When you run in the city...a lot of police go by...

Mik, Betty, Elsie and I (a small portion of the herd) ran around Balboa Park this morning. Running is SO much better with friends, that's for certain. Here's the proposed route I mapped out ahead of time. I thought it offered options for those who wanted to run 10 miles and for those who wanted to run less.

It probably won't surprise anyone to learn that none of us did this route, and in fact after the first couple of miles, we all sort of went different routes. Mik ran around the park. Elsie and Betty ran to the end of the park and back.

First item of note
Betty ran in a BRIGHT YELLOW CROSSING GUARD MESH VEST, which made it really easy to spot her...something to consider for the next race. I wonder if there was any chaffing?

I ran out of the park, down Third Avenue, and then up 6th (the dreaded hill from the AFC 1/2)... Here's my actual route.

Second item of note

It was a BREEEEEEZZZEEE to run up 6th Avenue in the 5th mile...waaaaaay easier than it was in August in the 11th mile. I FLEWWWWWW up it. I wanted to run 6th mid-run because I thought it would somewhat mimic the hills in SF for the Nike 1/2 in October.

Here's the elevation for what I ran this morning

Here's the estimated elevation for the Nike 1/2

So...I'm continuing to get my hill training in. That's a good thing. I'm feeling pretty confident about the hills now.

The bad thing is that I didn't run as far as I'd hoped. After not getting a long run in last weekend, I wanted to go at least 10 miles, maybe 11 or 12, but after getting bored and changing my route, and running into a dead-end, I got a little wigged out because I'd been running for awhile on my own, without a cell phone or ID.

Third item of note:
Robinson Street dead ends at Florida Canyon...note to self...do not go that way again.

Fourth item of note:
In the center-city area of San Diego, there are an amazingly large number of police driving the streets. I noticed this after I realized that I was running solo and that I had neither ID or my cell phone on me (stupid...I know, I know...)...and because I am a nervous Nellie about such things, I started to FREAK-OUT a little bit about it. You know...the crazy thoughts...what if I fall and twist my ankle? Why is that old BUS parked in Balboa Park? What if, what if, what if... Honestly, FREAKING-OUT about personal safety is not a great running motivator. So, to mitigate the non-motivating effects of the freak-out, I started counting how many Black-and-Whites were patrolling the streets (I counted five...and I was at mile 5 when I started counting. I figured if I got hurt, I could always flag down a SDPD cop to come to my assistance...which is still a stupid personal safety strategy, but it made me feel better and kept me running.

I solemnly promise and swear to run with my cell phone on me if I run by myself from now on.

Finished the run with no other notable events to report...although I had a fabulous conversation with my gluteous maximus muscle (is that redundant) for about the last 1/2 mile or so...apparently, glut didn't so much appreciate all the downhills this morning and decided to cramp up for awhile. My line of reasoning, as it often is, is that we have to keep running so that we can stop.

Our mantra? Mi-mo-sa! Mi-mo-sa!

Here are my stats.

Total Distance: 9.25 mi.
Time: 1:46:23
Pace: 11:30
Speed: 5.21 (mi/hr)

The BEST part of the morning came afterward as I finally got my chance to see Elsie's remodeled house. It looks absolutely wonderful! She is so creative and a fine decorator...and she made us a yummy breakfast of pancakes, fresh fruit and (of course) MIMOSAS! She even let us (or perhaps she insisted, I'm not sure now) take showers after we finished running. Maybe she didn't want to lose that brand-new, fresh-paint, smell yet.

She's gonna hate me for this...but here's our lovely hostess.

Disclaimer: I emailed Elsie as soon as I got home and asked her to send me the photos she took with her camera, but as of the moment I hit "Publish Post" she had not yet responded...so all I had was the one photo I took with my camera...

But don't all the fruit, pancakes, and mimosas look FABULOUS?

Fifth item of note: When you take photos for the blog...send them to me IMMEDIATELY!!!

It was a great morning run. The weather has cooled considerably, so that also made the run enjoyable (what sort of madness is this? I run route-less? I call running enjoyable?). It'll definitely get me through the week!

Other running items of note
Yesterday morning, when the kids were at their call-backs for Oliver, Walter and I looked lovingly at each other and noted that the kids were gone and we had nothing planned...so...

We went for a run together (what were YOU thinking???)

This was actually a pretty big deal because Walter has had knee issues for about the last year. At one point we thought he had a torn meniscus. He's had an MRI and it turns out that the cartilage that holds his knee joint together is pretty much destroyed. For awhile, he could barely walk, let alone run. But he's making a comeback. He's not much of a runner, but he loves basketball, so he occasionally runs with me...mostly so that he can continue to run up and down the courts.

It was nice running with the hubby...although I don't know if he enjoyed it as much as I did :-))

Non-running item of note:
The cast list for Oliver was posted this morning. DramaGirl's audition number was 59 and Turbo's was 16. Here are the some of the results:

Actually, there are about 80 kids in the cast. I just didn't capture it all in one screen shot...just the important part! So thanks to everyone who wish the kiddos good luck. All your good wishes paid off.

Since both are in the play, maybe Walter and I will have more time to run together when they are at rehearsals...wouldn't that be nice... I'm sure Walter is looking forward to THAT...

Have a great week everyone. If the last two weeks were any indication of my life this semester, you probably won't be reading anything from me until Thursday or Friday.

Randomness at the end of a random week...

I've really got nothing to say tonight other than it's been a heck of a week. Settling into this new job-thing is taking some time. It'll be OK, but for now, it's taking much more time than expected. As previously reported, it's having a SERIOUS effect on my running effort. I got on Dread three times this week, but no outdoor running since last Friday's jaunt around the neighborhood.

On the home-front, Walter is a financial analyst, so you can only imagine what THAT'S been like this week.

DramaGirl and Turbo both auditioned for a local Junior Theatre production this week and BOTH GOT CALL-BACKS. (Hooray! Last year Turbo auditioned and didn't get selected to be in the play, which made it much less fun for the entire family).

Keep your fingers crossed that both of them get in this year.

So, that's what I've been doing this week...workin', watching kids practice for auditions, taking them to auditions, workin', frettin' 'bout the market, workin' some more, watching late night Fake News Shows in order to maintain sanity, which is when I learned about Fruit Infused Beer.

I mean really, who thought this was a good idea?

Seriously...fruit flavored beer?

I mean SERIOUSLY?

I really need to run some more...

Neighborhood Run Day

GAH...I had to get that whiny crap off the front page of my blog STAT ... YUK...

I really have nothing to complain about... AT ALL. I know that

That being said, hug a teacher today. Especially if they teach K-12. They are among the hardest working people in the world...and by Friday, all teachers deserve a hug. Especially if they have parent/teacher conferences tomorrow...you know who you are. Hugs to all of you.

Today was a beautiful running day...overcast and cool. It's still pretty humid ...which is odd for east San Diego County (think desert-like dryness). Today's weather report at noon was 72º, 66% relative humidity (you come here looking for So. Cal weather reports, don't you????).

