Friday, December 30, 2011

Good Riddance!

I have to say I will not be sad to see 2011 leave. This year has had a lot of disappointments. But after the stellar year of 2010 I suppose it's only inevitable that I'll get a sucky one. I won't bring you down with the details but it involves a death, friends moving, and a lot of money out the window to repair/replace appliances. On the up side I did finish my first TRI and marathon. I'll use that to build my 2012.

I don't do resolutions. I've really only made one meaningful one and I've kept it for 9 years, to quit smoking. I feel if something is important to you, you'll do it no matter when you start it. These are goals I have for 2012. I've been putting them together for awhile and they're just the natural progression of my running.
-2 marathons
-an ultra relay
-an obstacle run
-2 TRIs
-and I can only hope a boat load of of other greats
2012 HAS TO BE MY YEAR!!

Tuesday, December 27, 2011

MIA

Sorry, I've been a little MIA lately. With the holidays I've been spending a lot of time with friends and family. Therefore, dating has really been at a standstill. And, honestly, I wouldn't want to start anything before the new year. The pressures are to great. Do you buy them a gift? A card? Do you spend NYE with them even though you've only gone out once or twice? It's just fraught with land mines.

I am working on some new leads though. I woke up to an email from the matchmaker asking if I'd like to meet a 41yo engineer named Roger. Sure, why not. I'm down for drinks on a Friday. And I've gotten some texts from a couple of flames I'd written off. One of which I'd planed on contacting after New Years in the hopes that his life had calmed down. It seems to have. 

Running has hit a low again. I can only assume it's because I am so out of my normal schedule that my body is just not cooperating. I'm hoping to go for a long run tomorrow and then get a massage. My hopes are at a 50% right now. I went out yesterday for a good run and ended up doing a terrible 2.5 miles. But the new year is coming and I'll pull this around in the end. I have to. I already signed up for a full in May!

Monday, December 19, 2011

Possibly Gay Jerry

Two years ago at roughly this time I had the pleasure to meet Jerry. We met online while Fishing. He was in school for medical assistant, I think. Was recently divorced. Lived relatively close by and had a decent personality. He was up front about the fact that he was overweight and had gastric bypass a couple of years before. He had lost a bit of weight from it but from what I could tell all he'd done was shrink his stomach. His lifestyle and menu was still that of an overweight guy.
 

We went out 3 times. First, a couple of weeks before Christmas we met for dinner. Conversation was easy and for the most part it was a successful date. I try to give all not-so-horrible dates a second one. First dates are always rough and nerves get the better of people.

Second, a week before Christmas he wanted to go dancing downtown. I LOVE to dance! So, I said ok and we made plans. Plans being him knowing what I was going to wear so we wouldn't clash. Odd, yes but I still wanted to go dancing with a built in DD (he couldn't drink due to the bypass). I let him pick me up but before we could leave he had some Christmas gifts for me. Plural. Second date. A tin of homemade peanut butter fudge, which was NOT good and chocolate covered strawberries. A strawberry charm. A silver necklace. And the topper, a  wristlet. It's not really the wristlet itself, it's how he presented it. I was taking a large black alligator (fake, for my PETA fans) clutch. Super cute. "You're not taking that are you?" Who says that? A guy who made you a wristlet (side note: he makes and sells wristlets). "It will hold your ID, credit cards and money." Yes, but what about makeup? I don't remember what was said but I got out of the wristlet. We went dancing and it was so so.

After that things got.....needy. I have to say I don't really like a needy/clingy guy. That being said, a standoffish guy is not all that great either. There's a fine balance. Back to possibly gay Jerry. He called everyday. If I didn't answer right away he got worried. Highly annoying. He was also a bit of a whiner and not so smart.

I wasn't going to see him again but it's hard to do when someone just gave you all that stuff. And my birthday was just around the corner. He didn't know it but I had no plans for it yet and didn't want to do nothing. So, I made plans with him again. He wanted to make me his specialty for dinner. His specialty being previously cooked shrimp, jar Alfredo sauce and very Al dente noodles. It was not good. Oh, and there were roses. I can't remember if it was a clean dozen but it was definitely more then 2.



I know there were other things that made me question even more his preference. I just can't remember them. It's been two years. I do know that I am not the only one that had these thoughts. Others have voiced them before to him. Enough so that we had a discussion about it. I have to say that since ending things with Jerry I have regretted one thing. That I didn't keep the wristlet. A couple of times when I've been out I have been frustrated with dealing with a clutch and have wanted a wristlet instead.
 

Friday, December 16, 2011

Gearing Up 1.5 Years in Advance

Apparently, everyone and their mother read my post Wednesday. There was furious last minute bidding on the awesome TRI bike. I couldn't even type in an offer with out the price jumping. It finally sold for $435, a good price for the bike but way too rich for me. I settled on an ordinary road bike. I still haven't figured out the difference between the two except that one had better handles. And I'm pretty sure I can just switch them out or at least clamp on TT bars.

While I was waiting to purchase I wandered around the "bike store" and found an indoor bike trainer and stand. HOW COOL is that! I can train in the winter in my basement just watching movies. It even came with adjustable resistance! This auction I did win. It wasn't much of a contest, though, as I was the only bidder. The hardest thing now will be trying to maintain patience and contain myself every time the UPS guy goes down my road. I'm hoping it ships soon, since I'll be out of town for a week starting late next week. And, some of my neighbors are a little shady.

While I was in the buying mood (I also bought 2 race entrances) I figured I should find out what I'm in for with the 1/2 ironman. I found 2 books that looked helpful but looks can be decieving. I purchased Kara Goucher's book on running 2 weeks ago and so far it is a total let down. It might be helpful if you're just thinking about running but if you've already made significant inroads, it's not going to do much other then make you say, "Well, DUH! I knew that." The books I bought though are "The Triathletes Training Bible" and "You Are an Ironman: How Six Weekend Warriors Chased Their Dream of Finishing the Worlds Toughest Triathlon." I purchased the bible because if I'm going after an Ironman I don't just want to finish, I want to finish strong. Plus, I think I have a chance to place* in this summers CLE Tri and I'm hoping it will give me an edge. I got the other book because let's face it I'm not an elite and I'd like to see how other weekend warriors found it.


I will keep you all updated with training, reading, and dating. I think next week we'll visit a past date.

*In my division, not overall.

Wednesday, December 14, 2011

Sweep the Legs!

