4TYTUDE

Done, baby, Done!

  The "before" picture from this years Paris Half Marathon. After running for 2 hours, 1 minute and 31 seconds (not my best time) in a steady downpour, no "after" pictures were allowed.

ING Marathon and Half Marathon-Atlanta

Bright and early tomorrow morning 15,000 runners will strap on their running shoes to participate in the 2008 ING Marathon and Half Marathon. I thought I would be out of town so I am not running but I will be up early too, to support my friend Steve who is running in the half marathon.

I just watched a video of the course. It was a runner-cam on high speed. I must admit by mile 15 of the full marathon I was feeling a bit queasy but you get a good look at the course. And there are a few pop-up ads courtesy of ING but they don't last long.

If you want to get up early (the run starts at 7am), grab a cup of coffee and station yourself along the course to cheer on the runners I might see you out there. I will probably be in Virginia-Highlands or Little Five Points to watch for Steve. Here is the route map.

Good luck to all the runners!!!

Getting Ready to BRAG

I have been working on getting my bike geared up for BRAG which starts on June 9th. I attached a rack and a pannier so I can carry whatever I think I might need during the day (ibuprofen, cab fare, butt chafing cream etc..) and I added an extra rack for another water bottle (and when I say "I", it means that I actually did it myself, you doubters).

I also have new racy red stripe Michelin tires (I did not put those on, I won't try and take credit. Besides even if I tried I know no one would believe me) and new tubes.

I rode on the Silver Comet Trail on Friday without my usual buddy. I was a little paranoid to be out there by myself ( a woman was murdered on the trail last year while biking alone). Compared to the weekends there is virtually no one using the trail and you can end up in some pretty remote areas. So to get in the mileage I was going for I rode out 6 miles, doubled back and then did it again. This way I stayed in fairly populated areas. It went off without a hitch except for the dog sitting at mile marker 4. On approach he was lying off the trail in the grass but as soon as I went by he ran after me while barking. I hollered "no" a couple of times and he backed off. I had to pass this damn dog 4 times. Once he even growled while chasing me. The last time there were 2 women walking past and they had stopped a burly biker for help because the dog was aggressing them too. The biker chased the dog off the path. I'm sure the dog just wanted to play but it was a little disconcerting.

Anyway, I think my bike is more prepared for the ride than I am, but I'm trying!!

The BIG One

And he didn't get away!

Late this afternoon JLC and I drove out to Gainesville to visit some new friends who have a home on Lake Lanier and who invited us to go bass fishing. And you know I love to fish (or maybe you don't know, but I do!).

We met these new friends, an older couple after they "stalked" us for a few months while trying to obtain contact information about the builder of our home. Since getting to know them I realize they were courting us, not stalking us.

After an unseasonably warm Spring, a cold front has come through. So it was in the 50's and very windy when we started out on the boat at about 5:30 this evening. And when it's cold, the fish don't bite much. I caught the first fish, a spotted bass. It was 14 inches long and we threw it back in.

Then we had a little picnic in the boat. Roasted chicken, a green salad, avocado and mango salad and chocolate chip cookies. And we washed it all down with a 1996 de Lorimier Chardonnay from Alexander Valley.

We fished for another hour and I reeled in 2 more fish, both striped bass. One is 28 inches and probably weighs 10 pounds. That one came home with us and will be served up this Sunday.

I'm No Soccer Mom

Today was Sam's first day of soccer practice and first game. They practice for 30 minutes and then play a game for 30 minutes. He spent the night with me last night and we had to be on the field at 9am. Wouldn't you know it would be a cold morning (in the 30's and windy). And our little slice of field was in the shade. We envied the teams with the sunny patches. We cursed them (at least I did under my breath).

Sam made it 2 warm-up laps around the field and he practiced with his team (5 players on each team, so really it should be called a teamlet) for about 10 minutes while constantly whining "I wanna go home". His dad and I tried unsuccessfully to get him to put on gloves and a windbreaker but he refused (all the while insisting "I wanna go home".) But I couldn't blame him. I was freezing my ass off too. So we packed it in after about 20 minutes.

