33 days left!

Completed my first full 20 miles yesterday along the bike trail in 3:38....it was a very long three and a half hours!!!!!! I felt as though I was doing a much slower pace but I have been pretty consistent on all of my runs. Running alone really helps to keep my pace from fluctuating and maintains my focus...yes, boring but focused. I am looking forward to actually doing the race and having the energy of everyone to keep me going. The training, I believe, is the most difficult. I have to plan my weekend around my long runs and make sure i have eaten and hydrated properly starting two days in advance. I cannot even imagine how the Ultra Marathoner's train...20 miles a day? who knows! Anyway, looking forward to actually completing the race and working toward the next...perhaps CIM...nice and flat!! BTW, the marathon will be streaming live for those wanting to watch...address for the site to follow.

"Say ehlo to my little friend(s)"!

Forget the wheel, electricity and all of that other nonsense...these lovely little toe covers are by far the best thing man has ever invented!! The outside is comparable to ace bandage material and the inside is silicone to prevent slipping while providing a lot of cushion and preventing blisters. The clouds have parted and the sun came though...100% comfort and no more damage to the feet. Finished 17 miles today...it is truly amazing to how quickly the body can acclimate to whatever it is that one does on a consistent basis and how the recovery time gets shorter and shorter. The 17 miles felt like what 10 miles used to feel like with less recovery. Amazing. I ran with Fleet Feet this morning and I asked if anyone would be running more than 10 miles... keep in mind this was their "long run" training day... (Insert crickets chirping.) No one responded. Ummmmm???? The whole point of me running with them on Sundays was to run with a group but only one guy did 10 miles...sigh. Needless to say, I ended up running on my own. We started at fleet feet on J street, ran past sac state and then a mile and a half past watt avenue...turned around and came back; I ended up on J and 55th streets and needed to get to J and 23rd. For those running the CIM (Calif. Int'l marathon) the numbered streets can be a huge mind trip. I looked at 55th street and knew I still had to run to 23rd street...32 BLOCKS left!!!! During CIM, runners need to get to 12th street for the last part of the race...DON"T LOOK AT THE NUMBERS...they're cruel!!!! So I am nearing Fleet Feet and the organizer of the run and his buddy were actually waiting for me outside of the store...three hours and two minutes later...he gave me water, iced coffee, a pat on the back and sent me on my way. Next Saturday 12 miles and then the following Sunday will be the big 19-20 with maintenance runs in between. Almost there.

My third, fourth and fifth child...

...that's what this whole marathon thing has become. My entire schedule revolves around when and where the next run will be. I schedule my eating, resting, real children and even look a week into the weather forecast to plan early runs...at the same time loving every minute of this challenge! It is slightly neurotic and I cannot even imagine what the Ultra Marathoner's go thru. I was following the Badwater Ultramarathon the past two days and there is something enticing about running 135 miles in the desert. I know....sounds weird but I want to know what it must feel like to hit the 89 mile mark, in the heat , and know that I have 46 more miles to go...non-stop...HELLO??? www.badwater.com (26.2 in Kaua'i doesn't look so bad.)

53 days to go!

Time is tickin' away! I completed 16 miles last Saturday...consistently ran the first 15 then walked the last mile to give my legs a chance to cool down...the ride home after a long run is never fun....muscles tend to tighten up so I like to get a good walk and stretch prior to getting in the car. Starting this Sunday I will now do my long runs with Fleet Feet to help with final training and some motivation; the long runs can get a little boring. Although, I have to say, running this whole time alone has really helped with the psychological aspect of completing long runs (10+ miles) and the discipline required to keep going when I want to stop and go home. I really believe this marathon will be a huge mind trip and I need to be strong enough mentally to finish the 26.2...physically, i believe my body is capable but my mind needs to be on the same page...hard balance. When my clients tell me they can't do something or they want to quit I always tell them the same thing: "If there were one million dollars in front of you and all you had to do was go one more minute or complete one more set to get that million dollars, you know you would complete that minute/set!" The mind can be a nasty little saboteur...i find that i talk to myself quite a bit, more like arguing, when completing those long runs...thankfully, my body does not listen and I have not been locked away for talking crazy while running. Sunday will be 16-17 miles and plan to complete 20 by the beginning of August...whew.

73 days to go until marathon in Kauai!!

Tickets have been purchased...condo in Poipu beach has been paid for and now it is just a matter of completing 26.2 miles...in unknown territory. sigh. As of today, I have no idea how far I can run. On July 4th, I will be heading along the bike trail and will run until I am not physically capable of running another foot. As weird as this kind of training may sound, it has worked in the past for the 1/2 marathon I did in March. It will give me an idea of where my "wall" is and then focus my training on getting beyond it. time is ticking very loudly. The nice thing about doing this in Kauai is that it is supposed to be breathtaking...also, I have never run this course which will take away the boredom factor and I can look forward to five days of paradise afterward...and no, I do not mind the humidity...for some crazy reason, i run better in warmer conditions. The pressure is on...I feel like I cannot get all the way there and not complete 26.2...there is always the 13.1 but gosh darn, I need to do this...even if it takes me 12 hours, i will finish. Vacation starts as of saturday...should be fun! To get info on marathon check out: http://www.thekauaimarathon.com/

My sister-in-law sent this to me and thought I would share. It kind of reinforces what I have felt all along with this whole parenting thing: there is no "right" way to parent...what works for one child does not work for the other...trial and error. So for all of those people out there that think they know the right way to raise children, read on.


All my babies are gone now. I say this not in sorrow but in disbelief.

