I won't write about it, if you don't...

For the past several months, I have been trying to post a something after Tuesday night's track workout. This week, you'll notice, the Tuesday/Wednesday post is a little late. In truth, I haven't been able to figure out what to write, or even if I did know what to write about, I wasn't sure that I had it in me this week to write anything that would be funny or thoughtful or even slightly entertaining due to the elephant in the room–the topic that I won't write about, but has consumed the majority of my thinking this week, and this has made it difficult to write about anything else... But since the majority of my readership of 12 doesn't want to read about that topic anyway, I won't be writing about IT...and for those (if there are any of those) who don't know what I'm talking about and are saying "huh????", I apologize, except to say that we've had a tough time at school this week due to a colleague's really very bad choice and it's been difficult and horrible to see my closest friends be in pain due to that choice, which has made it difficult to write and that's why I haven't.

But that IS all I'll say about that.

So...what to write about...what to write about... Luckily, I've discovered that in the blogosphere, Thursday is known as "Love Thursday," which I'm sure has all sorts of connotations that we could have fun with, but since I was thinking that I needed something to make us happy, I thought I'd post a couple of pictures from these past 6 months of training that I just LOOOOVVVVVE!

First Day of Training...Do you remember the rain-run (as opposed to the Train Run). Do you remember how difficult it was to run 3 miles that morning?

Not a running photo...but I think a bunch of us know why I took this picture on the long ride to the Reno Airport from Momma's cabin (just too late to get the real road-side action!)

More love from before the SuperRun!

This one just makes me smile cuz Walter and Betty are in it

The scene of the crime...and the blogging catalyst

On a last note... about a week ago, another runner/blogger that I've been reading, who lives in Ottawa and is running her 1st marathon this weekend, wrote about how she's been sort of cranky during her tapering week and I'm wondering if any of you have been feeling rather cranky this week...oh wait, maybe we can't attribute our crankiness to the taper...it must be something else.

WE'RE RUNNING ONLY AN HOUR AND A HALF THIS WEEKEND. I do just LOOOOVVVVEEE to say that...

Alice

"In the dark, you could pass for 28!"

Here we are (Mik, Betty, Alberta & yours truly...we missed BBJ, who we think is nursing his tender calf) Don't we look like we've just taken a leisurely 11+ mile stroll around OB & Point Loma?

Yes, it was quite a weekend, quite a weekend...we started tapering, which means race day isn't far off. Have you noticed the counter in the right column. The shirts are ordered...neon lime green for everyone.

This week's route took us through Ocean Beach and Point Loma again, to Shelter Island and back...,

...but this trip revealed no condoms or bongs while running through OB...Maybe I was looking up this time, or perhaps I was looking forward, but for some reason, this weekend I was repeatedly confronted by the past...more specifically with the undeniable truth that time has passed and I've gotten older. (although here is a lovely photo of our back-sides...see we do have tighter asses!)

The first sign of this "passage of time" came during the run through OB...ya see, in my mid 20's and early 30's I used to frequent a fine dive bar called The Catalina Lounge, which is on the corner of Catalina and Voltaire in OB. It is the kind of dive bar that I know many of you would enjoy, and probably some of you have been there...pool tables, cheap beer. There is a sign in the bar that says "No Dancing" and the bartender would actually YELL at us if we looked like we were dancing, but it was sort of a good natured yell. Seems the bar didn't have the kind of liquor license that allowed that sort of thing.

Oh yeah, and they have Goldfish on the bar for a snack...what a great dive bar.

Walter and I have been there a few times, mostly before we had kids. Oh and we would also frequent another dive bar down the street on Voltaire called The Pacific Shores, which (and I kid you not about this) makes you feel like you're under the sea when you're there because the walls are all blue and wavy and the booths are all blue and shaped like clam shells...and I swear you think you are a fish when you're there, even if you haven't been drinking...

Anyway, I used to go to The Catalina Lounge with friends from my misbegotten youth, Dee, Maurice, and mostly Bruce... who introduced me to the place... I'd known Bruce since high school and when I moved to San Diego, Bruce became one of my best friends. I think I just latched onto him whether he wanted me there or not.

Bruce had gotten into UCSD after high school, (I remember being just completely stunned that he got into UCSD, or that he was going to college at all, because I know I spent a TON of time during our senior year in high school, poking him to keep him awake during our government class because he and some of his buddies had gotten high before school and he was ready for a nap by 2nd period government class).

I, on the other hand, was a pretty straight arrow in high school (don't laugh, it's true), and I think Bruce, and his buddies Dominic and Dave sorta adopted me as their sober, non-partying, virgin "pet." They would make jokes about "corrupting" me and all...but they never really made much of an effort toward it. (BTW, that's Dee, Bruce and "Maurice" in the photo. Maurice was my first friend who partied with a pseudonym...that my friends are people who use pseudonyms is a strange theme in my life...Also, this picture was taken the night of my "bachelorette party." Yes, Bruce was at my bachelorette party).

Bruce was the one person who could get me to laugh at myself, and this started to allow me to stop obsessing about what I was or wasn't doing, what I was or wasn't getting, who I was or wasn't being. He'd make fun of me for being what he called "surly" when I wasn't getting my way. He'd listen to my endless rants about how men were so rotten and he'd endure my frequent tirades about why I just couldn't find a man, or a career for that matter, who would appreciate me.

