Adventures of Memorial Day Weekend

I followed through on my threat to run Friday morning. Ted decided that, since I was working from home on Friday and we were driving out to Pittsburgh that night, he would like some extra sleep in the morning. So my early morning run had to be postponed until 7:00. Not my ideal time, but I bent a little. The sun was up, and it was already getting warm. About mile 2, I didn't pick my foot up the whole way and ended up doing a spread eagle in front of the elementary school. In classic Maggie style, the spread eagle wasn't embarrassing enough so without thinking I quickly move into a stretch pose, as if to make it look like "I meant to do that, really."

Two skinned knees, two scraped thighs, two torn-up palms, and one bruised ego later, I was on with the run. I considered turning around, but figured I wasn't cutting much time or distance off my 5-mile loop by turning around at mile 2, so I kept going (after ensuring I didn't have blood running down my legs at all).

About mile 3.5, I cross in front of another elementary school, where I normally would turn and head down a busier street towards home. It was the height of the school-time commute, so the crossing guard was out in operation. "You going straight?" he asked as I approached the intersection, the one I would normally turn on and head home. However, I was feeling saucy and felt bad refusing his services, so I nodded and he headed out into the intersection to stop traffic and let me cross. I thanked him, wished him a pleasant holiday, chuckled that there wasn't a car in sight, and headed straight instead of turning. This lead me onto back streets I had never been on, and added a nice little scenery change for the rest of the run home.

My time for that run wasn't great--but it was a fun run and a true treat.

The rest of the weekend consisted of lots of driving, my 10-year class reunion, and a bike ride and picnic with friends at Valley Forge yesterday morning. I hadn't been on a bike in probably a year or so...Ted loves to bike, I am not a big fan. I think it frustrates me because I think that because I run, I will have an easy time biking up hills, and I don't always. But this was nice. We had a good ride, and it felt good to do some cross training for once.

Hopefully this week will be a productive week as far as evening runs go. Ted admitted yesterday he was tired of being a running slacker, and that we need to start picking it up again. He wants to get back to the point of doing 20 miles a week comfortably, and stick with that through the summer up to the time we have to start training for Philly. I like that, and promised to encourage us both to stick with it. We need to. I need to.

After all, what's the point of running all winter, only to lose the body come bikini season?

The Lifecycle of a Runner

Despite running for many years, I have only recently discovered a trend in my lifecycle as a runner. It starts with the birth--a new training schedule, a new pair of running shoes or an article of running clothing, a new season, or just a new wave of energy and excitement for the sport. It slowly grows--you increase your mileage, you break in the shoes, you ride the wave. There are plateaus and small bumps along the way, but nothing too major. You peak, typically on race day.

Then you plummet.

I am, right now, on the plummet.

Ever since Broad Street, Ted and I have been kicking each other's butts out the door, and more often than not, giving up before we reach the porch. When we do go, generally it's like jumping into a cold pool--you hold your breath and force through it until it begins to get comfortable.

Last night was one of the odd nights when we actually made it beyond the front porch. We went right after work, so to avoid any excuses why we shouldn't go (both the American Idol and Lost finales were last night--there would have been an excuse). The air temperature was warm--for 75, it felt a lot warmer in the sun, and cooler in the shade. It was rough, and we couldn't figure out if it was because we were so uninterested or if the weather was taking a toll.

However, I have been here before. This level of disinterest won't last, and eventually I'll pick up the cycle again at the birth stage, and love every minute of the training. But for now, I'll work on pushing through this slow death of the cycle. Tomorrow I am going to try an early morning run to try and stay on track, but also change it up a bit.

Have a good Memorial Day weekend, and take a moment to pay respect to those who gave their lives so we can eat our burgers and run our races and speak freely.

Keepin' it real--Inda 'Hood

Yesterday’s Netflix movie greeted us with Sacha Baron Cohen’s Ali G Indahouse. I enjoyed Borat, so I figured we’d try this 2002 alter ego of Cohen. The DVD slip informed us this was a movie that lasted 1 hour, 28 minutes, so at 6:00 pm, while outside it stormed, we popped the movie into the DVD player.

Forty-five minutes later the doorbell rang. It was Roger from next door—Can Ted come out and help me with something real quick? The rain had stopped, and Roger asked if we had gone out for our run yet. We shamefully admitted that no, we hadn’t…and Roger responded with maybe I’ll run with you when you go later.

We stared at him—he had been talking about running before but was never serious. This is the guy that said running hurt his knees, and then later confessed he had been running in hiking boots. He then purchased a pair of running shoes and said it made a big difference, but hadn’t been out that much.

Ted helped him with whatever it was he needed help with, and came back over and we started Ali G back up again. Twenty minutes later the doorbell rang again. Ted answered, and all I heard was Roger’s in running shoes.

I have a thirty minute window, Roger informed us. So Ted and I changed and we headed out. It started off very slow. I was unsure of Roger’s fitness level—he works construction and looks like a very fit guy, but looking fit and having the ability to run for 30 minutes can be two different things. I did not want to get at the farthest point possible and have Roger decide he just couldn’t go any more. But he did good, and we all stayed together. The pace was slower than Ted or I probably would have done, but it was still comfortable, which was probably good since this was Ted’s first real run since Broad Street.

So that is how Ali G, which was supposed to last 1:28 according to the DVD sleeve, ended up lasting three hours. And I wonder if Roger is sore today.