I take great satisfaction in what I have today: three almost adults, two taller than me, one closing in fast. Three people who read the same books I do and have learned not to be afraid of disagreeing with me in their opinion of them, who sometimes tell vulgar jokes that make me laugh until I choke and cry, who need razor blades and shower gel and privacy, who want to keep their doors closed more than I like. Who, miraculously, go to the bathroom, zip up their jackets, and move food from plate to mouth all by themselves. Like the trick soap I bought for the bathroom with a rubber ducky at its center, the baby is buried deep within each, barely discernible except through the unreliable haze of the past.Everything in all the books I once pored over is finished for me now. Penelope Leach. Berry Brazelton. Dr. Spock. The ones on sibling rivalry and sleeping through the night and early childhood education, all grown obsolete. Along with Goodnight Moon and Where the Wild Things Are, they are battered, spotted, well used. But I suspect that if you flipped the pages, dust would rise like memories.What those books taught me, finally, and what the women on the playground taught me, and the well-meaning relations and the older parents at cocktail parties—what they taught me was that they couldn’t really teach me very much at all. Raising children is presented at first as a true-false test, then becomes multiple choice, until finally, far along, you realize that it is an endless essay. No one knows anything. One child responds well to positive reinforcement, another can only be managed with a stern voice and a time-out. One boy is toilet trained at three, his brother at two. When my first child was born, parents were told to put baby to bed on his belly so that he would not choke on his own spit-up. By the time my last arrived, babies were put down on their backs because of research on sudden infant death syndrome.As a new parent this ever-shifting certainty is terrifying, and then soothing. Eventually you must learn to trust yourself. Eventually the research will follow. First science told us they were insensate blobs. But we thought they were looking, and watching, and learning, even when they spent so much time hitting themselves in the face. And eventually science said that we were right, that important cognitive function began in early babyhood. First science said they should be put on a feeding schedule. But sometimes they seemed hungry in two hours, sometimes three, sometimes all the time, so that we never even bothered to button up. And eventually science said that that was right, and that they would be best fed on demand. First science said environment was the great shaper of human nature. But it certainly seemed as though those babies had distinct personalities, some contemplative, some gregarious, some crabby. And eventually science said that was right, too, and that they were hardwired exactly as we had suspected.Still, the temptation to defer to the experts was huge. The literate parent, who approaches everything—cooking, decorating, life—as though there was a paper due or an exam scheduled is in particular peril when the kids arrive. How silly it all seems now, obsessing about language acquisition and physical milestones, riding the waves of normal, gifted, hyperactive, all those labels that reduced individuality to a series of cubbyholes. But I could not help myself. I had watched my mother casually raise five children born over ten years, but by watching her I intuitively knew that I was engaged in the greatest—and potentially most catastrophic—task of my life. I knew that there were mothers who had worried with good reason, that there were children who would have great challenges to meet. We were lucky; ours were not among them. Nothing horrible or astonishing happened: There was hernia surgery, some stitches, a broken arm and a fuchsia cast to go with it.Mostly ours were the ordinary everyday terrors and miracles of raising a child, and our children’s challenges the old familiar ones of learning to live as themselves in the world. The trick was to get past my fears, my ego, and my inadequacies to help them do that. During my first pregnancy I picked up a set of lovely old clothbound books at a flea market. Published in 1933, they were called Mother’s Encyclopedia, and one volume described what a mother needs to be: “psychologically good: sound, wholesome, healthy, unafraid, able to deal with the world and to live in this particular age, an integrated personality, an adjusted person.” In a word, yow.It is good that we know so much more now, know that mothers need not be perfect to be successful. But some of what we learn is as pernicious as that daunting description, calculated to make us feel like failures every single day. I remember fifteen years ago poring over one of Dr. Brazelton’s wonderful books on child development, in which he describes three different sorts of infants: average, quiet, and active. I was looking for a sub-quiet codicil (see: slug) for an eighteen-month-old who did not walk. Was there something wrong with his fat little legs? Was there something wrong with his tiny little mind? Was he developmentally delayed, physically challenged? Was I insane? Last year he went to China. Next year he goes to college. He can walk just fine. He can walk too well. Every part of raising children at some point comes down to this: Be careful what you wish for.Every part of raising children is humbling, too. Believe me, mistakes were made. They have all been enshrined in the “Remember When Mom Did” Hall of Fame. The outbursts, the temper tantrums, the bad language—mine, not theirs. The times the baby fell off the bed. The times I arrived late for preschool pickup. The nightmare sleepover. The horrible summer camp. The day when the youngest came barreling out of the classroom with a 98 on her geography test, and I responded, “What did you get wrong?” (She insisted I include that.) The time I ordered food at the McDonald’s drive-through speaker and then drove away without picking it up from the window. (They all insisted I include that.) I did not allow them to watch The Simpsons for the first two seasons. What was I thinking?But the biggest mistake I made is the one that most of us make while doing this. I did not live in the moment enough. This is particularly clear now that the moment is gone, captured only in photographs. There is one picture of the three of them sitting in the grass on a quilt in the shadow of the swing set on a summer day, ages six, four, and one. And I wish I could remember what we ate, and what we talked about, and how they sounded, and how they looked when they slept that night. I wish I had not been in such a hurry to get on to the next thing: dinner, bath, book, bed. I wish I had treasured the doing a little more and the getting it done a little less.Even today I’m not sure what worked and what didn’t, what was me and what was simply life. How much influence did I really have over the personality of the former baby who cried only when we gave parties and who today, as a teenager, still dislikes socializing and crowds? When they were very small I suppose I thought someday they would become who they were because of what I’d done. Now I suspect they simply grew into their true selves because they demanded in a thousand ways that I back off and let them be.There was babbling I forgot to do, stimulation they never got, foods I meant to introduce and never got around to introducing. If a black-and-white mobile really increases depth perception and early exposure to classical music increases the likelihood of perfect pitch, I blew it. The books said to be relaxed and I was often tense, matter-of-fact, and I was sometimes over-the-top. And look how it all turned out. I wound up with the three people I like best in the world, who have done more than anyone to excavate my essential humanity. That’s what the books never told me. I was bound and determined to learn from the experts. It just took me a while to figure out who the experts were.