When he met Walter, he just said that it was proof that there was some one in the world for everyone, and then I think he thanked him for marrying me and wished him luck. Anyway, let's just say that Bruce helped me deal with many of the obsessions and neurosis of my young life, and even though we were the same age, in may respects, I thought of him as my big brother.

As I was running on Saturday, and passed the Catalina Lounge, I had to wonder what Bruce would have said about me running a marathon.

First, even though he was pretty unflappable (we used to joke about how nothing ever fazed him), I think he'd be pretty surprised. I was never much into physical fitness in my 20's or 30's (or even teens for that matter). I was definitely more into partying and playing by the time I got to San Diego. In trying to be humorous about my lack of interest in running, I'm pretty sure that I once said something like:

"Do you ever see anyone smile when they're running? No? Well, if I ever see anyone smile and run at the same time, then I might think about doing it."

Yeah, surly... But it does sort of explain my shameless mugging for the camera doesn't it?

See how happy I am here...just to be running past the 90 year old man...

And I do appreciate how you all smile for the cameras as well... It gives me continued motivation to run when I see people smiling while running...

I think Bruce would also have been pretty entertained by this current running obsession I have. I can almost hear him saying something like, "Don't take it all too seriously. You should probably have a beer before you start the race, you'll be more relaxed that way."

Bruce was a genius...

Bruce died about 5 years ago from a brain tumor. One day he was here, then he was gone. He was living on the East Coast when he got diagnosed...and it all happened really quickly. I remember going to the beach in OB one day to gather some sand and ocean water in a jar. I was going to mail it to him so that he'd have a piece of San Diego with him. I remember calling the hospice where he was staying to get the address and the nurse telling me that he'd just passed away earlier that morning...

In any event, running past the Catalina Lounge brought up some memories for me...or at least made me think about the passage of time.

(OK... that was a little depressing...which I didn't mean it to be. I have really excellent memories of Bruce...really, the Catalina Lounge made me think of those memories...really...anyway, I need to change topics now...so watch this clever transition...you'll be impressed, trust me...)

So some of these pictures are from my bachelorette party. Dominic and Bruce were there (as were Dee and Maurice). You know me, Bruce is the one with the silly grin and Dom, he's the one with his eyes closed. I'm sure he's saying something important.....oh yeah, that transition...

THEN on Saturday night, I went to Mona's Bachelorette Party. (Ta Daaaaaa)

It was a lovely affair as you might imagine...a lingerie shower. The BEST gift of the night was from a clever friend (not me) who gave her a before and after gift...for before... sexy lingerie and for after she's been married awhile... an ACDC t-shirt and sweats...

Guess which gift the married women in the room completely coveted...

Anyway, after the gift showering, a bunch of us went to a NIGHTCLUB in PB (SERIOUSLY! I don't own nightclubbing clothes...) called Johnny Vs. Go ahead, check it out...I'll wait....

See what I mean? Turns out it's pretty much your standard PB beach bar...at least that hasn't changed. I think Mona puts it best when she says that jeans and a ho-shirt are appropriate.

Anyway, for those of us who have been around awhile, it's in the place that USED TO BE a club called Manikin (and if you know that place, then you probably also recognized one of the bars that appeared in the Tom Cruise movie Top Gun was the one next to the Red Fox Room in University Heights in the 1980s...), but I digress...

Anyway, Manikin, I mean Johnny V's is across from the restaurant and nightclub that USED TO BE Diegos...and up the street from a place we used to go to for last call called The Old Ox... which was down the street from the PB Cafe all of which was called the PB Bermuda Triangle (you could get lost the whole weekend there) and NONE OF THESE PLACES EXIST ANYMORE.

Not only that...but none of the people in the bar last night (average age 22 I might add) were out of diapers when I was going to those places. Truth be told, I think my mere presence in the bar increased the average age by at least 10 years...and I was making a joke on the way to the club about lying about my age, and a colleague (who hails from So. Dakota, and who did manage to get a group of 20-somethings to do the robot on the dance floor, which was worth the price of my watered down cosmo just to see) ANYWAY, she assured me that in a dark room I could pass for 28!

Thank you very much...

So, lets see, can I pass for 28 (in the dark or otherwise)? ...you be the judge...

I think I'm about 30 in this picture, but SERIOUSLY, just check out the HAIR and the RED LIPS! I'm about 29 in the other picture (because I got married when I was 29...that's how I know...)

So, what's my point here?(and please do make one about running Alice. It's getting late)

Honestly...it took me awhile to ponder this, which is why I'm missing Desperate Housewives to write this at 10:00 on a Sunday night, and this is the conclusion I've come to:

I'm a heck of a lot healthier now than I was at 28.

Lord knows I'm a hell of a lot happier.

Walter still puts up with me.

I have been blessed along the way with lots of good friends who have helped me grow up, who have endured my rants and tirades, and who are willing to not only run with me now, but who will continue to run with me in the future.

In short, I've got a heckuva life!

So even if I can pass for 28 (in the dark or otherwise), I'm pretty darn certain that I wouldn't want to actually BE 28 again...because I know that in less than 2 weeks, I'll be doing something that the 28 year old me wouldn't even have considered.

Thinking about the race plan

We need a plan...And I'm just the person to talk about it (not plan it mind you, just talk and write about it)
First... We've been talking for months about ordering matching shirts for the race and time's running short (have you noticed the counter? We've got about three weeks people.)

