Monday, January 26, 2009

Report - Carlsbad AKA When Gravity Attacks

On mile two, I fell. Hard. (I won't go into the details, but I'm likely to kick the next person who stops dead in front of me in the race pack. Hello, go off to the side to tie your shoe. There are 8,000 people running this race.)

My knee got some road rash and my ankle was twisted. I sat on the curb for awhile and assessed the damage. A very kind woman from the Cure JM Foundation ran over to help. She was a total sweetheart. In fact the Cure JM Foundation had great volunteers all over the course.

Once I regathered myself, I took a few tentative steps and decided that I could keep going. In retrospect, I got very lucky. With 11 miles to go, I probably should have stopped. Honestly as long as I didn't run hard my ankle didn't hurt at all until the last quarter mile.

All in all, I had a really nice race. I saw a few of my mentees and a friend from work. I was strong all day and didn't ever really get tired. I could have gone another few miles if I'd have had to do it.

Now I've got a nicely swollen ankle, but I'm still planning to do the Surf City Half Marathon next weekend.

And now, the parade of injury photos.


Friday, January 23, 2009

Cake or Pie

For years, we've debated which is better - cake or pie. We've covered all types of subtopics. Is cheesecake a cake or a pie?(pie since it has a crust and no frosting) Do muffins count? (yes, as cake) Are brownies cake? (yes) Cookies? (no) What about cookie cake with icing? (still no, and don't ask again) Boston Cream Pie? (cake) Quiche? (pie) Ice cream cake? (not cake) Pizza Pie? (not pie) Cobbler? (pie and YUM!)

I'm am firmly in the pie category. Cake to me is merely a method to deliver frosting in polite company. At home alone you can eat frosting directly from the spoon, but in public you need cake.

Today, I received some good news from my old pal Felicia, proprietress of the Black Buggy Baking Company. She left her Manhattan law practice to bake delicious pies full-time in Oley, PA. From lawyer to baker, talk about a move from darkness to light. It's National Pie Day!

Today, do your civic duty and eat some pie.

Thursday, January 22, 2009

Race Report - Rock N Roll Arizona

This was a great trip and a fun race.

I got to stay with my friend Erica which was very cool. I hadn't seen Erica since Leia and Jim's wedding two years ago. It was awesome to hang out and catch up. Erica's husband was out of town, but her three super-dogs were home to keep us amused.

On race morning, Erica woke up at o'dark o'clock and drove me to the starting line - what a luxury. Normally, I'm trying to find the parking and starting line on my own. It was great to have a local take on that chore. Once Erica dropped me at the start, she drove to the finish line and rode her bike back to watch the race.

The half marathon started at an entirely civilized 8:30am. I felt pretty strong and was having a nice morning. I ran into Erica somewhere in the first few miles. It's so nice to see a familiar face on the course.

There was really good course support with lots of people out cheering. My favorite cheering section was the belly dancers. There should be more belly dancing at my events.

Around mile 6 my foot started to twinge, but it was no where near the hobbling pain I had in Dallas in December. From there to the end of the race I nursed it a bit - not running hard or pounding my foot. At mile 8, I met up with Stacy from the NYC chapter of TNT. She was nursing a cranky IT band (I've been there). She and I chatted and zipped through the last few miles together.

For once, I had my nutrition precisely right and I was strong all day. I had my usual pre-race rice krispy treat, a tiny bit of trail mix on the course, about half of a Gu at mile 9 and Cytomax at every aid station. I'd heard that Cytomax was the best drink and now I completely believe it. That stuff rocks.

At the end of the of the race, I met up with Erica and we had an ice cold beer. Oh, sweet, delicious beer. After that it was a nice lunch and a plane home to San Diego.

Like I said, a great trip and a fun race.

Saturday, January 17, 2009

Dear Steve,

I'm at the Arizona marathon expo and I have some bad news for you. I know I promised you that I wouldn't add more races in 2009. Unfortunately, the race series I'm committed to completing added one more race for me.

Rock N Roll Las Vegas - December 6, 2009.

Mom, Dad, Aunt Sally - can I presume you'll be attending this one?

Wednesday, January 14, 2009

What's Your Theme

Roxie mentioned that her friend Meg is encouraging her friends to develop a theme for 2009.

I've been noodling that for a few days...what is my theme for 2009? Today I was trying to do several things at once: review some reports and make notations, handle text messages, skim 2 email accounts (work & mentoring email), chug a diet shake, listen to some Tosca since Steve and I are going to see the San Diego Opera's performance next week. (We've got season tickets this year which makes me happy when I think about it.)

Since I don't have a CD available, I had YouTube just rolling through all the Tosca clips. It was playing in the background and I was barely paying attention. Then I was blown away when the audio of Maria Callas singing Vissi d´arte started. Without thinking about it, I closed my eyes and just listened.

She is so perfectly dedicated to singing; she's 100% present in that moment. Her mind isn't wandering and she's not multitasking. She is there. When I stopped all the stuff I was doing and really listened, I was relaxed and happy.

