It's gonna be a long day

The weather is fantastic!! Highs in the 80’s, lows in the 60’s. Running is something that can now be done with out gills!!

Stretching more and then stretching even more before you run seems to help a whole lot!! My shins still hurt, however no more than they did when 3 miles was a really long run. I’m trying the little exercises that one of the guys taught me after the team training the other day maybe they will help soon.

Last night was 3.6 miles. FireGuy and I ran a loop that he had mapped out a long time ago, and we moved along at a good clip. We then went to meet friends for dinner, and were running late from the run. Good thing they are very understanding of all of this Marathon Craziness.

Tonight after work is teaching and I think I have my evaluation tonight. GACK! I hate that. My boss, who really is great, comes in and sits in my class. BLECH!! I mean he is a good guy…still makes me icky that he’s in the class. I can teach to a bunch of people I know don’t know but when it’s someone who knows!!! I’m a mess. Isn’t that silly. Anyway he has only done this one other time to me in the 3 years I have been at the Community College and I think he is supposed to do it once a year. So…maybe I should be happy I dodged it this long. Then off to the gym to run, FireGuy has to study.

Long way to go today...

Stupid Internet

Well I have run twice since I have been able to get online. In fact as I sit and write this in Word the cable modem has puked yet again and I might not even get this up. So assuming you do actually see this post….

Wednesday’s run was done on Thursday and went just fine. I met FireGuy at his place and we ran at his end of town. 3 miles.

Today was the long run. It was the scheduled 9 miles. So this time I did it knowing that was how far I ran. I hope they don’t tell me this week that I really ran 12 miles. I feel better than I did the first time at this distance but it was still hard. My knees and foot didn’t hurt. Also the coach was riding a bike to be able to go between all of us. He rode slowly behind me for a little while trying to figure out why I have shin splints. He suggested that I try making sure my feet don’t slap especially my right one. Sure enough when I run concentrating on rolling off of my heels the pain was much less in my shins. It was well over half way before he suggested this so it was kinda hard to remember to keep doing it and to do it since I was tired, but when the pain came back a little I would remember. I’m sure it will be easier to remember if I practice during the shorter runs this week.

Another guy in the group suggested some little stretches and exercises for the shins. I really appreciate all the suggestions. I will try all the suggestions and have no idea which ones are working and which aren’t but at this point I don’t care. As long as something, anything, helps.

Well that’s it for now folks. Monday is Leif Erickson (Columbus) day and I’m off from the day job. I just have to teach in the evening. So I scheduled the cable guy to come between 8 am and 11 am. Then maybe I can post when I should.

I hate Road Runner sometimes.

How to make me useless...

Distance: 4.0 miles   Time: ~52 min   fair 9:30 pm
Temperature: 82 °F    Humidity: 56%      Pressure: 30:10 inches (rising)

4 miles…YEA!! My foot was stiff after but the stretching it before I run seems to be helping sooooo much.

I’m feeling very behind this week. (too much video gaming this weekend) FireGuy suggested we play one of the PS2 games I have. A two player dungeon type game. He is proving to be a great video game adventure partner. (Not everyone seems to do this well together)

I don't own the latest Tomb Raider, my other favorite type of game, because I will lose my mind playing it till it is done. (It's one player so I would be just lost to the world)

All that aside, video games have always proven to be an inexpensive distraction. I think this is a good idea with the holidays on the way. I'll have more money for Christmas presents if I stay home and play video games. (esp. when I buy them online used or wholesale...amazon rocks)

Maybe after running a marathon I will look a little more like Lara Croft....with out the fake lips and all. :)

I need to get to bed earlier….

A week later!!

I strained something in my right foot on that long run last weekend. SOoooo….I was good. It was very hard but I did it. I stayed down all week. I don’t just mean I didn’t run. I mean I stayed put most of the week.

Finally…yesterday I ran. I went for a little over 3 miles. My foot was tight again at about 2 and I didn’t quite make three when it started to hurt. So I walked the rest of the way. That helped it didn’t hurt to walk but it was tight and a little sore the rest of the day. Today it is a little twingy but still better than earlier in the week so I think it’s getting better slowly.

Today is a rest day on the schedule and I will take advantage of it. I will stay put on the couch to get work done (I hate stay put!!) Then 4 miles easy tomorrow, I should be able to do that…right?!?! (I hope)

Just Run suggested being the stretching queen!! I have been trying that and it has already seemed to help. I feel better when I can’t run and the day after I started taking a few min here and there to stretch a little my foot started making a larger improvement. Wow, were my legs tight when I hadn’t run in a few days!!

My mother is worried about my foot and all of this training.

Mom: “I hope all of this marathon stuff isn’t killing you”

Me: “at least I have a spleen”

So all of those of you worried I promise I will not go so far as to play 2 - 3 quarters of NFL football with a ruptured spleen!!

Good luck to Chris Simms for a speedy recovery.

Bucs are off this week so you don’t have to hear me call them stupid, and a new QB for the season will be determined this week I think.

Gotta stretch and then hurry to stay put!!

Rally Post!! (because some days I need one)

If we are marked to die, we are enow
To do our country loss; and if to live
The fewer men, the greater share of honor.
Gods will! I prey the, wish not one man more.
By Jove, I am not covetous for gold,
Nor care I who doth feed upon my cost;
It yearns me not if men my garments wear;
Such outward things dwell not in my desires.
But if it be a sin to covet honour,
Then I am the most offending soul alive.
No, faith my coz wish not a man from England.
God’s peace! I would not lose so great an honor
As one man more methinks would share from me
For the best hope I have. O, do not wish one more!
Rather proclaim it, Westmoreland, through my host,
That he which has no stomach to this fight,
Let him depart; his passport shall be made,
and crowns for convoy put into his purse;
We would not die in that man’s company
That fears his fellowship to die with us.
This day is called the feast of Crispian.
He that out lives this day, and comes safe home,
Will stand a tip-toe when this day is named,
And rouse him at the name of Crispian.
He that shall live this day and see old age,
Will yearly on the vigil feast his neighbors,
and say ‘Tomorrow is Saint Crispian.’
Then will he strip his sleeves and show his scars,
And say ‘These wounds I had on Crispin’s Day.’
Old men forget; yet all shall be forgot,
But he will remember, with advantages,
What feats he did that day. Then shall our names
Familiar in his mouth as household words-
Harry the King, Bedford and Exeter
Warwick and Talbot, Salisbury and Gloucester-
Be in his flowing cup freshly remembered.
This lesson shall the good man teach his son;
And Crispin Crispain shall ne’er go by,
From this day to the ending of the world,
But we in it shall be remembered-
We few, we happy few, we band of brothers;
For he today who sheds his blood with me
Shall be my brother; be he near so vile,
this day shall gentle his condition;
And gentlemen in England now abed
Shall think themselves accursed they were not here,
And hold their manhoods cheep
whilst any speaks
that fought with us
upon St. Crispins day.

-Henery V, Act 4, Scene 3

Um....yeah....ok...Correction

Minor update to the last post. The TNT coach mis-measured/added the miles the other day. I got an e-mail saying he didn't mean to but we actually ran more like 9 miles...

9 MILES!! I checked the route with the USA Track & Field page and found it to be over 8.7 miles. I'm in for a little rounding.

Yippee!! 9 MILES!!! I guess I don't have to worry about the 9 mile run scheduled for the weekend after this. :)

Thanks everyone for your encouragement....I really appreciate it.

7 MILES!!!

 Distance: 7.0 miles   Time: infinity min    sunny 7:00 pm
Temperature: 76 °F    Humidity: 79%      Pressure: 30.06 inches rising

Holy Crap!! 7 Miles….who’da thunk? Ok…a few thoughts:

After 4-ish I just kept going…it stopped being quiet so hard
After 5 miles my left knee hurt but it was just tired
After all 7 I had to call people….They think I’m nuts
My right foot hurts a lot….but that may be from mopping the floor later that day. It’s better today.
This pain thing is getting old. But the new distance thing is pretty cool!!
I’m still tired.

Two of my aunts on my Dad’s side were in town this weekend and we had lunch today. It was nice enough to eat outside at a local restaurant. It was a very nice visit, and made all the cleaning and mopping yesterday worth it. 

This was a nice quiet weekend…not that I’m complaining, every once in a while I need one.

Catching up….finally!!

Lament Summer...Exult Fall

Distance: 4 miles     Time: < 1 hour    Dark 9:30 pm
Temperature: 76 °F    Humidity: 54%      Pressure: 29.92 inches (rising)

Well that’s it folks….summer is just about done. While I don’t think yesterday will be the last day we break 90 °F this year, as if on cue the temperature broke late yesterday. The high was 94 °F yesterday. Today it is supposed to be 88 °F. For those of you who have been keeping track that has been the temperature when I run hours after dark at 9:00 pm. Last night almost felt chilly by comparison and the humidity was nothing!!

I love summer, baseball, warm sun on my face, wicked thunderstorms while I’m in bed with a good book, the raining on this side of the street and dry on that side craziness, green everywhere like you wouldn't believe, walking into a nice cool home after being outside when it is so hot, feeling like a big slacking lizard in the tropics, and of course frozen margarita/rum tropical drinks that are necessary outside at night.

Soon it will feel and smell like October. (Funny, that happens when it is approaching October) and summer will be done, but that's ok, because....FALL is my favorite time of year!! HALLOWEEN is just around the corner!! Football every weekend!! Baseball playoffs and The World Series (Go! Twins....My Rays and Braves are not looking good for making it this year so I'm in for MB's team) Start of hockey season, LONG SLEEVE T-SHIRTS!! Tailgating on the weekends, eating dinner outside on my porch with friends, the windows open, smell of the last of the thunderstorms of the season. Pumpkins and ghosts and bats and ghoulies. My birthday is in October along with a whole group of friends….that is always a great week!! All outdoor activities will get easier when you don’t need gills.

