipping and handling). 

They'll take a look at them? WTF does that mean? I'm holding out hope that I'll get a replacement pair, or they'll patch mine together with duct-tape.... At least the girl who answered the phone didn't just laugh in my face when I said the glasses just snapped in two. That's a good sign, right?

Nike Women's 1/2 Marathon

Melanie posted that she has been charged for the Nike Women's 1/2 or Full Marathon on her credit card...so, I spent Sunday and yesterday (and this morning) checking my account online...but no charge so far ((sigh))... So, I'm not optimistic about our getting in this year (((heavy sigh))). 

BUT, while I'm sad if the herd doesn't get to go to SF, I do have plan B - The Long Beach 1/2 Marathon, which is the preceding week.

I know, I know, Long Beach is definitely NOT SF, but the LB 1/2 has some positives:

1. It's a really flat. 
   
2. It's much less expensive - $60 at this point vs. $100 for Nike.
   
3. It's closer (and thus MUCH LESS EXPENSIVE than traveling to SF).
   
4. My bro-in-law asked me to run it with him last year and I didn't because I couldn't see running two 1/2 marathons in two consecutive weeks.
   
5. It's one of the races in the "California Dreaming" racing series, which includes the Surf City 1/2 Marathon in Huntington Beach, and the San Francisco 1/2 Marathon...thus, if I convince the herd to run all three, I STILL GET TO GO TO SF!
   

Isn't that nice how THAT works out?

Non-Nike Related Bidness

I'm headed to the SDTC workout tonight. The PF flared up this weekend after Saturday's long run... probably because I sat around and grazed and graded papers all day Sunday and didn't do enough icing or stretching or moving. Having a 10" stack of student papers to grade results in a Pavlovian-type eating response like you wouldn't believe! Grade a paper; eat a snack; grade another paper; eat another snack...that pretty much sums up my Sunday... I tried to run on the dreadmill last night, which seems to have exacerbated the tenderness in my heel, but I'm going to ice, stretch, and try to run tonight anyway, cuz that's just how I roll...

On the Riverbed

In my last post, I wrote about running on the San Diego riverbed, which may have made it sound all scenic and lovely.... and while there were some high points to the SDTC Marathon Pace Run on the San Diego riverbed yesterday, there are three things that I need to clarify.

1. The San Diego riverbed isn't really a riverbed. It's just an inlet that at various points of high or low tide has varying amounts of water in it, so sometimes it looks like a river; other times it looks like a swamp. And while there may be some fresh water that flows from inland somewhere (Elsie will have to weigh in on that one; she's the local biologist...or maybe Betty knows; she knows all about geography and was born and raised here), for the most part, it's not all that pretty, and to be honest, in a really low tide, it sorta stinks.
2. Along side the riverbed is a pretty rutted out bike path, which is where we run. I've been on this path A LOT in the last two years. It's the path we take as we leave Hospitality Point and head into Ocean Beach or Point Loma (and back to Hospitality Point). It is an asphalt path, which is nicer to run on than concrete, but it is in some pretty serious need of repaving, which makes it challenging. However, given the train-wreck that is currently calling itself San Diego's local government, that's probably not going to happen any time soon.
3. On the marathon pace run, which we did yesterday, we run two miles inland on the "bike path" and two miles back...back and forth, back and forth, for two hours.
   

All that being said...here's what I LOOOOOOVED about yesterday's Marathon Pace Run at Hospitality Point.

Elsie and I, in the crowd, at the start of the run...Irene was there, took this photo, and sent it to me. I love that she took a picture where I don't look like a complete dork while running.

• The weather...nice, cool, slight ocean breeze, no sun...perfect running weather.
  
• The distance....I was supposed to run 2 hours, but I decided to run 1:30 (8 miles) instead. I had decided this well ahead of time. In truth, at the end of the 8 miles, I felt like I could have kept running, but since I've been battling the cold, the PF, and some other nagging injuries, I decided to cut it short. Odd how running 8 miles is cutting it short for me now.
  
