I Have No Manners= Potential 10k Disaster

My mom and dad really did try.  My mom was old-school in the manners department but back in her day,  47 something women didn't  spank flirt with young men.  Especially women who were married AND a grandmother. Geesh.  My mom is still alive and often reads this blog so SORRY mom, for what you are about to read.  By the way mom,  it has to do with RUNNING and I know you would  probably be SO bored by another  a running post; so redundant.  Wait, don't poke your eyes with needles!  We'll catch you next week with another post...no running, I promise.

10k News/Potential Misbehavior...

A few of the gals and I  from the BSK Team ran a 4th of July 10k on Wednesday.  It was one of those races when we shook pinkies and promised one another that we WOULD NOT RUN FASTER than a prescribed shuffle.  It was DOWN time for us.  Just fun.  What? No racing?  Is this what they call a FUN RUN?

Check out SPEEDO boys on the left!  There were actually about five of them by mile 3.

The race was it's usual PATRIOTIC self.  Full of kids,  high school runners, girls in stars and stripes  bikinis(heck, it is California for gosh sakes)and the usual band of 12 high school boys(wait, didn't I catch them in the beer garden post race?)dressed in blue Speedos and nothing else.  Their usual style is to start out at a 5:30 pace for about 100 yards, drop it down to 6:30, finally to 9:45 and hold it there for the remainder of the race.  Hence,  my misbehavior.  The gals and I found ourselves "trapped"wink-wink behind these boys for over a mile.  Yes,  I HAD to stare at multiple,  21 year old   buns for over ten minutes(remember, we were on the super shuffle pace).  At one point,  I 'd had it.  I went all 50 Shades of Gray and had the *desire* to reach out and smack one of those fannies.  So crude.  So unbecoming of a grandma, right?  After all, my OWN SON is almost 21.  Blech.

Well, mom, I didn't do it.  I resisted.  Would these team mates report me?  Egg me on?    Would Boy Scout approve?  Cheer me on?  All sorts of shame fell down upon me in the early morning mist and I decided to behave myself.  I know,  I'm NO FUN.

This race was tons of fun, a great group run and a chance to add a few more miles to my Chicago training calendar.  Perfect.  I especially loved running with Sorority Girl and Snake Charmer, they helped the time pass so quickly...and the buns didn't hurt either!

Workouts this week:

60 mins. biking
6 miles
8 miles/track workout
60 mins. biking
4 miles
8 miles/speed work
Tomorrow 12 miles/slow :)

Happy Running Everyone...keep your living light and simple :),

meg

Western States Mania and It's Summer!

Two words,  WESTERN STATES.

No,  I wasn't a runner but rather,  a groupie.  A stalker.  A wanna-be Western States 100 miler runner.  Boy Scout was a beginning crew-mate to Man With Long Legs who crossed the finish line in 22:XX hours.  Long Legs was amazing.  His brain is like steel, his wit like a whip and he flicked off this race like dust on his shoulder.

I LOVED, RELISHED, DRANK this race in like a Slurpee after a hot run.  Gulping and  gagging every second.  This race is not for wussies, not for walkers, not for the tutu crowd.  It's harsh, it's tough, it's mean.  I saw runners go to different places and they were not nice places; HELL comes to mind.  Despite the cooler than normal temperatures,  this race always tests the hearts, minds and innards of it's runners and I left LAKE TAHOE with a little tingling feeling somewhere...

After taking 6 days to recover from a mere 33 hours without sleep(ha!  I know I slept more than anyone),  I have felt the WS Tingle grow each day.  I've relived each rest stop where The ULTRA WHISPERER waved his magic wand around Long Legs' head and poured chicken broth down his throat.  I've memorized Boy Scout's foot cleaning routine and re-socking of Long Legs who at one time,  had so much muck between his toes,   BS had to clean between his toes just to get the Injin socks on his feet.  The crewing, the pacing,  the tents and sleeping bags on the football field at the high school finish line....memories that will not be forgotten.

WHEN and HOW this 100 miler will go down for me remains to be seen.  Last night I saw SPEEDY at 63 at dinner and she advised me to apply as soon as this November..."You aren't getting any younger, kiddo!  Each year you wait,  you lose a little something for that race!"  Thanks Speedy,  so comforting coming from a TWICE RUN Western States hot shot, ONCE WON.  I listen to this girl.

Groupie or runner, runner or groupie.  Time will tell.

For now,  I'm in my second week of training for the Chicago Marathon.  Super excited, surviving some two a day work outs and cross training more than ever for this marathon.  More on that this week!  By the way,  TALKING ABOUT TWO A DAY runs,

Heaven is...telling your friends who are all runners(in the cabin of crew and pacers in Lake Tahoe)that you're going out running again.  Yes, AGAIN.  TWICE IN THE SAME DAY!   No one makes the snide comment,  "Didn't you get that our of the way this morning?" "Aren't you a little obsessed?"  "Practicing being anorexic?"
  No one in this crowd even blinked an eye,  I received a cheery,  "Have fun!"  Each and every time.

 I love athletes.

Happy Summer Friends...still thinking of the Colorado friends and family who are healing and dealing with the fires last week.  Hugs to you all.

Running right along as usual,
meg