I ran one of the toughest 3 milers ever today. Everything was out of whack, the breathing, the pace, the tight calves, the sore heel…I was feeling quite miserable. Punxsk8erdude was following along on the bike trying to cheer me on, but it wasn’t working. I stopped for some water and to stretch at 1.5 miles, then stopped again at 2 miles to watch part of a soccer game going on at the neighborhood jr high and stretched some more. Nothing seemed to work, it didn’t feel like I was in my body. I felt old and tired…I don’t usually feel this way so it was a little baffling to me. The mind it quite powerful and it will take over if you let it. Anyway, I just trudged along to finish the 3 miles in order to just scratch the run off my calendar. About 46 minutes later I was done…LITERALLY! 
Monthly Archive for February, 2008
From www.runnersworld.com
January 28, 2008
A different kind of love
I sit down to write to you with High School Musical on the television (for the second showing on DVD) and Bella sprawled on the sofa with a fever virus, half snoozing, half watching. It’s hard to concentrate because I know every song lyric by heart and they keep sticking in my head and distracting me.
It’s a peaceful day for rest and recovery, for Bella and for Mommy.
3M. Ah, yes. Yesterday was a beautiful day to run in Austin, Texas. After weeks of cold, gray weather, we were blessed with temperatures in the 50’s and 60’s and a morning that blossomed into sunshine. If there were ever a day ordained for PR’s, it was this one.
It was no secret that Paige and Katie and I were trying to run a strong race, not just out for fun and scenery and free Gatorade, like in some races. My PR in a half marathon is 1:36:26 and I was hoping to bust that, even by seconds.
We started strong, Paige ever-diligent in her pace setting and split time recording. I was off from the start and I knew it. My pre-race preparation…food, hydration, sleep, red-wine-avoidance, healthy motivation…all of it was spot on. But the first mile felt too fast for me (though it was right on track), my heart was racing and I had trouble catching my breath or finding my stride, even through mile 2. From the start I felt like I was having to work too hard to chase down my friends and it was really discouraging. It was just like run group, suffering and lagging behind, only it was race day and infinitely more humbling because I had high hopes of redemption from weeks of finishing last at workouts. I knew I would have to work for it, but I felt ready. If anything, I was worried about Katie and her tendinitis and her stomach issues that have been plaguing her lately.
We have friends facing some mighty issues right now, my brother with his recovery, our dear friend Leticia whose father is dying of cancer and Paige’s cousin with pregnancy complications. We prayed before the race, offering our effort as our way to share their burden. “Be careful what you ask for” later came to mind, as these people have burdens so mighty and so heavy that as each mile passed I felt more like Sisyphus and less like Kristin. But I hung on. Continue reading ‘Kristin Armstrong understands how I run.’
Well the Carrera girls strapped on their cowgirl boots and went for a little 4 mile run on the San Antonio Rodeo grounds. We would have gotten to the finish line faster if these bulls hadn’t gotten in our way!
See us waaaaay back there?
Yep! There’s nothing like the smell of bull poop and barbeque smoke to welcome you to the finish line. Gotta love Texas!
In Banana’s head as she boots scootin’ boogies away from the computer…….
“Don’t break my heart! My achy, breaky heart!”
“ALLLLL my exes live in Texas! That’s why I hang my hat in Tennessee!”
“God bless Texas with his own haaannnds! Brought down angels from the Promise Land! Gave them a place where they could dance! If you wanna see heaven, baby here’s your chance!”
“We’re a two of a kind, working on a full house!”
No really, there was biscuits and gravy, sausage tacos, chips and queso and salsa, coffee, hot chocolate, water, gatorade, and Lone Star (of course) waiting for us at the finish inside the rodeo grounds. Lots of food for such a small race…just a few hundred runners and about half as many walkers. Oh yes, the weather was great (in the 40’s) and the course was part trail and part road. The best part is that I had company this time…my two soeurs! Now that’s a first! Both Banana and I guess bibi were coerced decided to join me. Technically it was Banana’s idea, since she found out about this run in the 1st place, but she was ready to wimp out at the last minute. I made her register online while I was on the phone with her and had her e-mail me her confirmation…just in case. Then we both decided to e-mail our confirmations to I guess bibi..you know…as a hint.
Of course, it took about 3 miles for Banana to finally warm up…she ran in pants. It was at that point that I guess bibi started to deteriorate…she was having a little trouble during that last mile…especially upon entering the rodeo grounds when the staff kept “cheering” us on by yelling out, “You’re almost there!”, “Just around the corner!”, then again “Just around the corner!”, and some more “Just around the corner!”…funny thing, at that point we were running around the Joe Freeman Coliseum which for the most part is actually a round building…. About 44 minutes later it was all over, I guess bibi recouped and we hung around to indulge a little at the post run meal/awards celebration.
“I think that wherever your journey takes you, there are new gods waiting there, with divine patience-and laughter.” - Susan M. Watkins
“Some things…arrive on their own mysterious hour, on their own terms and not yours, to be seized or relinquished forever.” -Gail Godwin
woo hoo! I ran 8 today, because I’ve been feeling like I should up my mileage. Just ‘cuz. So, today I did an out and back on the Minnehaha Creek Parkway. It was not crowded, being Super Bowl Puppy Bowl Sunday and all. I was on fire, averaging between 8:30-9:00 minute miles. I couldn’t believe that I was able to maintain my pace the whole time. I met a deaf Australian Cattle Dog puppy en route, as well as a lovely greyhound. Lumpy met me at my half-way point and handed me some water and a furry four legger. The four legger made me meet the greyhound, as her first boyfriend/only boyfriend/who really talks like that seriously about their pets????? was a greyhound. His name was Juan. Juany. El Jeffe. El Capitan. Juancito. They fetched together. Anyhoo, G decided to sprint uphill to meet this cute little greyhound, dragging me along with her. I have to say, I greatly enjoyed this whole run, even the part after getting Guinness where she had to pee, then poo, then dink around doing anything but running. Once she got started and I got restarted, we were hauling ass again.
Earlier in the day, we went to the Global Market to do some food shopping, and to collect my FREE LUNCH!!!! I had put “my card” into the bowl at Holy Land, simply hoping for a freebie. Well, I won!!! I don’t even have real cards. They are what I call my schmooze cards because we got them for the sole purpose of handing them out if I happen to be in a place where I can make contacts. All they have on them is my name, address, phone number and email. Just enough info to get me a free lunch. Needless to say, it was delicious. 1/2 a roasted chicken, rice, salad, hummus, and pita. Sigh. Moan. Belch. Yummmmmmm.
I worked from 11-19h. I’m pooped. I’m having wine.
So, I have some quotes. They are all directly related to where I am right now. I am letting go in order to be able to hold on. I feel really good.
“If you do not change direction, you may end up where you are heading.” -Lao Tzu
“All difficult things have their origin in that which is easy, and great things in that which is small.” -Lao Tzu
“Then on the shore Of the wide world I stand alone, and think Till love and fame to nothingness do sink” -John Keats
“When I die I shall be content to vanish into nothingness…. No show, however good, could conceivably be good forever…. I do not believe in immortality, and have no desire for it.”
“The greatest purity is nothing or nothingness - no thinking, no desiring, no imagining. You are then one with the moment and the great movement of life so nothing can happen that is not right.” Barry Long