• Since I fueled up on Sudafed Extreme Cold Formula, the head cold didn't bother me during the run as I feared it would. In fact, I think running helped me get rid of the cold faster (or maybe it was the Airborne...I still believe after all).
  
• (Well, except for the runny nose, but isn't that why long sleeves were invented?)
• Since it was an out and back, out and back, out and back run, I got to see all my fast running friends (like BBJ and Kat) who I never otherwise see during runs.

BBJ who is running sans iPod because it is lent and the Pope told him to... He commented in my last post that running w/o tunes is doable.

Kat, who ran with a bloody nose and scared people...but was fine, really.

• This year, I did not get lapped by Elvis.

Minor annoyances

• None really (WHAT? NO ANNOYANCES?) Geez Alice. WTF is up with that? No really...it was a lovely run.
• OK...I know it's called a "bike path" but do people on bikes really need to ride 35 mph on this short section of the path when there are clearly a few hundred walkers and runners on it? I saw this one guy on a bike, who was clearly going way too fast, almost take out a runner.
  

And also, there's this.... I've sadly blown through YET ANOTHER PAIR OF SUNGLASSES. I should have a whole label on this blog just for all my sunglass stories, and about my inability to keep a single pair of running sunglasses intact for any length of time.

Seriously?

As I was headed into Mile 4 yesterday, even though there was no sun, I decided to put my sunglasses on. But, when I put them on there was some condensation from my sweaty head on the lenses, so I decided to use my shirt tail to clean them off and in doing so...

SNAP...

they f-in snapped in two (well, three if you count the nose bridge).

I can't believe it. This is, at least, the third pair of sunglasses I've gone through this year...and I LOVED this pair. They didn't slip down my nose, and despite being sorta big, they didn't fog up when I ran...GAH!

I've called Nike, and there's another 800 number that I've got to call on Monday that is their sunglass division...And while they've got a year warranty on them, and I should be able to wipe lenses without them snapping in half, To be honest, I'm not hopeful.

((sigh))

Still...it was a nice run. No breakfast afterward. I didn't want to push it. Went home. Took a mega-nap. Went out for a nice dinner with Walter last night (we don't do enough of that...)

Also...can't wait to hear about Nike Women's 1/2 Marathon this week...can't wait. can't wait. can't wait...

Just Lame...

Email
To: Alice
From: Mona
9:50 am
Subject: One more thing..

I have a meeting at school tonight at 6 and have time for wine this afternoon if you want to get together :)

Text Message
To: Betty and Elsie
From: Alice
4:00 pm

Heel hurts. No track workout tonight. Drinking wine w/Mona instead.

So...I didn't run today. I did, however, run about 3.5 miles last night on the dreadmill...which probably explains the PF flairup...GAH! (Really...the heel did hurt today and wine seemed a reasonable alternative to running. After all, I needed to REST MY HEEL/ACHILLES/TENDON/CALF/WHATEVER for Pete's sake...). Plus, it was good to see Edith, who I barely see any more, who joined Mona and me for Wine...then Betty...who met us later.

We have a new game: What was the sound-track to your last third date?

Mona says hers was "Roxy Music." Oh and BTW. She married the guy

My last third date was soooooo long ago, I can't even remember.

I have no elegant transition here, so I'll just say something inelegant like...Back to running news... Yesterday, after the dreadmill run, I noticed some extreme wear on my almost brand new New Balance Boat Shoes 1224's that I've owned for only about a month...this can't be right, can it?

This is the heel of my shoes. Doesn't it look like the outside of both heels is completely collapsing?

Just for comparison. Here's what the heels look like on a new pair (from the NB website)

Seriously...

Also, here are the bottoms of my shoes (cuz I know ya'all really want to check out the bottom of my shoes, so I'll oblige)

I don't know if you can see it or not, but the tread on the outside heel is completely wearing down...

