Proof that lousy dinosaurs and birds are related

Well, lousy was a good way to describe this weekend's running.  I was supposed to run 18 miles on Saturday, but started late and was quickly becoming overheated in the un-shaded route I selected.  So, I relocated, but only finished about 12 miles before I decided that risking heat injury was not worth the extra training miles.  So, I'll get to make that up this weekend.  When it's just as hot.  Dang San Antonio Summers.

On Sunday, I ran the TNT Lousy Tshirt 5k.  It's really not such a lousy race - and a fundraiser for a buddy's Team In Training fundraising.  Now, don't get me wrong, it was hot and humid, and the course was about .4 miles long, but at least I felt less lousy than Saturday.  Here are some posed pics:

with my dirty ol' men running buddies Scotty (frequent fotog) and George

And here's the proof that dinosaurs and birds are related - as I finish with a combo of crazy running chicken and t-rex

 Yep, if a crazy running chicken and a T-rex had a baby and it ran a 5ish-K, this is EXACTLY what it would look like, before it matured enough that its eyes opened

Next up - making up an 18 miler and the Whine Run.

Thanks to Lisa Ramos Photography and Scottydog for the pics.

Still Almost Famous

As I've mentioned before, I am stalked by the paparazzi.  Okay, not really - I'm a fame 'ho, like a Kardashian.  Okay, not really - I do have a real job and press coverage just amuses me.  Immensely.  So, here's my latest brush with fame:

What do you mean, you can't get this magazine in Wisconsin?  Okay, let me virtually turn you to page 38...

(you can click on the picture to enlarge, or just put on 1-100 pairs of readers to read that teeny print).  Ceci snapped that pic two years ago, after Gwen and I completed a record-breaking 5k (over 1 hour, since Gwen had to swim in every dog pool along the way).  I really like how Gwen's stepping on the footer :x)  Now, I just need to keep her from being a fame 'ho, like her mama.

The best of friends the worst of ideas

Over the years, I've had (and still have) some great friends - with the worst of ideas.  There was Candide, who decided we should drive (and boat) from Massachusetts to the Bahamas - on her American Express and a Shell cards (apparently, there IS a limit at all-inclusive resorts, and PB&J is expensive when you buy it at the gas station).  And Kent, who said "a duathlon starting in a CAVE - let's do it" - and I cursed him as a 70+ year old out-pedaled me up a steep incline while my bike ran out of gears.  And the countless runs in driving rain/lightning/flooding or along a dark trail.  And one of the best - my sister and I heading to Nantucket for the Summer to 'work,' with no jobs and no money (that may have been my idea). Many friends with the worst of ideas there.  But, dangit, we had fun - every single time. 

So, perhaps the worst of ideas from a good friend occurred back in '93.  We had just finished our sophomore year at Smith College, and I planned to head off to DC for a Summer internship - unfortunately, the only (low) paid internship offer I received was with a pro-FSLN/FMLN lobbying group.  My mother wisely advised me that I may be too young to end up on an FBI watch-list because I wanted to spend the Summer in DC.  So, my friend, Tara had a 'great' idea - we join the Army, but just temporarily - "it'll be fun."  And off to Ft. Knox we went.

Basically (hee), we went through Basic Training, but had no service obligation afterward.  She was somewhat interested in the ROTC program - I just went to lose weight, get in shape, get paid, and meet boys.  Somehow, I ended up in the real Army and she did not (although that contract I signed did say I was of sound mind). 

So, flash forward almost 20 years (eek) - and it's 2012, and I busted my knee, but couldn't let a year slip by without a marathon.  So, I fished among those crazy friends for a marathon idea - that was flat and not-so-expensive.  And Tara had a great idea - we run the Hartford, CT marathon on October 13 (where she lives) - "it'll be fun."  And off to CT I go in October.  I never learn - this weekend's 17 mile training run HURT, and all I could think was "why do I listen to the best of friends with the worst of ideas?"  Because, in the end, I can say we had fun. Or, at least, didn't die?

Check out our team at http://www.goteammad.org/roster.asp 

The time I beat the Russian Gymnast

I ran the Sunrise 10k last Saturday - tough course - hot and hilly.  But, I clearly watched too much Olympics coverage and was experiencing withdrawals.  In these finish line shots, I tried for the extra artistic points - you can't see, but I was tossing one of those balls, a hula hoop, and a ribbon in the air - but I threw them REALLY high.

Then I did a quadruple back flip with a 3/4 twist and layout - and totally stuck the landing

too bad Ceci only caught my super landing - that 1/4 step did end up costing me a half of  a point.  I'm appealing.  Bella supports me on this 100%.  (Not Béla Károlyi - Bella, a cross-dressing waiter I know from my days living on Mulberry, but he's more stylish than that Romanian.)

Thanks for the pics, Ceci.  Next up - a crudload of running.

Back to the training schedule

Well, more or less.  I have been running a bunch, trying desperately to get (minimally) prepared for the Hartford Marathon in October.  This may be ugly - both the marathon and the pics below.

I ran the Alamo Beer Series race #2 (Battle of the Mac Pack) 16k last Saturday - but had to divide my long run and add about 6-7 miles in the morning.  So, here was the second run of the day:

It was a hot one.  So was Thursday night's Brak Pak run - here's my backside (thanks, Michele) -- as I look like a crazy running chicken - or maybe a T-Rex, chasing down small Valerie prey.  Awesome.

The after shot.  It was supposed to be 6 miles - but it was long (Joe lied!).

Next up, Sunrise 10k on Saturday, a bunch of other life stuff Saturday, and then the big bad 17 miles on Sunday.  Then?  You guessed it - I sleep.  Thanks to DL Morrison and Michele for the pics!