Don't get me wrong....I LOVE Summer!! but right now

  I   C A N ’ T   W A I T ! ! !

Running Late (at night and for dinner)

Distance: >2 miles     Time: 25:22 min    Dark 9:45 pm
Temperature: 83 °F    Humidity: 72%      Pressure: 29.99 inches (rising)

Everything seems to be good. The hip behaved last night for all two plus miles so tonight’s run is the scheduled 4. I hate running so stupid late but that is when I can so that is when I do. It is easier to breath than during most of the day but wow am I whooped by the time I get started.

Here are some of my observations training for a marathon so far…

* I am cold all the time!! If I’m not doing physical activity (or sitting in the sun at the football game) then I’m cold!!

* I’m hungry all the time!! If I’m cold I’m hungry. Well it sure seems that way. I knew running more would mean I needed to eat some more but I had also hoped for some weight loss along the way. I’m sure it is coming with the increase in mileage but man I’m hungry. And I’m eating more but not really gaining so that is good. At least I eat better.

* Everything else is easier. Hmmmmm…..funny that. Suddenly all the other activities and housework is not so hard. This is a really nice side effect.

* Vitamin B and Caffeine are my friends. (not to mention Vitamin I and Naproxin Sodium)

* I can’t wait for the next distance to be no big deal. Right now 3 miles is no problem, but the Monkey is on my back for breaking 5. It used to be a mile, then two wasn’t so bad but the monkey was there again for three. Four was do-able after three even if it isn’t easy yet, but that ole Monkey is sitting there for 5. I’ve got his number this weekend but its still kinda weird how this works.

* It is funny how thinking about, scheduling, getting ready for, packing for, etc….running has taken over so many other things I used to do. None of which were as good for me. I watch less TV. I eat better…can’t run if you eat crap…makes your tummy hurt. The laundry gets done more often….I need clean workout clothes.

* It has gotten easier and easier to say “sorry I can’t make it till (insert time), I have to run.” People are starting to get the hang of this, and are really quite supportive.

Hey Gwenhwfyr I might be a little late to dinner tonight….I have to run 4 miles!!

Hope it's nothing!!

Wednesday night it rained so running turned into yummy steak salads at Mimi’s restaurant with Vicky the waitress that is all about putting carrot bread on the table along with the muffins that come with the meals and then packing away extra carrot bread for a take home bag and then packing up the huge muffins to take home too. I think FireGuy ends up with like three more meals when we leave. It’s kinda funny.

Friday morning’s run went well. Faster than the previous two 3 mile runs 34:17. Yea!!

Then Sat!! NO GOOD!! ALL BAD!! I over slept so everything was started in a frazzle! Then, at a little over three miles, I must have stepped wrong. Something went very wrong!! My left hip HURT at the joint. I made it till ~4.5 and finally FireGuy told me to sit and he would finish to go get the truck to pick me up. My hip ached the rest of the day. I tried to be good but it was a busy day. Yesterday it was just a little “funny” but overall it was much better. Today it feels fine but I’m going to be careful today and I’m glad one of my classes I’m giving a test so I can sit. Then just 2-3 miles tonight. I’m not happy that I didn’t get the scheduled 6 miles in on Saturday. I’m going to e-mail the coach (or maybe I should just call) and see what he thinks but I hope this is only a one day setback.

Weekend update: Friday was movies with friends that turned into Mellow Mushroom Pizza instead…YUM!! Then Saturday, the run, USF v UCF Football game in Orlando, (Go Bulls!!) , Mexican for dinner and then Compas_Rose’s birthday where I got to hang out with lots of cool people, and Sunday morning was Frisbee with Lunchbox (who did me a huge favor…Thanks!!), and later watching Ladder 49!! Overall a good weekend!! (we won’t even begin to discuss the Bucs!)

Running….Gently!!

Hurry they're gaining!!

Distance: 3 miles     Time: 36:07 min    Cloudy 6:30 pm
Temperature: 80 °F    Humidity: 81%      Pressure: 29.96 inches (rising)

Last night’s run went very well. Bayshore Blvd is very nice and a great place to run. FireGuy and I look at the boats and the edge of the bay off on the horizon and it’s just nice to look at, we catch up on the last couple days, how’s school, how’s work etc…and talk about plans…mostly silly pirate get away plans. (We park at the pirate ship that invades Tampa every year) or Viking invasion plans. (Shocking I know)

We make up games…we ran out in this amount of time and ended up “behind enemy lines” and have to get back to the pirate ship before it sails away. (We didn’t quite make it….I slowed down)

Or how close to Lumberton, MS can you sail a boat (a Viking long ship to be specific) from Gulfport, MS? How long does it take to sail from Tampa to Gulfport? Do you know how to sail? ‘Cause I don’t!! And I’m NOT rowing to Mississippi.

Anyone who knows me will attest that I am 4 years old and I’m always in for playing pretend….and FireGuy is just as silly as I am. (Maybe even sillier)

Last night we ran 1.5miles out and back….and guess what…We got away!!

Running to stay ahead of the pirates!!

Stupid Bucs!!

60 min timed run = over 4 miles!! That is farther and longer than I had run before. The shin splints are attempting to show up again but I think I’ll be ok. I have started right away with some OTC anti-inflammatories and ice packs. And the during the week runs don’t really get much longer it is mostly the weekend ones that do so if they aren’t too bothered by what I’m doing during the week they should rest enough to handle the weekends. That is my theory anyway. Today’s run was tough. It was noon, it was humid because it was about to rain, and it was longer than I had gone before. But here I am on the other side!!

Last night the USF Bulls were victorious over FL International U. The tailgating was fantastic. (Strongbow cider on TAP!! YUM) and getting to know new friends a little better.

Today however….Not so good for the Buccaneers. Not a great start to the season guys!! You have to show up for the game!!

Time to start dinner!!

Eating to run!!

FOOTBALL!! YIPPEE!!!

Ok….all the runs for the week are in! Thursday night’s class went late so I ran that run yesterday morning. Now I just have to get through tomorrow morning’s run and I will have had a very successful week.

A sorta lost friend had a housewarming party this evening. It was a whole a lot of fun to reconnect with some old friends I haven’t seen in a long time. I didn’t realize how much I missed some of them till we were all in the same room like we used to be. More than once was “remember the time that” or “That one time” It was nice

Today……it begins….one of my two favorite seasons….

F O O T B A L L S E A S O N ! ! !

USF is home this week so tailgating and then the game…. This is with some new people to hang out with and new friends to make. Tailgating is a good time for that and food always tastes better outside!! Then tromp off to the stadium and GO BULLS!!!

On Sunday it’ll be GO BUCS!! 1:00 game more fun!! I haven’t heard too much from the football group yet but I’m sure we will come up with a plan. Oh and a run on Sunday.

Gotta run!! Have a good weekend!!

Run away and don't look back!!!! (at beta)

Distance: 2.63 miles    Time: 35:00 min    inside 9:30 pm
Temperature: cool °F    Humidity: ??%    Pressure: ??.?? inches (?)

The run tonight went better but it’s hard to tell since I ran at the gym. It’s always easier there with the cooler dryer air. FireGuy has a test tomorrow so I was on my own tonight. He promised to be back to running tomorrow.

So here is the update:

B L O G G E R
B E T A
S U C K S ! ! !

And they don’t even know it. I sent them an e-mail telling them I want to go back…they said they can’t. But they hope I like my new features…. Yeah right….I love ‘em. So much that I want to GO BACK!!!

I had almost no problems with my old template in blogger….now I lost that, started again and can’t edit the HTML yet so it looks like Sh*t!!

They tell me all of you can comment on my blog….and it’s just not true. So what fun is this?

Please feel free to keep in touch at my e-mail at RunnerGirlFL@gmail.com. And as soon as blogger gets ther heads out of their a$$ I’ll let ya know!!

Thanks for reading

Running around and no one to tell it to…

Sleepy....very sleepy

Distance: >2 miles       Time: 36:00 min    Dark 9-ish pm
Temperature: 82 °F    Humidity: 69%      Pressure: 29.95 inches (rising)

Last night’s run was good. Not great, but good. FireGuy’s watch has the count down timer that is best for these runs of time rather than distance. Well, I guess I didn’t explain the plan correctly because we didn’t turn around at one point and just ran out. That made for a long walk back. It was nice out last night so it wasn’t so bad but it made for a late night.

The weekend was a lot of fun. Another SCA event. Usually at these events I go to bed at the very small digits of the morning and get up before they get to double digits. This weekend was no exception. Saturday lasted till 4 am Sunday morning and then I was up again at 8 am ready for the day. Then home on Sunday evening….like midnight. I think I fell asleep about 2 am. I had a lot of fun catching up with friends I hadn’t seen in a little while and getting to know some new ones better….(Hi BatGirl!!)

Well, here we go another week has started and I cannot tell you how glad I am that it is a short one!! Lots of new projects seem to have made their way onto my plate in the last couple days. I really need to sort them out and I need some time…This weekend should be good for that. Maybe this weekend I will rest a little bit. Nahhh……

Yesterday was my first draft as the Commish for our fantacy football league at work. I had scheduled the draft at 5:30 so that a few of us could draft after work and help one of the new people who had never done a computer draft before. Well because it was easier everyone stayed…well except the guy who didn’t check if he had all his plugin’s installed and then couldn’t get on at draft time to draft. (there is one in every draft) It was a lot of fun.

My fund raising is going pretty well. I need to make another large push and that is included in the projects that need to be sorted out but it’s moving along at least. For those of you who have donated....Thank you So much. For those of you who havent....please consider this worthy organization. I'll run a marathon for a $1 mile....how bout $26 to fight blood cancers!!

Today is another long one with the Work, Teach, Run Bed theory in place. ;)

Still running along….

Later and later...