Anna Quindlen,
Newsweek Columinst & Author

89 days until 26.2!!!

Slowly building the miles back up! Finished 8.5 miles today and it felt great...finally! After some set backs with the running schedule, I am getting back on track and the legs feel fantastic! I have been taking more Yoga classes and I think it has really helped strengthen the old legs and maintain my endurance. Hopefully, I will be up to 15 by the end of the month...muscle memory is a great thing. Taking girls on a road trip at the end of the month for a week at the beach with friends and family. Stopping in Pacific Grove for a few days to visit with Heather and Dave (always a good time) and then to Santa Cruz to visit with Jennifer and her family (again, always a good time!) for more festivities; Pat will hopefully join us mid week. Claire has her kinder promotion this thursday and she is very excited...she insists she should receive roller skates for her "graduation" present. Hmmmmm??? Do we give gifts for kinder promotion...I will have to confer with Aunt Etiquette Jenny on that one.

"No one puts Baby in a corner!"

Remember in "Dirty Dancing" (circa 1988) when Johnny Castle has the last dance with Baby and she runs and jumps into his arms...well, to bring it all back, here is a little treat from Hannah and Claire:

Oh...but there is one more...

FYI

The information following this post is an article I found on the Internet about children keeping a secret from their parents. My daughter was recently told by a "trusted" family member not to tell me something and I found myself having a very long discussion with my child on why it is so dangerous for ANY ADULT to tell a child to keep something from a parent. Not only was I shocked that this individual would be so malicious but she also put my daughter in a very difficult position of feeling as though she would "get into trouble" by telling. It was an unnecessary burden that had been placed on my child which she did not ask for nor did she need to be privy to adult issues...children have their own stresses...why would we place our stresses on them???? Most parents/adults SHOULD know this but I guess some people miss the boat on that one. As parents, it is difficult enough to have our children trust us and tell us what is going on in their lives so when a FAMILY member tries to ruin that trust and sabotage the relationship that has been built between parent and child it is completely inappropriate and damaging on many, many levels. I had to tell my daughter that if ANY ADULT, a priest, a doctor, a teacher, a grandparent, tells her not to tell me something, she is to come to me immediately. Sadly, the individual that abused her trust with my daughter and myself has ruined any opportunity to have any type of relationship with myself or my family. She did it for her own selfish needs. A very sad individual. Check with your kids...make sure they tell you everything and ask if anyone has ever told them not to tell you something. The last sentence of the information below really makes a strong statement...read it to your children and discuss.

"As parents we have so much to worry about in regards to our children. We want to protect them from all of life's dangers, yet we want to accomplish this without putting unnecessary fear into their lives.
When my children were small, we began talking about secrets. What is a good secret and what is a bad secret? This seemed to be a concept my children could understand, while accomplishing my goal of not scaring them.
Good secrets are things that you get to tell mommy or daddy. Such as we bought daddy a birthday gift. Today it's a secret but tomorrow we get to tell daddy. Another good secret is when the principal at school tells you there will be a party for your teacher but today it's a secret. Tomorrow however we get to tell the teacher.
As your children get a bit older, a good secret might even be your friend telling you she likes a boy. While your child may be asked not to tell the boy, your child could certainly tell you this secret.
So what is a bad secret? A bad secret is a secret that your child is asked to NEVER tell. A bad secret might be another child admitting they did something wrong and asking your child not to tell. It might also be an adult acting/talking inappropriately with your child and telling the child to keep this a secret and not tell mommy.
My kids asked of course, "who will tell us bad secrets?". I began to tell them that bad people tell bad secrets, and quickly realized this is not true at all. Instead I chose to tell them that a bad secret can come from both a child and an adult who is doing something wrong. To this day I still believe that only someone doing something wrong will ask a child to keep a secret from mommy or daddy."

Look out Bruce Lee...Claire Rios is makin' her move!

Did you notice the karate belt? This is one of the many things, including but not limited to rapping and beat boxing, that Claire has been learning on the playground at school. She has learned the rapping and beat boxing from her little friend Allondra...and according to Claire, via Allondra, Allondra's dad was caught kissing someone other than her mother...and now Allondra lives on a boat and has a wooden leg. Whatever happened to tether ball at recess?

Best scent ever???

Orange Blossoms! Our orange trees are in full bloom and the scent is so strong, we can smell the blossoms in our house when the windows are open...yummy!!! Interestingly, oranges are ready for harvesting in the Winter but the blossoms bloom in the spring. Hmmmm. My roses are just getting ready to burst open...fragrant, large blooms...I love my rose garden...I wish it were bigger!!

Took a phenomenal 90 minute yoga class today...all I can say is wow!! The instructor was the best I have had and it was a perfect blend of traditional yoga with a little contemporary twist. Perfect balance. The yoga studio (www.zudayoga.com) is expanding and Pat is doing the addition to their site so I decided to see what all of the talk was about. They were voted the best yoga studio in town and I can see why. Highly recommend for those interested in enhancing their practice or adding a little extra to their workout program. Room temp is set to 85 degrees and the sweat just pours off...feels great!

