sometime today i need to run 8 miles.....the easter party preparations spilled over into training time and i did cut a few runs shorter. but hey, it's all about balance and you do what ya gotta do. i think i'm becoming a more mindful runner. i used to push too hard or just bail altogether when i felt crummy or tired. this attitude is so refreshing and it's really helping me see the big picture more clearly.
my neck pain seems to be bothering me less...it's not completely gone yet but i found heat vs ice to be better along with the occasional ibuprofen.
the easter party went well and the best part as usual was the easter egg hunt with the kids. my two nephews and one niece (ages 8,6,and 4) are TERRIFIED of dogs (it's really kinda sad...imagine being a kid afraid of dogs...)...so poor Brandy had to stay cooped up in my bedroom for the party....i'll make it up to her by taking her with me running this afternoon. M is crashed out cold from all the whooping it up this past week and i agreed to let her stay home one more day but she's going to SCORE this afternoon!
Afternoon Delight
i'm not even going pretend that i was excited AT ALL about the prospect of running this afternoon. T and i arranged that he would get home around 1:40 so i could allow for travel time to and fro Tilden....i needed 2 hours to run a hilly 8 miler in Tilden and enough extra time to p/u M at SCORE afterwards.
even though i had an 8 miler on the schedule...i still found myself negotiating...."ok, we'll see how it goes. "it is afternoon and I DON'T DO afternoon runs", "it's gonna be hilly so maybe i'll cut it short" my legs felt like sludge and even though the final number was apparently up for debate i knew i couldn't deviate from the plan until after the first two miles.
the sun felt good on my face. the pale blue sky and steady breeze balanced things out nicely. around mile four i had to hop a locked cattle gate. on the turn around my stride loosened up and i started to think maybe i would get through this 8 miler afterall. the rest of the run ....while NOT easy...went pretty well. i even went a little further by the time i arrived back at my car.
8.78 mi 1:47:56
i suspect sooner rather than later Mia is going to want her Garmin back. it's completley endeared itself to me much the same way Nano did. i'd be interested to hear from anyone regarding the Garmin 305.....though secretely i want mia to sell me her 201 since she and eric are more technologically savvy/worthy of the higher end model. :)
Monday, April 09, 2007
Tuesday, April 03, 2007
Testing the Water
my ankle was a little sore today and since i was only scheduled for 4 miles i decided to swim instead. considering that i hadn't planned on swimming i was surprisingly organized and got to the pool by 8:20 am for my first swim of the year!
i was happy to discover that i hadn't forgotten how to swim and while i only swam 200 hundred yards i was winded and reminded that it requires a different kind of conditioning....just like on the St. Patty's bike ride ....different muscles got worked and i was trying to remember how i pulled all 3 disciplines together last summer.
so, no i still haven't got the tribug back....not to worry though....there will always be a place for the swim and the bike in my training.
i was happy to discover that i hadn't forgotten how to swim and while i only swam 200 hundred yards i was winded and reminded that it requires a different kind of conditioning....just like on the St. Patty's bike ride ....different muscles got worked and i was trying to remember how i pulled all 3 disciplines together last summer.
so, no i still haven't got the tribug back....not to worry though....there will always be a place for the swim and the bike in my training.
Monday, April 02, 2007
Good Start
i switched yesterday's 8 miler to this morning so i could be around Sunday morning for T and M as they set off for their daddy/daughter adventure. they headed out around 10:30 and while there was time to still run i started cleaning out the linen closet and that led to the bathroom drawers, then i attacked the laundry room and kitchen. not as enjoyable as a run would of been but very productive.
i'm actually looking forward to company next weekend.
today i set out at around 7 am mapped out a nice 8 mile loop from my house.
for the record:
from my house to Camilia
L on 4th st
pass the kayak lake (a nasty body of water paralell to Hwy 80)
and over the bicycle bridge towards the Marina
out and back on the pier
then over to the harbor
( i felt like i was in a video...i swear just as i arrived at this point "more to life than this" by Bjork came up on the ipod...if you know the song you'll know why i say this...she's bored at some party and wants to go down to the harbor and jump across the boats....)
loop over to Ceasar Chavez
3/4 around i twisted my ankle and had to walk for a bit...back on track before i knew it....
leaving CC
L on Bayview Trail to Gilman
i had to run in place for what seemed an eternity...i even ran around the block first...waiting for a long ass train to pass.