Distance: >2 miles       Time: 26:00 min    Dark 9-ish pm
Temperature: 83 °F    Humidity: 74%      Pressure: 29.94 inches (rising)

Last night's run was late. I to prefer to run outside so it is nice to have someone to run with since I really should not run alone in the dark. I would have to go to the gym instead and that is not as much fun.

The usual path is a fairly well list busy street with a wide shoulder and a wide sidewalk in so it is pretty far from the cars. It wasn’t as humid last night as it has been. A sign of the impending storm most likely. It gets a little dryer just before a good tropical system comes along. Last night was 26 minutes and we got almost as far as the 30 minute run the other day so that is good. Faster now will only help later.

Today is a rest day so YEA!! I also do not have to teach tonight. YEA again!! I thought it would be better to have a run on a day I’m not teaching and then get a rest day on a night I teach. Then I would not have to go go go, but now that I am here I think I like the idea of only one work responsibility today and then family dinner tonight. I slept in a (very) little bit and hopefully I can get things done tonight with out feeling so rushed.

Not-so-RunnerGirlFL <-- and enjoying it!!

First Team Training

Distance: ~4 miles     Time: 45:00 min    Cloudy 7:30 am
Temperature: 79 °F    Humidity: 94%      Pressure: 29.98 inches (rising)

Saturday morning was the first team training run for the TNT group. We all met at a park and ran down Bayshore Blvd. Which, as its name implies, runs along the bay. There is a nice wide paved uninterrupted path about 5 mile long that follows the shore of the bay, since there can be no intersections crossing it or cars would end up not running so well. It’s a nice run overlooking the bay and you can see the downtown Tampa skyline from a distance (the best way to see most downtown’s in my opinion.)

The other people were really nice. Some seem more interested in making friends. Some came with friends already. It is obvious that many of them are farther along in this distance thing than me, but I am proud to say that I was the only “back of the pack”-er that ran the whole way, and I wasn’t the last one. How ever some of them thought it was cleaver of me to notice that if we were doing a time of running not a distance than if I’m last when I turned around at half way through the time….I was now in the lead. I said that it was my strategy. I don’t think they completely believed me….Oh well.

Tonight is running after class with FireGuy and then again on Wednesday and Thursday. The weekend calls for a run on Saturday but since I’m out of town this weekend I’m not sure what I’m going to do but I will probably run it on Friday before I leave.

For those of you keeping track of my crazy life….

Thursday night was a surprise party for FireGuy complete with a Bytor party game. (When Bytor comes up with a party game….it is rarely safe) This one included lighting small wooden bird houses on fire with torch fuel and putting them out with little squirt hoses. Get it…a fire party game. When the last house didn’t go out….what did the 4, yes FOUR firefighters do!?!?! They played soccer with it!! Oh well….my house is only 80 years old and made of wood after all!!! Silly Firepeople. (they are not all guys) My neighbors already think I’m weird…what’s a little fire soccer in the front yard. (Note the ground was still very wet from the afternoon thunderstorm just hours earlier)

Friday was a little quieter. It was all rainy so I ran errands, cleaned the house from the party, and then hung out with FireGuy in the evening.

Saturday was the training then my Mommy came up to see some projects I had done around the house and took me to dinner at the Cheesecake Factory. YUM!! I got the Godiva chocolate cheesecake YUM!! Later was watching the pre-season Bucs game with the Football guys* at one of THEIR houses (note my house didn’t get wrecked again on Saturday….hehehe….and also note the football guys* are mostly the same group in the gaming guys*)

Sunday was the usual mix of Fighter Practice and geeking out Gaming with the gaming guys*. This is again at my house but doesn’t usually wreck the house as no beer is involved and the mess stays contained to a dining room table which has to be cleaned off before the game and is clean when they leave since they take their stuff with them. (usually actually helps the clutter factor of the table)

Today is work, teaching, running, bed.

Running around till I get a chance at a nap!! HA!

*First the term guys in my blog denotes a group of people not just boys….however most groups are predominately male in my world. There are girls besides me in both the football group and gaming group. Second most of these groups overlap significantly. The Fire people are all fighters and the gaming group mostly is too. The gaming group is mostly the football group too. Need a map yet?!?!

Sad Sad Day!!

Dear Pluto,

I’m sorry to hear about your recent loss of title. This was not fair!! So you orbit a little differently, and cockeyed. So you are mostly made of Ice. I still love you.

I would rather 12 planets than 8. They didn’t ask me. I’m sure they have their reasons, and now there are guidelines for planets but they should have grandfathered you in. You have proudly held that title for many years.

I loathe that at some point I will have to hear children rattle off our Sun's beloved planetary satellites and you will not be among them.

You will always be a planet to me you captured little wandering ice ball you.

Love,
RunnerGirlFL

Distance:2.4 miles  Time: 30:00 min    dark 8:30 pm
Temperature: 81 °F    Humidity: 89%      Pressure: 29.97 inches (holding)

Don't get cocky!!

Distance:???              Time: 20:00 min    Partly cloudy 6:00 pm
Temperature: 87 °F    Humidity: 67%      Pressure: 30.06 inches (falling)

I spoke too soon yesterday when I said 20 min was easy. It should have been. I had a little trouble with the 20 minutes, when I shouldn’t have. I hadn’t run all week and it got me. A nice stitch for a little over half way. I did finish so that is the important part. Running with FireGuy is going to be fun. We started out a little fast for me (my fault…I’m never good at picking a pace) and I think I should have drank more all day but he was good about pushing when the stitch hurt with out making me want to kick him in the shins.

School starts today and I am teaching Physics w/ Calc II and the Lab. After work I have to go teach the class tonight and then off to do the run.

Start out a little slower, drink lots of water, Run Run Run.

And so it begins….

Today is the first run on the schedule for the marathon training. 20 min. Not so bad. Really easy actually but this is probably a good thing since I did not run over the busy weekend and I was taking it easy before that because of the shin splints. I’m really excited that the schedule doesn’t go further than I can already run until well into September. That should allow me to get used to the running 4 –5 days a week easier and hopefully not aggravate the shins.

The weekend was busy. School starts this week and I am not prepared to teach my classes. I always feel that way so I’m sure I'll be fine but that doesn’t make me feel less hassled right now. Friday I went to WDW Animal Kingdom with a friend and had the best time. We got to the park at 9:30 (it opened at 9) when it closed at 6pm we hopped the bus to Epcot. My best friend from high school arranged super secret fireworks viewing for us. THEY WERE RIGHT OVER OUR HEADS!! (YEA Epcot security Managers!!) Then we found out that Epcot was staying open till 12am. Yea!! more time for fun!! We didn’t pull out of the parking lot till well after midnight!! Then the drive back to Tampa. It was a fantastic day!! Then Bucs game on Saturday (It's only pre-season, It's only preseason) then Fighter practice Sunday morning and geeking out with the guys that night to game.

I need to stop having quite soooooo much fun on the weekends or I’m never going to catch up!!

And away I go…..

Best Saturday Ever!!!

Distance: 3.0 miles   Time: 39:30 min    partly cloudy 10:00 am
Temperature: 91 °F    Humidity: 60%      Pressure: 30.02 inches

Well today went well. Not stellar but well. I walked ad few times but I am very sore from an SCA event yesterday. We fought for like an hour straight…fight, get hit, line up and fight again. Always fun!! Then we went swimming. Again wrestling with the boys in the pool is fun but more work. I also made a new friend. She was really cool, and wants to come up to Tampa to fight at our practice on the weekends. We got to talking after throwing the football in the pool. Also her son decided I was his new best friend. He came up to me at dinner, put his little hands on my shoulders and asked me to go outside to the swings to play. Very CUTE!! I think I have a new boy friend. Hehehe I must have dazzled him with dunking him in the pool. One of my longtime football buddies with the two cutest kids on the planet had them there too and his daughter and I were the two headed monster. She was on my shoulders with TWO water guns and I was at water level able to splash. We chased down and tormented everyone in the pool. And the kids made sure it was ok if this year when they come to visit their father they will be allowed to watch football at my house again. I told them they could come anytime they were in town and we all watch football. (we always watch football – I am soooooo glad it is football season)

All of this makes trying to run with the top half of your body suffering from T-Rex arms much harder.

I’m getting very excited to meet the Team next weekend and find out my schedule. I am worried it will be too hard so I am really trying to not miss any of my runs this week.

When I told my BRAND NEW Fire Fighter friend (he did pass those tests as I knew he would – State Certified and everything) about the marathon he said that he wanted to run it with me. He won’t be able to do the fundraising part due to EMT school (needs that to still get a job) but he wants to run the race with me!! And run with me to help to get ready. We are still working out the details of weather signing up for the race will work or not, but even if it doesn’t it was a really nice offer….very supportive!!

Running to get ready for more Running!!

Ready, Set......FUNDRAISE!!! FIGHT LEUKEMIA!!! GO!! GO!! GO!!

Distance: 3.0 miles   Time: 37:13 min    partly cloudy 6:00 pm
Temperature: 91 °F    Humidity: 56%      Pressure: 30.02 inches

Holy Cow!! What have I gotten my self into?!?!

I’m going to run a marathon….that’s right a M A R A T H O N ! ! !

2 6 . 2 M I L E S ! ! !

Alright, so here is the deal!! I went to the informational meeting for Team in Training the other day to see what I needed to build up my distance to in order to start training. Found out that they wanted you to be able to run about 2 -3 miles. Well since my longest is more than that and my average is between that….I SIGNED UP!!!

So I have a fundraising goal of $2300. Please go to my Team in Training page and sponsor me!! If everyone donates $26 dollars (That a deal at a dollar a mile folks) then I’ll be at my goal in no time!! PLEASE!!

If you want to link to this post as well to send your readers this way feel free....or pass the link above to my TNT web page on to anyone who would like to join in the fight against Blood Cancers. The more people I talk to the more people I know who have been touched by these diseases.

Click on the Team in Training banner also. This is a fantastic organization that I really believe in.

