Is that a banana in your pants, or are you just happy to see me?

Last year, on September 11th, the Run to Remember 5K was Eric's first ever race! He was so nervous about completing the distance. This year, he's running his second half marathon next month. Amazing.

Run to Remember, 2010

Unfortunately, even when offered a free bib, he couldn't run it this year. Because of this guy.

Jersey Shore's Pauly D

Eric was doing his bar bouncer job last night, and Pauly D. was the DJ at Power Plant, which is basically a meat market cluster of bars downtown. After ten hours on his feet dealing with ghetto d-bag Pauly D. wannabes, he was in no condition to run a 5K mere hours after he got off work.

As for me, I'm training for a 50 mile race, which means I've given up the luxury of banging out 3.1 miles and calling it a day. So the alarm was once again set for 5:30 a.m., followed by 6 miles around the neighborhood before the race. Then I grabbed some coffee and this amazing homemade powerbar that our school nurse gave me, changed into red, white, and blue, and headed downtown to Carolyn's house. We met up with another friend and ran the 1.5 miles to the starting line.

Really glad I got a picture of this guy at the start.

Police Academy

Hottest girls at the race.

 The speeches before the race started talked about memories of 9/11 and reminded us how important it was to thank service members, police officers, and firefighters. I always thank all the volunteers and police officers I can (unless I'm too out of breath to speak), and I tried to go even more out of my way to today. I guess I failed, because after the race, Carolyn told me that my "thank yous" just sounded like I was thanking the officers for working the race, and didn't convey that I was actually thanking them for all their hard work throughout the career. I have a lot to learn.

Starting line

 I didn't have a goal time or anything for this race, considering it was the end of a ten mile run, and it was after 18.7 miles yesterday. As important as it is to prepare your excuses explaining why you didn't do well before any race, I really wasn't stressing over my time because I knew it would be crowded. Last year, it was packed at 1,800 people, and this year, it had filled up with 2,500 patriotic runners.

We began closer to the front of the pack, so it thinned out much quicker and the dodging and weaving was kept to a minimum. Carolyn was the perfect partner (she had run 19 miles yesterday!), our energy seemed to be waxing and waning it perfect synchrony. I'd feel good and push us to go faster, then I'd get tired and want to slow down and she'd be plowing ahead. The course was pretty flat except for two killer hills. One is right before the third mile marker and Carolyn was powering up it like a beast - good thing, too, because otherwise I might have just cried on the side of the road instead of trying to keep up with her.

The course didn't really go through the ghetto much at all (rare for Baltimore races), but we did get to see a man trying to kick a woman out of the house, begging her to please leave, and her screaming she'd see him in court.

Final time: 26:37 (I LOVE when my official time matches my Garmin time), with an average pace of 8:25. I'm pretty happy with that.

The Brooks Adrenaline shoes felt great, and apparently they are the cool kids in the running shoe cafeteria. I got four commenters telling me they wear them, and two of my fellow racers had them today.

Can you tell which is mine?

Beer at 9:30 am? Why not!

I always capitalize on the free snacks after a race.

2010

2011 - bet you thought we couldn't get those butts out even further

Seriously....what is wrong with me

I end up being so much more ridiculous than I try to be.

Best photobomb ever. And I look like an idiot again.

For once I got the memo on the facial expressions.

 After the race, Carolyn and I showered at her place and went out for bagels with her husband. Because bagels after a run are even better than regular bagels.

 She got to wear her race shirt. I didn't because I didn't have one. I don't understand why they ask for my size when I register if they don't bother to have it when I show up to packet pickup. The shirts were men's sizes, so my normal size was already way too big, and going a size up would basically have meant a nightgown. My only complaint about this race.

What's your favorite post-race food?

Busy week - highlight reel

Last week was one of those weeks we all know and love, where you get home from work, chow down on whatever you kind find and then trying to make it into bed before you pass out. Good times.

So let's look at some highlights.

Last Sunday my friend Emma got married. She was roommates with my BFF Nicole in college, and we were recently bridesmaids in Nicole's wedding. At the wedding, we had an awkward discussion on the dance floor on whether we were actual friends, or just friends through Nicole. Luckily Emma decided to be actual friends. I was really hoping she would, because she's pretty awesome and I was secretly hoping to be her actual friend for a long time.