Going to Pacific Grove for a little R&R for mothers day weekend...can't wait...Pat needs a little break...I guess we all need a little break. As for running, need to get back on the horse. Had a sinus issues for a couple of weeks but feeling better so it is time to start building the miles back up! September...doesn't seem so far away.

Pic from first part of Muir Woods Race

I know...it's a little small... I am supposed to purchase the picture versus trying to "steal" it from the website that took the pics... they can ensure you are unable to reproduce a larger image. oh well.

BRUTAL!!!!!!

The race Saturday starting on Stinson Beach and heading up the Dipsea Trail and then up Steep Ravine was THE most physically demanding race I have completed thus far. To give you some perspective, it took me ONE HOUR AND 41 MINUTES TO COMPLETE 7 miles. I typically complete 7 miles in a about an hour....so I was doing a 14 minute mile. HARSH!!! The first 3.5 miles went straight up...not just a hill but CLIMBING STAIRS, made of rock, wood, etc., and it never eased... never a flat straight stretch of trail to catch your breath, but a constant hard climb up, up and up....oh and let us not forget the wooden ladder we also had to climb. That first half took me a little under an hour to complete. I reached that anaerobic phase quite a few times and was cursing myself for doing this until I started the descent...just a wee-bit of a break. Switchbacks all the way down!!! More stairs...I thought my knees are going to blow out or I am going to sprain an ankle...very hard on the body going down...trail was narrow, muddy, rocky and A LOT of tree roots, etc. I completed this race quite a few years ago but i guess i forgot just how difficult the run is...oops. I went with my friend Marie who had never completed this trail before and she had a few words for me when we met up again after the race...sorry Marie! Considering the unknown terrain, she did very well. We started home and ran into a lot of bicyclists on the road coming into Stinson and leaving. There is no shoulder so the bicyclists basically take over and cars have to follow...made for a long ride home. No offense to the cyclists but c'mon...it is really dangerous and the cars would, of course, be responsible if any accidents were to happen. (Heather, since you cycle, your input on this would be welcomed.) Drove a couple hours home and we could feel our legs getting tighter and tighter the longer we sat. My quads and glutes are spent from all of the climbing but it was worth it...and yes, I would do it again. Easter was nice...went to the Sutter Club for brunch. Claire was set on seeing the Easter Bunny...it has taken her about four years to warm up to the very large bunny but she has now become quite fond of our furry, egg delivering friend!















I think I consumed about 4,000 calories today just at the dessert table...it was delicious and Claire had a great time. Hannah was with her dad this weekend but she is looking forward to San Francisco next weekend for a little shopping expedition to celebrate her 13th b-day!!

When did I get old?

Running has been a little tough these past few weeks. I have been attending Hannah's track practices to help with her form and increase her speed... and well...as much as my mind still thinks I am...I am not a teenager and I do not run fast...especially on poorly packed tracks. The track had just received a fresh layer of sand/gravel/dirt which made for poor traction, and my poor, old legs suffered...oh did they suffer. Did I mention I do not run sprints? I found that out as well. Sooooooo...needless to say, it has taken about two weeks to get my legs feeling relatively normal. Went for a great run this weekend with Darcy and Kelly at Lake Natoma. (see pics) It is a little over an 11 mile loop but there was no way I was going to be able to complete the full 11 with the leg soreness. I stayed with them for the first three miles and turned around and headed back. Did I also mention that I have no sense of direction? Having to follow the path that you see above, I guess I took a wrong turn and made a very large circle. sad. I passed some large man-eating turkeys along the way that seem to be a little angry...perhaps over the whole Thanksgiving issue. Who knows...maybe they didn't enjoy my photo shoot. The run was beautiful and we couldn't have asked for a better day. This next Saturday I will be going to Stinson Beach for a 7 mile trail run through Muir Woods. 3.5 miles straight up and then down hill the rest of the way. Tough climb but it will do me some good.

Me Kelly and Darcy at Darcy and Matt's annual St. Patty's party.

HAPPY FIRST DAY OF SPRING!!!

Too Much Information

Do you know that point in some conversations/encounters when too much information has been divulged by someone other than yourself and once the information has presented itself, you look around to see if anyone else has heard what just happened so you can have your thought bubble validated? (Good example: When Jim from "The Office" looks right into the camera when Michael Scott does something totally inappropriate.) Today I wanted my thought bubble validated. There were no words spoken but sounds...yes, sounds. In a previous post, I discussed "The Chronic Farter" (btw, she has been much better, especially in large groups...whew!) well, we now have "The Moaner." Sigh. Due to conflicting schedules, I was asked to provide a one-on-one Pilates session to a client that usually works with another trainer and I was more than happy to oblige...mo money...mo money! Things were going along smoothly until we were in the middle of a relatively easy exercise and he proceeded to moan...not just moan, but MOOOOAAANNNN. That brings us back to the "too much information" issue...no words were necessary but enough was said about his, shall we say, personal life. O.k., O.k., I know what you're thinking..."People moan all of the time in the gym when they're working out, no big deal!" I chose to think that very same thing, maybe just to make it ok in my head and to keep the laughter from coming out of my mouth. It continued to happen and I found myself looking in the mirror hoping that the reflection of myself would wink at me and nod. Silently snickering at his antics, we continued with his session and more moans followed. I laughed out loud. I couldn't help it. I tried to keep it in, but it just billowed out. He didn't even seem to notice my incessant giggling. Our session ended, he seemed satisfied with his workout, left his cash on the counter, and rode off into the sunset. Yes, you can say it...EWWWW. In fact, I am laughing right this minute. My next client was waiting for me while he finished up and she shot me a look to affirm the contents of my thought bubble...she was in full agreement. Hilarious. He has been a client there for quite a few years and I truly have more appreciation for the trainer who is currently, "ah-hem" providing him with personal sessions. I guess the Chronic Farter was not so bad.