I really noticed over the weekend at Sue Kren, and then again on the dreadmill on Monday, that it felt like I was running on the outsides of my feet (OK...duh, of course I always run on the outside of my feet. I mean who runs on the inside. I mean the outer edge...and you knew that). Anyway, I bought the shoes on January 29. I barely ran in February, and since I never posted my February running totals, it seem relevant to do so now.

Garmin - 23.62
Dread - 14.7
Total = 38.32

In other words....I ran less than 30 miles in February, and I'm pretty sure that new running shoes shouldn't break down like this in less than 30 miles.

Is it just me who thinks that?

Back to RoadRunner Sports, and thank goodness for that 60 day guarantee. GAH!

Any shoe recommends for an overpronator with PF issues?

So, since I have no track-club running stories to share, I'll go ahead and update the SueKren results. Turns out my finish time was 1:47:13 (11:12) and not 1:50-ish, so I'm happy with that AND I've got some race photos to share as well.

Serious Santiago, who hasn't learned yet that it's appropriate to mug shamelessly for any camera.

Betty, who I think was too far away from the camera-guy to wave shamelessly. But she was thinking about it...or she was thinking about whether I would split an omlette and pancakes with her at breakfast.

Mik, giving the subtle thumbs-up.

Elsie does look REALLY HAPPY doesn't she :-)

I love how everyone else looks as if they're running with some semblance of decorum, and me? I'm the complete dork who's waving frantically at the camera...((rolls eyes at self))...

Anyway. I'll be off to Vegas this weekend to see mom and hopefully run some.

Foto Friday & Carlsbad 1/2

Can't help but make one last mention of last Sunday's Carlsbad 1/2 marathon...I may end up dwelling on it for awhile as it appears that it was my last run for a couple weeks ((weep, weep, weep)).

That being said, for NikeMom's Foto Friday, I've got some pix from Brightgroom (which posted their photos quite quickly earlier this week), and since I'm shameless in "borrowing" from any race photographer, heeeeeeeere's the herd.

Betty and me, all smiles.

We did get lots of face time from Brightgroom phtographers, which I suspect is due in part to the fact that we I tend to wave like a dork whenever we I see a camera, AND that we were wearing the day-glo lime green shirts. Alissa asked where they came from. They are Race Ready shirts and in addition to being obnoxiously bright, they are really, truly comfortable, lightweight running shirts. None of us would have worn them through all these races if they weren't also comfy, that's for sure (well...BBJ didn't wear his, but I think that he doesn't like the color; not the shirt itself). I also have their running shorts...which have a bunch of pockets on the outside. Not very flattering, but extremely useful.

Betty and I purchased these at the 2007 AFC 1/2 Marathon expo, but they're also available online. AND they'll do custom made shirts. During the race Betty and I talked about getting some personalized shirts made for the herd. We had some t-shirts made about a decade ago, so we have a really cool heffer-logo that we can use...stay tuned. (Soooo, since I've given them a huge shout-out, do you think the'll send me some freebies? Gosh, I hope so).

Our speedy Mik

Alberta, on her way to a PR

Me...I am happy :-)

Betty, with long sleeve shirt on...

Honorary heffer-dude, BBJ - no lime green for BBJ today.

Alberta, me, Betty...end of race (hmmmm, Alberta must have taken her compression shirt off as well??? Am I the only one who keeps her shirt on during a race?)

Hip Update: The hip is feeling better. The bruise is turning a really pretty deep-purple color, and the edges are starting to green, which is a good thing, I think. Here's the really strange part (as if all of this isn't kinda odd). I wore jeans yesterday, and they seem to have left their mark on my hip as well.

Can you see that lovely vertical mark going up the center of the bruise? I'm pretty sure that's a mark left by the inseam on my jeans (and no...I'm not wearing hottie, skin-tight jeans. They're just regular jean, but they certainly made an impression !).