I am in the fight of my life! And it's on ebay. I found a TRI bike that is the perfect size for me. The MSRP is $2000-3000 but the current bid is $365. It was a floor model and may have a scrape or two but it's practically perfect! It's light weight, has the super cool tri handle bars, and only needs pedals. After haggling back and forth with M----R, I've decided to wait to the last minute and swoop in for the steal. I only have 10.5 hours left, which means I'll be home when the bidding ends. I don't have internet at home but I need to keep an eye on this. YAY for the iphone! I put the ebay app on last night and have been stalking out the bike.  I do have back ups, though. I found a regular road bike that will work but I can't figure out how to order my size (I'm not so patiently waiting for an answer to my email). I hope M----R doesn't read this. Machiavelli would be so upset with me.

Sometimes you have to be a Cobra.

Monday, December 12, 2011

Am I Ironman Material?


I'm not really sure but watching this video and the world championship Ironman in Kona on Saturday really makes me want to try. I of course would start off with the half Ironman. So, I am declaring here and now that in 2013 not only will I do SD RnR Marathon  but I will also do a half Ironman*.
*Barring any unforeseeable debilitating circumstances.

My plan now is to add one to two sprint triathlons, two total full marathons, an ultra-relay, and an obstacle run in 2012. I think that's doable with out adding too much training to my schedule. If I threw in a half ironman next year it would be too much but a year from now? That's a different story. I have a year and a half to train and drop another 20. I don't expect to place but I will finish it.

If anyone likes this music I believe it's a mash up of Prometheus Rising, An Epic Age, and Glory Seeker by Immediate and available on iTunes.

Wednesday, December 7, 2011

Life and Death

My participation in the Runner's World Holiday Streak is dead! Technically, it died two days after birth but I thought I could resuscitate it. But with two days of no running I have to call time of death, 12/5/11 11:59pm. I have to say I did go ten days with only one day off. THAT IS THE LONGEST EVER!!! For me. It was nice to think I could do a month of running everyday and I had the best of intentions. I even started early! But it became a job, something I had to do. Something I dreaded. Something that hurt. I don't want running to be that. I want it to be  an escape. A way for me to think or not think, depending on the situation. Something that doesn't hurt a mile into the run.

I've changed course and have a vague training schedule worked out. Two short easy runs during the week and a long run, up to 10, on the weekend. The days I'm not running I'm going to do some cross training with Nike Training Center. It's like my own personal bootcamp on my phone. There are about 50 different programs depending on what you want to do. Small equipment, like 8lb weights, medicine ball or jump rope, is needed. But you don't need Smith Machines and everything can be done in your basement. Or outside if you don't mind voyeurs. I plan on doing this until February. At that point I'll go back to training mode. The only difference, really, would be the distance of my runs. My cross training may change to include biking and swimming at some point but not for awhile.

While The Holiday Streak lay dying in a gutter a new idea has been gestating. I mentioned it once before on here but have really taken steps to get the ball rolling. The Relay Around Columbus is in its inaugural year and I want to be there from the start. Who knows, they might get really popular and teams from the previous year will get preference at registration. In full disclosure, I've been wanting to do an ultra relay for a little over a year, ever since I saw Hood To Coast Movie and dated for a bit a guy who's done it (That didn't last long. Turns out he was not as "separated" as I was led to believe. But another silver fox and another story!). I'm in the process of getting a feel for who will be willing to be on my team and bullying those that I think SHOULD be on my team. At the moment I'm going for a 6 person team with each person running a total of about 18 miles over 3 legs. I have 3 people who are definite. 3 people who are 60%. And one person who wants to be the lowest possible alternate. I'm also willing to do the ULTRA division. This consists of 3 team members, each running about 34 miles. The 34 miles can be run (A) all at once or (B) split in two. I'd go for option B. I have one person that's 60% and another that's 40% on board with the ULTRA. The ULTRA is a last ditch effort if I can't pull a team of 6 together. I'm giving everyone till January 28 to commit or give me a % on board. If need be I can substitute runners up until the day of the run. Just finding those runners might be tough.


I will keep this mission updated with the progress but I fully expect to be involved in this race one way or another.

Monday, December 5, 2011

Whiners are Wieners Weekend

Anne Taintor
When I went to bed on Thursday night I had two dates for the weekend. Saturday coffee and cheesecake with Jamal (not ethnic just name I picked) and Sunday run with Calvin. When I got home from work I had three and I finished the weekend back at two. But not the original two.

I got up late on Friday and decided to do my workout in the evening after work. It seems to be a pattern for me this winter. I'm having trouble running/weight training in the morning. Maybe it's just that I'm to cozy in my bed and the damp cold basement does not draw me in. Whatever the reason I came home Friday with the intentions to workout, shower, and vege. Halfway through my workout I decided if I was going to vege let's vege with someone. SO, I texted Stan. I'm not sure if I've introduced Stan here yet or not. I could go back and reread my posts but I don't have time. Stan and I met while Fishing in June/July. Cute, same politics, views on children and marriage, and religion. He's had a rough life but I enjoy being around him and I can only assume vice versa. We dated for about a month and each date had to be the longest I've ever spent with some one that I was just starting to know. He got confusing at one point and I cornered him and we had a very frank discussion on "US". It boils down to "It's not you, it's me." Um, sure, we know that line. But, since he still contacts me and we still talk and do things together and I've learned more about him it really is him. He's changing careers, is back in school, and is still sleeping with his ex after 6 years. Yes, it is completely him. He came over Friday when I was done working out and we veged and talked more about us. Basically, he needs to stop sleeping with his ex. He knows this. He also thinks he needs to have a rebound before he dates me. It's been 6 years!! Life was your rebound! We left it as casual dating each other while still dating others.

Saturday I did a nice 4 mile treadmill run. I never thought I would be able to but Paul suggested putting my laptop in front of it and watching DVDs. I am currently making my way through Boston Legal. LOVE IT!!

My date Saturday with Jamal was the longest 1.5 hours I have ever been through. I met him also Fishing. He hit me up and we went back and forth for about a week. He sent me his number on a Monday and I texted on a Wednesday. This is important because the Tuesday between I got an email from him asking why I hadn't contacted him. If he had somehow offended me. Um, no. I left your number at work on Monday and was sick on Tuesday. Seems a little insecure but I let it go. We texted a bit and he had a needy feel. I again let it go.  When we finally met up at The Cheesecake Factory of coffee and cheesecake(YUM) he showed up with a rose. Now in the past I suppose it was customary to give your date a gift. I don't feel it is anymore. The guys that have brought me gifts on first dates don't have any better survival stats then guys who don't. I kind of find it a turn off, a bit of trying to hard and it brings back memories of "Possibly Gay Jerry." He was cute, however a little on the thin side for me. Runs, but not much. Likes to camp and hike, a negative. He's also very clearly not past his most recent break up from 8 months ago. Seems a bit depressed or is just a downer. But the worst of all is that he reminds me of a very close friend of mine. In certain aspects of looks and they have the same mannerisms. Talk the same. And now that I see it, I'm not sure I can un see it. I will forever think "my god, this is what dating so and so would be like." The seal on his coffin was this text after he got home,

I said yes but if you have to ask, then no. At the time I was thinking it's first date, not every one's good on first dates. But in retrospect, I'm not sure I can endure another one. He was boring! And I'm not one to give constant reassurance.