Happy St. Patrick's Day!!

Shamrock'n was great! Completed 13.1 miles in 2 hours 8 minutes...my best time thus far for a race. Everyone did well...Kevin, Pat's brother came in about 2 hours 5 minutes, not too bad!! Darcy had her personal best as well and we are all injury free! This silly little picture is at the 12 mile mark. I am waving to Claire who is standing on the side of the street with her mouth open wondering what in the world I am doing. It was cold but at least it was not raining. It's kind of funny to look at the different strides this late in the race and how fatigued we all appear. All in all, it was a great race and am looking forward to the April 11th Muir Woods race. It starts at Stinson Beach and you climb up thru the woods...I can either do the 7 mile or the 15 mile...can't quite decide yet. I have done the 7 mile and that climb is pretty challenging...may stick with the 7 mile and focus on time. We'll see. Happy St. Patty's!

Nor-Cal Aids Challenge

http://ncac2009.kintera.org/faf/home/default.asp?ievent=275675&lis=1

The NorCal AIDS Challenge is the premiere bicycling fundraising event for HIV/AIDS service providers in Northern California. Cyclists and Crew Members cover 330 miles in 4 days to raise money for three Sacramento-based beneficiaries - the Center for AIDS Research, Education, and Services, the AIDS Housing Alliance, and Breaking Barriers. My friend, Heather Rowan has completed this ride for the past few years and needs to spread the word...so please donate a little or a lot, do what you can!!!

Hi Darcy!

Just thought that would make you feel better and give you something to read other than vampire nonsense . Shamrock'n this Sunday. Yikes. It's been almost three weeks since my 13 mile adventure and I can still feel a little soreness when I run. Seems to lessen when the muscles are warm and the longer I exercise but this weekend will be a challenge. Will be staying the night at Darcy's the night before since we will be driving together and getting up rather early. I cannot believe she is making sleep on the cold floor and not giving me her "marriage bed" (as she calls it). kidding. I am sure there will be plenty of room for everyone in the marriage bed and breakfast waiting in the morning. I hope she got my lavender-oatmeal soap and fresh raspberry preserves for my lightly toasted bagel...i don't ask for much.

13 miles on Saturday

Weather has been terrible so running has been limited. I did complete 13 miles on Saturday in 2 hours 11 minutes. I was certainly not planning on running 13 but I did 6.5 up and 6.5 back along the American River. The last mile was a tough one but turned out fine. Will try to get some short runs in this week and probably do nine mile day this weekend. So far, so good!

I don't want to save trees.

5am already? My hand hits the snooze bar knowing I have two full “snooze slams” left until both eyes have to actually open. I deliberately set my alarm 20 minutes ahead so I can trick myself into thinking I am getting a few minutes extra of sleep; whatever works…it’s early, too early. I have always strived to be one of those folks who enjoy rising before the sun with a skip in their step, fluffed and folded and ready to greet the day with a smile. You know who they are…they’re at Starbucks at 5:30am, reading the newspaper, enjoying a fresh blueberry scone with a coffee. Yes, just a coffee…no double tall, non-fat, no whip, extra dry, sugar free, vanilla, hazelnut swirl, latte, mocha-chocha cappuccino but just a coffee; in their own mug from home… determined to save a tree or two. What are they doing?! Go back to bed!!! Starbucks will still be open at 9am and I am sure there will be a newspaper left over, scattered across the table from the other 5:30am’ers. Sadly, they will have left only the classifieds and business sections, but hey, it’s something to read. I want to be that person reading the left over classified and business sections with a delicious scone, plain Jane coffee, in my own mug at 5:30am; it’s not going to happen, ever. I can’t even say I try.

My extra twenty minutes has come to an end and I make a final slam with just the slightest hint of resentment and rage toward a small little black box known as the alarm clock. Who put it on the Latin music station? Is that Enrique Iglesias? He had his mole taken off…good PR move. I throw the covers to the side and toss one leg at a time off the bed; the bathroom awaits. The thirty minutes I use to reverse the aging process, allows me time to sort my thoughts and prepare for the day. Exercise clothes, a.k.a., my uniform which includes, sweatshirt, shorts, socks, hat? (only if I am having a bad hair day which is usually everyday) so yes, a hat, a swipe of mascara and some cherry flavored carmex. I love carmex. I prefer the regular flavor but there is no time to search through the abyss I call my lotion and potion basket so cherry will have to do. Recently, I have begun to notice it takes a small arsenal of goods to achieve my half-awake, puffy eyed vision of loveliness. My anti-wrinkle, anti-blemish, exfoliating, ultra nourishing, mineral infused, vitamin rich, microscopic bead, glycolic facial scrub is really a must to maintain my youthful radiance. After working up a sweat erasing years and a thin layer of epidermis from my face, I am almost ready to welcome the day with a brand new attitude. Not sure what that attitude is going to be just yet, but By God, it will be brand spankin’ new. Starbucks here I come. At 5:30 am, picking a radio station to listen to in the car becomes a challenge. I certainly am not ready for the morning antics of any “Morning Zoo Crew” so Talk Radio it will be. A little news and weather never hurt anyone and I don’t have to buy a newspaper. When the kids are in the car I have on the local Public Radio station which plays only classical music. My kids love me… really, they do. I like to make a game of it and see how many different instruments they can identify during a particular piece…string, wind, percussion, etc. It just oozes good-times…screw amusement parks, birthday parties and roller skating, I have Public Radio. I'll address the "D.J.'s" of Public Radio at a later date...it will take some time and focus.