I had NOOOO idea that I bruised this easily. Still...I'm doing lots of icing, stretching, more icing...I'm also noticing that I need to clean my mirrors :-))

There's a 10K tomorrow that I'm registered for with the track club...No, I'm not going to run. I've learned my lesson. The PT said bike riding is OK, so I think I'll take my bike to the bay and ride there while the herd is running...I can also be an unofficial photographer

I also went back to RoadRunner Sports yesterday and exchanged my shoes...back to the NB 1224's...Unfortunately, they only had the really obnoxious fuscia-pink color. I won't be using them for a few more days. I'm hoping on Tuesday to start back in with some easy walk/run/walk therapy.

On a side note: This will be my 15th post this month. That's a record for me and probably occurred as a result of me having most of the month off. I'm sure I'll be back to my twice a week schedule now that I'm back to teaching. I have no idea how some of you, who work full time (some of you even teach) and post every day or every couple days or so, do it. (But I'm glad you do!)

Just Some Randomness

• I did Jillian Michaels 30 Day Shred for the first time yesterday. I am going to try to work in some of her workouts...you know, as both strength and cross training, a couple times a week. Level 1 was doable...I could do the ab work and the cardio (although I will admit I've never been able to kick my own butt...so that part was more challenging...and why does high-impact aerobics seem so much more high-impact than running?), but anything that deals with weights and my upper body strength? fuhgettaboutit...So I feel it in my shoulders and upper arms today. I used some 4lb hand weights. I'm thinking that I'll have two sets of weights sitting around next time I do the workout--the 4lb ones for some of the floor work and the bicep curls, and a set of 2lb weights (I'm such a wuss) for anything where I have to lift weights over my head or to my shoulders. GAH!
  

• On Monday, Steve, from Steve in a Speedo? Gross! told his story about how, even though he is a speedy-speedster now, and I couldn't even keep up with him for one lap around the track, he didn't start off that way and he posted some blog-worthy photos of himself from his early running days from high school. (NICE!). He says he's going to have a whole "best newbie story and embarrassing photo" contest later this month. I don't know if I have an embarrassing newbie story, but I've got a good photo from my first 5K (about three years ago).
  

• This is me...taking a little break and WALKING during my first Carlsbad 5000 in April 2006 because running an entire 3.1 miles was entirely out of the question. There are several embarrassing elements to this photo. 1) the size of my thighs; 2) the fact that I'm running in some crappy New Balance cross-trainers. I'm pretty sure that it took this one race for me to realize that actual running shoes would be a GOOD IDEA! and; 3) that I decided "down the sports bra" was the best place to keep my iPod during a run. I swear, I was just adjusting the volume on my iPod when the really clever photographer took this shot; I am NOT checking out my boob. I do love that the Britegroom Photography guy decided to take this shot. I'm sure those race photographers LIVE for moments like this (some woman checking out her own boob and the guy who's picking out his shorts from his ass). Click!

• OK...so speaking of shoes, I'm off to RoadRunner Sports this morning to get some new running shoes. I'm just tired of the random achilles and foot pain that has become increasingly worse after long runs over the last few weeks. After Sunday's 10 miler, the bottom of my feet were just KILLING me and my achilles tendon is still pretty tender. I'm pretty sure I just need new shoes. I got this current pair about a week before the AFC 1/2 marathon in August. I've run two half-marathons in them and trained, 400+ miles in them, so I'm due.  They look OK, but I have just been feeling the road in them. I do need that cushion-y support.

• I'm going to my first Tuesday Night Track workout with the track club tonight. I both dread and enjoy these workouts. I dread them a little because it's a hard workout. We'll be doing 8x100 strides tonight. And, since it's early in the track-club season, the track will be really crowded. But they're enjoyable too because it's a nice 1-hour workout and the speed work does really help me increase my speed and form. It's also another chance to get together with the herd, so funny stuff is bound to happen. 