That's my theme for 2009 - pick one thing, pick the right thing and just do that.

Sunday, January 11, 2009

Bonus!

As we were watching the Chargers throw away the game against the Steelers it occurred to me - Philadelphia (Yeah!) is playing in Phoenix next week. I'm doing a half marathon in Phoenix next weekend.

I'm running a half marathon the day of the NFC Championship in the host city. Oh, this should be fun.

Do you think my fabulous hostess, Erica would be upset if I showed up in full Eagles garb?

Monday, January 05, 2009

Reality Called, It's Looking For You

The first day back from Christmas holiday is always difficult. Some folks are apparently taking it hard. When I went into the office break room this afternoon, I found the World's Largest Margarita Glass (WLMG) soaking in the sink.








Lest you think that photo has a perspective issue skewing the size, here is the WLMG next to a coffee cup.Here it is dwarfing a coffee pot.

No one in the office will admit to being the owner of the WLMG. You just know this person has said, "I don't have a drinking problem. I only have one drink with dinner."

All in all, I'm impressed the person still cares enough to wash the glass after a drink of that magnitude.

Sunday, January 04, 2009

Wii Must Say Farwell For Now

Steve got me a Wii for Christmas which we finally set up yesterday. I feel a rapid fall in my posting count about to occur as I'm consumed by Wiiness.

I already feel closer to my old pals Jim and Leia of We Know Wii.

Thursday, January 01, 2009

I'm In It - Redux

Lynn just informed me that she's signed us up for the Camp Pendelton Mud Run on Saturday, June 13.

Muddy Buddy!

2009 Races

P.F. Chang's Rock 'n' Roll Arizona Marathon & 1/2 Marathon
Sunday, January 18 - Phoenix, AZ

Carlsbad Marathon & Half-Marathon
Sunday, January 25 - Carlsbad, CA

Surf City USA Marathon
Sunday, February 1 - Huntington Beach, CA

Disney Princess Half Marathon
Sunday, March 8 - Disney World, FL

Pasadena Marathon
Sunday, March 22 - Pasadena, CA

Carlsbad 5000
Sunday, April 5 - Carlsbad, CA

Country Music Marathon & 1/2 Marathon
Saturday, April 25 - Nashville, TN

Avenue of the Giants Marathon
Sunday, May 4 - Humboldt, CA

San Diego Rock N Roll Marathon
Sunday, May 31 - San Diego, CA

Rock N Roll Seattle
Saturday, June 27 - Seattle, WA

Rock N Roll Chicago
Sunday, August 2 - Chicago, Il

Disneyland Half Marathon
Sunday, September 6 - Anaheim

Rock 'n' Roll San Antonio Marathon & 1/2 Marathon
Sunday, November 15 - San Antonio, TX

✔ Rock N Roll Las Vegas
December 6, 2009 - Las Vegas, NV.

2009 Races

Steve and I have been working on the 2009 race calendar for weeks. I want to do the full Rock Star series. I've already purchased entries to the Avenue of the Giants and Disney Princess races. Steve also wants to do 4 or 5 century rides and a triathlon. I'm mentoring the Peak Performance team through January (at least). He's mentoring the cycle team from February until June. If we aren't careful, then every single weekend will be filled with endurance training or races. A solid year of non-stop endurance activities - now that's exhausting!

Here are the races I'll finally settled on for 2009. I'll probably drop Napa-to-Sonoma just so we can get a rest during July.

Wish me luck!



P.F. Chang's Rock 'n' Roll Arizona Marathon & 1/2 Marathon

Sunday, January 18 - Phoenix, AZ

Carlsbad Marathon & Half-Marathon

Sunday, January 25 - Carlsbad, CA

Surf City USA Marathon
Sunday, February 1 - Huntington Beach, CA

Disney Princess Half Marathon
Sunday, March 8 - Disney World, FL

Country Music Marathon & 1/2 Marathon
Saturday, April 25 - Nashville, TN

Avenue of the Giants Marathon
Sunday, May 4 - Humboldt, CA

San Diego Rock N Roll Marathon & 1/2 Marathon

Sunday, May 31 - San Diego, CA

Rock N Roll Seattle
Saturday, June 27 - Seattle, WA

Napa-to-Sonoma Wine Country Half
Sunday, July 20 - Sonoma, CA

Rock N Roll Chicago

Sunday, August 2 - Chicago, Il

America's Finest City Half Marathon

Sunday, August 16 - San Diego, CA

Rock 'n' Roll Half Marathon Virginia Beach

Sunday, September 6 - Virginia Beach, VA

ING Philadelphia Distance Run

Sunday, September 20 - Philadelphia, PA

Rock 'n' Roll San Jose 1/2 Marathon
Sunday, October 4 - San Jose San Jose, CA

Rock 'n' Roll San Antonio Marathon & 1/2 Marathon

Sunday, November 15 -San Antonio, TX