Getting going again...

So I commuted on my bike this past week, but did not get enough running in.  A day at the amusement park on Friday and the 5 hours driving everyone there and back led to a rest day yesterday.  I took two naps!  Today is "getting it going again" day in more ways than one.  My run started slowly, but by mile two I was back into it.  The first couple of miles are always the worst.  It always seems so tough getting motivated to get going again, but once you have done it you always feel so much better.

Now that the run is out of the way, we need to turn toward getting ready for the first day of school.  The girls go back on Tuesday...this Tuesday!  I think we have all the supplies we need.  Now comes transitioning the wardrobe.  The girls wear uniforms which means making room in the drawers and closets.  A few alterations also need to be made, buttons adjusted and all that.  Today will not be long enough.  Before I know it we will be back to a school schedule with after school sports and weekend commitments.  Every year there seems to be more and more.  I will feel so much better once I can figure out when my runs will fit into this new schedule.  For now my plan is to run whenever I have a chance, not knowing when my next opportunity will be.  Hopefully I will have a schedule established in two weeks.

Does anyone else have a crazy back to school transition to negotiate?

Getting ready to ride home, but what is on the menu?

Speed Racer!  How do you like those wheels?  Flashy eh?

Yes this shot was taken right outside my office door in the museum.  I am proudly sporting my new t-shirt and what is that that I am holding?  A menu in the museum's collection.  It is also one of my favorite restaurants in the most magical place on earth.
Any guesses?

Lucy's run/sniff outing

Here she is - Lucy!  My runner dog after a 3 mile run/sniff outing!

After a run what do you want?  To be let into the house!
"Stop taking my picture and let me in so I can get a drink of water."

I took Lucy on my evening run and left my watch at home.  It was cool enough for her and I was too tired to do a longer/harder run.  We went out for 3 miles.  Her goal was to sniff as much as I would allow her to.  We saw the neighborhood red fox in the state park near our house.

Lucy likes to run just ahead of me along the white line at the left side of the bike path.  She just hooks on like a rope tow on the ski sloop and it pulls her along.  I tried her approach in my 1/2 marathon in May.  When I needed a little extra motivation around mile 8 or so I jumped on the white line on the road and let it take me toward the finish line.  When you need a little extra motivation to keep you going use whatever mental edge you've got!

Running Games - Chip, Dale, Chip, Dale, Chip, Dale...

65 degrees and a light mist.  That is how my run started.  Over the next six miles the mist turned into a drizzle, and the drizzle turned into a steady rain.

Around mile 5 I found myself playing mental games as I plodded up a 1/2 mile incline.  My hands had loosened and my arms were rolling over with my palms down.  I found myself patting an imaginary something on the head.  Before to long I was saying Chip, Dale, Chip, Dale, Chip, Dale...to myself.  I guess you could say I was inspired by the Chip and Dale marathon relay.  I wonder if they like running in the rain?

Solo 1/2 in my new running skirt

So I took the day off from running yesterday and I did some shopping.  I was able to pickup my first running skirt and a new "Belle" yellow tank top.  I spent a few miles of my solo 13 miler today daydreaming about what I could add to this very functional running outfit to create a fantastic look for the Princess half.  I was thinking swags of yellow starting a couple of inches above the hem line hanging down to the hem.  Maybe some puff sleeves out of the same material.  OK I might just go all the way around the neckline and back.  The weight of the fabric will need to be next to nothing.  I just really don't want the outfit to feel any different.  Nothing of what I add should be touching exposed skin.  I am going to need to consult some Belle imagery to figure out what to do with my hair and jewelry. Yes I said jewelry.  It is simply a must for any Princess.  I found some oh so Cinderella earrings last year and made a choker out of black ribbon.  I also covered a simple headband with blue netting covered in silver sparkles.  I think I really achieved what I was going for without much fuss.  I did not feel any of it while I was running.  The top is a cycling top from Pearl Izumi, which meant it was wonderful and came with great pockets in the back.  I also loved the black piping and how it complemented the choker.

You have to think about something while you are running, why not race costumes for your next runDisney event.  Who will you be when you race next?

At the 12 mile mark in the 2011 Princess half I got to meet Mrs. Incredible.  It was fantastic to see her at that point.  I took it to mean that we were all "Incredible" and we could make it the final 1.1 through Epcot and to the finish line.