Running Through a Sea of Orange

Now that most of the holiday stuff is behind us, it's time to set our sights on the Carlsbad 1/2 Marathon which is only 3 WEEKS AWAY (OMFG). Unfortunately, I didn't get in a long run on Saturday (had to recover from Christmas)...or on Sunday (had to go shopping with DramaGirl so she could spend some of her Xmas Gift Cards)...or on Monday (had to do something important, AND I also didn't run in the Holiday Bowl 5K, but that was more of an "I should stop spending and start saving some money thing)...

So...finally...this morning Mik, Betty and I got our long run in...our goal was to go 10 miles in less than 2 hours. It was also another chance for me to play with my new Garmin (dubbed the perfect gadget, and it does almost everything except for vibrate on demand, which is what Mik is apparently looking for in a watch!)

The really difficult part to getting ready for Carlsbad is that I've been struck by an intense case of non-motivation for running. I'm not sure if it's all the holiday craziness that's affecting me, or if it's some other malaise, but once again, had Betty not called me yesterday, and had Mik not emailed me, I'm sure I would have found SOMETHING ELSE to do today that would have precluded my running this morning, but they both called, so off we went...and I'm so glad we did.

First of all, it was beautiful this morning. I don't want to make ya'all feel bad, but it was one of those mornings where I am reminded, once again, of why I live here. It was a little cold when I left my house (my iPhone weather Ap said it was 37 degrees!), but by the time we got to the bay, it seemed closer to 50. I know that by the end of the run, it must have been close to 70!

Here's Mik looking on at the bay..yes all those tourists in t-shirts and shorts.

The most surprising thing about this photo is that there is not a single person wearing Orange in it, and this morning we ran in a sea of orange...all of the Oklahoma fans who are in town for the Holiday Bowl. We didn't see as many Oregon fans, but that may have been because Oregon's primary color is green, and they just blended in...but Oklahoma fans wear all sorts of gear in VERY BRIGHT ORANGE and they where EVERYWHERE. I'm rather glad that the weather this morning was so wonderful for them. For the most part, you can always tell the tourists on winter mornings like this...they have these rather blissful, happy, silly, smiles on their faces as they gaze onto the picture perfect bay.

We did note that after our run that none of the mid-westerners ordered a latte or a cappucino...black coffee and a pastry. We're not sure why it took us so long to get our latte's...I mean, how long does it take to pour coffee?

Me, Betty and Mik enjoying our post-run coffee. Oklahoma fan is clearly behind us.

Of course, the blissful-smile-tourist-wander a little less endearing when they wander aimlessly in front of you, but for the most part, it's sorta charming. I don't blame them. After a couple of weeks of pretty lousy-cold-wet weather, I had some of the warm-weather silliness in me too.

Despite the wonderful weather, I'm gonna rant a little bit about some of my current running gripes...

• Like, why is it I can run 8 miles with no problem, but 10+ has become a nightmare for me...what is it about those last two miles that have been so painful, and how am I going to overcome it to run 13.
• I sure felt those extra 5 pounds I'm currently carrying due to the holiday fest. Going to have to deal with that in the next three weeks (and then some).
• I am completely enamored of the Garmin, but wonder if it'll take some getting used to. I know that twice today, I sorta freaked out a little because I looked at it and saw that I was running quite a bit faster than I thought I was...then thought, I should slow down because I don't run that fast...
• I loved running miles 5-10 with Mik because I had to push myself to keep up with her speedy self, and that was good for me, but I'm also feeling it tonight in my hammies.
• Am so proud of Betty for going the distance commando style...no chaffing!
  

Finally...hope you all have a really happy new year! Betty, Mik and I were talking about having a theme party where all of the foods are inspired by "bob." We though of:

• Sish-ka-bob,
• bobbing for apples,
• anything on a Boboli, and
• babaghanush

What else is there?

OK..here's one more shot of the bay this morning...just 'cuz

Happy tourists, but still...no Orange, which is amazing because Orange shirts were EVERYWHERE!

I Swear, I'd Lose My Head...