Ahhhh, there is Starbucks, nectar of the Gods. Since there are just a few crazies that frequent Starbucks this early in the morning, me and the early-rise-do-gooders, the Baristas have come to know my order: A triple tall, non-fat, sugar free vanilla latte. Simple. Stephen always throws in an extra shot making it a quadruple. God bless Stephen. With coffee in hand and a wave to the scone-eating-tree-hugger, I make my way to the Pilates studio for my first client of the morning. The fifteen minute ride to the studio gives me the opportunity to wake up and plan what kind of session I will be providing. Which client do I have this particular morning? Oh yes, the farter. I really shouldn’t call her the farter but WOW! can she belt them out. She is my first client of the morning and quite a handful to say the least. As a Pilates and Yoga instructor, I have become accustomed to the frequent “release” of stinky gas and other weird bodily noises. It’s kind of like going to your doctor, no biggie, we have seen and heard it all and we are rarely fazed…until now. When a toot or two escapes from a client, I pretend I don't hear and they assume the same…all is well, the client is not embarrassed and it really is not a big deal, we all do it. Until this particular client walked through the front door. The farting started immediately and continued to happen not once, not twice not three times but for the ENTIRE hour session. Mary Mother of Jesus, what the hell did she eat to produce such a horrific amount of gas? A small animal? It escalated to a point where I could no longer pretend I didn’t notice. The releases would last a good 5-8 seconds, basically interrupting our session. Now, in real time, 5-8 seconds passes relatively fast but in fart-time, it feels like three days. Chronic Farting Syndrome??? Needless to say, she felt it necessary to address the issue and I welcomed any opportunity to shoo the very large elephant from the room. She mentioned that her vitamins and coffee were the culprit and she will make sure to have a clean system during our next meeting, whatever that entails. That next meeting came awfully fast and it looks as if the coffee and vitamins were in fact, not the culprit. The same thing happened during that session. Again, we discussed. She insisted no coffee or vitamins were involved and she thinks it might be her dinner from the night before. The small animal? We’re not sure exactly why the symphony of farting continues to happen for an entire hour, but I am putting my money on C.F.S. STAY TUNED, MORE TO COME...

Rain, rain go away...

Finished over nine miles on Saturday (2/15) along the American River. I started at Howe Avenue and ended up on Broadway just outside of Old Sacramento. I was just a few miles from home and should have just ran the rest of the way but the wind and rain made it a bit uncomfortable and I didn't want to over do it. The run itself was great and I feel more than ready for the half marathon coming in March. The weather has put a kink in my running schedule and I haven't been able to log as many miles as I would like but two "rest days" in a row provide a very efficient run on the third day. Less than four weeks until Shamrock'n. If weather permits, I will do five tomorrow, six Thursday, Five Saturday and another nine on Sunday. Hopefully I can find someone to run along the bike path with me. It was a bit scary by myself...homeless people, critters, etc., but it was fun having no sense of direction and wondering where I would end up.

Logged 23.5 miles this past week

Weekend was beautiful and the runs were great! Six weeks until the Shamrock'n and I will be good and ready to conquer my first half marathon! I have increased my running to five times a week, cut down to two spin classes a week and I am taking a more gradual approach to increase my mileage...seems to be working well...injury free thus far! The longest run I did last week was six miles and I will keep it at a 4 mile run for Tuesday, Wed, Thurs and Sat... Sunday I will complete 8 and then increase a little more for the following week. Whew!

Why is there orange oil oozing from my pores?

Oh that's right, it's from the 16 pounds of chicken wings I ate yesterday during the Super Bowl. I have decided that if I ever end up on death row I want my last meal to be fried chicken wings...spicy, fried chicken wings...not honey barbecue...with a side of homemade mac-n-cheese! The clouds parted, the sun came through and I heard celestial music while enjoying every last morsel of the oh-so-delicious wing...I need to stay far, far away from our fried, feathered friend...I think bad things could happen if I chose to go down that path...LOOK AWAY FROM THE LIGHT. Why can't they come in a fat-free version? Is that so wrong? sad.

Completed 12.8 miles this weekend!

Four miles on Saturday and finished 8.8 miles on Sunday. I did not intend to do 8.8 (more like 7.5) but I didn't take in to account that I had to get home...I always forget about that part. darn. Well, at least that puts me ahead in the training schedule and will complete 9 miles next weekend. The new shoes have made a huge difference and they really feel good. I had bought the old shoes over a year ago and most of the shock absorption was long gone...the gams are very happy now! After the Shamrock'n is done and the weather starts warming up, I may start doing my long runs with Fleet Feet in Midtown. They have a 13.1 mile run every Sunday morning at 8am along the American River. While the weather has been cold, I have had the luxury of running in the late morning hours and even into the afternoon but I know that will have to change when Spring/Summer hits...early morning hours for me. sigh. Tuesday, Wednesdays, Thursdays and one day on the weekend will be the new schedule from here on out. 4 miles scheduled for Tuesday, 2 fast miles on Wednesday and another 4 on Thursday. Mondays and Fridays and one day on weekend for rest. I have found that when I blog my schedule, I tend to become a little more accountable...basically, I will complete what I said I was going to do. Whatever it takes...I have 7 months to get to 26.2, without injury...doesn't seem that far away.


By the way, I am officially registered for the Kaua'i Marathon and have secured my condo...so for those needing a vacation in September, saddle up!