I'm often envious of those who can just walk out their front door and have a nice neighborhood to run in. I mean, I live in a nice neighborhood, and I COULD RUN HERE occasionally. But I tend not to run in my neighborhood because we live in a semi-rural area (meaning, no sidewalks) AND we live on a hill (although, other than the beach, ALL of San Diego is like that).

But, there's something that is sort of silly about getting in my car and driving to a park to run by myself...especially with the cost of gas and all...but even if gas were cheap, something about it strikes me as sort of odd. I mean its one thing to drive somewhere to run meet up with friends to run, but it seems a little wasteful to drive to run...am I alone in that? Maybe it's just me.

But I didn't really want to run on the treadmill today. I was craving outdoors. And like I said...almost perfect running weather. So today, I did something I rarely do. I stepped out of my front door and ran the neighborhood.

So...here you have it...the grand tour of my neighborhood run...taaaaa daaaaaa....

Here's the start of my runway...see, no sidewalks...luckily not much traffic either...other than the occasional asshat who thinks this is the freeway. Grrrrr.

Here's the first downhill (yes, I moved the camera a little...
's not that curvy...nor do hills photograph well)

I really should write a letter to the mayor about the streets needing repair

The park at the bottom of the hill has a drinking fountain...dare I risk it?
I wonder if any dogs have used it recently?

I guess not...

An example of one of the smaller hills. This is a pretty tame example, but it photographed well. Most of the hills are short like this, but are steeper inclines (followed by short, but steep declines)...and for those of you taking notes, yes, Friday is trash day.

The elevation report...yeah, see that last up...that ends at my driveway.

My stats for the morning (sloooooowwwww...but there were hills, and I stopped to take photos...).

3.1 miles
40.08 minutes
12.:55 pace

So there you have it... My neighborhood run.

You may have noticed that I'm trying to clean up the look of my blog...I think I had too many things running down the single sidebar. I wish that Blogger had a three column (or two sidebar) template...and that it had a template that with tabs at the top of the page. I had to do some pretty serious (for me) html formatting to get that to happen. I'm not sure I could do it again. I also wish that the Blogger drafting window offered a strikethrough text option... I could go on and on...

In any event, I added a new tab at the top of the page that has my running stats, upcoming races, and other running links so that these appear on a separate page, rather than in the sidebar. I also added the super cool "follow me" feature that is new to Blogger...so go ahead and stalk me all you want. You all know I'm stalking you :-)

I'm trying to figure out if there's a way to add Twitter updates to the sidebar. I don't see a gadget for that.

Yes it's true ...I don't have time for teaching, planning, running, being a good mom, but I apparently have loads of time to attend to this...

GAH...

I Remember Teaching...

Several years ago, I stopped teaching full time. I didn't stop working full time, but I stopped teaching full time.

I found other ways to work a "full time" without actually teaching full time. I became a curriculum specialist. I became a literacy coach. I became a professional developer. I looked for ways to teach only part-time and do other things to make sure I was working full time.

All of which was satisfying. None of which was as much work as teaching is.

I'm not a slacker. Really, I'm not.

But here's the deal.

Teaching full time is exhausting. It has the potential to consume every waking hour.

Not all teachers are like this. We all know that.

But I am...Teaching can consume me.

So now I'm teaching again...full time...only this time it's at a community college...and we're three weeks into the semester and I'm remembering some things about teaching full time and what it takes out of me and I remember that being at a community college, it's not even one single-fucking-iota what it felt like to teach in k-12 full time. This I know...

But still...I'm remembering....

• I'm remembering what it feels like to never be caught up with all the grading I need to do.

• I'm remembering what it feels like to never be completely, perfectly, planned for all my classes, no matter how much time I spend planning and preparing (and I have lots more time to plan than I used to. Still, it's never enough.)

• I'm remembering what it feels like to know that no matter what I do, there are some students who I will not reach, because they are not at a place in their lives that they can learn from me, or from anyone for that matter. Their lives are, simply, impossible. And there's really not much I can do about it.

• I'm remembering what it feels like to not be able to control this aspect of teaching.
  

• I'm remembering what it feels like to want to do everything I can to get those students to learn anyway.
  

• I'm remembering what it feels like to be completely exhausted from trying to teach all of the students in front of me, whether they want to learn or not.

• I'm remembering what it feels like to know that I'm probably forgetting to turn in some paperwork or form to the front office, and that tomorrow, I'll get an email reminder that I forgot.

• I'm remembering that I HATE that.
  

• I'm remembering what it feels like to say that I don't have time to run because I have to teach, or I have to get ready to teach, or I have to grade some papers, or that I have a meeting to go to, or because I've done all of those things all day, I really should spend some time with my family, and not spend time running.

• I'm remembering what it feels like to be too tired from teaching at the end of the day to run.

But here's the deal...I love teaching...

• I love helping someone who just moments ago, didn't understand some concept, understand it now.

• I love helping someone who wants to communicate what they think about an important idea, find the words to communicate it.

• I love helping someone discover that they can do something that they previously thought they could not.

How do I find the balance?

It's Thursday night. I've run once this week....again. Yesterday morning, I ran for the first time since Sunday. I eeked out 25 minutes on the treadmill and was almost late to my first class because of it...

I'll run tomorrow, because I'm lucky and I don't have classes on Fridays and I'll have time to run.

And then I'll run on Saturday and Sunday...finally. One of those days will be a long run...

And I wonder, will running mostly on weekends be enough to stay in shape and to continue being a runner? I wonder....

It was only about 3 years ago, that I started running and taking care of myself. I know that once I stopped teaching full time, I was able to find the time to run.

So, I'm wondering, will teaching cost me running?

That seems a high cost to pay.

Or maybe not...

I'm just remembering.


(Lest you think I've gone completely off my rocker and into the abyss...please know that I COULD HAVE run tonight, but I decided to go to HAPPY HOUR instead and have a few glasses of wine...I do have my SOME of my priorities straight after all...and the third glass of Pinot Noir is probably some of the cause of my melancholy this evening)

13...is a magic number...

Hey Alice...where the heck ya been?

Short answer...DramaGirl turned 13 this week on Tuesday. She has soccer. Turbo plays football. I teach two night classes. The class I team-teach at State started this week (I'm doing the online portion), so I had to get that all set up. A busy week...

Last night, DramaGirl had a slumber party. They looked like they were having a fine time, what with all the pizza, and soda, and chips, and candy (and cake!) that they could possibly consume. I think several of them were up as late as 2am. I heard later this morning, that a couple were up until 4am. This is what they looked like when I left at 7am...They swore they were going to "pull an all-nighter."


This was the "snack table." I told them I was really quite disappointed in their snack consumption.


In any event, I left them all in Walter's care to run this morning. He is a much better morning person than I am. He also makes pancakes, which the girls loved....