Several of the herd like to tease me about the number of gadgets I own, and they'd be correct; I do likes me my running toys...(iPods, sensors, sunglasses, running belts, hats, hair-ties, headbands, watches, iPod carriers, key carriers, etc. etc...btw, you should see my kitchen...my gadget fetish extends there as well.) The herd is typically very patient as I dig through my backpack, searching for and/or organizing my various running accoutrement.

The unfortunate side-effect of having all this gear is that I have a tendency to misplace things. In truth, the whole iPhone in the toilet episode was really the result of me having a new toy (the iPhone) and wearing new running tights AND a new lightweight jacket and not being able to decide which pocket to put the iPhone in...BTW...the back pocket is a VERY BAD IDEA.

So it shouldn't be that surprising that yesterday, I ALMOST LOST MY FREEKIN' SHOES.

You read it right. My shoes.

How does one lose shoes you ask? Let me explain.

Betty and I ran at Lake Boy Part yesterday morning. (4 miles, 45:51, 11:24 pace...lovely run, beautiful morning) After the run, we walked down to some benches by the lake to stretch. I had my flip-flops in my backpack, so I decided to change into 'em. I mean, really, is there any better feeling than changing out of running shoes after a long run?

You see where this is going, don't you?

By this morning, when I was to meet up with Betty, Mik, and Elsie for another run, I could not, for the life of me, find my running shoes. Not in the bedroom. Not in the laundry room (where I usually dump my clothes after running). Not in the entry way. Not in the car.

WTF?

The last place I could remember for certain having my shoes was at Lake BP, so I came to the sad conclusion that I must have left them there. I was heartbroken because I *h e a r t* my New Balance 1223's. They're still relatively new. I just got my Nike+ sensor to work relatively well, and it was attached to the cutest-little-sensor-pouch. Not to mention the extra insoles in the shoes...GAH!

So I dug up my OLD 1223's. Slipped them on and went to pick up Mik and Betty, who agreed that we should go back to Lake BP to see if they're still there.

Fat Chance, right?

Wrong!

(I love Lake BP!)

Yep. There they were. Sitting on the barbecue, just waiting for me, with my sweaty socks still stuffed in them. Walter said later that he didn't see how my sweaty shoes held much value for people...shows what he knows. They're freekin' awesome shoes. Actually, I had a pretty high level of confidence that my shoes would still be there. I'm always seeing random stuff left behind at Lake BP. On Saturday, Betty and I noticed a baby shoe that someone had left on one of the mile-marker posts. The previous week, I noticed that someone had pinned a glove to the bulletin board.

Apparently, active people are not thieves...and HOORAY...I had my running shoes back!

So, from there we happily ventured to Mission Bay for our real run (yes, we left one running path, to go to another, but we were meeting Elsie at Mission Bay...) My shoes were a little damp from the overnight on the lake, but I was sooooooooo happy to have them back

Highlights from the Mission Bay run

Maybe the Nike+ sensor doesn't work so well...

Mile 1 - 10:57 pace (just warming up. This seems about right)
Mile 2 - 9:16 pace (I really had to pee, so I sprinted for about a mile to the restroom. This seems about right as well. I did pause my workout when I used the restroom).
Mile 3 - 11:51 pace (I think this included a turnaround when I had to go back and search for the nose piece to my new Nike Sunglasses, which had fallen off...GAH! Why do I have such issues with my sunglasses???
Mile 4 - 15:52 (HUH? I stopped at a drinking fountain for about 10 seconds...tops, so I'm not sure what happened there. I certainly didn't walk a mile)
Mile 5 - 10:48 (Seems about right again)
Mile .22 - 14:54 (This absolutely cannot be right because Mik and I practically raced each other for the last 1/4 mile...and she runs waaaaaayyyyy faster than I do)

According to Nike 5:22 miles, 58:32, 11:12 pace

Map my Run says it's 5:48 miles (changes to a 10:39 pace...which I find more believable).

Sooooo...maybe the Nike+ sensor isn't all that accurate.