On the first part of the journey I was looking at all the life. There were plants and birds and rocks and things, there was sand and hills...

... and many, many teenagers! I remember when Hannah started school at St. Robert and how terrified she was. (pic: see sweet, little, could do no wrong, precious, precious 5 year old Hannah on her first day of kindergarten...I think she still loved me then or at least pretended to.) She wouldn't even walk from the drop off area to her class without me firmly holding her hand... tears in her eyes. WELL, those days are long gone!!! While Pat held down the fort with Claire, Hannah and I made our way to the Bay Area for a four day and three night school field trip. Our trip to the Marin Headlands was truly amazing and a valuable educational resource which should be available to every child; the educators were phenomenal!! I stayed in a dorm with two other moms and 15 girls from Hannah's class. I'm tired. The boys' dorm was right next door; basically, we shared a wall. The program was structured with hikes, lab time, team building exercises, etc., throughout the day and then "free-time" was from 4:00pm-6:00pm; three meals a day and nothing in between. Outside food was not allowed to be brought in by the guests due to animal issues, thus creating a huge hunger issue for me. Starving! I tend to eat about six times a day and I started to feel as though I was at Fat Camp...I snuck food in. Oh yes I did....without hesitation. A fine example. sad. Around 3:30 pm I would "excuse" myself and head for the contraband...granola, nuts, crackers, Mmmmmm!! I would stuff as much as I could into my pockets and then cram handful by handful into my mouth! Fearful of being found out, I would avoid eye contact with those close and carefully discard any evidence of the life sustaining deliciousness...not an easy task. One particular afternoon, I dropped a nugget of granola on the ground and it made a noticeable "thud" as it hit...I quickly turned, whistling a little tune hoping a bird or some other critter didn't blow my cover...shoo..fly away birds. The meals they provided were great! Organic and locally grown,(except for grapes) the food was delish or maybe it seemed so good due to my emaciated state! We weighed our compost and garbage at the end of every meal, graphing our stats at the evening meetings and striving for "no-waste" meals. We were doing great until the school from Oakland arrived. Sigh. I won't go there. Needless to say, our school was introduced to kids that, perhaps, have not had the same "structure/discipline" that is required/necessary to simply respect others and their differences. I think I was more disappointed with the parents responsible for those children...children only know what has been taught...ignorance is ugly. Regardless, the Headlands was a great opportunity for me to have a glimpse into Hannah's life, her friends and what direction she is taking. Sure, no pressure. So far, so good...some fine tuning is certainly necessary but I think we have a good baseline.

Is that a gang sign? shit. Damn Catholic schools.












Free time. If it were up to me...NO FREE TIME!

View from hike

Golden Gate Bridge.View from the Lighthouse.

Prognosis was not good...

...and new shoes were a must. Say hello to my new, pretty companions! Old shoes were terminal and had only a walk or two left in them. They treated me well but it's time to move on. Things were not feeling right lately and I am now convinced it had something to do with the lack of tread and loss of stability in the sole...hmmmmm, I suppose I should pay more attention. I did manage to complete my 6.5 miles this weekend and have decided that running is synonymous with childbirth. The exact same thought process occurs during both events...for example: "I think I am going to start running/have a child...this is really a good idea and I am more than capable of doing it. If millions of people can run/give birth , why can't I? Boy, this sure isn't fun at all...who's idea was this again? Ewwwww, this really hurts...how much longer? OH MY GOD, I am going to die...I cannot do this anymore, make it stop! Only a little longer and it will all be over... I AM NEVER, EVER DOING THIS AGAIN! WHERE ARE THE PAIN KILLERS? Oh...I am almost done...I cannot believe I just ran 5, 10, 15 miles/squeezed a live human being out of something that SHOULD be the size of a quarter...WHEW, ALL DONE!!!!! Hmmmmm...that wasn't too bad, I could do it again!"

8 weeks until Shamrock'n half marathon!

Ran Five miles on Tuesday and a faster paced two miles on Thursday. 6.5 miles scheduled for Saturday and will increase a mile each Saturday leading up to March 15th. I have found that teaching Spin a few days a week and mat Pilates basically every day, my legs need some down time. Don't get me wrong, Pilates and Spin are great for cross-training but a few days off to rest the muscles are a must. As you can see, I have really scaled back the mileage lately taking a more gradual approach. I have 26.2 miles to do in September and do not want my knees, hamstrings or anything else for that matter giving out. Taking my running shoes in this weekend for the prognosis...new shoes or not? We'll see. I am Leaving this next Tuesday for The Headlands Institute (http://www.yni.org/hi/) with Hannah's entire 7th grade class as a chaperone. FOUR DAYS. YES, FOUR DAYS SEQUESTERED WITH HORMONAL TEENAGERS...ALL OF THE EVIL I DID AS A YOUNG LASS IS COMING BACK AROUND...I CAN NOW FULLY APPRECIATE THE TWITCH THAT MY MOTHER ACQUIRED IN HER LEFT EYE WHEN i TURNED 13. God be with me. If there are no entries on my blog a week from Sunday, it is because there was a mutiny and the seventh graders pushed me off a cliff somewhere...I am sure my body will wash to shore eventually. I will take many pictures and post when or IF I return.

Ahhhhhhhh...BACON!