And Stay tuned!! I meet my coach and the other people on my “TEAM” on Aug. 19th. Then the real fun will begin!! I need all the cheering I can get!!

Running to end Blood Cancers!! Running for Randy!!

Quick Report

Distance: 2.2 miles   Time: 28:17 min    Sunny 12:00 pm
Temperature: 82 °F    Humidity: 84%      Pressure: 30.03 inches (holding)

What kind of idiot runs at noon in Florida!! And for the record I did not believe the weather.com site with the 82 °F till I got home and looked at the outside thermometer. It said about the same so I guess it is true. I ran now because we are supposed to have more thunderstorms this afternoon so I wanted to be sure to get in some running. I did not try to run fast and in fact walked plenty to not over do also my shin hurts from the 2 miles earlier this week. I HATE THIS!! I want to continue to go often so I’m trying to take them all easy since it seems to be less the distance that I run and more the frequency that I run that make the shin hurt.

I am working on some changes here to the running schedule so stay tuned.

Running to live better….I hope.

Friends

Distance: 2.0 miles   Time: 23:00:16 min   5:15 am
Temperature: 80 °F    Humidity: 79%      Pressure: 30:10 inches (holding)

I got some disappointing news yesterday. During my run this morning I did a lot of thinking. This is what I came up with, I will write this to put it down and get it out of my head…and then I will let it go:


Dear Friends,

Yes, all of you, you know who you are. We use this title of friend for a lot of different reasons.

I say “My friend _____ at work.” These are not really people I would ever do anything with outside of work. Nothing wrong with them we just aren’t really really friends. It is just easier than saying “This guy I work with who I hang out with while I’m there and throw darts with instead of getting anything productive done…”

However, when I truly give that title free and clear this is what you can expect of me:

I will pick you up if you fall.
I will make fun of you if you do something dumb. (I expect the same)
I will be proud of you if you complete your goals, no matter how big or small.
I will be happy for you at every milestone in your life, graduations, weddings, births.
I will be at your side if you are sick.
I will give you a hug if you are hurt or sad. Go ahead fall apart on my shoulder.
I have been called fiercely defensive of my friends. I think this is one of the greatest compliments I have ever received, I offer you this as well.
I will come when you call.
I will stand with you when you need support.
I will hold you up when you can stand no longer.
I will keep your secrets. (I have learned the value of this one over the years)
I will listen and then…
I will offer suggestions if you want them or sympathy if not.

I will deny you nothing that is within my power to give you, all I have is yours.

What do I expect from you? Well that is the question now isn’t it…. I would like to say I expect nothing but I found out that was not true.

I do not expect you do defend me, I do expect you to not add to the fire.
I expect to trust you not to lie to me or about me.
I expect to not be tossed aside when you are finished with me.

That is it. Not so hard is it? Do not be disappointed when you have not stood up to any one of those expectations when I can no longer give you this title. You made me cry. So now I’m done. Sorry (no, not really, you did this not me). I’m done.

Now all my cards are on the table. The ball is in your court. It is your play. Just let me know.

Your Friend,

JK/RunnerGirlFL/Bryndís


*Sorry for the rant but nothing hurts me more in this world than to have someone throw away that title. Thanks for reading. My Friend says it is good to write about these things sometimes....she is very smart.

One More Distraction

Ok…so I haven’t posted because I haven’t run. I did catch that cold and so I have been trying to be good. I was going to run yesterday, I was feeling “well enough” but I got guilt tripped out of it. (you can't go running till you are better...yes I can...you shouldn't...I'll be fine...I wish you wouldn't....FINE!!) GRRrrrr….we won’t go there right now.

In the mean time the boys at work entertain me…..

Silly Boy: (yelling from the other office) HEY RunnerGirl!! RUNNER GIRL!!

RGFL: WHAT!?!?!

SB: (Still yelling….God forbid they come to me) It’s official you are the commish!!

RGFL: WHAT?!?! (Now I’m going into the other office)

SB: We have elected you commissioner of the fantasy football league this year!

RGFL: I wondered if we were going to play this year with J not working here anymore.

SB: Yeah but since he is gone we need a new commissioner so you’re the new commish. It’s going to be a live draft. We will go to the pub and draft one day after work and drink beer.

RGFL: (I have no problem with beer and football in the same activity) Ok! That sounds good

SB: Ok set up the league…or maybe we should do it on paper.

RGFL: PAPER!?!?! Who plays on paper anymore?!?! No way!! I’m not commish if it’s not on the net.

SB: Ok have it your way…

What follows is a discussion of who has priority to play in the league based on prevous years of play and time in the office…not to mention the all tooooo important coolness factor.

Boy2: How ‘bout JC.

SB & RGFL: Nah he never plays

SB: What about….(etc… till we have a list that we can get 10 people from)

So some people rise to power…others have it thrust upon them while they are quietly working in the next office. This may be the last time they let me play in the FFL. Wish me luck!! Yet another distraction…

Look for me to run tomorrow and Friday.

Week in Review

Saturday 7/15:
Distance: 1.5 miles   Time: 18:00 min    in side 4:00 pm
Temperature: ?? °F    Humidity: ??%      Pressure: ??.?? inches

Wednesday 7/19:
Distance: 2.0 miles   Speed: ~5.2 mph    in side 7:00 pm
Temperature: ?? °F    Humidity: ??%      Pressure: ??.?? inches 

Saturday 7/22:
Distance: 1.1 miles   Time: ???          mostly cloudy 8:00 pm
Temperature: 82 °F    Humidity: 83%      Pressure: 29.93 inches 

Well as I promised here is my catch up post. Lemme explain….no, there is too much. Lemme sum up….

1. Congrats to the newly titled Dr. S. for successfully defending his Ph.D. I’m proud of you.

2. My friend at the fire academy is doing well but has the “Big Final” coming and he is “Big test” worried. I know he will do fine. But you have to respect the all or nothing type tests.

3. The semester is done and I really need to get the last of the labs graded and files completed and grades in. BLECH!!

4. As the semester ends my tutoring business picks up…everyone needs help for the finals ya know.

5. I now seem to also have a cold!! I hate colds in the summer. They are the worst!!

Ok so for now on I’ll try really hard to keep up.

Running to catch up.

Something to Read

Life sometimes hands you distractions...some large, some small, some good, some bad. I have run a couple of times and not posted. I will I promise. Probably on Friday. I have to sit around in my house in the morning and wait for the termite guy to come to spot treat. Until then....by request....here is something to read:

www.lifehacker.com

Look up:

the google text message thing,

and shirt folding trick.

If you are a computer geek there is a lot for you. If you like tech toys there is stuff for you too.

Enjoy....I'll be back in a few days....more or less distracted is yet to be seen.

Gotta Run...

One More Day!!

I have not run since last Thursday.

I did not get to make a new distance attempt to run 4 mi on Saturday, I did not run it Sunday to make it up. I did not run on Monday because that throws everything else off for the week. I didn’t run 2mi yesterday morning as I would have, and I won’t attempt the 4 mi tonight instead of the 3 mi that I was originally planning.

I do hope to run the 2 mi that I would normally run tomorrow. That is a good ease into it distance after a week. Then attempt the 4 mi on this Saturday.

My shoulders are tight, my head is spinning, and my new ‘neakers are lonely.

Is it possible to gain 100lbs by not running for a week?

I had a schedule change last Saturday due to a friend needing a ride after dropping of his truck at the shop. Same friend has suggested that I not run and take a break rather than my theory to just ignore the shin splints. Grrrr….I’m finally able to up my distances and now I should take a break?!?!….Grrrr. (Note: said friend can already run 5 miles at a time.) So when my friend found out that I missed my launch window for my run on Saturday he said he felt bad, for about 3 seconds, then he said he didn’t want me to run anyway so he didn’t feel so bad. Now, add that to the fact that yesterday’s normal short run was scrapped a long time ago for a one day scheduling conflict and I figured I might as well take the week break and wait till Thursday to run.

Oh yeah….The same friend put a nice bruise on my other leg Sunday at fighter practice. Thanks Buddy, now both legs feel beaten. (It’s all part of the game….It’s just funny he did it)

To be completely honest….my right leg feels much better. I think it might have helped to take a break. Shhhh don’t tell my friend. (Remember: He is a boy….and boys are eternally dumb)

ONE MORE DAY!!….Then…..RUNNING!!!!



(For those who don’t know….Fighter practice: Full contact medieval martial art combat with armor and sticks….yes you get hit, no there is no weight classes, yes it’s co-ed, yes the boys hit hard.)

One is Silver And The Other Gold

Distance: 2.0 miles   Time: 22:43 min    Inside 8:30 pm
Temperature: ?? °F    Humidity: ??%      Pressure: ??:?? inches (falling)

This was a pretty good run. I would have written about it last night along with several other plans to get things done I had, but a friend called and since we are terrible about keeping up (we talk about every 4- 6 months or so) we were up till 2:45 in the morning. She is my best friend from high school and while now we do not talk as often as we should and we don’t know most of each others friends, we have some people who overlap and we know the names of those others. We keep track of parents and talk about our domestic projects….she is doing this to her property…I am doing that to the house. It’s nice to catch up and we get off the phone after hours of conversation promising that we will keep in touch more often…..and we will, for a little while….then we get busy. We talk in July for her birthday….(She still has her call coming later this month) and we talk in October for mine. We never forget that. We often go to the same event in March. In between….it’s hit or miss, but when we hook up again, it’s like we just picked up our favorite book right where we left off.

Then there are newer friends. Also with birthday’s in July….Happy Birthday MagnetBabe!! I’m having lunch with her today. We met in grad school….many years after high school (like 11 for me) We lunch most weeks when one or the other of us doesn’t have people in town or when we are not out traveling our selves. She helped me move into my home and comes to my super bowl parties. I got a phone call the morning after she got engaged and I could not be more excited for her and her fiancé. I suppose in 11 years we too may call a couple times a year on birthdays or holidays. We will pick up where we left off each time like it was yesterday. But for now….I have a lunch date for my friends Birthday.