So, I got in my weekly long-run at Harbor Island w/Betty. I had time to run only one other day this week so it wasn't pretty, but it's done. Here are the stats...

10.12 - miles

1:58:54 - total time
11:43 - pace

Like I said, it wasn't pretty. All I know is that I'm going to HAVE to get in a couple more mid-week runs every week if I'm going to be ready for the Nike Women's Half in (check countdown widget at right). YIKES.

The training plan that I've been following for 1/2 marathons in the past, never has me running either by time, or by distance, anything more than 11 miles. After the AFC 1/2 I started to wonder about this. It seems like a fine strategy for marathon training (why would anyone run a marathon other than at a marathon?) but for shorter races, I wonder if this is the best course of action for me. At the RnR marathon, when I went past the 1/2 Marathon mark, I felt great! Of course, in the weeks prior to the marathon, I'd been running 13+ miles, every weekend, for several weeks, so 13 was no big deal.

For the AFC 1/2, the farthest I'd run was 11.5 miles...and I was exhausted by then (of course, there was that heat and humidity...but still).

The training plan by Nike for the Nike Women's 1/2 recommends runs of 13 and 14 miles a month before the marathon, so with that in mind, I think for the next two weeks, I'll run 2.5 hours (at least 13 - 14 miles, depending on how fast I'm running that morning), then I'll taper to a 1.5 hour run, three weeks out, 2 hours two weeks out, an hour run one week out. I also want to get one or two good runs in on hills. Starting this week, I'm going to be able to make it to the Tuesday night workouts with the track club, so I believe there'll be some hill workouts there as well.

I should be prepared.

So that's all I got today. Sorry if I bored you silly, but I've got no funny stories to tell. It was a pretty uneventful run this morning.

We did see a washed up, eyes missing, stingray on the running path...that was new...most of the harbor area this morning just STANK...garbage and fish...not new, but smelled worse than normal, probably the humidity...there was tons of garbage from the Midway Aircraft Carrier, which is open to the public and thus has a "snack bar" at the aft (I'm SUCH a boat person you know...I can use nautical terminolgy with the best of them...musta been those two cruises I've been on...yeah, that's it). The amount of trash in the bay, which I'm pretty sure had blown off the Midway, was both surprising and dissapointing. The Midway has been there for awhile, and I've run past it several times. This is the first time I remember noticing the amount of garbage around it...sad.

My first mega-yaght, the Princess Mariana was not longer in port, but my second mega-yaght, Ice, was...not as showy as the Princess, but it'll do.

Have a great week. I've got about 50 blogs to read this afternoon, but I think I need a nap right now...you know, to recover from the slumber party.

My Waterloo

Good and bad yesterday, good and bad...

The Bad
Yesterday morning's long was an awful, icky, horrible run, in a place where Betty and I usually have wonderful, fun, easy runs...East Mission Bay Park where there's a flat path that goes to Crown Point on Mission Bay and back (7-ish miles on the path). I thought I'd run the path, and then a couple of miles farther, through some of the residential area, which would include one small hill, and then back. The bay is a great place to run. Usually, there's usually a cooling breeze and lots of pretty things to see (the bay, the boats, the boys) and interesting people to watch (the tourists).

My goal was to run for about 90 minutes. Given my times for the last few runs, and that we were running on the path at Mission Bay, I figured I'd be running about 9 to 10 miles.

So, how'd I do? 7.82 miles in 1:36:52 (12:23 pace), which included a potty-stop (coulda used two) and several walking/water breaks... Ewwwwww.

Here's my list of lame excuses...

1. It was humid -- This is a really lame excuse...we ran at 7:30am...62º, 78% humidity... which IS humid, but COME ON...62º? I should have no weather complaints...Gah!
2. I was tired -- I had one of those nights where I woke up every other hour or so, wondering if it was time to get up yet.
3. I had a funky-tummy -- Turbo and DramaGirl spent the night at the cousin's house, so Walter and I went out to dinner at Indigo Grill...really amazing food. We split some ceviche, a grilled romaine appetizer...I mean, who ever thought to grill lettuce? But it was amazingly good...and we split an equally good pork-porterhouse which included some fabulous onion rings, something mashed and some grilled/spicy oranges. Since we split everything, it shouldn't have been too much food, but these are clearly not foods I'm used to eating everyday...oh yeah, I had two glasses of wine...which also goes to explain #2 and which resulted in the need for potty-breaks throughout the run.
   
4. I'd run pretty hard on Sunday -- This too, is really lame because at no time yesterday did my legs feel tired...it was all mental. I thought I was going to have a lousy run due to 2 and 3, so I did.

Ah well...I'm going to take today off from running. I've run four of the last five days...that's a lot for me. A day off will do me good. I think I'll do some yoga and strength conditioning with the WiiFit and the free weights in the garage (since Walter cleaned the garage out last weekend, and now I can get to the weights).

The Good
Got this email from Momma this weekend...

Hey Herd,

How fun would this be???? Mamma Mia is showing a sing-a-long version. I know, how cool!!!!

Wouldn't it be fun to go as a herd and sing our way through? So, if you're game...

Monday matinee at Grossmont Center
1:00 (it's bargain hour too!)

Meet out front at 12:45??????
Who's with me?

Momma

Not a big ABBA fan. But an afternoon with the herd is always fun, so I took DramaGirl and we went to the sing-along. The lyrics to the Abba songs are subtitled, which enabled me to sing along...because really...who knows ALL the words to ABBA songs? I know, "Mamma mia....blah, blah, blah, blah." I always thought that "Dancing Queen" included the lyrics "You can Dance/You can fly..." Did you know that it's "You can jive" which I guess makes more sense, but seriously...JIVE????

Some highlights...

1. The movie crowd consisted of a maybe 100 women and two men. What does that tell you?
2. 20 minutes (I exaggerate NOT) included a preview of HIGH SCHOOL MUSIC 3...Oh JOY!
3. As the subtitles appeared for the first song, D1 (Betty's daughter), noted that she had a Disney movie at home with a bouncing ball that had words too.
   
4. The lyrics to most, if not all, of ABBA's songs are way more perv-y and sexual than I ever knew. "Does your Mother Know" is all about flirting with an underage boy. In the opening song, Amanda Seyfried is singing about finding out who her FATHER is, and is singing the song "Honey, Honey" which includes the line "...and now I know what they mean, you're a love machine," which is a little, shall we say, ODD.
   
5. Daisy and Momma know ALL the lyrics to all the songs...Me? I was reading the whole time.
6. Really? They worked a song called "Super Trouper" into the musical, but couldn't work in "Waterloo?"
7. Betty and I were wonderful back-up singers on "Super Trouper" (Su-u-u-per Trou-u-u-per) and another song were she kept hitting my knee, so that I'd know when to sing "uh huh."
8. In one number Christine Baranski and Julie Walters use vibrators as microphones...not sure how I'm going to explain that one to DramaGirl if she ever asks (I'm praying she doesn't...but if she does, I'm sending her to Momma to explain)
9. DramaGirl told me afterward she was happy to not be sitting next to me during the movie because she could hear us singing and thought it was funny, but embarrassing.
10. Pierce Brosnan really CANNOT sing.
    