We also bagged the St. Patrick's Day parade for the same reason. Instead we went to the Fernbank Museum to see the Lizards and Snakes Alive exhibit. It was very very cool. They have some huge lizards and giant snakes on display. And we watched the Deep Sea movie at the Imax theatre.

Race Day

I bailed. I didn't even make it out of bed. The Insomnia Monster struck at 2am and I couldn't go back to sleep. So I gave myself permission not to run. I spoke to my friend Cecilia this morning and she assured me I will not go to hell for missing the run. I'm not so sure.

The Day Before the Half

I went to pick up my race number for tomorrow's Thanksgiving day half marathon. I'm getting a little more motivated. Going to the expo certainly helped. It always helps to see people as crazy as I am. I am meeting Tracy for dinner tonight (cheap Mexican). I know I should probably eat pasta but, oh well. Steve is going to pick me up at 5:45 and we will drive to the Brookhaven MARTA and take it to the race start line. Starting time is 7am. I'm not going to push for a PR, I'm just going to run to finish (and to eat lots later).

Fortify Your Body

In preparation for running the half marathon next Thursday on Thanksgiving morning, I have run a total of one time this week and that was this morning. It was a combination of things that kept me from running. The first part of the week was pure laziness and then the weather played a factor, a couple days of rain. And for the past few nights I've had my 3 year old godson, Sam, sleeping over. So I finally did get out this morning and it was cold! I only managed a short run, about 3 miles. Tomorrow I will go out for a longer run, weather permitting. I'm not going to list what played through on my Ipod because the same 5 songs have been playing over and over and they have all recently been listed. I have to figure out what the problem is or send it to my personal IT department. I have a love/hate relationship with my Ipod.

Strong Legs

This morning I ran in the Strong Legs 10K with my friend Steve. It was a perfect morning for running, cool temperatures and overcast skies. This run is a qualifier for the Peachtree Road Race. You need to run the 10K faster than 55 minutes to be seeded at the Peachtree. Steve had already run a qualifying race this year so he didn't need to push himself for this run. But this was my first attempt at a qualifying run so I needed to run at a pretty good clip. I didn't think my chances were too great though.

Now at this point I have to say that Steve and I have a friendly rivalry when it comes to these road races. Sometimes he finishes first and sometimes I do. There have been races where I was out in front and Steve was right behind me the whole way (which I was unaware of) and then kicks it out at the very end to finish ahead of me (dirty pool, I say). So at the beginning of the race this morning I see Steve in front of me. My goal now is to catch up to him and take a page out of his book and hang behind him till the end. I catch him around mile 1. At a mile and a half I decide Steve is just not running fast enough for me (especially if I want to qualify) so I pass him, understanding that I now risk him doing to me what I was planning to do to him. Oh well.

The course was great. The roads were closed for the runners and Atlanta's finest was out in force keeping us safe from cars. I had a good run and was thrilled to cross the finish line at 54:12!!! Steve came in a few minutes behind me (I'm not one to gloat but I smoked him!).

Steve, my dear friend, all I want to say  to you is Beware of the Swamp Cat Mascot.

Fortify Your Body

I had a great run this morning. The weather was perfect (though I dressed too warmly). I ran a new route today so I'm unsure of the mileage but I ran for about 55 minutes. Here is what shuffled thru on my Ipod:

• Stupid Girls-Pink
• Hung Up-Madonna
• It's Sweet-Liz Phair
• A Little Less Conversation-Elvis Presley
• Wikked Lil' Girls-Esthero
• Gimme 3 Steps-Lynard Skynard
• Jackson-Joaquin Phoenix and Reese Witherspoon
• Saved-The Commitments
• Hey Ya-Outkast
• The Boys of Summer-DJ Sammy
• I Will Survive-Gloria Gaynor
• River-The Nadas
• You Oughta Know-Alanis Morrisette
• Express Yourself-Madonna
• Salvation-The Cranberries
• Fat-Bottomed Girls-Queen

I don't have too much time before the Atlanta Half Marathon on Thanksgiving morning. I need to do a long run this week. Hopefully I can do 10 miles on Thursday. Saturday is the Strong Legs 10K. It's a qualifier for the Peachtree Road Race so I need to do it. I'm going to try to convince Steve to run it with me.