Pride Race at Seward Park

So, in the 5K last weekend, which if I must toot my own horn again (and why else have a blog but to toot?), I won the women's overall title. Anyway, during the race, we turn up a hill, I hear a women's voice behind me, I think, great, there goes my lead... she is joking with folks, talking, but never passes me. The guy does, easily. The uphill loops around and then comes back down, I managed a sneak peak and the chatty one was no closer, whew. Then when I got back to the flat, I pass the dude who passed me on the hill. I told him to pretend he was going uphill. He admitted to an error in pacing judgement on the hill.

So, today in the email I get this photo, which was taken just before the hill starts. Now I can see just how close Female #2 was to me. egads.

Oh, and no, that's not an apron. Normally I can get my extra shirt tied a little better. That darn thing was all over the place. tres embarrassing.

Gina was 5th overall, but for sure 1st Masters. (I don't count as Masters this time cuz I won overall.... toot toot toot) Do we know how to pick the races or what? Thanks to Lesley(rower Lesley) and Peggy for inviting us.

It I was Too Tired I'd be a .......

Here was the plan for today's run:
Friday: 14.0 miles (2 @ 9:00, 4 @ 8:30, 4 @ 8:00, 2 @ 7:45, 1 @ 7:30, 1,0 very easy)

here's what I managed:(we, Ironcoach Lesley ran with me)
9:02, 9:12, 8:41, 8:23, 8:27, 8:37, 7:47, 7:40, 7:53, 9:04((side trip to fountain, was really 7:50), 7:55, 7:41, 7:23, 4:36(half mile cool down, not mile)

pretty close to hitting the marks, thanks to Lesley pacing. Except for the 4 @ 8:00 that all seemed to be under 8:00. All is good, but once I stop, it's tough to get started again. The back/leg issue chimes in and announces that momentum is ok, re- starts are not.

Since then I have managed to ice, hot tub, shower, go to post office, wash the car, read the paper and watch Tigers win ! It's happy hour now.

The answer is: a bicycle !! (too, 2 tired, get it?)
my oldest and favoritest joke, and I know the folks in T.O. are rolling in the aisles, having heard it now, repeatedly, for oh, at least 15 years and still think it's funny. Come on, let's hear the ha ha's now...

Today was a fine five miler. nice and easy. right at the 9:00 pace. a bit of hills for good measure. Which reminds me... yesterday the PT (his name is Dan D. great guy, great pt, never says "well, stop all activity for 2 weeks" cuz he knows it won't happen) SO, Dan thinking about my non-firing glutes, says "when was the last time you ran the stairs at Golden Gardens?" Ashamedly, I said "never". Gawd, who does stairs voluntarily? Well, except my 71 year old friend, Carmel, who is hiking the trail of St. James in Spain, as we speak. I didn't even think to ask if the 30 steps up to our house count?

Tomorrow is a day off from exercise. Except for some glute drills. And Friday looks fun ! I'll let you know how it goes. 14 miles, at incrementally increasing speed.

Anyway, for your viewing pleasure, we've got some colorful trees across the lake. And the cutest little cheez spreaders, thanks to Joan.

Kind of an unreal story out of NYC today. I say it's the job of all celebrity wives to say "NO" when the guy wants to be a pilot. For Halloween, ok. For real, no.

I'm thinking that building is about 10 blocks over from Herman and Dyan's bldg. He is G's cousins' uncle, who we met in Vegas. Also the same neighborhood as the guy who blew up his building rather than give it up in divorce proceedings or some such story. Gotta love NYC.

Glutentag

Today's run was supposed to be an easy 8 miler (apologies to those in TO). And it was, but as I spent most of the morning, like most mornings, reading the daily news online from several cities, and various blogs, I must keep up on Floyd's defense stategies.....OK, OK, I frittered away the morning. And I had a noon time PT appt. So, I had to beat feet to make the mileage in time. But it was a good run in beautiful weather.

So, the PT still thinks there is much tightness in those variously numbered and lettered joints of the spine. S1, L5, T10... whatever. He wrangled with my back for a while. Then we worked on some of the strengthening exercises, and gosh darn it all if I just do not engage my glutes, that pesky left cheek, especially. So, the back muscles are doing all the work.... Not for long !

If anyone's looking for me, I'm off engaging my butt muscles.

Jeez, this blog is starting to sound kind of racy, and I don't mean in a running sort of way.

Man Vol's

Check out this onion from our organic farmer friends.

Here is your trusty blogger, catching late season rays and acting, like, totally cool.


Today has been very busy. We went to the gym for a brief workout. Then home to watch numerous games. MSU-UM , Stanford-ND, UW-USC, all at the same time. And the Tigers waxing the Yankees ! how sweet was that? I'd better go see if there is rioting in Detroit. Now we've got the Dodger game, Cal, WSU, and our today favorites, the Man Vol's of Tennessee. ( I always hate it when I hear of the Lady Vol's) This betting pool we're in has made football fools of us.

Yesterday we did a 13+ mile run. Not sure of the actual mileage. Ran the bike route from Seward Park back to home. Can't believe I never clicked mileage markers on all the times we rode it on bikes this summer. Oh, well, it was just an easy 13. Picked that route cuz it has a fair number of hills.

Tomorrow there is a run at Seward Park, a 5K. We need to do 5 miles so it should work in nicely, a little 2 mile warmup and the race. We'll meet some friends, maybe do breakfast. Take a break from football.

Happy ANN i versary, belated, of course

So, last night I woke up thinking... WOW ! I think the blog is about year old. Scary when thoughts of the blog wake you up. I'm sure you've had the same feeling.

I checked my trail of blogs and sure enough, Oct. 2, 2005 was the inaugural blahhgggg. Interestingly enough, that is the same date Gina and I use to track the number of years we've been Running Crazily together. 22, fyi.

Anyway, so now I'm truly proud that on such an august date (October, I know) , I posted a photo of my feet.

The Agony of de Feet

bunions, no toe nails and now bruises... what I need is a pair of pillows with tread.

Today we were at the track. A pacing drill. 2 miles at 8:00 , 1/2 mile easy jog, 2 miles at 7:55. Bet you didn't know running was such an exacting sport. I pretty much hit those numbers. 8, 7:56,8:01, 7:51 just not in the right order.

The plan for the next month has a bit of speed work in it. We will race the Seattle Half Marathon at the end of Nov. and my goal is to get off the 1:47:xx mark. I'm very consistent in my race times. It's always 1:47 something. I'd prefer to be faster but hey, a 1:48 would at least be different. :)

Baseball playoffs.... St Louis is at the Padres. Either way, friends are happy. Maureen and Barb, from Vegas, have a nephew (Brad Thompson) who is a relief pitcher for St. Louis. And Bev and Diane are definite Padre fans. (and neighbors of Aileen now) But they are all at the game today. Well, poor Barb had to stay home and work. Sorry about that. And Padres lost. Sorry about that.

Now lets go Tigers !!!

Special props to special people

Mary K Capon, 16 years old today. Sweet and beautiful in France. Happy birthday!
How's the party going?














Ichiro. 'nuf said.
this is the photo every Japanese tourist to Seattle tries to get before the ushers shoo them away.












Wally and Carmel, my driving co-volunteers at Bailey Boushay House.
Gotta love your co-workers.











The umpire.