It was, however, an awesome way to spend the afternoon. There's a rumor of going again, and I would since now I know some of the lyrics and could really belt-it-out, but I think I'll have a cocktail or two beforehand next time. It'll help me sing...really...

Weekend Running - Sunday Version

For the first, oh I don't know, 40 years of my life or so, I ran chronically late to EVERYTHING (yes, I know that some of you are young, and I just used the word "chronic" which has a totally different meaning than my intended meaning of "constant," and if you're old, like me, and you don't hang around teenagers, like I do, you totally don't know why the young people are laughing right now, to which I say, find a teenager and ask them what "chronic" is; they'll tell you...but then they'll laugh at you because it's probably not even a hip and current word for MAR-I-JU-ANA anymore...) YES, BUT I DIGRESS!!!

Anyway, this morning I was late picking up Betty, which almost NEVER happens any more, especially where running is concerned, but this was one of those morning where I woke up late, and then wandered aimlessly around the house for 30 minutes, and not really accomplishing anything...really, truly, just spinning my wheels.

Despite my house-wandering, I still forgot my water AND I forgot my flip-flops (for after running) AND I forgot the receiver part of my Nike+. This occurred even though I spent several minutes making sure the sensor was attached to my shoe. However, without the receiver, as far as I can tell, the Nike+ sensor is useless shoe-attachment...GAH!

The worst thing, is that by the time I picked up Betty and got to Balboa Park, it was close to 9:00, so even though there was some morning haze still hanging on, it was getting a little warm AND it was really humid (72º, 80% humidity).

An aside about the weather...I know I write about the weather A LOT, which in San Diego is really rather silly. We have no "weather" to speak of here. About 90% of the time, the weather here is almost perfect. Sometimes it gets a little hot, cool, humid, whatever, and San Diegans get all hysterical about the less-than-perfect weather. You should see people here absolutely FREAK if it rains for more than 20 minutes. It's the lead news story on the local news if it rains for 5 minutes even! Local San Diegan's certainly don't know how to drive in the rain (hint: SLOW THE "F" DOWN PEOPLE!) It's crazy. I grew up in Reno, NV...and there we had SOME weather, meaning that in the winter it would snow and it would get pretty cold (like sub 10º cold...) and EVEN STILL I know that was not extreme weather. But I've lived here in San Diego for more than 20 years now, and so I consider myself something close to, but not quite, a local (I do drive more slowly than the average San Diegan when it rains). Still, like a local, I do complain about the weather whenever it is less-than-perfect...for this I apologize, especially to all of you who live and deal with actual, real, weather... I know that there may be some of you in the gulf-coast area who are about to deal with some really serious weather due to Gustav...I hope that you all are safe and sound and taking care of yourselves. Feel free to throw things at your computer screen as I finish up my rant about the relative humidity Betty and I endured this morning.

So, we get to Balboa Park, agree that it's too late to run 8 to 10 miles due to the expected heat and relative humidity and agree to run for about 45 minutes. Here's the route we took.

It's pointy...isn't it?

Here are my stats:
4.14 miles/10:48 pace

I have no idea how that happened. All I know is that I felt pretty strong the whole way. The thing about this route is that parts of it are included in several local runs that go through Balboa Park. The AFC 5K, which I ran a few years ago, is one. The Komen Race for the Cure 5K, which I've run a couple of times, is another. The end of the second mile as you turn that last curve onto 8th street, is a gradual incline. I used to think of it as a big hill and I remember the first Komen Race, when I just walked almost all of it.

I was thinking today as I ran, about how it wasn't such a big hill...not a big deal at all. Nice...

The other thing that occupied my thoughts as I ran today, was my new arm-band for my iPod Nano that I was wearing. Most of the time, I slip my nano into a pocket and I string the headphones up my shirt and through the neck because I just HAAAAAATE the feeling of the earbud cord whipping against the back of my arm or neck. I always end up thinking some nasty bug has landed on me and I no-doubt look like a total spaz, slapping at some invisible gnat, when it was, in fact, the cord. I have some serious issues with this.

So, I've been stringing the cord up my shirt and out the neck-hole. The cord does get sorta-sweaty, but it stays put and it doesn't bug me (hahahaha..bug me...get it?)

But here's the problem. I go through earphones like toilet paper. About every other month or so, I've been having to replace my headphones because one of them goes out and I can hear through only one side (which isn't such a big deal since most of the time I use only one side, so that I can hear if an oncoming car is about to squish me), or the cord begins to fray, and I can see the wires underneath, or they get damaged in some other way, and I started to wonder if this was happening as a result of the cord rubbing between my sweaty back and sweaty shirt. hmmmmmm.

So, I decided to try to look hip and cool while I'm running, which is no mean feat by the way, and I purchased an arm-band carrier for my Nano and thought that I'd let the cords be FREEEEEE. It looks like this:

The horror of my upper arm ...and yes, that is a beach towel on the floor behind me. We use a beach towel as a floor-mat because the shower door leaks water onto the floor so badly. You don't want to know what other horrors I cropped out of this photo...

So, I ran with the cords aflutter this morning, and they didn't bother me too much, so maybe I can look all cool and hip running with my tunes, and also save some money on earbud replacements.

In any event, here are my questions for you all.

1. If you run with an iPod or other music player, where do you carry it? (I know that lots of people don't run with music. I used to run withit all the time. Now it's about 1/2, unless I'm on the dreadmill...in which case tunes are mandatory)
2. Where are the earbud cords? and to they bother you? (Inside or outside your shirt, or somewhere else?)

I'd be so grateful for your feedback on the great music-listening device dilemma that I'm having.

Again, if you're in the gulf-coast area. Take care of yourself...that is, of course, the most important thing!

Thoughts from Another Lake BP Run

This morning, after dropping off the carpool kids at school, I headed over to Lake Boy Part for a quick run (headed over...hee, hee), because today is Friday and I DON'T TEACH ON FRIDAYS!!!!

In case you've just joined me here, or if you need a refresher, this is Lake BP.

This morning I ran about 5 and a half miles, 1:01:21, an 11:04 minute mile pace. Not bad...

So, lest you think that all I do in my life is run, blog, and drink mimosas with the heffers, you should know that I spent the bulk of my run this morning thinking about other MAJOR THINGS that really take up the majority of my time in my life, which is raising my two kids (Drama Girl and Turbo).

Well really, as I ran, I thought about my kids and also that I was running up the shaft of Lake BP...but we won't talk about that.

Anyway, this morning, I found myself thinking about the amazing and interesting people my children are becoming. They are at such an age right now that every day, I am struck by how they are not really my babies any more, but are becoming independent, creative, intelligent individuals...it surprises me every single time.