Have you noticed how adding bacon to food makes it taste sooooooo much better? You could put bacon on or in anything and the taste value goes through the roof. Remember back to one of my earlier entries where I discussed a fabulous new chocolate bar that I had intended to give a client and it "accidentally" ended up in my mouth? WELL...the same company had a few other flavors that I could not help but try. The first being Mo's Bacon Bar...ingredients include: Applewood smoked bacon, Alderwood smoked salt and deep milk chocolate with 45% cacao. Yes, my friends, CHOCOLATE COUPLED WITH BACON...DEEP SIGH! Truly astounding...little bits of smoked bacon accompany a rich, delicious, melt in your mouth milk chocolate....I am kind of speechless right now. The second bar is just as interesting but not as heavenly as the
bar o'bacon. It is called the Black Pearl Bar...ingredients include: Wasabi, Ginger, Black Sesame Seeds and Dark Chocolate with 55% cacao. Now, because dark chocolate tends to overwhelm the rest of the flavors, this particular bar requires a little more patience than the Bacon Bar. One needs to savor the Black Pearl Bar slowly, focusing on the subtle hint of wasabi and ginger while enjoying the nutty texture. I have become a huge fan of "Vosges Haute Chocolat" and would recommend trying one for yourself. Delish...Augustus Gloop and I could become soul mates.

Once more...if you need a license to drive, you need a license to procreate!!!!!

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/28655143/?GT1=43001

I saw this on the news a few weeks ago regarding the bakery not putting the child's name on the cake and could not believe what I was watching. Those children NEEDED to be taken away; they will never have a chance unless someone steps in. Truly sad.

Five miles on Saturday

The sun was out and the weather was great. Planning on 6.5 miles next weekend and will add a little at a time until I hit 12 miles. It was comforting to know that I could complete 11 miles but I would like to make sure no injuries occur. I am going to ease my way back up and then gradually shave a little off each weekend to prepare for the Shamrock'n!!

Remember...

spending Friday and Saturday evenings at the
Skating Rink with your best girlfriends (circa 1981) wearing your best jeans, perhaps Britannia, Jordache, etc., a plastic comb sticking out of the back pocket, your feathered bangs unable to move due to the extreme amount of Aqua Net and listening to Kenny Rogers "Lady" during couples skate? Well, the outing I took the girls on today had the same vibe...welcome to "The Trampoline Place!" The entire warehouse is filled with various floors of trampolines for your jumping pleasure...with a little Beyonce, Rihanna, etc., playing in the background. What is the comparison you ask? THE KIDS...oh yes, all the same "players." First, we have the very pretty girl that can jump higher than anyone and then do a back flip to top it off, all the while looking around to see who is watching her. This girl (we'll call her Tiffany) is comparable to the the girl at the rink that would get out in the middle of the circle and do spins holding one leg in the air...remember her? We hated her...she took lessons. Then there were the unruly pack of boys that would skate as fast as they could, chasing each other with no regard for others and would elbow their way through...remember how sweaty and gross they were? (we'll call them Dumb and Dumber) Oh yes, I found those same pack of boys at the Trampoline Place. Running/jumping/chasing from pod to pod knocking the smaller kids (Claire) out of the way...catapulting her to heights she never imagined. sad. Overall, it was a great time...burned a lot of calories, tuckered out the kids and brought back some fond memories. By the way, the top picture is me trying to be Tiffany...didn't work out so well.

Harvest time!

Day was beautiful and I finished a 3.4 mile run through the park. Run felt nice...sun was finally out and the fog lifted. Sacramento is dreadful in January and the fog becomes a little too much; looking forward to Spring. Camellia's are blooming in the front yard and the oranges are ready for picking. Put your order in and I will be sure you get a large bag of Vitamin C...if they are not picked soon they will drop on the ground and the rabid squirrels, as well as other critters will suck them dry...get 'em while they're hot!

For those who have seen "The curious case of Benjamin Button...

...need i say more?
Say hello to Baby Androgyny...frightening. "Baby A" is among the many toys that frequent Claire's bathtub. Personally, I find "Baby A" rather scary...don't venture into the bathroom in the middle of the night unprepared! I was staring at Baby A and couldn't figure out where I had seen he/she/it and then it dawned on me...Benjamin Button...a definite must-see! This particular picture does not do it justice...it actually looks worse in person. Poor Baby A.

15 miles to to go...

Finished 11.2 miles today and I believe it may be time for new shoes; these have seen better days. Run was a little brutal today...very cold and during 6 of the 11 miles, I was running into the wind...good times. My normal route is becoming a bore and also a bit dangerous with traffic and "questionable individuals" making comments so I think I may switch up the loop next week and steer clear of cars and transients. Taught a Pilates mat class this morning and I really cannot stress enough how helpful Pilates has been during my training...I encourage those to give it a shot if you haven't already. The strengthening and stretching combination can really be beneficial to any training regimen. More later...

Question

I am leaving Starbucks the other morning and see a gentleman on the other side of the door ready to enter with the use of a cane. He pulls the door as I push and we both pause. He looks to be about 50-ish and in relatively healthy condition considering he is using a cane for assistance. (His gait did not seem labored and appeared somewhat fit.)

QUESTION: Do I let him proceed first through the door or should he allow me to exit first? Keep in mind, I have been raised to believe a man should hold a door for a woman but due to the cane issue, should I have held the door for him? btw...he let me exit first...with hesitation.

Snag in the program...

So my parents have graciously offered a week of their timeshare to exchange for the Kauai trip in September but unfortunately there is not ONE place available anywhere NEAR Kauai or any other island for that matter. Oh sure, we could go anywhere else in the world, e.g., Netherlands, Australia, Canada, the very exotic Idaho, Mexico, Spain...just not Kauai. Sad. Something could open up prior to September but it needs to happen within the next few months or I just may end up in Idaho...running through potato fields. Anyway, ran a little over four miles miles on Wednesday the 31st and prepping for a long run tomorrow...11 miles. Happy New Year! More to come...