Yea!! Birthdays!!



(Shhhh...Iknow this post really wasn't about running but I think I have shin splints in my right leg and that is why I have been sooooo sore, but I'm not admitting that out loud... then I'll have to deal with it)

Good Bye Sue

Another Wednesday and another long run. This was easier than the other 3 miles in the gym. My right shin is still not super happy but here I sit with ice on it as I type.

Today would have been an ordinary day. Just a regular day after a holiday. Go to work, then to teach at the CC then to the gym for my run. Just as planned. But this morning I got a text message. Ms. Sue Wolf had passed away last night at 7:30. It was no longer a regular day.

Sue was the office manager at the USF Physics Department since the beginning of time. (Although she was not that old) I didn’t know the department with out her. She was there when I got there as an undergrad and there when I left with my Masters. She used to set up Friday happy hours, and played one season on our softball team. (got an ugly bruise on her shin from a ball with a bad hop) Sue ran that department, she was queen bee. If your professor said this and your graduate advisor said that….the truth was what Sue said.

A couple months ago Sue was diagnosed with cancer and was told it was already too late. Much of what happened after that was kept private out of respect for her and her family. She loved them very much and somehow took even more care of them than she did of us if that was possible. Sue was a force of nature at the university and she will be terribly missed.

It was an honor to have known someone who worked as hard and cared as much as Sue did.

Distance: 3.0 miles   Time: 36:54 min    Indoors 8:30 am
Temperature: ?? °F    Humidity: ??%      Pressure: ??.?? inches 

HAPPY FOURTH OF JULY!!!

Distance: 1.5 miles   Time: 16:34 min    Partly Cloudy 8:30 am
Temperature: 80 °F    Humidity: 86%      Pressure: 30.15 inches (falling)

YEA!! It’s the fourth of July!! One of my favorite holidays!! (Halloween is my very favorite) Here are a few past 4th of July highlinghts….

July 4, 2006 – I am going to go see Superman Returns on the IMAX in 3-D. (I haven’t seen it yet so don’t ruin it for me

July 4, 2005 – Cook out with Randy and then movies on the couch. It was a nice quiet fourth and lazy day off (Big party to attend was on the 3rd)

July 4, 2004 – I took a weekend trip to Charlotte, NC to see the little brother and his wife. We had a great time. Cookout, Baseball, Fireworks what more could you want, and those were just the activities on the fourth. (If you ever get to Carowinds Theme Park I highly recommend the BORG Assimilator!!! It’s like flying)

July 4, 2001 – Went to a party as the Designated Driver and came home with a KITTEN!! Really!!! Loki was a party favor from a fourth of July party. Thanks to J and K for encouraging me to take him home!! I’ll never forgive you two. Everything nice I ever had has been broken.

There have also been several years where the party has been at two houses and I just hopped between them. One was at the home of some friends from the Physics Department, including a July 3rd party last year. And the other at the home of one of my baseball buddies!! These parties always begat endless stories of the people in attendance, usually a burning monkey, and fire breathing.

Grrrrrrr!!!!

Distance: Grrrr miles   Time: Grrr min    Partly Cloudy 8:30 am
Temperature: 82 °F    Humidity: 80%      Pressure: 30.18 inches (falling)

Well, I have apparently hit my limit. Last week I ran every run. This upped my weekly mileage from 2-3/week to 9.5 miles. I was doing well and went out on Tuesday for the 1.5 in the morning and missed Wednesday’s 3 mile but did it instead of 1.5 on Thursday. Well yesterday I went to TGI Friday’s and had to walk a few steps to sit at the table behind the bar. My shins HURT!! I had no Idea. Well this morning I got the full Idea!! I think while I am sleeping someone is coming into my room and beating my shins with a baseball bat!! I started my 3 miles this morning and had to turn around and walk back after about a mile. Not just my shins but my right knee too!! I must be over compensating or something. I can’t cross my legs with out the pressure hurting my right knee and shin. Today’s run was short but at least it was something. The next scheduled run is a short one on Tuesday morning. I will take lots of ibuprofen and put ice on my leg till then. Wish me luck.

It’s just frustrating because none of the runs were that bad. I just upped the number of times I got out a week. And I was really enjoying it. (even if it was hard to get up for the mornings) I’m sure I just need to get used to the extra miles.

Sitting now to run later….

Reasons to Run

Distance: 3.0 miles   Time: 36:15 min    Partly Cloudy 8:30 pm
Temperature: 85 °F    Humidity: 63%      Pressure: 30.05 inches (falling)

Sometimes I run because the alarm went off and it is time to get up and do that. Sometimes I run after work and teaching and I enjoy the movement after being inside all day. Often on Saturdays I run because the sun is shining and I live where other people vacation. I run to breathe, I run to get out of my head, I run to pray and think. I run ‘cause I’m happy, or sad, or lonely, or frustrated or excited. I run cause I feel fat and board or skinny and energetic. Sometimes I just run.

Today I ran because BOYS ARE ETERNALLY DUMB!!! I want to poke all of their eyes out.

1) Don’t get snippy with me at work ‘cause you can’t do it and I can and you need my help when you don’t want it!

2) I miss my best friend at work because he doesn’t work there anymore….NOW WORK SUCKS!!

3) I am unhappy with my dart throwing partner at work just because he wasn’t there all week…..he got a vacation. (Note: he didn’t do anything I just was board all week)

4) Don’t tell me you “Thought that was the plan for Friday” when you made a HUGE deal about being busy all weekend, including Friday!! I know perfectly well it was supposed to be Thursday!!

5) If you are a liberal SHUT UP!! If you are a conservative SHUT UP!! I’m tired of all of it!! Is there any other subject when it isn’t football season!! How ‘bout them Rays?!?!
(Note:I have not yet recovered from the last presidential race at work)

Well that is all I have to say. Boys are eternally dumb!! (I know we are probably eternally crazy but that is only to them and they are DUMB!!)

I went to the bookstore tonight and bought a book on my assigned reading list and now I am going to go try to hide for the weekend and read it.

Running Crazy!! (‘cause they made me this way!!)

This does get easier....RIGHT?!?!

Distance: 1.5 miles    Time: 16:50 min    Dawn 6:00 am
Temperature: 79 °F   Humidity: 89%      Pressure: 30.00 inches (rising)

Ok I was up again in time to run before work. This has to get easier at some point. It was easier last Thursday than it was today but I'm glad it's done for the day. It does make it easier to not have to think about when I eat and what I eat before I run. My tummy is funny about eating and running, always has been. In high school during track season I had to be careful what I picked in the lunch line….not always an easy task. Lunch was always far enough from running time after school that timing wasn’t a big deal but spaghetti day was a sad because it was one of my favorites but I didn’t dare if it was a long workout day.

In fact it is my turn to make dinner for “family dinner night” And I have some well loved stragglers joining us as well so with a larger crowd I think I will fix Magnetbabe’s Pomodo sauce. YUMMY!!

Longest Run and Fire!!

Distance: 2.27 miles   Time: 27:44 min    Partly Cloudy10:00 am
Temperature: 81 °F    Humidity: 63%      Pressure: 30.00 inches (rising)

Yesterday went well. I ran all 3.5 miles. I did take a small rest break when I had to stop at two larger stoplights. I stopped the watch once and waited an extra light cycle at one of them. So the time is how long I was running but still for a half mile increase it’s not so bad.

So pictures were requested from Thrusday Nights fun…Here ya go….


This one they are fanning out the water to make the shield and are pushing back the fire shooting straight out at them from a pipe to reach a valve to shut it off. The valve isn't really the one to shut it off but they have to get that far for the exercise.


Notice that the cone of water causes the fire to be drawn into the center of the cone so the fire is right up to the end of the nozzle of the hose. The first firefighter is on the other side of the water with the nozzle in his hands.


Look how close the fire gets!! HOW COOL IS THAT!!!


Then they had a gas canister up against a short wall (like the outside of a building) and the flame was shooting straight up. One line had a hose with the shield the other side had a straight steam for the sword (you can see it best in this one)


Then when they advanced they changed the sword to another shield and got right up onto the fire. Notice how they are deflecting the fire up so that the gas doesn't ignite till it is higher up. They then moved forward till they were almost to the canister.

I had a lot of fun, and between two of the exercises my friend came over and he looked like a great big kid in a candy store and was happier than I had seen him in months. I think he likes his new career choice.

Ooooo….Fire Pretty!!

Wednesday
Distance: 3.0 miles   Time: 39:24 min    Inside 10:00 pm
Temperature: ?? °F    Humidity: ??%      Pressure: ??.?? inches

Thursday
Distance: 1.58 miles  Time: 17:33 min    Clear 6:00 am
Temperature: 75 °F    Humidity: 89%      Pressure: 30.08 inches (rising)

Working with my new theory that I decide the day before when I will run, I figured the best time to do a distance at the end of my limit was not first thing in the morning. So after I worked yesterday and then taught a lab at the community college I went for a run. Note the 10:00pm start time. It went surprisingly well. I had a treadmill with a TV attached and ESPN Wednesday Night Baseball!! I didn't even know I was running. I never thought I would enjoy a treadmill soooo much.

Half way through my run I pushed the pause button for like 30 seconds to take a drink. (I can't do that well while running and outside I don't care if I make a mess but inside I needed to stop before I showed the world I was a slob) The lady next to me had been walking there for a few minutes already. She looked over and said....”Did you just run the whole 20min?” I said I had but I was only half done I'm not very fast. She was impressed. So I started again but my new friend and I continued to chat. While I ran and she walked. That was cool. She asked me how I could run so long. I pointed out that other people run much longer, but that I had started a year ago running for 5 minutes and walking 5 minutes and that very very slowly I upped that till I was running a mile and now up to 3 but that was about all I had done. She said she had joined the gym 3 weeks ago and was up to walking for 15 minutes at 3mph. I told her to keep at it. When she got to 12 min she said she was going to see if she could run. She upped her speed and ran for about 45 seconds. I told her it was a start. Next time a little less speed and if she could keep her balance then letting go would make running easier using her arms. She tried again at 16 min and went a whole minute. (I was right about the letting go) I don't know if she will ever do it again and before she runs toooo far she really needs to look into a better sports bra and runners instead of cross trainers. (I didn’t tell her that. She will figure it out soon enough I’m sure.) But I remembered being there. That was a long time ago. But only like a year ago.