For example, last year Turbo, who is a quite sensitive (sometimes momma's boy) kid had continual problems with the other boys on at school. I grew up with sisters, so boy-worlds are frequently a mystery to me. But my best guess at what was going on is that he would do something wrong, or would make a mistake (as we all do), and the other boys would make fun of him and he'd get upset and would all too freqently cry, which made him more of a target for being made fun of... Walter and I tried to suggest many times that if he'd laugh at his own mistakes first, then others would be less inclined to laugh at him (although they would certainly, and hopefully, laugh with him... I guess I base this whole blog on that premise, that you all are NEVER laughing at me, but are laughing with me).

He would tell us in no uncertain terms that our strategy just would NEVER work.

He told me many times that I just didn't understand what it was like to be a boy. (He was right, I don't)

Then just yesterday, he told me that he was using our strategy of laughing at himself if he goofed up, and things were going really well at school because of it.

A miracle...momma and daddy were right...

Reliving that thought kept me going for a mile or so...

Drama Girl is turning 13 on Tuesday. In other words, I am going to be living with a teenager! Oh my lord help me, but yes, it's true. I have to wonder how THAT happened. I swear just yesterday she was sleeping in a bassinet beside my bed.

DramaGirl is too much like me. She forgets things constantly, loses items regularly, gets distracted by her own thoughts and the projects she is most engaged in frequently. I'm like that too. I barely get through a day without losing my keys at least once.

Like me she is so much more interested in her own projects than the drugery of the chores I insist whe do. (For example, there are at least three loads of laundry that need folding, and have needed folding for several days now, but here I sit, blogging away because it is what I would rather be doing). Because she is becoming verbal enough to articulate how she sees the hypocracy of my adult rules (e.g. I don't make my bed every day, so why should she have to put her clothes away?) we have regular loud and animated disagreements about "my rules."

Yes my relative level of immaturity, and her maturity should serve up some entertaining moments in the next few years. Let me tell you I can hardly wait.

And yes, I've said "because I say so" and "I'm the one who pays for those clothes you wear!" Lines I swore I would never say, on multiple ocassions.

Yet she regularly impresses me with how much she cares for all of us. She is loving and even though she is spending the night at a friends house, she will call me later, just to say goodnight (she always does). Sometimes she sends me a text message from school, to tell me that she is having a good (or bad) day. She has far more academic drive than I had when I was her age (I was fine with just earning B's for little to no effort). She strives for A's, not because she want's the A, but because she wants to do good work. She's a great kid. She's brilliant (IMHO) and funny, and creative, and absolutely adorable.

She actually has been watching the Democratic Convention, just because she wants to know what's going on in the world...what 13 year old does that?

So, they're growing up and I have no idea how it all went by so fast...

April 2000. Turbo is 20 months. DramaGirl (can you see the drama already?) is 4 1/2

A vacation moment this summer for momma...with no bickering.
Drama Girl - Almost 13, Turbo 10 1/2

The Belt

Blog stuff take your 8 ball & shake it alberta gets yelled at again mowing the lawn see Jim who did it in his speedo & 8 cases of playboy accupuncturd getting by stuck has it's advantages momma got the belt! B only 38 seconds for the snach not to mention the clean & jerk. Lots of wood here tonight.

What would you do with this?

This is the email I received from Elsie earlier this evening. Ya see, some of the herd went to dinner and a Padre's game to celebrate Momma's (our fearless heffer-leader's) birthday.

I didn't go with them because this is my first week at my new job and I'm completely overwhelmed with random stuff to do...I haven't even run since Sunday. Despite thinking I'd have tons of time to run and write and live the fabu-fabu life, I find that I've had very little time to do anything except for plan and get ready for the next class. I'm sure it'll all settle down at some point, but right now...not so much.

I'm determined to run in the morning. It'll be on the dread, and it'll be early...but I'll do it.

One observation about teaching at the CC.

Question: What's the difference between a high school senior and a community college student?

Answer: About three months...

Anyway...I get the email and a challenge...Betty tells me: "We're sending you blog stuff and we want you to make up a funny story for the blog."

A CHALLENGE? SERIOUSLY? I never back away from a challenge (I'm just a little bit competitive...although you'd never know it from my race times.)

But...I haven't run this week, so I don't really have anything to write about, AND I could use a nice distraction...so, here's my best shot...thank goodness there are photos to assist.
Looks like Betty has a good view doesn't it? I wonder if was in Trevor's leg lift where Betty saw saw lots of wood. I don't know what she was expecting. I have no doubt that as she was smiling for the camera, she was also thinking about her future as an Olympic athlete and whether or not she could beat the world record of 38 seconds in the snatch, not to mention the clean and jerk. She'd be good at both... (now where did you THINK I was going with that...you and your dirty minds).

Unfortunately, the Magic 8 Ball, with which she confers with on all major decisions replied "Outlook, not so good..." Sad...so very sad...

Later on in the evening, I have no doubt that Alberta was doing a bang-up job recruiting these two fine men, both of whom are named Jim, to join her in her new lawn mowing business. A lawn mowing business? This one is bound to be a success because the labor has to mow the lawn wearing a Speedo. She's promising them that the pay would be good. I hear that she offered them 8 cases of Playboy! Unfortunately, before she could close the deal, the game was starting and the rest of the herd wanted to get to their seats and started yelling at her to get her moooooooove on. Too bad, the Jims look really very enthusiastic about it.

Gosh, I need one more photo...Something to explain getting acupuncturd and how getting stuck has it advantages...

Hmmmmm...maybe I don't need to say anything about that...

Soooo... Happy Birthday Momma! Sorry I had to miss dinner and the game and I do have a belt for you too.

BTW Momma's current favorite math joke is "What did the zero say to the eight?"

Nice Belt

How'd I do?

Fire Run - Race Report

A race report on race day...WOOT, WOOT, WOOT!!!

The End of Summer Fire Run used to be known as Moondoggies to Moondoggies. It was named after two beach-type restaurants, one in La Jolla, the other in PB. I think the PB Moondoggies is still at the end of the pier. I suspect the owners were no longer interested in paying Prospect Avenue - La Jolla rents, and thus moved or closed or decided that one restaurant was enough...

In any event, this is the second year we've run this point-to-point 4 mile run which occurs the week after the AFC. It's a nice fun, flat, little race that ends on a slight downhill slope. I LOOOOVE that you can see the finish line for the last 1/2 mile or so.

Mik, Betty, Elsie and yours truly, before the run

Betty, Elise, Edith, Mik and I ran this year. I discovered later that Clarence, and Madge also walked the course... a full heffer field! Afterward, we went over to Mona's for an awesome breakfast feast! (Mona wouldn't run with us...but agreed to feed us afterward...no complaints here!). Yes, Edith is not in the before race photo (as usual). It's an ongoing game we play...Where's Edith (sorta like Where's Waldo, but without the red and white striped shirt)

My goal was to get a PR. Last year's time was 42:51 (10:42 pace). I thought I could finish in close to 4o minutes.