Sunday, was to include an afternoon run with Calvin, a 42 yo divorced professional with one son. I find him very attractive, a silver fox if you will. He's done a lot of marathons, Boston twice, 2 Ironman's  and a 50 mile ultra. Basically, he's my running hero. The run got changed to lunch due to weather and I was happy about it. As previously expressed, I'm terrible at running 2 days in a row. But when Sunday dawned his FB status indicated another wrench in the plans. I don't know what happened but basically his life blew to hell and he can't handle a lunch. Probably best, since I can't handle a 3rd day in a row of someone bitching to me about their life. As my old vollyball coach would say, "SUCK IT UP!"

Friday, December 2, 2011

Why?

I'm getting ready to start training for my next marathon. It's a ways away but as I've said before I'm a planner. Why is Runner's World giving me a training plan with only 2 days of running? At least give me 3, if not 4. I think they just want me to pay for the REALLY cool version. It's actually working.

Because it's discouraging

"What is run two consecutive days, Alex?"

It's true. Now I know why my training schedules all have at least one day in between runs. It's not saying I can't do some form of exercise, just that running is not an option. And by not an option, I mean my body will rebel! The weather in the beginning of the week was really crappy, so when the sun shone brightly I hit the streets. Wednesday was the first sunny dry day and I went out for what I hoped was 6 miles but turned out to be 4.5. It got dark fast and I had forgotten my flashers. I also had another problem that has not been addressed here and is talked of only in whispers elsewhere. I had to poop. The runners trots. It usually hits me around mile 4 and coincides with my work site or McDonald's depending on the run I'm doing. I'm a regular at McD's but only as "the girl who runs in and out of the bathroom." Wednesday I was close to home so I just finished the run. I could have gone back out but 4.5 miles was the longest I had run since Detroit. I didn't want to push it.
 *Side note, it took forever to warm after this and only happened after I took a hot bath.

Yesterday was another awesome day. The sun was out and the temps might not have been tropical but was the best I could hope for here. My colleague covered for me at work so I could leave a bit early and get in a great run before it got too dark or too cold. Within the first half mile I knew this was not going to be my run. My pace was 12 something and I felt like I was running at top speed. My left ankle was also acting up. It's felt a bit stiff lately and I think it will eventually just work itself out, but I was having some trouble with it during the run. I ended up doing a short 2.5 miles but I feel like I wasted a great running day. Could I have powered through? Absolutely! Would it have been a quality run? No. Would I be extra sore today? Probably. Would I get a good run in tomorrow? Probably not.

While I think it's important to push one's self, you should also listen to your body and err on the side of caution. I might not have had a stellar run yesterday but I will probably have one tomorrow.

Wednesday, November 30, 2011

Treadmills

Doesn't she look ecstatic!?
Since I've been running outside for the past year and a half I have come to loath treadmills. I used to run exclusively on them at the gym as a warm up to my weight training. At that time I only did 1 to 3 miles at a time. Once, last winter I did do a 10 mile run on one but had to break it into two parts (the treadmill would only let me do so much at one time). This winter it should be infinitely easier to maintain my running, my sister and her boyfriend gave me a treadmill over the summer, for which I am eternally grateful. I am however finding it infinitely more difficult. I always feel cramped and my gate feels off. Plus, it's in my dreary basement and I only have painted cinder block walls to look at. When I was at the gym I at least had some hot guys to ogle or the news to watch. At home I just have my cat to stare and and she rarely comes into that room. I play my running music but that doesn't help. I've started varying the incline which keeps me on my toes but I still can't bare to do more then 2 miles. Runner's World says you can do all your winter training on a treadmill. They even have workouts for you. Some probably can. I have a friend who trained for Boston on a treadmill. TWICE! I'm hoping winter will be nice to me and allow me to do most of my long runs outside. I think I can handle the short ones on the treadmill. I'm planning on a 5-6 mile run tonight after work. If the rain holds off. I can handle snow in the winter, just not rain.

Friday, November 25, 2011

To be Thankful *may be graphic*

This post could also be titled "Why a Marathon is a Big Deal" but as it's Thanksgiving weekend, I'll go with the former.

In the fall of 2004 I had a personal trainer that was also a close friend. We discussed goals and the first was obviously to lose weight and be more fit. A second secret goal was to do a marathon. I enjoyed doing the cardio portion of the weight training. I lost 20lbs and felt great about myself. I didn't seriously pursue running at the time. I was in grad school and just trying to get my research to work. I also was trying to balance school/lab time with friend/life time. And I really enjoyed partying. 

So much so that a year after starting the personal training ( September 17, 2005 to be exact) I went out to celebrate a friends success on her qualifying exam. We were at a local bar and stayed till closing time, always a bad idea. The bar was located on a corner and I drove out of one exit as someone else was pulling out of the other. I made a left handed turn after waiting for the light and a car. And then my car stopped. With a bang. 

The person pulling out of the other exit crossed the center line and hit me. It was a cross between head on and T-boned on the drivers side. I believe I was knocked out. I remember someone at my door trying to get me to get out. But my legs were pinned by my dash. My door also would not open. I don't know who but someone pulled down my window sash(?) and pulled me through the window. They tried to stand me up to walk but my legs wouldn't hold me. I still don't know if they carried me, dragged me or helped me walk to the curb. 

I was taken to the local hospital and met there by my parents. I was found to have a broken knuckle on my left ring finger, broken rib, and a left broken knee. A tibia plataeu fracture to be exact. I also had whip lash, a deep puncture and cut on my knee, cuts on my shoulder and gash on the back of my head. I had bruising pretty much all over my body and had problems remembering words. My right calf was swollen, hard and still feels weird sometimes. The pictures really don't do the injuries justice. I remember holding a remote or a conversation was difficult. 

Recovery was long and painful. I spent 2 weeks living in a lazy boy. I was in a wheel chair for two months and then used a walker for a couple of weeks. I had a fancy cane for a couple of months and got to park in handicap parking for long while. It came in handy when I went to concert with a friend. Got to park right by the door. I used crutches for a short while. They led to a lot of funny stories. My sister let me fall head first into a row of movie seats once. Rehab lasted two months and I walked with a limp for a year. I have multiple scars and my right calf still tingles. 