I think we should order these Cool-Max T-shirts for the race. They're about $20. Betty and I wore the tank top version for the AFT 1/2 marathon last August. It was unbearably hot that day and the shirt wicked both the sweat and the water I kept dumping over my head at the water stations, AND I was unbelievably comfortable (or as comfortable as one could be when running 13.1 miles in 80 degree August-morning heat).

It comes in both a t-shirt and tank-top style. Betty and I suggest that we get them in LIME GREEN as it will make it REALLY easy for friends and family to spot us in the crowd because we will stand out like 1970's, Wham, Day-glo, lime-green, Popsicles!

It comes in other styles as well (long sleeve for example), but the other styles don't come in FABULOUS LIME GREEN.

We can wear matching headbands as well if you'd like. Really...just to get that 1970's, Wham-look going. It'll be us and ELVIS baby...

Anyway, let me know what you think and I'd be happy to get them ordered (even if you're not running the race, you can chime in your opinion about the shirt selection). I like the lime green, but the NEON YELLOW may also be a good choice. Betty can let us know if there's still time to get something printed on them.

Second... the pre-race meal...what should we eat? I think the plan right now is to have a pot-luck dinner at Mik's.

Betty made some suggestions for the best pre-race meal. She thinks hot wings, two Guinness, some chili fries, and two bowls of ice cream should do the trick. I'm thinking my stomach may not do so well with the chili fries. Maybe we won't let Betty cook for the pre-race meal, but she's welcome to bring the Guinness to the post-race bash at my house.

In all seriousness, what should we eat?

Lastly, I've been thinking about Paul (our coach, who we love and who has made a difference in our lives...and who may have been chastising us last night about our non-stop talking to each other during the warm-up and his announcements, but we were talking, so we couldn't tell for sure), who has reminded us CONSTANTLY that this has been about the journey, not the destination. After dropping Betty off after last night's track workout (6-800's never felt so good!), I was thinking about this journey and how much I've enjoyed all of it and how much I'm going to miss training with all of you (will I miss running more than 14 miles...not so much...).

I will miss running on Saturdays with Betty, and Alberta, and Mik, and BBJ and I will miss Tuesday night track workouts with Elsie and Edith.

Maybe I'm just feeling weepy and sentimental due to the other change in my life*, but I just wanted all of you to know how much I've appreciated running, training, laughing, and eating breakfast with all of you. You are the best.

And to all of you who read the blog (but who don't post). Today is national de-lurking day...please leave a post and let us know what you think of the t-shirt and/or menu plan for the pre-race meal.

Alice

*No...it's not THAT change I'm talking about here, but for those of you who don't know, I have accepted a teaching position at Grossmont College next year. It's a HUGE move for me, more than a little scary, and rather bittersweet to be leaving my high school/home of the last 15 years. I'm sure I'll write more about it in future blog posts, but no more about it today, because I don't want to start crying.

Pretty, pretty, pretty...pix from the Race for Literacy

Just some pix from the Race for Literacy
Alberta - eye's open...proof that she was there

Betty - Five miles is soooooo easy. I could do THIS every weekend!

The Capt'n - Thinkin' of breakfast for literacy - next year

Maccu - I woke up early for this???

Alice - There's a reason I don't run in cotton t-shirts!
Mi-mo-sa, Mi-mo-sa

The things I do for this woman...honestly....

"I won't be cooking any burgers; I'll be sitting on a stool..."

We had THE BEST WAITRESS at World Famous today. She took our picture, kept our coffee cups full, AND because there were only three in our party, WE GOT A BOOTH! Don't we look comfy?

Kudos to Mik for 1) running 20 miles this morning and 2) working two shifts in her sons' little league snack bars afterward. I hope she got the stool...she deserved it AND ... we all deserve breakfast in bed tomorrow.

And of course...we had mimosas...here's what was left of them...

Me? I just ran my 20, ate, drank, then came home showered, and tried to nap, although after ingesting 3 packets of Gu and the bottomless cup of coffee, my caffeine intake sort of interfered with the napping part...lets just say I rested...so sad.

20 miles is far.

Understatement of the century, huh? So is running 16, 17, or 18...but having done 17-22 miles, I'm ABSOLUTELY confident that we'll be able to run the full marathon. For me, it won't be fast. It won't be pretty, but I'm pretty sure that I, and the rest of my body parts, can do it.

I have conversations with my various parts and appendages as I run. I enjoy how they all feel the need to check-in with me at random times during the long runs, sometimes when I least expect it. One of the things that's kept me entertained are the conversations I have and deals I make with myself. Today's conversations went something like this:

After five miles of running:

Ball of left foot: Hey, I don't want you to forget that I'm workin' for you here...so here's a random sharp pain to remind you that I'm here. Send me some love why don't you...you used to get pedicures somewhat regularly, but for the last 9 months, nada...what's up with that?

Me: OK, left foot. I know you're there and I want to thank you for running over those pebbles back there, but we've just started today, and you can't be acting up yet. Thanks for all your hard work these last 9 months. I stopped getting pedicures because you gave up three toenails last summer, and I could see paying for a full price pedicure which dealt with only 7 nails.

After 7 miles:

Nose: Hey Alice, I know you THOUGHT you were over that cold...but I think I'll still be running down your face for awhile today...just so that you don't forget that even though you breathe through your mouth, I'm still here too.