8 miles 1:28
not fast but not bad for a Monday morning ;0
i'm actually looking forward to company next weekend.
today i set out at around 7 am mapped out a nice 8 mile loop from my house.
for the record:
from my house to Camilia
L on 4th st
pass the kayak lake (a nasty body of water paralell to Hwy 80)
and over the bicycle bridge towards the Marina
out and back on the pier
then over to the harbor
( i felt like i was in a video...i swear just as i arrived at this point "more to life than this" by Bjork came up on the ipod...if you know the song you'll know why i say this...she's bored at some party and wants to go down to the harbor and jump across the boats....)
loop over to Ceasar Chavez
3/4 around i twisted my ankle and had to walk for a bit...back on track before i knew it....
leaving CC
L on Bayview Trail to Gilman
i had to run in place for what seemed an eternity...i even ran around the block first...waiting for a long ass train to pass.
8 miles 1:28
not fast but not bad for a Monday morning ;0
Friday, March 30, 2007
DRAINED
it's weird.
last week in the midst of everything i was able to stick to my schedule.
this past week has been a struggle.
i guess lastweek running was a matter of stress relief...this week i just feel DRAINED.
taking care of my mom, dodging a few family dramas and dealing with the pain in my neck that's been going on for a month ...i guess it's catching up with me.
on wednesday i had a most unsatisfactory massage.my sweet husband got me a gift cert at a sports rehab clinic in oakland. upon entering the place the wall was riddled with KONA triparaphanalia....a good sign...that these folks worked with athletes....or so one would think. sitting in the waiting room i filled 4 forms explaining history and current level of activity. i waited for my cmt. after waiting a few minutes, she arrived and i watched as she greeted every other client asking them if they were me. i finally had to introduce myself.
her appearance was not congruent with a studio that worked with athletes. overweight, and a bit too hippy dippy for my taste. i know that sounds so mean...i know image isn't everything but we sought this clinic for a very specific outcome.
cmt's like her are a dime a dozen where i live...often skilled but in a different way...more "energy focused" and less knowledgable of the mechanics of running. so i gave her a very detailed account of my specifics and hopped up on the table. the only time she touched my legs...was at the very beginning ...through the sheet...just to say "hello". the next 90 minutes was spent on my neck and shoulders....and she never really "dug in" i could feel her get close to a trigger point occasionally but she never lingered. it was the most annoying 90 minutes of my life!
i kept hoping things would get better...but they never did. let me just say i HATE having to guide a massage therapist once i'm on the table. i provide very detailed specifics emphasizing areas that need extra attention....once i'm on the table i don't want to have to give further direction. while i emphasized the pain in my neck i never occured to me that she would devote the entire seesion to it.
my neck still hurts and it's really putting a damper on the mornings. i slept with an icepack lastnight and it seemed to take the edge off.
T and M take off Sunday for their annual daddy/daughter spring fling to Gardnerville, NV. they come back on thursday and M and I will finish off her break.
i'll be hosting Easter this year so i'll be busy cleaning my house but will get some good early workouts in .
Play Date anyone?
.
last week in the midst of everything i was able to stick to my schedule.
this past week has been a struggle.
i guess lastweek running was a matter of stress relief...this week i just feel DRAINED.
taking care of my mom, dodging a few family dramas and dealing with the pain in my neck that's been going on for a month ...i guess it's catching up with me.
on wednesday i had a most unsatisfactory massage.my sweet husband got me a gift cert at a sports rehab clinic in oakland. upon entering the place the wall was riddled with KONA triparaphanalia....a good sign...that these folks worked with athletes....or so one would think. sitting in the waiting room i filled 4 forms explaining history and current level of activity. i waited for my cmt. after waiting a few minutes, she arrived and i watched as she greeted every other client asking them if they were me. i finally had to introduce myself.
her appearance was not congruent with a studio that worked with athletes. overweight, and a bit too hippy dippy for my taste. i know that sounds so mean...i know image isn't everything but we sought this clinic for a very specific outcome.
cmt's like her are a dime a dozen where i live...often skilled but in a different way...more "energy focused" and less knowledgable of the mechanics of running. so i gave her a very detailed account of my specifics and hopped up on the table. the only time she touched my legs...was at the very beginning ...through the sheet...just to say "hello". the next 90 minutes was spent on my neck and shoulders....and she never really "dug in" i could feel her get close to a trigger point occasionally but she never lingered. it was the most annoying 90 minutes of my life!
i kept hoping things would get better...but they never did. let me just say i HATE having to guide a massage therapist once i'm on the table. i provide very detailed specifics emphasizing areas that need extra attention....once i'm on the table i don't want to have to give further direction. while i emphasized the pain in my neck i never occured to me that she would devote the entire seesion to it.
my neck still hurts and it's really putting a damper on the mornings. i slept with an icepack lastnight and it seemed to take the edge off.
T and M take off Sunday for their annual daddy/daughter spring fling to Gardnerville, NV. they come back on thursday and M and I will finish off her break.
i'll be hosting Easter this year so i'll be busy cleaning my house but will get some good early workouts in .