Then I went home and looking at my planner for today realized that I have evening plans so I have to run in the morning. So that means that I ran 3 miles, drove home, fell into bed, got up, ran 1.5 miles, and came to work. (I must be crazy!!)

My plans are....really cool!! A good friend of mine is in the fire academy through the same college where I teach. They have a "Night Burn" where they use gas to "burn" a building and practice putting it out with a technique called "sword and shield" (They use a mist to shield them from the heat and help suppress the fire and a stream of water to spray more directly, the sword) which is ironic for this friend on soooo many levels, but I digress. Anyway they are allowed to invite people to this to watch. I get to go!! The pyro in me is very excited, even though nothing will actually burn.

Running with flaming marshmallows…on a sharp stick....now that might be fun!!

ZZZZZZZZZzzzzzzzzzzzzz...........

Distance: 1.5 miles     Time: 19:15 min     Dawn 5:55 am*
Temperature: 75 °F    Humidity: 92%      Pressure: 30.07 inches (rising) 

Ok…I did it…I got my ass out of bed and ran in the morning*. It wasn’t too bad. Other than the fact that my feet were wet from the dew in the grass and I really need to look into that pair of gills for breathing. That isn’t a typo for the humidity. That is what happens when the dew point is only 3 °F below the current temperature. It’s not that bad when the trade off is 75 °F to run in but after only a mile and a half I was soaked.

Here is the plan as it stands now. I want to run more….but the space-time continuum just does not seem to be cooperating with the 26 hour day theory I came up with. So each week I am going to plan my runs for the week. Each day I will finalize my schedule for the next day and decide when I will run. IF like today I cannot find a time to schedule the run then I guess I better to hurry off to bed so I can get up early to get the run in early. I don’t sleep too late but mornings are an untapped resource for time in my world.

So far it is working 100%!! (granted one data point isn’t much of a trend line but I’m trying to be positive)

Wake up!! RUN!!

(* Note to Big Feet: I was up early like I promised!! Drive Safe to NY)

New 'Neakers!!!

Distance: 2.33 miles  Time: 30:14 min    Mostly Cloudy 1:30 pm
Temperature: 87 °F    Humidity: 51%      Pressure: 30.05 inches (falling) 

I bought new shoes on Saturday!!

I   L O V E   N E W   S H O E S ! ! !  

Really, I’m a nut!! But I love them. I have a shoe cycle you see. The oldest pair is for yard work, then the second pair is for everyday. (note that I wear sneakers every day!!) and the new pair is for running. When the everyday’s get worn out (holes in the toes or flat bottoms so I slip in the rain etc…) they become yard shoes and I buy new runners. That way the runners never “wear out” and I don’t have to pay attention to the miles on my shoes. At least not yet. So I loved my runners so I am happy that I get to wear them all the time and now I have brand new runners!! And I love them. I even get the treat of wearing them all day for the first couple days to get my feets used to them. Only for 2 days, then I am good about wearing them only for running!!

Well Sunday’s run was in the new shoes!! I LOVE THEM!! I was going to go 2.6 rather than 2.3 (I knew the measurements of the USF trail), but I was getting a little bit of soreness in my shins and knees. This is typical for me with new shoes so I didn’t up the mileage from the last run, but at least I didn’t drop either, and I am not sore or stiff at all so they should be just fine from now on.

New Runners!!! YEA!!!

Shocking....I know....

I know that everyone is just shocked by this revelation!! I am what I am!!

Thanks to GirlGoyle for the fun!!

However, while I do play flag with the boys every football season....I own a PS2 not an XBox.

You Are Boyish Sexy

You're the kind of girl who gets along with all the boys Whether it's holding your own in a game of touch football... Or kicking some major butt while playing Xbox. You hang with the guys easily, while still keeping your girly sexiness.

What Kind of Sexy Are You?

Two for one

Tuesday
Distance: 2.27 miles  Time: 27:44 min    Partly Cloudy 6:00 pm
Temperature: 81 °F    Humidity: 63%      Pressure: 29.88 inches (falling)

Sunday
Distance: 1.33 miles  Time: 12:55 min    Partly Cloudy 11:00 am
Temperature: 83 °F    Humidity: 61%      Pressure: 29.95 inches (holding)

I never got around to updating for the run on Sunday so I will update both runs now.

Sunday was nice but as there were other physical activities planned with the guys I only ran once around the trail at USF. That was probably a good idea since after playing with the guys I had T-rex arms and wouldn’t have been in any sort of shape to use them for running after.

Today I had a client cancel their tutoring session so I used my free hour to get in the run. IT WAS HOT!!! Also the wind was at 17mph with gusts to 27 mph (Thanks Alberto!!). That made it harder but it felt good while I was running. Now that I have stopped I am soaking wet!! But I did to two and a quarter straight through with out stopping or walking at all. I seem to do well mentally with increases of a quarter mile. It might take me forever to get to 5 miles but at least it’s better then the mental monkey on my back. I figure when I run more miles at a time it will be easier to increase by more because it will be a smaller percentage. If I jump even by a half mile right now that’s a 25% increase!! I know I run too many numbers in my head….if it has numbers I analyze them. (Did I mention I was nutz?!?!)

Running against the wind!!

Tropical Update

....we are fine...everything's fine here... how are you? :)

We will have to see how the neighbors to the north do in the panhandle but the bay area is no worse for wear for the most part. Rain and some good gusts. More moss in my yard than on my trees. That sort of thing.

This is going to be a long season!!

I really prefer Baseball Season

Distance: 3.1 miles   Time: ??:?? min    Sunny 10:00 am
Temperature: 87 °F    Humidity: 48%      Pressure: 29.95 inches (falling) 

June 1st was the start of Hurricane season. I have never gone hunting for one but I hear it’s a good time. (I know that was terrible….sorry) Here it is the 10th and we have our first TD. That’s Tropical Depression for all you non-hurricane involved people. SO???!!! It is forecast to head straight for the gulf coast of FL. SHOCKING I know. This early in the season it isn’t likely to make it up to Hurricane status. (of course now that I have said that….SHUT UP RGFL) We really need the rain so hopefully that is what we get from this TD.

Today I went for a 3 mile run. Well that was the plan. I haven’t been very consistent lately and tropical season is never good for consistent outdoor activities without a VERY flexible schedule. I really need to get that treadmill….

The three turned into running 2 and then walking home with spurts of feeling guilty and also not liking how slow walking is and wanting to get home so I ran some more. That’s ok I hadn’t run more than 2 miles in quite a while, so I did make it that far. I think it is time to make a plan to run….and a plan for how to keep the plan. I know this is becoming a theme with me. “I’m going to make a plan….” “Missed the plan…” Blah blah blah but life has settled down a (very) little so I will try again. Someday I will have all kinds of time. I hope I still like to run at the age of 92! Part of the problem is….I think….that I had a goal to work for to do the two 5k’s a while back so I worked up to them so I could do them. I am going to have to find a local anything I guess to work for. Maybe even a few months away and a little longer. Hmmmm…..

Also I started this to get into better shape. So far it has worked but along with the level off in running has come a leveling off in weight loss. I have been stuck at –30 lbs. The break was good to keep things in perspective and not become tooooo obsessed with everything, but now a little hard work wouldn’t hurt. Just not losing ground is not working for me anymore. I am ready to try improving again….

Running to improve

Get out of my HEAD!!!

Distance: 2.13 miles  Time: 26:14 min    Sunny 12:00 pm
Temperature: 84 °F    Humidity: 60%      Pressure: 29.86 inches (holding) 

I went for a run this morning. I really needed to get out of my head!! So I didn’t plan on a set distance but just to go till my brain had stopped thinking tooooo much. So I got to about 2mi and felt good so that was the stop. I went to the park near my house. One of my favorites. And played Red Hot Chili Peppers – Stadium Arcadium. All of this did the job!! I got out of my own head and could be more productive the rest of the day. This is part of the stress release that happens to runners.

The guy who runs around the park backwards was there again. Not unusual for a weekend day. Today he was just getting started when I got there so I saw some of the other activates that I had not witnessed before. He did a handstand facing a light pole with one toe of his shoes on the pole. Then he scissored the other leg out to ~45 degrees and back really fast. Then after a min or so dropped the leg beside the pole to ~90 degrees then switched feet on the pole and did the other leg. Very interesting. Finally he stretched with both feet on the pole by twisting his body. Note this whole time he didn’t come down from the handstand till after he had done the twists. THEN he ran around the park backwards. I don’t think I could have held myself up in the handstand that long let alone wiggle all over in the time I was trying not to fall on my head. This guy becomes more and more entertaining every time.

My mind is racing!! (now If my feet would just work as well as my brain….)

Toooo Much FUN!!!

Distance: 1.3 miles       Time:??? min        Partly Cloudy 12:00 pm
Temperature: 90 °F    Humidity: 55%      Pressure: 30.06 inches (holding) 

FUN!! Magnetbabe, Big Feet, Mother of Big Feet and I went for a run/walk. BF and I ran and MoBF and MB walked the trail at USF. It was very nice. It was however very hot. Summer is here even if we do have like 22 days to go before it is official!! With the heat index it felt like 96 degrees. It’s not even JUNE!! Soon thunderstorm season will be here and that will help some but then it just keeps getting hotter and more humid anyway!!