In addition to being beautiful, I felt like the couple's personality completely came through in the wedding, and I just love that.

You can't see here, but it says "Emma's Funfetti Cake". How great is that?

You always have to get in that classy pic before the open bar gets going.

More "Maybe-we're-friends-through-Nicole-but-I-secretly-love-them-and-really-hope-we-are-actually-friends". I feel the picture was a sign of true friendship. Nicole wasn't even in it, being busy with bridesmaid duties.

 

The groom and groomsmen wore kilts!

The majority of the night looked pretty much like this, showing off my killer dance moves, as usual.

I danced with Nicole's parents much more than my husband.

I just think this picture is adorable.

 The bride chasing me to the shuttle to tell me she needed an ice bath at the end of the night might have been my favorite part.

I spent a lot of time on the wedding in the highlight reel, because I don't have much to say about the rest of the week.

Monday: less fun, approximately 9.5 hours in the car to get home. On the bright side I drove for zero of them.

Tuesday: I managed to get five miles in around 5am before a thirteen hour work day, which included Back to School Night.

Wednesday: Seven miles around 5am before school, which was immediately followed by class. Are you noticing a theme here?

Thursday: The thunderstorms were out of control, so I slept in until 5:15 and used the treadmill when the YMCA opened at 5:30am. I did my 8 mile tempo run and cursed the treadmill the entire time. While I appreciate being able to run indoors, it's so freakin boring. Six tempo miles were done at about 8:30 pace.

Friday: A local running store had a "runners party", which sounded exciting but turned out to be a burger truck, nasty boxed wine, and a supposed giveaway which no one won while I was there. But this crazy bus is apparently traveling the country, and this was their weekend in Baltimore.

See that treadmill on the top? I ran barefoot on that to have my gait analyzed. They didn't really tell me anything I didn't already know (I pronate moderately), but it was weird to run barefoot on top of a giant bus.

Which brings us up to the present. This morning, I met my group and did 18.7 miles with Jill and Mike. Our coach Marie joined us for a few miles and told us all about her recent full Ironman race, which was amazing to hear about. I tried a new gel on the run.

The chocolate flavor was gross, but this one was basically a packet of honey. Which I would enjoy anytime, so the run was an excuse.

As soon as I got home, took an ice bath, showered, and pounded some oatmeal, it was time to turn around and leave to pick up my packet for the Run to Remember 5K, a race in honor of 9/11 that I'm running tomorrow. Guess what was at this running store?

 

That's where my huge life change happened. 

I bought a new brand of running shoe. 

I thought I was crazy when my feet felt like my shoes were dead while running this week, because I JUST bought new shoes. In June. But I guess 120 miles in July, 190 in August, and 57 so far in September meant it was time for new ones.

Even since I was first fitted for running shoes, I've worn New Balance. I've bought so many of this model I've lost count. I've never had any problems, but I've never loved how clunky and heavy they felt. 

They were actually pretty clean before running after a week of flooding this morning.

After my gait analysis last night, the guy described the Brooks Adrenaline shoes as still being stability, but light and with a lot of movement in the toes, which is what I love about my trail shoes.

I tried them on and ran a little in them today, and I was sold.

Looks aren't important, but I LOVE the color, and I know Emily does too.

Last Sunday, after the bride told me she needed an ice bath, she said she'd barely seen her husband, and asked if I got to spend any time with Eric at our wedding. I may have snuck in a few dances, but not much. I told her that was why you signed on for the lifetime together thing.

If you are married, did you get to spend any time with your husband/wife at your wedding?

10 years after high school, I'm one of the few who can still run the mile

Friday night after work, I rushed home, hopped in Casi's car, and her, Eric, and I made the 7+ hour trip to my hometown of Greece, NY. When we arrived at midnight and Casi commented "Wow, I thought it would be nice and cool, but it's still warm out!" that should have been a red flag I was in for a bad run Saturday morning.

Before I even went outside, I posted on Facebook that I was about to have the slowest run of my life, based on how tired and sluggish I felt.

I smiled for the readers, but inside I wasn't excited.