Day dreaming on my commute home

So today is one of those days...when I could have just kept on riding past work and stopped for lunch somewhere in Connecticut, taken a nap in a park by the ocean, and ridden home for dinner. If only...


Well getting out of work at noon on a summer early release Friday isn't that bad either.  On my way home I took my usual route, at one point riding down a sweeping hill on the bike path to meet up with the bay.  There is a pine tree at that turn that came down in an early summer storm and it smelled just like summers at the beach.  Which took me back to the Rock 'n' Roll expo this past weekend talking to a race rep. for a race in Virginia Beach.  Before I could think too much about the conversation I caught the full smell of the bay on today's perfect 80 degree day and once again I was a child camping at the beach in Virgina.  Isn't summer great. 


If you can swing it, riding a bike to work is so much better than driving.

Fabulous day by the bay!

The weather was gorgeous today.  The humidity was much lower, the temps were in the lower 80s, and the sun was shining.  I decided to wear one of my favorite shirts on my bike commute today.

What do you think?
 I got a great biking skirt this winter and have worn it all summer.
Occasionally it was a little warm, but I love it!

At one point on my commute home another biker pulled up behind me.  It was my husband!  He said I looked so small on my bike.  Of course he was comparing me to himself.  Lets just say my mother told me not to wear heels to the wedding.  They simply would not have mattered.

Introducing my running partner Lucy

Not only do I run for my health, I run for my dog's health as well.  Lucy is a 75 pound Baltimore mutt.  She was born on the streets and ran on her own for the first 6 months.  She came to live with us when she was 5 years old when her family moved to England.  She went running with me on her first day in our house and she has been running with me for 4 years now.

Lucy is good for 3-4 miles and loves every tail wagging minute of it.  Tonight she impressed me.  I have started actually timing my runs to figure out my regular training pace.  We went out for 3 miles and she kept up with the 10 minute pace.  The temp was in the mid 70s and the humidity was around 90 percent right after the third rain storm of the late afternoon-early evening.  All in all there has been too much rain in the past 48 hours.  I know other parts of the country would love a little rain and we have more than enough to share.

I love a good rain storm overnight, just don't mess with my bicycle commuting or running!

Rock 'n' Roll Providence - in the rain!

This weekend was a major shift in my running career.  Instead of running I volunteered.  I was not planning on running this weekend.  I ran last weekend and had thought that would be enough racing for a while.  Well I was wrong.

All of the hype for Rock 'n' Roll - Providence was exciting and oh how I wanted to race.  However, my hamstring was sore and the expo race fee was $115.  On Thursday I decided to volunteer instead...and then I looked at the weather!  The weather did not disappoint.   They said it was going to rain and it did.

The start line as the race officials coordinated with the Providence Police.
The race started 15 minutes late.
Maybe they should have started talking a little earlier.
Note the rain waited to pour until the race started.

As the race got closer to starting the crowds gathered under the overhang of the Providence railroad station.

I was posted at the start line managing coral 3.  It was so different being on that side of the operation.  After the start we moved forward and within a couple of minutes coral 3 was on their way.  We stood off to the side and cheered all the runners on as they crossed the line.  There were a few tutus, one Elvis, and one fairy.  For the most part everyone what sporting their normal running gear (so not Disney running).  After we pulled the start line equipment we were off to the finish line.  The rain really set in at that point and continued for the next 4+ hours.  They had 7000+ runners in the race and that meant that 7000+ medals had to be removed from their little plastic bags and hung on the racks.  The finish line volunteer coordinator stopped by to ask for help.  I was chosen to step up and take charge of one of 3 data loggers.  So you know those 7000+ runners, well I was tasked with logging as many race numbers as possible over the course of 3 hours (in the pouring rain).  It was amazing to see people come across the line.  I have never played such a pivotal roll in a race.  Nor have I ever spent so much time right at the finish line watching so many people finish.

No, that is not the winner.
That is a race official goofing off before the real finishers crossed the line.
Look at all that rain!

If you have never volunteered for a race before you should defiantly try it.  Turn the table on your own racing and see what it takes to make a race happen.  Everyone always thanks the volunteers, but I don't think you really know what they do for you until you actually try it yourself.  At the end of my shift I climbed into my car and drove away with my free lunch, a smile on my face, and soaked shoes.

Would I do it again, Yes!  Of course next year I will register for the Rock 'n' Roll Providence early and I will definitely be running.  I am currently register for 3 races between October 2011 and May 2012.  Can you guess which race I am registered for in February?