Something new

Is it possible? Am I about to get bit by the training bug again?

Maybe...

It's getting to that time of year in Arizona when the weather is more cooperative. It may just be the end of those 90 degree dawns and I can finally run in decent weather. I went from running 50 miles in June to just 12 in July. Of course vacation traveling as well as heat may have contributed to that lack of mileage.

Anyway, September and cooler weather is just around the corner. I think it's time to celebrate this with a new challenge.

The 2009 Nathan Tempe Triathlon
Sunday, September 27th

I want to start training for the Sprint Triathlon:
750 meter swim
16 mile bike
3.3 mile run

I've got a lot going against me right now, though. Let's see...

1. Starting a 13 week training program in the middle of week 7
2. I gotta get a gym membership for swimming and indoor training, since it's still hot
3. No road bike. I've got a mountain bike, but I would prefer a road bike.
4. Fear of riding my bike in actual streets. YIKES!!

Aside from that, I'm up for a new challenge.

San Diego Harbor

I just wanted to post some pics from my San Diego Harbor run on Memorial Day. It was nice to be able to sleep in. I didn't get out on to Harbor Bay Drive until 9 AM. By that time temperatures could be high 70s in Scottsdale. I only ran 30 minutes so we wouldn't miss the Sheraton's Breakfast Buffet.

Today was actually day 12 of my running streak and I'm feeling it in my legs. Instead of running at 6 AM this morning, I waited until after work to give my legs a few more hours to recover. We were over 90 degrees today, so I to hit the dreadmill.

To save money, we actually canceled our gym membership. But there's a public gym at McDowell Mountain that cost only $2/visit. Perfect for those days I need a treadmill or want to work on the machines.

No shoes, No shorts, No problem

My mini running streak has survived the big travel test this weekend. I wasn't sure if I'd be able to find time to run during our road trip to Southern California.

Sunday, Disneyland day, was the big test. I know it's crazy, but we decided last minute to do Disney that morning when we woke up in our Anaheim hotel room. Sure, it was a holiday weekend and the lines would be long, but I had a plan. We would get there early and hit as many major attractions as we could before 3 pm. Brian wanted to get on the road to San Diego so we could catch the sunset at the beach.
No problem!!

We were able to hit the Matterhorn, Pirates of the Carribean, Haunted Mansion, Splash Mountain, Thunder Mountain Railroad and Star Tours all before 11:30 AM. After lunch, we did Space Mountain, Honey I shrunk the Audience, Buzz Lightyear's Astro Blasters, Mr. Toad's Wild Ride and Autopia. Eleven rides in 6.5 hours on a holiday weekend!

When we got to Pacific Beach in San Diego it was only 4:30. I sat and watched the kids play in the water. Being the thin-blooded desert dweller, I chose to stay warm on the sand. My husband urged me to run a mile. "There's no excuse! You're on a beach. You can run one mile on the beach." He did mention that it would be pretty lame of me to break my running streak like this on day 9.

My tennis shoes and running shorts were in my suitcase back in the car several blocks away. All I had on were flip-flops, a tank top and jean shorts. Fine! He was right, there was no excuse. I took off my flip flops and ran on the shore; 7 minutes one way and 7 minutes back. Since I didn't have my shoes, I didn't have my Nikeplus running monitor to record the run or my distance. But with my average pace at 11:30 lately, I figured 14 minutes of running would be more than enough to keep the streak going.

Sure, I didn't look like the typical runner since I was wearing jean shorts. Also, the shore was hard on the balls of my feet at times (they are hating me now) and dodging seaweed was a task, but all in all, I'm glad I did it. The running streak is intact. I'm on day 11 now!

My Attempt at Streaking

No, I'm not talking about running around nekkid for kicks and giggles. Sorry, to get your hopes up there. I'm talking about starting a running streak - run at least a mile for as many consecutive days as you can.

I first heard about this through this article "7,000, 9,000, 11,000 days in a row - runners won't quit". It's about a group that has registered their running streaks at www.runeveryday.com, the website for the United States Running Streak Association, USRSA.

Their active running streak list shows one "Legend", the category for greater than a 40 year long streak, Mark Covert, who is also the honorary chairman of the USRSA Advisory Board. There are at least 20 runners whose streak has lasted over 35 years. The "Neophyte" is the category for those whose streak is only less than 5 years old.

When I first read about this I thought to myself, there's no way I could do that! That's crazy talk!! I might try, but I won't last the week! Guess what?! Today is day seven! I did it. I lasted the week. But don't expect me to go signing up for membership to the USRSA anytime soon. I was just using this as inspiration to get myself back into the habit of running. I had injured my back in April and after looking at my sad monthly running graph, I knew I had to get back into it somehow.



So things are looking up. I've gotten back into it. I haven't signed up for any races yet, but at least my May totals are looking good. Let's see how long this streak lasts.

Papago Park Run

My sister had an early flight to NYC this morning, so I took this opportunity to do my run near the airport at Papago Park. After I dropped her off at 5:35 AM I drove and parked at the Phoenix Zoo nearby. The sun had just risen as I took off toward Hole in the Rock. What a beautiful morning.