Play Date anyone?
.
Sunday, March 25, 2007
Dance Sister Dance
Grandma's send off was beautiful. she always had a way of bringing people together and this time was no different.
in the midst of everything this week i still managed to get in most of my runs. yesterday i spent a couple hours in Redwood getting to know it's trail system better. i wanted to get in somewhere between 8 to 13 miles. not knowing where or how hard the trails would be i would rely on the garmin and keep an open mind.
i'm not the most methodical trail runner and find maps to be unnecessarily confusing. i prefer to keep things simple, use sticks and stones to mark the path and take a few mental notes along the way. my observation skills seem to be keener on the trail....though, i lose my car keys every other day, go figure! later, i refer to the map and it seems to make more sense this way. in the neuro-re-education field this type of learning is known as "backward chaining" basically remembering things backwards.
i usually stick to the main trails in this park but i was feeling adventurous and wanted to get more familiar with the more technical trails. i started out on West Ridge. this was mostly flat for the first 3 miles then it was a steady 1 mile drop towards Stream Trail than onto Bridle Trail. it was at this point i lost the garmin signal. i had a vague sense of familiarity, i recognized random points from the PCTR 20K last month...no brightly colored tape to guide my way this time though.
i wasn't sure where i was going but i knew where i came from and could easily find my way back. i followed Bridle to French until i was able to pick up a signal on the garmin, 5.55 miles. deep in the canyon, i knew i had enough daylight and energy to get back the way i came if i had to, but i wanted to see where this trail would lead. i made mental notes of a few off shoot trails that i noticed earlier on West Ridge ...this came in handy later...when French Trail turned into a monster climb....which wouldn't of been bad, i just wasn't sure where it led. i decided at that point to double back and take Madrone, a steep rocky climb back to West Ridge.
the first time on a new trail is always a bit jerky. no fluid movements, lots of stopping, checking and looking down at my feet. it's kinda like dancing. as i make my way through, i'm a little anxious, not sure where the path will take me next but countering this uncertainty is a sense of wonder and peace and an occasional glimpse of the dancer in me.
in the midst of everything this week i still managed to get in most of my runs. yesterday i spent a couple hours in Redwood getting to know it's trail system better. i wanted to get in somewhere between 8 to 13 miles. not knowing where or how hard the trails would be i would rely on the garmin and keep an open mind.
i'm not the most methodical trail runner and find maps to be unnecessarily confusing. i prefer to keep things simple, use sticks and stones to mark the path and take a few mental notes along the way. my observation skills seem to be keener on the trail....though, i lose my car keys every other day, go figure! later, i refer to the map and it seems to make more sense this way. in the neuro-re-education field this type of learning is known as "backward chaining" basically remembering things backwards.
i usually stick to the main trails in this park but i was feeling adventurous and wanted to get more familiar with the more technical trails. i started out on West Ridge. this was mostly flat for the first 3 miles then it was a steady 1 mile drop towards Stream Trail than onto Bridle Trail. it was at this point i lost the garmin signal. i had a vague sense of familiarity, i recognized random points from the PCTR 20K last month...no brightly colored tape to guide my way this time though.
i wasn't sure where i was going but i knew where i came from and could easily find my way back. i followed Bridle to French until i was able to pick up a signal on the garmin, 5.55 miles. deep in the canyon, i knew i had enough daylight and energy to get back the way i came if i had to, but i wanted to see where this trail would lead. i made mental notes of a few off shoot trails that i noticed earlier on West Ridge ...this came in handy later...when French Trail turned into a monster climb....which wouldn't of been bad, i just wasn't sure where it led. i decided at that point to double back and take Madrone, a steep rocky climb back to West Ridge.
the first time on a new trail is always a bit jerky. no fluid movements, lots of stopping, checking and looking down at my feet. it's kinda like dancing. as i make my way through, i'm a little anxious, not sure where the path will take me next but countering this uncertainty is a sense of wonder and peace and an occasional glimpse of the dancer in me.
Thursday, March 22, 2007
La Borinqua
After my run Sunday I headed over to grandma's. i sat in the car for a bit before going in. as i approached the house i could see my family milling about. i was greeted by uncle pete, who said "hi, honey. go on it's okay, she looks like she's sleeping". the hospice nurse and priest had already come and gone and grandma looked like she did on many a visit, sleeping peacfully.
grandma tillie was no ordinary grandma, she was the ultimate party girl. she loved good food, music, family and friends. she was certainly a lady ahead of her time. she retired after 30 years with Greyhound in reservations and she was the first female president of the Puerto Rican Club in San Francisco. her legacy includes 7 children, 17 grandchildren, 27 great grandchildren and 11 great great grandchildren...and still counting.