I was expecting it to feel like a nice, cool, fall morning (we're only an hour and a half from Canada, and right on a lake!). Imagine my surprise when I stepped into a sauna. A sauna with the sun beating down.

It was one of those runs where the humidity  makes it feel like that fat guy is sitting on your chest, you can't breathe, and if you try to breathe deeply, it hurts.  I was dehydrated, because when you go on a 7 hour road trip, your choices are dehydration, misery, or stopping every 45 minutes. Working all day without air conditioning isn't particularly helpful either. Which meant that in addition to the chest pain, I was getting side stitches. I knew I had one more salt pill in my camelbak, which I thought would be my saving grace, but when I went to take it, apparently I'd given it to a friend or something, because it wasn't there.

Mile 5

The only thing that got me through the run was thanking Irene for allowing me to do my 20 miler on Monday. Otherwise I'd be doing 20 miles of misery, instead of ten.

There were some pretty lake views.

 

I ran by the restaurant that I waitressed in for six years in high school and college and truly considered going in and drinking a cup of pickle juice (they have a pickle bar) for my side stitches. I forced myself to just ask for water, though.

After the run, things started looking up when my sister and I went to meet our Dad at the Rochester Public Market, this gigantic farmer’s market that has everything you ever want. I am obsessed with farmer’s markets. 

A few weeks ago, I went and wanted to take pictures, but it was way too cutthroat and I needed my 25 pounds of veggies. So I found a solution – go to one that’s even more crowded, and make your Dad take pictures with his fancy camera that will be way better than any I could have taken anyway.

 

We started with an olive oil tasting - my sister and I were in heaven. Even more so when my Dad got us each a bottle of olive oil. Mine is lime flavored.

I'm also obsessed with spices.

Oh...and squash. Stocked up here.

No farmer's market is complete without a wine tasting.

After that fun, Darcy (my sister) and I went to get pedicures. In the middle, she suddenly gasped, pointed to my foot, and cried "What is THAT?". The guy doing my pedi nodded knowingly and said something along the lines of "I've been wondering that too". Sad news - they were pointing to different things. Darcy was shocked by my gigantic callous, while pedicure guy was staring at my black toenail.

He literally brought over a cheese grater to remove my callous. I swear he got it on sale at Bed, Bath, and Beyond. When I told him to leave it alone, I really wish I had a picture of the shock and disgust on his face. Especially when I told him I "needed it". I tried to explain the running, and he seemed to be a little on board. He also asked me when I started school and was shocked again when I said I was already out of college and a teacher myself, so I'm calling the experience a win.

Once I had my veggies, olive oil, and painted toenails (and my callous, intact), it was time for Saturday's main event - my ten year high school reunion. I'm just going to be honest - Casi and I went to see what a train wreck it would be. And it didn't disappoint.

I never considered the life of a simple schoolteacher to be a massive success, like on the scale of a doctor, or winning a major award, or owning three summer homes or something. Turns out, if you have a job and don't live with your parents, going to your high school reunion will be a HUGE ego boost. The popular kids were still too cool to even say hello to us, but a friend's eavesdropping revealed that several of them still had the same address as in high school. After a few drinks I may have interrogated a person or two about where they currently lived, but I got what I needed out of the conversation. One guy claimed his band had gone international, but, as Casi said "Well, I haven't heard of them, and I'm national".

We seemed to have trouble with our memories. Everyone else was chatting nonstop about teachers, other alums who couldn't make it, stuff that happened, and we were pretty much drawing a blank on everything. Maybe because high school wasn't the height of our existance.

I got to eat dinner with my junior prom date. That actually wasn't as weird as it sounds, because I'm still good friends with his sisters (one of them even caught the bouquet at my wedding).

Now, let's enjoy some pictures from the high school reunion, and from high school itself.

As you can see, the following pictures couldn't be scanned because they were outlined in glitter and glued to an awesome poster which is still up in my old bedroom. That's how I role.

Casi and I - maybe in middle school?

Junior prom, 2000

Reunion, 2011, still wearing the same colors

She's a true friend - look at her transferring her frosting to my plate

Prom Date

 

Obviously, we've matured since high school. 

Larping

My mom said our nametags should have included our roles in high school. Mine would have said: "dorky quiet girl that no one even knows who she is". 