Me: (to nose) Hey nose, I love ya too, but I wish you'd stop running. It's a huge pain in the ass to keep blowing all your snot into my shirt.

Shortly thereafter:

Ass: Wait a minute, who you callin' a pain in the ass...I'll show you a pain in the ass. How about if I just tighten up for awhile.

Me: (to ass) oh please. It was just an expression...I appreciate the work your doing too, and don't you appreciate being just a little bit tighter now that I've been taking you out running these past weeks?

After 10 miles:

Left quad: Geez, I'm working pretty hard here too...how about some Gu? Are you ready to stop yet? I think I'll just tighten up for awhile so that you remember the effort I put into this.

Me: OK quads (don't want the right one to feel left out...so I address them both) the Gu could be arranged, but no, we're not stopping yet. Seriously though, do you think you could relax just a little? Whenever you tighten up, the hamstrings feel left out, and they start to tighten up as well... We all just need to relax here. We are only 1/2 way there.

After 13 miles

Back: Excuse me...all that sniffling and blowing is really starting to bother me...how about if I just run some random back spasms for awhile. That'd be new...I've never done that before...wheeeee!

Me: ooohhh that hurts. What's your problem back? If you keep this up, we'll have to walk for awhile, then it will take longer to get back and that means we all wait for mimosas...now come on body, let's get it together here... How about if we stretch for a little while...

After 15 miles

All body parts: WTF Alice...we've been at this for over three hours. We think we're done and we're gonna stop running....NOW....

Stomach: Excuse me...those three packets of Gu...I'm pretty much done with those now and I'd like to get rid of the excess...

Me: Aw come-on parts...We still have about five miles...we gotta keep going, think breakfast, think mimosas...

Parts: We don't think so... Not that into it... Just. Want. To. Stop. Now.

Stomach: I'm not talking about stopping...

So, we all walked, and after about a 1/2 mile of walking and trying to convince my body parts to run again...and after finding a restroom, all of us (I'm happy to report) decided that mimosas and breakfast would be a VERY GOOD THING and even though we were all relatively numb and exhausted, everyone decided to cooperate...thank goodness...

Four hours, 15 minutes ...we were all done...longest run of my life...

Ending song of the run today: Jackson Brown - "Running on Empty." I didn't plan it that way...but how appropriate!

Awesomeness to Betty, Mik, Alberta & BBJ (who I hope is OK didn't overdo it too much with the calf muscle) for our great-last-long-run...

Three weeks people...

I think I'm going to LOVE tapering...

Ahhh Mimosas....

Alice

Have you ever nursed....

... an Apple?

Gwenneth Paltrow has...(and thanks to Betty for pointing out to us this Chris Rock introduction)

This all lead to Betty, Alberta, Elsie and me pondering other intimate object-type names that could possibly nursed such as:

Denver
Dallas
Montana
a Pearl
a Rose
Homer
A Candy

Think about it...we could all look down our class lists and find humorous nursing names/objects. What’s your favorite?...

These are the lengths we’ll go to be entertained while running 800's on Tuesday nights... This past Tuesday, I was slightly sad after having run the 5th 800 and thinking that I’d already run 6 of them (only two more, right? I shouted to Betty…No, we still have three more. Aw…geez)

Still, doing 800’s isn’t so bad when you’re listening to Prince (“Baby I’m a Star) or Dave Matthews Band (“Ants Marching) or Queen (“Fat Bottomed Girls”) or Lil John & East Side Boyz (“Get Low” – from BBJ’s playlist, which is still the nastiest song…but it makes me laugh).

I do think I scared a woman who I was running behind. I must have been breathing really LOUDLY, because she looked COMPLETELY startled when she saw me…but that might have also been because I had snot running MESSILY down my face (leftovers from the weekend cold). I’m sure I looked FABULOUSLY HOT! (I had to get a few more adverbs in there)

20 miles this weekend??? I don’t know, but I’m gonna try. I’m hoping the weather stays cool.

By the way, here's the group photo sent to me from the Race for Literacy Run this weekend...I gotta get a new pose...and I'm reminded why I never wear t-shirts to run in...



Alice

Is it real?

Yes, once again, I've migrated the blog to a new place in the world. This one is at Blogger.com. The URL is much easier to remember (and it doesn't use my name in the URL) AND iWeb was getting a little cumbersome.

I think I'll stay here awhile. It'll take me awhile to move the old posts to the new site, but I think it'll be worth it.

Anyway, Elsie sent this photo of her running in Mexico this weekend...I don't know, looks staged to me. What do you all think? Although I do have verification from Wilma that Elsie did, indeed, run.

See ya'all later on tonight at the track.

Alice

Absoludedly Habe Heab Cholds

I have a cold.

Pretty bad one too...which was inevitable after handling, shuffling, sorting, and (eeeewwwww) TOUCHING 1700 answer documents (multiple times). I try not to think about the number of germs and viruses I’ve had on my hands these past three weeks....although I don’t really have to think about it cuz, I’m living the result of it.

So I have a pretty bad cold....you know the kind where the head pounds, the nose runs, the chest wracks with the occasional fits of sneezing and coughing.

Despite this, at 5:25 this morning, I was fairly convinced that I could still run 16 miles with ya’all. At 5:28, after five loud and messy sneezes in a row, Mike told me to stop being crazy and to go back to bed and get better.