Some race notes and observations

• Hard to say who has the most random way of setting her watch and clock in order to ensure an on-time arrival. My car-radio clock runs about 22 minutes ahead, which sorta freaks people out on a regular basis when they get in my car and figure that we're going to be REALLY LATE for something (until I assure them that the clock is 20 minutes ahead). Mik, on the other hand, wears a watch that is set 5 hours and 5 minutes ahead...but since she's the only one who sees her watch, she probably isn't freaking people out with it...
  

Mik's watch, at about 7:42 this morning. Time is so relative...

• Although it isn't sunny in La Jolla this morning, unlike last week's AFC, it is still PLENTY humid...so by race time, I am already sweating.
• Edith, who was THIS CLOSE to placing in last week's AFC 5K, leaves us to start at the head of the pack. She wonders why I sometimes forget that she's with us...but that's mostly because she's NEVER with us (Although, we may have to start calling her "THE RABBIT").
• Nike+ sensor, still not calibrated. I am still at least .10 to .20 miles behind it. Grrrrr. It isn't as off as last week, but it's still not right.
• I love that people want their children to be interested in running and health and all, but I almost trip over three different ankle-biters who sprint ahead of me (cuz that's what little kids do) THEN STOP, RIGHT IN FRONT OF ME, AND TURN AROUND TO SEE WHERE MOM AND DAD ARE...(again, cuz that's what kids do). Teach your kids to pace themselves people...or start at the back of the pack with walkers.
• Mile 1 split is 10:15! This is despite a pretty slow start due partially to the aforementioned children and also the crowded start on a somewhat narrow street. I'm surprised, to say the least, but since I'm feeling strong, I am hopeful the 40 minute finish is within reach.
  
• Mile 2 - where is the eff-ing the mile 2 marker? I have no idea! Gah!!!
• About 21 minutes in, sweat is dripping off my nose (literally). Since I'm sweating a TON, it's Gu time (I know, I know, it's only a four mile race...I'm addicted to the crap). I'm wondering where the eff-ing, cooling ocean breezes are. I try to take mind off the humidity and begin mantra of "I feel good! I feel strong."
  
• Mile 3 - 31 minutes - I'm a little bummed cuz I know I won't break 40 (there's no way on God's green earth I'm gonna run a 9 minute mile), but still feeling good and am passing people right and left.
  
• Turn the corner onto Mission Blvd and I can see the finish line, so I pick up my pace...pass a few more people, then realize that I probably started the pick-up too early because I can feel my heart in my ears (is that bad?) but I'm determined to not let any of the people, who I've just passed, get by me.
  
• Finish Line - 40:30. Last mile is a 9:30 mile...WOOT, WOOT, WOOT! aannnnnnd I COLLAPSE.... (not really)
• After the race, I find Edith, who KICKED SOME SERIOUS ASS. She wants to get her picture taken with the firefighters (homage to the end of the Nike Women's Marathon in October...).
  

Edith with the firefighters...they are behind her on the fire-truck...really, they are!

• I start getting text messages from Clarence saying "where r u?" I think she's just messing with me. Betty did this once in the airport...she kept sending me text messages which said things like "I'm right over here waving at you" and "keep walking, don't you see me?" even though she was still DRIVING TO THE AIRPORT, so now I trust no-one when they say "I see u" if I cannot do a visual confirmation!
• Sorry Clarence :-))
  
• Race organizers PROMISED better shuttle-bus service back to La Jolla than last year. We wait for a bus for a few minutes...when one of the race volunteers tells us that it'll be about 10 minutes before the next bus arrives (not good). Personally, I don't believe him. We immediately start looking for a cab.
  
• We flag Taxi No. 1, who refuses to pack all five of us in the cab. Apparently there's a law about that...who knew?
  
• We flag Taxi N0. 2, who agrees to take us back to LJ, but only if we load the cab from around the corner where no-one can see us. We, of course, agree.
  

• Nothing is better than a cozy, sweaty, taxi ride with four of us in the back seat. We're small peeps...really! Edith ducks to make it appear that there are only three of us in the back seat. So clever...
  

• Driver drops us off a few blocks from our car, mostly because we cannot really remember the name of the street we parked on...but what a difference marathon training makes. We get out of the cab (no muscle pain), and we actually JOG to the car...well...not the whole way, but still, no immediate muscle soreness...a miracle!
  
• Along the way, Betty tells me that my breasts are "tinier" which is why I don't get chub-rub from them. Don't know if I like the words "tinier" and "my breasts" in the same sentence, even if it's true.
• We end the morning with an awesome champagne breakfast at Mona's. More laughs, including some revisitng about the effect of the deadly lemon drops we consumed on Friday at a after school happy hour at my house.
  
• Recipe for some kick-ass lemon drops...1 can of frozen lemonaide concentrate, 3 cans of water, 2 cans of vodka...we like the Kirkland/Costco brand that is supposed to be Grey Goose, only less expensive...do those sound too strong?
• I wish I had taken some photos of the excellent blueberry pancakes (with chocolate chips...a miracle) and frittata Mona made for us. YUM YUM YUM...thanks so much Mona!
• Wish I had taken a photo of Mona cooking for us...aw heck. I have lots of photos of Mona. Here's one from Friday.

Mona and Theresa...with empty Lemon Drop glasses...hmmmmm.

• Oh yeah...and the mimosas...LOOOOOVE an after-run mimosa or two.
  

Fine morning, fine running...which begs the question...why do we run 13 miles when 4 is so much easier (answer, 4 is easy because we run 13...duhhhhh).

The results (yes, I'm posting 'em all...sue me)

Elsie (oops...I mean Edith) - 33:05 (8:16)
Mik - 35:14 (8:48)
Alice - 40:29 (10:07)
Betty - 42:21 (10:35)
Elsie - 45:56 (11:28)

No local races until October-ish, but Betty is all enthusiastic about doing the Urban Dare next month. Anyone ever done this? It's supposed to be like a one-day Amazing Race event.

Also...I will NEVER AGAIN use bean-people clip art from Microsoft since my last post looks like it has a weiner in it. On the other hand...who doesn't want to laugh at a picture that looks like it has a weiner in it?

Also, also...Thanks so much for all your positive comments and encouragement about my new job and for setting me straight about my little rant about my life changing and related concerns. I know I'll find things to write about and the running thing will work out because it's a part of who I am now. Please know that all your positivity is really, really, really appreciated (you like me, you really like me...OK...that WAS lame...)

My New Life

So, I'm four days into my new teaching position (hee, hee, hee, she said "position.") at the community college. It's going to be QUITE different, in many ways, from teaching high school (other than not seeing the heffers every day), but different in other ways as well.

