Not Quite the NYC Marathon

I've been on the lookout for local races each weekend and was considering some last weekend when our monster Nor'easter snow storm made for renditions of "I'm dreaming of a white Halloween." By this weekend the snow had mostly melted and we were back to some blue sky, sunny but crisp fall weather. After spending a couple hours raking leaves yesterday, Mike and I headed out for a 20 mile bike ride.

This morning I became engrossed watching the lead runners in the NYC Marathon now that I have a new found interest in running. It was hard to believe they were running at a pace equal to my bike ride yesterday (granted, we were weren't as speedy with the leaves on the path as we sometimes are). I had been considering doing the Pumpkin Chase 5K in nearby New Canaan all week and there was nothing like watching some inspirational marathoners to get my butt off of the couch. The race had been postphoned to this weekend after last weekend's storm.

I was on my own for this race as Mike decided it was his turn to finish cleaning up the leaves on the other half on the lawn. Upon arriving, I plunked down my $15, got my free t-shirt and realized I was about 1 hour early. As I was sitting in the car, I saw other runners warming up and pondered just how you are supposed to warm up for a 5K. In this day and age of smart phone instant information, the answer was a quick "warming up for a 5K" Google search away. My just-in-time coach informed that 45 minutes out from the start of the race I should be doing a 20 minute warm-up run, followed by a bathroom break and other preparations such as putting on my number, followed by whatever warm-up exercises I could do before the race start so I didn't start out cold. So, that is what I did.

At the start of the race, I decided not to go too fast (remembering the challenge I had last race not to mention having the post-race commentary in my head about how the 3rd place woman's marathoner had paced it too fast, being out in front for so long only to be overcome at the end). That said, I did mile 1 in 8:20, a quick pace for me. The course was slightly uphill on the road and then turned onto a wooded trail. I watched for tree roots and slowed my pace somewhat, hitting mile 2 at something like 17:40. Back out on the road, I picked up the pace and recall my time at mile 3 being sometline like 26:50. I had my sights set on catching the woman in front of me in the last 100 yards, but my legs couldn't go faster up the final incline to the finish line. But she pushed me to finish at 27:47, 5 seconds faster than my last 5K, and so a new personal best. And thanks to my just-in-time coach - whoever you are!

The Olympic Tri at the Y

When the YMCA put up signs that there would be Triathlons during the month of October, of course it caught my eye.  They were doing 3:  a sprint, olympic, and ironman... basically you sign up for the one you want to do and then your progress is posted on a large board in the hall.  Since I had a whole month to complete the event, a sprint was too easy - I signed up for the olympic event.  I had just done a "mini tri" on my own the last Thursday of September: running a mile, biking 5 and swimming 10 laps; too bad I couldn't count that towards my goal.  I figured doing a little of each event, every time I workout should easily total the: 24 mile bike, mile swim, and 6 mile run.  Plus it would be inspiration to go to the gym as the month turned colder and I felt like hibernating.
The biking was no problem thanks to the early October beautiful warm fall days, and I completed the 24 total miles within 2 or 3 days.  The mile swim took me all of October, mostly due to time constraints.  The 6 mile run... well I think I got in about 4 miles.
My end of October exercise plans were thwarted by a freak snow storm, deemed a "nor-easter" by The Weather Channel.  I had planned to go to the Y on Saturday and get in the last portion of the run, but mother nature had other ideas.  We spent Saturday trying to save our trees and bushes from the wet heavy snow threatening to snap their branches.  Our idea was to to throw things at the tall tree in our front yard in order to knock the snow off, thereby saving the already sagging limbs.  By 2:00 there were 3 footballs, 2 basketballs, and a soccer ball lodged in various parts of the tree!  Our neighbors had a laugh watching us toss items into the tree, but more than one said - hmm that's a good idea.  Sunday when the snow started to melt, a few of the balls plopped into the yard.
So, my aspirations fell a bit (2 miles to be exact) short but I still enjoyed myself and certainly it was motivation to get to the gym.  I think I will start a log of my own now to see what my winter workouts total each month in hopes of keeping me going.

Glass and Marble Mosaics,
before grout.

My banister, with bubble lights!

Also, I am one of these people who is disgusted by Christmas decorations in the stores before Halloween.  However, I had a total panic when I realized that Derrick graduates college early December, our company Christmas Party is next, and Christmas is right after that!  I have been in Christmas Lockdown Mode since I realized how hectic December will be, and vowed to get as much done before Thanksgiving as possible.  I started my Christmas decorations, and then had a vision of glass ceramic tile mosaics on our backsplash behind the Imac.  Something had to be done with this wall because we recently had removed a flat screen monitor and there were holes to be patched.  So I went to Lowes and came home with another project. (Yes, I do tile too!)