The route I took was deserted aside from the one city vehicle that drove by. After 1/2 mile through the park, I got on Priest Drive greeted by the striking red rocks against the blue sky, I snapped a pic of this agave flower in bloom.

I was really enjoying the solitude and only after my turn around point did I see two runners and just one biker.

Running the opposite way on Priest Drive gave me a different perspective of Papago Park. I was able to see the Botanical Garden on my left. In the distance a beautiful yellow Chihuly glass sculpture towered over the creosote. The Chihuly exhibit is only going to be at the Desert Botanical Garden until the end of the month, so I vowed to see it before it leaves.

Running my usual route never bores me, but trying out different trails now and then are a special treat. When I do run a new trail, I want to make sure I bring my camera along. Sure, I've driven by Priest Drive a few times before, but running it gives me a new appreciation of the beauty that has in the past just whizzed by me at 40 mph.

Vroom! Vroom!

It's like starting up an old classic car that you haven't driven in a while. There are the running shoes, sitting in the garage collecting dust. Pretty little blue racing stripes shimmer invitingly as you look them over. A comfortable interior is calling your name and a pedometer is just begging to start counting those miles again.

You slip on the pair, like getting into custom leather seats that fit every curve perfectly. You flex and wiggle your toes as you would your fingers onto the steering wheel - finding the right grip. Yes, this feels good.

And then you start the engine. The sound of your stride purrs on the trail. Your heart and your breathing accelerates and the wind rushes past your ears. It's been a long time since you've taken this ride.

Welcome back!

Racing Tees

What do you do with your racing t-shirts?

Do they sit in a drawer folded up, never to see the light of day until years later when they're transferred to a shopping bag heading straight to Goodwill? Well, I must admit, that's what happens to most of mine. Some, which I purposely order extra-large, I use as pyjamas, or is it pajama? Hmm. I think I like pyjamas, just for the juxtaposition of the three letters that extend below the writing line. It's both awkward and thought-provoking, the thought being "is that word spelled right?"

Anyway, where was I?

I think the most use I've ever gotten from a t-shirt is my 2007 Phoenix YMCA Half Marathon. It was the only long-sleeved shirt I've ever received from a race. It's just the thing for my early morning winter runs when the temperature here can dip well below 50 degrees. That's right, desert living. Then, there's my favorite Human Race T-shirt. This one doesn't count because I had to buy it myself. You can read an older blog post about it here.

T-Shirt Contest

One race had a very good idea to get their runners to wear the Race T-Shirt. Their website has a little monthly contest. People are asked to send in a photo of themselves wearing the race t-shirt from any year in an exotic or unique location. The prizes may differ, but this month 3 winners were selected and won this years technical training tee. Yay, another t-shirt!! Woot-Woot!

This t-shirt contest is for the race called the Bay To Breakers organized by ING. I've run this race at least 4 times and probably still have all 4 t-shirts. However, I have yet to find myself anywhere exotic or unique to take a picture with it. This months winners were sporting their race shirts in front of the Sydney Opera House, some ancient cemetary in Ireland and the Blue Mosque in Istanbul. I guess the Bay to Breakers attracts a lot of well-traveled participants.

Maybe, I could save on some airfare and photo-shop this old pic of me in Macchu Picchu. But I'm sure they can spot a shopped pic a mile away. I guess I'll just have to remember to pack my Bay to Breakers race shirt the next time I head over to Peru, whenever that will be. Better yet, I'll take all my Bay to Breaker shirts there and get a group shot of the Incans wearing a T-shirt from all the different years. That should be good enough to win me another t-shirt, right?

A conversation piece?

It just so happens, I was wearing my 2009 Rock N' Roll Marathon, Phoenix shirt to my sons tee-ball practice last week. It actually became a conversation starter for me with another mom who ran the marathon, too. No, she wasn't wearing her race shirt at the time, but wouldn't THAT have been funny? We started talking about races and running and made the whole hour of tee-ball practice just fly by.

She told me about a neighborhood race coming up this Sunday, The Run for Ryan House 10K in DC Ranch. Ryan House is a wonderful non-profit that hits close to home. They are raising money to build the regions first palliative care facility in Phoenix. Construction has already started. From their website, "When complete, Ryan House will be a safe, comfortable place where care, typically given at home, will be provided by an experienced professional staff to some of Arizona’s most challenged children. These children and their families deserve an opportunity to focus on being families and living life to its fullest."

Running for Ryan House

It is named after a boy who is a student at my son's school. He was diagnosed with spinal muscular atrophy, a form of muscular dystrophy. Ryan's mother is modeling Ryan House after one of the facilities they stayed at when Ryan was just a toddler in England.

This was perfect - a race close to home, with a distance I can manage (after I've been slacking-off since the marathon, 10K is probably all I can manage now), and best of all, it's for a wonderful cause. The t-shirt from this race, I will be happy to wear, proudly.