The biggest different will be my work day. On Mondays and Wednesdays, I'll be teaching three classes. My first class starts at noon and my last class ends at about 9pm, and I'll have a rather large block of time between the end of the noon class (1:45) and the beginning of the first evening class (5:00). That time is filled with things like office hours and having to move my car from a satellite-lot off campus (because faculty can't park on campus during the day...it's a long story involving the building of a new parking structure), to a lot on-campus where I can park in the evenings. Then I'm back on campus the next morning at 8am for my only Tuesday/Thursday class. Including office hours those days, I'll be done teaching/working at noon on Tuesday and 9:30 am on Thursday. I don't have any classes on Fridays.

Yep, you got it right, I'll be done teaching/working at 9:30 on Thursday morning (my high school teacher/administrator friends are NOT weeping for me right now...not even my friend who works at the county office of ed.)

When I taught high school, I was on campus daily from 8am until at least 4pm and often later, with barely time during the day to pee, let alone run...unless I was running to the restroom, but that's another story. Now, I'm hoping I'll have time for the rest of my life, including running, my family, writing (not only this blog, but other education-related stuff like articles and maybe a book, as well)...which is a huge reason why I took the teaching position (hee, hee, hee) at the CC. I loved teaching high school dearly; I just didn't like the lifestyle.

It would seem that this new windfall of time would mean that I'd have time to run on Monday and Wednesday mornings before I teach, but I know me...I won't. I'll wake up, deal with the kids, get them off to school, and then I'll need to get ready for my noon class. I wish I was organized enough to have already planned and prepped for classes well in advance, but I've never been like that (and I've been at it for 17 years). The reality is, especially since this is the first time I'll be teaching these classes, I'll be planning and prepping until class starts. So, while in my perfect world, I'd get a run in on one of the mornings, I wouldn't bet the house on it.

I'd like to continuing working out with the track club on Tuesday nights, but since I'll be away from home on Monday and Wednesday evenings, I'm kinda feeling guilty about being away on Tuesdays too. I could always run earlier in the day on Tuesdays, but then I'd miss running with the track club and with (most importantly) Betty, Edith, Alberta, and occasionally Elsie who show up on Tuesday nights (and wouldn't it be a hoot if BBJ showed up once in a while this fall) ...plus Tuesday Track Nights have also given me much blog-fodder. I'm torn.

The good news is that I'll have plenty of time to run on Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday...but here's the bad part; most of those times, I'll be running alone...which I really don't enjoy...and also, and here's the other tragedy...Again, I end up with not much to blog about. I'm just not that interesting on my own. (Hence, today's post...)

For example...I haven't run since Sunday's 1/2 marathon. Partially, I needed a rest day (or two) but mostly because as this has been the first week at the new job, and students don't start until next, I have been consumed by meetings, or trying to get stuff ready for class on Monday. I haven't been getting home until 7:oo or so...then there's dinner, homework, showers, bed for DramaGirl and Turbo, then me collapsing, exhausted.

I finally got on the dreadmill today for 30 minutes. I managed to calibrate my Nike+ sensor so that it doesn't think I'm running a 8 minute mile. Then I went to the dentist.

See? BORRRRRRRRRRRING!

So, I'll try to keep it lively and find other random things to rant, I mean write, about in this new life I'm starting (redundant...would one really start an old life...see, the English instructor in me is already ready and poised with her red pen). Life is so full of randomness, that I'm sure I'll find something.

Doing the Hills, But Not the Heat

So...there was some gentle harassment about my lack of a race report on race day...but I've got some REALLLLLLYYYYY GOOOOOOOOOD reasons why I didn't post a race report yesterday... REALLLLLYYYYY I DOOOOOO.

• I was REALLLLLLLLY tired after the race. It was hot and humid and while we trained for hills, we didn't do much in the way of heat training...AND even though weather.com reported it was 69 degrees at 7am and only 72 degrees by 9am, I humbly, but emphatically DISAGREE as I know for certain it was WAAAAAYYYY hotter than that...maybe it was the humidity, or the lack of cooling ocean breezes, but it felt hot, damn hot, too damn hot for me to have anything cleverly to write about later on...

Weather.com lies...lies I tell ya..

• I got really dehydrated during this race...partially due to the heat and partially due to REALLY POOR PLANNING on the part of AFC ...and the complete lack of water stations in the part of the race which was hottest...the flat parts going into Harbor Island and out of it...both times there are 2.5 miles between the water stations (4 mile - 6.5 mile points...and 2.5 miles between 8 and 10.5 miles). Now in many races, perhaps this isn't such a big deal, but people...this race is in AUGUST...WHEN IT'S HOT and/or HUMID and/or BOTH here in So. Cal! Betty and I counted hearing and/or seeing sirens at least five times because people were colapsing due to the heat. (note to self, if I run this next year, I'm carrying water...I've learned my lesson). I know my walk at mile 9 and then again at mile 10 (uncharacteristic for me) were dehydration related...and this also contributed to my not writing a race report last night.
  
• I will say however, that after the race, Walter attained god-like, rock-star, status when he handed Betty and me beers (Yes...beer before 10am...I can't even remember the last time I had a beer at 10am...), but this WAS medicinal beer and thus, completely appropriate, at the same time, it certainly didn't make writing after the race any more likely to occur.

Betty and her husband...enjoying the beer and the chair...
husbands are rock-star gods for taking care of us post-race!

• After the after-race nap, Betty, Mik, and Elsie joined me (and my sister who was visiting from LA) by the pool for more beer, and wine, and pizza, and ChexMix (otherwise known as crack), and some completely satisfying baklava to celebrate the race and to retell race stories. Additionally we further identified several other words we would NEVER say at a staff meeting (e.g: deep, penetrate, organism, service the student, damp, four minute effort, abreast...yes, we're all very mature...and judging by your comments to my last post, so are all of you!). Unfortunately the afternoon also made a quick, post-race report being written wayyyyy less likely to occur.
• BTW - Here's a math equation for math teacher Edith, who kicked some serious ass and placed 6th in her age division in the AFC 5K that morning with her blistering 8.17 pace...you go girl, that describes my day in mathematical terms...4am wakeup + 13.1 miles + 1 beer = after-race nappy - after-race bloggy.
• Also, in my mom-life, the next day (today) was DramaGirl's and Turbo's return to school (Hooray...a parent's favorite day of the year!), which meant that last night was all about making sure that school supplies were distributed and then fought over--this despite purchase of said supplies was made at Costco, which meant that there were MORE FREAKIN' G.D. MECHANICAL PENCILS than anyone could possibly ever lose in a school year available for each pre-teen who lives in this house. But mandatory bickering session took place nonetheless (did I mention that I was tired and therefore not particularly willing or able to endure bickering session)...And which also made writing post-race report was impossible to imagine.
• Oh yeah, I also started a new job teaching at a local community college today (moving after 17 years as a high school teacher), and none of my syllabuses are finished yet (students don't start for another week, so I figure I still have time) so I was a little distracted by that.
  