What would yours have said?

8 miles before sunrise

All day yesterday, I was excited to go on a bike ride after work with Mike and Lily. 

If I could have gone back in time and told the April 2011 version of myself that, it would have sounded like the equivalent of "I really can't wait to go to the dentist and get a cavity filled without Novocaine after work". 

I never thought I would get to the point where I was comfortable on the bike, much less look forward to bike rides. That's not to say I never get nervous or scared anymore, especially on those downhills, but things have massively improved.

We rode 14.5 miles in an hour and ten minutes. Our pace was super relaxed, we really just wanted to chat and unwind rather than push for a tough workout. With a twenty miler and a speedwork session that nearly killed me already under my belt for this week, I was loving that plan.

But, sadly, that plan came to a screeching halt this morning. Just 8 hours after saying goodbye to my exercise buddies last night, the alarm was going off for my tempo run this morning.

I left the house at 4:35, got to Lily's at 4:50, and we got 8 miles in before the sun was even up!

It was a bit of an adventure finding runnable, safe streets with shoulders in Lily's neighborhood. We both forgot our headlamps. The street lights did a pretty good job for the most part, but there were some scary dark parts.

Good news - we got some sprints in (avoiding cars). Bad news - we had to slow down sometimes due to not being able to see the ground.

Our six tempo miles were: 9:00 (up a hill/super dark and couldn't see), 8:33, 8:49, 8:44, 8:43, 8:26. Lily is awesome at pacing, and I was so glad to have her pushing me the whole time. It's so easy to slow down by yourself, I love having the accountability of a running buddy. I was proud that we attacked all the hills and really didn't slow our pace too much on them.

Check out those guns! That's what .62 miles of swimming in a tri gives you. You don't need to train for it or anything, don't worry.

Three of my favorite things: spending time with my family, going to weddings, and being overly judgmental for no good reason. Three things happening this weekend: traveling to my hometown to visit my family, going to my friend Emma's wedding, and going to my high school reunion. As always, you do the math.

Spoons are so important

I'm going to say some positive things about yesterday. I just wanted to warn everyone before you started checking the URL to see if you clicked on the wrong blog, or trying to figure out if I was doing a guest post or something.

I took yesterday off to heal my legs from Monday's 20 miler and Tuesday's speedwork. They are still a tad sore, but basically back to normal.

I actually had a GREAT first day and feel very positive about the school year. Granted it's only the second day, but there have been years where I already had a bad feeling by this point (which turned out to be right). I think I'm going to love third grade. I was too busy to be hangry all day, despite Tuesday's dinner fiasco. Note - I did not say I "forgot" to eat, which you will never hear me say. 

I actually put on makeup yesterday morning in honor of the first day of school. Although I own and know how to use makeup (some might argue with this) I have a serious laziness problem and rarely actually put it on. It takes away from my blogging time in the morning. I couldn't even remember the last time I used it and it felt weird all day. I'll probably keep going strong for 2 or 3 weeks then forget about it until I attend some sort of fancy Christmas party or something.

After school, I rushed to grad class, which had several pluses:

1. We are allowed to eat in class (first grad class ever where I can say this).

2. The professor told us to call her by her first name and said she wasn't into all that "doctor" stuff.

3. I'm already in love with the professor and, while the class seems like a lot of work, the final project involves actually USING technology in education, which is insane, because that's actually what my degree will be in. It only took three classes of nonsense to get to this point!

When I arrived at class I was starving and immediately realized I had brought my yogurt but forgotten my spoon. Everyone was chatting and setting up their computers and stuff and I randomly yelled "does anyone have a spoon I could use?". I was met with the blank stares of normal people for whom staring at delicious yogurt and not being able to eat it for the next three hours was not considered a crisis.

That's not what it looked like. It was a scoop of this with a peach mixed together in an old feta cheese container, which added to my normalcy.

When it came time to introduce myself and "share something that no one knows about you", I thought I could rectify the situation. I shared that I was training for a 50 mile race, which required lots of food, so I'd probably be eating a lot, and in fact that was behind my spoon demands from earlier.

You could hear crickets. No one laughed.

So, FYI, asking for spoons and telling people you want to run 50 miles is not how to influence people and win friends.

I need to read this book.