4 miles- Silvia August 29, 2008

Yesterday I should have run six miles according to the schedule.  I did 4.  I was exhausted. That’s my excuse.  The night before I couldn’t sleep well…first day jitters…even after 8 years of teaching!  Then when I finally could sleep, my darling husband began snoring.  Loudly.  I went downstairs to sleep in my son’s room (he’s off to college) and my dog decides it would be fun to play fetch at 3 am, and drops a tennis ball near my face.  I don’t think so.  I throw the ball away.  Duhhhh.  This is a dog.  Throwing the ball means playing fetch!  The tennis ball with drool was dropped neatly by my nose again.  This time, I put the ball in a drawer.  I couldn’t see his sad puppy dog eyes in the dark, so I felt OK about it.  I saw his shadwo lying in frot of the drawer, perhas willing it to open.  Eventaully he gave up and went away.  Meanwhile, it is 3:20 and I am trying desperately to get to sleep.  But there is added stress.  There is no alarm clock in my son’s room.  So, you know the kind of sleep you get when you know you have to wake up at a certain hour and there is no alarm clock to let you know the time and so you wake up every 20 minutes and look at the clock and feel relived that you have more time and mad because you woke up and you didn;t have to yet…well that’s what I had for the next 2 and half hours.  I arrived blearly eyed for the my first day of the new school year in a classroom full of high energy, eager middle schoolers.  Help me Lord geth through the day.  I did.

But the run.  Whose idea was it anyway to run this marathon?  I did not want to.  I wanted to go home, eat some food that I didn’t cook, have  a glass of wine and go to bed (before my husband so I fall asleep before he starts snoring).  But the run. I had to do that damn run.  I got home around 7:00.  I went to the gym.  I got up on the treadmill and at a mile 1.01 I was ready to call it a day.  I miss way back when I only had to run a couple of miles.  Nonetheless, I carried on and stopped at four.  I justified it by saying I’ll run 6 on Friday.

Today is Friday.  I finished day two in a classroom of energetic middle schoolers.  Do you think I feel like runnning six today?

Debris, Carnage 12 Miles – Silvia August 25, 2008

I had to laugh when the announcer commentating on the Olympic marathon predicted debris and carnage along the marathon route because the men went out at a blistering 2:04 pace, in the 84 degree temperature with high humidity. i expected bodies strewn all over the place where the men are prostrated on the road, drooling from their mouths. That didn’t quite happen, but it was a thrilling race to watch. I was so glad for the Kenyan who brought home that country’s first Olympic gold (were you as surprised as I was, finding out that little tidbit of information.)

The next morning I did my 12 mile run. I started late, after 11am. Dumb, dumb mistake. It was hot, almost 90 degress, the humidity was at about 60% and I had my dog. The good thing was that my husband made me a leash with some nylon rope so I wouldn’t have to lug around the heavy retractable leash. The bad thing was that we had no water. I know, call PETA on me. I knew there was a pavilion at the ark we were going to, so I was hoping that there was some sort of water there. I wanted to run at a 10 minute pace. I thought I could do that comfortably. The first 3 miles went well. I ran the first mile in 10 minutes, the second in 9:30 (oops- big mistake there) and the third in about 9:48. Then it went downhill. The sun was beating down on me; I was thirsty and felt the energy draining from me. Finally at mile 4, the pavilion loomed before me, like a lush oasis in the middle of the desert. I headed straight for the water fountain. As luck would have it there was a dog water bowl there, and I first filled it up for some water for Barclay, which he gladly lapped up. After I had my fill, I used the facilities. This is luxury – it had a flushing toilet sink, and mirror. Beachwood rocks! (This is the same spot that has wifi access.) I have to say – and you may want to turn away when I say this rather gross piece of information – but when it burned when I relieved myself. My body temperature was so hot. It scared me a little.

rested and refreshed we headed out. I have to say the next 8 miles were just torture. I stopped and walked. I ran. I slogged. I wanted to quit running and I remembered when the commentator mentioned that the Kenyan who won had a runner’s body – lean and light. He was 5′4″ and 112. What the hell am I doing out here at 5′6″ and 160? I have huge thighs, which makes me have more of a sprinter’s body. not a long distance body.

At one point when I had a tiny surge of energy my Garmin’s battery went low so it automatically stopped my timing. I must have ran at least a half mile…for nothing! When I figured that out I was so mad. I eventually made it to another park with another drinking fountain, not before I spent nearly minutes standing under a sprinkler with Barclay lying beside me. People went by us in their cars, laughing. I didn’t care and neither did Barclay the water felt so good. Finally, we hit Barclay’s swimming hole where he got to cool off again. By that time I had about 1 and half miles to go. I was spent. Barclay was refreshed. Oh well. I think I walked about a half mile and then decided to jog the rest.

I did 12 miles in 2 hours and 9 minutes. The men ran a whole mnarathon by that time. I felt dejected and defeated. But, I am not giving up.