• Finally, the AFC website didn't post official results until late last night (although late, in my book, could have been any time after 8:30, because that's when I went to bed), so I couldn't verify my race time...and I wanted to be accurate...so I had, yet another excuse, to not write.
  

So, my race report is a little late, but I've included a few some photos, and it is G.D. accurate...and I'm completely enthusiastic about it. So here goes...

• Woke up at 4am...caught bus to start at 5:15 (AFC is a point to point run, so we take shuttle buses to the point and run back to Balboa Park)...Cabrillo monument is beautiful in the AM. Betty and I are sad to note that we can see morning haze covering the city, but the sky above us is clear...much like it was last Saturday. Only this time it's clear, we'll have no choice but to run in the sun.
  

Betty and I pre-race. Cabrillo Point Light House is behind my head

• Had lovely conversation with fellow runner. Somehow Betty ended up talking about D1 who is young for her grade. Fellow runner asks if D1 is "exceptionally bright," which I am now sure was somehow her subconsciously noticing the "exceptionally bright" running shirts we wear, but which elicited numerous comments from Betty about the flashy clothing D1 wears from time to time.
• We look for Alberta and guess that she is no-doubt on the last bus (she was), but we sadly are unable to locate her...silly heffer, didn't wear the lime-green racing shirt!
  
• Race starts on time. Lots of runners. Since we've been at the race start for almost an hour, right about race time, we do our final porta-potty business. We'd been told that the PP lines toward the start are shorter, so we head that way...which works, but also puts us more toward the start line than we typically start...which is mostly a bad thing.

The crowd at the start of the race. Three minutes of solid people in front...about another 10 minutes worth of runners behind us.

• Since we started at the mid-front part of the pack, we start the race WAYYYY TOOOOO FAST. I realize this when we pass the 1 mile marker in 10:15 and think..."oh...this is going to be bad" and try to slow down, but Betty and I are still keeping up with the crowd and pass mile 2 in about 21 minutes (still too fast).
• Even though we are wearing our florescent neon-lime green race shirts, I lose Betty in the crowd around mile 2.
• Gu at mile 3.
  
• Also...around mile 3 a paramedic-truck tries to make it's way up the still really crowded street...honking and siren's blaring. No doubt to assist the fallen runner (what I assume is the first heat-dehydration casualty I've seen, but may have also been a person who just fell down...the descent from Cabrillo is STEEP!). Still, a little worry in my subconscious is no-doubt planted about the possible effects of the heat and humidity.
  
• Betty passes me around the water station at mile 4. She always runs faster than me downhill. We comment about the fallen runner, note that we went out probably too fast, figure we'll pay for it at some point, but are both feeling pretty good. It certainly doesn't seem as hot as last year, but I'm feeling some interesting pains in my back from running downhill. Have the first of several conversations with my various body parts to keep running even though they're not happy (first conversation is with my back, which seems to be spasming around mile four. I tell it to calm the heck down...we've got a way to go)
• 10K split is 1:07...about 5 minutes faster than last year. Betty and I give thumbs up to the photographer as we pass. Feeling pretty good because I realize I'm doing better than last year, but I'm a little worried about my fast (for me) start, and the downhill run pounding, and as we pass another down-runner, my sense of anxiety about the heat rises. She is just passed out cold and those assisting her are just pouring water over her. She's lifeless. It freaks me out a little.
  
• Getting to the water station at 6.5 feels like an exercise in endurance, sun is in our faces, and I'm pretty much swearing the whole way at the AFC planners. People all around me are saying things like: "where the hell is it." I know it's around a curve on Harbor Island and I feel like I just stumble into it blindly. Down a cup of water. The energy drink they offer is vile, but I drink part of it anyway...I down a second Gu.
  
• Am mometarily distracted by a girl running barefoot! Did I mention it was HOT. We're running on ASPHALT. I comment to a random person running next to me that I'd just need more arch support than THAT. She agrees. Barefoot girl get's lots of attention as she passes people (she is running fast).
• Water station at mile 8 includes a "rain forest" and is heaven. Not facing sun, but a sudden cramp in my hammy causes me to stop and stretch a bit.
  
• Run through RENTAL CAR RETURN LOT is once again HELL due to the fact that we are once again running into the sun, the sun is reflecting off of all those car windshields, and the pavement is sort of like running over cobblestone, only less even...and I just HIT THE WALL...no warning...sort of similar to the marathon wall when my legs just STOPPED. Even though I hadn't planned on taking another GU until about the 10.5 mile water station, I need to do something...I THOUGHT I still had one more...then discovered I didn't...ah shit, I must have dropped it... Once again, I am thirsty (they say if you're thirsty, you're already dehydrated...) and dizzy. I start to wonder how much of my dehydration is just in my head and how much of it is real. I don't want to end up like those who I've seen passed out on the side of the road.
  
• Gu seems to work (it is a miracle, isn't it?) and I start running again with Betty. She was doing great and passed me right up as we headed into downtown San Diego...only the sight of her neon green shirt keeps me going...but I stop to walk one more time around mile 10. I get passed by a woman wearing a full length jilbab. Am amazed.
  
• Finally...downtown San Diego. The last water station and another rain forest. What I forgot is that, now I'm going to be running between tall buildings in the shade...soaking wet...but at least now I'm cool, so I start to feel much better.
• The final hill starts on Ash street and then continues as we turning onto 6th. My goal all along has been to run the hill. I realize that if I walk, I will be in danger of not making a PR and of being slower than I was last year...which I would hate. So I put my head down...and RUN the G.D. F-ing Hill.
  
• Wait...there's an extra water station at mile 12...if they can put an extra water station at 12 miles, why can't they have one at 5 and 9? Geez.
• Make it to the top of the hill...and barely have anything left for the last 1/2 mile. Luckily, the last 1/4 mile is again downhill. I do my version of a sprint (Drama Girl said it didn't look like sprinting to her!) and finish strong. I was completely happy to have my family there to greet me at the end of the race. DramaGirl and Turbo even (seemingly happily) gave their hot, sweaty mama an after-race hug (DramaGirl would offered Betty a tentative high-five). She even took this fabu after race close-up...

Here are the stats
2:38:57 (4 minutes faster than last year)
1:07:48 (10K split - 5 minutes faster than last year)
12:08 min mile (yuk)

Here's what I learned
I continue to learn that whatever I train for is what I can do. I trained for hills; I ran the hills strongly. I did not train for heat and humidity (as a matter of fact, Betty and I avoided running in the heat at all costs, including my very, very, very valuable sleep time), thus it was the heat and humidity that did me in...sigh...

But all is not lost. There's a 4K race this weekend on Sunday...it used to be called the Moondoggies run, but now it's called the "End of Summer Fire Run." SouthbayGirl says she might come down! Let me know. We'll figure out a place to meet up. It's a pretty small race...it'll be no trouble finding each other. We'll be the ones wearing neon-lime green.