Ah well...it was a really beautiful morning on the bay, coolish and foggy, but not cold--perfect running weather.

I keep reading all my bloggy-peeps tirades, complaints, and resignations about the running conditions you're dealing with and my heart goes out to you. You are all running gods and goddesses as far as I'm concerned. I grew up in a cold weather place (Reno) and I know what it's like to put on lots of layers, extra shoes, hats, just to go outside. In fact, maybe that's where my running gear obsession comes from. I just think I need to have lots of stuff to compensate for not having to pile on the cold weather stuff of my childhood.

It's a theory.

Anyway, I moved to Southern Cal about 20 years ago where the November weather is in the 70's. Not sure what you all are waiting for...

In any event, I'd promise to not bitch about the weather for the next several months so that you don't all throw virtual things at me through your computer screens (or worse, stop visiting me...noooooo), but it is supposed to start raining this week, so I'm sure I'll have that to whine about.

Anyway, after the morning run, we went to Elsie's Casita for the BEST PANCAKES EVAH and (of course) Mimosas...

Betty, making pancakes

Elsie, setting the table (view of mimosas)

Happy running herd

Hope everyone has a fabulous Turkey Day. I have to teach until Wednesday, so I'll no doubt be scarce until then. I'm sure I'll have plenty of time to visit blogs and do some further catching up over the long weekend.

Out with the old, in with the...HEY!!!!

I turned 46 on Tuesday. Yep... 46...

It was a pretty low-key birthday this year. Walter and I went out to a new wine-bar in town. He and the kids gave me some fabu gifts including two beautiful necklaces and Dance, Dance, Revolution for the Wii, which I stink at, but which also may count as cross training, so I'll keep on dancin'. It's been a pretty low key birthday for this girl who used to celebrate not only birthday WEEK, but birthday MONTH. But we have lots of other family, and work-related things going on in our over-booked, way-too-busy, lives right now to do anything more. And I'm OK with that. Perhaps I'm growing up...

But today, I'm thinking about being 46...geez...I know it's not REALLY old...I mean look at Dara Torres. She's a rock and such an inspiration. And in fact, when I tell people my age (or they guess), most say they'd guess me to be about a decade younger. I don't THINK they're just trying to be nice.

I DO think they're misled due to my relative immaturity...and my hairdresser who does just a kick-ass job on my roots...and heredity of course.

Examples of my immaturity?

• Whenever someone says, "I'll put a message in your box." I giggle. (hee, hee, hee, she said, "box")
• Actually, whenever I hear anybody say anything that could have a double-meaning, I giggle.
  
• On Monday, even though I was one of three presenters at a workshop, my notes include this gem spoken by one of the other presenters: "It doesn't go very far or very deep" (hee, hee, hee).

Seriously...I'm going to faculty meetings all next week. I can hardly wait.

On the other hand, there is some evidence of me getting old and cranky and having less and less patience with things that don't go my way.

An example of my crankiness?

Every single time, I've fallen in love with a running shoe, they get discontinued and I have to go on a search for a new shoe to fit my fat foot (hey, two pregnancies in which I gave birth to 10 pound babies...and then this running thing has taken its toll on my feet...I didn't always wear a D- width). I mean just look at this thing.
You try to find a shoe wide enough to accommodate THAT! I've tried several. Some of my favorites have been

Asics Gel Kayanos were my first running shoe. It was like running in butter, and was great until I started running longer distances...but since I over-pronate all over the place, I needed a shoe with more stability. Plus it's been DISCONTINUED so I went to...

Saucony Hurricane 9 - LOVED this shoe. Stability, but cushion-y...almost a perfect shoe for me. Then about a two months before the Rock and Roll Marathon, I wanted to get another pair...DISCONTINUED AGAIN...I try the newer version, the Saucony Hurricane 10. It doesn't have quite the same wide-toe box as it's predecessor, even in the D width. I almost break my foot running in them...which led me to...