My parents, doctors and I were doubtful as to what I would be able to do. I still have pain sometimes in my knee and finger. And my rib that was broken gets misaligned sometimes. Combine this with the fact that I was diagnosed with a form of rheumatoid arthritis in 2008 and me running at all is a miracle. I started off slow with a 10k challenge by friends and worked my way up but the marathon was always on my mind. With a marathon in my pocket I am thankful for the ability to run. My parents love and care. My sister and friends for keeping it as fun as possible. Doctors that knew the best course of action was to let my body alone. I'm also thankful, in a weird way for the accident. 

Would I appreciate and savor the run as much as I do if it hadn't happened? 


Thursday, November 24, 2011

2011 Turkey Trot

Thanksgiving has come and is about to leave but not before I got in an awesome 5k run this morning. I talked my sister, Sophie, into running it with me. She in turn talked her friend, Leigh, into it. Who then convinced her boyfriend to cheer us on with Sophie's. It was a damn cold morning to be standing around waiting for a gun. The weather man lied, it felt a lot colder then the 40 degrees promised.

The start line was fraught with anxiety and tension. Not mine. Sophie was very concerned about the run, mostly to do with having to pee half way through and needing to knock on random strangers houses to use their facilities. I'm not sure I was very encouraging and probably just looked at her like, "It's a 5k. Ain't no big thang. You can hold it." Looking back I probably did not help the argument to get her to a 10k in the spring.

Yes, Rainbowbright socks, but is it me or does
guy in the back look like Anthony Bourdain?

We lined up together but quickly got separated. As Mark5.0 can attest I am not good at running a race with someone. We did talk about it before hand and I would have been willing to run with her at her pace but she did not want the extra pressure. So I left her to herself. When I waited and waited at the finish line I wondered if that was a good decision. I got worried that something happened or that she gave up and I wasn't there with words of encouragement. Turns out she was so close on my heels I missed her finish when I went to get water!

Unofficially my time was 30:58, a PR. I ran the first mile at a 9:45 pace, 2nd mile 10:01, the 3rd at 9:43 and the .2 at 9:22. Sophie and her friend came in about a 1:30 behind me. I think she did great, a lot better then my first 5k. She can totally handle a 10k.

Monday, November 21, 2011

Foray into Football

This past weekend I got called up to play touch football with a ragtag team for the annual Cleveland Plays Turkey Bowl.The rules are that you have to have at least 3 out of 8 plays on the field be female. Every 3rd play has to involve a girl. There's no tackling, which I was upset and happy about all at once. And it's two hand touch, which was lost on me until about my fourth "tackle".

The games started at 8am and was about 30 mins from my house. I was asked to come a little early so that the "coach" could explain the rules to me. I dutifully showed up at 7:45, found my team and was handed a beer instead of a rule book. I like this team already! There was a total of 5 girls on the team and I was the only new-new player. Everyone had either played together or played on opposing teams but they all knew each other. No matter, they were all welcoming and the beer helped. As this is a dating site I will inform you that yes, several of the guys were cute, one was exceptionally hot but every time he talked I just wanted to hush him. I'm hoping the intelligence level was just hampered by what I heard was a pretty fun Friday night. But still, I wouldn't kick him out of bed.

Any hoodle, we played 4 games and scored 2 touchdowns. One by yours truly! I got swung around in the air by the hottie for that! High light of my weekend. You can probably figure out that we lost all 4 games and had a pretty poor showing. I would like to point out that most of the teams we went up against had to have little brothers/sisters of Browns players on them! Some of the guys and girls were huge! Scary!! It was a freezing cold day and one team was in cut out shirts.

Several bruises later and I was home by 6. It was a very long day and I think I passed out by 10. I was sore and achy when I woke on Sunday and consequently didn't do anything productive but clean my bathroom. That includes running. I did get up and do a short mile run this morning, which is better then the nothing I did last Monday.

Friday, November 18, 2011

About Yesterday........

Yesterday's rant was short lived but fully expect it again.
My little rant yesterday seems to have had an effect on me. No, I still haven't gone running but I'm thinking I will get out there on Sunday. I can't say Saturday since I have to be on the football field by 8am for the Turkey Bowl. I sincerely hope that they understand my "I have never played football" to mean "I haven't a clue what's going on and really am only doing this in hopes of getting tackled and picked up by really hot men."

Runner's World has also read my mind and Tweeted this challenge, Holiday Running Streak. I love challenges! I once did a challenge to do 50 miles in 30 days. It honestly wasn't that difficult since I was training for the marathon and doing 20 mile long runs. I also got a friend to do a 64 mile team challenge for MGD 64. We did it but failed to get the $6400 in prize money. It was going to finance my running, I swear. I'm going to add a widget, if I can, to track my progress in this challenge. Maybe, being accountable to you will help me get back in the saddle!

I'm also laying out my race schedule for next year. Do you think I can do 2 full marathons with 1.5 months in between? Sorry, SD fans I think you'll have to wait till 2013. I just don't have the plane money, not to mention the fun money I'm going to need to keep up with y'all!

Thursday, November 17, 2011

I'm Just Not Feeling It

I don't want to run. I don't want to work. I don't want to date. I don't want to do anything except curl up and read. (In my defense, I am reading some kick ass books.) My house could literally fall down and I think I would just walk away. After I found my cat of course. Is it depression or just the post race blues?

The fact that I can ask myself this leads me to suspect it's just post race blues in combination with crappy dates and crumby weather. I think I need someone to hold my hand as I run. Someone to make me run and hold me accountable for not. I thought signing up for the Turkey Trot would make the difference but it hasn't. Maybe I need a bigger race. Glass city half is on my list but I'm not signed up yet. I'm also debating between 3 spring fulls. I can't do all and will have to pick one soon. I was hoping to talk to my sister about it before I made my decision. I can probably wait till after Thanksgiving to decide. What's one more week?

My only beam of hope here is that I did this same thing last year. I completed the Akron half and wallowed for a month or so. I can't remember when I started hitting the roads again but  I did do the Turkey Trot. I think I went into it coldish, though. I do know I was doing 10 mile runs at Christmas.

Do I need Paxil or just a swift kick in the butt out the door?

 *Note to Mother: This is not a cry for help. I'm just venting. She worries, you know.

Tuesday, November 15, 2011

Weekend Recap with a Side of Paranoia and a Bowl of Lazines for Dessert

Let's start with the  laziness and then head into the weekend dates, shall we?

Saturday I tried for a run but only made it 2 miles. It just hurt. My legs felt tired, my lungs felt tired, and I just didn't wanna. For the most part the rest of the day was lazy. I did my shopping and made clam chowder for the week. It turned out to be eh. I've also decided to give up on boxing. I do love it but the late hours and the drive are killing me and my wallet. It takes 1.5-2 hours to get there! If it was closer to my home and a little cheaper I would deffenitely stick with it. I also think I have PMS, post marathon syndrome. Runners World PMS I'm hoping my Turkey Trot next week snaps me out of this.