“No, I think I can do this.” I said.

“You should get better.” he said.

So, at 5:30, I called Betty... Her comment (half asleep) “Are you in front of my house?” (Clearly, I woke her up)

Me: “No, it’s only 5:30. I’m not going to run today. I’m sick.”

Betty: “OK, oh good, I thought I’d slept through the alarm.”

(By the way, Betty told me this week that my role in the group is to include adverbs to the ongoing commentary...to which I said, “absolutely!”)

I can’t remember what else we said to each at that point because I’m pretty sure I fell back asleep.

So I have no funny stories about running for you today. You all will have to fill us in on the running adventures this morning. I’m sad that I wasn’t there but I’m determined to do the Race for Literacy in the morning...

20 miles next week! Whee!!!! Definitely!

The tag goes in the front...I mean the back...

Just some helpful advise for those who have difficulty getting dressed. Unlike Edith’s earlier attempt to woo a guy with her creative sweatshirt wearing, Tuesday night, Betty’s challenge was getting her shorts on the right way (as opposed to that one time, on the wall, at Saints...when it was just a matter of getting her shorts back on...oh, wait, was I not supposed to tell that story?).

For future reference people, the tag goes in the back, and the shorts tie in the front...but it sure was fun watching Betty change shorts on the field while Paul encouraged the Kinks by telling us how much he loves us...and Alberta shouted “who’s got a camera? who’s got a camera?”

After that, running the 7 800s was a piece of cake...

In other running news this week...Edith went to her first Team in Training meeting (penance for not knowing how to spell my name) Tuesday night instead of the track workout. She needs to raise $3,300, so she’ll be hitting us all up soon for support...it goes to a good cause and all (the one about curing cancer...not just allowing Edith to run in the NIke Women’s 1/2). She’s going to just look fabulous in all that purple. I’m sure she’ll get more date requests that way.

In non-running/testing news and other rants...you all know what Spanx are, right? If not, it is this decades answer to the girdle...and I will admit to having worn one (and looking great in it)...For some reason, they have been a reoccurring topic of conversation in this term’s Literacy meetings. I think it’s mostly because the men in the group are amazed that women wear a product called Spanx.

I did get one science teacher to blush the other day when I informed him that there were also “full body Spanx.”

These science teachers...they have the dirtiest minds...I was talking about a girdle for pete’s sake!

16 miles on Saturday! Another 4.9 on Sunday for those of us who are doing the Race for Literacy.

Here’s Saturday’s route. It’s similar to one I did a few weeks ago...a really nice run to La Jolla and back...mostly flat...at least there’s nothing like Point Loma Nazarene!

Have a great week!

Alice

3 Comments

Clarence

Umm... with the whole Spanx discussion and dirty minds, i'm surprised that Alice didn't mentioned a couple of other school related discussions. Evidently we are going to be "trained" on our new IP phones. As was evident in the crude drawing at this morning's "staff" meeting, these IP phones look a lot like a penis phone- i'm just sayin'. Bring on the 60 minutes of training!

oh and then there are these bad http://www.wecovet.com/wecovet/2008/04/weird-ass-enhan.html">boys Do you think the science teachers know about these? :)

Wednesday, April 30, 2008 - 10:17 PM

Betty

Hey - after Tuesday - I was happy to simply have shorts on! I crapped in them so bad - it is amazing I made it to the workout. Although, no matter how crappy your day has been when you get to track practice, it always improves once you see friends and laugh a little.

Looking forward to the run this weekend

Thursday, May 1, 2008 - 06:53 AM

Alberta

That is such a nice sweet comment coming from Betty who on that day kept yelling at me to get out of there and run ahead. I feel so loved at track thanks to Paul. I think she was just trying to look at my bumper.

Thursday, May 1, 2008 - 08:30 AM

Flashbacks

I love all the random crap I see on the road when I’m running around San Diego County. It keeps me entertained. Last week, I ran past a used condom.. It was on the last, long stretch of bike path coming into Buccaneer Beach (I also thought about writing headed into Buccaneer Beach...coming, headed... it’s funny either way). The odd thing about spotting a used condom there (as opposed to ALL THE OTHER PLACES one might expect to see a used condom lying on the side of the road), is that this particular stretch of road had houses on one side and the train tracks on the other.

I had to wonder, how did a used condom get there? Did someone toss it out of the train? A quickie in a car on the side of the road? Couldn’t whoever have used it, just hung onto it until a proper trash receptacle was located (like the one around the corner at Buccaneer Beach for example)?...

In truth, it wasn’t the first used condom I’ve run past recently. I’ve seen three. I ran past one in the parking lot was near Carlsbad Beach, and the other on Ocean Front Walk. Both of these I could sorta understand how they got there because one was near a parking lot and the other was near the beach...and there’s lots of high school and college kids around, and well...you know those crazy kids will do it anywhere! But still. It would never occur to me to just leave something like that lying around. First there’s the wildlife issue (what if a bird or some other small mammal ingested it?). Then there’s the whole, “Don’t Litter” thing that I grew up with. Then there’s just the eeewwww factor... and forcing someone else to have to look at the leftovers.

I have LOTS of time to ponder these things right now.