Ode to Running, By Maggie

Some people ask me, “Why do you run?”
It seems hard on your body, and doesn’t look fun.”
The response isn’t as easy as I want it to be,
Though hard to explain, the reasons are clear to me.

I run for the extra cookie I secretly ate last night,
I run because my favorite jeans just feel a bit too tight.
I run to see sights I normally wouldn’t see,
I run just to spend some quiet time with me.

I run to achieve a goal I just made,
I run so I don’t lose the registration fee I paid.
I run because it keeps me feeling fit and fine,
And for that high I get when I cross the finish line.

I run to appreciate the rain and the snow,
I run when the temperatures are high and low.
I run because running clothes can be so cute,
And the races give away some really cool loot.

I run because my work day was a little too bad,
And you never return from a run feeling sad.
I run because I never thought I could,
And the races I now run I never thought I would.

It’s hard to explain, you just have to know,
And it doesn’t matter how far you run, or how fast you go.
So next time they ask “why you do that I haven’t a clue,”
I’ll simply smile, nod, and say, “Because I do.”

Recap of Broad Street

First the good news...I shaved 5 minutes off my chip time from last year. I am thrilled to pieces about that!

The race was good for all three of us. Saturday we got up and headed down to the Expo at Lincoln Financial. It was handled very well--I was quite impressed. They let people inside in waves, so a few minutes waiting outside meant you could walk around the expo without bumping into people and being stuck in crowds (because there is enough of that Sunday at the start line). Ted and Dave both found items at the $10 Only booth...Dave found a shirt and Ted grabbed a pair of shorts (and fortunately decided at 9:00 that night not to wear them..."I think I'd make a big mistake..."). I was also happy to see a discount code coupon in the Philadelphia Marathon brochure for registrants running Broad Street...so guess where we'll be come November?

We went to bed early Saturday night, and the alarm went off at 5:00 am Sunday morning. I grabbed a quick shower and ate a bowl of cereal and a left-over pancake (butter only). Ted ate a Cliff bar and Dave packed one for the road. Traffic wasn't bad--we were one of the first on the scene of an accident on the expressway, right behind the first cop, and I'm sure that backed up alot worse than we dealt with (the fire trucks and ambulances were coming up behind us).

At the Stadium, we were able to jump on an express train, and by the time we reached Olney, the windows were steamed, everyone was sweating, and the cool, fresh air never felt so good. Ted ran into an old hockey buddy, and Dave and I left our sweatshirts and pants with him to throw in the bag for the bag check and headed to the Porta-Pots. We just made it through the line and out of the track area at Central when the wheelchairs started. Ted had told us he'd meet us by the first bus, and the crowd was so thick and heavy, I told Dave that if it starts, to just go without us and we'll see him by the Awards stage afterwards. I was able to find Ted okay (fortunately) and we hurried into the crowd in time to start the processional to the start. We crossed 5 minutes after the start, thus starting Ted's first big road race.

I was extremely excited for the race this year, and it didn't disappoint. My favorite part? City Hall. The crowds are amazing there, the band is wonderful, and the cheering between the tall old buildings right before City Hall is magnified by bouncing off the concrete walls around us. It felt like it was a fast race this year, and each mile marker seemed to come quickly. Ted's father and a few family members were in South Philly to cheer us on, which was great around that 8-mile marker! We raised our hands and crossed the finish line, and I didn't hear the announcer calling the names (Dave commented on it, but I missed it).

Ted loved it, Dave loved it. And I couldn't be happier. I was nervous they wouldn't enjoy it--I was afraid they wouldn't like the crowds, or the distance. But I'm thrilled to hear they both had a great time, and neither can wait for the next challenge.

Although I did hear Ted mumbling last night as he looked at my running magazine and ran across an ad for the Philadelphia marathon..."26 miles...ugh!" I gently reminded him that four months ago, he was commenting "10 miles...ugh!"

All Ready Already!

(Ted and I running Valley Forge Revolutionary Run on April 29th...I need to learn to run taller and stronger and not to look like death, especially in the first mile...)
And the clock ticketh on. We are now within 48 hours of Broad Street. I won't wash my hair again until Sunday after the race (much to Ted's dismay).

But I am going to have a fun new pair of shorts to wear! A few years ago, one of my Mom's old friends gave me a pair of Adidas running shorts, that are styled like they ran right out of the 1980s. They are maroon, with the old-school Adidas logo, with underwear brief and loose legs, which are very short. And believe it or not, I love them! I ran out in them the other night to test them out (they were a little small when I first got them, so I stashed them in the back of a closet and re-discovered them the other week). They fit me, and I feel like I'm running in nothing at all! (Or what I would imagine that feeling like). Pictures of me and Broad Street will show me in my circa-1980s running shorts. I feel like pulling out tube socks to wrap the look up.

My newest thought to ponder for this race? What do I do with my gel packs while I run? My circa-1980s running shorts have no pockets (nor do they have room for pockets), and I am not bringing a water belt or any other device equipped with storage units. I guess I will carry my gel packs in my sweaty little fists until it comes time to use them.

I am so excited. This time last year I was a bundle of nerves. This year I am excited. I want to beat my time from last year, and feel quite confident I will. I want to enjoy the run this year, and again, believe it will be so. The weather looks like it will be identical to last year, and I can't wait!

Good luck to everyone participating! Enjoy it...don't stare at Billy Penn the whole way down Broad Street, he doesn't get any bigger for the first four miles. And don't worry--the Porta-Potty lines really go faster than it seems.

Good luck, have fun, and we'll swap success stories come Monday!