Actual shoe worn
Fridays date went very well. I looked cute in a sweater and awesome heels, even though I had a fat lip from what I believe was an allergic reaction to new chapstick and a scratch down the side of my face that I woke up with. Was it my cat or one of my sharp nails? I choose to believe one of my nails. I don't want to live in fear of my cat. Anyways, I'm hoping he thinks I'm just tough and the facial injuries were due to mixing it up in the boxing ring. We went to a chinese place that I learned he picked. He scored major points there since I have been craving it for two weeks. We had a lot in common, a love for ethnic foods and the same taste in music. Conversation never lagged and I felt at ease the whole time. Towards the end he asked if I would be up for another date Saturday or Sunday. WHOA WHOA!! Two dates in the same weekend? I can't make that commitment this early, besides I had plans already, which I explained to him while also making it known that I would diffinetly be up for another date next weekend. He's out of town for the week otherwise I would have gone for the weekday date. We exchanged numbers, hugged it out and went our ways. The only draw back to him is he's rather over weight. I know I'm no pixie and have not a lot of room to talk but he was large. I've dated men that are very fit but their personality usually sucks. Can I take a man with an awesome personality and whip him into shape? If I like to run and work out will it rub off on him? These may be moot questions in any case. I sent a text Sunday afternoon thanking him for dinner, stating I had a good time while indicating my interest in a 2nd date this weekend. I still haven't heard anything. Which is where the paranoia comes in, we'll get back to this.



Sunday's date was over coffee and I suddenly remembered why we didn't go out again. He is off the charts. Not in the "He's to hot for me" way but in the "Does he ever sit still" way. He was constantly moving and at one point I swear I thought he was high. I even asked, turns out not so much. We met at Starbucks and I got a coffee but even though it was 2pm he hadn't eaten yet so I watched as he ate Chipotle. Then he wanted yogurt. It sounded good so I got some too. This will illistrate the differences between us. I got a small portion of vanilla yogurt with sliced strawberries on one side and crushed Reese's peanut buttercups on the other. There was no mixing in my bowl. Mixing of food is not allowed. I ate all of the strawberries first and then the peanut buttercups. He got a splash of 6 different yogurts all in the same bowl. Then proceeded to pile multiple toppings on. Toppings that didn't even make sense together. Cotton candy, lychee, sprinkles, cinnimon chips, chocolate chips, peanuts, pretzles. When I saw this I told him it's not going to taste good. That it would be better to try one combo now and another later. AND, I was right. He made a face through out the whole ordeal. We are completely different and the only relationship I can see in this is of friendship. Which, I'm totally open to. But if we actually dated seriously I imagine I'll have to tie him down and not in the sexy way.



I wanted to lick him, too!
The paranoia has really set in. I have never had someone not reply to a text. And I'm pretty sure he gets them, he has a google phone. It's been 3 days. Normally, I'm not like this. Well, except once. The questions are....Did I not put his number in right? Is he ignoring me? Playing the wait two days game? Did I read the signs wrong? I don't see how though. He clearly wanted to go out again and he asked to exchange numbers. I didn't force the issue. Then is AT&T fucking with me? Cause I sent a text to someone else last night to no answer. But I sent a couple others with answers. I think I need to call Scully and Mulder.

Thursday, November 10, 2011

This Ain't Your Parents Rodeo!

I thought I was going to have  another slow weekend but in the course of 48hours it has become date filled. The matchmaker contacted me again and has set me up free of charge with another one of his clients. I can't tell if I'm his "white whale" or if he's just hard up for 30 something professional women. Consequently, I have a date Friday with his potential. I'm kind of looking forward to it. I've been craving Chinese and some how he intuitively knew this, cause that's where we're going. Then, yesterday, a guy I had gone out with once but haven't really talked to in over a month contacted me wondering if I was interested in just getting coffee again. It's hard to pass up, since Starbucks is damn good in the fall. Plus,what else am I going to do?


The point of this post really has to do with this date for Saturday night. It's another Mark and we will give him the designation, Mark5.2. We've only chatted and haven't even met so he doesn't get a full number. Mark5.2 is from Match, has a doctorate in head shrinking, is cute, seems fun, and well rounded. We exchanged numbers about 2 weeks ago and have basically had some form of contact every day since. Along the way he informed me that he wants "to date but nothing serious," which I took as "I'm leaving the backdoor open in case I need a quick exit." We continued to text and finally set up a date to meet over drinks for this Saturday. In the course of talking/texting he quickly became rather "aggressive" in his........desires. Mostly, he likes a girl that's in control. And if there's anything I like it's control and power! I played it off, flirted back a bit but never gave any indication that this all was going to go down. I need to meet a person and get to know them a bit before I can even begin to fantasize about someone, unless that someone is Gerard Butler or Harrison Ford.


Last night I had kickboxing, which I hated, and TRX-Bosu Bootcamp, which I loved, after work. I got home around 830pm (super late for me), showered and had dinner. I was just kicking back to watch Top Chef while I determined if I wanted to do dodge ball, touch football or both over the winter, when Mark5.2 texted.

?????????WTF?????????

Now, I know everyone has a little freak in them. If you don't think so, you might be lying to yourself. And I don't want to judge, but, that is too much freak for me. You need to know your freak limits and that was more then just a toe over my line. 1st, there was no prelude to this. No, "Hey, how's it going? I was thinking of you today." Just, BAM!!! "I want a butt plug!" 2nd, isn't that something you ease a person into? Get them comfortable, have normal relations and then go for the "Honey, I think we need to spice this up."

I informed him that that was more then I could handle and we came to the understanding that what he needs I'm not going to give. Consequently, I am now free Saturday night.

Wednesday, November 9, 2011

I would Have PRed!

Had I been in an actual 5K race!
As many of you know I have been in a running slump, mostly stemming from my Akron half. For that was the first time I seriously considered giving it all up and letting my body go to Hell on a scholarship. At the time I still had a full to do and I couldn't NOT do it. I had a hotel reservation, my parents had a hotel reservation, I had already registered and the thing that really drove me to power through was that I had bragged about doing one. I told EVERYONE! I had to finish it. And I did.

Afterwards I took a much needed full week off of running. The second week I tried to run again and I kept it to 2-3 slow miles. I felt slow, my legs felt drained and it just felt wrong. The third week following the marathon I gave up running and started cross training with boxing and bootcamp. And I felt alive again. Sure it hurt. A lot. But it was the good hurt. This week marks the fourth week and I had planned on just continuing my boxing and bootcamps. Actually, that's the plan until my one month unlimited package runs out, November 30. But winter is upon us here in northeast Ohio and yesterday was an anomaly. 71 degrees at noon, sunny and PERFECT running weather. How could I justify staying indoors and boxing? I couldn't!