For example, you won’t be surprised to learn that I spotted a water pipe (yeah, yeah, yeah...go ahead and start with the comments about how would Alice EVER know what it was to begin with, blah, blah, blah) today as I was running through Ocean Beach, It was cracked and broken...just lying there in the middle of the road. But like I said, we were running through OB, so I wasn’t particularly surprised to see it. I just sort of thought something like “oh yeah, we’re in OB. I would EXPECT to see a water pipe lying in the street.

But again...I had to wonder, was it cracked and broken because a car ran over it? Or was it already broken and someone who wanted to use it, got frustrated because it wouldn’t work, and in their frustration, just tossed it out into the street?

I understand that kind of frustration. I’m going to have to apologize to a certain Academic Advisor (no, not Mejia, one of the other ones...the one who is MALE) because I sorta had a temper tantrum over his insistence that he needed to alphabetize some answer documents that I thought needed to go directly into Math teacher boxes (don’t laugh, it’s true) ...it’s a long story which I won’t go into here...but Clarence, Madge, Wilma, and Maccu Piccu (who all graciously stayed after school yesterday to help with the great answer document sort...and who I love for it, and for whom I will host a post-testing bash during which Mike, the pool boy, will bring us food and beverages...as soon as I tell him about it...) ANYWAY...They were all there to observe and be entertained by my minor melt-down, and let’s just say it wasn’t pretty. I haven’t pitched a public fit like that in QUITE A WHILE because I’m trying to be so friggin’ professional at work and all...

But I digress, back to the water pipe, maybe someone was moving, and it dropped out of a moving box, or a backpack, or a purse (it was a pretty small water pipe after all) and that’s how it got into the middle of Cable Street in OB.

Again, when you’re aiming to run 18 miles, you have PLENTY of time to contemplate these important, earth shattering questions....like how do condoms and water pipes end up on city streets?

One more thing, unlike the condom, it was the first water pipe I’ve seen.

Clearly, I need to look up once in awhile.

But I was looking up today, and I wasn’t expecting to see some woman put her car in REVERSE and back down the hill in front of Point Loma Nazarene College because she’d missed a right turn by, oh I don’t know, about 10 feet. That was pretty exciting. She was very polite however and waved at a couple of us who were running by. (LIke backing down a city street to make a right turn is a completely NORMAL and EXPECTED thing to do). I waved back, while trying really hard to not give her my famous WTF are you doing? look...

Me? I’d have gone to the end of the block and turned around and then made a LEFT turn...I’m just like that. I don’t like going in reverse down city streets. Call me old fashioned, or I don’t know, SAFE...

As for the rest of the run, I stopped paying attention to what I was seeing in the road because it was so darn HOT and I was out of water...and thank goodness I ran with water this morning, or I would have DIED. So, even though I stopped paying attention to random objects on the roadways, I had several flashbacks to keep me entertained (nice transition from the water pipe story, dontcha think?). Most of these occurred as I ran down Harbor Blvd. specifically, in front of the airport, because not only did part of today’s route follow the same path as the AFC 1/2 Marathon that Betty, BBJ, and I ran last August, but it was also the same FREAKING HOT TEMPERATURE, as that day, which, of course, really sucked.

On the other hand, I was pretty happy to not have to run through the AVIS parking lot this time. because that sun reflecting off of all the fronts of all those cars certainly COOLS THINGS OFF...Nonetheless...missed Betty completely this morning!

Oh yeah, we all ran far and I’m proud of us all. BBJ ran 20 miles; Mik ran 18; I ran about 16.5. I lost track of Alberta. I’m guessing that she ran straight back to her car after 18 because she was in a hurry to get back to La Mesa to help some seniors with their Senior Projects. I never saw her again after Sunset Cliffs and running UP into Point Loma Nazarene College (HAAAAATE Hills!). But I did have visual confirmation that she was there (and there are photos this time!)

UPDATE: My eye looks pretty good today. We’ll see what working with math teachers does to it this week.

Take care and have a good week everyone! Next week it looks like we’re running from H. Point to La Jolla and back.

Alice

Clarence

Ahh.... the whole "I spy a used condom" game. Living in Pacific Beach for many years meant that my roommate and I wasted plenty of time with that game... as well as the "The Boyfriend Game". In fact, that is where the boyfriend game was born and well... you know the rest. Maybe next weekend you can play the "Boyfriend" game and figure out how many guys Alberta REALLY has staring at her boobies. Then you can play the "Girlfriend" game for BBJ... there is 5 miles AT least.

As you run into La Jolla next weekend, you need to watch for the Beach Spiders. They are MASSIVE and everywhere. Ask Elena, she knows. There is something about the beach/salt air and the huge trees that they LUVS.

You guys are my IDOLS!

Saturday, April 26, 2008 - 11:15 PM

Elsie

Ah, James Joyce would be more than a wee bit proud of this post Alice.....and an amazing physical effort from all of you, it was truly on the warmish side today. I took the road less traveled and went to the air conditioned gym for an hour of step class-- but I'm also happy to report at the construction site things are framed up, outlets placed properly and skylights positioned. See those of you who do Tuesdays at the track!