The run was fun and then lunch afterwards with the ladies was a blast!! Mmmmm Chicken Philly with buffalo sauce….YUM!!

The rest of my long weekend was fun too. An event in the Ocala National Forest with lots of friends, Kaine and Michelle’s wedding on Sunday then GameWorks after to play video games with the guys, the run on Monday, and later that evening a movie with friends where then even more show up than you think are coming!! We saw Over the Hedge. Toooooo cute!!!

Running to the next fun activity….

Playing Catchup

I know I’m getting behind. That happens at the beginning of every semester. Lucky for me I only have to teach a lab two nights a week. Yea!! A little free time!! So….here is the quick update:

Sunday’s run went well my ankle was fine and since I did some other training activities with the guys first I only ran the trail once. Then I was pooped!!

Last night I got nothing done because the guys next door fed me leftovers from their big family dinner and gave me expensive beer. Finally I walked home at 10:30. YUM!! But lazy me got nothing done.

At least I took the video back to the store first and won’t have late fees.  One small bit of control in my life….I didn’t get video late fees. Sometimes you have to take what you can get.

Tag I'm it

Where’d ya go?!?!

I have found myself….see I’m right here!! Did ya miss me??

I know I usually update about a Friday run. That got sidetracked till maybe (I repeat maybe) Sunday morning. I fell on Wednesday in a hole!! A size 6 ½ swallowing hole and twisted my ankle. It’s not bad. Not even go to the doctor bad, just frustrating when I push my clutch bad. Well I know better, so, darn it, I will wait. Today the ankle barely bothered me and I did quite a bit of walking the mall with friends looking for a dress for a wedding I have to attend next weekend. So…maybe tomorrow morning. I’m going to get dressed and go…if I go very far is yet to be seen because I know better than to push a minor injury to make it a chronic minor injury. Just ask the tendonitis in my elbow that will not let me train for that black belt. Hope for a post soon. I am sure it will just be another day or so.

Just call me hop-along runner

Loki - Norse God of Trouble and Mischief

The sick kitten update is that yesterday morning Loki came to breakfast moving a little slow but he did not have a fever. Then yesterday afternoon when I got home from work he was right inside the front door waiting for me exactly where he belongs. He is back to his loveable ole trouble makin’ self.

Sick Kitty

Distance: 2.0 miles   Time: 22:19 min    Partly Cloudy 5:45 pm
Temperature: 81 °F    Humidity: 54%      Pressure: 29.94 inches (rising) 

I got an unexpected run in today. I stayed home sick from work today. No, no I’m not sick and I didn’t play hooky…exactly. I had to stay home because when I fed the three cutest kitties this morning Loki did not come for breakfast!! I finally found him in the second bedroom under the bed. After I dragged him out and took his temperature (105°F) it was official, I was calling in. I got an early appointment at the vet who sent me home with an antibiotic to keep him from getting any secondary infections and told me it was the kitty flu and if he wasn’t better in a few days bring him back.

So….I got in a run. 2 miles and I ran the whole way and it was a decent time for me!!

Back to taking care of Loki…

Nice Day, Nice Run

Distance: 1.33 miles  Time: 15:33 min    Partly Cloudy 5:00 pm
Temperature: 78 °F    Humidity: 35%      Pressure: 29.88 inches (falling) 

I ran the trail at USF yesterday. The whole thing. For the first time in quite a while I felt really good when I was running again. It was beautiful out again and I was really lucky. We have started to get a little rain in the afternoons and earlier this week it was much more humid. On Thursday I was throwing the football with a friend and I felt so winded because it was so humid. I’ll get used to it again during the summer but those first couple days are hard.

I went hunting again for a treadmill this afternoon. There were not any this week at the “thrift stores” and the Flyer did not have anything this week either. I looked at Craigslist (thanks GG and MB for the referral) they were not quiet what I was looking for but I will keep checking back. So that is the treadmill update….

I also realized the other day that I did not update what happened to the Draft Day Dash I was going to run. I had not sent in my registration when I found out that was the weekend my brother and his wife were coming so it was just better if I was not wiped out from a run while they were here. Trust me we got enough work done for multiple runs.

I guess with the end of the semester and all the other stuff going on this year I am feeling rather out of control. This is always a problem for crazy control freaks, which I am. So I am going to try to take control of my running a little more now that I am running more comfortably again. I have to get control of something in my life and this seems like one of the better things to start with.

Running out of control!!!

Under 11!!!

Distance: 1.0 miles   Time: 10:54 min    Sunny 11:00 am
Temperature: 81 °F    Humidity: 59%      Pressure: 30.00 inches (falling) 

Today’s run was at the park near my home. I was going to run farther but I started out so strong and was really doing well that I wanted to see how well I could do one mile. I normally don’t time things other than to keep long term track. I post them for each run but don’t actually compare them day to day. Today however I was going so fast (well for slow little me anyway) that I decided not to back off, but to try to finish a really strong mile and I was under 11min!! That’s a big deal for me!! So while I cut the run short I really pushed for a hard mile. It’ll all come out in the wash I guess.

Also, yesterday I went “hunting” (that is what one of the guys calls shopping) for a used treadmill yesterday. I found a really nice one at the Salvation Army. The kind you see at the gym, that you do not sound like a baby elephant on and, is all cushy under the belt. I got them to plug it in for me and was running along just about convinced this was the best deal ever and, even though it was a little big, I could make it work. I stepped off the belt and shut it off when I remembered I had not checked that the incline feature worked. Well, good thing I was off the belt because when I turned it back on it went FULL SPEED!!! None of the controls responded and we had to shut it off at the switch. Then I could not get it to start again. The incline would go up and down but the belt refused to start. I guess that it was just not meant to be. Oh well. It was a little too big for my rooms anyway and a lot of money at $150 to not be sure it was going to keep working, even though it was probably at least a $2,000 machine. (I have been pricing new ones too) I know I can get a cheaper one on another weekend at Salvation Army or GoodWill or out of the paper so I will just keep looking. It does not have to be as nice as that either as it is just to supplement running outside, which I prefer.

However, hurricane season and thunderstorm season are on the way….and the hurricanes never come during the week when you could stay home from work and hide inside in a nice warm bed. They always come to ruin the weekend when you could be out for a nice long run. Then again….I’ll most likely lose power anyway have to run in circles around my dining room table….that I will not be able to get to because all the porch furniture will be there.

Well the good news is…

Starting to run a little faster…who’da thunk

Some times you just have to schedule a tummy ache

Distance: 2.2 miles   Time: 31:22 min    Partly cloudy 6:00 pm
Temperature: 79 °F    Humidity: 57%      Pressure: 30.07 inches (holding) 

It was such a nice day outside today that during my break today I scheduled a tummy ache for 4:30 this afternoon. That way I got home before the afternoon rush. I took my time changing clothes and waiting for the temps to cool a little bit….then I took advantage of this time of year in Florida. This is the longest distance lately but I never intended to run straight through. I just wanted to keep my heart rate up for a full half hour or so. I ran for several minutes then walked for two then ran again. It is a fantastic day!! YEA!!...

Now since it was so fantastic I need to water my lawn because that means it didn’t rain.

|: Run, run, run, walk, run, run, run, walk :|

Thanks MB!!

Thanks to Magnetbabe for my new running buddy....the little tiger on the side bar of this page. :)

I had to have one too

Let the craziness begin...

Distance: 1.3 miles   Time: ??:?? min    Partly cloudy 6:00 pm
Temperature: 83 °F    Humidity: 27%      Pressure: 30.00inches(holding)

The day was fantastic. The humidity was so low!! I tutored inside all day except for lunch with magnetbabe and we realized too late that would should have taken our lunch to go and eaten outside. Why does food always taste better outside? So when I finished with my last tutoring client I couldn’t get to the trail fast enough and yet I laid down on a bench in the shade outside the library just to be outside before the craziness begins.

The craziness is my family!! Not one of them alone is crazy but at a pack they are nuts. My brother and his wife (no sister-in-law jokes…I really have the best one) are coming to FL from NC, They get passed amongst parents this afternoon and end up with my Dad and his wife here in Tampa for dinner. Then tag I’m it. I entertain them for the night and Sunday we do a “project.” In this case It will be to remove an unwanted fence in my yard. Then Mom and her husband come to pick them up and have dinner tomorrow evening!!

The house is sooooooo not ready so I guess running is out for the rest of the weekend. I’m really glad I made yesterdays a good one.

I CAN’T WAIT!!!! ARE THEY HERE YET!!!!

Ran yesterday…run again on Tuesday.

*This all sounds like a perfectly reasonable plan but it took 1.5 weeks of endless phone calls and e-mails to arrange. This is plan #345,792

Short runs on Tuesdays

Distance: 1.66 miles  Time: 19:49 min    Partly cloudy 6:00 pm
Temperature: 84 °F    Humidity: 53%      Pressure: 29.94inches(holding)

It was Tuesday again yesterday….that happens once a week or so. This week I was in charge of dinner so another quick run to get in before the adopted family gets together. It went much better than last week’s (I wasn’t as hungry this time) and I finished the last block with my sprint as always, and still had time to take a shower before I had to start dinner.

Sunday I ran as well. It wasn’t the most productive run but I ran. I went to the trails at USF. That is one of my favorites and where Randy and I always ran so it was good to run it on Sunday. I didn’t keep time or distance I just went for a run.

Quick RUN!

One year ago today....

Some times it's hard to remember our blessings. That I have a roof over my head, food on my table, the three cutest kitties, support in all I undertake from friends and family, and my health. We are reminded of the work it takes to provide food and shelter, and kitties remind you of there existence every time they expect a meal. Friends and family come to visit, go to lunch with you, or call and you are happy to hear from them and support them back. It is health that we so easily take for granted.