I quickly cancelled my classes and ducked out of work a bit early. By the time I got home it was low 60s but still sunny. I put on my slime-green running skirt with the matching tank and some sleeves. Laced up my Kayano's and was out the door in less then 5 minutes. I was hesitant on which run I should do. I have several that start from my house and vary from 1 to 15 miles. Obviously, the first time out in a couple of weeks I'm not going to go for the 15. But should I do 2 or 4? I went with the 4 knowing that there was a cut through to bring me in at 3 if I needed it. And I did.

I went out strong, my first mile was 10:40 (strong for me. My normal training paces are around 11:20). My legs felt good and my breathing was heavy but not terrible. After the first mile I took a short break. My second mile was 10:20-10:30. I was amazed what a little rest and crosstraining could do. My third mile was a little more difficult with some hills. I still kicked ass and came in around 10 minutes, with some short 9:40 distances. I had my first negative splits! And, if you discount the walking parts I would have finished my 5K in about 31 minutes. Beating my previous 5K PR by about a minute!

This run may have restored my love for the sport. I'm going to continue with fast 3-4 mile runs this month. And hope that I can PR in my upcoming Turkey Trot.

*The above picture contains the best purchases/gifts EVER! My Garmin keeps me on track and my shuffle lets me jam out without the added weight of my iphone. Also, the Garmin allows me to track my progress week to week, month to month and determine where I need work.

Tuesday, November 8, 2011

A Real Good Hummer

My life has been a little boring lately. Not really running at the moment and there's only so much I can say about boxing. It's fun and I'm getting better. My love life has sucked and I'm not making much progress there. So.... Let's revisit a past date!
I met this guy on Eharm about 3 years ago. I think I was still in the apartment. He seemed nice. They all seem nice, though. He had a degree in aerospace or something in engineering, so I couldn't figure out why he was working for a men's clothing retailer. I'm sure we talked about it but I can't remember, obviously he didn't make much of an impression. He was a little on the feminine side. Long slender fingers, tall and thin. He was no "Girlie hand Bryan" but he wasn't exactly my type, either. Our first date was brief and over coffee/tea. I had coffee, he had tea. It wasn't strained or awkward and I therefore agreed to a second date. This time we met for dinner at a Thai restaurant. As soon as the coconut shrimp soup came I knew this wasn't going to go anywhere and if I couldn't control myself I might stab him with my soup spoon. What did he say? Was he inappropriate? Did he try to order for you?!
No, it was none of those things. He just hummed when he ate. EVERY TIME he took a bite, he hummed. With his soup. With his entree. With his dessert. Slurp of soup, "Hmmmmmm." Bite of rice, "Hmmmmmm." And he sat across from me! If I could hear him over 3 feet of table how loud would he be if I had to sit next to him? I knew that after the fourth bite I just had to make it through dinner. He wanted to continue but I knew that if I had to fight to control my stabby hand for just one dinner there was no way I wouldn't be convicted of murder after the fourth. I'm sure I could have said something. Maybe he could have controlled it. But the moment he slipped, stabby hand would be there!

Thursday, November 3, 2011

What is going on?!

I honestly have no idea. Several things in my life have taken a dramatic turn, ones I couldn't foresee. Please, don't be alarmed. They are not life threatening or even slightly scary. They only make my life a little more hectic, me slightly more panicked and my cat is probably going to loose her hair.
I have absolutely no schedule anymore!
It could be due to many reasons:
1) I have no major races to train for until May. This means I don't have to start actively training till December, so my once strict schedule is a little more lenient.
2)I've been staying late at work trying to get a project rolling. Not actually a big deal but it makes planning things difficult.
3)I'm in the midst of some very good books. Hence, I have been staying up late, like 3am late. This is way past  my 9pm bedtime when training.  
4)I've taken up boxing. And boxing is done in the evenings after work. This means I don't get home till after 8pm, at which point I desperately need a shower, my cat needs a walk and some loving and then I need to eat. Which, could also play a role in my bedtime, since I don't sleep well after exercising or a late dinner.
5)The days I'm not in the ring I always have something going on. I meet my mother for dinner, not home till 9. I spend 2 hours at Dick's debating boxing gloves and got home around 8 (this is mostly due to an hour long phone call from a long lost friend. I'm sure the people there enjoyed the conversation, it was spicy!) And dates.*

Which brings us to...
6)What is up with all the guys wanting to date but nothing serious? Is this their way of having an out if things go wrong? "I'm sorry,  I know we met on a matchmaking site and we've been dating for 2 months but I'm just not looking to be serious." Why are you on there then?! I'm almost ready to throw up my arms and just take a young lover. If I could only get them to not talk......
*Please, don't take above statements wrong. I love seeing friends and family and talking to them. I would rather deal with changing my plans then not seeing or talking with them.

Monday, October 31, 2011

Last weeks dates

Last week I went on two first dates. I found one while fishing a a few weeks ago and the other was from Match, which I signed up for after another email from someone with just "sup" in the body.

Phil and I have been emailing back and forth for a couple of weeks now. I tend to loose interest in them fast if we don't meet with in about a week, so I asked him if he wanted to meet. He was down for it and we met at one of my favorite bars here. Velvet Tango Room has the best cocktails and I finally got to try one of the fizzes. I've been holding off because gin is not an alcohol I enjoy but I could barely taste it. Any hoodle,  back to the date. He was really nice and extremely easy to talk to. He was a little bit more on the pudgy side then I would like but I'm not going to be too picky there. We can change that in a jiff. We have several things in common such as education, sciencey jobs, and a couple of other things. I think the mistake of the evening came when we discussed a topic that should probably never be talked of on the 1st date. But, honestly, I'd rather just get it out there. We talked religion. I was raised catholic, don't practice and I question the existence of god. He is christian, corrected me when I said catholic and even gave a little discourse on it. I am ok with dating someone who is religious/believes in god. Just don't try to convert me or bring me over to your side. It's not going to happen. He, apparently, is not. Because that is the only explanation I have for how the evening ended. He paid and then abruptly ended the evening by saying he had to go, early to work, blah blah, and almost walked out the door with out me. Did not walk me to my car. Did not say have a good night or it's been fun I'll call you. He really almost ran to his car. I have never had a date do that. They at least lie to me a little. There is always a hug or a handshake. I would have been willing to try a 2nd date or even just be friends. He was fun to talk to. But I haven't heard from him, and it's been almost a week. SO, I'm writing him off.