Sunday, April 27, 2008 - 12:11 AM

Anonymous

I can validate that there really was a condom cuz I passed it too.
I didn't know the camera guy spoke sign language.
You guys are my inspiration.
Mikberly

Sunday, April 27, 2008 - 07:20 PM

Alberta

I am proud to say that I was going the distance and I was going for speed and I was definitely alone in a time of need. (name the song and band) I think the title of my blog is a time of need because according to the lady next to me when we stopped running by my car we had run 18.5 in about 3 hours and 20 minutes. Other then the RIDICIOUS hill in Point Loma I didn't walk at all!!!!!!!! First time!!!!!!!! I felt like a rock star until about mile 12 because I ate breakfast!!!! The gue killed me I was in a time of need to the bathroom. What helped me was that every time I wanted to walk something near me kept me from doing so. I wanted to walk by the airport because it was DAMN HOT but bikini girl was in front of me and jumped up into the air. I honestly thought maybe one of her boobies finally popped out so she would stop wearing that outfit but I realized when I jumped into the air that it was a disgusting dead animal in the road, so I didn't walk. I wanted to walk when I ran past the cruise ships but I was embrassed, I wanted to walk when I was running through the ghetto off of pacific coast highway but I was afraid I would loss the people I was with and get lost and mostly I was in a time of need and wanted to walk when boob man was following me. He was behind me from pacific coast highway all the way back to my car (which I ran to). I really wanted to walk but I didn't want him looking at my boobs!!!!! He kept trying to talk to me which actually increased my time because I ran faster. Lastly, as I ran to my car to get in a lady looked at me like I was crazy and said don't you want to run to the end and get your popsicle and sticker but I couldn't help but just laugh at her. Great job everyone! It is time to fine tune our race cars!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Monday, April 28, 2008 - 09:15 AM

Alberta

Also, the lady in front of Mik I shake my head at everytime I see her with her nappy hair down and not pulled up. Why? And, whered was Paul with his little bike helmet telling me on mile 16 that he loved me?

Monday, April 28, 2008 - 09:17 AM

Alberta

Here you go!

http://www.eastvalleytribune.com/story/108730

Monday, April 28, 2008 - 10:01 AM

BBJ

Well, BBJ went 20, but I walked about 100 yards on the flood channel back to HoPo. I had a Vegas moment where I swore the flood channel was closer than it looked, like Caesars looks close when you are at Excalibur.

Pt. Loma was brutal. Running down from the Presidio shredded my thighs because my thighs are singing today with lactic acid.

Pray for June gloom on the 1st. The heat dried my shirt enough to avoid having sloppy bloody nipples. I tried bandaid-pasties to prevent friction, but after 10 miles, the bandaids were slimed off and on the ground, probably near the used condom somewhere.

Nice cleavage shot from the American Gladiator webpage. You must send the webiste to the boob-guy.

Only 16 miles next week along the coast. World Famous afterwards?

Monday, April 28, 2008 - 10:22 AM

Alice

I am so motivated by all of you who are running 18 & 20 miles that NO NO MATTER WHAT, I'll do 20 next week! I'm feeling like such a slacker with my measly 16 miles...boo hoo. So, next week, I'm going the distance (that would be "The Distance" by Cake...it's on my iPod too!)

BTW Alberta/American Gladiator Woman...you are HOT! No wonder boob-guy (and probably BBJ's running buddy, AKA T.A. Guy...) is looking at your headlights (and bumper-no doubt).

I have a bunch of decaffeinated Gu that you can have...I like the caffeine boost and it doesn't give me tummy troubles AND I need all the help I can get, so the no caffeine stuff all yours if you want it .

Monday, April 28, 2008 - 05:00 PM

No running - just whining about testing in the gym

So, today, we tested almost 300 students in the gym...almost four hours...two different science tests...three different grade levels... fed some of them pizza...and got most of them out of the gym in time for lunch...with no major mishaps...

Well, except I owe a blanket apology to several test proctors who I pretty much growled at...including the social worker who had a group of three kids at the front of the room (I’m not sure, but I think they may have been late arrivals, or we were trying to locate their answer documents, or there was some other issue...About which I didn’t really care, I just wanted their behinds in a chair...and I couldn’t understand why they were STANDING UP at the front of the room!!!)...so I nearly bit her head off with a snarly “WHAT ARE ALL THESE KIDS DOING UP HERE” (glare at the social worker) “YOU NEED TO GET THEM TO SIT DOWN!...

Ooops....

Of course there was also another test proctor who asked me, no less than three times, if students could get out their phones and iPods when they were done testing (NO...NO....NO).

And why is it that some test proctors feel it necessary to converse with students (these same students who we are trying to keep quiet) as they finish testing.

Is it over yet? I’m getting cranky...

Can you believe that I’m the buffer???

BBJ

Sounds like you need some stress relief. How about a 20 mile run tomorrow?

Friday, April 25, 2008 - 05:00 AM

Do It Yourself

No pictures of us running this week, not even a pretty picture of us enjoying our yummy breakfast at Honey’s in Encinitas (left iPoo2 in the car), but DO have pix of TEST BOOKLETS. I dream about TEST BOOKLETS and ANSWER DOCUMENTS and for some ludicrous reason, I have pictures of one teacher’s really organized set of TEST BOOKLETS...Don’t ask.

I’m pretty sure that the affidavit we all signed about test security said nothing about posting PICTURES of test booklets on the Internet...

So, after a ridiculous week of paper-chase nonsense, BBJ, Betty, Mik, Alberta (or so I heard, but I never saw her) and I ran the Buccaneer Beach run on Saturday. We loved that it was cool and overcast. It was a really pretty run from Oceanside, to the Carlsbad State Beach and back and then a little farther into Oceanside...which I didn’t like so much because I crossed BBJ’s path for a second time and he was FINISHED RUNNING!