I closed on my first home on Friday, March 25, 2005. One of my closest friends, Randy, went with me that afternoon to buy paint, door locks, etc. All those things you need for a new home. Some other friends came that evening to the new place and Randy picked up Pizza to have a picnic in my new home. Over the next several days Randy and other friends and family came and helped me paint the rooms of my home different colors. Finally on April 1, I was preparing to move the next morning when, while talking to Randy on the phone, he mentioned his back was stiff and he might not be as helpful as he would have hoped. The next morning he was as strong as ever and the move was finished in a short period of time. Over the next two weeks we would learn that the sore back that night before and next couple weeks was a symptom of a much bigger problem.

On April 23rd Randy called me in the early afternoon. He was going to the ER because the pain had become so bad he was having trouble breathing. After I joined him there the doctor removed his shirt and asked me where he had received bruises all over his body. I had to say I did not know. As the day turned to evening I found out from the doctors that something wasn't right with Randy’s blood counts. At this point we decided I should call his Mother. A call neither she nor I will ever forget. I told her that we didn't know what was going on yet but we were not looking at a simple pulled muscle in his back.

Randy was diagnosed with leukemia, Acute Leukoblastic Leukemia, to be exact, and to add to the difficulty of this disease it was found that he had the Philadelphia chromosome. Chemotherapy was started, and within a day or so and Randy felt much better than that first night. As a testament to his strength and courage he breezed through treatment after treatment with very few side effects. Hair loss, some insomnia, and the worst to him.... the hiccups.... Leave it to Randy to get the silliest side effect and take it to the extreme!!! At the time of the second treatment all tests showed no sign of the cancer and he was declared to be in remission with 6 treatments yet to go. This was a fantastic outlook. However the presence of the Philadelphia chromosome worried the doctors. The leukemia was expected to return within 3 to 5 months after the chemo treatments finished. When leukemia returns the prognosis is rarely good.

He decided to undergo a bone marrow stem cell transplant. The transplant must be done while the leukemia is in remission. A "perfect match" was located and in late November he was given his new donor cells. All went very well and he was home in his apartment for Christmas with his family. On December 31st he was admitted back to the hospital with abdominal pain. In time the doctors would diagnose the problem as Graft vs. Host disease and for the next weeks Randy would fight harder than he had ever had.

Randy lost his fight on January, 29 2006.

Cancer effects everyone differently, the victims, the family, the friends. This is the effect on me. Randy always inspired me to work harder. When things got tough he gave me his strength too so I could get through. I can only hope that I was able to do the same for him.

Now he inspires me to help raise money to find a cure and to spread the information of the effect cancer had on my life and that we should all be careful that we don't take our health for granted.

I was lucky to have shared many things with him, running, movies, TV shows, video games, we did homework together, and defended our theses and graduated in the same semester. He stood by me when I wrote my thesis and helped edit it, and was there to watch as I defended it for my degree as I was there when he defended his less than a month earlier. He taught me about curling, pitched for our department softball team, and helped me with repairs to my new home. More than anyone else he believed (almost more than I did) that I would close on the house I wanted so badly. He took care of my kitties if I went out of town, watched football with me, went to a baseball games with me, and even threw a surprise party for me when I got full time and a raise at my job.

I was lucky to have known a friend like Randy and honored that he called me friend back.

I was lucky to have the all too short time with him that I had, and I miss him so much.

One short year ago today I took my health and my friends health for granted. And this was one of the longest years of my life.


*This post fulfills one of many requests from the american cancer society to place the I fight cancer ribbon on my blog. Please click on the ribbon on my sidebar and check it out.

HEY!! Who put that wall there?!?!

Distance: 1.2 miles     Time: 18:45 min     Sunny 5:00 pm
Temperature: 80 °F    Humidity: 67%      Pressure: 29.87inches(holding)

Note to self….eat something before you run!! I have “family dinner” with friends every Tuesday night and we call it family dinner because we each take turns cooking for the 4 of us and we always call if we aren’t going to make it and this is how we catch up for the week. It’s just a second family in town that I picked.

Anyway….I was squeezing in my run and didn’t want to ruin my dinner. (Which was a HUGE fantastic salad with fresh grilled chicken, romaine, carrots, spinach, corn, cheese, tomatoes, etc… with all the fixings on the side so we could pick what we like!!!) So I was very hungry and didn’t eat before I headed out the door. That’ll teach me. I ran the first .75 miles in ~8 min. For me that would be pushing ~10.5 min mile. An improvement for me. I was fine for another min or so…then BLAM-O!! I ran right into it. A huge section of the planet turned into goo and stuck to my shoes and made me work really hard at everything. A stitch in my side suddenly appearing didn’t help either. Moral of the story….have that snack!!

Eat to Run!! Run to Eat!!

Working back up...

Distance: 1.5 miles     Time: 19:28 min     Partly Cloudy 5:00 pm
Temperature: 78 °F    Humidity: 56%      Pressure: 29.97inches(falling)

I ran a new route that I mapped. It is just in the neighborhood but I liked it. Baseball and softball fields and the cemetery. Might seem creepy but it is one of my favorite sections to run past. It’s one of the really cool old cemeteries with the really big headstones. One is Jewish and those stones and graves are really interesting.

I was stiff when I started out but I loosened up quickly and today I’m not sore at all. I’m very glad. It really seams to be true that you lose your mileage very quickly when you take a break. I think 1.5 once more tomorrow and then up to 3 miles on Wednesday. If I have to walk part of the 3 that will be ok, but at least I will get in all the distance. The 29th is the Draft day dash and I would like to be back up to that again.

Running….not far…but Running

Adventures of RGFL

Distance: ???                 Time: ~20 min          Partly Cloudy 4:00 pm
Temperature: 83 °F        Humidity: 31%          Pressure: 30.02 inches(falling)

I had the best day yesterday!! Including the fact that I got the run in!! I really was getting antsy about not running!!

I slept in, I get to do that on Fridays when my first tutoring client is at like 11:00. My tutoring was really ON for both subjects I did. Lunch with the Physics Boys was good. My last client of the day called earlier in the week and said he had Good Friday/Easter stuff going on so he would see me next Friday. Fine by me for an easy day once in a while.

Since I had time (and I had thought ahead to bring clothes) I went to the trail at USF to run. I had decided that since it had been a little bit I was going to run ~20 min rather than a distance. Then I’m not so stressed about how I’m doing I just go till time is up. I concentrated on picking up my knees more so it was really 20min of running and not just running at the beginning and more “jogging” by the end. That was apparently something I need to do more often. (Like from now on) My thighs were burning by the end and today they are stiff. That is the only part of me sore, so that was the part that really got the workout.

I then went and got a hair cut (I was looking a bit shaggy) at a little place near the University. I just wanted a walk-in appointment. The girl was the best ever!! I HATE!! I mean H A T E ! ! haircuts because they always pull my hair. I have long hair and lots of it so they pull a lot!! Well she didn’t make it hurt. NOT EVEN ONCE!! It was the best, and she did a good job so I will be back!!

Then I went home and got ready to go to a movie with a friend. We saw “Lucky Number Sleven.” It was good I really liked it. Also I saw a preview for a movie of the type that MagnetBabe usually sees with me. So I’m sure that will be a good movie trip in the future.

I went home late and slept well and continued the good day by getting up when the kittens were hungry enough to wake me and then headed off to the Tampa Museum of Art, which is free on Saturday mornings, and saw the WILD THINGS: The Art of Maurice Sendak Exhibit. Where the Wild Things Are is one of my favorite books so this was really cool!!!

If I make it to my Mom’s in time for dinner tonight it is Meatloaf with rice pilaf and then egg dying activities…. Sunday is Church, Lasagna for Easter Dinner (YUM), Back to Tampa for a run, and finally some geeking out with the football boys for some gaming.

I think I’m doing OK.

Running with the WILD THINGS!!

Success!!

Yesterday was the First Annual Miles for Moffett Event, and many of Randy's family and friends walked together. Everyone had a great time!! The mile went really fast and we all walked as a big group. People found us from our shirts and we saw people we knew in other groups walking for friends or family of their own. It was a huge turn out I hope the Moffitt people know what a fantastic event they put on.

As for our little group I think everyone had a fun time!! We hopped and walked and skipped and monkey walked and giggled and bounced and walked backwards to take pictures all the way along. The brunch afterwards went well and everyone stayed and visited for hours. It was very nice. I’m ready for next year!! I will post pictures as soon as I have them.

Now I need something else to think about...hmmmm...well I’ll come up with some big scheme I’m sure.

Next up the Draft Day Dash...

Running into my self at this point (am I comming or going)

Wide awake!!!

Well here we go!! It is the night before the Miles for Moffitt walk/run and I am up late!! I mean it is only a mile and it is only a walk but then everyone is coming to my house after the event for brunch. I hope the house is clean enough, I hope the food is enough, I hope everyone likes the food, I hope the kitties are good, I hope the people are happy, I hope…. Well you get the point.

I don’t usually worry about people coming over and I guess I’m not really worried about any of these things all that much. I do want everyone to have a nice time since this is the first time we are participating in this event together. I want to do this every year, and I have been sooooo excited to spend time with friends and family of my friend Randy that I guess I’m just up.

This is it….this is what all the fuss was about. Let’s make it a good one.

We have a nice size crowd and I am very proud of our group and how we have stepped up to do something for cancer awareness and research during a dark period for all of us. I am sure Randy would be honored and would know how much he is loved.

Walking for the greater good

Super Slacker

Well I have been Pathetic haven't I. I haven't taken a whole week off from running yet!! Aren't I the biggest slacker EVER!!

I have some ideas up my sleeve and some firming up of plans that I will be doing over the next couple days and then I will start on Friday. I’m very excited that with the time change I can run later into the eve.

I wanted to go on a run tonight but traffic took longer than I thought so I have to wait. That is part of my new plan. I’m going to pack clothes on some days so I can sneak in the run, or try mornings again…..(well It’s worth bringing up again even if it never happens)

So for today….I’m a slacker!!