New Balance 1223 - The widest shoe there is (for women, unless I go into a men's shoe...but then there'll be other issues). It's not quite as cushy as the Saucony, but it has an enormously wide toe box... This pair has probably close to 500 miles on them (including all the long training runs before the marathon). And I can tell that they're not giving me the support they once did. (I've had some tenderness in my Achilles for the last month, which I suspect is a result of this). So last month, I go to purchase a new pair as I'm training for the AFC 1/2 marathon and again THEY'RE DISCONTINUED and worse, the new version WON'T BE AVAILABLE UNTIL SEPTEMBER and even worse, because I wear a size 9-D, my local running shoe SUPERSTORE is SOLD OUT (and won't re-order)...ARRRGGGHHHHHH!

So, I'm stuck. Do I continue to train and even run Sunday's AFC 1/2 marathon in these old things? Do I search for a new shoe? Do I do an Internet search to look for these online and have them shipped to me, paying a fortune in shipping and handling? GAH!

Luckily, there's a smaller, family owned shoe store that was willing to call the New Balance rep and special order a pair for me. (HOORAY...Note to self: Shoulda been going there all along instead of the running-superstore!) Today they arrived...

TA DAAAAAAAAAA

Aren't they purdy (new color, same shoe)?

So, I'm out with the old New Balance (at least for now) and in with the new pair...at least for the next few months until the NEW VERSION, THE 1224'S come out. Hopefully they won't be that different and will still accommodate my fat foot.

Old and new...some old things have gotta go, that's for sure. Some, you keep around cuz they keep on getting better with age.

Here's to hoping that I fit into the latter...

Last Tuesday Night Track Workout

Last night was the last Tuesday night track workout before the big day. The goal was to run our marathon pace...

Well, I've had questions about that...What is my marathon pace? I think I am always running my marathon pace...

But some serious running talk here (if I may). If I were to go by my 10K and 15K times, (10:44 and 10:56), I think that means I would be running 11 minute miles... but somehow that seems unrealistically fast. I have the 5:10 wrist-band (estimated 11:49 miles), and I will say that running an 11 minute mile last night at the track felt awfully slow, but what I know to be true is that NONE of the long runs have been that fast. Maybe I'm going out too fast (and you all know how slowly I tend to start. I'm not a rabbit like Alberta and Edith are).

So, I'm starting to get some running jitters...and we all know what I do when I'm nervous. I SHOP!

It all started when my new sunglasses broke...the noseguard on the right side fell off. Can you see how its missing in the photos? Well, I don't know if you can tell from these fabulous photos I took, but the glasses are now uncomfortable and worthless...That's what I get for buying expensive RayBan sunglasses. But I'm irritated because the darn things only lasted 3 MONTHS. (I know, I know, I go through sunglasses like they're toilet paper).

I thought I was in luck because I purchased them at Costco, (and I thought Costco took back EVERYTHING) but the guy at the optical dept said that Costco doesn't deal with the warranty on glasses, but that RayBans have a 12 month warranty from the manufacturer, so he suggested that I should go to the website and try to get them fixed or replaced that way.

But here's the deal. Yes, RayBan will honor the warranty on the glasses, BUT I have to send them (insured) to New York AND pay a $12.50 (non-refundable) "handling" fee...to me that's going to be about $20.00, just to send them to be looked at.

I think I'll be going back to Costco with this info...

In the meantime, I've had my eye on these really cool Oakleys...whatdaya think???

In the meantime, I did need/want a new watch...so since I was in Costco, I looked through the watch section, and low and behold...they have a Timex Ironman watch that doubles as an iPod controller for $40.00.

So, guess which essential piece of running gear I now own? Ooooohhhhh... I ran with it tonight; it works :-) (hooray, .)


So, what I learned last night is that I really need to take it easy for the first 1/2 of the race and that I shouldn't go shopping at Costco when I'm nervous.

But golly an 11 minute mile pace would be nice :-)