The Value of Running Buddies

Today I decided to run technology free. I hadn't planned on it but my watch was still searching for satelites when I was ready to go and I decided to leave it behind. I knew where I was going and was confident that my route was very close to the 10 I wanted to do. I did use my gymboss though. Heavy humidity I knew I wanted to do intervals.

There were only 4 of us present today going for 10 miles. At first I tried to push John, Mark and Sherry away because I knew I would be slow and didn't want to hold anyone back or (more likely) push too hard to keep up. They said they were heading to the loop so I headed over to the Schuykill River Trail. I was thinking I'd mesage them later today to explain and apologize. But then I hear "Paula, we're stalking you". Ha Ha. Soon though Mark and John were off ahead of us and it was just me and Sherry.

She said she hadn't been running and was happy to do my intervals. If you know Sherry, you know she's awesome at pacing others. We haven't seen each other in forever so we had an enjoyable time catching up. About 5 miles in, on the Betzwood River Trail, we ran into Mark and John. They had run up to Pawlings road and down to the far end of Betzwood trail. By their estimation they needed extra miles and so turned around and we all finished the last 5 together - at my pace :)

We covered a lot of ground not only on the trail but also in talk. We filled Sherry in on all the people she's missed this season, we discussed the value and drawbacks of GPS in the car and comparisons of internet/cable/phone service providers. 

The river trail was a bit overgrown from the days of rain last week. Even though it's likely all weeds it had a very lush feel about it. Of course that meant a few puddles too but nothing we couldn't go around. 

So I thought I was going it alone on a humid 10 miles run. I should have known better. Running friends are awesome. Everyone should have at least one and the more the merrier. I love mine! 

The Art of Conversation On a Bike

I need to master this skill.

Actually, I need to master the art of just riding with a group. As a kid, we rode to get from point A to point B and I don't recall a lot of chatter until we got where we were going.

Tonight, not for the first time, I went out with a group. I was the slowest rider in this group - by a large margin - and keeping up took a lot of energy. There was also matter of who moves ahead if you are more or less side by side and there is someone ahead or the path narrows. I have no idea what the ettiquitte is - if there is any. But it took a lot of my focus wondering if there was and what I should do. Then there was the challenge of venturing into groundhog territory for the first time since my failure to navigate around one back in early August. I did not want to fall again with these folks - at least not until a more appropriate amount of time has passed. 

So, I didn't want to be rude to my friends who were chatting away but my limit for multi tasking while riding a bike was being tested.

It was a fun ride though and my longest distance to date. My Garmin battery died but Lyn said it was 21 miles. 

Happy New Year!

The day after labor day - the first day of school - always feels like more of the New Year to me than January 1st. Even thought I haven't been in school since 1980 (pause while you all do the math..lol... I'm 52 deal with it) I still think of this time of year as the cleaning of the slate the time.

I'm not a resolution maker so I won't be making any of those. As I get older I've learned that I can start over whenever I feel like it or whenever I don't like the way something is going. This is highly evidenced in my fitness routines. If I don't like the schedule I'm following I change it up.... as long as I keep doing something I'm good.

So Happy New Year everyone. Make it a Keep Smiling and Keep Moving kind of year!

Bob Potts Marathon Registration Open

Registration opened yesterday (Sept 1) for Bob Potts Marathon. (click here for my previous post on why) I still want to do this one but I've decided to wait until completing RNR (9/16) and OCNJ half Marathons (9/30). At least. I may even just take my chances and wait for the Philly Half.

I'm nervous about committing to the full marathon again. Not completing 15 miles on Saturday was a good decision for that day ( and my week ) but it does leave me concerned. I was having some good long runs before vacation but I have taken a few steps back now.  I don't plan on going over 15 between now and Philly half but I feel that if my races feel good and the two 15 's I do have planned go well, I'll have some more confidence.

I found the schedule I'll follow for Bob Potts.

It's 24 weeks (I'd have to start December 10 which is perfect); three 20 milers; works on three days a week running; a drop back week every three weeks and recommends biking twice a week (Wed and Sat). I could keep my Monday and Friday rest days. The weekday runs get up as high as 10 miles but if I go out immediately after work I should be able to get most of them in before dark. It might be close a few times but I have night running gear.

Obviously I really want to do the race or I wouldn't have picked out the schedule already. There's still a niggling voice saying " Are you sure?"
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Mood update: I had a very relaxing day yesterday including a nice family gathering with my sister, her two girls, my dad, stepmom, Dave and one niece's boyfriend. Last night I took allergy meds and had a drug induced 10 hour night sleep. Unfortunately that leaves me groggy for the day but it rained most of it so I was ok skipping the bike ride. I'm fidgety now but I definitely feel myself coming back.

And Sometimes You Just Have to Stop and Think

This week was a rough one. At first I thought it was just post vacation blues. Although I don't usually have issues with that anything is posssible. All week I've felt anxious, a little bit stressed. I couldn't determine any reason why and that of course made it worse. I wasn't sleeping well either. My job - that I truly love - was getting on my nerves. "Keep smiling and keep moving" was the only thing that kept me from chopping off the heads of innocent bystanders. Ugh. By Friday after lunch I was a mess. I finally just stopped everything and put my head down on my desk and forced myself to try to figure it out. (and not fall asleep while doing that).

Basically I resolved that it is a kind of domino effect breakdown. Already I feel better just having identified it.

I've been back for 11 days. Upon our return the Ragweed pollen hit it's stride. Fighting it takes a lot out of me. And it is likely the reason for the unsatisfying sleep. In the mornings I opted to sleep a little extra and skip breakfast at least 4 of those 11 days. I'm one of those people for whom breakfast really IS an important meal. I've been drinking more coffee - because I feel tired - but not increasing my water intake to match. My excercise routine since returning has been uneven. I've been getting out but different things - mostly the fatigue - have gotten in the way of a full routine.

My allergy - which the doctor originally wanted me to take shots for - is more or less manageable if I hydrate, eat and sleep better. Yet I was skipping breakfast, not sleeping and not hydrating well because of the allergy. How's that for chicken and the egg syndrome! Excercise also helps manage the ragweed reaction but I haven't been consistent.

Top it off I was trying to schedule too much for today. I wanted to run 15 miles (even though I knew deep down that wasn't going to happen) I wanted to bike ride and I wanted to do my strenght excercises....but I'm tired!!!!

So the first thing I did was let me off the hook for today. I figured that 11 good miles would be sufficient and I did it. I had a decent breakfast after the run and now that I'm home and cleaned up I'm I'm going to continue hydrating and take a nap and go to my dad's to celebrate my niece's 22nd birthday.

Assuming this reboot helps I'll think about bike miles tomorrow.