grandma had her share of pain and not being able to dance or cook or care for herself took it's toll. she instilled in us a love our Puerto Rican culture and she wanted us to enjoy those things for her by having lots of family, music and food around. which we did for the last 3 weeks she was home.
the funeral is this afternoon. afterwards there will be one big party at the Puerto Rican Club as she requested. she loved life and made it very clear that we were not to stay down.
as i approach the final leg of this trip i am not so much sad as i am so proud to of had this woman in my life. despite being only one many many grandchildren, grandma had a way of making me feel special. she will be missed but never forgotten. every time i try to cook gondule rice or empanadia's every time i dance salsa or hear hawaiian music i know my love for these things came from her.
grandma tillie was no ordinary grandma, she was the ultimate party girl. she loved good food, music, family and friends. she was certainly a lady ahead of her time. she retired after 30 years with Greyhound in reservations and she was the first female president of the Puerto Rican Club in San Francisco. her legacy includes 7 children, 17 grandchildren, 27 great grandchildren and 11 great great grandchildren...and still counting.
grandma had her share of pain and not being able to dance or cook or care for herself took it's toll. she instilled in us a love our Puerto Rican culture and she wanted us to enjoy those things for her by having lots of family, music and food around. which we did for the last 3 weeks she was home.
the funeral is this afternoon. afterwards there will be one big party at the Puerto Rican Club as she requested. she loved life and made it very clear that we were not to stay down.
as i approach the final leg of this trip i am not so much sad as i am so proud to of had this woman in my life. despite being only one many many grandchildren, grandma had a way of making me feel special. she will be missed but never forgotten. every time i try to cook gondule rice or empanadia's every time i dance salsa or hear hawaiian music i know my love for these things came from her.
Sunday, March 18, 2007
The Call
I heard the phone ring at 7 am this morning. initially i though it might be my friend tracey calling to join me for a run this morning. she and her friend kelly and i went for a decent bike ride yesterday afternoon....my first ride of the year! tracey's entered in Wildflower which is a mere 7 weeks away....and she hasn't done any brick's yet....a single mom juggling job and the kid...she's an endurance athlete everyday.
over green hefeweizen we talked about going down to the event site in a few weeks and doing a big brick. i haven't trained like that in awhile...but i'm not signed up for Wildflower either, but i offered my support and told her i'd do a few smaller bricks to help her along.
as i layed in bed i heard the call go into voicemail. i rolled over to assess the situation. i was sure to drink tons of water after drinking 2 big ass beers. there were a few tough climbs during the ride, but the legs felt good no new sorness to speak of. i felt good. and then i didn't . i realized in that instant that it wasn't kelly calling but most likely my mom with news of grandma. i rolled out of bed used the bathroom and put on a pot of coffee before checking my voicemail. and sure enough, grandma had passed away only moments earlier at home with my mom, aunt and 2 younger cousins by her side.
i spoke to my mom briefly and she said alot family was around yesterday and grandma listened to her hawaiian music and seemed content. i had my one on one time with her 2 weeks ago without a housefull of people. i was able to tend to some basic needs get her up in her wheelchair and eat a little lunch. i know we connected and for that i am grateful.
i don't feel compelled to rush over there just yet. a few relatives are headed over to spend some time with her before she's taken away but i don't want to see her like that. she's already gone and all that left is tired broken body. grandma and i had our time together and i want to hold onto that for awhile longer.
i'm going to go for that run now.
over green hefeweizen we talked about going down to the event site in a few weeks and doing a big brick. i haven't trained like that in awhile...but i'm not signed up for Wildflower either, but i offered my support and told her i'd do a few smaller bricks to help her along.
as i layed in bed i heard the call go into voicemail. i rolled over to assess the situation. i was sure to drink tons of water after drinking 2 big ass beers. there were a few tough climbs during the ride, but the legs felt good no new sorness to speak of. i felt good. and then i didn't . i realized in that instant that it wasn't kelly calling but most likely my mom with news of grandma. i rolled out of bed used the bathroom and put on a pot of coffee before checking my voicemail. and sure enough, grandma had passed away only moments earlier at home with my mom, aunt and 2 younger cousins by her side.
i spoke to my mom briefly and she said alot family was around yesterday and grandma listened to her hawaiian music and seemed content. i had my one on one time with her 2 weeks ago without a housefull of people. i was able to tend to some basic needs get her up in her wheelchair and eat a little lunch. i know we connected and for that i am grateful.
i don't feel compelled to rush over there just yet. a few relatives are headed over to spend some time with her before she's taken away but i don't want to see her like that. she's already gone and all that left is tired broken body. grandma and i had our time together and i want to hold onto that for awhile longer.
i'm going to go for that run now.
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