Just so that you know, the Rockin’ and Runnin’ website says that it was 11.98 miles to the turnaround point and back, but when I map it on MapMyRun, I get 12.2...so I’ll take my measurement. I think I only went about 14 miles this weekend, BUT I learned about the value of using Gu every hour whether I think I need it or not.

By the way, Alberta and Betty will be happy to know that according to MMR, it’s about .8 miles from the turn around to Ponce Lane...so you can add 1.6 miles to your run :-)

I was glad to hear that Alberta showed up. The last time I saw her at Wong’s the night before she said she was going home to eat dinner and then go to bed and watch the “Do it Yourself” network. (Really...she said that, in a bar, in front of several Heffers...and me)

When I didn’t see her in the morning, I was worried :-)

BBJ learned plenty at breakfast about why women’s public restroom habits (e.g. the ability to hold a squat position in a bathroom stall) will help them in recovering from 26.2. We do have those quad muscles built up you know...Also we shared first-poo after childbirth stories (an emotional experience) ...Not sure now that BBJ will continue to brunch with us...

Next week we’re back at Hospitality Point. The route map is posted, but here it is for your convenience. There’s a better copy on the RnR website

It looks like we’ll get to see lots of San Diego Bay...I’m going the 18 mile route (blue) and NOT the 20 mile route...which takes us up 6th Avenue (remember the AFC 1/2 people...Yes, it’s THAT 6th Avenue!)

Wow...18 miles. That’s far... I’ll be bringing lots of Gu

Alice

6 Comments

Betty

I think Jaime and I went about 14 mikes also - as we only went from the park to Ponto and back to the park. But in either case, it was a nice morning. I'm always happier about it on Sunday!

I love all the chatter at breakfast and I'm glad we found that same place that Elsie, you and I went to a few years ago after the Carlsbad 5000! I agree with you - I think 18 would be good for next weekend - I'll make it my goal but I'll have to do it on my own as I have a committment Sat. morning. Just think - only 6 weeks till we finish this journey!!!!!

Another highlight is boob guy checking out Alberta! He can't even help himself! For what it is worth, since I didnt' sign a security form, does that mean I don't have to sort anymore?

Sunday, April 20, 2008 - 03:29 PM

Anonymous

Great Job Ladies!... Keep up the running.

After you graduate from the Rock n Roll.....I have the perfect running club for you all to join. It is a club for alcholics with a running problem...no kidding...check it out here: http://www.sdh3.com/

After you attend a few times and become "accepted" you are named. YOU DO NOT GET TO PICK A NAME....IT USALLY JUST HAPPENS...AND THEN IT IS YOUR NAME FROM THEN ON.....My name is "Head between thys".

A.S.

Sunday, April 20, 2008 - 04:14 PM

BBJ

Ah, C'mon. Go for the 20 miler next week. You'll squash 6th avenue like a cock-a-roach(Name the movie reference here). It's all mental at this point. After hearing those breakfast anecdotes, I know you ladies can endure pain.

Did a "run" this morning instead of the active recovery thing, and the first 2 miles were a challenge. I just kept imagining how you women use a public restroom and use your feet to indicate that the doorless stall is occupied without verbal communication. That made a few miles go faster.

Do your workouts this week and organize a 20 mile playlist on your Ipod for Saturday at 6:30 am, not "Where are you guys?" at 6:35 am.

Sunday, April 20, 2008 - 06:18 PM

Edith

Sounds like you all had a great run on Saturday. Tall Tim and I went 12 miles today. Where were you Elsie?! I'm going to buy some glucosmine...my joints are starting to ache and I WILL NOT GIVE IN!!

Hey Mik, if you are reading this, please apologize to your husband for me...he was trying to ask me about running last night at casino night and I totally did not recognize him w/out a baseball hat and baseball garb. I must have looked at him like he was a complete weirdo/stalker when he was asking me how my run went that morning. I'm a little slow sometimes, but I'll blame it on the beer!

See y'all on Tuesday night!
Edith

Sunday, April 20, 2008 - 06:43 PM

Elsie

Sorry I missed Oside - but gotta shop! On Tuesday, PA and I were slogging along trying to run 800's in 5 minutes or less, and we were on the last one, when I happened to mention that we were like the horse who smells the barn...since I grew up getting stepped on, thrown and generally beat-up by horses, when you come back from a ride, the run to the barn for hay and such. Well, one comment lead to another and ya'll can imagine PA's fertile brain with comments about getting rode hard and put away wet, a roll in the hay, making hay, bucking, etc. So, we ran the last 800 at record pace : ) I'm wondering what I can distract myself (and PA) with tonight.........hmmmmm

Tuesday, April 22, 2008 - 11:08 AM

Alice

I think there was more horse-talk last night...

Betty and I also discussed the whole "what are we going to wear during the race issue..." BBJ is afraid we'll order shirts that are either 1) white and see through (so that we can see his bloody nipples? NOBODY wants to see that) or 2)offensive...(although I can't IMAGINE how he would come to such a conclusion???).

So BBJ will be in charge of t-shirt selection for the race. Maybe we'll all get to wear sweater-vests!

What would the horses say?

Wednesday, April 23, 2008 - 05:43 PM