John is a dentist and was my second date. He contacted me and the emails were a little brief but adequate. He also initiated meeting. The date was originally set for Thursday evening but due to a late office call John rescheduled it for Friday. This is after I showered, did my hair and makeup and was basically ready to step out the door. But no matter, I can be breezy. We decided to try the wine tasting event at our local market the next day. I had never heard about it and was slightly disappointed that I had never gone in the 3 years I've lived near it. I showed up at the appointed time to no date. A text went unanswered for 10 minutes but he did finally call saying he got stuck at work and would be there in 10. Fine. When he got there I found him rather attractive but the conversation was lacking. It could be a multiple of things. He's tired from a long day at work. Wine tasting in a large loud crowd makes talking difficult. I'm a bit rumpled from having to wait 30 minutes. All in all it wasn't my worst first date. It ended with a hug from him and a not so subtle hint from me that I would like to see him again. I, however, have not heard from him. Do I follow up? or move on to the next one? There was one odd thing that stuck out. He asked me several times if I would or have dated middle eastern men. I have not but I would. I find the dark olivey complexion attractive. Which explains why I was him. He was Indian. I still have no idea where he was going with this but it was odd.

Thursday, October 27, 2011

GRRRR!!!

For the past couple of weeks I've been taking a self defense course. I've never really had a reason to do this in the past. No one has ever pushed the limits of my personal space but a friend felt it was good to have in my back pocket. I do go out on a lot of dates, mostly firsts, and unless I'm feeling lazy my runs are in the early predawn morning. The class met once a week for four weeks. The first week we learned punches and protective stances. Kicks were covered the second week and we went over grabs and a ground assault in the third. The fourth class was both exciting and scary. We were going to use our knowledge against an actual attack!! I at first thought this was crazy and an unnecessary use of my time but I went through with the simulation. I even went first! Boy, was I wrong. Even though I knew it was fake and the two very large guys wouldn't really hurt me I panicked and barely remembered to yell "STOP!" All I could think of was to kick 'em in their "areas". Once I had some breathing room I remembered to punch, kick, scream and all the other important stuff. They and a fellow student were nice enough to let me take a picture.

Monday, October 24, 2011

Tourney!!

I did another competition this past weekend. And I have to say I'm still a little sore from it. Mostly due to 9 total hours in the car. This competition was fun and I did not have to train for it, much. I joined 4 other friends for a FLIP CUP TOURNAMENT!!! We practiced flipping the night before and we had a pretty good showing. We won our first round 3-2, better then we expected. The second round didn't go so well and we soon found ourselves in the losers bracket and were knocked out in a our 3rd round. Apparently, we peaked early! 

There were some teams there that must spend hours a day flipping cups. The team here has won the tournament 4 years in a row and won again this year. If flipping cups were art they'd all be Michelangelo. It seriously was like watching dominoes fall down the line. Bam, bam, bam! If they missed a flip, they only missed once and landed it on the second try. It was something to behold. I, however, am not sure I would want to be known as the best flip cup team ever. I'm satisfied with being mediocre in this.

Friday, October 21, 2011

At least I have my toenails!

I haven't yet addressed some of the issues that go along with running. When I first started, no more then 4-5 miles on my long runs, I really didn't have any. It wasn't till I got to 10 miles that I saw problems. Mostly with chaffing and my toes. 

Chaffing is easily solved by the use of Glide or vaseline. You just have to remember to put it on, especially when you try out a new article of clothing. Some of my worst chafes have been from new shirts, where the arm rubs against the side seam. I've also experienced a constant chafe on the underside of my breasts. Glide is useful for the arms/thighs but doesn't work so well for some other areas. I've found that if you put a nice layer of Aquaphor on it really takes care of the problem. Aquaphor is also the solution if you already have the chafe. I used to just use the sample size you get at the expos but have since invested in the large size. It's for the best, I think I'll be running for awhile.  

The toes have been a problem as you can see. When I hit 10 miles I found that my pinky would slip under the next toe and because of the friction would blister. That's when I found clothe tape. A little wrapped around the pinky prevented it from slipping under and blocked the friction. That is until I hit 15 miles. Then the next toe in started acting up, so I taped that one too. At 20 it didn't matter if I taped or not I still had blisters on both. After talking with the people at my local running store  we came up with the idea of trying toed socks. They have them for running for people who choose to use Vibram's five finger "shoes". It really helped. I still occassionaly got blisters but nothing to bad. 
The pic above of my black toe is a blood blister I got from the Detroit marathon. It's slowly going away and looks way worse then it feels. I don't even notice it. Most runners lose toenails after awhile. I'm thankful that hasn't happened yet. I lost a thumb nail once and it was very disconcerting. I can't imagine what it would be like to lose multiple toenails. So, I've had regular toe blisters, blood blisters, bloody achilles, and chafing in many MANY places, but at least I have my toenails!!

Thursday, October 20, 2011

A Glutton.....

......For Punishment.
I just can't go 4 days with out something on the books. I just signed  up for 6 months with match.com, cause let's face it, Fishing has offered up very little. I just registered for an indoor TRI. And I registered for a Turkey Trot. I realize none of these are that big of a deal. The indoor TRI is easy peasy. 10 minute swim, 30 minutes on a stationary bike and 20 minute run on a treadmill. The winner is determined on how far you go. I will not be a winner per se, but at least I'm out there.

Wednesday, October 19, 2011

Popped my cherry

This past Sunday I turned in my V card for marathons. Yes, that's right, I am no longer a 26.2 virgin.

I barely slept the night before. I was up and down several times. Did I set my alarm for the right time? Was it loud enough? Did I accidentally set it to silent? Did I have everything I needed? Of course everything was set right and I was just nervous.

I was ready with plenty of time to chat with other runners in the coral. I spoke with one girl who was so excited that she was going to reward herself with a full stack of vegetarian/organic blueberry pancakes. I told her that I was going to do the same thing but with full on chocolate chip pancakes and a huge glass of milk!

I found my pace group that I planned to stick with for at least the first half, if not the whole thing. The leader was talkative, fun and gave great advice. And who knows, maybe if I had stuck with him I would have done better. But I didn't stick with him. I lost him very early in the run. And by lost, I mean I ran ahead. Something I told myself I would not do.

The first hurdle of the run was to go over the Ambassador Bridge. It's roughly a mile long and has a climb of about 150ft. I ran all of that bad boy! And I didn't go crazy running down it like I normally do. I held back and I was very proud of myself for it.

The next hurdle was the underwater mile! It took place in the tunnel between Canada and Detroit. You go down 150ft and then up 150ft. It's basically like the bridge but under the Detroit river instead of over. And it's way harder. On the bridge you can see the end, you know what's coming. The tunnel is different, you can't see the end until you're right up on it. Also, it's a little claustrophobic. But I made it through with only a very short walk break which is good cause I had to take a pee break as soon as I got out. I think I lost 5 minutes there but I was still on pace.

I stopped once at a first aid station for Vaseline. And it was the best thing to do. I almost want to say it works better then the Glide. Messier, yes, but works longer.

My parents were at the halfway point and it really gave me a boost. I was still on pace and hitting my marks if not ahead of time then on time. But seeing them there really made me light up and I think I had the biggest smile I've ever!

The final hurdle was the mental and physical challenges. It got kind of lonely after the 1/2 marathoners split from the full. There were less people running with you. Less people cheering. But it picked up when we ran through a neighborhood. They actually held parties on their front lawns. Bonfires, DJ's, and at mile 17 one group passed out shots of Miller High Life to the runners. It was the best worst beer I have ever tasted!

I got into trouble around the 20/21 mile mark. I could feel my calf starting to cramp. My knee and hips were aching and if I wasn't scared they would make me throw up I probably would have stopped at another first aid station for Tylenol.

Besides the physical issues I also had mental problems. 20 miles was the longest I had ever gone in training. The last 6 was all new territory. And it was scary.

I cried 3 times! At 21, mostly because it had started to rain. It was a brief period but it was just one more thing that made the run difficult. At 24 because my hip and knee were really bothering me and I never thought I was going to make it. I tried to walk it off but it seamed to hurt even more when I made the transition from walk to run but I couldn't keep up running on it. It was really a double edged sword.

I really broke down at the finish. It was a combination of several things. 1. I was finally at the finish, I never thought I'd make it. 2. I saw my parents waiting for me. And 3. I had just finished a huge feat!

I am sure there are a lot more things that happened during this race but I think I've blocked them out. Currently, my quads hurt. My hips are tight. My ankles feel swollen and my calves are sore. Basically, everything hurts! And you might be thinking, "Wow! At least she finished and she can cross it off her list and not think about it anymore." And if I wasn't a masochist you'd be correct. But what's the point of training and only doing one marathon?

The next goal is to have a better time. I came in at 5:31:38. My goal was 4:40-5:00. I'm still happy with my time. I finished and I wasn't last. I don't think I was prepared for how mentally challenging a marathon is. Next time I'll be better prepared. Starting with putting a friend/family member at mile 21. A marathon is not a one person sport. You need a team to get you through and I'm thankful my family is supportive, cause I'm going to need them again in a couple of months.

Friday, October 14, 2011

Less then 35 Hours


As any of my friends and family will tell you I am a planner. I typically have my weekends planned a month ahead. I like knowing what's coming.

I leave today for Toledo and then tomorrow I will head up to Detroit for my first full marathon, in case you are just tuning in. And I have EVERYTHING planned. I made a long list yesterday at work (it was a slow day and let's face it, I'm hardly thinking of anything else) of everything I will need. This list was then divided into smaller lists of  what I will need before, during and after the race, so that it can be appropriately packed. I placed my sweats, new pair of socks and sports sandals in my gear bag for after the race. My skirt, tank and sleeves, if the weather cooperates in my gym bag, along with my hydration belt preloaded with my GU of choice. I also placed in there my tights and a long sleeve tecT in case the weather doesn't cooperate. But while I was packing and running through things in my head, I realized that I had missed the two most important pieces. Articles that can not be purchased at the expo and used for the run. My shoes and my passport. Now, you may be thinking, "Shoes I get but passport?" Detroit is an international race and crosses into Canada twice, I think. The race officials have been very clear on the fact that you need proper paperwork in order to pick up your race packet. And proper paperwork means a passport. Can you imagine the horror I would feel if I got there and had no passport? I've been checking my purse every couple of hours making sure that some elf hasn't stolen it. 

I've also made a list of times. I know what time I need to check in and therefore I know what time I need to leave Toledo. I know when I want to be at the expo, how long it will take to walk there, and how long I will be there. I know where I will be eating dinner Saturday night, what I will order and how long it will take to walk from the expo to dinner and then to the hotel. What time I will be in bed and hopefully, asleep. I know how long it will take me to get ready in the morning, how long to walk to the start line and what time I need to be there. Therefore, I know what time I need to wake up, 5:00am if you're wondering.

These plans are all well and good........if I was going alone. I stick to my schedule like a well trained Pavlovian dog. If something interferes with it, I likely have already formed a contingency plan in advance and just need to make the necessary adjustments, like my tights and long sleeve T. But I am not going alone. My parents, bless them, are coming with me. I can't quiet remember how that conversation went but based on the tussle over the TRI, I assume I strongly suggested they be there. My reasons are 3 fold:
1. I just need someone at the finish. If I know someone is there and expecting me at a certain time the likely hood of me giving up decreases astronomically.
2. If anything happens they are my emergency contact and if they aren't there it's going to take them at least 2 hours to get there.
3. Based on my recent Akron run, driving after is not a good idea. My muscles just freeze up. This way my dad can drive and I can take a snooze in the heated seats.

I love my parents already and having them at my first marathon, standing 5 hours in what will probably be the cold and rain makes me not only love them more but appreciate how blessed my sister and I were. I will take the stress they may put on my well laid plans, hopefully with patience that will spring forth in my time of need, in order to have them witness a bucket list feat.

Thursday, October 13, 2011

To pill or not

Short and sweet today, people.

This explains so many of my recent dates. My estrogen has overrun my realist mind. The paper below explains more fully.
Women on the pill pick boring lovers but good husbands.

Wednesday, October 12, 2011

A Puppy

Puppies are great! They're cute, fun, energetic and make you feel young again. But they get into trouble, chew your shoes, piddle where they're not supposed to and THEY ARE ALWAYS ON THE GO.

This is the conundrum I find myself in at the moment. I recently went on a date with a 24yo. He's cute, fun, energetic and seems like he'd be a good time. He's going from sunup to sundown. But I've dated younger before and the time you have to put into it is exhausting. Do I want to put the time in to "train" him? Is it worth it? I don't see this going long term. Wouldn't it be easier to find an older guy who already knows how to date? But then we're both set in our ways it becomes a game of chicken! These are the things I weigh every time I go out with some one and I'm starting to feel like it's to much work period!

Monday, October 10, 2011

5 days, 10 hours

I'm scared. I've never been this scared in my entire life and that includes sitting in a hospital after a car accident, multiple grad school interviews and a major job interview. It outstrips my anxiety over buying a house. I wasn't half as freaked out as I am now when I ran my first half marathon.

A FULL! I'm going to do a full in 5 days, 10 hours. I should will be finished in 5 days, 14 hours and 40 minutes +/- 20 (probably +). I ran a short 8 miles on Saturday and I just did not feel good about it. My shins hurt and  I walked more then I should have. I don't feel ready! But do you ever? Probably not. I just have to remember I've done a couple 20 mile runs. I only need to add 6 more. And, the only pressure to finish it at a certain time is from me. No matter what time I finish, it will automatically be a PR. I just need to finish and not collapse at the end.

That's it. I can't think about this anymore! Where's my Xanax?